You take some time getting up from the docks - they're less familiar to you than the gate to central Thavnair and the vicinity of the aetheryte. Still, you're able to find your way up to the city proper without too much trouble.
Radz-at-Han, unlike many cities, doesn't try to stop you from accessing particular quarters by demanding paperwork, which is good, because you haven't got any.
"Do you want to come out?" you ask of Zero idly as you wander the streets.
"Perhaps when there's fewer people about," she replies.
"Fair enough," you say. "This city can get a bit overwhelming at the best of times." Even as you say it, you dodge carefully around an Auri man carrying a stack of fabric bolts that's almost too much for him when he stumbles. You catch the top three bolts of bright colors before they can hit the ground, and refuse his thanks when you open a shop door for him after.
Finally, you make your way up to Meghaduta and allow yourself to be escorted inside. You're led, not to the private rooms, but to the satrap's personal hall - to the place where Vrtra waits in the flesh.
The curtains are drawn. In front of them, there is a table spread for four, with two already seated before it. Vrtra's vessel, Viradahn, looks for all the world like a boy of good upbringing but youthful inexperience ought to look, just a bit nervous. Beside him, Ahewann looks - young, in comparison to your memories of him, and you can appreciate how exhausting his last days must have been all the better for seeing him outside of them.
The servant who leads you in has her eyebrows raised, no doubt looking for your mentioned companion, but you say, "Thank you. With the satrap's blessing, would you give us some privacy?" and Ahewann nods, so she closes the door when she leaves.
Anyone else would wonder at the lack of guards in the chamber. You say, "Good. Can we dispense with the deceptions then, Vrtra?" which at least gets you one reaction of shock from Ahewann.
The dragon's vessel quirks his mouth in a crooked grin. "Only if you are willing to be equally honest," he replies.
"That's the reason I came," you say, and then, pulling your aether together, "Zero? Now's the time."
There's the subtlest kind of warp and shift, familiar now to you but drawing narrowed eyes. Zero manifests, tall next to you, and says, "At least you've brought me lunch."
"I can't take you anywhere," you tease, before turning to the two men. "I should warn you that, being what she is, she can eat her weight and then some and you'd never know it."
"What she is..." Viradahn murmurs. "I see. I've heard of such covenants before, but - forgive me, but you are not a typical voidsent, are you?" he says to Zero.
"If you're worried about me sucking you dry, then you can rest easy," she replies. "Even if I were so inclined, you'd take a great deal of swallowing."
With that, she seats herself on your side of the table. You say, "Zero is a unique existence that you might consider to be the last fragment remains of the world that became the void. As much as she pretends a mercenary attitude, she is among my dearest companions."
"I see," Viradahn says, inclining his head from Zero to you. "And what, then, does that make you?"
"Oh, that's the simple part, unfortunately," you say, stepping around one of the chairs to sit beside Zero. "I'm a time traveller."
no subject
Radz-at-Han, unlike many cities, doesn't try to stop you from accessing particular quarters by demanding paperwork, which is good, because you haven't got any.
"Do you want to come out?" you ask of Zero idly as you wander the streets.
"Perhaps when there's fewer people about," she replies.
"Fair enough," you say. "This city can get a bit overwhelming at the best of times." Even as you say it, you dodge carefully around an Auri man carrying a stack of fabric bolts that's almost too much for him when he stumbles. You catch the top three bolts of bright colors before they can hit the ground, and refuse his thanks when you open a shop door for him after.
Finally, you make your way up to Meghaduta and allow yourself to be escorted inside. You're led, not to the private rooms, but to the satrap's personal hall - to the place where Vrtra waits in the flesh.
The curtains are drawn. In front of them, there is a table spread for four, with two already seated before it. Vrtra's vessel, Viradahn, looks for all the world like a boy of good upbringing but youthful inexperience ought to look, just a bit nervous. Beside him, Ahewann looks - young, in comparison to your memories of him, and you can appreciate how exhausting his last days must have been all the better for seeing him outside of them.
The servant who leads you in has her eyebrows raised, no doubt looking for your mentioned companion, but you say, "Thank you. With the satrap's blessing, would you give us some privacy?" and Ahewann nods, so she closes the door when she leaves.
Anyone else would wonder at the lack of guards in the chamber. You say, "Good. Can we dispense with the deceptions then, Vrtra?" which at least gets you one reaction of shock from Ahewann.
The dragon's vessel quirks his mouth in a crooked grin. "Only if you are willing to be equally honest," he replies.
"That's the reason I came," you say, and then, pulling your aether together, "Zero? Now's the time."
There's the subtlest kind of warp and shift, familiar now to you but drawing narrowed eyes. Zero manifests, tall next to you, and says, "At least you've brought me lunch."
"I can't take you anywhere," you tease, before turning to the two men. "I should warn you that, being what she is, she can eat her weight and then some and you'd never know it."
"What she is..." Viradahn murmurs. "I see. I've heard of such covenants before, but - forgive me, but you are not a typical voidsent, are you?" he says to Zero.
"If you're worried about me sucking you dry, then you can rest easy," she replies. "Even if I were so inclined, you'd take a great deal of swallowing."
With that, she seats herself on your side of the table. You say, "Zero is a unique existence that you might consider to be the last fragment remains of the world that became the void. As much as she pretends a mercenary attitude, she is among my dearest companions."
"I see," Viradahn says, inclining his head from Zero to you. "And what, then, does that make you?"
"Oh, that's the simple part, unfortunately," you say, stepping around one of the chairs to sit beside Zero. "I'm a time traveller."