Closed [The Great Library]Our Word (Osd)

[Annalisa Marin]

64th of Winter, 513 AV

The pungent of aroma of old parchment and ink assailed Anna's nostrils as she entered the Great Library of Sahova, the place granting her memories of the Wright Memorial Library. The tall woman scanned the place, noting that there were few here this day out in the open at the very least. The sorceress herself was only here based on pressing business, namely increasing her knowledge regarding matters apart from the arcane. This place possessed the greatest collection of magic knowledge on Mizahar, unfortunately that did her little good if she had trouble reading most of the tomes.

The sorceress was dressed in her fine black silk robes trimmed with purple, her purple sash moving around her waist to bind it together. Her feet were adorned with her black dress slippers, comfortable things that they were. A silver ring wrapped its way around her right ring finger, its sigil that of a burning scroll. It marked her as a full Wizard of rank in the Citadel. Her long black hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, small bangs framing her face. Her body was unmarred by the traces of starvation apparent in many pulsers on Sahova, her grey eyes clear and unclouded by madness.

Appearances were important and Anna projected the appearance of a powerful and immaculate sorceress, self assured in all things. A mere Wizard she might be now, but she moved with the composure of a Master. It was a title she longed to possess, but remained out of reach for the time being as she had yet to properly prove herself to the Citadel. Certainly enough to earn her ring as a Wizard, but her contributions were minimal over all at the moment.

She walked right past a Librarian golem, knowing full well they would not obey her orders due to the warm blood flowing in her veins. Besides, she knew where what she sought was, a dictionary of Nader-Canoch to Common. A simple thing, but necessary for today's exercises in practicing sentence structure. It wasn't her vocabulary she needed to worry about with her level of comfort, rather it was stringing it all together to form cohesive sentences. The University had given her basic knowledge, but now she needed to expand further on it.

Most pulsers on Sahova had a basic grasp of the old language, a trait which many Nuit sneered at and used to place them at a disadvantage. Anna knew that increasing her comfort with the language would immediately elevate herself above the masses of pulsers, making her stand out. That was what she needed to do after all, stand out. Only by making herself known could she hope to create ripples in Sahova's political world.

Finally she reached the section she was looking for and just as she was reaching for her desired volume, her fingers curled around the spine firmly but carefully, her grey eyes noted a familiar sight. Her mind immediately flashed to her more... broken state earlier in the season, fractured by her experiences on the island. In the fires of the Forge, surrounded by golems as she laughed, a slave having been threatened.

Remembering Silverheart's words her eyes flicked to the ring on his person, her mind broiling in rage beneath her placid surface. If there were witnesses nearby she probably would have covered his body inside and out with res and turned him into and icicle. He had caused her so much trouble just by existing, nearly caused her to be denied the rank that was rightfully hers. Guilty by association with her mortal enemy on Sahova, unfortunately for him.

Still, her trademark arrogant smirk curled on her lips as she glanced down at the shorter man. When she did speak her voice was smooth like honey, her words articulate and overly proper. No reason to be rude after all, especially not to an old friend. They did have so very much to catch up on after all.

"Well, I must say I almost didn't believe the rumors. It would seem your fortunes have shifted since last we meet, Apprentice Messer. A pleasure to see you again." Anna would say, pulling out the book and placing it under her left arm.

She was being down right cordial and friendly to one apprenticed to her mortal enemy, gods she was even offering him her hand. Simply scandalous! Unthinkable truly! How horrible for one to be met with honeyed words and articulate phrases from such a woman like her. Of course, Anna had reason for this as they were in the Citadel so some decorum was to be observed.

[Osd]

As soon as osd saw anna he rested the urge to turn around and get away from the woman. She was arrogant, unpleasant and her sanity was about as stable and existant as sunberth's goverment. Last time she nearly murdered him because he didn't accept an offered payment. Flaunting a law of sahova in her rage. Being around wizard's like that could only serve to shorten your own lifespan. The idea of being burned alive didn't really appeal to the blacksmith. On the other hand, he needed that dictionary. The same dictionary that she had underneath her arm. Seems like just getting out of here and refusign to have anything to do with her, like any sane person would, wasn't an option. “Hello wizard marin.” He said curtly, noticing the ring on her finger. “Seems I wasn't the only one who had a stroke of fortune lately. It seems.” If she was polite, he would be polite back. He gave her hand a short shake. Not touching her any longer then he had too. Her honied words didn't sway him one bit. She was dangerous, insane and unpleasant. Not to mention a bloody bad liar. She would find drinking poison more pleasant then him. “How long will you be using that book.” He then asked. Getting too what was for him the point of this entire conversation.

[Annalisa Marin]

The tall woman chuckled slightly as he noted her own fortunes changing, though really her own skills were considerable enough to place her where she needed to be. Politics be damned, Anna knew she was one of the most powerful wizards on Sahova, a ring of gold belonged around her finger and she fully intended to make that happen. First things first of course, she needed to improve the basics before she could properly begin to branch out and show she was more than just a skilled Pulser. No, she was the most talented wizard Sahova had seen in centuries and she would go to any lengths to prove that, regardless of what sacrifice was needed.

As Osd shook her hand the sorceress barely resisted the urge to allow a seed of corruption to take root, knowing that it was not the right time for such a thing. No, she needed to wait for such a thing and gain information beforehand. Curses needed to be devastating after all, and to accomplish that a Chaon needed to know their intended target. It was best to learn what Silverheart’s new apprentice was like on a personal level, or at least as personal as she was willing to get. Osd was no doubt… less than pleased about seeing her, considering her little roughing up of the former slave.

Anna kept her smirk on her face as he inquired after the tome, that was perfect, the best possible set up to have prolonged contact with him. The former slave was no doubt looking to be less of a fish out of water, to learn more of the language Sahova thrived on. Anna herself was doing the same, but there was no need to tell him that as she already had some education in the regard. She might be able to translate that into getting him to continue to interact with her, perhaps even offering to assist him? Who knew, their discussion might even go towards magic. Considering her… session with Clyde Sullins, Anna had learned a little about Magecrafting which Osd’s master practiced.

“This old thing? For a bit, I do have research to attend to after all. However, I see no reason we cannot share it. It will save us both time after all, no doubt your Master… Silverheart I believe it was, has many tasks for you.” Anna said, keeping her tone as carefully diplomatic as possible.

She knew Silverheart’s name well, but she would not pass up on a subtle jab at the Sub-Human filth when it was presented to her. It was a way of suggesting that his name was forgettable, that he was a nobody in her eyes, irrelevant. It was hardly the case, but Anna still hated the petching vagik more than a Sylir worshiper. She was going to make him pay for everything he had done to her; Anna would not be fully pleased until she took his black arm as a trophy and displayed it for all to see the price for defying her. He would suffer, and she would make it so.

Regardless of Osd’s answer the tall woman would move away from the bookcase and towards a table, pulling out a chair and seating herself down. Carefully and with experienced fingers as only a Zeltivan scholar could possess, she opened the tome and quirked an eyebrow to the blacksmith and gave him her trademark smirk. There was a chair open next to her and she was simply staring at him with the book open before her, gauging his reaction to her offer for any information obvious.

The tall woman was playing something of a game here, she possessed something Osd needed and rather than simply telling him to come back later the sorceress was offering to share. Sahovan wizards were not exactly the most charitable lot and neither was Anna in actuality however she recognized the value of words and appearances now. Amaryllis had drilled that and many things in her skull, molding her into a model of Sahovan wizardry as a tool she could utilize. It was also indirectly a way to send a message to his Master, that she was both not threatened by him or his apprentice.

“Come now, Osd. I assure you that I do not bite. I could use some stimulating company. My days at the University taught me that studying alone can be frightfully dull.” Anna said.

[Osd]

Anna of all people, offering to share the book? He might not know a lot about Anna, but what he did know was that she had more arrogance then all of sunberth together. You didn't really need to spend a lot of time with her to notice that trait of hers. Still, when you were a wizard who was capable of things like she was, arrogance was the least of mental problems you developed. If the woman would have been mentally sound, he probably would have refused her offer and done something else. Maybe work a bit on the forge, or just try to figure out a book with wat crude knowledge of the language he had. But the last time he refused a simple request of her he nearly got killed, there weren't any security golems around like last time either. He didn't trust her sanity enough for her not too go nuts and pin him to the library. Under protection of silverheart or not. On the other hand, she did have a point, he didn't have much time so sharing the book would be good for both of them. Not to mention, she was a wizard already, no doubt she already knew the language a lot better then he himself would. If he agreed he would be able to get a bit of tutelage in the language. He just had to make sure she didn't deliberatly taught him wrong. Or asked a price later. “Yes, master silverheart does keep me busy.” He acknowledged. Just giving her a deadpan look as she mentioned not biting. “I know.” He simpely said as he followed her to the table,not sitting down yet, holding himself back from commenting on the biting comment she did. Antagonizing the mad wizard usually was a bad idea. Besides she wasn't being actively hostile at the moment, Strangly enough. “I highly doubt just stimulating company is the only thing you want though. Sahovian wizards never do things for free. What do you want in return.” he was shyke at the entire politics part. Especially the sahovian politics. But he knew the basic rules at least, nobody does anything for free and don't trust handouts.

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna actually allowed a little laugh to escape her lips at Osd’s mention of Sahovan Wizards not doing anything for free. He was right of course, on Sahova nothing was free and one would have to be supremely stupid to accept handouts without first reading between the lines. It was a pity he was obviously so very simple minded, otherwise the tall woman would probably have guessed that he might make a fine addition to this drama of Sahova. As it was she was rather non-threatened by him or his master’s influence, at least at the moment. She had no doubt that she would need to eventually actively move against Silverheart, but for now Anna was content to consolidate her own power.

“Well, you are not half as foolish as I expected. Though your caution is misplaced here, Apprentice Messer, it’s not as though I have a Grand Oath hidden up my sleeve or something. There are no hidden pitfalls to my words, real or imagined, ‘tis simply an offer which you are more than able to walk away from. Choice is something one so rarely has while on Sahova, best to take advantage of the opportunity while you can.” Anna said, idly inspecting her nails.

It was the truth, or at least part of it. There were no hidden pitfalls to her words and the offer itself was very much genuine, however there were underlying motivations to her reasons. She wanted information from Osd and she suspected that with the right questions asked she might be able to glean some insight into her enemy. Anna respected Silverheart’s stance on Pulser rights, however he was far too weak and soft obviously in his methods. The sorceress had no morals she was not willing to violate in the pursuit of her goals, somehow she doubted the Sub-Human could claim the same. Rhysol could better use the pulsers of Sahova, he could grant the strength needed to rise up and claim what was rightfully theirs.

Osd obviously did not trust her and the sorceress would have been very disappointed if he had so easily, in all likelihood he never would but she didn’t require his trust. Trust made manipulation easier most certainly, but there were ways around it if the need was great enough. The tall woman shifted in her seat and leaned back leisurely, reclining back into the wooden chair and crossing her legs. She quirked an eyebrow at the shorter human, gesturing widely to the tome and opting to switch up languages to drive her point home.

“Come now, Osd. I think that learning a new language is worth spending a little time with me. After all, who better to learn from than one who speaks it?” The tall woman inquired.

Her inflection of the Ancient Tongue was hardly perfect, however she had the ability to speak it and hold her own during a conversation if the need arose. Unfortunately her ability to read and write it was still rather lacking which was the reason she was here in the first place, she needed to learn a little more and pick up on the studies she had abandoned at the University. It might not have seemed as vital to other pulsers, but unlike other pulsers Anna was playing at an old game. In order to properly play it with those that had long since mastered it, she needed to possess every weapon they themselves had. One of those weapons was language; most every tome in here was in Nader-Canoch so in order to gain access to the vast knowledge here Anna needed to master the language.

“So, why don’t you stop standing around like a frightened child and sit the petch down.” Anna said, this time in common.