Threads 313 Frost 2

“May I have a question of you, Emissary Jaromila?”

“You may,” the older woman sighed.

“It is only a small one. I am trying to understand the relations within the polar nation. I believe I see what the Seared Lands and the Twisted Pines does for the Polar Nation, but what of the White Sky itself? What is its claim to influence?” Ling Qi asked. “My own Emerald Seas is a great producer of raw resources to the rest of our empire, as I suspect of the Twisted Pines is in yours.”

Jaromila stood to refill her cup. “Since you know what we become and what we are, I can offer a simple explanation. It was upon the icy plain under the wide white sky where the Crowfather planted his spear and became of the land.”

Ling Qi considered the association of that great spirit with their style of formation craft and gave a slow nod of understanding.

“Our settlements are sparse and far and isolated, but only the Glittering City can begin to claim even a mean parity in the secrets of the titans’ runes,” Jaromila finished.

Ambitious projects made sense then for their confederation.

“That does help,” Ling Qi said aloud. “Your trip was really without great troubles then?”

“It was without human violence,” Ilsur repeated, smiling thinly.

“The spirits of the mountains and passes are well and riled of course, as one would expect,” Jaromila said. “But yes, the journey itself was good. Far less stressful than my circuit through the worthies of White Sky. You can sympathize, I’m sure.”

Ling Qi gave a slow nod. In truth, they had only gotten the barest level of buy in from most of the nobility of the Emerald Seas. There was more attention from the other provinces, but Ling Qi suspected that was more internal jockeying against each other than real interest. “It’s difficult. At best, many simply do not care.”

It was a cautious statement. She didn’t want to get into the details too much.

“I can say much the same,” Jaromila said, relaxing back in her seat. “I was at least able to drum up a solid academic interest. You seem to have an observatory?”

“Ordered by the Duchess to examine the phenomena in the southern sky.”

“Access might be an item that could be sold to my people,” Jaromila claimed. “Glass of such quality is hard to come by on the plains.”

“I understand.” Ling Qi took the offering for what it was. “I admit, I was intending to keep this discussion a little less formal.”

“I could tell, emissary.” Jaromila raised her cup. “And I do appreciate it. How has your family been? I notice your bound… siblings are far from you.”

“Zhengui is in our newly settled lands, helping with civic projects. All of this talking would only put him to sleep. As for Hanyi… Well, she’s popular and busy. What of you, your children?”

“In the care of kin and happy, though I wish I could spend more time with them.” Jaromila sighed before looking at her husband.

“The eldest, I was able to teach her the way of refining the material of her first glider. That is enough for now. This will be over before the time for the first hunt comes,” Ilsur said slowly. Clearly, he did not wish to share details. “They are far, far from here under the eaves of the Crow’s wings.”

She couldn’t blame him for being reluctant to speak on personal matters.

“It will be some time before I am satisfied enough with the defenses of my home in the mountains to move my own mother and sister there,” Ling Qi said.

“As well you should be,” Ilsur said. “It is nerve-wracking to have so many ground bound. They are fragile.”

“But I think we are both happier for it, even if not all may follow into the sky,” Jaromila said.

She didn’t think Jaromila was just talking about the two of them.

“Those who would disagree are already gone,” Ilsur dismissed. “I do not need these words.”

Ling Qi wondered about that. If Jaromila had felt the need to speak them…

“Will you be staying here for the remainder of the time until the summit?” Ling Qi asked after a beat of silence had passed.

“I will,” Jaromila said. “Emissary Khadne is a good administrator, but I am better suited to such unusual situations.”

“I have no complaints. She was able to keep things calm during our initial rudeness,” Ling Qi complimented.

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“Nonetheless,” Jaromila said, smiling.

“I will not sit for months on end. I will be with my tribe in the defense, but I will not be far.”.

“I will probably be making short trips for some time still. There are so many tasks to do in our province before I can focus fully on the summit, but I will be here most times,” Ling Qi said. “I hope that’s satisfactory.”

“It will be. May I contact your liege lady as well?”

Ling Qi nodded at the question. “Yes, please leave a message with the proper seal for her. I can convey whatever yours might be.”

“I’ll arrange it,” Jaromila said. “May I ask something more personal?”

“I suppose.”

“You are in the midst of some change with your master’s mantle, but I cannot really discern what it is. Is it some damage from your adventures?”