8th of Cylus 720
Upon having been appointed to the Foreign Affairs Councilorship, Kalortah quickly realized the cut-throat and perilous nature of democratic politics. Where rule by an Aeolian could be maintained and established by military might and an atmosphere of dread, Democracy was quite another creature. One where the mighty could fall on the whim of a few votes, where the weak could rise, and where the only mitigating factor against threats to one's life and livelihood, was having a bigger wolf on one's side.
Kalortah needed to surround himself with people he could trust, people he could rely on, people he could use.
Undeniably, Korva was not that person.
A compulsive and evasive liar, who was quite possibly physically incapable of saying a thing that was true or factual, Korva nonetheless wasn't entirely without merit. As much as she'd vexed him upon his last stay in Scalvoris, he did miss the talkative and lying little Minnow. He wondered if she'd gotten that child of hers killed yet, or if they both yet lived.
He'd sent a messenger to suss out her current location. Not knowing if she was on the Island or had long since left, Kalortah knew it was a shot in the dark. So he arrived at the docks in the gloom of Cylus, waiting beside the stench of fish, sand, salt, and unwashed sailors. He wore a simple woolen robe, cinched at the waist with a rope. It was brown. His wing valance was also brown, and very nearly hid his glorious red plumage.
His hood was drawn up, to cover his face. He'd situated himself at a specific location by the docks, and waited, rubbing his arms to try and keep warm in the Cylus chill.
Why had he come in secret? He wasn't entirely sure. He simply didn't wish for it to get out that he as Councilor had met with Korva. He wished to keep their connection secret if he could, at least for the moment. He had an offer for the abrasive and free-spirited Minnow. He'd sent word that he was willing to commission a ship for her, under certain preconditions.
So Kalortah waited by the docks, facing out to the ocean. He would wait for a break or more before leaving, then send word again on the next day. Yet he hoped she would show up tonight. He could only troll the docks so often before word from those watching him, got out that the Councilor of Foreign Affairs was up to something.
Yet, more than he expected that he would, Kalortah found his heart sinking with every bit that went beyond the break that he set to meet with the apefish woman, Korva. It got to the point, where he was leaning right over the balustrade, closing his eyes as a sudden stinging sensation rose in his nose. What was this? Sadness?! Why should he be sad that the accursed apefish stood him up! He was better off without her, he...
He shed tears over the waters beneath the pier. They dripped into the dirty waters beneath as he shut his eyes. He found himself sobbing in his pretty voice, a melodic sound that bubbled in waves through the air. He really did miss Korva, and hoped beyond what was reasonable that he might meet her again. But now, he didn't know if that was what his fate had in store. He should've clung to her when he had a chance.
The sobs broke as he sighed against the wind, and began singing to himself to try and soothe his aching heart. He sang a song in Lorien. His voice echoed over the rippling waters, carrying throughout the pier. But he didn't mind at this point if anyone knew he was here. It was almost as if he wanted to be found.
The words of the song spoke of lost love in the at turns soft and sharp linguistic flourishes of Lorien. Of the shape that the bereaved's beloved's own precious voice.
"Tunes so sweet as avriel down floating on the wind,
Softly falling upon the ground of accursed land striders.
Moons above shed light there, upon an echo of a sin,
From whence the molting body of my love lies."
He sighed deeply, as the song went on, recalling the touch of his lover's feathers, their voice, their skin. He wished to see Korva again, and would've given a feather to do so. Yet as the bits went by, one after another, it became clear that she either hadn't received word from him, or had no intention of entertaining his audience.
His song became a wordless chant, in vague shape of Lorien ululating. The sound of his voice persisted for a few moments, before he was interrupted by the bubbling voice of a woman off to the side. He turned sharply, expecting to see Korva there. But he did not. It was someone else.
She had sandy blonde hair, and silvery scars on her cheek. Blue eyes turned orange as he wheeled to face her, and a look of apprehension fell on her angular face. "Pardon, sir... Just... noticed yer pretty voice and came to hear up close. Tha' was a pretty song yer spoke just then."
Kalortah narrowed his eyes at her, and then shrugged. At least she was able to muster suitable flattery. He turned back toward the sea, and leaned against the ballustrade.
"Ey! Whatcher..." He felt her footfalls on the pier beneath them as she stomped up to him. "Name's Ylsbeth." She stuck a hand out for him to shake. He just glanced at it sideways, while facing forward to the ocean.
She stood by his side for a few more moments, until a shiver ran through her. Although she was wearing a fine ermine mantle, it wasn't enough to ward the chill of Cylus. "Welp, I'mma head into the city. Yer can freeze yer balls off here if'n ya want." She finally said, and turned on her heel to walk away.
Kalortah stirred a few moments, in place, before turning to face her retreating form. "Wait."
She stopped, and turned her head to give him an inquisitive look.
"Can you eat? Are you hungry? I know a place, Cally's... Best food in Beacon. If you'll join me."
Her mouth twisted slightly at that, then broke into a sloppy smile. "Shore! Let's go then, c'mon!"
It was a long walk from the wharves of Northern Scalvoris, to Beacon and Cally's, though. Kalortah found himself walking alongside her in silence. Every so often she would turn pointedly to him, as if expecting him to say something. Kalortah's mouth twisted, and he felt himself thinking about Korva again. He wondered what she was doing, and to where she'd gone. Maybe she was at the bottom of the ocean, or merfood. The thought was enough to make him begin to move away from thinking about her. It wasn't her that he was attached to... he didn't think. But the idea of a lying, confounding, and utterly guileless fiendish little biqaj. The way she got under his skin... It was...
"Whatcher thinkin?" She said, bubbling words in his ear.
"Just... trying to decide what I want to eat before we get there."
"Lissen, yer payin' right? I ain't gonna follow some posh feller ta Cally's and have him spring the bill on me at ter end of the night!" She giggled. Kalortah's mouth twisted. Her manners needed work. Kalortah had no idea why he was taking this woman to dinner, or why to Cally's. Perhaps because that was where he'd first met Korva. And he wanted to see if he could engineer the internal reaction to the odd ball biqaj.
Within a break, they made it to the restaurant. Ylsbeth hurried ahead of him, rubbing her arms beneath her mantle and rushing through the door. Kalortah followed sullenly behind her, ducking his wings beneath the threshold of the door. A few faces seemed to recognize Kalortah, whether from his council position or the fact that he'd played there before as a bard.
Kalortah ignored their glances, and went ahead to make reservations for a table, for him and his guest. Within moments, the hostess brought them to the table. Kalortah shook off his cloak and valance, letting his red wings stretch slightly behind him. Ylsbeth stared for a few moments at him, her mouth agape and eyes wide as saucers. Her eyes changed to the color of pink as she beheld the wings behind him. "Yer got pretty wingsh." She said with a full mouth, as she sampled the freshly baked rolls that were placed upon the table.
It might be a long evening.
