TRASH

POV -> Colius

He had perhaps been too extravagant with his magic in the decorations and lighting. It was difficult to get the spooky yet boisterous theme down, and if guests started to get displeased with more delays he wouldn't be left to eat much of the entertainment he had laid about his domain.

Tiram's entrance song had not played. Something that was meant to sing through the hall over half an hour ago. But just like Caleb, the man was important enough to always be egregiously late.

Colius puffed out a sigh, discretely parting from Eliza and down the steps to cut into an empty servants corridor to the inner workings of the palace. Knocking on Tiram's door would do very little to hurry him along, but he had to at least look like an attempt was made. With the snap of his fingers a glistening glass bottle of champagne appeared behind him, hovering close to his back like a guard. Tiram's latest alcoholic obsession was going to be his fruity lure to string the king over to his party.

There was plenty of magic in his domain to conjure sweets as well, but their sovereign appearing before the hungry nobles with chocolate frosting on his face was bound to sour the taste of their entertainment with displeasure.

The servant corridor opened to an inner garden, a few exotic flowers and decorative trees thriving under the moonlight's smile that shone uninterrupted from the open roof. He neared the fountain at its center, catching a light that sat upon the water spewing gryphon at its center.

The hawk-sized bird shimmered its golden feathers, gliding from the height to catch his outstretched arm.

He watched the golden bird with intrigue and worry, close enough to pick out its imperfections. A slightly sharper beak, blood red eyes, and talons that tapped with impatience on his arm. It was a copy of the messengers the Heroguard sent, just good enough of a disguised familiar to pass without being shot down.

Colius immediately detoured into an empty room, locking the door behind him and dropping onto a plump sofa to kick his legs up and relax. The magic shimmered, swayed, and then melted down to the true creature that had greeted him, a tiny blue spider now dangling from his sleeve.

He turned his head as a small blue flame sprouted on the ground, spitting into thirteen points. Skipping the formalities, he gave the little spider a stern look, sipping his flute of champagne before going off. "Gods, I swear, if you're in Toroy Garotzch right now you'd better plug up any plans you have for the next two hours. Tiram already hijacked a whole hour of the agenda and pushed everything back. I've been surviving on chammie flutes. We were supposed to start celebrating an hour ago, girl I am starving."

The flames shimmered as the listener on the other end processed the rant, their reply coming out with matching irritation. "I'm not going to interrupt your party." Katryna cut in, her voice shifting to confusion. "What are you guys even celebrating?"

"Happy Hells Day!"

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"Forget I asked." Katryna sighed. "I need a favour, it's important."

He eyed the summoning circle with a little smirk. "I really wish you'd call me for unimportant things. How's the weather in Westlock?"

"My brother is dying."

Colius paused, instinctively checking to make sure his locking enchantment was still on the door. "Well… it's quite nice over here. No cloud cover, you'll be able to see the stars."

"I need something in the Psyche Ward." Katryna continued, her tone more onside of a demand. "This week, no later."

Colius' brow scrunched. "Now hold on a little second. What are you planning?"

"I need to get into the Psyche Ward, you're better off not knowing the rest.

"Oh honey, we're all going to be in Toroy Garotzch for the next week at least. Go wild anywhere but here. Tiram wants everyone to attend the finance meeting this quarter." Colius mused. "Could I interest you in kidnapping a Leafcloak? Nice folks, never take a real side in things. I'm sure they'd forgive you for scaring the sunlight out of them once you show them you desperately need their help."

"My clutch hasn't come across one." Katryna cut back."

Colius sighed. "There's plenty of healers in Toroy Garotzch. You could dump him on a doorstep like a newborn babe. That's quite the trend right now."

"He's not safe there." Katryna replied, spurring a curious hum from Colius. "So move it."

Colius' voice dipped. "Huh?"

"Move the meeting."

"I didn't organize it. You want me to put you on a call with Tiram?"

Katryna remained silent for a few seconds, her frustration simmering through the summoning circle as the flames quickened their dance. But Colius knew it wouldn't last long. Katryna wasn't impulsive by choice. Patience was a virtue physically stolen from her by her mother.

She clicked her tongue, her voice shifting with uncertainty. "This could be a good thing. If they're all in a meeting, there will be no Archons in the psyche ward."

Colius kicked his feet up, avoiding the little spider's gaze and spinning his champagne glass. "Are you open to criticism?"

"I'll be quick.

"Babes you'll have eight of Ra'zerun's personal favourites sitting in a building five minutes away. And I adore you, but I am not jumping between you and a condensed beam of starlight."

"I just need you to keep them in the room for fifteen minutes."

Colius teetered on his decision, downing the flute and tapping the floating bottle for a refill. "You're not stopping by to kill someone?"

"No. It's for my brother."

"Then I might be persuaded." Colius sighed, already counting up the hundred different ways this could go wrong.

"What do you want in exchange?"

Colius clicked his tongue, eyeing his shoes with a spark of inspiration. "You know those shoes you wore to the Spring Ball? Or- the last one you were invited to? What did you call them? Booties?"

"You want them?"

"Bingo! Ooooh and, you can tell me if this is too much - but you remember that little coffee shop meetup we did six months ago? That adorable green jacket you made? Can you make me one in blue? Little extra shimmer? And you know of course, but watch the wing slots."

The flames slowed with relief at the request. "I'll throw in some pants too and you can call it a set."

"You're a doll." Colius cooed, "I'll make sure those big dummies don't get out of the room for your fifteen minutes of fame."