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There was so much Ling Qi wished she could cover, so much information she was yet lacking. She had only two short months to prepare for the admittedly month-long summit, and so very many things to do.

This was her first meeting with these representatives of the White Sky however, and so, with much thought, she decided it would be best to focus on cultural topics. Going after material ones might come across as more probing than she might like at this point.

With that decided, Ling Qi broke the brief but comfortable silence in which they had been walking.

“If it isn’t overreaching, may I ask what Emissary Jaromila is occupied with?” Ling Qi asked. “I will happily speak with whatever representatives you choose, of course, but we parted well, and I hope that she is in good health.”

“Emissary Jaromila is still occupied in the homeland, speaking to and organizing those who are involved,” Emissary Khadne replied, walking behind her. “As I imagine you have been.”

“Yes,” Ling Qi agreed.

Much of the conversations had gone over her head. It was troubling being stuck in this liminal space where she was a child or an adult as it suited. She knew Cai Renxiang had been working in the background, and that she had only just succeeded in getting them fully involved. It made their efforts more difficult. They were in charge but not, a tangle of unclear authority.

“There are always difficulties in organizing people. This is universal, I’m sure.”

“Hah, one could say that. Everyone always wants their say, even when they’ve got not the slightest idea what they’re talking about,” chortled Rostam.

“It is our duty as emissaries to ensure that those who speak do have an accurate idea of what is being debated,” Dzintara said sourly.

“We may speak, but it is the listener’s choice if they hear,” said Inzhu calmly.

Ling Qi glanced back in time to see Khadne make a subtle gesture and the others fall silent. It seemed there was a desire to not seem argumentative in front of her.

They arrived at the clearing beside the road Ling Qi had been leading them to, and Ling Qi noticed some raising of eyebrows and tilting of heads. But Ling Qi had learned from Cai Renxiang. It required a little formation work and the emptying of most of the rest of her nonessential possessions from the ring, but she could afford to have this type of meeting space available now.

She gestured, and the construct she had stored in her spatial ring appeared. There was a rush of displaced air, a creak of settling stone and wood, and the small stone pavilion shimmered as it fully materialized. Instantly, there was the scent of food and spiced wine in the air, the table and benches set under the tiled roof coming into being at the same time.

“Please, seat yourselves. My apologies that you will have to serve yourselves,” Ling Qi said.

There was a beat of silence before Emissary Dzintara swept past. “A strange thing to apologize for.”

“Hoh, what a nice trick,” Rostam praised. Taking his wife’s hand, he ascended the few steps as well. “A fine bit of runecraft.”

“It is very fine. Your crafters are skilled,” Inzhu acknowledged, and Ling Qi noted a sharpness in her eyes and tone that had not been there before. “Such a trivial use of spatial effects.”

It was a marked departure from the women’s previously demure demeanor.

“A fine meal, Emissary Ling Qi. I hope we may put that matter behind us then,” Khadne said, nodding to her.

Ling Qi nodded back and ascended after her, taking note of the seating. The couple had taken the bench on the right, but Khadne and Dzintara had taken the left one. Ling Qi was troubled, she had assumed she would be talking to three people at most and had assumed they would sit on opposite sides. She dithered a moment, and took a seat beside Khadne.

“Given the issue that brought me here today, I feel I should ask. Was the delivery of the weregild satisfactory?” Ling Qi asked. “As friends, please serve yourselves as you wish here.”

“As friends then, please take the first selection. As the host, it’s only polite,” Rostam said cheerfully.

Ling Qi nodded, reaching to pour herself a cup of dark tea, and then, she began selecting a few items for her plate. Once she had taken her first sip, the others began to serve themselves.

“To answer your question, the delivery was acceptable. Exchange of weregild is always tense and unhappy,” Khadne said. “The amount and quality of timber were both unimpeachable.”

Dzintara frowned a little, looking down at the aromatic black tea, poured from the same pot as Ling Qi’s, as if it had personally offended her.

“I am pleased,” Ling Qi said.

“So, Emissary Ling Qi, I have a question I feel can’t be put off,” said Rostam. He had pushed his odd floppy hat back off of his head, letting it dangle on his back by a rawhide string around his neck. “What’s the order among your people? Who is it appropriate for us to speak to?”

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“You are only one woman after all,” Khadne followed up. “And like Emissary Jaromila, you are busy conducting negotiations with your own people as well.”

Ling Qi inclined her head. This was a question which could not be avoided. “When they are present, my lady Cai Renxiang will speak, as will my companion in her service, Sir Gan Guangli.”

She put a hint of qi into her words, a subsonic hum that conveyed an impression of auras and appearances. “On the matter of the work crews, Lady Wang Lian will be an appropriate contact.”

She’d have to talk to the woman after this, but she had no doubts about her cooperation.