Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)

Ling Qi was thankful for the warning, both from the messenger that had interrupted them and the word the main White Sky delegation had sent ahead to her own people. She was very glad indeed, for the White Sky's delegation bore far too much resemblance to a Cloud Tribe warhost.

A line of distant figures on their winged horses, galloping in the sky, on a road of churning gray clouds, banners of shimmering color painted on the wind currents at their backs. Ling Qi could see the tension in every imperial soldier's posture from where she waited with Cai Renxiang in a greeting party, along with Xuan Shi, and a number of other more minor officials. And even if she could not see her, Ling Qi was quite sure that she could feel the General's attention.

There were differences though. A shine to the approaching fliers, a reflected gleam from the sun. There was no hide or bone on display, fur was lining and cloaks alone. Every single one of the riders was instead clad in frost blue steel that shone with the colors of dawn where the sun struck it. Even the horses themselves were barded so, and lightning crackled about their iron shod hooves. Where the tribesman she had seen wore flight masks of painted bone and shaped crystal, these wore masks of opaque ice, carved with furrows filled with precious metals.

It was, Ling Qi realized, narrowing her eyes, quite calculated in its opulence, a show to imperial sensibilities. All the trapping of civilization applied with meticulous uniformity to these 'barbarians'

There was another difference, the tribes had their gliders and flying travois, but she was quite sure she had never heard of Cloud Tribesman towing such a huge structure. It was like an immense sledge, on which were built many small structures, the blades of the sledge were green metal, suffused with potent wind qi, and it was towed by over a dozen of the winged horses' third realms all. From somewhere within it radiated a potent heat, like a sliver of the sun buried in artifice.

She wondered how much of the extra time needed had been Jaromila arranging for such an impressive entrance. Most of the procession, the great sledge the greater majority of the riders descended at the far end of the valley, but one group, no more than a half dozen riders in total remained high in the sky, for longer, approaching the center, where Ling Qi, and her liege awaited.

At their head was Ilsur, she recognized his qi, if not his visage, hidden behind a mask of ice embedded with curving veins of sun bright molten metal, and armor chased with pure white inlay, behind him, on the dappled winged stallion Jaromila perched wearing a shimmering dark blue dress, hemmed with white fur, a lighter blue cloak was around her shoulders, with a fur lined hood drawn up tight shadowing her face. She perched behind her husband with no saddle or harness, looking for all the world like an immaterial fairy, save for where her iron nails dug into the leather harness of her husband's shoulder, gripping him tight.

It wasn't just a physical grip, with her senses more attuned for it, she could see the barbs of iron sunken into the twin souled tribesman…. Just as she could see the lightning that crackled under the silent ice. The two were bound with potent vows indeed.

The others in the party were three women soldiers of the white sky, in heavy armor of ice and fur and steel, peak third realm, but with something else lurking, a binding connection that ran back to the sliver of sunfire buried in the great sledge landing far back near to the Weeping Tree. The other two were men of Ilsur's tribe, fourth realm by her measure. Quite an honor guard.

"I, Cai Renxiang, heiress of the Emerald Seas, welcome you here, Emissary of the White Sky. It is good to see you arrive in good health," Cai Renxiang said, stepping forward as they landed upon the cobbles of the little square carved into the forest.

"And I, her Emissary, apologize that we have not been able to speak with you sooner," Ling Qi said, falling in one step behind and bowing.

Jaromila slipped gracefully down from horseback, her fine black boots soundlessly touching the stone tiles. She drew back her hood, revealing her pale golden hair, drawn up in a tight braid, coiled and pinned in place along the back of her head. Her lips were icy blue today and her complexion was more akin to Ling Qi's old Master Zeqing than a human shade. Her smile was friendly but stern.

"We both had many preparations, I do not begrudge either of you that. Let us merely be pleased that we can speak now, when there is still some time for more casual talk."

"We are pleased to share your fire, people of the forest and hill," Ilsur grunted as he dismounted beside her. His mask remained in place. Ling Qi remembered that it was custom to remain masked until all of your beasts had been seen too though, and so did not take offense.

"It is our pleasure to host you, people of the wide White Skies," Ling Qi said.

"We may offer you hospitality now, our wait to speak further until you have settled your own matters, at your leisure," Cai Renxiang said.

"The clans of my people thank you for your accommodations," Jromila said formally. "If it pleases you, once our greetings are complete we will confer with our own, and reassemble for a proper welcome in a short time. Two hours?"

"That will be well," Cai Renxiang said. "My Emissary will receive you here at that time," Cai Renxiang said, gesturing to the now completed central embassy building.

Ling Qi remained silent for this part but she did consider Jaromila, her Imperial had sharpened into something that wouldn't be out of place at court, even her word choices adjusting to better meet Imperial sensibility. Clan rather than tribe, oblique and impersonal formality in every word. Only the offer of a time was still a little too blunt. That probably should be left to the host.

"I am pleased to accept the invitation," Jaromila said, bringing her hands together in a proper bow. "Please excuse us while our household is seen too."

They traded a few more of the necessary public pleasantries before Jaromila and her group took flight back the way they had come and the concentration of imperial security began to draw down, some of the eyes upon them leaving either openly or fading back into shadow. Ling Qi took a deep breath.

"I have the matter in hand, Lady Cai," Ling Qi said.

"I trust you do, it would be unconscionable for me to not appear here, no matter how busy I am however," her liege said. "Will you require anything in particular?"

"Meal and drink, a more homely arrangement in the second meeting room," Ling Qi said.

"Done," Cai Renxiang said with a nod.

As her liege turned to go taking the last of the hovering attendants with her, Ling Qi turned back to Xuan Shi. "Thank you for your time today, I'm sorry to cut it short."

"Make no apology, this one has received a boon of knowledge," Xuan Shi said, looking thoughtfully south. "If Lady Ling does not require this one, arrangements have been made that I might assist under Lady Wang."

"Oh?" Ling Qi said. She wouldn't have expected Xuan Shi to go out of his way to join something on his own. But she supposed she was not the only one changing. "I am sure lady Wang is most grateful."

"Name or no, this one is but a journeyman, certainly no master to be thankful for," Xuan Shi chuckled. She considered chiding the self deprecation, but it didn't seem necessary with his tone and words. "Ah though this one burns to examine that vehicle of theirs. It is no easy thing to defy the Law of Earth on such a scale."

"Perhaps I can get you permission at some point. It is definitely a…. statement. I would like to hear your thoughts on our meeting later," Ling Qi said instead.

"Of course," Xuan Shi agreed. "Until later, Ling Qi."

"Until later," Ling Qi agreed, and they parted ways. She needed to prepare for her meeting.

The quick and efficient efforts of the staff Cai Renxiang had arranged for in the embassy transformed the plain and barely furnished second meeting room swiftly, well within the two hour limit. A traditional hearth was arranged, along with thick carpets and wall hangings in an older style, with low well cushioned seats and serving tables. She'd declined to have any servants attend.

By the time she'd ushered Jaromila and her husband Ilsur in the small tables arranged nearby the seats were heavy with dishes, with a selection of pitchers full of drink set out as well.

"You flatter us, making such an arrangement on short notice," Jaromila said as she entered behind Ling Qi, looking around curiously. She'd left her hood and cloak behind, and her complexion was more human again, and her presence warmer. Ling Qi wondered if it was a technique or an example of the 'mantles' they had spoken of.

"It is only fair, given what a surprise we were as guests," Ling Qi said. "I hope you are not bothered by serving yourself."

"It is more than fine. Quiet conversation among friends is welcome after such a long journey," Jaromila said.

Ilsur snorted, drawing a chiding look from his wife. He gave her a short nod before passing to peruse the drink. She watched him out of the corner of her eye as she closed the door behind them, the privacy formations thrumming into place. He wrinkled his nose at the wines, but stopped over a pitcher filled with some kind of fermented milk drink. Something from Luo lands, she thought.

"I appreciate that you think of it that way," Ling Qi said. She wasn't foolish, she understood their relative positions their need to represent their peoples, but all the same, she did like Jaromila. "It has been… difficult, arranging everything."

They still hadn't really, every scrap of interest and support in this project came out with all the ease of a physician yanking a rotten tooth.

Jaromila's sympathetic nod made her think that the woman's own efforts hadn't exactly been easy. Ling Qi considered the older woman, she felt after their tale sharing, with what she had sensed and felt in their conversation that she had a good handle on the truth of the Emissary. She didn't think she was being led along or condescended too.

Like Renxiang and herself, Jaromila had something to prove, and this whole summit was a part of those ambitions, as it was theres.

"It is difficult to induce the snows to move, but once they begin, it can be hard to keep up," Jaromila said, moving to the tables herself. She scanned the available drinks, an her eyes fell on the Rimefruit Extract… of course.
Well it wasn't exactly as if Ling Qi had expected to have the whole pitcher to herself. "I was surprised by that… sled? Is that an example of your clans collaborations?"

"Is proof of concept. The Cloud are not as simple as you think us, merely too stubborn for our good," Ilsur said gruffly.

"As he says, there is much to be gained from collaboration. I hope that we will convince everyone of that," Jaromila said, more diplomatically.

"To success," Ling Qi said, raising her cup. It was a good idea, the whole presentation, even if she knew there were some in her camp who would only see it as a naked threat, with the White Sky merely arming and supplying tribal barbarians… but that itself was an acknowledgement from that type.

Jaromila toasted her back, and even Ilsur raised his cap a little.

Now there was just the matter of where she wanted to try and lead this conversation.

[ ] Use this for what it is a greeting and a token of friendship. Talk to Jaromila about her journey and troubles and share some of your own. Some information will pass between you, but you won't fish. (Bolster personal relationship more, for reduced information.)

[ ] Be a bit more direct, ask after the situation of the central White SKy, and the prevailing opinions there. Be willing to share obliquely some of your own internal situation to get it. (Focus on the professional (Gain more information, bolster personal relationship less.)