Xiao Xing was going over ledgers. The import of Boscan silk was a necessity, it simply didn't come any finer anywhere no matter how skilled Stellan methods got, the Grass Sea supported a strain of silkworms that produced the best there was and, while they had tried, those silkworms simply could not survive away from the Grass Sea.
It was like the milk from the Sea Buffalo, it didn't taste as rich or produce as creamy a milk for chocolates as it did when those Buffalo lived on the Grass Sea. So, Stella kept their trade agreements with Bosco healthy, and Xiao enjoyed his Boscan silk robes.
"Your eminence." His brow lifted, turning he was surprised to see one of the older Seiths from the temple and she was smiling faintly, clearly brimming with news.
"Dahlia, I knew you and your family were here picking up some things but I hadn't expected the pleasure of a visit. How may I help you?" He asked in his usual cool tone.
She bowed "My family and I were two blocks from here, the Guildmaster of White Sea stopped some Boscans that were trading taunts with my eldest and my lord...his brother, the black winged Archangel...is with him."
THAT got Xiaos attention. While he knew well his cousin was mated to the Master of White Sea and the mating had certainly been a blessing even if his sister Li was still seething over losing control of the Hall and having no recourse open to force the couple to the temple of Anubis where she desperately wanted them...over 4000 angry mages and all the resources of Arman Pradesh coming to bear keeping Li sitting on her hands...Zen Pradesh was something all together different.
The Evening Star was a blessed chosen of Set, and, as the High Priest of Set...Xiao would do about anything to get his hands on one of the very rare, blessed of his God. It had been tragedy that had taken the others, and his attention had been keenly focused on the youngest of the Pradesh family brothers, his progress something so wonderful that Xiao had been seen smiling more than he had in his entire life.
To get his hands on the first Archangel born in a thousand years, an Evening Star, to help that mage develop, reach his potential….the honor was tremendous and Xiao wanted it. His sister and mother could scheme all they wanted, but this opportunity was all his, and it seemed Set smiled on him, bringing the Archangel here to Daevale while Xiao was here.
"Find where he is staying, send a message immediately requesting a meeting with him….one moment…" He turned and rushed down the hall back to where he had left his cases. Certain things were never far from his person when he wasn't home.
He returned to his aid and the Seith a couple of minutes later handing his aid a handwritten note and a page taken from one of the ancient books he never left behind.
"Give these to him, NOW and hurry back to me as soon as he answers." He said and the aid rushed off as he turned a pleased smile to the Seith.
"I will remember this." He told her and she bowed.
"Thank you eminence."
Xiao went back to what he had been doing, trying to focus and not worry about how long his aid was gone but the nearly 25 minutes had him sighing and glancing up so he caught the moment his aid entered the room.
"He will meet with you for dinner my Lord Xing." The aid said, bowing and Xiao grinned.
"Hestor Kedanza and Kaleb Pradesh will also be coming" the aide added and Xiao pursed his lips at that but nodded, waving his hand and going back to his work, mechanically handling the invoices and ledgers and sending his aid off to approve all of the shipments while he went to talk with the chef about how he wanted the evening meal for his guests.
Zen was still staring at the page from a book...he had no idea which one, but the image of Kayliss, the first Evening Star absolutely stunned him in how much...it looked like him. His hair was cut, just beneath his jaw it hung in soft waves, but the amethyst eyes the black wings, even the deep dark colored hair.
Kaleb had stared wide eyed at it too and Hestor had snatched the page, glaring.
"Tell Xiao Kaleb and I will be coming as well." He said firmly, looking at the picture. At the bottom, in Stellans old language it read simply.
"Kayliss, the first Evening Star, blessed of Set."
Of course Xiao wanted his hands on Zen, High Priest of Set, Lord of the temple of Set, he who spoke to the ancient God, who was sworn to his service. Hestor knew Set wasn't an evil God, far from it, he was one of the Three of the heavens. But...he didn't have any reason to trust his family.
Zen was bound to him and he was Kalebs brother, that gave them both right to be there.
"Yes Master Kedanza. His eminence requests dinner at 6 at the reception center of the Temple of Set for Daevale." The aid said and Hestor nodded. The aid hurried away, no doubt told to rush back, Hestor would bet Xiao was about chewing the nails his sister manicured for him wanting to get his hands on Zen.
His protective side flaring, Hestor pressed his lips together "I've no idea what he may want exactly, but he's certain to ask you to stay here." He said. Zen frowned.
"Why would I? They have nothing I need here...but, I really want to know where he got this...it's from a book." He said, his voice getting soft.
Hestor drew a breath. "Knowledge, the Xings play it better than poker, barter with it, use it to lure people, manipulate them. Always for the benefit of Stella, but Xiao is high priest of Set for Stella...and, as the Evening Star, you are considered a blessed chosen of Set...he won't hurt you...but...who knows what he may ask of you."
Zen shrugged, uncertain...but he definitely wanted a look at the book this page had come from…
When the time came, Bickslow and Lucy went to go shopping and out to dinner themselves, agreeing that if they hadn't heard from the group going to the temple by the time they were done with all of that, they would call Arman and come looking.
The temple of Set had this small temple set up as a place for worshippers to visit while they were in Daevale, and it's secondary function was to recruit followers, there were similar temples set up to Ra and Mehturt and a large one to the three.
It was beautiful, black glossy painted beams and muted gold toned walls, various exotic flowers in ornate pots and the air was heavy with the delicious scents of food.
The servant led them straight to an elegant dining area and Xiao stood as they entered, bowing.
"Honored guests, welcome, I am thankful you accepted my invitation tonight." He said warmly.
Hestor narrowed his eyes on his cousin, unimpressed and half expecting to see Li jump out from somewhere to start demanding he and Kaleb move to Stella.
"Thank you, the invitation was...cryptic, where did this come from?" Kaleb asked when nobody else spoke. Zen was staring a Xiao, his eyes sharp seeking any hint of trouble and Hestor looked like he wanted to possibly jump out a window.
He held up the page and Xiao motioned for them to take their seats, waiting while they did before taking his own and servants came forward to serve tea and pour wine.
"It is from one of a decent collection of books we have from the Holy wars, see, the Stellan temple libraries never fell during the Holy Wars, some of our cities did, but not the temples themselves." Xiao explained.
"What do you want?" Zen demanded. Kaleb smiled faintly, his older brother never minced words, never bothered with pleasantries or small talk, straight to the point.
Xiao smiled "You are a treasure Zen, the first Archangel born in a thousand years and an Evening Star blessed chosen of the God Set. I want to help you."
Zen narrowed his eyes on the slender male before him. "What could Stella offer me? I've been to Minstrel, walked the oldest libraries there, knowledge of my magic...is weak and uncommon, I've found more mentions to it than substance of information and I have LOOKED. That? That is nothing but a picture of a mage who looks somewhat like me." He growled.
Xiao bowed his head but smiled "You did not look here. Our libraries, our knowledge is protected within our temples. I am the High Priest of Set, the God who rules the night magics your own draws from, like your younger brother, Set is who you get your blessings from, yours utterly different, as it is not of the voids, but of the sharp light contrast of a star in the darkness, your magic comes from the sharp edges where light cuts darkness Evening Star. The temple of Set has much about your magic, I can even teach you, guide you in obtaining understanding of it, true mastery of it."
Zen blinked, staring at the slender man, he didn't look like much, slim and pale and elegant, Zen towered over him, was probably at least double his weight in muscle alone, but to understand his magic? What would he give?
He'd spent countless hours, weeks pouring through tomes, chasing down leads into other countries, had even been seriously considering going to Seven on the off chance they might have information in their libraries, he refused to believe, that Pergrand, because they had tortured him since he was a toddler to study him, had the best knowledge of him.
Stella was the home of the Stars, the only place outside the Academe Celestine where it could be said there was a real connection to the Celestial realms. He knew that, everyone did, that the secrets guarded there were guarded like they were because it was how the Celestial realms worked, kept wisdom from the wrong hands, through powerful magically held vows and promises, contracts that were merciless...and those who upheld those things sometimes had to be cold, merciless.
He'd seen Hestor that way, his soft bond to the mage let him feel some of what Hestor did, it had helped the man too, the bond to Kaleb of course had been a big balm to the troubled mans heart and soul, but bonding to Zen had helped too, both brothers so steady and calm natured, Kaleb a beacon of light, and Zen like a cool evening breeze mentally, it had given Hestor the peace he'd needed.
For Zen it kept him from tipping over an edge, but it would be a lie he couldn't even think through to claim he wasn't struggling. Even mated to Kaleb Hestor was a temptation, the desire to make Hestor more than just his bonded mage...it was strong. He hated it too, he wanted nothing of sex with men, he'd had far too much in the pits, but still, he dreamed of it...woke drenched in sweat gasping and panting and...now that he'd met Lucy...his brothers beautiful mate ALSO plagued his dreams…
He hated it, hated the compulsions in his magic, and worried that in time these dreams these needs would wear him down and he might...try something. Given Kaleb loved Hestor, had for years, had gone through hell getting the man through the depression and problems Hestor dealt with because of his magic...and that Bickslow had been head over heels for Lucy for years and had really struggled to take the damn step and confess things to her...if it happened...it would destroy his family...destroy him.
He couldn't let it happen, he was home, had his family, he adored them and was happy with his life, he couldn't risk losing what he had.
"You want something...everyone always wants something." He said. Xiao shrugged.
"I wish to make my God happy, to serve his wishes and bring about the blessings of his benevolence for my people. Simple things really, but complex in that my Lord God Set is of the sky, the expanses between the stars are his and they have many unseen complexities. Those in service to edges of light walk finer lines than those who bask in radiance." Xiao said with a smile, pouring tea into Zens cup.
The big mage drew a breath, no lies, no half truths, neither could get past him ever, with a simple word he could compel truths from people like this, but he suspected Xiao knew that.
"Tell me what you want from me." He finally said, just a touch of magic behind the words, while he was a victim to the compulsions of his magic often, what victimized him also gave him the ability to understand how to use his magic to coax things from people and Xiao sucked in a breath and narrowed his eyes.
"Stay with me in Stella within the temple of Set for a month to start, I will teach you, provide you with knowledge, all I have access to, and in return, if you wish what I am offering, training, understanding of your magic, you will agree to shift your Bond from Hestor Kedanza to a mage chosen by Set in payment of the month you will get. Then, if you decide to stay, to undergo a full year of training and teaching, you will take a mate we provide." Xiao said then frowned.
"You had no need to push that...I would have told you." He added.
Zen narrowed his eyes
"Important you understand from the start what sort of man I am to negotiate with, I won't let you hold things back, I will not, ever, give up my freedom, if I train here, learn here, I will not live here when I am done and you will NOT ask it of me." Zen said and Xiao drew a breath. Zen Pradesh had come from an intensely harsh life, Xiao had heard the tales, and the man in person certainly lived up to them all, harder than the finest diamonds and cut just as sharp...he was beautiful to Xiao, the image of a chosen of Set.
"Where you go, what you do after your time here is less important to me than knowing you have the understanding of your magic you need, and...hopefully, the mate and bond that will make you, and the mages bonded to you, better in the eyes of my Lord God Set." Xiao said.
Zen looked hard into the smaller mans calm eyes, he could sense the hope, the excitement but no malice, no dark intentions, the man was sincere.
Hestor had said Xiao, of the three that lead the Xing family...was the best to deal with and the offer was simply...too much to turn away from.
"For the month I have to break my bond to Hestor." Zen said, looking at Hestor who was sitting narrow eyed listening intently.
Xiao nodded. "You would, but Hestor has no need of it being mated to Kaleb." He said looking at Hestor.
"That is irrelevant, this is entirely Zens choice...and I will be supportive of whatever he chooses." Hestor said then.
Zen looked between him and Kaleb and Kaleb frowned.
"You will reveal who his mate is to be before he decides whether to stay for either length of time or both, if he takes any of this deal, nothing will be hidden." He said firmly.
"And." Hestor injected before Xiao could speak. "If anything happens, if the mate you chose for him dies, had a freak accident, anything, he still stays the year and does NOT have to accept a different mate in the place of the one first indicated."
Xiaos smile faltered a bit. "So much can happen in a year." He said and Zen narrowed his eyes.
"If I don't approve of a second choice if anything happens to the first, I leave then, you will not switch them, and I agree with Kaleb, before I agree to the year, before I even take the month, I want to know exactly who I will be bound to, exactly who you chose to be my mate. This isn't a small thing you ask Xiao, my mate...will bear my children, become my love...I will know who you chose before I accept and once I accept it will only be for THAT person, nobody else, no matter what happens." He said firmly.
Xiao sighed and nodded. "I see where we have issues with trust, but yes, I agree, we will introduce you to the person you are to bind to before the month starts, and the woman who we chose to be your mate, before the year starts. Understanding you only agree to who you meet and nobody else."
"Fine...then I'll consider it, talk to my family and give you an answer within a week, we're going to get my little brother, he's been on a...personal mission, once that's done, I'll have your answer." He said.
Xiao smiled, he knew all about Vander Pradesh...about his "Personal mission" too, and was praying it went well like every other priest in the temple of Set, but he wasn't going to tell Zen that.
"Very well, than lets enjoy our meal. I shall look forward to hearing from you within the next week." He said.
The meal was...awkward. Xiao refused to let them look through the book or answer any questions about the knowledge he had access to.
"It will be part of what you are taught from...minus the picture of course." Xiao said with a mild smile. He sighed at the frowns.
"The books and knowledge I will share has all been guarded painfully for centuries, people have DIED to protect it, I will not dishonor those sacrifices by spilling it all like gossip over dinner." He said finally.
"Very well. The terms are known, we've witnessed the agreement. It was a lovely meal, thank you for having us." Hestor stood and while he teased Kaleb for it, Zen stood just as fast as Kaleb did at the Celestial mages que.
"You won't stay for desert?" Xiao asked, looking disappointed.
"No, thank you, but we should be getting back." Hestor said and Xiao nodded, personally seeing them out and watching them leave.
He smiled, it may have not gone like he wanted, and it may have been awkward...but there was no mistaking the passionate desire for knowledge in the Archangels eyes. Unlike his brother, he had no mate, and Xiao knew he was feeling that, suffering the needs, he was a born Archangel, born with his wings, he'd feel it much more than Kaleb who came into his magic while mating.
Smiling, he returned to go have desert himself...no reason to waste it…
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Vander groaned, then growled as another bounce of his bed almost had him airborne.
"Good Gods woman you drank as much as me why the hell are you awake before the fucking sun?" He demanded, squinting at the still gray but brightening window.
"Because I know somethin!" Cida said brightly.
Vander rolled over, grabbing her waist before she bounced the bed again, he handled hangovers better than most, but they had taken out all that was left of the liquor he'd brought last night since his family would be there late in the morning to collect him, well, them, he'd told his father about Cida and...being Arman and being as how the King of Seven was still staying in Pelerno and had happened to be at the house when Vander called...and the man knew Cida...Arman had arranged for her too and he and Cida had set her Grassrunner loose so it could run back to White Sea.
Now she was bouncing on his bed waking him before dawn and making him wonder if he might actually puke.
She laughed "Yer a funny thing oui? Come on then, thought you said we'd run this mornin then hit those hot springs you keep tellin me bout." She prodded and he sighed, letting go, he didn't want to, no, he wanted to flip her over on her back and crawl right onto that slender body of hers...a nice slow hung over fuck would do him wonders.
"Fine...if I die show my family where my body is yeah?" He said dramatically and Cida snorted, bouncing him again just so she could see him pale once more before she dodged his reaching hands and left him to get dressed.
She'd enjoyed the last week tremendously, Vander was light hearted,fun, outrageously flirty but always respected her simple looks or "No"s and...his serpents...Gods she adored them. Meala was a sweet thing and Searsha? That brute was one of the most adorable things she'd ever seen.
As she rummaged in the cases for bread the red serpent was nudging her and she reached back to rub him behind his horns, passing him a bit of sausage then popping the rest in her own mouth before taking a slice of bread and stuffing it in her mouth while she hugged Searsha and peered out the window at the slowly brightening sky.
"VAN! Come ON!" She called.
There was a chuckle and she glanced back, the dark haired man emerging in nothing but some snug running shorts and a sleeveless skin tight compression shirt.
"Alright you impatient beast, let's do this so I can throw up and get on with my day." He said, stretching.
She watched, smiling, he really was a sexy man, she'd give him that, and charming as the day was long, she just….couldn't risk it. Sex was one of the things they hadn't tested and...last time she'd been with a man, she HAD transformed, so...friends. Vander didn't seem to mind, just teased her about how he was endlessly blue balled.
They took off at a pretty serious pace, Cida smirking and getting a little ahead so she got to choose the direction and winked at Searsha as the serpent flew a little ahead of her. Vander grit his teeth, wishing he'd had a little more of a warm up, his stomach was already rolling and he was sweating because of the alcohol still clearing his system.
He couldn't believe Cida was running like this and still bouncing intermittently laughing over her shoulder at him. Normally he could just about run circles around her but their celebration last night had involved polishing off all the deserts Mr. Elan had packed and he was fucking sugar crashed and hungover.
He wanted to go soak it out in the hot springs after a MILD jog, not this pelting through the trees like the hounds of hell were on their heels shit. He could slow down, let her pick her course and just catch up...but she'd tease him...and he couldn't have that, nope, he needed to fucking get there when she did, wherever she was going. She didn't know where the springs were, he hadn't shown her, kept meaning to but they always ended up walking the village, running the woods, playing with the serpents or something and had just never gotten around to it.
He had some bubbling bath salts in his pack for easing tired muscles and had made a bubble bath for her, she'd delighted in that, LOVED the bubble bath, so...that had been something she'd asked for. Sure couldn't use those in the hot springs.
She rounded a set of rocks and Vander almost ran into her, figuring they were going to run the shoreline but she was standing, hands on her hips and Searsha flew right into him, even Meal diving back inside and Vander staggered to a stop gasping, staggered a bit more and surrendered the contents of his stomach only mildly disappointed Cida managed to get clear and not take it on her shoes.
He spat and waved at her "Come back here so I can puke on you." he growled.
"Twisted shit there Van, seriously bro."
He jerked his eyes up and met laughing red ones a brighter ruby color than his own, especially now with the new colors swirling the edges of his irises.
"Bix! Nah, no kink, only revenge…" He croaked.
"Come here dork." Cristoffs hands were like a kiss from angels, cool and the minty scent as soft chilling mists settled around his fevered flesh made Vander groan.
"I love you Cris." He whimpered.
Cristoff chuckled and nodded toward Cida who was standing a little ways off, looking unsure of herself until her eyes lit up.
"My King!" She cried and pelted past them, everyones eyes flew wide as she ran up the ramp onto the hovercraft and almost tackled the King of Seven wrapping herself around the man like a barnacle and kissing his cheek before nuzzling into his dark hair and...purring.
Vander blinked, he'd heard her make that sound, the rumbling purr was almost like the one Emzadi and Cristoff let out when they were happy. So far she'd only made it when she was cuddling Searsha on the couch, seeing her do it with the King of Seven almost brought a frown to his face and Meala...of both his serpents...it was his sweet girl who emerged shooting to the pair and hissed menacingly in the kings face.
Cida though pushed at Mealas snout to keep the angry Havati from potentially mortally biting her King, cooing soothingly to the black serpent until she flew back to Vander, winding around his shoulders and resting her head on top of his with a huff.
Arman stood blinking for a moment then smiled at his son, seeing the black serpent nuzzling his sons dark hair and the vivid tattoo of a red one as well as the "vacant" yet still intricate outlining of the tattoo the black serpent inhabited.
Two...his son had bound two...the relief and joy of that filled him as he moved to help his son stand, smiling warmly at the red eyes of the serpent peering at him curiously from his sons head.
"Dad...this is Meala...other one is Searsha, he's...an ass, so might not come out." Van chuckled, pulled into a hug, his father not caring at all about his suit getting sweat all over it.
"I arranged the time you asked for, we have two days before we have to leave the island, and Beck is on his way." He told him and Vander grinned.
"Thanks Dad...um...where's Presca?" He asked curiously, seeing Kaleb, Hestor, Lucy, Bickslow, Cristoff and Zen, as well as the unexpected King of Seven, but not his best friend.
Arman and the others all smiled exchanging glances.
"He'll be here tomorrow, he took a mission with Evergreen that is apparently...running long." Kaleb said with a smirk.
Bickslow snorted "I still say she turned him to stone somewhere and is sitting letting the spell run its course instead of breaking it so they're back on time, we haven't spoken to HIM yet." The Seith said with a chuckle. Lucy smacked his chest.
"Ever wouldn't do that." She hissed at him and Bickslow laughed.
"Ever HAS done that!" He told her.
Van shook his head "Ok, well, hows everyone feel about visiting the hot springs first? I need a soak and we could all sit while I...explain...well...everything…." he offered and Arman smiled more, nodding to the crew to unload their things, they would "dock" a ways off the shore of the island and wait for Arman and his group to finish their business on the island. He had a two day pass that, since he had the King of Seven here "touring" one of Boscos island preserves he could probably get extended, and he had already "thanked" the King by making Kaleb and Zen sit and talk with the man on the ride to the island, which Nuryev said was the best thing he could have hoped for in consideration of his time.
Now his youngest...his voice was back, smooth as silk again, and so was the fire in those deep red eyes, eyes that now held bits of purple, black and a deep dark blue more than they had before and...Vander seemed...more relaxed, there was an intensity, an edge of tension in him that had always been there, that was gone.
He took it as a blessing.
"Sounds like a wonderful idea, we've been on the hovercraft for two days, show us the way." Arman agreed, smiling again as the black serpent on his sons shoulders hummed at him when they started walking. He felt, heard...his sons soul, and it was more beautiful than it ever had been, the soulful cello and electric guitars he'd always heard, the pain and tension that was always there...now, the bad parts were gone, and there was an incredible harmony, a balance.
He glanced toward Bickslow who was grinning and gave him a bright eyed nod and thumbs up and Kaleb quietly reported Vanders mind was quiet...calm even. Cristoff saying he'd found no trace of the taint that they had been fighting, and Vanders throat, so badly damaged by the demons, was fully healed.
Corvus had already told them he was no longer in danger of becoming a Raven, and Arman relaxed as he walked alongside Vander, his son telling them about the number of serpents on the island, revisiting some of his ideas while pointing to places he'd noted the serpents frequented and Arman wished Presca was there, Vanders best friend would have been elated at seeing Vander right then. Hopefully he and Evergreen would not be late.