Sue
The Princess Irezora Qinrel flexed the arches of her feet, rolling onto toes quickly becoming sore from the repeated action. As another moment passed she fiddled once more with the line of objects arranged neatly atop a table. First, a plain band of iridescent metal dulled to a grey while dormant. The ring rested atop a small sheet of paper with curled lettering scrawled across its surface. Second, a folio stuffed with papers sporting a diagrams and scripts from the same hand. Last an envelope addressed to no one. 

The archives had been the only place she'd considered safe enough for such a discussion short of invited herself into the King's personal study. Though the location was slightly more open, a series of inscribed coins placed strategically around the area provided some level of privacy from listening ears and preying eyes. That said, the nervous energy flowing through the princess more closely related to the reaction of the intended recipient of her words, not any others who might learn by accident.
James
*What, he wondered, were the coins about? As he approached the archives, where he had been told to meet the princess, he tried to puzzle it out - they were placed at what he could see were regular intervals, but he knew not whether they were visible to the naked eye, whether they showed in anything other than his mind's grasp, or whether this was some hidden message from the visiting woman. He could always ask her, he chided himself, instead of trying to work it out by himself. But lately, the chill of a hostile world had seeped into his mind a little too often, and he did not trust entirely the words of his allies. 

Everything had to be checked, everything verified. It was the only way to know they were with you.

As he pushed open the doors to the quiet archives and strode into the room, sabatons clanking as they met the stone of the floor. His eyes alit on the bookish princess, whose position was surrounded by the coins, and whose missive had brought him here. She had been a guest of Alora's for some time, he knew, and an intelligent woman. What could she have for him now?*

"Princess." *He greeted her, eyebrow raised in apprehension.* "What purpose have you asked me here for? And, if you do not mind my asking, what is the function of that coin arrangement of yours?"
Sue
The King of Alynthi never had tread lightly, so to speak. Even before he's entered the archival room, his footsteps could be heard as they moved with purpose towards whatever task next required their master's attention. The subconscious fiddling of fingers along the pleats of her skirt were enough reminder that she'd asked for the time of a very busy and important man. 

She had never been one to present as skittish or nervous, in fact, generally the opposite was true. Almost a hundred years of practice entertaining and conversing tended to break such habits at their source. However, how could the second daughter of a small kingdom feel anything but in the face of the King of their greatest ally. 

*An ally, yes* She reminded herself. That was the purpose of her summons, the reason for the odd display of items and nervous flexing of her feet. As the door swung open, her spine straightened instantly and her hands found their way to the folds of her skirt. Immediately she pulled the fabric upward slightly, lowering her knee and head. "Your Majesty." A quick dip of her chin later and she righted herself once more, hands finding their was to clasp one another behind her back. "Thank you for meeting me here. The coins, yes. Right. Though I have no doubt in the security of your castle nor reason to believe that any in your employ would ever take cause to betray you I find myself looking for snakes in the shadows and demons at the dinner table." 

Up until this point she has managed quite naturally to maintain an averted gaze, eyes focused anywhere but the King's face. Much longer, though, and such avoidance might be perceived as rude or worse, suspicious. Already the circumstances may be dubious enough if she did not hurry and explain. Despite the long standing alliance of their kingdoms, Astalios could not be faulted a fear of attempted assassination at every corner. Then again, she posed little threat against the likes of him. She did not *Fear* The man. There wa

S no reason to believe that any harm would come to her while in his presence. She feared *For* The King. 

Breath held in her lungs, she fixed her eyes on the general form of is face, not focusing too closely on any details. She'd put thought into the choice of her warding materials, coins instead of stones, so that her desire for transparency would be clear. "They create a space safe from listening ears, Your Majesty. In fact," She began turning toward the table, "*That* Is my purpose in asking you here." Her fingers plucked the ring from the table before turning back to face him once more. 

Images of a molten crown and scalded flesh pushed themselves to the forefront of her mind. A man broken with tears and metal in his eyes surrounded by fallen allies kneels below a sky of fire. She inhaled through her nose, clearing the images lasting just moments before continuing, gaze focused just above the man's head this time. "You better than most understand the gravity of the meeting yet to unfold on these grounds. I fear the intentions of all may not keep the best interest of most in mind. Your Majesty I love my Kingdom as I know you do yours and I wish to do my part in ensuring the safety and prosperity of our allied states." 

She stepped to the side after depositing the ring back on its paper, turning so that the table and its objects were plainly in view. "These are a few resources that I hope may prove useful in the next few days." Her lips pressed together as she allowed the King a moment to process.
James
"Your Highness." *She seemed oddly nervous, he thought - a curtsy was normal fare, but there was something in her voice, the way her eyes avoided his face, that made things seem slightly strange. As with all strangeness, the first good move was to assure that it was not harmful, and Astalios closed his eyes for a moment to reach out with his senses, trying to detect any hidden people in the archives. If there were any, he knew they would likely be prepared, but it gave him some sense of security to at least check. He found none, however. No sets of silver buttons, no golden bracelets or small tacks in boots. 

He opened them again, listened to the explanation of the coins. She was nervous, clearly. A small thought occurred to him - with the sound-dampening effect of the spell, it would have been the perfect opportunity to quietly assassinate him with a sleeping spell or some other enchantment to put him to sleep, and then a quick stone dagger or lance of magic to his throat. But this was a princess of an allied nation, the friend of his sister. There was no reason for her to do that, unless she wished for relations to collapse between their respective countries.

To listen to her, she seemed to think that there was some service she could perform for the betterment of both nations, some boon she could bestow. It was probable that the ring held some enchantment she thought was useful. Trust, he thought, was such a hard thing to bestow. He would have to have the ring analyzed before he decided to wear it, of course, but there seemed to be something missing from the discussion.* 

"What resources?" *He asked, prompting a sharp look at the ring.* "What purpose does the ring serve? I assume there is some enchantment placed on it."
Sue
The King's actions were just as she had expected: measured and efficient. The suspicion she hoped to abate seemed to linger still as she spoke, and even after hearing his response she feared that perhaps her initial apprehension proved too suspect to recover from. Trust, however, always existed as a two way stream. Just as he had put a semblance of trust in her by meeting, she too had entrusted in the King her own safety and wellbeing. It was no mistake that the pair stood surrounded by objects that he might easily turn into weapons. Even the jewelry adorning her ears and neck could slice through an artery faster than she might call words of magic to her lips. It was no coincidence that she possessed no weapons or magical implements on her person besides those resting on the table. Trust was always a two way stream, and she intended to prove herself worthy of his. 

Such lofty truths took time to teach, however. Given the tumult following the festival hosted at her own castle and the looming risk of villains entering his home, she could not blame the King for his caution and reluctance to give trust willingly. There was far more at stake than either of their lives. 

The ring. Right. "Oh yes, this ring," She began, picking the object up once more and sliding it on to the thumb of her right hand. The piece was far too large for any of her fingers, having purposefully been fashioned for a larger wearer with the ability to alter its dimensions at will. "It is crafted to detect potential sources of magic and their type. Many of those who will be arriving tomorrow are known for their abilities of, uh, persuasion and other less than savory means of acquiring information. I believe that, well, the information in your mind should stay your own. Not only that but in the case that someone finds a way around restrictions on magic you will not be caught off guard." Her gaze remained on the King as she explained her reasoning before a spark of excitement pushed away linger

Ing appearances of hesitation. "In fact, I thought such magic restrictions might cause an issue on the function of the ring itself, but it seems as though combining both runic warding and enchantment allows the metal to retain the infused properties even with some levels of magical hinderance. There are, of course, cases where even the ring will not work, but I believe someone would need to directly target its magical properties which may be hard considering it most likely wouldn't register for most magic users attempting to detect other magic since some of the power is intrinsic. Intrinsic might not be the right word maybe it's more," She caught herself before more words could spill forth. 

"Maybe a demonstration is more appropriate." Her gaze flicked quickly down to the large band on her finger in an attempt to hide any embarrassment that might be apparent. "As you can see the metal is currently mostly grey with no real hints of coloring. However, if a nearby magic user were to do something such as alter the shape of this coin," She continued, fishing the mentioned object out of a pocket concealed in the folds of her skirt. "The coloring will change to reflect such. It will not stay that color so a little bit of vigilance is necessary but, well, would you mind assisting?" Her eyes flicked between the King and the coin, hoping he would perhaps show pity on the Princess perhaps making a fool of herself. Only one way to find out.
James
*A magic detector. He considered it for a moment. It was true that he did not trust the Queen to avoid reading his mind, or any of the others to avoid unsavory tactics - a ring that detected magic was a good idea in theory, if not in practice. Useful for knowing at least that there was some trick occurring, and what type of magic was coming into play. However, as the gears began turning in his mind, and he began to mull over the concept, there were a few factors to begin to dissect.

Firstly, the ring itself was a ring. He didn't wear rings often, nor had he done so to any political event he had attended in the past year. It was not his style. With a discerning eye, it would be noticed. Second, attention would be drawn to the ring by the fact that he had to keep looking down at it to be notified of any spells. Third, there was no selective detection mechanism, and it could not distinguish between the casters of several spells, or between spells and permanent enchantments. Perhaps a different approach to the same problem.*

"I am impressed at the innovations you have made, Princess, in terms of the concealment of the enchantment. I also thank you for the forethought on what would be necessary for my current situation politically." *He glanced at the ring for the moment.* "However - I am not a usual wearer of rings, nor can I afford to draw attention to it by staring at the device, no matter how useful it may be. In addition, might the trigger be sprung far too often for our tastes? If an enchantment on a room is present, or if multiple spells are active, how does it filter out the signals?"

"If I may," *He began, a thoughtful look on his face.* "The detection method is sound, but it needs to be more selective. And for the alarm - perhaps it plays a note in one's mind? Something one does not have to look down to it for. A colored signal, perhaps, only visible to the wearer? A tint in their vision?"
Sue
The King's genuine interest in her work was immediately apparent. When it came to creating work for the sake of others, questions were always the most gratifying of responses. Such challenges represented effortful thought about her design and its utility. She rubbed the metal band on her finger before slipping it off. All of his concerns were good ones, and some she had even considered before presenting the object to him today. 

"Thank you, You Majesty," She replied first with a quick dip of her head. "I actually was thinking the composition of the object might help with concealing it. Though, I suppose if we were to change the mechanism by which it will alert you..." The words trailed off as the Princess pressed her lips together in thought. His suggestion relating to a sound in his mind would be nice, however, making that kind of alteration might be a little outside of the realm of possibility with the current runic mechanisms. If she were to make that change then the apparatus may not work within areas where barriers to magic exist. If only there was a physical change that she could make in the metal not related to color.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, eyes flying back to the King as a smile broke out on her face. "What if we make it a tactile sensation in response to nearby magic. Different sensations for different schools and different strengths based on the proximity of the spell. Would proximity be okay? I know that ideally we'd have a more precise way of determining the source of magic, but my initial intent was to prevent any surprises."
James
"Steel." *He murmured.* "Again, your Highness, very thoughtful." *A small smile graced his face, cracking through the stern exterior that usually armored him as surely as the steel with which he was encased. The spark of innovation was clearly within her too, and at heart, the king was an inquisitive man, meant more for writing papers on natural laws than for dealing in politics. If given the choice, he might work out the mechanisms for machines every day of every week.

This, he supposed, was another sort of machine, and it had a clear input and output. He drummed his fingers against his chin, thinking of how to make the changes. Just like the problem of creating a strange habit of looking at his fingers, perhaps the tactile sensations might be slightly strange as well - a buzzing vibration in his joints would be unfortunately loud in the silence of a meeting room. Heat, however, he could do - that and cold. But that was only two. What for the other schools?*

"I propose we do nothing with vibration, then." *He suggested, playing off of the concept of a tactile sensation.* "It might be loud. I can stand heat and cold, but those are only two types of alerts. I suggest they correspond to evocation and abjuration, respectively. Perhaps they should occur in different parts of the ring? Four cardinal directions, to make it simple - and with heat and cold, we would have eight easily recognizable signals, for most of the schools of magic."
Sue
The Princess pressed her lips together in an attempt to suppress the grin threatening to conquer her face at his addition. It had been quite some time since the recipient of one of her inventions brought meaningful contributions to its design. What had started as a small item with potential could now make the difference between victims and victors. Of course, she hoped that this formality would never be activated, a foolish desire to believe that all monarchs would respect one another enough to establish a semblance of trust. However, she was quite familiar with one of them, after all. 

"I think," She began again once the King had finished his addition. "That I could also manage a bit of a shocking sensation if that would not be too much, Your Majesty. Maybe even something akin to pulsing like..." The words trailed off before her eyes once again widened. "No we could use the hot and cold along with patterns. So A pulse of hot then one second of no sensation and another pulse for Abjuration perhaps and maybe two cold for evocation? Then we could do one hot then cold for divination and vice versa for enchantment?" 

In her excitement, she had risen up to her toes and back down multiple times before turning to the small piece of paper on the table. She looked around briefly for any sort of writing instrument before absentmindedly plucking a pin from her hair, focusing on the flat object and transforming it to a lead writing instrument.
James
*She reminded him of the best and the worst researchers he had seen at the Association, he decided - though her inquisitive mind was clearly working at the rate of ten miles per minute, one of the core principles of applied research was lost on her. Though the possibilities of such experiments might be endless, only a select few ever ended up being useful, and though variation was the spice of life, consistency was what made functional projects in the end. The meeting was fast approaching, and to learn a complicated system of pulses was not possible for a man with very little time to spare and many preparations to attend to along with matters of state. 

The smile upon his face remained, however. Though this was a common thread that he sometimes grew exasperated with, it meant that learning was truly a joy of hers, and that she reveled in the possibilities nearly as much as he did when undertaking projects of passion. That was a quality that could never be replaced - it drove forward the wheels of progress ever faster until its destination was reached.*

"I do not think that shocking is on the same order as heat and cold, Your Highness." *He raised an eyebrow, slightly amused.* "While the latter two can perhaps be alarming if taken in extremes, the former will be alarming consistently, and I do not believe I would like the added challenge of controlling myself whenever I feel the urge to jump suddenly during a meeting with high political stakes."

_ _
"Please strike the shocking from the record. In addition..." *He strode forward as he spoke, leaning over the table beside her and taking note of what she was recording.* "I said nothing of a pulsing system - I envisioned a more consistent sensation, corresponding to the duration of the magic in question. For example, 'north' and 'warm' on the finger would correspond to evocation, while 'north' and 'cold' would correspond to abjuration, and so on. I further suggest that they be slightly offset from each other, so as to know when they are both being used."
Sue
A faint rush of heat pushed its way through her cheeks as the King seemingly made a joke in response to her blind enthusiasm. The Alynthi monarch was known for many great feats and mannerisms, however, humor was never among the list. Such a fool she must be to elicit levity from a man of steel. Perhaps it was for the best, she thought, that a man with so much weight to carry might be afforded a moment or two for discussing anything but. Although the pair stood tailoring the object in question for use such circumstances, that might not be apparent to an observer. The conversation was of an almost light nature, just two scholars puzzling out the specifics of a new invention.

She scratched at the words that had come from her mind and replaced them with the request of the King. It would certainly entail a different mechanism to link the directionality of a ring to what it senses. After all, a simple band has no up or down to speak of. "I'll have to change the design then," She said, resting the lead on her bottom lip in thought. "There will need to be some sort of symbol that indicates directionality so that you wear it the same way each time."

A few traces more and a rough sketch had appeared below the new words. The image of a band, this time with a round stamped image on the top took center stage upon the page. Four large points spread across the face, with four smaller ones offset by 45 degrees. The drawing was crude and incomplete, but the idea was present. "A compass, Your Majesty," She said, beaming up at the man with satisfaction. "We can't well use cardinal directions, but I believe you mean to use the location on the ring. So if a growing warmth were to appear on the top of your finger you might note nearby evocation magic. Again, this doesn't help in a situation where magic will be used liberally, however, it might be of help when that is not the case." 

"I can have these changes ready by tomorrow, Your Majesty, if the design pleases you. It might he

Lp it," Her eyes returned down to the paper for a moment, taking stock of her notes. "Well working with color is well within the realm of my comfort, visual magic and all, but changing the tactical sensation of metal requires an understanding of substance composition that I may not be able to completely grasp with one afternoon and evening of study." She pressed her lips together once more briefly as her gaze flicked down towards her hands before finally returning to the King. "It is clear that your knowledge of metallic properties far exceeds my own, I wondered if you might have a few moments to help me with the specifics of temperature shifts with such solid substances after we conclude this meeting? Of course, I understand you are quite busy and have far more important matters to attend to and in that case I will do all I can to learn the necessary properties and steps in fact I may have a little familiarity..."She continued on past these words, any number of random facts and phrases that might have proven relevant to their current situation spilling forward without end as though waiting for a cue to stop the onslaught.

*Foolish*, she thought. How could she be of use if her "Great inventions" Required the King to put in his own time to finish. So much for being helpful.

Mercy please my lord
James
*Her cheeks reddened in what appeared to be embarrassment. Was he really so out of practice at making jokes that he was now incapable of humor? Doubtless her expression sprouted from his poor attempt at it, and he felt as if it would have been better not to attempt it at all. There was nothing he could add in the form of a joke. His smile melted away to his usual composure, the face calm and stern, appraising the proposed changes with a more analytical mind than one inclined to levity.*

"One mark should be enough. Something small and insignificant. The runes I can hide inside my armor, but this must show in some way. I should like for it so be a mark that no one believes will be important. A simple arrow might be functional enough. Or the rune for the letter 'N'." *He suggested, leaning over the sketchbook with interest. Forty-five degree offsets had not been what he had considered, but if that was what she thought was appropriate, it would work well enough. It needed to remain simple, though - too much and he would soon forget what the signals meant.*

"I propose we simply use cold if this design is to be used." *He continued.* "If they were clustered together, both signals might be necessary, but this is simpler in a way. Cleaner even than what I had suggested. I approve. You shall have all the documents I have written on the subject of the properties of metals, and my ear if you wish to ask me directly what I meant within the context of the papers. However, changing my sensation of cold is probably a good deal harder than simply making the metal itself grow cold."

"And as you can transmute already, given your work with the hairpin that has now become your pencil, I suggest you think of heating and cooling metal thusly; imagine a small current runs through whatever metal you are transmuting, and runs at a constant speed. When this current runs quicker, the metal heats - when it runs slowly, it cools. All you must do is slow the current."
Sue
The fun was over, so it seemed. All it took was a moment of its absence for her to realize how greatly she, too, had needed it. With his final words and appraising eye, she put the last touches on their combined design. There was no intention to change his physical state, that was why his initial request for visual cues would have been so hard to execute in the first place. Simple cooling of an object, however, appeared within their reach. As the King spoke, she peered upward at the scholar as he put he concept in terms he knew she would be able to grasp. It was a skill in itself, she knew, to teach. Although sharing knowledge numbered high on her list of passions, occasionally she lacked the patience necessary to fully explain something at a rudimentary level that she understood in great detail.

She could not help but consider that the man beside her continued to prove himself as everything her father might have wished for in a son. A leader with no thirst for blood, a man with passions of his own. Instead, the King of Thyseer had been blessed with two daughters, neither of which measures close. Besides, it was only a matter of time before Delsandra... She turned her attention back down to the table for a moment then back at the man, a smile growing upon her face once more. "I believe that should be no trouble, Your Majesty," She began with a nod of her head. "Though I would not wish to take any more of your time than I already have, and there is more I had hoped to share with you before your duties called you elsewhere." Her eyes wandered to the folio of paper bound before them. "I can promise there will be no more threats of bodily harm, though," She added with a playful smile tugging the corner of her lip.
James
*There was little more to say on the subject of the ring, it appeared, and they had more or less ironed out the necessary details for its construction. He hoped that on a conceptual level, what he had said made sense - when he focused, really focused on the metal at hand, it was as if there was some river yet unseen, made of the tiniest... Sand, almost? Perhaps if sand was alive. It felt flexible on some level, as if it were tiny grains of clay molded together, dried as if in a kiln, yet still... Somehow moving.

The best way he could think about it was as a river, anyhow. It was all he could do to translate that, and hoped she **Felt** The material the way he did.*

"If you have more to share, then please do so." *His mouth turned upwards into a small smile at her joke, pleased that perhaps she had not thought him so ridiculous as to dislike his sense of humor. He had been much worried that she might come to detest his attempts at it, but it seemed things were well in the end, and he had no reason to worry as he did.

The items on the table, however, piqued his curiosity, and soon the smile faded as his eyes rested on both the letter and the folio, curious about each of them.*
Sue
"Yes of course!" She replied quickly, eager to continue on to the next subject at hand. She placed the ring back atop the piece of paper with its additional plans newly included. Most likely the ring would need to be passed off some time in the morning while the delegations were still gathering, but they could broach that later if necessary. With her hands now free of rings and writing instruments, she picked apart the loose knot holding the folio closed. With one smooth motion she pulled the front back to lay the spine flat, exposing a stack of papers, some worn and others fresh, all with the same distinct handwriting from the design of the ring. 

"Well I figured based on the success of the ring that you might be open to hearing of some other ideas and concepts I've put together." Her eyes turned up to the the man's as she continued. "Though I prefer to spend my time creating works of beauty or entertainment, I fear that there may soon be a greater need for innovation of a different kind." Once again her eyes returned to the pages, believing further explanation could only serve to beat a dead horse. Based on all that she had seen in their short meeting, the King very well understood what she meant, both as a scientist and a monarch. 

"I've included here some designs that prove most helpful. For the most part they are still in rudimentary phases and I pray we will have no use for them, but they do none of us any good on paper." With a pass of her hand she spread a few of the pages out, showing sketches of box-like contraptions and larger balloon shaped objects. "I fear that back home in Thyseer I lack the ability to plan and respond to events in a timely manner. Although my father does all that he can to keep us in step with our allies as geopolitical events such as these center around Alynthi and her court we felt it best I, too, follow the flock. This time, she pulled half of the stack back, revealing a new set of papers, this time with lines of text and t

He occasional diagram. 

"Information," She said, keeping her gaze on the words before looking up for his reaction. "As I am sure you have done as well, my father has made a habit of increasing knowledge wherever possible in relation to potential allies and foes. It is our belief that the alliance between our kingdoms gains nothing if we do not utilize this bond to its fullest." She pressed her lips together before rearranging the papers to keep her hands from resting idle. 

"This is for you. I have a copy of all documents included in the case that you ever have need to discuss further. It is my intention to continue this work here in Alynthi, with your permission of course, Your Majesty," She added with another dip of her head in his direction. "And if you would permit a few resources I might be able to begin prototypes such as this." A gesture towards the metal band was all she needed to make the point. 

"I know of you only the little I have seen and much I have heard. Your actions at Sorevelle proved consistent with the praise of those whose opinion I hold in high regard, highest of which being my father." She stepped to the side just a step so that he might be able to look over the book if he so desired, turning her back to the table and resting her hands upon its edge. "That is to say that you have my trust and respect, even if I have not yet earned yours. I could mean nothing more than the words I first spoke to you upon initiating this conversation. I love my Kingdom as you do yours and will stop at nothing to safeguard the lives of our people respectively." 

Perhaps it was all a little too much, she supposed. What reason did he have to believe such claims when so many would say them just to have his ear? Perhaps the passion of a fellow monarch and scholar was enough to get them somewhere. "What do you say?"
James
*At first, he thought that she was going to ask him for funding for her personal projects, but as she spoke of 'innovation of a different kind', it was apparent what she meant - war machines, magical countermeasures or powerful items, something he could use in the investigation of the Sorevelle crisis. There was much to be done if they were to take any proper measures to protect themselves. Perhaps with some leap forward in magical innovation, they would be able to devise a method to find this entity or person, whichever had done it.*

"...I shall read the documents on the other nations over during the lead-up to the conference, Your Highness." *He concluded. If she was to be able to continue her work in the interim, perhaps they could extract some value from the folio laid in front of him.*

 "If you have another copy to keep for yourself, of course. I wish not to rob you of your intelligence on the others - and it is not often wise to give away one's work when it is needed for practicum." *His eyes twinkled with a spark of mirth for a moment.* "Your request has been granted. You shall have a fine laboratory if you are in need of one. The International Alchemical Association has a few rooms in my castle which might be of use. There is no reason why you should not be allowed to access one of them frequently, nor make it your own, if you so wish, for the duration of your experiments."

"...I thank you, also," *His voice quieted as she spoke of her father.* "For your words. Assurances of trust, respect, and regard are always much appreciated. Please thank His Majesty your father on my behalf when you next see him. Furthermore, I should think that although trust is a hard-earned quality, you have comported yourself with grace, and are well on the way to earning that trust. Respect has been beyond earned at this point. I must thank you for your gestures here."
Sue
The feeling of wood beneath her fingers kept her present as the King made his determination. The hesitation she had expected upon entering this room seemed absent, almost. Was it possible that over the course of this short conversation she had succeeded in demonstrating her true intent. A wave of relief washed clean the anxiety of accidental affronts or annoyances. Eyes still fixed on the man beside her, she could not help but smile at his acceptance. Not only had permission been granted, but the implication that her 'practicum' would continue unabated neared encouragement. This understanding was solidified with his extension of resources reserved for the Alchemist Association for the purposes of her experimentation. She could write rows of words and still fail to express her appreciation for his understanding. 

Perhaps the largest consolation came in the confirmation of all she had heard thus far about the Alynthi King. His words for her father softened her lips from the edge of a grin back to a more neutral expression. For a moment, she wondered if in another life she, too, might have risen to be a monarch worthy of her people and allies. It was not often that a princess was permitted such thoughts and there had never been a day in her life that Irezora believed she would ever ascend to rule Thyseer. However in these moments, when she experienced first hand the impact of a *Good* King, worry was hard to weaken. The greatest fortune lay with her father's health. With two daughters only, many spoke of his reluctance to commit either to a marriage of political favor. Zora found no reason for him to rush, personally. She could think of few commands her father might have that she would disobey and marrying for the good of her kingdom certainly was not one of them. That did not stop the eventuality from looming overhead. Could it be possible that one day the people of Thyseer may forget the Princess that left to keep them safe? 

"I thank you, Your Majesty," She

Responded as the vacant expression hiding her thoughts took form. "I certainly will pass your message along as soon as possible." Messages. Gestures. Oh yes, gestures. Her gaze cleared, a mix of excitement and embarrassment returning to her eyes. A moment of hesitation stopped her attention from turning to the envelope as she weighed the necessity of the last object. Perhaps he might find such an item foolish in a time such as this. Given the gravity of the remainder of their conversation it could be considered insensitive or disappointing. No doubt he expected a missive from her father or other necessary information to aid in their joint journey. That would mean that the object had already caught his attention, and she knew all too well the difficulties that came with unanswered questions. 

She turned to face the table once again, picking up the envelope and handing it to him. The explanation began as he unveiled the contents. It held several pieces of paper, each with a series of dots drawn in what seemed to be sporadic patterns. On some there were repeated lines while others seemed a jumbled mess. All were approximately the same length and width, no longer than a finger.

"I realize this must seem foolish in the face of potential peril, but," Her words paused for a moment as her eyes searched his face for the beginning of the reaction she feared, "But it is my belief that we must not forfeit that which is worth saving in the world we struggle to save." Already she felt a dolt without having even come to the explanation. "Your sister," She interjected quickly, "Has been most kind to me since my arrival. I gifted her with a music box for her recent birthday, an admittedly simple contraption run almost entirely without magic. It creates sound with the turning of a metal cylinder covered with bumps like those that strike prongs with corresponding notes at specified intervals." She was getting too far into the details, she knew, but the words wouldn't stop coming. "I just thought, well, listening to one song can be boring. These are a few other tunes I thought she might like," She continued, gesturing to the papers. 

"Recently, my sister and I have not had the best of relationships, but Alora has nothing but good things to say regarding her brother. Seeing as you, you know," A vague gesture of her hand between the man and the ring served as the only actual explanation, "That there may be ways in which you can share your gifts with her as well." Her lips pressed together briefly before continuing. "I considered making the additional pieces myself, but when I considered the fine details of such metal work I felt as though it wasn't me that they should be coming from." 

*Devinah help me*, now that the words were out it all sounded so silly. Had she truly suggested something so trivial to a man preparing to walk into war? Though a semblance of her confidence remained, she averted her eyes back to the ring and paper, gathering them together with her back turned to him as to hide the flush of embarrassment returning to her cheeks. So much for respect.
James
*As he eyed the final letter with curiosity, he took note of her fidgeting, the nervous energy that seemed to course through her. There was something familiar about it, in a way - he had seen it fill so many of his colleagues that he could recognize an inventor by sight almost as quickly as by their skill. It was the electricity that fed invention, it was innovation and stress and the expectation of great things to come. That alone might have engendered his friendship, but it was evident by her actions this night that she was more than willing to lend her own hand to the cause. There was grit too alongside that wish for the world to be more wonderful.

It was what they all needed. Frankly, he wished his own sisters had lent more of a hand in quieting the court, helping to advise him, giving some sort of perspective on what to **Do** In situations when he was a fish out of water. Court was their domain, not his - and he worried that he was not able to measure to the court's idea of what a king should be. He was practical, commanding, and decisive - perhaps qualities that a soldier appreciated, but certainly a stumbling block for courtly etiquette he had been trying hard to relearn. Each word had its own connotation, and he could not simply say 'walk with me' to a courtier, he had to include a 'please' or 'if you would'. He hated the intricacies therein. He was sure he had made mistakes.

Those were thoughts for another time, however - now, his attention was on the letter. Unmarked, a sealed envelope. It had all the hallmarks of a secretive communique, but to whom and from whom? Was it a message she had received, intended for his eyes? One from her to him, a reminder of things she had seen, a warning of enemies to come? As she handed him the envelope, and his gauntlet's fingertip briefly lengthened and sharpened into a letter opener as he neatly parted the paper with a razorlike blade, he unfolded the interior, expecting some clandestine information.*

_ _
*What he found instead first lifted his eyebrows and then the corners of his mouth into a genuine smile as he recognized the studs and gears before she even spoke the words 'music box'. His research into the applications of his magic had long since included music and art - and as his display at Sorevelle had shown, one of his very favorite applications of his magic was in the creation of such displays. Passion and practice had gone into every moment of play, and this, of course, was no different. He had seen boxes with flat embossed discs, but the cylinders were smaller and more intricate, difficult metalwork to be done by hand and in tune. With his help, it would be child's play to gift her any tune she wished.

As she continued to speak on her sister's troubles, he was reminded of that look in her eye, her behavior at Thunder Fest. He could easily believe that they had been in arguments of a massive scale, with the way Delsandra seemed almost insane. It had been an unsettling experience, to say the least - and made him appreciate his own sisters a good deal more. With a cursory glance over the few cylinders present, and the music that was meant to accompany them, he gave a few nods of approval, and a vague memory pressed at the back of his mind.*

"As I recall," *He murmured, the smile entering his voice even if his face was solemn.* "Alora was quite partial to 'The Wind In The Willows' as a child. In addition to these, would you do me the courtesy of adding a cylinder that plays it?"
Sue
The pent up apprehension held within her chest released via way of a gentle laugh. Her grin spread wide to match his own. That initial intuition had been right, then. The King loved his family dearly and would never balk at such an opportunity to please a sister. Affection of that kind often fell through the cracks in the face of duty and responsibility. Many of the court and common seemed to hold a belief that monarchs are tasked with so much that they need not put effort in to relationships with those whose loyalty they do not need to earn. How wrong they were, she thought. Both the Findaran and Alynthi kings had always proven them wrong, and this one was no exception. 

Kings embodied power, propriety, and paternity. A king might be many things to many people, but to those beneath his banner, one and all, he would always be the foremost father to feel their fortunes and fallings. In her eyes, *That* Proved the role of a king throughout time. The warmth no longer remained confined to her face as she heard and revered his request. The love of this brother surely seemed timeless, and the fondness with which he recalled the preferences of his sister quickened the her pulse as excitement set in. Not only did he accept the gesture, but he appreciated it enough to ask for more. 

"Certainly, Your Majesty," She said, quickly fumbling with the ring for a moment before stuffing it and the paper into a pocket sewn into one of the mans folds of her skirt. "I believe that can be arranged, but I may only be able to produce the design, the metal work itself is a little outside of my proficiency and well," She paused for her moment, eyes meeting his, "I have a ring that causes no obvious bodily harm or shocks to correct." She could not stop the corners of her mouth from pulling even further upward, despite an effortful attempt to press her lips together to suppress the playful expression finding its way to her features.
James
*He considered that for a moment, feeling his way around the library for the location of each one of the coins. Perhaps there was some merit to making them into the cylinders for the music box, but that would send the wrong message. Intently, he studied the papers one after one, and in sequence, the fingers of his gauntlet slid off, hovering above his palm as they flattened out and forged themselves into thin sheets. Each came to rest upon its proper template as the king spread them upon the desk.

One indent there, another to the left... The measurements were quite precise, he thought - and the templates were well-drawn. Though he wished for a ruler, he had none. The measurements Princess Irezora had taken would have to be sufficient in this case. Carefully, he pulled upwards the small sections of previously-indented metal, creating raised levers, each ready to spring back and create a sound. One by one, he shaped the steel into its proper form, like a clockmaker intent on placing the last gear perfectly.

A low hum came from his throat, a baritone tune that wandered though a few short verses. A lullaby, almost. The Wind In The Willows was a children's song, but it was one he had known before the war, and one he barely remembered still. With a music box, it seemed appropriate. There was something **To** The idea of a simple tune that came back in a new way. 

Perhaps it mirrored his own journey, he thought - at the outset, he had been nothing more than a boy. He came back a man. More a man and less, with the god lurking in his head, Temperance dead. Friends he had made and loved and lost. At the end of the day, was he still himself? If the music was the same...*

"Would you point me in the direction of C on the scale, Your Highness?" *He requested quietly, fingers tracing the pages for a moment.*
Sue
*Oh he meant right now.* As the King rearranged his gauntlet into blank canvases she couldn't help but watch in awe as the medium molded to his minds' eye. She'd heard of the fantastic feats he could accomplish with just a little metal, but seeing it with her own eyes proved even more enchanting. Magic was everywhere. Many could use use it to win battles, conquer foes, or find secrets. In the hands of most, however, magic was just a tool. For some it proved something more. A magician with a connection so deep to their craft that little thought or effort need be expended on it always proved a wonder. 

Work that had taken her hours with technical tools took him mere minutes. She couldn't imagine any picture stranger than that of the Alynthi King crafting trinkets of metal in the depth of his castle on the eve of a grand council. 

That was until he began humming. 

The sound was unpracticed and pitchy, but the tune rang clear. The Fae in the Forrest, she recalled as the notes pieces themselves together. It was a lullaby sang to children in the cradle. So that was this "Wind In The Willows" That Princess Alora adored. Memories of moments with an elder sister gently brushing her hair or dressing their dolls washed through her mind. It wasn't until he spoke, his question breaking the silence that her attention snapped back to the present. 

"Of course, Your Majesty," She replied quickly, plucking one of the floating papers already copied from the air. Luckily her pin remained transformed. Briefly she turned back to the table with the paper, consulting the filled side as she hummed the tune to herself, the lyrics echoing in her mind. "Go Tell it to the Fountain" Was the name as she knew it and as the far more practiced sounds came together into the melody she marked each dot according to its note. It was quite fortunate that this tune included a C, she supposed, placing the paper in front of the King's hand. It appears as though his mind searched for an answer to a

Question more vexing than the placement of a C. She would not press further than he was willing to bend.
James
*Carefully, he listened to the plucking of the cylinder, saw the notes as they were marked, and briefly unrolled another to make it ring with the tune of 'Go Tell It To The Fountain', getting the pace once, then twice as he reran the cylinder simply in the air around them, making sure he knew the rhythm and the time that it needed to follow. After the conclusion of the second running of the song, he gave a small nod, and began to hum again, following 'The Wind In The Willows' one note at a time.

Every time he changed pitch, an indent rose from the metal, pricking up into a written song much like the others, imitating the style, but placing the notes differently. C, then up to G, then... It wrote itself as the cylinder rotated in the air, music coming into being as small mechanical divots. When the roll was finished, he steadied it alongside another, and slowly rolled it in time with the other, making sure the beats matched, and he had not made the cylinder play too fast or too slow. 

Though the melodies were discordant, he took care to make sure his song did not seem too fast, clustering the divots together slightly wider than he had been. When he deemed his work done, he nodded, and wish a final sigh, the last cylinder placed itself alongside the others upon the desk, formed into the keystone of a music box meant for his sister. He had to hope he had gotten it right.*

"Your Highness." *He bowed his head politely as he turned to go.* "I thank you for your kindness towards my sister, and your consideration of my own goals. Words cannot express what it means to have an ally in these trying times. You are welcome for as long as you wish to be in Alynthi. His Majesty will be glad to hear the work his daughter has done. Until we meet again."
Sue
As the King completed his task, metal tubes perfected and prepared, she watched the magic bring her vision to life. For a moment the spirit of an inventor swept over her once more along with grand visions of endless possibilities. The pages of the folio now in the King's possession were just the beginning of what could be a new age of innovation. Such a shame, it was, that the man before her remained bound to duties far loftier than toiling with the tinkerers. Perhaps if they were all to avoid any great catastrophes tomorrow their chance might come. Unlikely. 

"It is my pleasure, Your Majesty. The coins around the room are yours should you have need for them. A simple arrangement with a diameter no greater than 10 meters should reactivate the effect." She paused for a moment allowing him a chance to decide whether he would take them or not. The folio could easily be brought to him at a later time if taking it now would be an inconvenience. As he turned to go, his words brought forth an impulse to speak that might have been best kept away. An ally in these trying times. Was there more an ally could do? In all likelihood the King would be better served by an ally such as her father. Perhaps that was who he meant. There was little that the second Princess of Thyseer could offer a man with so much power. Then again, power alone does not seeing kingdoms through trying times. 

"If I may, Your Majesty," She began as the idea struck well before the rest of her senses could catch up. "I share your gratitude for an ally in these times and while I may know little about the ways of a warrior or the realities of war, I have spent most of my life preparing to navigate an altogether different sort of battlefield. I understand that a great many years of training would be required for me to come even close to your skill with a sword, but do consider what someone with the same efforts spent on mastering the realm of political intrigue might be capable of as well." Was her im

Plication clear enough? It was possible that her suggestion might cause the King offense given the blatant characterization of the man as politically unwieldy. However, it was in the best interest of her kingdom as well for this summit to go on without a hitch. 

"I am sure you have advisors plenty who would direct you in every which way, all I can offer that may be unique is the perspective of fellow royalty." She paused for a moment, allowing him time to object if her statements had begun to cause offense. "While all will be grateful for your hospitality, there is something to be said for these monarchs willing to travel to your kingdom and stay beneath your roof given their unfamiliarity. Anything we can do to show them that at that table we are all equals will go far in building at least a modicum of trust, I believe." She nodded her head once more in his direction. "Until then."
James
"No need. You may keep them." *He returned briefly, pausing for a moment before he left the room.* "I have no intention to rob you of your own handiwork - nor to decrease the coin in your coffers, no matter how small an amount it might be in the grand scheme of things." *It was a sum of a few gold pieces, but for a princess, it was nothing that could not be replaced. There was a slight upturn to the tone of his voice, half-suggesting a joke. His mind was seldom on such humor, however, and it fell flatter than he would have liked in the face of other contemplations.

Her proposal of help, for one, was intriguing. It was true that his sisters had not provided him with much in the way of advisement or assistance, and none of them seemed to navigate the politics of court particularly well. Perhaps that was a consequence of their father's deft leadership. In any case, it was not to them that the duty fell - and many advisers were, as she had said, the only resources available to him. For a moment, his eyebrow raised as she implied his incompetence at politics - but in the end, such was true. He was no politician, just as she was no general. A king needed to be both, capable of rule in wartime and in peace. He studied her for a moment with eyes narrowed, thoughtful.

His hand flickered in a wavelike motion, calling the coins to his hand one by one as if they were miniature birds coming to roost in his palm. They arranged themselves into a neat stack, each piled on top of the other, and subsequently exited his hand to come to rest on the desk. An ingenious spell, and its method a sign of trust. Many different gestures contained within one object. It was amusing, he thought, that something so simple could carry so much meaning. The quiet provided meant secrecy, the material they were made of meant he was alerted to their location from the start.*

_ _
"I accept." *He spoke clearly, his voice carrying through the room and perhaps out into the hallway. Sabatons rang against the stone floor once more as he gave a brief nod of the head and exited. On the face of the topmost coin, the metal shifted into an embossed sentence briefly, and then was lost. 'One hour after noon tomorrow. My study. I am most grateful'.*