FENRER

Bells rang out through the wind and snow. Nausea rippled through his head and straight down his chest when he squirmed out of the lump of furs dropped on him, with the lounge chair stretched out for a hasty bed. He dragged himself from his shoulders and listened to the howl. Reyn's diplomats disappeared, though evidently not without burying him under their extra supplies. Fenrer winced into his palm and gazed out the window. Ice cracked along the tough frame, and a relentless shiver attacked his breath. Moving will warm me up... Fenrer pushed the lounge chair upwards with his legs, and free from the fur prison of misguided concern, he wandered over to the runeoven, where Benja left the kettle, though long gone cold. Fenrer slipped it back into the boiler and slid fire into the runes. A dry cough launched upwards through his nose, and he tried to hold it back with no success. Hand on his chest, he waited for it to subside, a shard of Yuven's pain. He stood there at the kettle, listening to the fire blaze and energizing the water left within.

Flurries whisked off the thin layer across the stone pathways, a hovered dance carried on the crying wind beating against the large barrier which formed a bubble around Volaris. Exhaustion crawled through his limbs, but he tugged out the kettle when it let out a short whistle of steam. It bit at his skin when he picked it up by the handle and set it to the side before searching through the cupboards. One cup placed on the counter, he hesitated when the wind shifted and the auras coalesced into pearly moonlight. He closed the cabinets then whispered, "What can I do for you, Your Grace?"

"I noticed that the diplomat party lacked one of their number."

Fenrer readied the white leaves and corked open one of his phials of essence. He searched through the auric flurry, then twisted to the sudden visitor. Queen Regent Hayvala closed the door behind her, without her entourage. "Your companions are currently being seen by His Wyvern Grace. It is my sincere hope that the trade deal will be favorable for both our kingdoms," she said and curled her hands into her fur cuffs, but the further he delved into the pearls of a single, smooth river, she smiled at him. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

Warmth blasted into his head, and he returned to his drink. "We are guests in your home, Your Grace." He poured out the water first, where the steam fizzled in the chill she brought with her, before pouring the essence in. Stars bounced, and he finished with a bundle of white leaves, squeezing out the mixture before stirring it throughout, a swirl of relief. "What can I do for you, Your Grace?" On his heel, he faced her and sipped, though it failed to burn away the cobwebs in his throat. "I thought you'd be busy with the celebrations you talked about... when you were last here." It can't have been more than a day.

Hayvala said, "We should sit down first."

Fenrer nodded at the small round couch beside the hearth, whose flames died out. Extra cup full of water, he repeated the process, but hesitated with the essence over the water. "Are you safe to take essence?"

Her eyes widened, but her smile remained. "You noticed. You must be a powerful Aurus indeed to get that much from a single glance." She rested her hands on her knees and a softer pulse of the river blurred her aura. "I am safe to take essence, and I thank you for your concern."

Fenrer finished with the extra and matched her expression, and proceeded with caution through the storm and set the cup in front of her, then took the seat with a safe distance between them. Pain flashed through his ribs, but he got comfortable and sipped at the edge. "You didn't answer my question, Your Grace... is there something you need?"

Hayvala took a drink from her own cup. "The better question is if there's something you need." Auric swirls danced in her eyes when she examined him. "You must be Fenrer Pyren."

Fenrer tightened his grip on the cup and stretched his senses further outwards, but Hayvala frowned at him. "I'm not your enemy, and we are alone."

"You knew since I arrived," Fenrer murmured.

"I was unsure, considering there was this prevailing belief that you were dead, but I have spoken with the reasons you are here," Hayvala said and took another sip. "Adara Sazaka and Yuven Traye, yes? I've heard of you from them... and from my brother, whose strings have been pulled by Keeper Blackwall." Tension wrapped around the tangles of her pale aura, but she continued on, "If you mistrust me, I understand, but you're walking in a dangerous place." Her gaze dropped to his chest, and she added, "Our climes are harsh... even for those of sound body."

Fenrer turned his attention to his reflection. "I can handle myself, but I appreciate the warning," he said with a larger sip. "Is my presence so obvious?"

"You may catch the attention of Keeper Blackwall, but not of those who are attending the party," Hayvala said. "It is sometimes a blessing that not everyone can see auras the way we can. In that regard though, if it was as simple as handing Adara Sazaka and Yuven Traye to you, I would've brought them with me and you would leave."

Fenrer drained his cup and placed it on the table. "You came to me with this... and you're right, I am wary of you," he admitted, where Aurus failed to hide their immutable truths to those with the eyes of the flow. "Because I was attacked on what seems to be the orders of the Naveeran monarchy. Your brother. You say that Blackwall manipulated his strings, but for that to occur, he had to have had a reason for Blackwall to use." He leaned his head forward and said, "I just want them back, and if you say you want to help me, I'll give you a chance." He leaned back into the cushion.

"Then you're going to have to play the part you were sent for, to not arouse suspicion," Hayvala said. "Do you know how to dance, Fenrer Pyren?"

"Probably better than you think," Fenrer murmured. "Why?"

Hayvala finished her cup. "Because with you here, I might be able to get you three out of here without Blackwall noticing for enough time," she said. "This, of course, depends on the fact that he has yet to use Adara. He will notice her absence. Whatever he is doing, he's not finished yet. And as you surmised, to us, your presence is very obvious." Hands at her sides, she smiled at him. "So, I can do one thing. I can get you in reach of Adara Sazaka, but if you say you know how to dance... maybe you can do something else. For the king who's word you've claimed to come with."

"What's that?"

Hayvala grinned. "Make an impression, of course. You can do that without an aura. They need not know who you are, but leave them with something that will occupy them for a while."

Fenrer searched through her aura. "Where's Yuven right now? Before I agree to this, I would have his condition."

Her smile faltered, and she lowered her head with droplets of shameful pearls. "He is not well. I am not quite sure what Blackwall did, but what I gathered is that he was performing a memory extraction — and afterwards Yuven had a severe expulsion flash."

Numb pinpricks swept through his lungs and straight to his heart. "But what of his medication? He hasn't had a severe expulsion flash in... Turns." He slipped out of the couch and held himself poised to spring. "What did he do, Your Grace? Why was he extracting Yuven's memory?"

"I'm not sure," she admitted. "Keeper Blackwall came at my brother's behest to study the world sphere... and my condition. How any of this relates to Yuven's memories, I don't know, but I can tell you that they need Adara's magick. Keeper Blackwall believes it can pierce the fog of the world sphere."

Exhaustion whipped across his stomach, and he sunk back down onto the cushions, and the vision made sense. He was long out of time, and with no option but to trust the queen regent's plan. "You can get me close to Adara?"

"For a time," Hayvala said. "Enough time for you to talk with her, but then she will need to return to where she's kept. I will have my handmaiden standing by when your time is up. Afterwards, I am hoping with the peak of the celebrations, I can slip Yuven Traye to you. It is important you and yours are not seen retreating. You must keep your front like a mask. It may not protect you from Blackwall, but it will protect you from everyone else."

He held his boiling stomach and tried not to puke.

"You know, I've heard a lot about you... without words at all," Hayvala said and lifted herself off the couch. "If you're going to play the part, you're going to need to dress the part as well. If you are going to dance among the Avaerilians, you're going to need some assistance."

Fenrer met her head-on, then shook his head. "Please concern yourself with Adara and Yuven," he insisted. "I can dance as well as yours."

"Truly?" Hayvala beamed. "Very well. You're still going to need some attire, and a mask. This will not just be helping them, as I said. It'll help the King of Haneka. I will be frank, Fenrer... my people do not have a good view of Hanekans, the noble caste would sooner see you all as uncultured barbarians. Would that I can change that with a word, but naught less but a shaken foundation in their world will change it. If doubt is planted, then the Trade Deal will go through without much complaints."

"You've planned this out quite a bit."

Hayvala nodded. "I was just waiting for the sun."

Fenrer jolted at her words. "Where am I going to get attire, and when is the dance?"

"I can handle the attire if you can provide measurements. It won't be custom tailored, we have no time for that, but we have extras on hand just in case all the same," Hayvala said with a wave of her hand. "As for the dance, it is soon. A masquerade, as I mentioned. I'll bring a mask for you to wear, but stand proud of who you are and where you came from. This is what this festival is really about."

Fenrer wrote down what he memorized of his armor fitting before handing it to her, which she took with grace. Hayvala bowed to him with her knees. "Thank you for the tea, it was lovely."

"No problem, Your Grace," he said in the Navei song.

Hayvala blinked, then giggled. "Ah... how refreshing. It's precious how different a song can be when it isn't stifled... the dialect suits your voice." At the door, Fenrer opened it for her, and she twisted to him. "But, you might have to be a little more formal with it. Gratu'lez instead of Gratulan." With a smile, she drew her fur hood around her ears and covered her face with her scarf. "Get some rest, Fenrer Pyren. My warning still stands, and I will return and set you loose on them. Ancients know they need to see the world." Out into the mist, she disappeared among the flakes of snow in the direction of the palace.

It took all his strength to close his door against the wind. It left trails of snow at his feet, and he waddled over to the lounge chair. Acid stung his lungs, and he dropped right back into the furs.

I'm so close to you. He rested his chin on his arms and tried to time his scattered, short breaths. I just need to hold onto the strength I still have. I can rest once this is over. He rested his brow into his forearms. Thank you, Neven, for all you've taught me, though I am sad I have to use it in a situation like this.