pa'una is discussed - three years and nine months ago
The Goldleaf villa was built with more opulence than Pa'una had ever seen outside of Silvermoon proper, but somehow the rooms that Auntie Annara had given her felt almost as comfortable as a tent. As she tossed and turned, trying to sleep, she was grateful for its white walls and massive windows, left open to catch a breeze in the hot summer night. Traditional Thalassian furnishings would have demanded that her bed be a cushioned mattress on the floor even regardless of her size, which suited her just fine. But she was thirsty. Grimacing, she sat up. I wonder if I can sneak down to the kitchens for water... Tauren were not known for stealth and most of the villa was floored with marble, but it was worth a try. She'd never understood the elven custom of having an entire other wardrobe dedicated to sleepwear, but she supposed it was necessary if you didn't have fur. Her undergarments were much cooler, anyway, and didn't impede her progress out of the room and down the hall. Even stepping as carefully as she could, each hoofbeat sounded too loud to her. It wasn't until she reached the carpeted staircase that she heard voices, and froze. They were female and speaking Thalassian. She barely dared to breathe. "I must confess to finding myself perplexed at being invited here at such a late hour, Lady Goldleaf. You are aware I am a married woman, aren't you?" She sounded amused. Pa'una carefully craned her head around the corner and peered down at a thin elven woman dressed completely in black, like a blotch of shadow in the gilded whiteness of the main hall. Annara Goldleaf chuckled humorlessly. Even at a distance, it was easy to recognize the woman who had helped acclimate her to sin'dorei society; though both elven women were yellow-haired and short to Pa'una's estimation, "Auntie" Annara's golden-blonde hair could never be mistaken for the other's ash-blonde, and she stood a good head taller. "You know perfectly well why I wanted to speak to you, Lady Goldbloom, and it has nothing to do with matters of scandal." Goldbloom raised one immaculate eyebrow. "Oh?" Annara's ears slanted delicately but firmly backwards. "I won't allow you to put my ward in danger. Bad enough that she tramps all over the world with no company but that stone cat of hers." Pa'una felt her face heat; the word Annara had used for ward, she knew, could also translate perfectly well to daughter. Now her concern over the letter the Reliquary had sent her earlier made much more sense. Sellenara Goldbloom didn't look particularly fazed by this. "Lady Goldleaf, I assure you that Miss Stonespeaker will be in no more danger than her solo expeditions have put her in. In fact, if you'll allow her to be put on the Reliquary's payroll, we'll be able to ensure her safety--" "And have her used as a pawn by Tae'thelan Bloodwatcher and the Magistry? I think not. Besides, you know very well that her strengths are in history and archaeology, not in arcane artifacts."
"Whoever said that I was interested in arcane artifacts?" Annara blinked, one ear tilting curiously forward. "...Your letter gave neither of us reason to believe that you were not." Sellenara snorted in a most unladylike fashion. "That was just in case any of Bloodwatcher's idiots laid eyes on it. No, my husband and I are interested in true archaeology, discovering the secrets of the past. The Reliquary is a convenient backer, and Bloodwatcher doesn't care as long as any magical things we find cross his desk eventually. We're printing a magazine; we have printing presses and workers, but we need field agents. That is the post I was offering Miss Stonespeaker." Pa'una's heart leapt. Oh, please let Auntie give her blessings! I'll have a dedicated place to send my articles! For a moment, her head spun with the possibilities--a magazine, publicity, a building to house her findings and display them to the world. Frowning lightly, Annara nevertheless nodded after a moment. "I will speak with her."
For the first time, Pa'una saw Sellenara almost smile. "My gratitude, Lady Goldleaf."
She knew she’d have a hard time getting back to sleep.