tushanshu | I. ♔ Video

[He selects the video function, at ease with the technology. Regally dressed and with a genial smile, Richard addresses the network.] Greetings, guests of Keeliai. I'm Richard. I look forward to meeting you all.

[There is no insincerity to him. He speaks with a genuine, if measured warmth. He likes people, generally. But Richard has thought through what he wished to say, and he has more important matters than social ones.]

Salutations aside, I have a few points of inquiry that I hoped someone could be of help with. First, a question of home. Though I was comforted to hear the reassurances of our hosts, I must ask if we foreigners have any confirmation of our own that our worlds do not suffer our absence while we are here. It is of some concern. [He doesn't take the Emperor's word for it. Sorry, Eshai!]

The second matter is one of occupation. It is my understanding that we are asked to contribute through some form of work. While I am happy to do so, I'm afraid I . . . don't know how one would attain employment. [Royalty lessons don't include lessons on resumes, whoops. He pushes aside the awkwardness with that same geniality as before.] I'd be grateful for any advice or suggestions.

[His expression becomes more grave now. This last is the most worrying to him.] Finally, and most importantly, I wish to know about the eleth here. I posed my questions to the kedan, but they did not seem to understand. Is it known what means this planet uses to channel eleth? I have heard no mention of cryas or valkines, and Tu Vishan's current state begins to bear a disturbing resemblance to that of a planet I visited where the eleth had gone almost dry.

[Richard pauses a moment, and then smiles again, but that smile is somewhat more grave now, weighted by his last query.] Thank you for listening. I warmly anticipate your responses.

[And with that, he shuts off the feed. Somehow, that was even more difficult than making public speeches.]

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[She shifts a little, uncomfortably.]

Those of us who know about it—a man named Iorveth, and a young mage named Sabriel, amongst others—have been looking into this quietly, because we really don't want to cause a panic. Not least because apparently it's dangerous to so much as speak the name of the threat out loud anywhere except in the Palace. [Dorian's Turtle Who Lived crack crosses her mind and she almost has to physically push it away, to keep from snickering. Gallows humour and inappropriate facetiousness has always been her weakness in times of stress.]

Anyway, this threat—it's a powerful, shapeshifting entity that can't be killed, is older than Tu Vishan, and is generally every kind of bad news of which you can conceive—and we're the cannon fodder.

[He can appreciate that need for discretion, and if they're willing to tell it to a complete newcomer, then he is assured that it isn't needless secrecy for the sake of controlling information. But a being that mustn't be named, that take different forms, that cannot be killed . . .

That last comment barely registers, except that he isn't certain how they'd be of any use for that.]

Is it known where it comes from, or what it desires?

No, and no. Not so far as I can tell, anyway.

The Emperor has seen fit to answer the questions of some directly, and I found out more in exploring the palace library. There may be yet more to uncover or learn. She's a prickly sort, but responds to the right kind of courtesy, it seems.

Which kind of courtesy is that?

[It varies, Richard knows, with some leaders asking for directness and honesty while others are best handled with tact and rhetoric.]

She doesn't like having her time wasted—one wants to be reasonably polite, but not obsequiously so. I think she values directness, and confidence, even arrogance to a certain point—though of course it's possible to go too far with that, I'm sure.

I believe I understand. [A less agreeable President Paradine.] I'll need to do some more gathering of information as well. She doesn't sound tolerant of questions she has already been asked.

That sounds accurate, yes. The more prepared you are going in, the better off you'll be.

[Understood. He is still troubled by this unnamed being, however.] Is the name of the threat at least known, perhaps sharable through the written word?

[This could be considered a reasonable request, except if you knew Richard's motivation: he would not want to meet the being without having a proper way to address it. Lambda always preferred to be spoken to by name.]

[She nods.] Yes. I found it on some written pages in the Palace library, and I can show you. [Pause.] In person, for the preference.

When you have a moment, I would appreciate that.

I live in the Wood sector and can meet anywhere at your convenience.

[He doesn't know the lay of the land that well, but he does at least know the apartments enough for this.]

Would meeting between the three-flour and second-floor buildings of the sector be suitable?

That will do. I can be there in half an hour, or at any time of your choosing.

Would midday tomorrow be suitable?

That will do, thanks. I'll see you then.

I. ♔ Video

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