Private On the Subject of Loyalties and Connections

[Taeli Raaf]

Obscurial Reliquary, Sadow District, Jutrand
Lina Ovmar
​

It would arrive to her as an innocuous invitation; a simple request delivered by a raven familiar to converse over tea. A simple request for Lina to come to Jutrand, to the center of Darth Arcanix's power base within the main territory of the Sith Order, to talk. There would be many underlying messages and hints even within that simple invitation, ranging from the simple, such as what the Lady of Secrets wished to talk about, to the more complex or covert, such as how one of her ravens knew how to find Lina wherever she was within the galaxy at the time. There was also the distinct possibility that Lina could politely or otherwise refuse the invitation, but that would create a whole host of other issues the younger woman might want to avoid.

In the aftermath of Brosi, the Lady of Secrets was taking a more... robust stance on learning about the various relations and alliances among the other Sith within the Order. Lina had caught her attention before, but time and events had conspired to put off any such meeting until that invitation arrived. Now, however, as she turned her attention to the domestic issues within the Empire and to the question of stability, she wanted to begin engaging and studying the others more closely. She seemed to have ingratiated herself with Madrona A’Mia and Darth Strosius from what she had seen previously and on Brosi. She was curious about that, just one of many questions she had.

So, the decision was now left for Lina. She could accept the invitation, and if she did, she would find a welcoming escort to the Sadow District and to the heart of the Sphere of Research and Science, right up to Taeli's office within the Obscurial Reliquary. Or, she could refuse, and Taeli would have answers to several of her questions in that simple act.

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Feathers whispered in the air, followed by the gentle clack of claws against wood. Lina did not look up from the scroll in her hand, a smile curving her lips. She did not need to look up to know who had sent the raven with amethyst eyes. It snapped its beak impatiently. “Yes, I know.” she said without looking up. Fingers carefully rolled the scroll, tying silk around it to secure it before a gentle flick of her wrist sent it upwards to settle in an alcove above the large desk.

Only then, did Lina look at the raven, folding her hands neatly in her lap. It was only ever going to be a matter of time before this would happen. Every move Lina made pulled her further and further out of the shadows at the Order’s edge and the Lady of Secrets was always going to notice.

To refuse would not only be foolish, but also a waste of an opportunity. Taeli Raaf may have been one of Carnifex’s longest standing allies, but that did not mean that Lina had to make an enemy of her. Fortunately she did not share Alisteri’s tendency to mar all with the same brush. Of course, telling Darth Strosius of the meeting was absolutely out of the question, there were some arguments that were simply not worth having.

“I accept.” she said rising from the chair, fingers curling around the staff leaning against it, the raven fluttered once, landing atop it. “Coming for the trip are we? Very well.”

Runes glowed along the staff, the air cracking as the portal opened and Lina stepped through, leaving her work behind, stepping through to the streets of Jutrand. The energy of the nether clung to her as she walked, shadows folding around the staff consuming it for her to reach for if the need arose again. The raven flew ahead and she followed it into the heart of the Sphere of Research and Science, casting glances into rooms she past curious as to what they might be studying before she found herself outside the office door.

She knocked once, more out of politeness than necessity because Taeli already knew she was there, then opened the door stepping through.

“Lady Arcanix,” she greeted with a small bow of her head “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”