Plaza of the Spheres
This plaza near the School of Earth's student gardens is relatively small, just a circular area that serves as a junction point for several major walkways. Stone planters squat around the circumference, holding small trees and flowering plants to make the air cool and pleasant smelling, with long wooden benches against their walls. Instead of a fountain, the plaza has a central patch of soil from which grows the Tree of All Spheres: a towering thing made from twelve different kinds of wood, all grafted and growing together. The canopy is a panoply of different branches and foliage. Each type of wood is meant to represent a different sphere, loosely based on color.

The best thing about the Plaza, to Xander's immediate thinking, is that it is just far away enough from the Tower of Fire that the news of the debacle there wouldn't have reached it. So he hurries Umeko and Nawar here in the hopes of avoiding too many questions from those who were in attendance and that its peaceful atmosphere will help calm Nawar and Umeko both.

"Were you so disliked at school that someone would make an attempt on your life?" Umeko asks in a very neutral tone of voice. She even has her arms folded together with her hands slid up inside the sleeves of her kimono. "But it does explain the gallah's unusual body language when she greeted you. An old girlfriend, perhaps?"

"Ah.. she was trying to kill Grand Master Sharif, actually," Xander explains, and then kisses Umeko! "Thank you for keeping Nawar from harm in the rush of the fleeing spectators, Umeko."

Nawar doesn't look very shaken, even if it was the most excitement she's ever been caught up in.

Umeko blinks a few times after being kissed. "In truth, I was not sure what to do. Interfering may have affected your trial results," the kiriga points out, "But as you say, I could not leave Nawar alone, either. She could easily have been trampled, whereas you or I are often capable of at least basic self preservation. Still, I do not like it one bit. It is an affront to my honor that someone would use a ceremony for a mage under my employ as a staging ground for an assassination attempt; I may have to demand satisfaction. It was also poorly planned. How did she expect to escape?"

"I don't know, but.. she must have had allies," Xander notes. "Someone barred the doors from the outside. And hollowed out the stone for her to hide in. I'm not sure Danielle will be in any condition to talk about it anytime soon though, at least not without the help of a Mind or Dream Mage."

"Such should be arranged. I do not desire to walk amongst a den of vipers, as the phrase goes," Umeko notes. "For an trip that should have been uneventful, this has proven curious. First tales of a warrior kiriga and her sister, and now this. Unlikely related, but still odd to occur so close together."

"Well, if five months apart can be considered 'close'," Xander notes with a forced chuckle, which he quickly cuts off. "I'm sure the Watch will get to the bottom of it soon. You still want to search for that Kiriga though, I imagine?"

"I would like a family name," Umeko notes, "If for nothing else, a family to visit when we reach Jadai. I also intend to resolve this matter of the assassination attempt before we leave. As I said, it was an insult that they attacked during your ceremony."

"I did pass though," Xander says, trying to be cheerful. "There's still the official ceremony and all, but I'm an Alumnus now. That's rare for Fire Mages. Getting past Journeyman, I mean. Most mages reach that level and ... stay there. Well, except in the really busy Spheres."

"Well, you do have opportunities most mages do not ... given the matter of the spheres we have been hunting," Umeko points out, "So it is little wonder your skills improved. You just required the proper motivation to reach your potential. Plus your employer is a harsh, evil, dragon who expects you to do the impossible."

"And who keeps me from getting killed," Xander points out with a smile. "Who knows, the way you get into trouble.. I could reach Master in another year! Usually only Air Mages advance that fast."

"I didn't help keep you alive today, though," Umeko says, actually frowning a bit. "At this point, though, I do not expect quite so harsh events as the past few months have been, but the future is always hard to predict. So, regarding your passing the test ... what do you want as a celebratory gift?"

Xander grins, then frowns, then grins at a different thought. "How about a fancy dinner?" he suggests.

"Did we not just have that last night?" Umeko asks as she peers about in the garden a bit. "But if it is what you wish, it will be granted. I do suppose it is a better gift than, say, a nose ring or nose tattoo..."

"Hm? Do you like the idea, Nawar?" Umeko asks the coney. "As his employer I could have it arranged..."

"Ahem," Xander says, ignoring his sibling. "We had a nice meal, but not a fancy one. There are plenty of nice places to dine, but only one place on Caroban that has it all: Enchanted Cuisine!"

"I couldn't say: I've never actually paid for a meal there," Xander admits. "But I used to work in the kitchens."

"Perhaps they would permit you a nice meal at no cost again?" Umeko teases just before she reaches over and taps Xander's nose tip with her claw. "But ... as you like. I won't even garnish it from your pay if they do not. Where is this restaurant?"

"Central ring, near the Palace of Spheres and the rest of the commercial area," Xander notes. "I might get a free meal, since it's a celebration of advancement! I'll find out when I make the reservations."

"Even if you do not, do not worry about it. The costs will be covered," Umeko says and even waves her hand dismissively. "Will it be for two, or three? Would Nawar like the restaurant ... or find it dull?"

"Kids love it!" Xander says, which earns him a kick in the shin. "I'm 13!" Nawar points out.

"Hm, maybe it is time for Nawar to get jewelry, then," Umeko remarks, rubs her chin, and eyes the young doe. "Perhaps a navel jewel like her mother..."

Rubbing his shin, Xander nods. "They've got everything here," he notes. "The best dress shops, jewelry, souvenirs, candy.. all made with magic."

"You, of course, realize I would never have something done to you that you objected to," Umeko notes to Nawar. "I am merely teasing." The kiriga then stops mid-step as she ponders something.

"Well, the Fire Dormitory, yes," Xander notes. "Each school has their own. She was a journeyman who failed her attempt to advance.. and apparently studied dueling instead."

"You are currently quartered there too. You should go to her room and investigate," Umeko suggests as she resumes walking. "I doubt that they would allow me inside."

Xander blinks at that. "What? I can't.. just.." he says. "The Watch investigates these things. They're probably there now.."

"Given it was a direct threat to your life, you should have every right to investigate it. Really, Xander, you are too timid," Umeko remarks.

"Um, well.. I guess we could ask," Xander relents, rubbing the back of his head. "It's just the Watch is.. the Watch. They're intimidating. Except for Mage Clover.. she's the most uncreepy Mind Mage I've ever met.."

"Would you prefer that I ask?" Umeko asks as she casts an aside look to Xander. "Given the void beast and Hakuu and all that entailed, it takes a bit more to intimidate me then men in colorful dresses. Plus, I can always claim ignorance as a foreigner."

"Well, there is that," Xander admits, and then sighs. "I just worry about being involved with them. Let's go.. I'm sure the hubbub has moved on by now."

Caroban Watch Headquarters
Fashioned something like a Chronotopian city watch station, but with the characteristic arcane touches that pervade most everything on the mage-dominated island, the Caroban Watch Headquarters is positioned in a strategic position near the center of the island. All manner of exotic materials are incorporated into the construction - all manner, that is, of materials with magic-resistant properties, such as warpwood, thistlebark, and even hints of Abaddonian steel and articles of Sifran crystal here and there. The cells are designed to thwart the most determined efforts of an Earth Mage to reshape them, or a Fire Mage to blast through them, and the meeting rooms are warded against all manner of Scrying and elemental spies, to ensure privacy. Most everything has runes on it, despite an otherwise largely utilitarian appearance.

Getting to the Caroban Watch Headquarters is easy enough from just about anywhere on the island. Mostly because that means it's easy for the Watch to show up at any part of the island quickly. Tower Vigilance hasn't gotten any less austere since Xander last saw it, though it does seem to have gotten a little taller. Several different kinds of Watchers seem to be going about their business in here. The local patrol are dressed simply enough, wearing hauberks and sword belts. The ones recognizeable as mages are similarly equipped, and in place of robes they wear tabards split at the front and back and colored based on their sphere. There are other Watchers here wearing travelling robes, and they look more like traditional mages, but there's a grimness to them that the faculty and students don't share. They tend to be in pairs and come and go, converse quietly, or turn in paperwork. One pair comes in with a frightened looking khatta with his hands bound behind him, wearing various odd trinkets. They push

"Mm, I can see why many would find this place intimidating," Umeko notes as she watches the khatta be taken to some back room deeper within the tower. The kiriga stands impassively as her gaze sweeps over the Watch present, looking for some tell-tale markings that might indicate the highest rank in charge here so that she knows who to address.

There seem to be different stations here for mages to bring grievances to or ask about prisoners. One desk is a good bit higher than the others, behind which a black naga sits. The insignia on his uniform looks a bit more complex, and many of the people passing through come to him or are directed by him elsewhere. When he's not talking to people, he's writing in ledgers and notebooks.

Xander glances at the wanted posters, and twitches a bit at the sight of the Khatta. "That should be the desk," Xander mutters, noting the Naga.

"A naga. That may prove to my benefit," Umeko thinks. She approaches the desk, head held high and tail sweeping just above the floor. "Good afternoon," she addresses the naga in Imperial. "I am Lady Umeko Tsuguri of Jadai and former Governess-Militant of Viper's hold. I was present at the Master's test for Mage Lightfoot this afternoon as he is under my employ and was witness to the assault on the Arch-Mage Sharief and in directly, Mage Lightfoot. I was wondering if there was any developments in the case, as the mage, Danielle, must not have operated alone. I am concerned that further attempts will be made upon the Arch mage, or perhaps those present, to silence witnesses."

"Who was that Khatta?" Nawar whispers to Xander, who just tells her, "Someone.. aiding he Watch in their investigations."

The naga looks up when Umeko and Xander approach. He flicks his tongue and looks to the kiriga, and patiently waits through the introduction, seeming familiar with the naga tradition of trading titles and intents. He doesn't seem to dwell on his title much when he gives it, keeping succinct. "Standing Watch Captain Vhohess. Yes, the..." he picks up a nearby folder and glances at it. "...Danielle Levec case. Levec's not held here, she's at the Life Sphere grounds, in a coma. We've got men going through her dorm and effects, and asking around about friends and aquaintences. Do you have anything to add?"

"She was upset about not passing her advancement examination," Xander volunteers. "She had a Fireball spell prepared, with the intent of using it on Master Sharif."

"Little, other than it explained her unusual behavior when she greeted Xander at the docks. She smiled, but her body language did not. She must have been worried about what was coming," Umeko offers, "But beyond that, no. Neither of us had met her before today. My own opinion on the matter, for what it is worth, is that her plan was ill-conceived. She had little likelyhood of survival. Such goes against the usual desires of self preservation. Which now makes me wonder ... was it truly her anger at lack of advancement, or did someone put her up to it, using that as cover. Was the the chief plotter, or merely the pawn?"

Vohess nods. He still seems to be sorting paperwork even while he's talking to the kiriga and lapi. "Master Sharif mentioned that in his report. So far, we think Levec was acting on her own plans. It's as you say.. she didn't have an escape plan, she only did enough planning to hide herself someplace when Master Sharif was vulnerable. He tells me she tried to use the ritual you worked to fuel her attack, Master Lightfoot. We appreciate your intervention in the matter. If you wish, we'll pass on word if we get any other breaks in the case."

Umeko ponders for a moment. "If I may ... check into any immediate family that may be near or on the island. If she was being used, they may have been taken as leverage. I may be thinking too much on it; but something about the whole matter bothers me; it does not make complete sense," the kiriga says. "And if you have a moment, there is another matter I would be grateful for input on. If you do not have the time, though, it is understandable."

We'll take that under advisement, Lady Tsuguri," hisses the snake. A neat stack of papers gets filed in a cabinet to Vohess' side without the naga really looking at it. "Danielle didn't have family on Caroban, but she wasn't without friends. We're asking around to see who they were, and if possible see who might have had a motive to help her." There's a certain resigned weariness to Vohess as he folds his hands together on the desk in front of him, though it doesn't seem entirely aimed at Umeko. "I've got a few more minutes. What can I do for you?""

"About five months ago two Kiriga visited this isle; ladies of the silver scale with coppery patterns on their necks. One may, in fact, be a student or teacher here as she bore robes that marked her of the spheres. The other bore a daisho. I am curious as to their names," Umeko says, "As a lady that bears a daisho is unusual for my kind; in fact I know of only one other that ever has ... me. So ... it is merely a matter of personal curiosity as to who they are and their family name. I would like to meet the lady so similar to myself."

"If she didn't break any laws, she probably didn't pass through here," replies the naga. He pauses... then, like most people faced with Umeko's determination, he gives in a little. He sighs and leans back a bit. "I am aware of a silver kiriga. Pretty sure she's a student. I haven't seen or heard about her sister, but if she wore weapons, she probably had them checked through here.""

"Do you perhaps know whish sphere she studies?" Umeko asks. Her brow furrows, then she says, "Perhaps not. Is there a central registrar where I could perhaps obtain such information?"

The naga flicks his tongue. "I have no idea. The registrar or magister would be able to tell you that." He pauses.

Vohess stretches his neck up to see if there's any sort of line forming in front of his desk, but for now it seems relatively slow here. He rubs the bridge of his nose a few times. "Tell you what. If Mage Lightfoot is willing to vouch for you, I can check five months back in the weapon log and see if anything jumps out at me. I shouldn't do this, but I think you could find this girl without my help anyway, so I might as well speed it up."

Umeko's lips curl in a slight smile. "Thank you, Captain Vhohess. It is much appreciated and will be remembered," she says.

The watch captain coils his body down to root around under his desk for a moment, a drawer giving a wood on wood bark as it's opened and closed. He comes up with a book with a pair of crossed swords on the cover, opens it up and begins paging back through it. Most of the pages don't have a lot on them. It doesn't seem like a lot of weapons pass through here. "Mm... mm... tss... that one's chitin... mm... ironwood club... mm... aha. This looks about as likely as you can get." He stabs a spot on the page with his finger. "Minami, Rin. Two steel swords of Jadian styling. About five and a half months, I suppose."

"Rin Minami," Umeko repeats and bobs her head. "A name from the southern coast, fishers and perhaps a minor noble family. Thank you again, Captain Vhohess, that is most helpful. My daisho, the steel blades of the Summer Tempest, are in my room at the inn. Do I need to register them here as well? I do not wish to violate some rule unknowingly."

Vohess rests his chin on his knuckles. "It's mostly a formality, but it's appreciated."

"Then what do I need to do to register them?" Umeko asks. "I can bring them by this evening if you wish."

The naga nods, and flips his logbook closed. "I'm sure that'll be fine. Is there anything else?"

"No, that is all. I have taken too much of your time as it is," Umeko says. She steps back and bows deeply. "Thank you, Captain. You have been most helpful. You are an honor to the Watch and your family. May your ancestors bless you," she says. when she rises, she says to Xander, "Come, let us go to the registrar and look up the family name, Minami."

"Do you have any donuts?" Xander asks. "I didn't get a chance to have breakfast this morning.."

Captain Vohess gives Xander a sharp look, but all he says is, "Good day, Lady Tsuguri. Master Lightfoot."

"Xander, I may have to send you to Charm School," Umeko remarks with a sigh. She waves for the lapi and her hand-maiden-in-training to follow as she heads towards the exit.

"I'm a Fire Mage, we're supposed to be.. uh.." Xander flounders. "Okay, maybe a little bit of Charm School..."

"You could just remove his tongue," Nawar whispers to Umeko. "It would be quicker."

"Why do women always plot against me when they gather in groups of two or more?" Xander asks the universe.

It's a short jaunt to the office of the registrar, and it's one of the first offices in the building dedicated to the more pedestrian aspects of school administration, with a teller-like window that gives a view back into a room full of bookshelves, scrolls, and a small money lockbox. A rath'ani at the window perks up as soon as he sees Umeko and Xander, his yellow robe giving up his sphere as Light before one can even see the sigil on it. He immediately straightens up and points at the kiriga and two lapi with both hands. Xander can feel a weak and rather disorganized spell in effect around him. "Aha! I'm seeing the future! You're going to ask....... about a student!"

"You must get invited to a lot of parties," Xander observes, and surreptitiously looks and sniffs around for donuts. Rath'ani love donuts, after all.

No donuts about the Rath'ani, but he's leaning forward expectantly. "Can I... help you?"

Umeko's brow arches slightly at this most peculiar display. "Quite perceptive of you," the kiriga says politely and even bows to the strange rath'ani mage. "If you would be so kind, I am trying to locate the name and sphere of a student here, a kiriga similar to myself, except of the silver scale. Her family name is Minami. She has a sister named Rin. I have been gone for some time from Jadai and hope to visit some of my kind while I am on this isle." Her tail surreptitiously swats Xander's shin (and amazingly dances around Nawar while it does it!) for being impolite to the one holding the information.

"YES! Yes! I told you it works!" The rath'ani whirls around and throws his fists in the air, billowy sleeves flopping over his shoulders. Everyone in the back room ignores him. Still, when he turns around he has a smile on his racoon-masked face. "A student you say. Of course. Minami? Kiriga? Oh heck, I don't even have to look that up, she's hard to miss and easy to remember. You're looking for Ren Minami. She's studying in the Sphere of Water. Pretty new student, but she's got admirers among the jingai already."

"But of course she does. Kirigai are the most beautiful and elegant beings alive," Umeko says, smiling. "Thank you, kind sir. That was most helpful. It will be remembered," she says as she bows again. "Xander, will you give me a tour of the Sphere of Water campus, please?" she asks as she rises.

"Of course, My Lady," Xander says formally. I hope there is a donut stand along the way. Or fruit. This island runs on mateh and donuts though, he thinks as he leads the way out.

The rath'ani drums the counter with his palms. "Sure thing, glad I could help!" He doesn't check to see if there's anything else the trio wants, he's busy going back amongst his colleagues. "It really works! I told you."

"My name is Lady Umeko Tsuguri, by the way," Umeko tells the Rath'ani before she slips out the door.

After a brief detour to a donut shop, Xander brings them to the northwest section of Caroban, and never notices the smear of jelly that dribbles from the side of his mouth, making him look a bit carnivorous. Nawar's sticky bun has left her.. a sticky bun. But there will be places to wash up ahead..

Caroban: Sphere of Water
Not surprisingly, a vast lake covers much of this northwest section of Caroban, devoted to this Sphere. Small islands and a few boats dot the surface, while a fanciful, semi-translucent bridge, courtesy of the adjoining Sphere of Dream, offers non-practioners a direct route across. On a good day, submerged passageways can be glimpsed through the waves, leading between the various islands. One island, devoted to ice, is carpeted in white snow and decorated by ice sculptures. Many of the island feature waterways of their own--streams, rivers, and waterfalls--and the surface of the lake ripples with the changing patterns of fountains that play upon it.

Some mages practicing on their own time dot the lake... here a lapi making arcs of water jump out of the lake, there a skeek concentrating very hard on the spell that allows her to walk (slowly and shakily) across the surface.

"I used to come here to the beach with my friends," Xander notes, looking around. But it's probably still too early for the bikini crowd to have made an appearance.

"What a beautiful campus," Umeko says with obvious approval. "Such elegance and grace. The smooth, yet unrelenting, power of water. It can shame mountains, given time." Her head bobs a few times even and the kiriga starts walking with fluid, floating, grace. Her eyes flick here and there as she looks for a student that isn't too busy to ask questions of."

"If I were in one of the Schools with fancy campuses like this, I'd never want to leave," Xander admits, tugging Nawar along since the girl isn't really watching where she steps at this point.

"Oh no, you're a Fire Mage's dream!" Xander proclaims. "You make it worth living back down in the real world."

Most of the students here are indeed either practicing or reading. A few are picnicing on the edge of the lake. They're not in bikinis, but they're not in their robes either, plain tunics and loose trousers for the two lapi boys, and a a simple blue sun dress for the skreek sitting across the basket from them. They chat casually between bites of sandwiches and sips from ceramic cups.

"Excuse me," Umeko says as she walks towards the picnicking lapis and skeek. "Please forgive me, but I am looking for a Lady Ren Minami. Would either of you be so kind as to direct me towards where she may be?"

Xander blinks and waves to the patchy-looking Lapi boy. "Hey Deren, been awhile," he says softly. "Figured you would be doing swamp-drainage in Half Valley by now."

The picnickers stop their conversation and look up, one of the lapi raising a hand in a little wave hello. All three look a little surprised, maybe at the sight of Umeko, but at least in part to her question. "Lady Ren Minami? Is she a lady? I mean in the title sense." "She never said anything to me about it." They eye the kiriga a little dubiously, but when Xander speaks one of the lapi turns his ears back forward again. "Oh hey, Hotfoot! Naw, the real money for that is in Gallis. Though I'll tell you, Half Valley is a lot nicer than that no-man's land north of the civilized parts." The gathered relax a little.

"I do not know her station, so I err on the side of politeness," Umeko says and bows. "I am Lady Umeko Tsuguri of Jadai and Mage Lightfoot's current employer. It has been a long time since I have been back to Jadai and having heard rumor of the Minami family being here, I decided I wished to meet them. Will you direct us to her? We are not here on any official business, it is merely a social visit," she explains.

"Ummm..." The mages exchange glances, but at length the skreek sets her cup down. "I think Ren's in study right now, so I can take you to the classrooms. I think it's okay, guys." The boys look disappointed, though it doesn't seem to be about guiding visitors. The skreek picks herself up and dusts at her skirt a few times.

"Thank you. That is most kind. I take it you are all friends of Miss Minami?" Umeko asks the group as she slipss her hands into her sleeves and waits patiently.

"Everybody likes her, but Carla's closer to her," says Deren, gesturing up at the skreek girl. The skreek beckons Xander and Umeko to follow, picking up a stone that was holding down one corner of the picnic blanket. There's a few runes on it, and as she holds it she begins walking toward the water's edge, a sway to her walk that Deren and his friend follow closely. "I'm a third year student, I kind of took Ren under my wing. She came to the Collegia more or less alone and not knowing anybody. She's.. not in some trouble, is she?" The girl looks over her shoulder worriedly at the guests she's guiding.

"Not to my knowledge," Umeko explains as she follows along, her tail inches off the ground and swaying gracefully as she walks, "I merely heard description of her and decided I wished to meet her. There are not many kiriga, much less female, that venture off the isle. She must be quite exceptional."

"Well, she's quite pretty. She does to the jingai what I do to the fur guys, except she's not really trying." Carla laughs and shimmies her shoulders a bit, the considerably filled out top of her sun dress quivering a bit. As she leads the group to the lake's edge, the water seems to be pushed back, looking as if a globe is being dipped into it. Droplets scatter from a stone walkway laid into the sediment of the lake bed. The skreek nods at Xander. "I think so, in as much as I'm any judge of the scaley folk. She's not a kid. Teens, maybe?"

"She must be brave to have come here. Many families would not permit their daughters to leave the island," Umeko says. Her hear tilts slightly to the left as she looks at the impressive watery structure they're about to descend into. "This may be an odd questiom but tell me, how many fingers does she have on one hand, not including her thumb?"

"Oh.. yes, I've noticed that dragons can have that affect," Xander mumbles, trying not to appear too distracted by Carla's charms. At least she should float well, he thinks.

Deren and the other lapi wave from the shore as the four descend, and the lake behind them swallows them up. The repelling effect the stone gives a good deal of space, so nobody has to step on toes or heels to stay in it. Around them they can see some of the more advanced classrooms set into the lake bed, a good number of them domes of crystal that allow a look out into the lake, and many of the odd objects strewn at the bottom of it. One class appears to be in session, an instructor waving his hands at the dome and bubbles seeming to spontaneously appear and disappear. Carla seems to take almost no notice of them, looking curiously back at Umeko. "Fingers on her hands? Uh... three. Is that... important?"

She holds up a paw to look at it, as if imagining Ren's hand over it. "Four with the thumb."

"In a sense, yes it it is. It tells me she is of noble birth," Umeko explains and shows her own three-fingered hand to Carla as they descend, "Those of three fingers are nobility. Those of four are the high-nobility. It it makes birthright hard to hide. Her name is from the southern coast of Jadai, but I could not tell you more than that."

The skreek's brows lift and her whiskers poke forward. "So she IS a lady, capital L? Why did she come with hardly anything but tuition?"

"I do not know. Perhaps we will find out, mm?" Umeko offers and smiles. She gestures for the skeek to continue.

Carla looks mystified and a little worried, but she turns again and keeps guiding the group along the stone walkway. She takes a right at an intersection, pointing to a dome below. There's a smudge of silver in it. "Well, she's pretty much just started, I think she's only through half a year so far, if that. She seems capable enough for where she is, has a good affinity for water, I think. It helps she's at home in it." Leading around the walkway, she comes to the door of the lab/classroom, and pokes her head through an odd shimmery skin that covers it, its surface rainbowed like a soap bubble. "Ren? There's some people here to see you."

Umeko casts a slightly worried glance to Xander. "Something foul may have befallen her family," the kiriga thinks, "She may not be pleased to see another kiriga, one that isn't her sister, in any event." For the moment, Umeko merely waits quietly, letting Ren be the one to approve or reject their visit.

"Um.. okay?" The voice from in the classroom is clear and musical, but uncertain. "Come in?" Carla looks back at her guests, then gestures at the door and steps through the membrane herself.

Umeko adjusts her poise and then steps forward and into the odd wall-bubble-door. "Good afternoon, Lady Ren Minami," she says in her own melodic, lilting tone as she steps out the other side. "I am Lady Umeko Tsuguri of Jadai. It is an honor and a pleasure to meet another kiriga who went out into the wider world."

It feels a little like pushing one's way into an oil, and leaves one with the feeling that there should be a film of scum on them now, but everyone comes through as clean as they were outside. Seated at one of the tables is a young silvery kiriga with flecks of copper along her neck, her mane of black hair pulled back into a simple twin ponytail. She's dressed more in the Rephidimian style than Jadian or even Imperial styles, just a nicely fitting tunic and some simple breeches, though they appear to be made of oiled leather. There's a few glasses of water sitting on the table around her, and a glass plate with a droplet on it. Ren looks distinctly shocked, her eyes wide enough to see the blue in them. "I... oh. She stares for a moment, then hurriedly stands up, bumping the table and making the water in the glasses ripple. "Good afternoon, Lady Tsuguri. Please, I.. don't have a title. Just Ren. Is.. was there something I could, um, do for you?"

"I may not recognize your family name, but I know your birth," Umeko says and holds up her own hand, then wiggles her three fingers for emphasis. "But if you prefer, Ren it is. You may also just call me Umeko; all my friends do. Titles are more for formal gatherings and this is not such." Umeko still bows to the silvery kiriga though and asks as she rises, "I hope we are not disturbing important practice? Studies are far more important that the curiosity of some rebellious kiriga such as me. I have not been home in many months, not since the Viper's Hold incident. I am what is called a little 'homesick'." Umeko's lips again draw back in a slight, kind, smile.

Subconsciously, Ren takes hold of one of her hands when Umeko mentions it, rubbing a thumb along her palm and curling the telltale fingers around it. She seems to gather herself a little more bit by bit. "I see. It's nice to meet you, La-.. Umeko. No, no, it was just practice on my own time. Trying to use a trick Carla showed me." She smiles and gestures at the skreek. It's obviously not the 'catch a shekel without my hands' trick, since she's built quite similarly to Umeko, so it must be something about sliding that waterdrop around on the plate. "Ahh. I'm sorry to hear your heart aches for Jadai. I think about it now and then myself, though... I didn't leave much behind. I'm happy here." She smiles, a genuine one as she relaxes. "I haven't heard much news of the homeland, just a little about the Empire. You were there?"

Xander leans in to whisper into Umeko's ear-fan, "We should invite them to dinner tomorrow."

"Please, sit," Umeko offers and gestures to Ren's chair. Umeko settles herself down on the other side of the table from Ren and rests her hands in her lap. "You could say that I was, yes. Former Govenerness-Militant of Viper's hold, honored for leading General Diamondback and Arch-Mage Pyrelighter into battle against Beshret the Razer and his army of brigands out on the wastes," she clarifies, "All of which sounds very impressive for what was, in truth, a very trying, and terrifying, time in my life. I was on the run from my own family and found myself leading one of the Emperor's fleets, terrified and alone save for a few close friends. Life is ... never quite predictable."

If Ren wasn't astonished before, she certainly is now. "Serpent's Fangs... I'm honored you would come here to visit me then, L-.. Umeko." She's getting better at skipping the honorific. "I don't have nearly so much adventure in my life, and I'm grateful for that, I think. What brings you to Caroban?" She doesn't sit right away, but gets some of the beakers and burners, and sets them up on a counter, filling one with water and setting it to heat. The reason why becomes apparent when she comes up with a little sachet of tea. She slips back into her chair while waiting for the water to boil. "And who are your friends? You've met Carla." The skreek nods politely, takes another chair next to Ren, sitting with a bump.

"My ever so humble and studious Mage Lightfoot was taking his Masters exam. He just passed, in fact, by saving the life of arch Mage Sharif. A Journeyman named Danielle tried to take his life during Xander's exam and he prevented it," Umeko explains and nods towards the lapi. "And I suppose I should just say Xander, because he is one of my closest friends in as much as being my mage under employ. My other friends, Anisa Lightfoot and Lisandra Dragomir parted ways in Sylvania, after dealing with a small matter concerning one of the nobles who had been backing Beshret. They had matters they needed to attend to back in their respective homes." Umeko now watches Ren with interest as the kiriga moves about to make tea, looking for telltale signs of formal training in dance and other arts. "What brought you to Caroban, Ren?" she asks.

Xander bows, and introduces the younger Lapi. "And this is my little sister, Nawar, who is helping Umeko," he says.

The other kiriga looks over at Xander, evidently quite impressed. "You're Mage.. Master Lightfoot? I heard about what happened, at least what the Watch and administration let out. I hope your business has been resolved satisfactorily." She gets up when the water becomes hot and before it boils, pouring it off into the other beaker with the satchet at the bottom. She doesn't exactly do this ceremonial style... there really isn't everything she needs for that. But she does carry herself with a certain decorum and grace. "As for what brought me to Caroban, well... technically my sister. We've had a lot of ups and downs in our lives in Jadai. When my mother took ill and passed away, and my father died in a storm at sea trying to bring the catch in, Rin kept us together. We didn't have any money because of the lost catch, but she didn't let me beg... fed us and clothed us and found us dry places to sleep. She even got us clay." The kiriga gestures at Umeko's gleaming golden scales, her own a bright silver.

Ren looks down at her hand, turning it over. "We couldn't really afford it, but it was important to her."

"I know how much care must go into maintaining that metallic luster," Xander notes cheerfully.

"I am sorry to hear that your family has not been blessed by the fates as of late. But it does seem your sister understands that sometimes the fates need a little helping hand now and then. She sounds very brave and strong," Umeko says with an undercurrent of gentleness creeping into her voice. "With you now here studying to be a mage, what has happened to your sister? I hope that she is also well?"

Ren ventures a smile, nodding and averting her eyes for a moment, looking down at the beaker of tea she's holding and blinking quickly a few times. "Rin is very strong. I'm sure she's well," she says, carefully pouring tea from the beaker into the glasses she's emptied out, offering one to Umeko, one to Xander, and a very small, test-tube sized one for Nawar, though she waits until it's cooled enough a bit. The silver kiriga smiles at the little lapi. "Have you tried tea? It's very good for you. It'll keep your eyes bright."

Umeko accepts the offered cup and says, "Thank you." She inhales the steam, letting its scent drift within her nose just before taking a small sip from the cup. "Did Rin return home? Is she trying to restore your family?" Umeko asks.

Carla clicks her tongue, and gives Ren a playful little push on the arm. "Tsk! You never make tea for me. You didn't even pour me one." The kiriga laughs and pushes back a little. "That's because you get to make your own tea, Cloudmelons."

Nawar smiles and nods, having helped her mother and Umeko both with it over the past week.

Xander nearly chokes at the Skreek's nickname, and can't wait to ask how she got it.

Carla does eventually get a beaker of tea, and Ren pours one for herself, sitting again. "She's gone on to work off the money she was advanced, that she gave me for my tuition here. Rin was always a bit independantly minded, both before and after our parents passed away. She's studied our family lines, and taken it very seriously. The Manami were a family of some influence in the past, but didn't fare well during Jadai's warring over itself. Rin clings to that, and to the only vestige we have left of our family's heritage. She's since become an excellent swordswoman, and earned a name for herself as a bodyguard."

At that, Umeko smiles. "Your sister sounds very much like me. The art of the blade is something I have studied in great detail," she explains in between sips from her teacup. "To whom does she now act as bodyguard?"

Ren shakes her head. "I don't know. It changes often, not because she fails, but because she is often on retainer for a limited time. People who think they're in imminent danger hire her, and when the danger seems past, she moves on. She's defended several high-profile personages through Nagai and Jadai... statesmen, merchants, mages, even a few of the minor ministers."

"If she looks anything like you, it must seem that her whole body is a blade when she fights," Xander says, after sipping his tea.

"I would like to meet her," Umeko says as she curls her fingers around her teacup to soak up its warmth. "Is there any chance she would be visiting you soon?"

Ren looks down at her glass, hands warmed around it as she thinks about what Xander has said. "I've seen her fight, a few times... when she was protecting me or when I had to come with her when she worked. It's beautiful and terrible at the same time. She doesn't like me to see it... said that she wanted better for me, that she knew I held some gift inside me. When my small talent for magic made itself known, she immediately began diverting all her money to my tuition." She turns the beaker in her hands a little moodily. "I... don't deserve it, but I'm working hard to earn it."

The silver kiriga wipes at a corner of her eye for a moment with her wrist, then looks up again and smiles at Umeko. "I'm sure she would love to meet with you. You look lean and fit like her... I'm sure she could talk all day with you about... swords and technique and everything. I don't know when she'll return, she's not sure when her current assignment will be over."

Umeko reaches over and lays her hand lightly upon Ren's, trying to comfort her. "You are wrong about not deserving it. I imagine that you are her life now. You are the legacy of your family, as is she. That alone makes you worth it," she says firmly before withdrawing her hand. "Do you at least know where her current job is? I will be returning to Jadai soon to visit my family, then back to Viper's hold to begin establishing my household. I may have a chance to meet her on the way."

The silver kiriga looks up again, smiling hopefully and giving Umeko's hand a squeeze between thumb and two fingers. "Lady Umeko is kind. I hope I can live up to Rin's concern for me. I love her and sometimes I'm afraid for her." She nods a moment, a wisp of her dark hair falling into her face. "I do get letters from her sometime. I think recently she has been sent south of Nagai, to one of the breakaway provinces. There is trouble there, and she has gone to face it, and been paid well for it. Perhaps she'll help bring back stability there."

Ren pauses for a moment. "If.. if you DO go down there, and see her, can you.. make sure she is safe, or help her? Your name and title is great, your power must be exceptional. I'm sorry to ask, I shouldn't, but... if you can?"

Xander blinks in surprise at the request, thinking it really shows just how much the Minami family as been through, given his experience with Jadaian pride.

"In truth, I was not going to directly offer such in case it may offend your, or her, honor. But, I have been considering on ways to help both of you if I could. I have no siblings of my own, but I know how the weight of family feels and the drive of duty to it. My family was on the precipice of falling not so long ago, I was blessed to have been the one who saved it. Some of it through skill, some through luck, and much through having friends I could trust with my life," Umeko says. "I will do what is within my means for both of you. And I have likely taken up enough of your time today, Ren. We will be here for a few more days and I would be honored if you would join me for dinner tomorrow night along with Xander and Nawar."

A relieved look washes across Ren's face. "Thank you, Lady Tsuguri. You are as noble in spirit as you are in name. It... isn't an easy thing to ask, and Rin would probably be horrified, but I see in you a kindred spirit with her, and I think she would forgive me in time." She bows in her seat, as deeply as it lets her, and nearly knocks her beaker of tea over. Carla has looked rather uncertain through all of it, and when her friend bows, she abruptly does so as well to try to match, though she's sitting more or less directly across from Xander.

When Ren sits back upright, she smiles warmly, blue eyes bright. "I would love to join you. If you would like, I can show you the places I know around Caroban... a poor gift in return, but it stands."

"Even if you had not asked, I would have interfered. It is .. a trait of mine to get involved," Umeko says, her ear fins flaring as she draws her lips back in amusement. "It is settled, then," she says as she stands, "Please come by the inn around four tomorrow. That will allow enough time for Nawar to dress you in one of my kimonos before dinner. And before you try to decline ... please allow me this. I want you, for one night at least, to be on the outside what I believe your soul is on the inside. And as for your gift to me ... I accept and will leave you with this thought: No gift is poor when it is one given from the heart. A simple gift given gladly and without hesitation is more beautiful than the richest gems given in falsehood." The kiriga then lightly taps Xander's shoulder with a claw and says, "Come Xander, before dear Cloudmelons kills you, hmm? She and Ren are more than welcome to visit us later tonight if they wish." There's a ripple of amusement in her voice.

Ren's smile is as dazzling as her scales. She doesn't quite lunge across the table to hug Umeko, but she does clasp hands with her gratefully. "It would be an privilege and a pleasure to come and to wear such finery. I've... never gotten to try anything like that, honestly. Call on me anytime you like, my dormitory is #12." She gives Xander a slightly puzzled look, and as her guests depart, sharp lapi ears might hear her saying to Carla before the skreek goes to follow, "I think Master Lightfoot must have inhaled a stray tea leaf." To which Carla simply says, "Mm."