Lori was annoyed. She had been wanting to sleep, but there were too many mages outside her room, their magic smelled like piss and sulfur. It was a scent she was used to, but it didn't mean she didn't hate it. Most magic smelled like flowers or perfume, but not the human's arcane magic, it smelled terrible. It was all she could do to not retch up a hairball as she curled in a corner. She tried to listen if they were saying anything, but the stone walls that circled her were thickened expressly to stop her, and with a grumble she eventually gave up. Mages often came around, but not this many, and not for this long, they couldn't be guards, she couldn't smell any cold iron, and they had been around too long.
One also smelled stronger than the others, not a typical mage, some kind of noble? Her head and ears both perked up as a new scent violated her nostrils, heavy smoke. This finally was enough and she coughed up a slimy ball of hairs and fur. Spymaster Leric had arrived. Normally this meant her master had come either to train her, or give her an assignment, but she felt a slight prod in her consciousness. Leric's affinity for telepathy and psionics was well know and his attempt to breach Lori's mental barriers were almost unnoticeable, but Lori knew he was coming, and made it clear to him that she was allowing him to get through her wardings. The minor frustration it brought him, evident in his aura's scent strengthening brought a smile to Lori's face.
Cat, prepare yourself. Lord Eter seeks to examine you. You will not disappoint me. Do not make yourself appealing to his tastes
. That explained the scent of a noble, but why would he want to see Lori? Only those who needed to know knew who, or what she was. Anyone who needed her services simply discussed it with Leric.
Eter was a quite minor lord according to all she knew about the nobility of the Magocracy, so there would only be one reason he sought the lowly neko servant of Leric. He sought a toy, pet, or slave. Leric must not have much choice in this, he wouldn't give her up simply, she was too useful. So why was he allowing this? Lori couldn't reply, her natural affinity for mental warding limited her ability to learn the magic of telepathy, but she didn't need to. He knew his message got through to her, and she'd have to follow it. The latter part of his command would come naturally, luckily, Lori was appealing to the eye of most men, but between having just coughing up a hairball, her lack of grooming, and simple, dirty, clothing, she wasn't exactly looking as good as she could. Beyond that, her mannerisms would throw away any interest the noble may have had, even with her distaste for Leric; Lori had no intention of allowing herself to be an object of sex and submission to some lowly lord.
She smelt the approach of the noble and spymaster's approach to the single door that led into her unfurnished chambers, as the lord approached a more subtle smell became apparent within his aura. Lilac. Lori's fur bristled for a breath, before one more flattening. It was the same scent of her collar, the scent of primordial druidic magic. He had been one of the men to slaughter the circles. His aura smelt of pride and power, but now that she could sense it more clearly, was twisting with shame and guilt. As the door swung open she saw the familiar outline of the Spymaster, ashen skin and dark grey robes, with a magicked hood that concealed his face with darkness and smoke. A pendant around his neck with the twin rune of illusion and deceit. Marking him as a member of the council, the Spymaster. The other man, dressed in fine if simple garments, shoulders adorned with his house's cape, a simple forest green weaved of arcane cloth. He stood a head taller than the spymaster beside him, slightly muscled with little fat. His skin was a shade paler than Lori's own olive skin, and short cut hair raven black. What drew Lori's gaze though, was his pair of emerald-green eyes, shining with the twinkle of magic few humans possessed. She stood, straightening her posture, tilting her head a twinge up to maintain the gaze of the man before he spoke, addressing her current master. "This is the one Leric?"
He spoke in a tone that made clear he already knew the answer, a curious trait Lori still failed to understand in humans. "Yes my lord, this is my servant, and I once more assure you that if you seek a mistress, there are far better options, she refuses to even bed me, I c-" before he finished, the taller man held up a hand to silence him. Technically he did have a higher title, Leric was not noble born, but everyone was well aware the Spymaster in truth held more influence. Though by now, Lori had a small idea of what brought this all about, and didn't restrain her smile as she realized that for this small moment, Leric had little power about the outcome of this. Her suspicions confirmed with the man's next words.
"I have been granted rite to any of your belongings of my own choosing. I do not appreciate you trying to sway my decision. What language does she speak, so I may interview her?" He spoke with a voice that betrayed his own annoyance, dislike of the spymaster was not uncommon, but the man must have been quite slighted to be this open in his hostility. Then again, the council awarded him rite against Leric, so his grievance must be severe. Regardless, she now decided to speak.
"Lori understands high arcano fine. He can speak to her in his preferred language, though Lori would be amused to see him try to speak in Faetongue." Of course, her easy pronunciation of the complex language came to little surprise to her keeper, but the lord took a step back in shock, before squinting at her, taking several steps, the spymaster forgotten.
"But to speak high arcano requires noble blood, how could a Neko be capable, let alone actually learn?" His aura flashed with curiosity, for once a question he could not answer on his own.
"She does have some degree of nobility in her blood..." the spymaster said hesitantly, glaring at Lori. If he thought she would lie to a lord when speaking freely would do the same, he was mistaken. To be expected of a man such as himself though, one who lived and breathed with lies.
"She comes from House Rose, second born. If not for her mutation, she would be nobility. The master often does not speak the whole truth." Lori corrected, still with a smile she gave the barest hint of teeth, enjoying the frustration that flared in Leric's aura. "But he does speak the truth when advising against taking Lori as a mistress, she will sooner claw out her own throat than be bedded by a false master."
"Good that I don't wish to force myself upon you then. I had always wondered why the Roses were expelled, I suspect you would be the reason then?" He spoke swiftly, but hesitation within his words was evident. When you saw a reminder that the bottom of society, the sub human, could come from the top, it was to be expected.
"He is correct, Lori's house was expunged for the act of giving birth to a half-fae. Eter does not need to offer sympathy, her family was swift to abandon their second born to try to save themselves." Leric's face, invisible as it was, stiffened, his aura gave it away. The use of the term half-fae was forbidden, to the Magocracy, they were mutants, no different to those corrupted by dark magic or driven insane by arcane knowledge. To the circles they were demigods, which is part of why the Magocracy eradicated the circles. The Magocracy sought to subjugate magic and the natural world, the concept of a fae spirit merging with that of a mortal, let alone a human, was abominable to it.
"I suppose I will withhold my apologies then. You are intriguing to me." He spoke after a moment's pause, not deterred by the forbidden term.
"The lord has the blood of the circles on his aura. It smells of lilac." she didn't give him any warning, and her voice did not speak of acquisition or anger, simply a statement of fact. He took a half step back, glancing away for just a breath before meeting her gaze.
"A keen nose. It is true, I assisted in the cleansing of the druids." He spoke clearly, not denying or deflecting, that minor taint of guilt in his aura flaring for but a moment. Several moments of silence followed, before finally the Spymaster broke the spell. Gesturing towards the still present hairball on the floor and Lori as a whole, he spoke.