"Ah," Jevan remarked. "I take your point. No. I am sure mother appreciates your eye on the meal preparation tonight, but you could be doing much more I have no doubt."

"If it is not presumptuous of me to ask, what might you prefer to be doing? And I don't just mean tonight. Faemyra and Xullin would have had clear courses charted before them when they graduated from Tier Breche. And Kerrigan seems to have carved her own niche - and in her own manner and time to hear her tell it."

"I expect as the youngest siblings, barring Kaggan of course, you and I will have to find our own way forward and we won’t be invited to take the well trodden paths."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:29, Mon 28 Mar 2022.

Bryndalyn screwed up her face for a moment, as if she hadn't actually considered the very thing she was complaining about. Her eyes looked around the kitchen for a moment before she bit her lip and adopted a different, more demure tone than the harsh one she used before; "You're right of course, this is an important duty and I suppose the nerves are just getting to me. I should speak so... unfairly without greater consideration."

Jevan gave a slight nod. "I understand."

"Should you ever wish to speak about it again though, I would be pleased to listen. I've been told I am a good listener. Sometimes I find it helps to put your thoughts in order simply to put them into words."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:19, Mon 28 Mar 2022.

Bryndalyn chewed on her lip again and twirled a strand of her hair around one finger. "... I may have to take you up on that. It is your first day out of the academy and I still remember how it was when I first returned home, first time glimpsing freedom from both home and school yet not knowing what to do with it. Perhaps I can show you a place or two in the city I like to escape to from time to time? Help you get your bearings, and we can... talk."

"That sounds wonderful, Bryndalyn. I sincerely look forward to the occasion, and the opportunity to get to know you better."

He glanced around the kitchen before turning to regard his sister once more. "We should probably let you get back to your duties. I daresay Alystia and I have stolen enough of your time for one day. It has been a pleasure to meet you though."

Bryndalyn puts a hand on Jevan's shoulder. "Right. Be well, Jevan. Don't let yourself get stagnant" she says and then gives him a nod of affirmation before turning back to busy herself about the kitchen duty.

Jevan smiled and motioned for Alystia to follow. "Take care," he said, turning to head back out.

"Mother, Jhannis, Faemyra, Xullin, Kerrigan, Welverin, Bryndalyn. That just leaves Elengo. Lets go pay a visit, shall we?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Thu 31 Mar 2022.

"I'm not sure where he would be..." Alystia contemplated aloud as the two left the kitchen heading out into the hall.

Before Jevan could respond, another figure turned the corner down the other end of the hallway; a tall, lanky drow with incredibly long flowing white locks that spilled out of his somewhat ridiculous hood; ridiculous for the fact that the hood was attached only to a set of shoulder pauldrons, ending in a flat-lying collar that tapered to a point no further than the top of his sternum. Besides that, his torso was bare, showing off an intricate series of silver tattoos done in a style reminiscent of ancient elven architecture... as well as a tall, thin torso of finely sculpted lean muscle. He wore tight-fitting dark hide pants along with high-thigh laced boots, and carried no large blade weapons but instead had a myriad of daggers strategically placed over various spots on his person.

"Jevan, what a coincidence... I was just looking for you" he said in a low, whisperlike voice that forced others to strain to hear him. There was no doubt that this was Elengo, the very spymaster that Jevan had determined to seek out.

Jevan was just about to remark to Alystia that Elengo would in all probability find them when the pair rounded the bend and whom should appear before them but the spymaster himself.

"Elengo!" Jevan said, breaking into a wide grin. "So good to see you."

"We were looking for you too."

"How have you been, my friend?"

"Busy, but alive. And you my boy? Don't even try to tell me you've been keeping out of trouble" Elengo said, reaching out a hand to clasp Jevan's wrist and allowing Jevan to feel the tightly bound thin blade in his glove as he did.

"Certainly not!" Jevan protested. "I just don't allow myself to get caught!" He took Elengo's hand and grinned.

Elengo tipped his head back with a hearty laugh, shaking Jevan's hand and patting it with his other. "So, let us not beat around the bush, boy. You've had time to start re-acquainting yourself around here. How do you find things?"

"How do I find things?" Jevan asked. He pursed his lips briefly in thought. "Mother is much the same, though she fawns over Kaggan. This, at least for me, is a new development. I don't consider us in competition though, so it does not overly concern me."

"For his own part, Kaggan is exuberant, and I expect seldom chastised. He is unfocused potential. Its too early to know how that will play out."

"Faemyra remains ever dutiful and proper as expected of the first daughter. My welcome was warm, if perhaps slightly formal. Her daughter Alystia has been an absolute delight," Jevan added, casting an affection grin towards his niece. "I can't say that I gleaned much from my encounter with Spirdor. He was not at his liberty when we met to put it mildly."

"Jhannis, is, well, Jhannis," Jevan continued with a wave of his wrist as though this were somehow self-explanatory.

"And my reunion with Xulin was very pleasant. I hope to engage his company again soon. Shurlae is also a treat, to be sure."

"Kerrigan..." Jevan slowed. What to say about Kerrigan? "Seems - pleased with her lot. I gather she isn't around much." Probably for the best, he considered.

"And Bryndalyn was delightful. I was quite pleased to finally make her acquaintance."

"Welverin on the other hand was extremely tight lipped. I expect I'll have to corner him again when he's not attending to his duties."

"And that leaves - well, you," Jevan grinned.

"I don't think anyone sees competition between you and Kaggan... though that may not mean what you think" Elengo said enigmatically. "Kaggan is to most in the house as you seem to have found your niece; a star to be eagerly watched for its precipitous rise."

"Welverin is always tight-lipped, it is one of the reasons he has lived as long as he has. As for the others... well, they will all require a special touch I'm sure... cannot say too much without giving it all away after all."

Elengo smpiled and dipped his head to Jevan's finishing lead. "Me? I am well, all things considered. Busy, as always. Menzoberranzan does not sleep, so keeping up with its every wink is a full time duty. Meanwhile, things within the family seem to be changing so much even if the house as a whole does not."

"That is in fact precisely what I mean," Jevan remarked. "I'm no Draegloth, and I don't aspire to be. Thankfully I will not be held to the standards of one either. It is enough to be me and all that entails."

"What things have you noticed changing within the family?" he inquired. "You've ten years of observation that I missed."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Fri 22 Apr 2022.

Elengo tapped his chin thoughtfully for a moment, though his eyes peered at Jevan as if not only considering his question but also what he should reveal. "The thenid sui ha na-... we are waiting. Gathering our resources while growing in power... or some of us at least."

---

Jevan, with his languages, knows that thenid sui ha na- translates literally to 'law as it is'.
If you wish to see if you know more, you can go ahead and give me a history check, either with or before your post.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:23, Sat 23 Apr 2022.

Jevan cocked his head, immediately intrigued ”Oh?” he prompted. ”Some are not then? Perhaps they have more immediate aims?”

Considering it, Jevan recalls that "thenid sui ha na-" meaning "law as it is" has a distinct ancient Elvish counterpart; "thenid sui ha ucita" which has a literal translation of "Law as it should be." The distinction between the two could purely be a matter of stating a fact of neutrality, or it might be signaling displeasure or even outright contempt... difficult to determine which however.

Elengo for his part, simply shook his head. "You misunderstand my meaning. Some grow in power... while others simply wait. Some may consider themselves stagnating or even wilting, though it would be mutinous if so."

”Ah, I think I get your meaning now,” Jevan replied. Although just who was gathering power and who was stagnating was not immediately obvious to him. He could guess, possibly, but it would be based on the briefest of all impressions and it would do him no favours to get it wrong.

”The vine must be healthy to bear fruit. Perhaps it needs tending to?”

Elengo tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps. Though any gardener must tend carefully, less they risk attracting the ire of the garden's owner who may think it a slight on their capability."

Jevan grinned. "Who are we if not careful gardeners, Elengo?" Jevan asked. "After all, we just want what is best for all concerned," he continued with feigned piety.

"Perhaps once tonight's festivities are behind us, you and I can sit down and more thoroughly devote ourselves to the prospect."

He looked down and affectionately tousled his niece's hair. "I'm sure it would just bore Alystia to tears."

"You two are plotting, I know it" Alystia said, narrowing her eyes though the effect was betrayed by a hint of a smile.

Elengo chuckled, and nodded his head. "Yes, tonight may be good. One must see what has been planted before they can plan for the harvest."

"Us? No," Jevan said with good humor. "We're merely catching up. Isn't that right, Elengo?"

"But come now. I've taken enough of Elengo's time. You and I should get ready for tonight. Your mother will be wanting you back at some point."

Elengo dips his head; "And still much catching up to do. Be well, young Freth and we will tend our garden yet. Miss Alystia, do see to it he is on his best behavior tonight."

The young girl sighed, then nodded and moved to follow Jevan. The evening loomed presently, and there was little enough yet too much to do beforehand. Before long, a long retinue of soldiers would be escorting none other than a Baenre up to the doors of House Freth...

---

(( If there is anything you would like to do before the dinner, now is the time to put it into motion. Otherwise, feel free to discuss how you get ready and what you wear for the event. ))

Jevan returned to his chambers with Alystia in tow, and set his finest vestments out for her 'approval' while he had the house servants draw up a hot bath. Rather than leave such an important decision as his wardrobe up to the whims of a child however (no matter how cultured and informed), Jevan gently guided his niece towards the choices he already had in mind and then congratulated her on her astute taste and acumen. When they at last reached a 'consensus' Jevan sent Alystia on her merry way and slipped into the warm tub to soak before the evening's festivities.

He was bathed, oiled and dressed with time to spare deeming it imprudent to show up to his own fete fashionably late and instead made a point of making himself available to his mother one final time before their guests arrived as a show of familial obligation.