The Keep, Ebon Askavi, Kaeleer, Just Before Sundown (Kaeleeran Time)

[glacial_witch]

Karla tried not to look nervous as the great doors to the Dark Altar opened in front of her. Inside, Opal witchlights danced in sconces, forming a path for her to follow, rather than illuminating what was within. This was very different than her Birthright Ceremony, where she'd had the company of her parents and several other children, where a

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[glacial_warlord]

Morton was also nervous, though he was hiding it better than Julian. Rather than pacing, which he was certain would get annoying, he was sitting casually on a couch. Drumming his fingers on his leg. And tapping his feet.

But, you know, occasionally.

[blondecanary]

Stealth hug from a stealth blonde! Dinah's arms hugged him from behind.

"Hey, dude. Long time no see." She squeezed him around the shoulders. "How're you doing?"

[glacial_warlord]

"Hey, Dinah," Morton said, more at ease with himself and the surprise hug than he'd been in meeting's past. He was also taller and more muscular. Time and hard times had matured him. "I'm good. It's getting real now. Hard to accept how close everything is to coming together. You?"

[blondecanary]

Dinah hopped over the couch, amused and a tiny bit sad that he wasn't as blushy any more. But it was probably a good thing. "Hmm. One year of school left, then I have to deal with the real world. Looking forward to getting Hobart out of Glacia, not looking forward to how hard that's gonna be." She poked at him. "Did you grow a couple inches?"

[glacial_warlord]

Don't worry, Dinah. Morton still blushed. He just had a slightly higher threshold about what made him blush.

"A few," he said, smiling at her. "In several directions." Taller, broader, thicker...there was another joke there that he was NOT going to make, thank you. His mother had raised him right before she'd died with Karla's.

"So, you'll be coming this summer, too? I'm glad, though I wish you weren't." He offered her a smile. "I know you'll be useful, I just wouldn't wish what's going to happen on anyone." That smile darkened. "Except dear Uncle Hobart, of course."

[blondecanary]

"Dear, dear uncle Hobart," Dinah trilled sweetly. Then stuck out her tongue. "Can you legally reject him completely and say he was never ever your uncle here? Because I think that level of disgust deserves being really public."

[glacial_warlord]

Morton huffed a laugh. "If only. I mean, technically he's not even my uncle, you know? He was Uncle Audric's half-brother. But growing up, we all called him that and..." He shook his head. "It sticks, even when you wish it wouldn't."

[blondecanary]

"Yeah." Dinah bumped her hip against his, sobering a little. "I get that." She cocked her head at him. "So, when we get back here in a couple weeks, what's first on the agenda? Any ideas?"

[glacial_warlord]

"A parade," he said, mostly to see Dinah's expression. "A big long parade through Glacia."

[blondecanary]

"...a what now?" Bzuh? "You're messing with me. Good for you." And thwap!

[glacial_warlord]

"Hey!" Morton protested, laughingly rubbing his shoulder. "I am not! That's really what's going to happen! A parade! Karla hasn't told you yet?"

[blondecanary]

"Nooo," Dinah said, drawling it out. "Why are we making her a huge target? Why is this the plan?"

[glacial_warlord]

"Because while everyone is focused on the target, they won't be looking somewhere else," Morton said with a smirk. "And Karla will be somewhere else."

[blondecanary]

"Do we get to know where, or is that need-to-know?" Dinah asked, smiling. "And what will she be doing, elsewhere?"

[glacial_warlord]

"I suppose I could tell you," Morton said. "Since I hear you'll be coming with us."

He sighed and ran an hand through his hair. "How much do you know about how Territory Queens are elected?"

[blondecanary]

"Uuuuh." Dinah blinked, trying to remember the difference between a Province and a Territory, and tentatively said, "The local Queens determine who it is, right? ... that's pretty much all I know."