Nightingale|Aegestrom | Maelstrom

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake nodded, reaching to gently touch his hand with her fingertips. "Then for now, you may come to me with any questions you might have. However, we are not long in Maelstrom. Construction is nearly finished on New Anarlina." She looked quite excited as she spoke. "It's of course nowhere near as fair as Anarlina used to be, not even able to be compared to Kalina, my home city. But any home is a good home. We're very glad the King and Queen have made room for us. Someday, perhaps, we will return to our former glory. Will you visit?" She bat her wide blue eyes at him.

[Darastrix]

"You don't have to charm me, Lovely," Zack says with a wink. "I'd love to go see it, and more of your people."

Though he hadn't been to most of the other lands, he at least knew a fair bit about them. New Anarlina was just that--new--and he was looking forward to it already.

"Where is New Anarlina being built?"

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake made a vague outline of the kingdom in the air with her finger, leaving just the merest trace of mist from her ice sign. It dissipated quickly, but gave the idea she was making as she drew a line between Talen'sul and Maelstrom. "Right here. Lya says the Kingdom isn't ready to officially be a single land, and won't for at least a generation, and so New Anarlina is a peaceful buffer."

[Darastrix]

"Not a long way to travel from here, either," he noted. "And with any luck, Sunray will get to go to his new home with a new companion," Zack said with a slight grin, thinking of his earlier encounter with the young king.

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake leaned in a little closer, looking for all the world like any coy young lady. "Oh? Really? What companion would this be? Pray tell."

[Darastrix]

Zack grinned and leaned in as well, never one to turn down the chance to spread a bit of interesting gossip. "Well, when I met Sunray, he was looking for someone to give him advice on how to approach a certain young lady that caught his interest. A healer by the name of Angel, I believe."

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake erupted in delighted giggles. "Oh? That's so wonderful. I know mother and I have been at wits' end trying to find him a suitable match. The poor boy needs a woman in his life to ease the burden of rulership, not to mention he could use a little female companionship for other, obvious reasons." She winked, and grinned. "Do you think he stands a chance of winning her heart?"

[Darastrix]

Zack grinned back. "Well, I haven't met the lady herself, but Sunray seems like a sweet kid and he's got the look of one who's fallen fast and hard from what I could tell. Of course, I fully expect him to make a mistake or two at first. Nobody gets it right the first time, but Sunray seems the type to look hoplessly cute when he messes up, and some women can't help but coo over that kind of thing," he said with a soft chuckle.

[Kender Bard]

"He is adorable," Snowflake agreed. "Very well, then I hope all works out well. If so, we'll finally have a Queen and mother can truly retire to the life she wants the most; which, I suspect, is with Flash." She waggled a finger at the bard. "Which is already rumored so you don't need to go spreading that little bit of information."

[Darastrix]

Zack grinned. "all right, I only spread info if I'm not asked not to. My lips are sealed, Lovely."

[Kender Bard]

Snowflake leaned forward, as if to say more, but just then a high pitched little squeal rent the air. "Princess Snow, Princess Snow!"

A young blonde girl, white winged and clad only in the pure-white acolyte dress came running up, and almost launched herself into Snowflake's lap. The priestess laughed and hugged the girl close, stroking her hair. "Nalani, what is it?"

"I-" she noticed Zack and gave a surprised squeak. Snowflake chuckled and pat the girl on the head. "A-are you a M-morilantan?"

[Darastrix]

Zack watched Nalani pounce Snowflake with a grin, always happy to see kids around. He laughed at the girl's question, amused, and smiled at her. "No, Cutie. I'm a bard from Talen'sul. My name is Zack."

[Kender Bard]

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Zack," Nalani said with the over-careful enunciation of children trying to repeat what they've heard the adults say. "I'm Nalani"

Snowflake pulled the girl down next to her, though she was small enough to have almost fit on the woman's lap. "Nalani is my personal acolyte. I pray that someday she'll be able to take my place."

Nalani visibly swelled with pride before asking Zack, "Are you a convert?" Snowflake pinched her lightly. "Ow! Sorry, sorry, I was just wondering."

[Darastrix]

"Time will tell," Zack replied, chuckling at Nalani. "Snowflake's been telling me about your faith, and I do like a good bit of what she's had to say. When do you have services, by the way?" he asked, looking to Snow.

[Kender Bard]

"We have a small one every day for six days, at differing times," she said. "Aqua and Ventosus in the morning, Terra and Rosa in the middle of the day, and Fuoco and Silva at dusk. We go in cycles, and have a longer one every Aria at noon. We don't wish to discriminate with those who cannot attend at the time, so we offer the variety of sermons. The primary one is at noon, well." She shrugged. "The sun is our country's symbol. While Love makes no preference of any time of day, one cannot help but feel the brilliance of Erif is a holy thing. There has been debate on if we should do another longer sermon every Ferven at midnight."