Temporals

7. On Thin Ice

The day was long, and by the time the Sun set, Rae was almost burned out. It was only the anticipation of the outing with Dakota that kept her going.

After she had exposed Victor's nuisances, the audience looked like they were even more in favor of Osira than they were before. At least, most of the leaders seemed more interested in her plans of dealing with the problem in hand, than Victor's.

The alphas of Piasek and Ancient Oléas, however, were still siding with Victor, as if not yet convinced by his incompetence.
And, as if to give the others even more reason to shake their heads in disbelief, Victor resorted to threaten Rae in front of them.

He was joking and being childish about the issues for a really long time. But, when asked to take action against the manufacture of the synthetic drugs and not antagonize Osira any further, he reminded her, "I hope you haven't forgotten that there once were 19 clans. Yeah, keep the dead in your prayers and let's hope that that doesn't happen to you." His assistant huffed beside him, pressing his nasal bridge in frustration.

Rae pressed her lips together, and said nothing more - providing the others with the chance of drawing their own conclusions and picking a side. The conference may have been a joke to Victor, but it would not be one when Valerius would hear of it. She could almost feel herself standing out in an open field, clouds above her, still and heavy and with an increased chance of a thunderstorm.

She spoke to Rev Akane Hatsumi in private, and as she had feared, the priestess had no idea about the marijuana plantations on her land. Rae showed her the photos that were taken by Jason, and her assistant made extensive notes of the fields so they could take a look when they would go back to the Nefesse hills. The Psi leader promised her to take a look into it and get back to her.

Before leaving, she made sure Rae had received the gifts she had brought for her, and asked her to have faith in the Sun and the Moon, "for they would shine your path, illuminating what seems lost in the dark of the night."

One by one, the other leaders stopped by her office before leaving. Some of them spotted out the gifts they had brought upstairs, the others mentioned the ones they had left with her staff. Ms Madea had gracefully floated in and out of the office room, bragging about how her gifts were the only things important to Rae.

The Attan alpha, Gary Ross, held up the silk robes, shirts and dresses he had brought, one after the other, allowing Rae just the right amount of time for speculation and admiration. Almost like a merchant. In between all the silk for her and Dakota, there was one fern green button-up shirt, wide at the shoulders - almost too wide, at least for either of them. An intricately designed silver brooch, shaped like a butterfly, hung pinned from the breastpocket.

When asked who it was for, Gary replied, "one of your omegas. Whichever is your favorite." Rae blinked at him, blushing.

Before she knew, it was 6:30 in the evening. She had just finished arranging her office in the way it was before the gift-infiltration, when Moira knocked on the door. "Madam Rae," her voice was sultry and teasing. "You have a meeting with your daughter in an hour."

"I know. I'm almost done. It'd be fine if I get out of here by 7, right?"

"Yes, absolutely. Lou would take you, right? I'll get another driver to bring all the stuff back home then."

"Yes, thank you," Rae looked up at her, her hand hovering over her own chest, "what would I do without you? Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"

"Yes, Rae, you have earned this separation from me."

The last time Rae had visited the ice skating rink was a little after Duncan's death, and never later. Being the only one there, the place was usually always packed. She was sure, it would be no different this time.