[i][center][h3]The Hermit’s Abode, Kyora[/h3][/center][/i]

It was after midnight. Nia always preferred the nighttime over the morning. It was colder, fires looked brighter, and there were less people around to see her slipping in and out of shadows. Softly, quietly, she unlatched her door and pushed it open, making sure to not have it give away any creaks or groans that would ring out in the silence like a shot in the dark. The hall was empty. Perfect. She made her way down the hallway, her footsteps silent as she passed by door after door, a Sentinel, both official and not, snoozing behind each one. She counted the doors, all the way up to eight, and then stopped. She rapped her knuckles lightly against the wooden door and waited to see if there was a response. Even if the occupant was asleep, she could easily pick her way into the room. Still, best to keep on the right side of the law for now. 

The occupant that she was looking for was, in fact, not asleep, and of course was the King of Barcea. Though Cyril had made a sort of show of heading to bed, making sure that the members of the Sentinels had seen it and would think he was actually getting rest, he knew it would be hard coming. He had to think and to plan. Sleep could wait.

With only a single candle lighting the room, he had his map of Kyora opened on the table. There were already plenty of markings over it, sectioning off the city-state into different pieces, for what would be searched and in what order. On the margins he had notes to remind himself of the mountains, the farms, and the docks; Yaguar could be anywhere, not necessarily inside the walls.

Yaguar, who had ordered Yihira killed, had Remade so many people. Yaguar, the Gifted turned to evil, turned to seeing his goals accomplished no matter the cost. Gartian had been made beyond help, was barely more than a dog sicced on Barcea by the Manu Propria, but whatever madness didn't inhibit him, only strengthened him and his resolve. It was not the first time that Cyril had seen or even known of such a monster, but it was the first time he was going to face one.

When the knock came, he nearly knocked over the candle and bit back a hiss. He had been quiet, he knew that much, so no one had heard him; had someone stepped outside and somehow seen the light through his window? If it was Alasa, Sampson, or Gortul he could deal with it, but if it were Vesta or, Ambrosia forbid, Diane he didn't know how he would talk his way out of it...

But when he arrived at the door he learned it was not Vesta, or Diane, or anyone he thought it had might be. Instead it was Nia, and after his surprised blink he smiled as he normally did, bowing his head ever slightly. [b]"Ah, Ms. Tucela, I apologize for the delay. I wasn't expecting anyone tonight. Is everything alright?"[/b]

[b]"Well, we are currently hunting down a murderous monster that can magically manipulate people into becoming his psychotic servants so...I'd say everything's about average?" [/b] she said lightly, looking past Cyril to the map on the table. [b]"Well, well, well, looks like somebody's burning the midnight oil. Mind if I..."[/b]

And with that she slipped past Cyril and into his room, closing the door with her heel as she made her way over to the table. She studied the map briefly as she steadied herself against the table with her hands. So, they really did have no idea where their friend Yaguar was hiding. That was good, well, at least that was good for her. It made her more valuable; gave her more leverage. Grabbing the candlestick, Nia turned back towards Cyril and leaned against the table, making the flame of the candle dance with her fingers and sending shadows stretching across their faces. 

[b]"I've come to talk to you about earlier today. Remember when I said that you needed my help? I did not get to say everything that needed to be said, but it did not feel right to do it with so many other ears in the room at the time,"[/b] she said, her tone growing more serious. In one quick sleight-of-hand she snuffed out the candle and ignited a flame above her own hand, making it appear as if she had simply grabbed the fire from the stick. She stared at the fire as it smoldered above her glove. [b]"The thing is, I also need your help."[/b] 

[b]"You will help me,"[/b] she said, looking up at Cyril over the flames. It was clear that she was not asking a question.

For the most part, Cyril only carefully watched Nia as she spoke and slipped her way in. His polite smile remained on his face, but all the while he was simply observing. He didn't mind her making her way in, and seeing what he had done.

But when the conversation turned to help, his arms slowly crossed as he leaned back against the closed door. He should have expected something like this, probably had in the back of his head, but he hadn't thought about it, not with so much already going on. But here it was, and furthermore...

She wasn't asking him for his help. She may as well have demanded it, have gotten into his face and screamed at him with spittle flying. And for a brief moment, it felt like that, and he felt something that he didn't expect. It was there, hissing behind his thoughts, coiled like some sort of snake in his gut or hanging like a bat in his very lungs.

It was a red feeling that didn't belong, and so he pushed that red back down and away. The most that got out was how his hand came up, and pinched the bridge of his nose briefly, as if he were physically relieving some sort of pressure from his sinuses. And then the moment was gone, and his hand was lowering as he smiled once again, gently now, looking back to her.

[b]"Of course, Ms. Tucela. If it's something within my power, I'll do my very best. Of course, that's assuming you're not asking me to, say, hurt someone who doesn't deserve it, anything along those lines. Then I'll just have to say no."[/b]

He kept smiling, but he didn't laugh.

[b]"Please, I would never ask for such a thing. All I need is information,"[/b] she said, matching Cyril's empty smile with one of her own as she rolled the fire from one hand to another.[b]"You were in the H'kelan capital when Revali ascended the throne, were you not?"[/b] she asked, raising an eyebrow. [b]"Surely you heard about the little massacre that occurred shortly there after. A room full of power hungry war hawks eradicated like that."[/b] 

She snapped her fingers. 

[b]"It's quite convenient that any who would oppose Revali's rule or try to continue the war with your kingdom were put down like that. Understandably, it made some people a little suspicious,"[/b] she said, her eyes lowering. [b]"I am seeking some illumination regarding what happened in that room, if you would be so kind."[/b]

There it was again, that red, like bile rising. Once again he pushed it down, and then he shook his head slightly. [b]"I wasn't there it when it happened, when she rose. I left just before then. I had nothing to do with the ascension of Queen Revali, only gave a warning that if they let another Gartian rise, I would be there again. The news of what happened... Only reached me afterwards."[/b]

And the details of what had happened were horrifying. So many brutally killed. If they were the war hawks, Cyril hadn't known it, or had really cared in that moment; his focus was on other things. Whoever had done it was someone or something else.

Something red...

He shook the thought off, sighing. [b]"I honestly don't know what happened. I don't know how Revali took the throne, or if she had help. I'm sorry I don't have anything more definitive to give you."[/b]

[b]"How annoying,[/b] said Nia, the fire reflected off of her glaring eyes. Then, with a sigh, her look softened and she smiled bashfully. [b]"Still, I believe you. I will still go speak with the governor. I've already given you my word and, honestly, with this Yaguar being so close to my home I can't just stand to the side."[/b]

Nia lit the candle and then smothered the fire she was holding between her hands, letting the room reset to its soft, comfortable light.

[b]"I'll let you get back to your work,"[/b] she said, pushing off of the table.

[hr]

King of Barcea and Spy for the Kirun parted ways, but it was only for a brief time. After the sun had risen and the group had begun to both gather and split off for the tasks of the day, Cyril found Nia once again, stopping her by a gentle grip on her arm. Quickly, he dropped a ring into her hand, his ring which bore the cross sigil of Barcea over a sapphire. Nia plucked the ring out of her hand and held it up to her eyes, looking between it and Cyril in obvious bemusement, a small, nervous smile on her face.

[b]"Take this with you. That should get you in to see the Governor, let them know you're telling the truth."[/b]

[b]"For a second there I thought you were trying to propose to me,"[/b] said Nia, laughing as she slipped the ring onto her left hand. She held it up to him as if he were supposed to admire it. Nice rock; she imagined it would sell for a real good price. Perhaps if she was lucky the King would forgot that he had loaned it to her. Taking it off of her finger, she tucked it into her pocket. 

[b]"Cyril!"[/b]

And with a call from Alasa the King was gone as quickly as he had arrived, brought back to the very map he had been pondering over the night before. From there, Nia was left to her own devices. She took her time in town, dipping into various shops and inns, and then around midday headed to go find the Governor.

Finding the Governor's Estate wasn't even slightly difficult; set towards the middle of the city-state, there was nothing else that the mansion set there and surrounded on all sides by heavy metal fences could possibly be. Three floors high and made from a off-white stone, the mansion seemed almost like a series of columns placed side by side and connected, alternating between circular and square segments. With an angle roof of cobblestone above, windows were set throughout, and at first it seemed the mansion was made of equal parts glass and stone.

Guards wearing the colors of Kyora (a faint orange) were set both inside and outside the fences, some patrolling and some stationary. Four stood together in front of the gate that led into the yard and up to the front steps.

When the ring was revealed and her purpose declared, one of the four quickly departed and entered the house. She was made to wait outside for another ten minutes, and then the guard returned, this time followed by the Governor herself. There was no one else such an extravagant person could have been, dressed as she was in silks and jewelry. She was also confident, composed; like she owned the entirety of the city-state around her, and all in it.

Considering that Kyora kept its independence through its economy and that the Governor was always the most successful business kingpin at the time, perhaps that wasn't so far from the truth.

Already, Nia's impression of the Governor had been soured by being made to wait. She didn't care how much money Kyora had, a royal emissary was a royal emissary—even if they were running messages for a kingdom to which they did not belong. When she saw the woman appear in her fine, flowing clothes and with her chin turned up ever so slightly the messenger bristled, sensing an immediate enmity growing between the two of them. Nia, as she was one to do, had primped and preened for this meeting, but there was only so much one could do with a limited wardrobe that had been slightly soiled thanks to her committing to the Wanderer's brisk pace. She didn't like being the second best-dressed in the room; she may as well have been wearing the rags of a beggar. 

[b]"So this is the representative then, yes? Of the King who managed to slip into my borders without any fanfare?"[/b] Though she grinned, something about the amused expression seemed calculated, as if the Governor was making sure just to let the right amount out. She gave a sort of fluttering wave with both hands, and the guards quickly moved, opening the gate and standing to the side so that Nia could directly approach the Governor.

[b]"Nia Tucela. A pleasure,[/b]" said Nia with a curtsy, being as polite as possible despite her immediate dislike of the other woman. 

The woman bowed, both hands out to the side, quickly rising afterwards. [b]"Myra Quloan at your service! Come with me, come in, please. I would absolutely love to learn why the King of Barcea happens to be in my city today."[/b]

[b]"And I would absolutely love to tell you once we are in private. Lead the way,"[/b] said Nia.

Together the two women walked towards the mansion, Nia taking the time to observe the guard patterns and any alternative means of entry or exit. At the same time, she made small talk with the Governor, little comments about the city or the architecture or the weather, anything to make her seem amicable. They entered the mansion. She tried her best not to look a second time at the two guards trailing behind her, although between the feeling of their eyes on her back and the soft sound of their feet on the floor she knew that they weren't going anywhere anytime soon. 

The inside of the mansion was absolutely immaculate and brightly lit, the sun shining off of the polished, expensive looking decorations in the entrance hall. However, the decorations and cleanliness did not end there, and as they continued up the double staircase and down a hall Nia was certain that she had not seen a single speck of dust. Servants, and there were servants here and there, would stop and bow as they passed, and from the corner of her eyes Nia saw that they did not throw the looks of disgust that most servants do whenever their master's back is turned. All of it was a stark contrast to the Cade manor back in the Kirun. Even in its best of days the place had a sort of dark dinginess to it, and ever since the death of Ennis's father it was more of a mausoleum than a mansion. 

The pair came to a large, oaken door. Myra produced a key from her pocket and unlocked it, and the women proceeded inside. Much to Nia's relief, the guards closed the door with themselves on the other side, likely posted up and ready to come in at a moment's notice. The room, like the rest of the manor, was neat, although it wasn't completely perfect. The desk had a few papers scattered across the top of it, and the bookshelves that lined the walls had a few stacks of books lying down flat as opposed to being properly put away. Behind the desk was a large window that overlooked the backyard of the mansion, offering a nice view of the fountain and the gardens in it. They both took a seat at the desk, facing each other, and once Nia politely (and regretfully) turned down the tea and cookies the Governor asked her question yet again: why was the King of Barcea here?

[b]"Honestly, I want to ask him that same question. You think a king would be busy, I don't know, running a kingdom, but apparently he much rather distract himself with manhunts and goose chases."[/b] Nia smiled. [b]"So, regretfully, I cannot say why he himself is here exactly. I can say, however, that him being here will, at worst, have absolutely no effect on the safety of your citizens or your city's profits so long as you do nothing to stand in his way or the way of his men."[/b]

Nia let the words hang in the air for a moment and then relaxed her posture.

[b]"Of course, I know there's no way that you would ever approve of a foreign leader having absolute freedom in your city on the promise of good faith alone. I'm not an idiot,"[/b] said Nia, her eyes narrowing,[b] "and neither are you, I take it. So, I am here to barter with you. Information for information; favors for favors. And since, allegedly, you failed to notice a foreign leader infiltrate your city until I arrived at your lovely mansion, I do believe that it is your turn to offer me some information."[/b]

Nia shifted her weight and propped a hand underneath her chin, almost as if she were bored with the conversation.

[b]"So, do you know of any Gifted that have entered your city?"[/b]

There was one thing about the office that set it apart from many others: the models of ships that were positively everywhere. Smaller ones were set in bottles with some water, charmed to look like they were sailing at full speed while remaining perfectly stationary. More of the larger were set on stands, intricate and thorough in their detail from the stitching in the sails to the wrapping of the rigging.

The two that were obviously the prized positions (and also the largest, both being nearly a hard long) were both set on the largest of the bookshelves, one on the bottom shelf and the other on the very top. The one of the bottom both seemed like a ship vaguely speaking, but it was rounded over the top save for a very small railed area, there were no sails, and it seemed to be made of metal.

The model above, meanwhile, wasn't meant to represent a ship for sailing the seas but rather one that sailed the skies. Set with sails, this was clearly a representation of one of the newer models; rather than great balloons full of helium or some other gas that was lighter than air, the engines set in the back were clearly what kept it afloat through the careful harnessing of both science and magic.

Though both of the models were much, much larger than the others throughout the office, something about those two ships made it seem like they weren't simply set at a larger scale, and that the size difference would be equally as impressive if the real ships happened to be nearby.

Myra sat with her fingers folded in front of her face, creating a sort of triangle where the digits crossed. She thought for a moment, and then she shook her head.

[b]"No, and believe me, we'd do our best to be aware of it. The last time a Gifted sneaked in it was over a decade ago, but Kyora still remembers what it was like when the Phantasm lurked in our streets."[/b]

She leaned back slightly, her eyes narrowing a little.

[b]"Barcea made it their business that time then, too; so, is it the Phantasm your King is chasing? Is that menace back in our streets? Wouldn't be surprised that he's here to settle that grudge."[/b]

[b]"Let's be clear,"[/b] said Nia, holding up her hand as if to pause the conversation. [b]"Cyril is not my King. I am from the Kirun. Like you, we have no kings. I am simply helping the King of Barcea out of the good of my heart and nothing more. That said,"[/b] she lowered her hand and placed it on her knee as she sat upright, [b]"your intuition is right: the King of Barcea did follow the Phantasm here."[/b]

Nia gauged the woman for a reaction and then leaned forward, lowering her voice ever so slightly as if she was ready to tell a juicy rumor.

[b]"That grudge you were speaking of...is that as in one the Phantasm would be holding against an individual? You certainly couldn't be referring to the King; I'm pretty sure he was still in diapers a decade ago. So, who's the guy that the Phantasm would come out of hiding for just to track down?"[/b] She sat back in her chair. [b]"I feel like it would be in both of our interest to warn them, don't you?"[/b]

Confusion briefly flitted over the Governor's face, but by the time Nia finished it had gone away. It seemed that everything was clear to her now, with the unspoken assumptions replaced by what Nia had to say.

[b]"Not your King then? So no wonder you misunderstood me, allow me to explain."[/b] She settled back in her chair some, going on, [b]"The grudge I'm speaking of is Barcea against the Phantasm. When the Phantasm was here to hide during the God King War, Olain Serio was already in the West and striking against both the Rebellion and the God Kings. When those still in Barcea learned that the Phantasm was in Kyora, well... He was continued to be much too close, and was hunted. There was a lot of killing involved."[/b]

One hand came up, spreading her fingers across her face. [b]"But it sounds to me that isn't the case at all? That the King isn't acting on some sort of miniature crusade related to family honor?"[/b]

[b]"Right again. You are very good at this,"[/b] said Nia, a hint of condescension in her voice. [b]"All I can say is that the King is concerned with something greater than honoring the dead."[/b]

Truth be told, she was growing slightly frustrated. She had hoped to pull some information about Yaguar out of the Governor without volunteering that he was, in fact, the reason they were there. A nagging voice in the back of Nia's mind told her that there was a chance that the other woman was in league, knowingly or otherwise, with the bastard, but she could tell that there would be no way of determining that with this current line of questioning. Swallowing a sigh, Nia decided to just proceed on with the deal that Cyril had sent here there to negotiate in the first place.

[b]"Lady Quloan, there is a..."[/b] Nia's eyes wandered as she searched for the right word. [b]"A cancer here, growing in your city, and from my conversation with you it appears that you either do not know of the kinds of people who make there way into your city's gates,"[/b] she paused and then, with a hint of accusation in her eyes, added, [b]"or you enjoy pretending that you do not know. Honestly, it doesn't matter either way. The only thing that matters is that you tell your men to let the King of Barcea and his men continue to have access to your city, and that they are not hassled during their stay. That is all. I am not asking you to help us in anyway. I am only asking that you do not hinder us."[/b]

Nia's eyes narrowed.

[b]"Do we have a deal?"[/b]

Both condescension and accusation alike rolled off of the Governor like water from stone; Myra didn't even blink at each of those moments, her eyebrow just remaining raised in polite curiosity as she watched Nia and patiently waited for her to finish. With the proposition of the deal, her hands went down to gently pick up one of the smaller ships in a bottle, holding it up to her eye to examine it closely.

[b]"Kyora works a little differently. We don't mind who arrives, just so long as they remain within the realms of the law. So long as you and yours aren't planning to, say, take over the city-state, sabotage us, or just in general be a nuisance, I don't really see any reason on my end to stop you. Especially if this 'cancer' you keep vaguely mentioned, don't think that's slipped by me, is as bad as you say it is. However!"[/b]

She suddenly sat up some, and with it came a quick flash of a grin, one that was just a little mischievous. [b]"None of that means I don't want to meet the King of Barcea. In fact, I see it as my civic duty to do so. So, you do your investigation, but I want to meet the King.... say, tomorrow night, at [i]War Against the Gods![/i] It's supposed to be one hell of a performance, and I think it would be the perfect backdrop to our meeting. Of course, anyone who would like to come along with him may, free of charge, but he simply has to."[/b]

She tilted her head to the side slightly. [b]"Please pass that along to him. You will, won't you?"[/b]

[b]"We'll see. I'll show myself out. Have fun with your toy,"[/b] said Nia as she dismissively flicked her hand towards the model ships and made her way to the door. Her pace quickened; a feeling of unease had crept over her. She had gotten what she had come for, although she was almost certain that she had ultimately made things worse.