Chapter 712: Arrangements (1/2)
Chapter 712 Arrangements
Ilea watched as a circular table made entirely of wood grew from the stone ground, various detailed imagery at the edge of the surface depicting bits of history the Meadow had been informed or a part of in both Ravenhall and Hallowfort’s past. She particularly liked the depiction of herself carrying the tree away from the Daughters of Sephilon, the bit rather small compared to more prominent events.
Chairs appeared next to the massive table, each member of the respective council including the guests taking a seat as the negotiations commenced.
Ilea would’ve liked to have a phone with her to take a quick picture. Posting it in the Sentinel group would’ve surely been a hit amongst the students. She too took a seat, even though the buffet looked much more interesting than the stacks of paper, books, and folders appearing on the table. A glance to the side showed Navalis looking around with a bit of an uncertain air about her.
“Sit next to me,” she sent to the woman and repeated the same to Owl, the Lich floating between the buffet and the large circular desk. You’re a four mark Lich. If anyone’s invited, it’s you, Ilea thought. Looking at her own lack of notes, she knew her main reason for being here was her high level. That and the fact that she knew most of the people present, better than they generally knew each other.
The Lich and Ranger sat down, both sharing a quick glance before they focused on the details on the table.
“Nice touch,” she sent to the Meadow when Twin appeared on her shoulder. The left one.
A few of the attendees glanced over, mainly the representatives of Hallowfort looking at her for a long moment.
“I’ve done extensive research before this meeting. Unlike some people,” the Meadow answered.
“See, that’s why I appreciate you so much, darling,” Ilea answered.
“Important meeting. Join? Violence maybe later,” she sent to the Baron, giving a glance to Rock and Senia, the two Shadows sitting besides Wayland, both stressed enough they’d surely want to blow off some steam once this was over.
The music had stopped and relative quiet returned to the area, a cool breeze flowing in from the caverns.
Catelyn and Claire glanced at each other and opened their books at the same time.
The fox started. “Welcome everyone. To the first official talks between the representatives of Ravenhall and Hallowfort. As the members of each council were informed, we will go through the previously established sections first, by their importance as evaluated by both me and Claire. Endless Meadow will document all that is said for future reference and documentation,” she said, thin sheets of stone appearing in the air with the words written down as they were said.
I wasn’t informed. Tragedy.
Claire gave the fox a nod and stood up. “Claire Russel, Head Administrator and council member of Ravenhall, member of the Shadow’s Hand, am here in person, sound of mind and at my own will,” she said and sat back down, looking to her left where Trian had already started standing up.
This is gonna take fucking forever, isn’t it, Ilea thought with a sigh and glanced over to Navalis.
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Navalis could feel the attention of Lilith next to her, the gaze like the lazy look of a disinterested predator. She stopped herself from gulping and looked at her for a split second before she turned her attention back to the detailed etching before her in the wooden table. She’s obviously not very interested in the talks. I can’t take sides. Not disrespecting any of the powerful individuals including Ilea would surely prove difficult, but she would try her best.
As a Shadow and ranger, her specialty was hunting monsters, but she’s been a part of her fair share of social events. Nothing quite as important as this, but the other attendees would’ve often thought as much about their downright mundane matters. Compared to even just the woman sitting next to her.
To her left sat Senia, the rogue glancing between the various attendees, her main focus still on Wayland.
He would be a fool and instantly dead if he tried anything here, Navalis thought but she didn’t say or signal anything. Few movements in the face of dangerous monsters. The introductions commenced, all around the table with most of them repeating a variation of the words Claire had used.
Navalis didn’t particularly like the Fae sitting on Ilea’s shoulder, the creature sometimes giving her a look that made her feel like a child. It didn’t help that a second one of the beings appeared on Ilea’s other shoulder a few minutes later. The creatures looked more or less the same but even without her perception abilities, they felt like day and night. Only based on their body language and her instincts. Neither of them talked. At least not to her.
Ilea summoned one of the wine bottles onto the table and poured herself a glass, more appearing near some of the participants. Others had mugs with steaming liquids or entire bottles appear. Navalis couldn’t tell if everything came from the Meadow, Ilea, personal storage devices, or through some other magic. Nor did she know if any communication had happened before. Telepathy. She wondered if the people here had more conversations going on than just the ones talked out loud. It was easy to read Ilea’s expressions to know she was communicating with the Fae on her shoulders, Claire, Catelyn, and with the direction of the Meadow. She seemed the least serious of everyone present, the mood and now drinks positively affecting the others.
A deliberate effort? Or just something that came natural to her? Navalis didn’t know. She would’ve guessed the latter based on her previous interactions with Ilea but a lot had changed.
“… former Queen of Rhyvor. And I’ll want to know where this wine was made,” the woman called Elana finished, sitting down with a look towards Ilea.
“Maro approved,” the woman replied with a wink which seemed to both irritate and amuse Elana.
Hard to read that one. She’s obviously a noble but it feels like she simply doesn’t care about schooling her face. The training was there, both in her posture and the way she moved her hands. Just her face, and eyes. Navalis looked away slowly when the woman met her gaze. Look at the engraving. Yes, winged and many armed being fighting monster hordes. She knew it was Lilith. Depicted like some kind of deity. Was it how the Meadow thought of her? She hadn’t gotten the impression that Ilea would like that but people could put on masks.
“Ilea,” the woman said and stood up. “Or Lilith, whatever you prefer. Very resistant to mind magic, forced to be here by my good friends Claire, and Catelyn,” she added and sat back down.
“No titles?” Catelyn asked after giving a glance to Claire.
“I doubt the famous Lilith even requires an introduction,” the Head Administrator said.
“I want some credit in forcing her to be here too,” the Headmaster of the Sentinels added, writing something into a leather bound book before he glanced up at the ashen myth. He wore a vest embroidered with both the family crest of the Alymie clan from Virilya and the wing of the Medic Sentinels, neither of which Navalis remembered seeing on any clothing or armor before. His black eyes were focused, long brown hair falling to his back with a well trimmed beard on his face. She would’ve respected his presence, his obvious status of nobility, and the magical power he wielded at his high level, but today he simply paled in comparison to his surroundings.
“Trian receives no credit,” Ilea stated in a more formal tone than she used before, an amused look in her eyes as she glanced at the tablets of stone where the said was imprinted. The woman glanced at Navalis a moment later.