Location:Zhū'kethara — Audience Chamber
Date/Time:Ashbloom, 9942 AZI — Month 6
Realm:Demon Realm
The Aetherwing arrived with her wings folded so tight they looked painted on.
Ren noticed. Ten thousand years of reading body language had made the practice reflexive: distrust, caution, a readiness to leave. The woman stood in the audience chamber's center with the specific rigidity of someone whose mandate began and ended with the word "observe."
She was young. By Aetherwing standards, four thousand years was barely seasoned. Her face carried the angular precision of her race's bone structure: high cheekbones, narrow jaw, pale silver eyes that tracked the chamber with the systematic attention of someone cataloguing exits before conversations.
"I am Thessaly," she said. "Sent by Matriarch Velkaria of the Aetherwing Conclave. I carry authority to observe and report."
