Dima hesitated at the edge of the camp. The branch manager’s spirit churned with hesitation about her employer’s intentions in inviting her today. Even seeing the simple setup and two teenagers chatting and moving about did little to ease her mind.
"Welco. Lady Goltbred is attending to a small matter but will return shortly."
Klaytei’s certain and calm tone drew her attention. The personal servant gestured to a specific cushion near one of the central tables, clearly in full work mode.
"This position should suit your preferences. The tea is also already prepared to your taste and there is no need to hold back."
The woman blinked and then trudged over to the indicated spot. She was sure that it had been arranged by the ’little snake’, but fighting against it already would seem strange. After she sat, her gaze caught on how the servant’s usually severe expression softened just slightly while pouring her cup.
"You didn’t need to-"
"It is no trouble. Today I am my lady’s servant and not her secretary. Dealing with a guest’s needs is part of that."
The professional distance in her voice contrasted with the care in her movents. The two had worked together at the building long enough to grow sowhat comfortable around each other, but it was hard to say that they were ’friends’. Before Dima could co up with a way to respond, footsteps approached from the camp entrance.
The teor hamr user from yesterday’s tournant stood awkwardly at the boundary, clearly unsure of proper protocol. The person at the camp entrance had basically waved him in and left him to his own devices. He wasn’t sure if that ant he was trusted or not... but it didn’t matter, because it did leave him confused either way.
Aleck smoothed his borrowed formal vest. It was a loan from soone in his region... after his own clothes were deed unsuitable. By him and by his friends. The young man still felt guilt about yesterday’s incident and wanted to make a better showing. Even though the Goltbred heiress had brushed it off.
Her parents had looked at him with discomfort when he explained what happened. The mother, especially, had looked down at her smallest child in her arms with a complicated expression. Clearly he had a lot of making up to do!
"Ah, welco. Please, make yourself comfortable."
The servant’s tone carried a polite amount of attention, though she remained focused on adjusting the branch manager’s cup and tray for several seconds before turning to assist him. She waved across the setup and he hesitated before choosing a cushion and table.
He noted how the two teenagers walking closer paused their quiet conversation to directly observe him. The pair had been in the viewing area yesterday, though he spent the whole ti talking with Ondua er Goltbred. His friends had refused to go drinking with him last night because of their jealousy!
"The noon matches don’t start for a while yet. Our m- Elua should be back soon and the other guest should also arrive."
Nohre’s attempt at small talk drew a grateful smile from the man. The teenager carried none of the stiffness he expected from one of the friends of the heiress. Her companion seed a little more reserved, but his calculating gaze was looking at him like he was trying to decide sothing.
"I wasn’t sure what to expect. Lady Goltbred’s invitation was... rather sudden."
"Yes, she can be like that. You’re not used to that clothing either, are you?"
Fusand’s dry observation and blunt question drew a quickly hidden smile from the servant as she finally moved to pour Aleck’s tea. She resolved to sneak the boy sothing good later.
"Ah... no. Nice clothes make uncomfortable, but showing up in rags would have been worse."
"That girl wouldn’t have minded. Outwardly. It’s one of her good points."
The response from the person first seated had a bit of a dreary tone. Klaytei nodded her head visibly to Dima’s assertion. This was a shared understanding about their ’shared’ employer.
"I see. I suppose appearances matter more at a Guild than for a tea party. Ah, but you probably dress quite fine for both. That is, you look nice. All of you."
Aleck’s careful and well aning comnt caused the forr liaison’s shoulders to tense and a certain other’s fist to curl. Nohre caught the reaction and smoothly redirected the conversation... and the foot out of the man’s mouth.
"Did you train any at a particular Guild before leaving to develop your own style?"
The girl’s dark braids swayed as she settled onto a cushion near the semi-finalist. Her master had told her that her role was to keep the conversation going until she arrived. Fusand naturally took a position beside her, both of them between the fighter and the sigilist, as the servant circled to pour for them.
"No, I... learned from watching matches after leaving the Youth Guild. Found what worked for through trial and error. As well as lots and lots of practice."
His gaze shifted between them, wondering if they’d judge him for his unorthodox path. However the two teens only nodded at him with kind smiles. The branch manager’s spirit flickered with sothing unreadable as she studied him over her cup.
’Those two are good. Not like her... but I’d rather not think there are any more of Elua er Goltbred out there.’
Footsteps at the camp entrance drew their attention before anyone could continue the conversation. Talva er Ryleon soon stood watching those four already seated. Her tall fra and muscular bearing looked awkward as she stood there in army uniform... the nicest clothes she had on hand.
’I should have gone out and bought a dress. I was too nervous yesterday after the invitation ca. I just paced and trained all evening...’
The seating arrangent was surprisingly intimate. There were only a few left and the person who invited her was not yet present. Her nerves spiked, realizing that it ant she would be seated close to the person she had embarrassed herself in front of.
"Ah, welco! Please, join us."
Klaytei’s gesture toward an open cushion carried the sa polite behavior she had shown the other cultivator. The blonde’s steps remained stiff as she approached, her gaze catching on each face present. She seed particularly interested in the branch manager.
"Miss Dima, correct?"
"Yes. I feel it’s only natural that I rember your na after being on stage, but you know ?"
"I’ve... heard impressive things about the new Coiled Serpent office and its operations."
Talva’s attempt at casual conversation ca out slightly stiff. Only a minute in and she was already fangirling! Her spirit would betray how carefully she was trying to maintain social distance despite her enthusiasm for anything connected to the Goltbred heiress. She sat down near the woman.
"You’ve been following our progress?"
"The Army maintains awareness of new Guild developnts. It’s part of my work. Especially if it involves practical applications."
Fusand’s eyes narrowed slightly at her too-quick response. Their master had taken the ti to explain what she expected would happen and what the connections between everyone was. Before he could comnt too bluntly again, a familiar ’sweet’ voice carried across the gathering.
"How wonderful to find everyone already getting acquainted!"
The brunette’s approach drew imdiate attention from all eyes. Her simple blue dress sohow made her look even younger than usual as she skipped closer. Her mint eyes were bright and ’happy’ at seeing everyone in their seats.
’Well, this seems about right. I did think that Talva would take the remaining center one to force to be close, but I guess she couldn’t pass up chatting with my ’boss’.’
"Apologies for being late. I hope everyone here has been attended to? Let know if anything I picked to serve is not to your liking."
The servant’s tiny bow carried as much of the warm but professional manner as she’d shown earlier while serving Dima... and no one else. The orphans had beco sothing in between staff and guests the last few days. Klaytei treated them like work companions rather than anything more or less.
Plus they were terrible at pouring tea and had been banned from making that known and ruining the Goltbred reputation!
"Of course, my lady. I am taking good care of your guests. Though perhaps you might guide the conversation. Your friends have seed uncertain where to begin."
Elua settled onto her cushion next to Talva with grace, her ’sweet’ smile fixed firmly in place. The branch manager’s spirit churned with fresh wariness at how perfectly this dramatic entrance suddenly felt. It was clearly staged!
But most of all, she was uncomfortable that the person she was closest to considering a friend had just thrown her under the wagon by suggesting everyone there was in a state of friendship with the person she served.
’Who is friends with that girl? I’m really in no different position than you. Maybe even worse.’
The heiress seed to sense the discomfort in the air wafting from a familiar source. Her smile gained an edge of ’contrition’.
"I suppose friendship is a rather strong word this early for so of you. For now, let’s just say we’re all here because each of you has caught my attention in different ways."
Her mint eyes had that look in them. The one that made the branch manager’s stomach twist because it felt like what was behind them wasn’t what you could see in them. The servant began topping off everyone with fresh tea and pat the tense branch manager on the shoulder twice.
That made it so much worse. Dima already felt trapped in another of the Goltbred prodigy’s sches!
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