I am SO GLAD all of you are critiquing. It really does help a lot.
I apologize for info-dumping continuously; I generally set up all my stories like that as a reflex, mostly because this is a world with which you are not familiar. This is precisely the reason I'm posting these, so please, keep them coming!!!!
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"Your Majesty," a small voice said, polite and appropriately low in tenor. "I present to you Queen Ceani J’engar-fae."
Aedaan looked up from the scroll in his lap, at the tall, curvaceous woman entering from the main doors, sweeping inside with a minor entourage of guards and sorcerers. That she could afford two sorcerers spoke highly of her power; even J’engar-ha, Pilan’s hold and one of the very richest of them all, boasted only three. "Your Highness," she murmured breezily, dropping to one knee just seconds before her men did, a sign of utmost respect. "At your request, I have arrived early for the gathering."
"Yes," Aedaan said inscrutably. "Pilan has been executed. You will take full responsibility for his hold. Do you understand me?"
A small line appeared between her brows. "Pilan, majesty?"
"He was caught raiding Baevaar," Aedaan replied, and there was a small intake of breath from one of the sorcerers. Aedaan’s eyes moved from Ceani to the man in question, frowning a little. "Speak, man. Do you have family in Baevaar?"
"No, majesty," the sorcerer said lightly. "My family—we have long protected Baevaar."
"Your family name?" Aedaan inquired, motioning forward his scribe.
"Bae-ai." At Aedaan’s sharp glance, the man explained haltingly. "My family is not an old one; it was created when my great-great-grandfather was born of a J’engar-ai woman, and left at the gates of Baevaar in the hopes that he would survive. Thus I have J’engar-ai Talent, but no claim to the name."
"Do you know the name of this man?" Aedaan demanded sharply.
"Go’aon," the sorcerer replied. "He was a soldier stationed at Baevaar."
"Go’aon," his scribe murmured incredulously, and there was a sweeping murmur through the other servants, as well; Go’aon was not merely a soldier, but a general, and a famous one at that. He had led the successful attack against a rebel hold that had ensured generations of peace thereafter—by no means a small name to be throwing around.
"It is noted, then, that you are his descendant," Aedaan said, relaxing back into his throne. "You are dismissed."
They left, all billowing robes and upright stiffness, and Aedaan motioned forward one of his guards. "Send a message to Thief Ianna," he murmured in a low voice, so that no one else may here. "Tell her that there is a sorcerer here with J’engar-ai blood."
The guard nodded efficiently, saluting before hurrying off. Another J’engar-ai meant the line could continue if Ianna chose to relinquish her role and bear children; it meant hope for one of the strongest and most potent holds under Aedaan’s rule, despite their small size. "Finally," Aedaan breathed, and shut his eyes.
"IANNA!" Baesa bellowed at the stone wall, pounding on it with all her might. "My queen, awaken! There is a message from His Majesty!"
Abruptly the stone wall dissolved, revealing a stern Ianna, her hair tousled and her mouth a tight, severe line. "What is it, Baesa?"
"A message," Baesa breathed, eyes wide with excitement. "There is a sorcerer residing at the palace now—he works for J’engar-fae—His Majesty sends word that he is a direct descendant of J’engar-ai, crossed with the line of Go’aon!"
The stiffness in Ianna’s body dissolved. "What? Another with J’engar-ai blood?"
"It is not long-diluted, either, if he possesses such strong Talent to work for Ceani—she recruits only the strongest, you know that."
Ianna’s eyes flashed with renewed vigor. "I must speak with him. Speak of this to no one until I have made out his character; I will not announce him as blood unless I am sure he would not perverse the name of J’engar-ai."
"Of course, majesty," Baesa agreed, and watched happily as Ianna vanished before her very eyes. Finally—finally!
