Ambassador Burano Namika Jahan, Envoy of Prasad
"I am Burano Namika Jahan, I was born in Talaragar, I have served at the pleasure of clan burano at its White Jade Table for many years. I have been sent as an envoy of Prasad to the..." He winced, having to make himself mouth the words. "Great city of Nexus, and representative of all its clans, as well as its many armies and nascent navy. I have been to present myself to the Lady Grimwolde, who holds many deeds and is a power within the city."
"Welcome, Burano Namika Jahan, dragon of fire, I welcome you back to the Nexus I guided you through, many years back." Dammit, I'm blushing like a teenager, but then, I was, when I first met him, the first chosen I had ever met, and myself a small agent of a much larger real estate concern. That first rent paid my own lodgings, even if now it'd not pay a single floor, in one of my main properties... And much I learned that first night, even if I dare not voice it...
"I am but a mere chosen of Hesiesh, not the Dragon himself, you do me too much honour,, gracious Lady. Do you still number among the mighty, here in Nexus?"
"Now, now, as much as I enjoy cultivating the chosen, and their acquaintance and obvious power... Some things are restricted to those who put Nexus first, or only..."
"As it should be, if you cannot keep secrets, to your friends, you are of no use... Are your lovely assistants, Noura and Flora around?"
"Now now, I have brought my colleague, Lady Cunégonde are we not not woman enough for you?" She chuckled. "...both Flora and Noura have new, young chosen beaus, I suspect you'll meet them soon enough!"
"And the lovely Prital? I have heard much of new players in the city, and am quite curious what her opinion is, of these new players."
Prital had been in the room all this time, and lifted her nose, her hooded countenance coming into the light. "Lord Jahan, I am here, but if you wish to hear me say naught unpleasant about the Peaches Crew, you will wait forever and a day.."
"Prital Tarawi, as I live and breathe... Is this really you? You seem both unlike how I remember you, and yet, burdened with secrets..."
"My burden will not lighten, not in your lifetime, Lord Jahan, but neither is it your concern. You have treated fairly with me, while in the city, and so I will respond in kind... The conquest of Y'danna by Prasad hardly made you any friends... The Tiger’s Nest Coalition fight like tigers, what else? And Volivat's Navy is a force you cannot yet effectively counter. But more to the point, Y'danna and Volivat are petitioning to join the Confederation of Rivers, and so is Port Sund, and Prasad has no counter to Lookshy's flying ships, nor Nexus' mighty mercenary armies!"
"I'm glad you're here to tell me what the Ivory Spear will not, Prital..."
"The Ivory Spear?"
"The chief of staff of Prasad's armies, a fellow member of the White Jade Table, and a friend, or so I thought... But it seems she has been withholding some information, or you'd not be so sure of our defeat..."
"Always in motion is the future, and the Pattern Spiders weave not for a single destiny, Lord Jahan, but step carefully, let they snip you out of destiny altogether, and Samsara find itself without your thread."
I remembered long this introduction, later, when I was sipping a warming drink, and thinking upon my arrival in the city. Prital, Cunégonde and Grimwolde all had significant upgrades on their power upon the city, and my role, now that I'd been unseated from the White Jade Table, was to help Clan Burano and the Rani-Satrap benefit from my knowledge.
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