<div class="floatleft">(http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg142/ElectricBadger/cosplay__elf_ducan_by_yuegene-d4q4lvw_zpsdeb3f09e.jpg)   </div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Nys &amp; Olivia Vendatti</span><br/>Blanqua Transmuter 5 & Raven Familiar (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=1124844)<br/><hr/><br/>Nys stirred at the raised voice of the faela.  He was naturally averse to conflict, eager to soothe wounded feelings or ill tempers, but the mention of an actual witness was even more interesting.  Also, he was simply bored of waiting.  Rising to his feet, Nys strode over to Jia and the clerk.<br/><br/>"Ah, young miss, I've heard so much about you!"  He had, in fact, heard nothing - but affirming another's importance was a simple charm, not even requiring a spell and very useful in times like this.  "It's an honor to meet you.  But pray, be kind to the poor clerk, here, young Baelova has been given great trust and an impossible task by our esteemed Captain."  Another smile and a nod of respect to the clerk.  After all, it wasn't the boy's fault that unprecedented additional duties had been heaved upon him, clearly with little warning or assistance.  Which was where Nys planned to come in.  It was fairly easy to snatch authority from someone who so glaringly didn't wish to have it.  "Indeed, look at this...." He gestured to the pile of applications and gave a weighty sigh at the burdensome task.  "So many!  Did you not get the guidelines, master Baelova?  Let me."<br/><br/>He looked over the first page.  "Ah!  A baker.  Brave, to apply, braver than most."  Looking around, the blanqua spotted the man nearby, easy picked out by the traces of flour on his sleeves.  "We'll need travel bread for a week, goodman, the best you have and right away."  At the subtle command in Nys' tone the man nodded, scurrying off, relief obviously winning out over disappointment.  Nys dropped the application into the waste bin.  "Royal guardsman...patrolman...obviously too critical, a crisis is no time to leave our streets and sovereigns unprotected."  Two more additions to the bin.  "Well, here's me - I'm obviously going, nothing either of us can do about that, I'm afraid.  Same with the lass here, we'll need a guide."  A new pile was begun on the clerk's desk.  "No, no...hmm, yes...and of course we'll need a rounded group, you wouldn't want to have some ambassador down here blaming you for slighting his clan, would you, Baelova?  Of course not.  Not to worry.  This one, not that, this one...mmhmm.  Tidy pile, much less work for you, things ought to calm down in here.  Well done, lad!  Still enough to let the good captain feel he's made the choices, not so many he needs to delegate more duties to you, hmm?  Go ahead and dismiss all the rest of them, we'll have some peace and quiet - maybe a good cup of something warm?  I saw the loveliest cafe on the way in.  Fioriana's?  Yes, that's right.  Have them deliver some biscuits as well, I'm famished."  Nys produced a few coins, plenty enough to cover snacks for a dozen.  "No need to wait like savages."<br/><br/>Turning to Jia, Nys tipped in a low bow - much to the dismay of the raven, who fluttered her wings to the desk.  "My apologies!  Unbearable rudeness, not to introduce myself.  Nys Vendatti, of House Vendatti, factor, wizard and erstwhile adventurer.  But you've already been on adventures!  Tell us what you've seen, won't you?"