Alexandria shifted in place, floating serenely. It would be a lie to say that she was irritated by the overall disorganization that both Dresden and Baines seemed to possess. However, it would also be a lie to claim that she was entirely on board with the waste of her time. As it was, she was willing to play this game passively until she had a better idea of her obstacles.
Of course, this had reduced her to observer status between a wizardly feud. A debate that certainly did not belong to any of what could be called 'the wise.'
Baines sputtered, "He's not sanctimonious!"
"Sure he is," Dresden sniffed, seeming entirely too sure, "Not to mention he's a right stand in for Lewis Carroll. Off with his head!"
Dresden seemed pleased with the comparison, even if his eyes were still creased with tension. His face was fixed in what he probably thought was a friendly grin but came across as an obstinate grimace. Alexandria immediately concluded that his discomfort was because he had been the one on the chopping block sometime before. How interesting.
It was rather obvious to Alexandria that the only reason Dresden wanted to poke Baines was because he needed a distraction from his own life. The annoying part and even Alexandria would admit that it was starting to be annoying at this point, was that if she allowed this to continue it might escalate.
"I suppose that would make you Alice, then?" Alexandria asked, raising an eyebrow, "I don't particularly care about your impressions of this LaFortier, as apt as they might or might not be."
Dresden's face twitched. She was correct then, Dresden's dislike of LaFortier resulted from a perceived slight, possibly connected to an execution. She paid him no need but addressed Baines, "Do you want me to carry a message, or not? The McCormick Complex is a quick flight."
Baines seemed to weigh options, he cast a quick beseeching glance over to Dresden. Dresden did not react, his eyes shifting away, but he watched her intently, evidentially trying to figure something out. With wry amusement, Alexandria quirked a brow and tried to catch his eyes once again, but he shied away, just like Baines had.
Eye contact was another big indicator. Of what, Alexandria could not quite say. Her internal theories, as nascent as they were, suggested that it might be tied to trustworthiness with the implied emphasis this world subjected debts too.
"Done then," Alexandria said, "Your silence is consent."
The little pixie made a little breathless 'oooohh' sound from her pocket, obviously vastly intrigued by the whole proceeding. She gripped the coin tight around her torso, where it almost succeeded in obscuring her tiny body.
Baines's pulse jumped in his neck and even Dresden reacted, he shifted backward onto his back foot.
"Yes, yes," the little pixie crowed in her best ominous voice, but since it was the pixie that said it, it came out more cute than terrifying, "All mine."
Alexandria raised a hand, small in the sleeve of the black overcoat. The slight clear nail polish on her hands was long worn away, by either her experience with the esoteric energy attack launched by the Red Court or perhaps by the speed of her own flight. Such lacquer rarely lasted long on her, even a casual fist would often be sufficient to remove it.
Carefully she spoke, "You have my word, I will relay a message of your location and an assurance of your well being to the wizard known as LaFortier."
Baines looked pained, Dresden frowned and added, speaking to Baines, "Add a clause for her, it, to go right there."
Baines nodded and eyed her. Alexandria nodded in agreement if he wanted to be pedantic about his request that was his prerogative.
"That is sufficient," she informed the two. Within the next blink, she was gone, moving faster than a blur into the air. She spared half a nanosecond to close a protective hand around both the pixie and to grasp her overcoat shut.
There was a split second, a time even less than a split second, and then she was standing an arm's length away from an aging woman with severe Italian features. Black hair tinged throughout with grey streaks.
The woman visibly startled, her hand flying for the sword beneath her grey cloak. The grey cloaked man next to her also jerked in surprise, grasping for his sheathed sword and missing. Underneath their robes they were dressed far more formally than Baines, even if they wore the same cloaks, a scarlet red stole hung from one shoulder and underneath each was wearing actual black cloaks.
Alexandria glanced down, taking in the newly cracked pavement below her. It was a statement of power. Both of these 'Wardens' and by extension the White Council would be wary, uncertain of where exactly she fit into their paradigms. She had appeared in a flash and with enough force to wreck the pavement below her.
"I come on behalf of Warden Baines," recognition flickered over the Italian woman's face, but it was gone as quickly as it came. If it wasn't for her perfect memory Alexandria might've missed it.
"Warden Baines is dead," the woman replied, a slight Italian accent coloring her words. Her hand gripped her sword and she took a wary half step forward. Alexandria did not move at all, not reacting to the act of slight aggression. The other Warden, a man with blond hair and blue eyes, stepped backward, fingers beating a staccato pulse into the handle of his sheathed sword.
"No," Alexandria provided, "He would've died without my interference."
Something dark slowly shifted over the Italian woman's expression and Alexandria immediately deduced where her thoughts had shifted. Honestly, she thought to herself, suspicion seemed to be quite mainstream in the White Council. She was inclined to approve. Even if their propensity for inferring meanings from what she didn't intend was also an annoyance.
"I freed him from the Red Court, alive and unmastered," Alexandria said, the words flowing smoothly from her lips, "Along with a number of Red Court thralls."
That didn't seem to dissuade either of them from their violent desires, but they did back down, the woman loosened her death's hold on her sword and the other's tapped tune changed.
"That's not possible, he was assigned to Archangel," the blond Warden responded, finally engaging her.
"As it was," Alexandria said, deciding not to venture into whether Baines was supposed to be in Archangel or Wales, "I found him in Winter."
A tightening of their eyes, not quite the outcome she desired, "You're sidhe then?"
A dog chuffed from inside the building, and a moment later a massive hound cleared the door, stepping out into the faint sunlight. It was made of what looked like seraphinite, an unliving creature of stone. It sniffed the air like a dog and then looked at her, sniffing loudly. Frankly, it reminded Alexandria of a foo dog statue, only stone given life.
She regarded it curiously as it stepped to the side, beginning to circle her. She decided to continue speaking, taking her eyes off the dog, "It was requested that I tell a wizard named LaFortier of his survival."
"LaFortier?" The Warden asked, voice laden with suspicion. Alexandria could easily discern that she knew LaFortier, based on the slightest hint of familiarity present in her tone.
"Yes, LaFortier," Alexandria affirmed, "Baines believed that he could be of assistance."
The dog continued to circle, sniffing the air. Its stone mane shifted slightly, but not quite as if it was actual hair. Alexandria suspected it might be meant to function as armor, not unlike an actual mane. It paused once it completed a full circuit around her and whined, an odd sound, like two rocks grinding against each other. The other Warden made a funny face and stepped close to the female Warden.
Alexandria held out the palm of her hand to the dog, it scooted closer and sniffed loudly, whining again. It shifted and looked back toward the male Warden, who frowned severely.
"Captain Luccio, the Wardhound can't find anything," the male Warden whispered into the female Warden, Luccio's, ear, "Minor faerie presence, dewdrop perhaps."
Luccio's expression did not change, Alexandria gave no indication that she had heard the exchange, dropping her hand that was outstretched toward the stone dog. It was some kind of sensing construct then, perhaps the interior held a tinkertech analogue scanning device. Perhaps, it ran off the esoteric energy the Red Court, Baines, and everyone else seemed to use. Evidentially, it was also fine-tuned enough to detect the pixie in her pocket, which she supposed could be qualified as a 'dewdrop faerie.'
"It hasn't slipped my notice that you declined to answer my question, it speaks poorly of your intentions," Luccio stated.
"Disappointing," Alexandria replied, her tone scathing, "My intentions are honest. My disinclination to answer a question unrelated to my mission does not reflect back on me."
"You are sidhe, then?" Luccio clarified. It was obvious she was trying to ensnare Alexandria in some kind of verbal trap, and Alexandria would have none of it.
"Shall I inform Baines of the White Council's obstinance?" Alexandria queried, her tone mild, but letting something dangerous slip into it, "He requires assistance. I would have expected an organization in which he claims membership to hold its members in higher esteem."
Luccio's face twitched, before she finally replied, "We will convey your message to LaFortier. Where is Warden Baines?"
Alexandria let the barest hint of a grin curl the corners of her mouth, "At the moment he enjoys Wizard Dresden's hospitality, outside his local office."
Something glass shattered inside the building. Alexandria's eye snapped toward the still open door at the noise. Luccio and the other Warden twitched in response to the sudden noise as well.
"I suppose," Luccio all but snarled, "That you are aware part of the reason for this convention regards Wizard Dresden's conduct?"
No, Alexandria did not know. That was interesting information. Why exactly were they bothering to hold a meeting about Dresden months into the war Dresden started? That they weren't able to find Dresden was impossible since he was literally known to Baines, who Dresden didn't even know.
The only real option was that it was some kind of hearing, a trial perhaps. Part of a larger negotiation, maybe with the Red Court? An attempt at negotiation, political theatre. It was also an attempt to manipulate her, to disparage her task.
"I was aware, yes," Alexandria lied.
Luccio continued to make her complicated expressions, equal parts irritation, and anger.
Alexandria noted and elaborated, rattling off the address, the syllables slipping from her mouth easily as if she had rehearsed them a million times before. If there was one thing she blessed her perfect memory for, it was the ease in which public speaking came to her. Before, she had trouble just avoiding stammering in front of older family members. Afterward, she could memorize how certain words went together, had plenty of time, as her mind worked faster than her mouth ever could, yet ever in concert, to give the perfect response.
It was a small thing, but one of few quality of life improvements which made her tenure as Chief Director so bearable. Of course, even if she had issues, she would've worked past them for the sake of humanity, but it was nice being actually good at it.
"Warden Morgan," Luccio raised her voice, keeping her eyes on Alexandria.
There was silence for a moment then the crunch of glass from inside the doorway and an older man stepped out, red stole and grey cloak over a black robe. His face was drawn, pinched and his beard was a patchy grey. His hair was secured in a ponytail, which really just accented how he appeared to be getting on in years.
He did look at least somewhat respectable, evidentially paying more attention to his physical appearance than Dresden did.
"Take a detachment of Wardens to Baines and Dresden, evaluate the situation, and use your best judgment."
Warden Morgan nodded sharply, Alexandria noted his sword was drawn but held point down, toward the ground. He stared at her for a long moment, scrutinizing her, eyes lingering on the pocket her pixie was currently hiding in and the way she seemed to stand, unnaturally still.
Luccio made a sharp little gesture with her neck, aborted before it even became a real gesture and Morgan turned away, walking toward the corner of the building.
"Captain Luccio," A voice spoke, "I will take care of this."
Alexandria finally lifted her attention from Luccio, turning away from the entrance and the woman who spoke. The voice was thin and reedy but held a hidden strength. Alexandria observed the woman in silence for a moment. The first thing was that the woman was old, very old, eyes clouded and rheumy but still sharp. She was Chinese, Han Chinese to be specific, Alexandria could tell immediately, despite her overall pale pallor.
"Ancient Mai," Luccio cautioned, even more wariness intertwining with her words.
Ancient Mai, if that was actually her name, was flanked by a younger girl, at least compared to her, since the younger girl looked like she was pushing thirty herself. She was also Han Chinese but looked rougher, her hands callused, where Ancient Mai's were smooth and wrinkly. A scar also cut across her face, just above her black left eyebrow. She was clad in a black robe, with a blue stole, a single copper chevron embroidered into its fabric.
That stood in sharp contrast to Ancient Mai's royal purple stole over the same cut of black robe. Ancient Mai leaned on the younger girl, one gnarled hand clutching at the black-robed arm.
Alexandria was instantly wary. So far, the White Council had been remarkably suspicious of everything she did. They were certainly not inclined toward creating any weaknesses. That they were allowing this frail-looking woman to treat with her meant that there was something more to her than met the eye.
"What is your name, creature?" Ancient Mai croaked, rheumy eyes drifting over her form. For a moment, Alexandria was reminded of her own mother, aged, and bed-ridden as she was. Similarities of age, nothing more.
"I have been called Alexandria," Alexandria replied. She had the feeling that Ancient Mai might actually appreciate the subtlety of the full name, but since she did not know nearly enough about her, it was best not to give away a hidden ace.
Ancient Mai looked at her, staring, before a slightly amused expression graced her face, "It is unlikely that you are Winter's emissary."
Alexandria did not move. For a moment she was tempted to leave the question ambiguous and answered only by her own silence. However, that was a poor idea if they decided to take her silence as consent, and then the actual emissary bothered to show up.
"I do not represent Winter," Alexandria answered.
"Because you are not sidhe? Something else, yes?" Mai asked, her ancient brow furrowed, the wrinkled skin pressing together.
"Human," Alexandria explained, before tacking on, "Once, perhaps."
"Perhaps," Ancient Mai agreed amiably, but her sharp eyes were cautious, "Will you linger?"
Alexandria understood the nuance of the question immediately, Ancient Mai wanted to know whether she intended to loiter after her task was completed. The question made sense since by all indications the meeting was meant to be secure, and the White Council was at war. Even if they did not act fully like it.
"Baines implied the White Council would be thankful for his rescue from Winter," Alexandria offered in lieu of a direct reply.
The girl beside Mai made a little frown, the delicate corners of pink lips quirking downward, the most emotion she had shown so far. Ancient Mai squeezed her arm in admonishment, somehow realizing the girl's slip even without looking at her.
"The White Council will decide whether it will uphold such a debt," Ancient Mai proclaimed, almost looking like she expected Alexandria to become irate.
"It is fortuitous then that I am here," Alexandria replied, "with the Council summarily convened."
Ancient Mai seemed to consider her, rheumy eyes unblinking, before she nodded, a jerky motion "The Rite of Observance will be honored, as noted in the Accords."
Given that myth and legend seemed to be the primary influence, albeit with a somewhat modern focus, behind most of the interactions Alexandria experienced recently she really wasn't that surprised that the rite of observance was tied in with hospitality.
The Accords were obviously an agreement for good conduct, and hospitality seemed likewise ritualized because even while in the midst of war the White Council was willing to allow total outsiders into their meeting.
Ancient Mai spoke again, her voice reedy, and the words seemed long recited, "As illuminated in the Unseelie Accords, you must make an oath to act in good faith, to convey nothing of what you hear and see within to other parties, and refrain from violence against all members and guests of this convention."
Alexandria paused for a single imperceptible moment, careful to note whether there was a loophole within that statement. It was also curious that Unseelie would be tacked onto the Accords. Unseelie was a term for one of the faerie courts, in this context most likely Winter, regarded as unhappy or unholy in old Scottish legend. It also explained the repeated questioning of her nature, whether she was Sidhe or not? If the Unseelie had enough sway to get a large human organization, global in scale, to conform to their rules then their reach was vast indeed.
If the Unseelie were synonymous with Winter then Alexandria's situation was improved, scant improvement as it was, since the Queen of Winter owed her a debt. Of course, such a debt would almost be more valuable unspent if the Queen of Winter actually had that power, since the potential debt would almost be worth more in preventing people from acting against her. She had no doubt that Baines would spill all he could to his superiors when he returned.
"I swear to honor the Rite of Observance," Alexandria replied, "as long as no hostile action is taken against me or mine."
Technically, she was well aware that the pixie in her pocket would not be speaking any oath and thus was free to act. However, while the pixie had been a most useful travel companion, Alexandria still doubted her overall loyalty. Such was the nature of the world, always oriented toward mistrust.
Ancient Mai hummed, a little self-satisfied sound. Luccio, the Warden Captain let out a barely audible sigh, hand on the pommel of her sword. She looked irritated but also acknowledged Ancient Mai's words.
"You may enter then," Ancient Mai spoke, ancient rheumy eyes dissecting her appearance once again. Her eyes lingered on the old overcoat. Alexandria could tell by the slight tightening of Ancient Mai's eyes that she might be offended by the ratty nature of the garment.
It would also partially explain the Council's dismissal, not a disrespectful dismissal, but an underestimation. In fact, if she had arrived normally, by walking, it seemed a strong possibility that they may have sought to dismiss her in the entirety. Not for the last time, Alexandria whimsically wished for a good suit. One that was not made of light and fairy dust, thank you very much.
Alexandria could go the complete opposite direction and just strip the overcoat off, she could gain quite a bit of information based on their response. However, that approach had its own issues, mainly negotiations would be stilted, ultimately unsuitable.
Still, Ancient Mai's hesitance and disapproval was a slight, and if there was anything Alexandria disliked it was people not taking her seriously. That was why she got rid of her California accent when she first made her forays into the greater political world.
However, casting illusions was a rather common skill here and it was also possible that proficiency in it was linked to competence, hence she couldn't actually explain how her clothes were destroyed.
Alexandria gestured to herself, inclining her head, catching Ancient Mai's eyes for a split moment before Ancient Mai looked away in a fluid gesture, breaking the eye contact before an ordinary human would even realize it had been made, "The ability to appear unremarkable is remarkably valuable, don't you agree?"
Ancient Mai's lips quirked upward, just the smallest expression on an otherwise placid face, "So it is."
The woman that stood behind Ancient Mai's eyes sharpened, Alexandria could tell that she knew that something had occurred, some kind of hidden communication but hadn't noted what it was.
Luccio 'hmmed,' still watching them, slightly less wary than before, but her hand still clutched her sword. The Warden behind her, the blond man nodded at her quick look and stepped back into the building.
"The White Council would be most amiable if you consented to a brief evaluation," Luccio mentioned, the words off-hand, but also holding a note of warning.
Alexandria turned slightly, to regard her again, understanding the demand for what it was, and slightly, ever so slightly, raised her eyebrow. Luccio did not meet her eye, instead focusing on the bridge of her nose, and finally, Alexandria nodded.
"I will consent, permitted it is not overly invasive," Alexandria stipulated. After all, it would be foolish and a waste of her time to agree to a lengthy security check. Ancient Mai did not object, just watched with old, half-lidded eyes.
A moment later, just long enough that in an ordinary situation it would've become awkward, the blond man appeared again, stopping just shy of leaving the interior. He was accompanied by another Warden, grey cloak and red stole prominent over his black robe, who did not hesitate in stepping over the threshold of the door and into the obfuscated light of the clouded summer day. A glittering crystal pendant rested atop the new man's breast. His hair was slightly curled and black, and his skin was dusky brown. Indian, or Pakistani, Alexandria guessed. The features were mixed, making it hard to pin down his nationality exactly.
He seemed more of a Thanda type than a Garama, the deep suspicious look to his eyes not lifting as his gaze flickered over the three outside. His sword was sheathed but the staff in his hand was poised, not quite held at the ready but not held easily either.
Ancient Mai stepped forward and past the man, who did not stop her, merely giving her a once-over, he did stop the younger woman that followed after Mai, lifting the crystal pendant, murmuring nonsense syllables before waving it over her body.
Alexandria's sharp eyes noted the pattern, chakra points, starting with the Sahasrara at the crown of her head, then over the third eye, the Ajna, swiftly moving down the front of her body, stopping over the root chakra point, the Muladhara. At each point the crystal pulsed with soft yellow light, only shifting to a slight orange over the Svadhisthana chakra point over the pelvis. He paused for a moment as if thinking.
Alexandria remembered every single thing she had ever read, and chakra points were one of those things. In the early days of Cauldron, they had entertained the idea that powers connected in a more mystical way, before their dissections revealed the presence of the aberrant growths necessary for the agents to attach.
Ancient Mai made a little noise, which might be irritation and the Warden nodded, stepping aside, and letting the younger girl enter the doorway, following after Ancient Mai. Ancient Mai, in turn, paused, seemingly waiting for Alexandria, who stepped forward.
She did not quite know what the ritual was, or the light, but it seemed to be a security measure which was unlikely to bring harm to her. Part of her was loath, of course, to give the White Council whatever information they were able to gain from their ritual but that seemed a small sacrifice compared to gaining access to the convention. After all, they had made no noise of dissent at her stipulation to the agreement.
The lines around the Indian Warden's eyes narrowed as he looked her over, his eyes shifting over toward Luccio. Luccio, herself, had turned slightly, hand resting on her sword still. Luccio nodded, a stress line between her brows.
The Warden brought his crystal back to his staff, hovering it a moment over it, it flashed white and then he lifted it towards Alexandria's head. It gleamed a friendly yellow as it passed over her crown chakra point. The next, the third eye, pulsed purple, a bright amethyst hue. The Warden paused, his hand still outstretched clutching the pendant. His eyes flickered to Luccio.
At some silent agreement he continued, but the rest glowed yellow all the way down her body. He hesitated at the end, hand starting to move upward as if he wanted to go over the whole thing again. Luccio made a gesture behind her, cloth shifting out of her view and then the Indian Warden nodded, albeit looking incredibly reluctant, and let her step through the door.
The blond Warden stepped closer and whispered to Ancient Mai, but Alexandria could clearly pick it up, "Sight check?"
Ancient Mai's words were sharp and quick, most of the old croak gone as she whispered back harshly, barely audible, "No."
The doorway was nothing special, nor was the interior of the building, a short hallway, lit by an actual candlestick candelabra with pillar candles glowing softly on top. The tiles on the floor were newly cleaned and featured not a single iota of dust or even scuff marks.
Alexandria's feet did not touch the ground, instead, she floated forward, feet still hidden inside the overcoat, making it appear as if she was just sliding forward. A petty use of her power, and more practical illusion than actual substance but it also served to establish her as more than just human, which she suspected was valuable.
The younger woman that accompanied Ancient Mai hissed a word, an exclamation, almost under her breath. Immediately, Alexandria placed the accent, even if she did not personally know the translation. Wu dialect, from Shanghai, China.
"Silence, grand-daughter," Ancient Mai replied, in the same language, the words whispered in response.
The spacious hallway opened into what looked like a presentation area, tables arrayed in front of a rather large raised dais. The room was about two-thirds full of what appeared to be humans. The rest of the room consisted of empty chairs and tables, mostly toward the front of the room.
A balding man, with a gaunt face, stood up there, speaking to a Warden in a grey cloak quietly, something like anger flickering in his eyes.
Two young men in brown robes were currently lifting a podium up onto the dais. They didn't look winded despite having to carry the solid oak podium with an ornately carved Triskelion on it. Already two podiums of lesser, flimsier construction were set in place, near the place of the balding man.
Brown and black robes were dominant, with the plurality significantly erring toward black. All but the brown wore stoles, red, gold, and blue mixed together. A few grey cloaked men and women were positioned strategically around the room, including a portion of the room composed of people who did not share the same dress code.
Ancient Mai turned toward Alexandria, regarding her for a long moment, "A section has been set aside for the observers."
Left unsaid was the dismissal and the subtle request that she join the other group of eclectic individuals. Alexandria let her eyes travel over them, before spanning back over the uniformly clad.
"So, this is the White Council," Alexandria spoke out loud, drawing the attention of those nearest to her. A young teen, clad in a brown robe, looked up from his spot kneeling by the chair of a black-robed woman, who whispered a harsh rebuke which diverted his eyes away even as she gave Alexandria a once-over, eyes lingering on the overcoat before seeming to dismiss her.
Alexandria paid no heed, turning back toward Ancient Mai, "Very well, I will await the White Council's declaration."
Ancient Mai inclined her head in what might be a bow of dismissal or might've been an acceptance of Alexandria's words.