Icestorme, Thale

After leaving the guests to her older sons, Morganna went to her office as she checked the message from Dahlia Blackheart. She was on her way to her office via Drake. So she had to hurry to intercept her visitor. She greeted her staff in the out office as she walked into her office. There was already a black Drake in Starshadow official regalia with a pouch draped across her body.

When the Drake saw her enter, she bowed. "Confidential delivery for the Countess," she said professionally. "Please verify your identity to open the pouch," she instructed politely.

Morganna pulled out her identity token, and touched it to the Drake's pouch. The latch glowed and she was able to pull out a piece of paper with a word on it and a small cloth capsule. "Thank you for your hard work," she said to the Drake and gave her a drakoth as a tip.

The Drake bowed again, jumped off the desk, spread her wings and began flying in circles until she disappeared with a crack.

Morganna looked at the capsule with curiosity. She knew what it was, but this is the first time she'd seen it in person. She studied it quietly before setting the capsule on the ground and reading the word written on the paper. The paper ignited and disappeared in a small flame. The capsule opened and Dahlia stood where it was, draped in a black cloak. At some point she'd shifted to a hyper feminine form. She held up a hand to excuse herself and grabbed the back of a chair to lean on while the grogginess and lethargy passed.

"I heard about this part, but I can honestly say I was not prepared," she muttered under her breath. She blew out a breath, straightened her shoulders, and then bowed to Morganna. "Countess Icestorme. I apologize for being late," she said.

Morganna shook her head. "It's fine, please, have a seat," she instructed as she took her own seat. 

Dahlia thanked her politely, unconsciously shifting again, returning to her androgynous female form as she sat across from the Countess. "What can I do for you, my Lady?" she asked professionally. She was here for a job and she needed to know what it entailed.

Morganna was quiet for a while, then pulled a file out of one of her desk drawers. "The voices in Parliament against the witchborn. I want to know the driving forces behind this. I don't like the isolationist push. Isolationism is how the Siege happened," she said with a tight frown. Her great-great-aunt was the former Countess who closed off Thale and allowed the opportunity for the hostile sea-faring races to lay Siege.

Dahlia took the files and glanced through them. It was basic information on the loudest voices in Parliament and their surface contacts. "No grass-roots hate groups?" she asked. Even during her assignment in Elmdale, those voices were everywhere. 

Morganna shook her head. "Not yet. If there's really someone behind all this, it will only be a matter of time. Fortunately, the races that can live in Thale are few and have been entrenched for several Ages. It will be harder to get traction," she explained.

Dahlia listened as she read. The smaller population had its advantages and drawbacks. She needed an outsider's perspective which is why she asked for Dahlia. Even in Thale, she's heard about her reputation.

After finishing the file, Dahlia closed the file and nodded. "Very well. I'll investigate," she stated.

Morganna sighed in relief. Dahlia instantly shifted into work mode and began asking the Countess countless questions. About the politicians, about the populations of Thale's Domed and undomed communities, and many other pertinent questions that would help her determine how to approach her assignment.

This discussion took several hours. Morganna had already cleared her schedule for the day to deal with the Bridging Array anyway, so she just redirected her time to something equally important.

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