The Office of the Master of Whisperers

Elseyris nervously awaits admittance to the office.

"I'll wager you tell them all they're your favourite," Elsey laughed, walking into his arms and embracing him tightly.

"It is good to see you again, Willem. Are you well?"

"I think so, a little. I'll be taller than Visenya before long, if I keep going at this rate," Elsey said, smiling warmly, allowing the embrace to linger a little, before gently stepping back to look up into Lord Darklyn's face.

"I came back alive, and only slightly wounded, so I must have been doing something right."

Her thoughts suddenly turned to Nenyan, crumpled and lifeless in the mud. Her voice became tinged with sadness;

"Though, I lost a lot too."

She turned a little, perching herself on the edge of his desk, her legs dangling, and looked back to him.

"In some ways, going to war was very good for me, but there are many things, unwelcome, dark things, that came back with me. I don't know if that makes any sense to you."

Elseyris' face darkened a little;

"I cannot say that I am finding peace much better. I certainly do not feel safer," she remarked, glancing briefly at her bandaged ankle.

"Perhaps you should be consoling me for the things I have gained as well."

Despite her attempts to remain calm, the sadness and fear in her voice were still detectable to one so practiced in observing her.

Elsey forced a tight smile, though her expression was distinctly mirthless. She wasn't sure if he was being sincere or not. She was not sure of who to trust anymore. She wanted to ask, but thought that was likely to lead to trouble. Instead she tried to lift her tone of voice, though she looked quite intensely at Lord Darklyn;

"Tell me about your hopes for me, Willem. I would like to hear what you are optimistic about."

This time, Elseyris could not contain her snort of derision, but quickly reined in what she wanted to say, and instead only allowed a calm veneer to express itself. His gaze upon Trajan may, she thought, indicate his acknowledgement that they could not speak freely. At least, she hoped that was the intention, as she didn't wish to think that Willem genuinely wanted this situation for her. She wanted to believe he was still a friend.

"Well, I am glad that you are so happy for me, Lord Darklyn," she said, returning to a formal mode of address. "Do you know when this honour is to take place, you who know all and see all?"

Elsey stiffened at his words. Never would have been too soon.

"Well, don't forget that my nameday approaches. You owe me a juggling bear."

She tried to smile playfully, but things felt different now, she felt a distance in the room.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Elsey, gently, with concern, reaching for his hand.

It was then that Elsey realized what she was blundering into. She had been too wrapped up in her own indignant feelings to understand that it was not just her own words and actions that were being watched, but that of everyone she spoke to. She immediately felt afraid that she had already created trouble, but forced herself to smile broadly at him.

"Thank you. You are a good friend, Willem. Please forgive my former sharpness. I have been under a lot of stress recently."

She slid off the desk and embraced him again;

"I missed you a great deal, while I was away. I actually brought you something I made for you on the journey home. I nearly cut my stupid hand off making it, so I hope you'll forgive how primitive it is."

She produced from her pocket a small piece of wood, hewn into the shape of a heater shield, with the fusily sable of House Darklyn etched roughly across it, broken on the left by the tierce dexter and it's 7 escutcheons. It was a very uneven work, with a dry reddish-brown thumbprint across the back, evidently from where Elsey had slipped with the knife she had used to carve with.

"I took the little red resin dragon you gave me last year with me to war, for luck. It reminded me on the journey that I had to return safely, that there are some who would not wish me to be lost. This is my attempt to show you my thanks."

She grinned broadly to see him smile, and, for a moment, her troubles were forgotten.

"I should not keep you longer, but thank you for receiving me. I know we shall see eachother again soon, for the various celebrations, but until then, take care of yourself, Willem."

As always, Lord Darklyn does not keep Elseyris waiting long.

"I see my favorite spy has lost her tail." he remarked with a warm smile.

"Nonesense, my dear." he replied. "If anything, I should apologize for the evasiveness of your last visit. It seems the older I get, the more attached I become to my life."

"Can anyone ever truly speak freely in the Red Keep?" he chided, playfully. "If it eases your mind, we are as safe from prying ears as we can be at the moment."