While his first two encounters with the other alphas had more or less fallen into his lap simply by virtue of Aerie's new location, he couldn't depend on anyone else seeking him out. He would need to take the opportunity to approach them on his own terms before the rumor mill spread the news of their presence and the other alphas had the opportunity to form biases based on Lirim and Valhalla's opinions. With minimal knowledge of the other packs, Eligos' choice of which order to go in was basically random, though since most of the remaining packs were in this direction it wasn't particularly difficult to choose a heading. Stopping at the border, he took a long moment to sniff the air, decoding the scent that marked the borders to learn as much as he could about the pack's composition. It was much different than his own - Aerie was mostly the young wolves who'd been left behind when the older Abraxas died or drifted away, while this one seemed to be made up more traditionally with a mix of ages, including pups. That information might never be useful to him - but knowledge was power, and it might. With what knowledge he could glean from it tucked away, he raised his muzzle and gave a polite call for the alpha of the pack. "Speak" "Listen" Think

Deathbelle was on her way back to the palace for a nap when the call rang out on her border. She was just thankful it happened before she fell asleep. Intrigued, the ivory splashed Empress made haste through the shrine to appear before the man. Thistle the short eared owl landed above them in one of the pale white trees as Belle looked the alpha over. There was a familiar scent upon him, one that tried very hard to bring her back to the day on the volcano.

”Greetings.” She offered politely, inadvertently keeping her voice low while she stood on the shrine’s soil. He was so familiar, but she was sure they hadn’t met. ”What’s brought you to Ashen’s border today?” Deathbelle asked as pale brows raised curiously.

Eligos' blood-red gaze followed as a wolf approached in answer to his call. A mix of ashes and snow, with gemstone eyes, the female wasted little time as she moved to meet him. An owl accompanied her, but other than a swift glance Eligos paid it little attention. He dipped his head in return to the alpha's greeting. "Greetings," he echoed her own simple word. "I have come as part of a mission to introduce myself and my pack to the other alphas of this continent. I am Eligos Abraxas, Tiercel of the pack Aerie. We have only recently made our home in Boreas." "Speak" "Listen" Think

He was polite, and offered Deathbelle a mirror of her words. Though she wasn’t prepared for his quick introduction her surprise wouldn’t show on her features. This was not Pyrrhic, but with the clues given the Empress was nearly sure that this was a son of Malleus. Her heart skipped a beat as Archon swirled in her thoughts, she pushed the emotions down. This wasn’t the time or the place. Ashen was beginning anew, putting down real roots, was it time to try and extend their hand over Boreas. Could they use this new pack to that goal?

”Welcome to Boreas, Tiercel of Aerie.” the Empress offered politely, hopeful she would be able to say it with honesty. ”I am Empress of the Ashen Empire, Deathbelle Klein.” She returned in kind, curious about his motives. She almost asked if they’d come north from Auster, but she also didn’t have any wish to tip her hand more than necessary. ”What do you think of the land and its alphas so far?” She didn’t know how far he’d gotten but it would be interesting to hear his opinion.

In these situations Pyrrhic had the advantage of him, for while Eligos had been spending their childhood all but secluding himself within their family, Pyrrhic had been trained for these diplomatic encounters and given the information on these other packs. Luckily, Eligos hadn't lost his brother along with his father, so what Pyrrhic could share with him he did. They simply hadn't had that much time to discuss things in depth. So when Deathbelle first introduced herself, Eligos thought he had no idea who she or her pack was, though something rang strangely in it. He let the name circulate through the back of his mind as he spoke. "I have met few of the other alphas," he began with caution. "Thus far, it has been much as I imagined it would be."Which was to say, wayward family members had certainly given this continent a way of viewing the Abraxas that would undoubtedly prove dangerous. His thoughts suddenly stopped, and he had to stop himself from sending the other alpha a sharp glance, and ask her What did you say your name was? Deathbelle? Instead he kept his expression to a politely neutral one, and kept what he knew, or thought he knew, behind his eyes. Deathbelle had been the name of the woman who had been there with Archon when his father had died. It was hardly a common name, and seemed even less likely that there would be two alphas named Deathbelle in Boreas. He couldn't know for certain how involved this female had been to his heretical uncle, but logically he must have given her some trust if she had been the wolf he'd chosen to accompany him to that fateful meeting with Malleus. He didn't yet know what to do with this information. Knowing that, however distantly, this woman may have been involved in Malleus' death woke a deep rage that it took a long moment to lock away, and another awkward beat while he caught back the thread of the conversation. It took some effort to keep his voice from shaking, but he disciplined himself sternly into neutrality. He didn't know who this woman was to Archon. He owed a debt to Aerie to take care of them, not start a war by giving in to baser instincts like rage. He took a breath and made a conscious effort to lift his brows in an inquiring expression. "Are you particularly familiar with Valhalla and Lirim? I seem to be quite near both of them and have met with their alphas since we moved" "Speak" "Listen" Think

She didn’t get much in the way of information out of him, she didn’t know what he had expected. The words made her wonder, and she would be hidden from any of his internal thoughts. The day of the eruption was burned into her memory, seeing Archon and his brother swallowed up by the volcano would haunt her for the rest of her days. How many times had she asked to turn around, to refuse the meeting? How different would Boreas be if the two brothers were still living?

He took a moment after answering to speak again, and he hid his emotions well. He asked about her opinion on Lirim and Valhalla. Two packs she wasn’t sad to leave in the west. ”From my experience I’m not very impressed with either of them.” Valhalla’s alpha was sweet and not a fool. She could see the strength of the Empire and wished to stay in the Empress’s good graces. Lirim lost one of their young yearlings to Ashen. Something Belle wouldn’t have allowed to happen. ”What do you think of your new neighbors?” She returned his question after offering her answer.

Deathbelle didn't seem to note anything particularly wrong with his reaction, and Eligos had cause to be grateful to long-ingrained habits. He kept his gaze on her with carefully cultivated neutrality as she spoke to give her opinions of the two other packs he'd already met. She hadn't been impressed, and frankly he agreed on short acquaintance, though he wasn't willing to trust to first impressions. He wouldn't be turning his back on either of his neighboring packs any time soon. A few drops of water wasn't impressive or dangerous, but enough of them could drown even the strongest wolf if they were caught unaware. He had no intention of being caught unaware. He cocked his head slightly at her own question, answering carefully. "They seem less than pleased at my proximity to them. I am... ambivalent." He shrugged, clearly dismissing them from his thoughts. "Aerie will be holding a trade festival this year as the season changes from summer to autumn. Perhaps I will form a different opinion of them then. You and your wolves are invited to attend if you wish. There will be a truce enforced, of course, so you need not fear for your wolves if you have enemies in attendance." Obliquely telling her that he would ensure that none need fear her wolves being there as well. He inclined his head to her. "I'd be pleased if you would feel comfortable telling me some about your pack." "Speak" "Listen" Think

Deathbelle wondered absently where Aerie took up residence, there was only so much truly habitable land in the west. Could they have taken up residence where Ashen once resided? When the pack had been in its infancy along with her marriage and children. Belle put the thought from her mind, the Empire was flourishing in the south and she had no claim on those lands. Deathbelle just as easily dismissed them as Eligos went on.

The Empress raised her eyebrows curiously as the alpha told her about his plans for the future festival, and she made obvious her intrigue. ”Trade festival, hmm..” Quietly she wondered how it would look compared to Hjarrandi’s market. She didn’t doubt he would offer the same invitation to the rest of the packs, so at the very least she could catch a glimpse of them. ”I’ll be sure Ashen is prepared when the time comes.” Deathbelle gave her acceptance of the invite.

Her first instinct was to offer a quick tease, but she remained professional. Holding herself back was less fun, but better off in the long run when they had only just met. ”The majority of the wolves in my care are a part of my extended family.” She offered easily. ”We mostly keep to ourselves.” Now that her brood were yearlings there were plans in place to stir things up a litlle. ”Do you have any specific questions? Would you like to tell me about Aerie?”

She was as guarded in her words as he, and he could only shake his head wryly. "I can think of no questions at the moment," he said quietly. "Perhaps when I have come to know more I may have questions. Who can know? But I am sure we will see more of one another. As for Aerie..." He stopped to gather his words carefully. "In large part Aerie is my family. We seek now to trade our skills to other packs, as mercenaries, crafters, teachers, negotiators. There is much we can offer to interested packs." He shrugged carefully - with another pack he may have been more circumspect in the use of the word "mercenary" but he doubted a pack that had played loving host to his uncle would be greatly bothered by the idea. "One need only ask, and Aerie may be willing to provide. For the right price."

He didn’t press her for any specifics, not that she had expected him to. At the least she knew he wouldn’t strain their new relationship with prying. ”Yes, Boreas is a small world..” she agreed with him. The Empire was too quiet these days, and now that they were settled and didn’t have to contend with the volcano for attention Deathbelle was ready to further her power. Eligos took a moment to form his own words, just as careful of his footing as she had been. Much like Ashen, he led a pack consisting of his relatives.

The Empress was endlessly curious about his numbers, but hid her enthusiasm for excitement in his second statement. ”Oh, that is good knowledge to have.” She offered with a smirk and conniving sparkle in her eye. Having him in reserves was good, but knowing his services would likely be offered to the other packs she knew she could receive as much as she gave. ”I look forward to working with you in the future, Eligos.” Be it friend or foe she meant her words. For now, she would see how his festival turned out and make a more appropriate judgement of Eligos and his pack then.

Eligos gave a careful bow of acknowledgement of her words. He hoped he'd planted the seeds in Deathbelle's mind that would encourage her to seek out Aerie's services in the future, but he wouldn't push for anything at this time. No need to make it seem that they were desperate for clientele. He'd let it develop at its own pace. "It has been a pleasure to meet with you, but I am afraid I have a great distance to travel yet before the day is done. I look forward to seeing you and your pack at the festival. If you will excuse me, I must bid you farewell." He inclined his head in a graceful farewell, and backed a few polite steps away from the border before turning to continue on his journey at a slow trot. He had many other packs to get to, and a great deal to think on.

-exit Eli-