As Laesara waited in Aevah Avi's office, she wasn't sure if she should be here alone. All momentous events in her life thus far had been undertaken alone, and apparently this one was no exception: her uncle Gareth Wymrith waited outside. He would meet with mistress Avi after her: his purposes, Laesara could not yet fathom for he was no longer an active warrior or hunter. She would unravel them, of course, as she did with most mysteries in her life.

For the time being, though, it was the office that occupied her. It was well appointed, full of sparkling objects and possessing a vast and airy balcony that looked out on the city and the bright horizon beyond. There were many things of gold and crystal, and Laesara found herself critical of the décor.

Surely the leader of our race, a person who preaches nobility and austerity for all, could afford to decorate less ostentatiously. she thought, Surely she does not need such finery to set her apart.

Laesara did not know what to think about it, caught as she was between distaste and an awareness that Aevah Avi posessed something that no noble did:

Divine right.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting, Miss Laesara Wymrith.”

The girl turned stiffly towards the melodic voice and found herself strangely quieted by the woman before her. The lady of light was not special in build – in fact, for an Orderite she could be considered average – but this raw and unremarkable structure was suffused with a light that seemed to emanate from within her, an intensity that stirred some answering energy inside Laesara. Laesara's attitude became one of wariness, her wild-honed instincts chiming in with her noble-trained instincts to tell her that this woman was dangerous and far out of her league – more so than any dragon. More so than her father.

“No apologies are needed, milady.” she said calmly, bowing respectfully, “I am honored for the meeting at a time of such chaos.” Yes. she said, watching slight surprise cross the woman's expression, I know about the Mara. I know how busy they have made you. I am a noble and I have eyes and ears far beyond my own.

“I am indeed busy.” the woman admitted, composing herself with a speed that Laesara found admirable, “But I am happy to spare time for the next generation of my people.” She gestured to a seat and sat down behind her desk. Laesara sat down, obediently and politely.

“I will not take up too much of your time.” Laesara said, taking out the package she had been told to prepare – two orbs, as silvery as the hides of the dragons they had once been, swirling with the ferocity of their homeland – and placing them onto the desk, “I wish to inform you of my path in life, as my ancestors have done before me.”

“Not your mother.” remarked lady Avi, studying the orbs with interest.

“Pardon?”

“I do not believe I met your mother, now that I think of it. I do not forget a face, or a name, and your mother... Saaramos, was it? Never came to me.” The woman's shimmering eyes met Lae's, an unasked question within them.

Lae held her gaze. “My mother was of the wild tribe. I doubt she performed this rite.” she said cooly, “Either way, I do not have her guidance or opposition, and so I follow the traditions of my father and his ancestors.” she clarified. Laesara allowed a hint of reproach in her voice. She was used to comments and questions about her maternal parentage, and they did not actually bother her. Still, it was quite rude to speak of one's deceased mother in such a tone. She made sure that mistress Avi knew that, and also knew that Laesara was willing to stand up to even her.

Aevah Avi dipped her head in an apologetic gesture and Laesara savored her victory over the intimidating woman, however slight such a victory may be. “I simply was mentioning it as a fact of interest.” she said placatingly, “I must ask, do you not wonder where she came from? Where you come from? It is very likely that I have met someone who was kin to her...”

“I know where I come from, Mistress Avi.” Laesara said neutrally, “I am Laesara Wymrith, and I believe we have digressed from the purpose of this meeting.” Aevah Avi stared at her again, and Laesara was suddenly acutely aware that she – for all her grown up attitudes, mature stature, and crisp vocabulary – was an eleven-year-old, not even quite twelve yet: a mere speck of time for this woman who had existed for millenia. She felt very small and ineffectual and foolish, like she was a bouken trying to act like a baowi.

Foolish... foolish indeed.

She wanted to cower beneath the lady's gaze, to apologize for her directness. But Lae refused. She reacted to her fear with bullish stubborness, Ironically she thought fleetingly, A gift from my mother. “I am sure.” she said, her voice a little harder than before, “That you have many things to get to, as do I, since I am rarely in this part of the city.” like shopping. And markets. And, perhaps, if she could sneak it in, a little fun with other children. “So I hope you do not mind if we expedite this?”

Aevah Avi sighed. “Very well, child.” she said, leaning back in her chair. I wonder Laesara thought, watching her movements as a notbjaovin might watch a stalking dragon, What she perceived that I did not intentionally show her? She suspected that it was considerable. “And what is your path in life?”

“I choose the path of a warrior” Laesara said, “I have already imprinted to a bound weapon – a type of thrown hunting stick known as a 'boomerang' among some of the groups on Eowyn, and I do not wish to waste its or my aptitude.”

Laesara felt another sparing victory at Aevah Avi's slight surprise. “Your family...” the woman said delicately, “Does not often choose that path.”

You mean that we are cowards. Laesara thought sourly, careful to keep her face composed. She had heard the whispers, even beyond the usual rumors of cowardly and selfish nobles. She did not believe that her family were cowards, or even – especially – that her Uncle Andorynn was a coward as Gareth himself said. Her family fought a different war, on a different front – more political than bloody, but just as deadly. And Andorynn... he had been one of the few who had dared, at the very beginning of this unnerving and civilized life, to treat her like family instead of a wild animal, like a child as the others were instead of something alien and strange. No, he was no coward.

And neither was she.

“But I do.” she said.

“And you are certain?”

Laesara endured the woman's searching gaze. “Very certain.”

“Well, If that is your wish, then I see no reason why I should not recognize it.” Aevah took the dragon orbs and placed them in a drawer – a drawer that Laesara could see contained other dragon souls, the presents of other young Orderites. “You thus have my recognition as a warrior of Seren and her people. And...” her expression softened, perceptably, and it caught Lae off guard. “I hope to see you again, child.”

I'm not so sure if I want to see you again thought Laesara, not a little belligerently, but she stood and bowed. “Thank you, Milady.”

She turned to leave.

“And remember, Laesara. Everyone has two origins. You come from your father, but you also come from your mother as well. Keep that in mind.”

Laesara tensed, but refused to let herself react. “I will” she said stiffly, “Take that under advisement.”

And then she left that absurdly decorated office before she said... or did... something foolish.

Like cry.

Like scream.

~~~

Aevah Avi watched the fire-haired child leave, brushing a tear from her eye she had somehow managed to keep hidden.

That poor girl.

She always felt sorry for the children who were born into the political mire of the nobility. It was such a strange concept, this inequality that had grown up within her own kind, but Mistress Avi had grown used to it over the centuries.

She could understand the girl's pain – it hadn't been hard to read in her eyes. Aevah could be a little rude – she was the leader of her race, after all – and she had had to see. Yes, she knew the child's tumultuous story. Yes, she knew of her mother, and of the wild tribe that lingered on every continent of Magesc.

She did not agree with the Wild Tribe, about as much as she disagreed with the idea that someone could be better than someone else because of their 'class' or the 'station' they were born into. But she also knew that, even as she had said that all people have two origins, there was one that did not.

Herself.

And it was not something she wished on anyone else.

She prayed that the girl would find herself – her full self – someday. But, alas, Aevah could not help her people as she once had been able to. There were too many of them now, and things were too complicated. Laesara Wymrith would have to find her way herself.