who: @craneofsteel when and where: the isle of tarth, following akhirah's meeting with the hand of the king and the lord paramount of the stormlands, akhirah tarth decides it time to break some news to his sister.
dawn light spilled like molten gold across the isle of tarth, turning its pale cliffs the color of burnished pearl as the ruling lord pulled into the bay; he had sailed through some conditions he probably should have tried to wait out from a safe distance, however the man felt as though he were transfixed on one thing he needed to do - he could not risk another managing to put quill to parchment and passing on the message to her before he did. this was a moment with a gravity he felt all too well, as though he were a rock that could be tossed to the bottom of the depths with the sense of weight he felt upon his shoulders; it did not have to be him, that he knew.
logically, it could have been any other lord of the stormlanders to do this - and all he could do was hope that eventually, he could inspire some change. and yet still, he did not expect others to follow in his steps: a heroic curse, was one that plagued akhirah of house tarth, as though he were a crane that threatened to fly far too close to the sun that could burn his wings. still, at least he would land in the sea.
the sea breathed softly against stepped stone quays, where slender minarets rose beside tiered pagoda towers, their eaves curved like the wings of cranes in flight. silk banners stitched with crescent moons and sunbursts fluttered above tiled roofs of indigo and jade. the scent of salt mingled with incense drifting from harbor shrines, where carved wooden spirits stood beside intricate mosaics of lapis and onyx; the smoke from them made it clear they had only been in use some minutes earlier, that he could tell by the mere scent. and still, as he seemed to chase the rising sun with the speed in which he climbed the mighty steps leading up to the main keep, he again risked flying too close. too quickly. for akhirah tarth knew that this was the only one of the things he needed to do this day.
and the most tremendous, being a letter. a letter that once sent, could not be taken back - and he would watch the bird until it was no longer in his sight. he bowed his head in respect toward the eldery servants, those who had raised the two of them under the same sun for years, before continuing to walk towards a not so familiar wing; it was rare he stalked this part of the hall, and yet he knew she would be awake, for he had seen the cluster of birds within her private garden eating their morning feast. he stood outside the door of her private apartments, not considering that it was too early to wish to speak of such serious matters, but his back straightened nonetheless as giant drum was beat once to announce his presence. he heard the sounds of a windcatcher above him as he waited. and thought. would he need to try and send her to duty? she would insist to fight alongside him, if it came to it; but they could not both risk perishing and being swept up in treachery.
and yet still, he was stubbornly prideful in his notion of honour: they would both stand united in intention. whilst survival would call on her to make it clear to the valyrians she played no role in this, he knew they had been raised to perish together if need be. and so he waited until he heard the door open, before bowing in the presence of the lady of evenfall hall, bringing his hands to clasp together. there was a formality between them, as there always had been; it was in their custom, to address one another with titles and terms of respect. "forgive me sora, for i know it is not long since sunrise - but know i bring news."
it was then he indicated toward her chambers, and for a moment his gaze remained fixed on a new type of bird within her chambers. what bird was that? he did not think even he knew. "may i enter?"
