#jaylhe

One more for Jaylhe and her weapon. ❄️

     In the next moment he was standing over her bed, lifting a corner of the dress he’d thrown at her.  Just high enough to beam down a winning smile.      "Rise and shine, poppet! I have a client to meet this afternoon, and I need my sister with me with her best face on. I brought the elixir of life to speed you along.”      "Ugh."  She could smell the coffee before she spotted it, propping herself up on one elbow, and taking the immense trouble of raking her hair out of her face to expose the dark circles under her eyes. Her brother was visibly appalled, taking her lightly by the chin so that he could turn her face closer to the light.      "Jaylhe. What’s this? You already gave me the enchantments you prepared for sale, have you been doing more extracurricular work? Or just attending parties without me?"  Killian’s eyes narrowed, a speculative expression taking over his painstakingly amiable face.  "Does this have to do with that group you've been consorting with? I can’t have you looking like a bandicoon when there’s work to be done. I’m not sure I approve of these activities.“      "Just a bit of late night spell work, and it’s nothing cosmetics and the liberal application of caffeine can’t cure I’m certain.” She brushed him off, reaching for the mug he’d left on her bedside table. Jaylhe took a generous gulp, and while drinking avoided mention of the group in particular. She’d managed to go this long without explaining the specifics to Killian. It was better if it stayed that way. There was no chance of his approval if he knew what exactly they were doing.      A long night of scrying over the crystal Gregory had given her revealed some promising results. Water and ice were her schools of mastery, and water in particular eminently suitable for divination spells.  Jaylhe thought she’d pinned down a few likely locations for the mates to this gem. Though if Killian needed her, she’d have to send Gregory a missive quickly. Her brother’s chores often took up the entire afternoon and well into evening; she wouldn’t be able to tell him in person. And if he wanted her to meet that night, she’d have to find a way to escape Killian and his errands without rousing suspicion. But perhaps her brother wanted nothing more from her than smiles and sparkle and distraction. An easy chore and an early end.     “Out with you then. You want my best face? Make me another cup of this and leave me alone to get ready.”  The enchantress shoved her mug at him, now drained. She could make a good start on her letter to Gregory while he was out of the room.      Killian gave her a very long look before he complied, suspicion evident despite the smile he conjured. “Bright eyes and softness for this meeting, poppet. I’ll have another mug brought up.”      Several hours later, a series of maps and notes would find their way to Gregory’s desk, delivered by a sharp eyed barn owl. The bird would vanish from his room as silently as it had appeared, with no visible open window or door to mark its passing, as soon as all eyes had left it.