[Day 6, Early Morning - Tea Room] A Private Word - CLOSED

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

It didn't surprise him when the servants came to wake him, bowing hastily and whispering that a representative from the Maharaja was waiting out in front of the embassy. He just wished it wasn't so damn early in the morning. Uminushi sighed and told the young man to have them wait in the tea room. He bowed and slipped away, only to be replaced by that Kasuga's maid ready to dress him.

The Captain gave the young woman a stern look but (to her relief) didn't argue with her as she pulled things from his personal chest and had the boy waiting outside the door bring in some jewelry from the embassy's private collection. She put him in a plain kimono the color of the sea when it was angry with a subtle suggestion of waves embroidered upon it. It was cinched by a sash of pale gold with brighter silver threads weaving patterns of protection along its ends. That odd curved dagger in its gaudy sheath hung from his waist. A silver collar studded with sapphires and emeralds sat upon his bare chest and several thick bracelets sat on his wrist, finishing the picture of a Mantis princeling to perfection.

Uminushi hated it, but hid that beneath a stern expression.

It wasn't long before the man descended from his rooms and made his way to the tea room, barefoot. With any luck, they would be seated with breakfast. The Yoritomo was rather serious about his hospitality.

[Rixy]

This was all to the good...the entourage that awaited him was the sort that merited such pomp.

Four of the Maharaja's elite house guard stood in formation as the deceptively humble-looking figure of the Maharaja's spritual advisor, just stepping out of a palanquin borne by four strapping young men wearing gold silk loincoths and gold dust. Following him from the conveyance was a very familiar form, that of Jayant, the younger man being pressed into service to help the revered elder make his way into the Embassy proper. Trailing behind the pair came another of the palace's residents, this one a young woman just past the first blush of maidenhood, bedecked in gold silks and covered in so many jewels that she glittered with even the faintest hint of light. In her hands she bore a long golden coffer, which she bore with much solemnity.

The entire entourage, save for the litterbearers, paraded through the Embassy, taking their time before arriving behind a very flustered heimen servant.

"Yoritomo-sama...Aravind Zahin of House Yadu comes with solemn greeting from the palace and begs a moment of your time."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"My time, of course is his. Please be welcomed to this house," he replies with formal bow to the old man, "Have you eaten..?"

The question came as a reflex, despite the difference in cultures. Uminushi keeps his attention on the old man, mostly ignoring his entourage for the moment.

[Rixy]

The entrance and seating was, of course, also a production. The guards made a show of taking up the four corners even as the girl settled herself at the old man's left, Jayant on his right.

The old one bowed his head.

"I fast in preparation for meditation. Water, only, will I take, though I am certain my associates would be grateful for your full hospitality. You are gracious to make the offer."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

The Embassy was an efficient, oiled machine after years of being in Lanka. Even if the Captain held no truck with such production, the staff did. Two of the Embassy's bushi were already in the room, taking up positions behind Uminushi. They were stern-faced young men who wore their Ons like armor.

"I am pleased to share what small comforts are available to me with honored guests," he replies formally. Servants, soft-footed and silent, enter to set small tables of carved teak in front of both the Yoritomo and his guests. A delicate carafe of blue glass, etched with designs and holding water was set before the brahmin along with a gold edged glass. His companions were offered options for tea, kava or chai. It did not surprise Umi when he was served last.

Another sign of respect.

[Rixy]

Only when refreshments were served out and the first sip for courtesy tasted did the old brahmin breach his point.

"My maharaja, may he rule a thousand years, has sent me to you with ill tidings, Lord Uminushi. Doubtless by now you have been made aware of the act one of those that it is said is yours has done." A small, wintery smile creased the dark face. "Of course, demons are ever deceivers. It may well be such a being has fooled you as well as us. We wish to test it, to see if this is so. It is for the safety of all, your people as well as ours, to be sure no such corrupter has the chance to further spread it's influence."

He waved a hand and the young woman rose, circling the table on bare feet to bow and press forehead to the floor, coffer outstretched.

"The illustrious lord, our esteemed Maharaja, requests that you surrender this possible demon to us for questions and testing. Should you refuse, we will be forced to take that as acceptance of his actions against us. He also requires sanctions against your brahmin to be sure that no further danger comes to the people of Lanka in this time when all protections are desperately needed."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

Uminushi savors his kava, brows quirking as the man gets to the point. He calmly sets his cup back in its saucer and cocks his head to the side. His blue eyes flick towards the coffer before returning to the brahmin.

"Perhaps it is as you say. I do not know," he shrugs casually, "I am not a priest. He will, of course, be turned over to your people for questioning. Though..."

The Mantis pauses, frowning faintly before continuing, "I assume that he will be treated with the respect due to his station until it is proven that he is possessed?"

[Rixy]

"Some indignities may be needed but we will do nothing that will not heal in time." The old man shrugged as if to say 'what can one do?'. "The Test of Ivory demands a wounding to see if the one tested reacts as demons do to such wounds but it will be a small thing, pins or perhaps a blade tip to a finger."

[Jayant Utpal]

Jayant sat quietly, taking only a little food for himself while the other two spoke. Since he had last been seen, Jayant now had a large intricate bronze pendant hanging from his neck that he had not had before, and was armed with his strange forward curved knife as well as an odd knife the Rokugani had seen on several hips of the natives that looked like a punching dagger.

While his superior spoke, the Rhuumali kept quiet, enjoying his tea until he was asked something.

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"Mmm, I see," he replies before giving another one of those casual shrugs. "Well, it cannot be helped. Moving on, what sanctions are the Maharaja suggesting be made...?"

[Rixy]

"In light of the...unfortunate condition...of our defenses after the actions of the possible Demon, your countryman's magic has been deemed too dangerous to be allowed without more careful supervision. Also, in light of the fact that the Demon may have corrupted others into serving the enemy more than the righteous, we cannot allow your people into our defensive structures again without supervision."

The old man sipped his water again, then added, "And lastly,we must ask that armor be kept inside. I tell you in confidence that the city is like a warehouse full of lamp oil, needing a single spark to ignite into full madness due to fear and despair. Seeing warriors going about as if the invasion force has arrived might just be enough to do it."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"And what constitutes supervision, o' Wise One?" he asks shrewdly as he picks up his cup of kava, sipping the still-hot liquid as his brows arch in question.

[Rixy]

"For the defenses, visitors must bring one of our kshatriya with them." One old, gnarled hand gestured to Jayant. "Such is part of the reason that you have been granted a personal ambassador. For your priests, you must gain permission of the council, for only we have any real understanding of the ways of your people enough to understand what precisely you ask."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

His brows arch and sets the cup down. Uminushi leans back against a bolster, fingers drumming absently against his thigh, "I wasn't aware that any of our priests had taken a disciple from the ranks of the brahmin."

[Rixy]

"Some of those yet among us served alongside your people when the House of Yoritomo and their brethren in the House of Moshi came to our aid years past." The old man offered his best attempt at a friendly smile. "Some understanding was exchanged between your...shugenja..." The old one was very careful in his pronunciation, not wishing to offend, '...and our brahmin. It is incomplete knowledge, but it is more than any of the city guard, who would ordinarily enforce such edicts, possesses. Someone must oversee these matters, that is now clear, and so the Council has accepted responsibility."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"Some, but not all," he replies with a friendly smile even as he continues calmly, "I believe you underestimate our people's sense of pride and their dislike of foreigners. Those you seek to sanction are not of House Moshi or House Yoritomo and lack our Clan's pragmatism. What they may accept as an order from myself or one of my officers will not be accepted from the brahmin, as wise and knowledgeable as they may be."

"Besides, I am an admiral and this edict seeks to take control of my warriors from me," Uminushi points out calmly, "... I'm hard-pressed to see that as anything but a slight."

[Rixy]

"You are in our lands. It is your people, then, who are the outsiders." For a moment, the old man considered his cup. "Still, your point of being commander over then is well made. We seek only safety, not insult. As commander, you of course should have the right to govern your people...we will amend the edict so that you, too, may oversee the rites of your brahmin, as well as the Council."

The girl, at these words, opened the coffer, selected a document, and readied her materials to do so right then and there, once Uminushi had agreed.

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"I'm quite aware, though they might not be. The folly of youth," he replies with a shrug and another smile before pressing the point, "And my two officers, O-washi of House Isawa and Kaimenko of House Moshi. They are like my left and right hands after all."

[Rixy]

A small frown set the network of creases in the old man's face to rapid movement downwards. "It is right that any ruler, be it of a small company or of a great kingdom, have advisers. The House of Moshi is known to us and respected...this House of Isawa, howevere, is one of which we have no knowledge. On what grounds is this O-washi considered to be fit to govern brahmin?"

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"He, like Kaimenko, is a brahmin save that he has ties to the sea where she has ties to the wind and the Sun," he replies with an open smile, "O-washi is considered especially enlightened even amongst those brahmin who share his talents. His House, by the way, also values and venerates knowledge."