“Welcome, elder Yuriko of the Davar! I apologise for not being able to see you sooner, I was out on a hunt!”

His Excellency, Gonir of the Oska, ambassador of Viterra City stood at two and a half paces and towered over Yuriko by nearly a pace in height. He was wide enough to make four of her, too.

Not that he was fat, or rather, he had fat but from the way he moved, it was layered over hard muscle. Gonir’s residence was on the opposite side of the palace from the Tiath ambassador’s. The interior was sized to be proportional to the Oskan people, that was, it was at least twice the dimensions of everywhere else.

Oskans looked like a cross between bears and humans. They were huge and bulky, though their heads weren’t ursine. They were more like Masa: a human with bear ears and shaggy hair. Their eyes were more closely set together though, and their mouths were filled with more teeth, which had three sets of canines. Thick fur covered the rest of their bodies, save for their chests, oddly enough.

The ambassador wore a long robe with a neckline that exposed his collarbones and his sternum. He wore fur pants, or maybe nothing at all; Yuriko wasn’t sure and she wasn’t about to take a closer look. He, like every other Lucentian, seemed to be barefoot. She idly wondered where they got the sandals for her use.

“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” Yuriko said as she gave the man a small bow. The Oskan hesitated for a moment then awkwardly returned the gesture. “Your city has a different mode of greeting?”

“Haha, yes,” Ginor admitted. “In Veterra, we clasp arms,” he offered his right. Yuriko extended hers and he grabbed her wrist, then pulled her close. The next thing she knew, she had been enfolded between his arms and had her face pressed against his chest. “And hug!”

“Er, yeah.”

He had a strange musky scent. Not unpleasant, but discomfiting anyway. And there was hard muscle under his fur.

Yuriko pulled back and Ginor released her easily. Then he gestured towards a small table laden with tea settings. One of the chairs was sized for the huge man, while the other looked practically dainty. She climbed on it and sat down, her feet dangled several inches above the floor until she found the footrests.

A servingman poured tea for the both of them, the pot looked comically small within his sausage fingers. Still, he quite accurately poured the tea. Yuriko lifted the cup to her nose, took in the scent and had a sip. Fragrant citrus burst on her palate, and though it was slightly bitter. She looked for honey to sweeten the tea but found none. Before she could ask, the servant brought a tiered plate holder filled with squares of honeycomb and some white confectionery that she’d never seen before. It was a wide spiral of something and when she touched it, it was firm.

Gonir took several honeycomb squares and popped one into his mouth, nodding in pleasure. Yuriko tried the white confection, though it was too big to fit easily through her lips. When she pressed a table knife to cut it, it crumbled into several large pieces. She took one and ate it.

“Oh my!” she gasped as the thing practically melted in her mouth in an explosion of sweetness. She nearly swooned at the pleasure coursing through her body and her eyes actually rolled up. She came to herself before she did anything disgraceful and Gonir grinned at her.

“Ah, the meringue, one of my favourites! Please, have some more!”

“Oh, thank you.” Yuriko smiled. Gonir stared at her face as she ate, but he averted his eyes after a few moments with a cough, while he muttered something unintelligible under his breath.

Well, the tea was bitter for a reason. There was no sweetener since everything else on the table was sweet. She didn’t find any chocolates though. Ah, some of the white meringues had berries on top and they weren’t completely dry and crispy. Instead, other than the crispy shell, the inside was a gooey goodness that made her toes curl.

She was pretty sure her face was flushed and the redness seeped down her neck and over her bosom.

“Now, ahem!” Gonir said after more than half of the pastries and confections had been devoured, “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Elder?”

“Huh, ah, yes. Er.” Yuriko wiped the corner of her lip where a bit of honey leaked out when she bit into a honeycomb. “I’m a stranger in this plane and I seek to return to my home plane of Rumiga.”

“Ah, of course, you want access to Viterra City’s planar quay.” He nodded sagely. “Easy enough. Zorv!” he yelled. “Fetch my seal and a bamboo scroll!”

The attendant rushed over bearing the things Gonir asked him. The ambassador quickly penned a note, then stamped his seal on the bottom left. He handed the writ over to Yuriko with a grin.

“Here you go!”

“Thank you!” Yuriko said. “That was rather prompt. The Tiath ambassador said it would take her weeks before she could give me a writ and here you are.”

“Oh, don’t mind Waldermar. She’s got an iron rod stuck so far up her bottom that she can’t bend her neck without creaking.” Gonir snorted while Yuriko spluttered over her tea. “Ahahaha, down the wrong hole?”

“Y...yes,” Yuriko coughed. She reached for the napkin and patted her lips and chin dry. “Hmmm, do you know when the merchants will come to your city?”

“Of course. There should be one by next week.”

“So soon?” Yuriko’s eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline.

“Ah, a special request from the chiefs. We’re nearly out of incense. Somebody forgot to make sure the cave was sealed and the stock got flooded.” His derisive snort made Yuriko’s fringe flutter.

“Ah, I see. Hmm, I should hurry over then. I’d really love to get home.”

“Oh, of course, well, if you leave tomorrow morning you should reach Viterra just before they arrive. They’re scheduled to dock on the 44th.”

“I see. Er, how?”

“There isn’t a carriage service if that’s what you’re asking.” Gonir shook his head, “Not at this Season. You need to head to the northern quarter and leave through that gate. Follow the road. There are signs at every crossroad so that shouldn’t be an issue. And yes, the road leads all the way to Viterra!” He snorted. “We’re not like though stingy Tiathans who won’t even build a road directly to their domain.”

“But isn’t the Tonnerre Sea in the way?”

“They could build across the south! It’s not that much of a detour. Just a few hundred leagues, ahahaha.”

“Huh, how far is Viterra from here?”

“One hundred, give or take a dozen leagues,” Gonir said easily.

“Wouldn’t that mean I have to travel nearly a hundred longstrides a day to make it in five days?”

“You’re an Elder, aren’t you?” Gonir laughed. “I can run that far in a few days myself!”

Yuriko nodded thoughtfully. She could certainly run. Twenty leagues, or one hundred longstrides, a day should be doable. That distance was nearly the same as the stretch of road between Faron’s Crossing and the Zarek Mountains. Hmm, for that matter, if she spent twelve hours a day she could do it walking instead. No need to drain her stamina too much.

“Tell me about the road there?”

Gonir nodded.

“Ah yes. The road from Lucenti is humid and wet. The cobblestones are sunken into mud at some places, so be wary there. The road is really from Lucenti to Vizugmon, no sense building two roads leading to the same place, and Vizugmon is pretty much the centre of the Bella plane,” Gonir rumbled.

“Once you get near enough to the cat city, you’ll find a fork in the road. Take the one to the right, the signpost should say to Viterra…”

Gonir regaled her with the sights one could see on the way to his City. He spoke eagerly of the rolling hills, the pine trees, and the mountains that touched the clouds. He spoke of the clear mountain streams with waters so sweet it would put honey to shame. She spoke of the berry bushes dotting the countryside, or the huge, fist-sized bees that pollinate the flowers. They were  docile though, as long as one didn’t disturb their hives.

“Hahahaha!” Gonir slapped his thick arms. “My fur protects me from their sting. Their honey tastes much better than this slop!”

“Oh?”

“Well, you can have Giant Apis honey in Viterra! It’s our chief export, though really, only the dregs reach Lucenti and Grieford,” he mock whispered. Of course, his voice still carried across the hall, judging by his attendant’s expression.

“I’ll be sure to buy some,” Yuriko said eagerly.

Maybe she could take some home with her. She was sure Millie would appreciate the exotic honey in her cooking. A bout of melancholy whispered in her mind. Ah, nearly a year that she hadn’t seen her friends. Longer still that Da had been lost.

Oh, wait! He might have returned by now. Ancestors hear her prayers on his safe return!

Mum would also be in Rumiga this year’s end. She always arrived two or three weeks before the Refraction. That was eight weeks away! Yuriko wasn’t quite sure if she felt relieved that there was no way she would be able to reach Rumiga in eight weeks. Travel between the planes took a lot of time, even if it wasn’t apparent subjectively.

Most sailors said that they spent a week in the ship, but in the planes, more than two or three would have already passed.

But she would regret not seeing Mum. She had hot words to say to her, chief of which was why she was so insistent that Yuriko take the Sorceress’ path instead of the one she wanted. She was also pretty sure that Sadeen Mishala had influenced the Academies during her exams, though that was but a hunch.

Then again, she had no doubt that Mum would twist any heated words they exchanged to it being Yuriko’s fault. Or that everything had always been according to plan and if she just took a proper look at it, she’d realize that Mum’s plan was better.

No, she definitely wasn’t looking forward to that conversation.

Then again, if she missed Mum in Rumiga, perhaps the next thing she’d know was that there was already a ticket for her to travel to Realmheart. Still, Yuriko couldn’t deny a bit of curiosity. She loved seeing new places. She loved the natural beauty of the planes. She even enjoyed exploring the city of Lucenti. The different way it was built, compared to Faron’s Crossing, or even Rumiga City, set her heart. Well, the crowds were a different problem, but, well, she could always think of the people crowding the roads as natural denizens, a part of the complex tapestry of a city.

“Ah, I’ve spoken too long,” Gonir said. It had been a couple of hours and all the tea had been drunk and the pastries devoured.

Yuriko stood up. “Indeed. I’ve been quite entertained with your tales. I’m sure the dire wolves and hounds will be of no issue when I travel. I look forward to witnessing the majesty of the Viterran countryside.”

“Hahahaa! Of course, Elder Yuriko.” He extended an arm and as soon as they clasped, he tried to pull her into another hug. “Eh?” He grunted when she didn’t budge.

With a smirk, Yuriko yanked him over to her and returned the hug. He guffawed and patted her back.

“What strength! Ah, I am amazed.”

“Well, farewell, your Excellency,” Yuriko said afterwards.

Outside the parlour, Rhox was pacing anxiously around the antechamber. Her face lit up in relief as soon as Yuriko came out.

“Oh, Elder. I was…worried.”

“Bored, you mean?” Yuriko smiled. “I’ve found what I needed to know. Tomorrow I will travel to Viterra City. His Excellency said that a merchant caravan from off-plane would arrive there in a week. I intend to be onboard their ship when it leaves.”

“Oh?”

“Well, I don’t quite have the funds necessary but I’m sure they’d accept a letter of debt. My funds are deposited in the Imperial Bank and my family will pay the difference if it’s not sufficient.”

“Ah, I see.” Rhox nodded along as they walked through the bridges. “I’ll inform Elder Otlaca…”

“If you please, though, I'd rather pay a visit to tell him of my plans instead. It would be rude if I just left like that.”

“The Elders will address a crowd this afternoon. You can catch them afterwards,” Rhox offered, “It's why I was ill at ease. I didn’t want to miss it.”

“Oh, my apologies for holding you up then.”

“No, no. It is my duty to escort you, Elder,” Rhox insisted. “It is not your fault.”

Rhox led her around the palace quarter until they reached a quadrangle. There was a crowd already gathered and on a raised podium, one of the Elders spoke. She wasn't sure who it was, but it was one of the other Ahas Elders.

"...This year, we fight the oppressive cats and take our rightful place! No longer would they take all of the Ivory and leave us with nothing but dregs…!

The crowd cheered and yelled. Yuriko and Rhox entered through a side door and made their way through the Halls until they arrived in a small chamber.

The other Elders were there, watching through a curtained window at their colleague.

"Elder Yuriko," Otlaca greeted them when they entered.

“Elder Otlaca,” Yuriko answered. “A word?”

“Of course.”

The two of them moved towards a corner.

“I’ve talked with their Excellencies Gonir and Waldemar. Gonir had given me a writ of travel and given word that there is a merchant caravan expected in Viterra in a week’s time. I intend to leave tomorrow.”

“So soon?” Otlaca asked. “At least take an escort with you. And a carriage! No need to walk, Elder Yuriko. Please, you’ve helped plenty during the Beast Tide and you’ve kindly given us what Ivory you’ve collected. It’s the least we can do.”

“Oh, well thank you.” Yuriko tried to hide her surprise but Otlaca’s rueful head shaking told her she failed in the attempt.

“Hahaha, it has been a pleasure,  Elder Yuriko.” He bowed to her, and Yuriko returned the gesture. “Well, we’ll have a glorious feast of farewell! At dinner, we shall host you one last time.”

Otlaca grinned.

Yuriko smiled politely, though she couldn’t help but note a false cheer to his words.