Miguel
Zane was in his study, writing up the letters needed to bring back some of his agents, when he received a summon from Anyanka. It confused him a bit, but he knew he had to show up in a timely manner since she had gone out of her way to summon him. Standing from his desk, he quickly exited his study and began the quick walk to her own personal study.

"You called for me?" He asked, entering the room after giving a small knock on the door.
Joseph
Zane entered, and as answer to his question, she simply held out the letters from Maith and Vivayn.
Miguel
Zane browsed both letters, and he didn't really know what to say about them. "Well, fuck." Was all he could really think, and he knew that summarized them perfectly.

"So we have a Queen who wants your son dead for some reason, and you're wanted back in the Witherlands. Alone." He confirmed, looking up to her. "I don't have to tell you how bad of an idea that second one is, right? I don't think you've forgotten the last time, have you?"
Joseph
She just pressed her lips into a tight line. "I'm aware of how bad it went last time. But if you recall our conversation from yesterday morning, I want the information on how he brought Mikhail back." She held her hand out taking both letters. 

"He said I'd be greater with open arms and any information I requested would be given. It keeps _you_ and your agents out of the witherlands and out of the danger of being captured and slaughtered."
Miguel
"Correct. But, he tried to keep you prisoner there last time. Who's to say that he won't try again after he gives you the information?" Zane asked her, moving so he could lean on her desk, his arms crossed in front of his chest. "Send someone there to act as an envoy, something other then sending our ruler there."
Joseph
Her brow raised. "Would you like me to write him back and make him pinky swear not to hold me prisoner?" She retorted, and rolled her eyes _"Of course_ he'd got some plans."
Miguel
Zane rolled his eyes at her sarcasm, before he decided to reply. "Yes, do that why don't you." Taking a breath to calm himself, he stood up. "You can't honestly be contemplating going along with this can you? He's going to try something, that's a given, but you seriously can't be thinking of going alone. He's probably going to try and force you into a marriage again, so he can take your lands and bring your people under his control. Tell me you can't think of what would occur if that would happen."
Joseph
She pushed her hand through her hair, letting him say his piece. She wasn't decided one way or the other on the topic, so she _supposed_ his opinion was warranted. However, if didn't mean he had to be a dick about it.

"So what if he wants a marriage? He can't _take_ Astoria and South Feyshore. He doesn't _want_ them he wants the Witherlands. My people are not Nathaniels, and they never will be Nathaniels."
Miguel
"What about Mikhail then? Sure, he may be able to truly revive him fully, but what then? What will happen to the royalty of Astoria then? Our Queen will be married away from her kingdom, and her son will either be forced to stay there with her, or be forced to rule a kingdom as a child." He sighed at that, and shook his head. "Are either of those things what you'd want for your child, or for your people?"
Joseph
Her hand hit her desk "Have you _seen_ Mikhail, Zane? Do you remember the last time he was here before he went to the Isles? Do you remember him smiling _once_ in Astoria? He wasn't brought back fully, he's a walking corpse, something is wrong, and I'm not the only one who is seeing it. Vivayn did a half-ass job in regards to him, and I'm _not_ going to let him take Astoria at his age, and I _will not_ be forced away from my people." Her brow knitted together. 

"I don't know why you have faith in me to rule a nation when you don't have faith in me to even care for myself. I'm not going to do anything stupid, believe it or not. I'm making you aware of the situation as it stands. I have made no move to _accept_ Vivayn's invitation, and I'd appreciate it if you stopped speaking to me as if I've willingly signed _your_ life away."
Miguel
At her outburst, Zane barely batted an eye. "Anyanka, you value you me and Angelica to work under and advise you, and believe it or not, that's what I'm doing. If you think I'm doing it as a personal attack on you, then you're wrong. If you think I'm making this to sound as if you've signed my life away, you're wrong. Not once have I said that you're going to do anything stupid, I've just been telling you of what could happen."

"The only time I ever accused you of doing something stupid was the last time you were in the Witherlands, and look how that turned out." Zane's voice quieted a bit as he said this. "We lost one of the people who was closest to you, Angelica, and I. If you do accept this invitation, I want all these things to be known. There is so much that could go wrong, that I want you to be prepared for when you decide."
Joseph
The woman averted her gaze when he softened his voice. She knew Marcus would be brought up. She'd had a plan to escape, things had just gone wrong at the last second and he'd gotten caught in the crossfire. It was her fault he was gone, no one elses. "And when I asked if you would consider going you told me you wanted revenge. You're not a good fit for the North either, I don't want you throwing yourself into finding the man who took out Marcus and getting yourself caught in the process. I know you're not that stupid but revenge and guilt and love make us do _stupid_ things, Zane." She sighed, letting her shoulders drop as her fingertips grazed the sigils on her arms.

"Maith gave you who the name belongs to. Maybe set out working on a connection between us as Araedia for now. I'll update you when a decision is made on the Witherlands."
Miguel
Zane's eyes lowered at hearing her mention his claim for revenge. She was right of course, but there was a difference from a Queen walking into the obvious trap, and a single spymaster. Zane was a little more expendable then Anyanka, and he knew it. He didn't comment on the way she grazed the sigils on her arms, but he knew from the emotion in her voice that she was thinking of her attempts to return Mika.

"Fine, I'll try to get some people out there. If you get the chance, send Maith my thanks. It'll be a lot easier to find out about her with a name."

Standing up, he gripped her shoulder softly, and gave it a squeeze. "Anya, I'm sorry if my words were harsh, but they had to be said."
Joseph
She tensed when his hand squeezed her shoulder but relaxed again almost immediately. She moved her hands through her hair, catching her rings in the locks in a few places and having to tug a bit in frustration to get them loose. "It's becoming more and more obvious how underqualified I am, Harmattan. A savior doesn't necessarily equate to a ruler. There are a thousand things I still don't understand about politics in Marin, and I never learned because I never _dreamed_ to find myself in this position." She sighed once more, heavily and moved to stand. 

"You have one week to find the connection between Araedia and my son. Otherwise I'll consider Vivayn's proposal."
Miguel
Zane nodded to her, a small grimace on his face. He had to get his men out there, but it'd take a lot to get right. He'd probably be sleeping as much as he did during his torture of Amalthea. Otherwise known as, the next week was going to suck.

"Consider it done." Was all he said, opening the door and heading for his study to start writing the new batch of letters.
Irene
Dayveth had spent the day studying from several old books, attempting to translate some old Feyshorian. After several hours of using an old trick he learned from home, he was exhausted and needed to stretch his legs. 

Dayveth scooted his chair out and stood up, stretching and rolling his neck, creating several loud pops. After checking his self, he set out to roam the halls. It wasn't long until he bumped into the queen of Astoria. 

"Good day, Your Majesty. It's been a few days since I've seen you last." Dayveth bowed and held it for a moment before releasing it.
Joseph
Zane left, and she took it as the opportunity to leave her study for the time being. She wasn't enjoying the flicker of _Marcus_ that sat in the corner and kept making her sigils burn. It was her fault for saying his name, but she'd been frustrated, and once more her staff was suffering from it. Moving down the hall, she intended to head out to the gardens. Maybe some crisp cold air would help clear her mind, but Dayveth stopped her on her way. 

The bow was surprisingly cute, and she gave a small smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Doctor, a pleasure as always. I take it your disappearance is to do with the books your requested from my libraries and not how we last saw each other?" She asked, remembering all too well the night in the reading room they'd shared.
Irene
Dayveth smirked as he stood in front of his superior. "You're correct, Your Grace. I've been working on those old texts. You have my assurance I wouldn't avoid another night like that." Dayveth stated, giving her a slightly challenging look. 

"The work isn't easy, however. Even using all of the resources at my desposal, progress has been slow."
Joseph
"Good, I should hope you wouldn't." She said simply, and reached to loop her arm through his. "Walk with me, tell me of what you've managed so far. Progress is progress in my mind." Anya murmured, and started to lead him towards the stairs that would lead them out to the main hall and then to the gardens. The castle was maintaining it's warmth well, with fires roaring in almost every room, and frankly, it was getting just a little too stiffling for her at the moment. 

"No one is really versed in Old Feyshorian anymore, those who are tended to retreat to North Shore, and even those only have rudimentary skills in it. I can't imagine it's an easy process."
Irene
He walked with her, taking care to not trip them up as they traversed the stairs. "You're correct, it's not. I haven't found many useful texts between the two that are related, and even my talents haven't aided as much as I thought." 

Dayveth thought about the spectacles he purchased at the market. They weren't a bad pair, but they were useless without the spell that helped translate languages. It was a complex spell even he didn't fully comprehend.
Joseph
The redhead nodded as he spoke, and when they came upon the door that lead out to the veranda she unhooked their arms to be able to push it open freely. It swung with some effort, the winds pushing back against her. 

Outside, she inhaled deeply, and moved towards the bench she'd occupied that first night if his arrival with Angelica. The winds picked st her skirts, wrapping them around her ankles as she walked. "Well don't give up on it. You've got all the time you need, and I can help however you require as well." She glanced back at him. "Even if it only is for a break from your volumes."
Irene
He followed her and waited for her to sit before doing so as well. "Don't worry, I don't plan on giving up or stopping. Just thought I'd find a nice view." The mage raised a teasing eyebrow towards her as he said this, award the line was ages old. 

Dayveth looked at the fire pit and questioned igniting it. He wouldn't unless his liege looked cold or asked for it, but he would take the chance to show off, of course. She had allowed him to be open about it, he would repay her.
Joseph
Anya gave a small laugh, and watched as he eye'd the fire pit. There was still wood within it, and she was certain there was a flint in the small metal box that sat beside it that they used to store more wood for when it was used heavily. "Feel free to light it, Doctor. We can both use a break from work at the moment." She offered. 

"Have you come across anything of interest in your studies so far?"
Irene
Dayveth smirked as she commented about the fire. He leaned over with his palm open before flicking all 4 fingers against his thumb. The wood suddenly lit and crackled, warmth spreading to the pair. 

"Nothing much in the tomes at least, the only thing I've been able to translate is something about sheep, or so I believe." He smiled pleasantly as he talked. It had been so long since he'd done any kind of actual research.