[center][h2]A Secret Luncheon[/h2][/center]

Having slipped away from the luncheon, Leon proceeded back to Fades-in-Moonlight's home. He would get away with his current look around his peers but his company would expect a higher level of decorum. The walk back would be the last of the abundant sunlight as Leon later emerged with a stylish shirt and cape on.

Leon had been told precious little about how he and the Doge were to actually meet. He only had an address and, when he went to it, he found it to be a rather humble-looking storefront just off of the main strip of Parade Street. There was a nondescript carriage waiting for him and he might've recognized the coachman as one in the Doge's employ.

Shortly, it brought him to a well-appointed but by no means pretentious townhome on a smaller street in the Merchants' Quarter, not too far from the guild and market. Leon found himself led through the doors by a pretty servant girl of some exotic extraction. Inside, but not inside, taking his midday wine on a covered verandah, was Prospero Malatesta. He smiled warmly at the sight of Leon. Perhaps it was real warmth and perhaps he was, himself, a practiced showman. "Welcome, my boy." He held his hands out in the start of a traditional Revidian greeting. You were supposed to kiss each other on the cheeks. "It was good of you to make it. We have much to discuss but, first, you've had a busy day. Let us eat."

Leon had actually exchanged looks with the servant girl. She was indeed pretty and had atypical features to the standard affair around the city. Such a thing was interesting to Leon. However, the second the doors to the Doge opened Leon was looking straight ahead toward him.

Leon's smile grew wider as he greeted Malatesta. "I am honoured as always, Doge." Leon knew the traditional Revidian greeting and had no issues carrying it out for someone he respected so much. When it came to Malatesta, being the Doge was the least of things that gained Leon's respect. The man was a patron and a friend among other things.

"It's true, this morning has been a little busier than what I am used to." Leon let out a small chuckle. "But it is all in good fun, of course. You seem in good spirits as well. Some time in Ersand'Enise must be treating you well." Leon picked a single grape and ate it, wordlessly singalling he was beginning to eat.

"Mmm, yes. 'Something about the air here,' is what I tell people." There may have been a slight chuckle. Then again, there may not have. In any case, the Doge began eating, and he ate shamelessly. There was no need for unnecessary decorum here, and so he dispensed with it. The light fruits gave way to steak, cheeses, and other impeccably-prepared Revidian staples, silently brought in on platters by the same servant girl and the scraps brought back out the way they had entered. Leon might've noticed that his patron declined to speak while in the presence of third parties, but he did not make it so obvious. In any event, it was just smalltalk for much of their meal. Prospero inquired about how the journey had been for Leon and how he was enjoying Ersand'Enise so far, but he also ate quickly.

Leon had sought to match the Doge's eating. He was glad he did not have to keep etiquette around the man like he found with so many other nobles. Although there was a distinct reservation in the boy's eating, which could be easily chalked up to not being as hungry. The breakfast he had was large was all.

As for the matter of talking, Leon picked up on his occassional pauses when the servant came in. He understood the sort of control needed for negotiations and serious discussion. But this was little but small talk so far. Leon whimsically wondered if it was a habit for the Doge at this point.

Finally, the Doge reclined a touch in his chair, dabbing at the corners of his mouth with a cloth. "I do hope the food was to your liking. Now, I'm afraid, it is time for us to exchange business." He sat back up, placed the kerchief down, and gave a signal with one hand. Silently, the servant girl swept in, gathered the food, and departed the way she had come in, leaving only a single, empty platter behind. Prospero Malatesta reached into a satchel that was beside his chair and pulled out an envelope. "I have, in here," he announced, "the details of your birth and the first year of your life. You had mentioned, in passing, an interest in such, and so I thought it my perogative to acquire this for you." He placed the envelope on the table between them. "Such things are of importance to some men and of less to others, but it is useful to know regardless and I hope that it is of consequence to you."

Leon took a good pause at the Doge mentioning the details of his birth. His expression was notably somber. Despite all his talk about parental figures he took to, his true origin was something he longed for. It wasn't something he told a lot of people, but the Doge seemed to be an exception. Leon had assumed that such information wouldn't be used against him. Sure enough, telling Malatesta was beneficial to him. Information that he would otherwise never know was right in front of him, he only need to find out what the Doge wanted in return.

Perhaps Leon would've reached for the envelope and perhaps he would not have, but his patron steepled his fingers and leaned forward, posting his elbows on the tabletop. "I truly hope that this brings you answers, but on the subject of knowledge and consequence, I have my own request of you, and it is of great import." The Doge's eyes fixed upon Leon, studying his reaction.

After his pause dwelling in thought, Leon leaned back in his chair making no attempt to grasp the envelope. He knew how these things work and knew to have the respect to hear the request before trying to claim the reward. Leon's smile returned. "This is good news, to be sure. I am sure you know where my talents lie, let me hear this request."

The Doge smiled, and there may have been some genuine warmth in it or there may not have been. "I'm going to be frank with you, Leon. That information was not easy to get, but I got it because I think it'll be important for you and because I'm relying on your discretion. What I'm about to ask will not be easy. It will not be without risk, and it must not leave this room." Prospero reached out with the Gift and Leon could feel the sound deaden in the air around him, as if nothing would enter or leave the bubble surrounding the two of them.

"Something happened yesterday, in the plaza. It was brief, but perhaps you felt it: a flicker of wrongness, a feeling of forgetfulness, a great, split-second surge of energy. Then again," he continued, "maybe you did not." The Doge glanced around, his normally serene bearing unusually wary. "Something of great import took place. I cannot say for certain what it was and I believe that there are powerful forces within the academy who would like it to stay that way. They think that they have more right to that information because they have a better way with the Gift than we do. They somehow suppose that it means they'll make better decisions." 

Leon had thought back to the event in the plaza. Something weird wriggled at the back of his mind about it, something seemed off. But it was a trace memory as if trying to recall it was grasping at something only his finger tips could touch. Leon could not say for sure if it indicated some significant event like the Doge claimed. However, Ersand'Enise sat on the land of Revidia. To have even the leader be out of the loop of those events indeed indicated something more sinister.

Prospero paused and took a sip of wine, placing the chalice down and pouring a second one for Leon. "What I need from you is to use your skills, your celebrity, and your position here as a student."  His fingers closed upon the edge of the single, empty tray. He handed it to Leon and... it did feel a bit heavier than it should've. "This is a sealed item. It is similar in appearance to the heated trays that the Arch-Zenos use to keep their food warm while they study. Yet, inside is a device that will activate itself when its power words are spoken - you need not worry about those. It has energy enough to last for three days, and it will enscribe, on a wax ring inside, a record of all conversations. I need you to get this inside the Forked Tower in the Violet Enclave. You do not need to retrieve it. It will be discarded as all of those binding-sealed heated platters are discarded once used up. I have people to see to that, but I have none so ideally placed and skilled as to carry off this mission." He sniffed and drummed on the tabletop with his fingertips. "Oh, I have spies, but they have their spies too and the groups know each other. Who would ever be so daft as to use Leon Solaire as his agent, though?" His face grew mirthful for a moment, but was soon serious - heavy - again. He raised his wineglass partway to his lips, but paused. "I do not ask this of you lightly, but I have heard whisperings and I have seen signs, and a man in my position does not rise so high nor last so long without being able to recognize when something terrible lurks on the horizon." He raised his cup and took a long, thoughtful drink.

Leon picked up the chalice the Doge had poured and took a sip, enjoying the sweet taste. After, he had a small polite laugh to himself. But it was certainly audible for the Doge to hear. "If you had lead with this, you wouldn't have needed to show the record of my birth. It is not their place to keep secrets from the ruler of Revidia. Such a thing seems selfish and with disregard for the land and people Ersand'Enise is built on. I agree with you and will help you in this plan. That information you gathered just means I will do a good job of it. Now... I believe we can toast on a deal well struck, no?" Leon raised his chalice toward the Doge.

Afterward, taking a sip or two, Leon asked something that was nagging at him. "By 'their spies', you do mean the Academy's, correct? Or do you suspect other parties to be at play in all this?"

Prospero had known, of course, or at least imagined that Leon would be eager to help. The information on the boy's parentage was something he'd had sitting around for some time and, as this was the first instance in which he had really called upon the performer for anything of import, it was a guarantee against the troubles and counteroffers he might encounter turning him against his patron. Besides, it was good to be thought of as generous. True, it was better to be feared than loved, but being loved was plenty beneficial as well. He schooled his features into seriousness, swirling the wine in his chalice thoughtfully."My dear Leon, I believe that, if you're asking the question, you know the answer."

"Yes, I believe I do." Leon took a final sip of the chalice.

With that, Prospero nodded solemnly and stood. He downed the last of his wine and smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He tapped on the platter still in Leon's hands. "Keep your head down and chin up, son." He took a step past the youth, pausing momentarily and leaning in. "There are going to be moves made at the Conclave in two days - big moves. Powerful people will be angry, so my advice would be to stay in your lane for now. Outside of this thing that I need you to do, keep being an artist. Keep being loved." He clapped Leon on the shoulder. "Carriage will be waiting around the side. It'll drop you back off on Parade street." With that, he brushed past and the sound dampening disappeared. The chirps of birds, the bustle of the street, and the clunk of a door closing returned to Leon Solaire.