Hikaru's Home

Within Crane territory

Kazuki grumbled under his breath on his way up to the front door of Hikaru's home. The dragon-kin Lord had offered him several gold to keep his home stocked with meat from the woods, and as much as he hated to admit it, he needed money. He knocked three times on the door, Hanta, his hound, sitting at his heels and wagging his tail, while the boar over his shoulder did not move, as it was dead.

Mairi was the first to make it to the door, opening it wide and raising her brow at the dark elf. "You are aware that there are more... secretive ways into the castle, right?" She smiled despite this, holding the door open for him. "I do hope that one does not bleed everywhere."

Kazuki merely grunted, "This is the closest door to the woods." he muttered, "And I already hung it up and drained it. You complained too much about the wood last time." He side-stepped past her and looked around, "Where's the ice box?"

"In the kitchen." She reminded him, closing the door before leading him through the winding hallways once more. "It's beside the normal one until Hikaru decides where he wants to put it. No one comes into the kitchens much anymore anyway." Her eyes searched his, scanning him and noting the scars on the surface. "How have you been, mellonamin?"

"Well enough. Woods don't change much." he shrugged, dropping the boar in the box unceremoniously, "What about you? Hikaru has been gone a while." It was uncharacteristic for him to speak so endearingly, or to show concern at all.

Mairi shrugged, though her smile widened slightly as she gestured for him to follow her into the main room for tea. "I am still waiting for his next hawk message, but I am not worried. Foreigner or not, he still has at least a frightening appearance to anyone that does not know him. Aside from that, he does still have Skalanis with him as well."

"When do you expect it?" he asked, fiddling with his nails.

She offered him a shrug, "Any day now, I would imagine. It does take her a good while to travel the distance, afterall."

Almost on cue, the caw of a hawk cried from outside on the fence. Hanta backed it up with a bark of his own.

Mairi laughed, a sound full of mirth as she made her way back out of the house, holding up her arm for the hawk to perch on. "It has been a while, little one."

The hawk nestled against her hand, cooing much like a pidgeon as it did so. Kazuki leaned in the door frame, shaking his head, "It's a bird of prey, not a parrot."

Mairi glared back at him, expression deadly. "There is no reason for it to not be able to act like both, Kazuki. You would do well to remember that." She smiled as she looked back at the bird, stroking it under its beak before taking its parcel from it.

The hawk glided back over to the fence while she read the note. "Well, what is it?" he asked.

Mairi grinned, looking back at the drow as she burned the note in her hands, the same old routine she'd been taught for years. In her hands, she still held the parcel but had yet to open it.

"It would seem," she began, "That toror is alive."

Kazuki smiled, "It would also seem as though a lot of people owe you an apology. And you finally have a reason to smash the damned grave your mother has in her garden." he muttered, "I don't like her. I hope a viper gets her."

She laughed, looking down at the parcel before tearing it open. Her eyes went wide instantly, tears springing to them as she touched the silver strands atop its head. "Toror..." she whispered, smiling so wide that it hurt, "Lathai Corcphen... it took you long enough."

Kazuki flinched, "His name is what?"

Mairi looked up at him, smiling softly. "Lathai Corcphen, though he says that he goes by Faolan now. Why do you ask? Have you not seen the... stone?"

"Uh... No, I avoid that place like a spirit." he shuddered, "Uh... You remember... when I was gone for a while..? A few years ago...?"

Mairi nodded slowly for a moment before pausing, "Which time do you mean, exactly? You are not around very often."

"When I was gone for ninty years..?" he raised a brow.

Mairi noticed, "The longest... hiatus then. Why do you ask, mellonamin?"

"Because I think I met your brother while I was gone..." he frowned, "I was taken. From the woods. To some island called Fengsel. There was someone there with that name. White hair? Smells like dog?"

Her eyes seemed to almost bug out of their sockets, "Tan, marks along his arms that look like he has been struck by lightning...?"