[hider=The Party]
Lycaon had arrived at the party with little fanfare. Then again, he would not have preferred to have had it any other way. There were times when he was prepared to make a grand entrance, but Lycaon felt he had already made enough of an impact here in Nyhem already that there was scarcely any reason for him to make himself more noticeable. He was not the sort to be so garish. He entered the party in his suit of plate armor, for in general he did not look as imposing without it. 

As time passed as the guests celebrated Lycaon simply waited and bided his time. It was a more raucous affair than he was expecting, considering the high stature of the drinks. For his part Lycaon dared not take a sip of wine, for he did not want his judgement to be impaired in the slightest. In fact, he felt more vulnerable right now than he ever did in his entire life. As he waited, he watched Alasdair declare himself emperor of Formaroth. Lycaon’s expression did not change, but this declaration worried him. This was an incredibly grandiose statement on his part, to declare himself as an equal of the Elven slaver-despot of the east. Likely, he would claim to every land that the Remonnets had ever controlled. It was a worrying development, but for now Lycaon would focus on the task at hand. He had to make sure that everything he had tried to build had not been undone. Lana was here, and Lycaon had tried his best to ally with her. She was, for him, the most eminent of mages in the sphere in politics and the best individual in which he could attempt to create amiable relations between the Church and mages, traditional rivals and enemies. 

“It seems we have been given the chance to meet once again, Lady Dionisia,” Lycaon said. “Though much has changed since we last met. Yet that is all the more reason for us to appreciate what remains. When we last met we made an agreement. Though the times have been difficult and tumultuous, we are more committed than ever.”
Lana eyed Lycaon carefully. When last they had talked, she had viewed him as a convenient pawn at best. She had not seen the lengths he was willing to go to in putting down the heretical rebellion. But that was no reason not to be polite...

"Well met Sir Lycaon." She replied. "Indeed. My people are in more danger now than ever before. Our continued friendship means a great deal to me." Her tone was sincere, even if she was wary of what an alliance with Lycaon meant now.

Putting on the appropriate tone and expression for what followed, she continued. "My condolences for the loss of Sir Hansen. He died valiantly defending my house. when I discover who it was that broke in and slew him and Lord Thale, I will be sure to visit justice upon them."
He did not know – could not know – what it was that Lanaya was thinking. However, whatever she may think of him, she was the closest link he had to the Circle, and all his contact with them came through her. He did not expect her to believe that he would be a dependable, just as he did not believe she would be good a dependable ally. He listened to her words carefully. She gave him no important information, and so he would continue.

“Your words do him honor, Lady Dionisa. He was a brave warrior, and his loss bereaves me. I will remember our agreement, and send another knight to guard you.” Yet this was not what Lycaon wished to discuss with Lanaya. “Let us hope his death, and the unnecessary deaths of many other good men and women, was not in vain. The Church has been too long separated from the mages of Formaroth. I aim to bring the two in harmony again. The Church has its own centers of learning, but, unfortunately, they have no place for the magical arts. I am to change that. There are challenges ahead, but making the institutional changes will be simple enough. No one important within the Church would oppose it now. I thought that you would like to know, for after all this is simply an extension of our agreement.”
Lana listened as the pleasantries were exchanged, nodding were appropriate. She was pleased to find that Lycaon planned to continue honoring their original agreement, though she did not feel the need for an armored knight in her home anymore. Since the riot, it had been a simple task to justify growing the size of her house guard.

Lycaon's next suggestion, however, took her by surprise. Mages being taught the arts in churches? It was such an unexpected idea that it broke her normally perfect composure, leaving a brief flicker of bewilderment to cross her face. It disappeared as quickly as it arrived however, as her mind raced to consider the implications.

"I am always happy to discuss the establishment of hubs of magical learning..." Lana began cautiously. "Yet I cannot help but wonder how the curriculum in a Church run school would look. I know the church has many learned men, but can you find the specialists needed to foster a new generation of skilled mages?"
Lycaon wondered if Lanaya would really be happy to have more hubs of magic establish. He did not believe that the Circle wished for mages to extend beyond themselves. Nonetheless, here objection was true. It would be the great problem for any attempt to create a program for mages within the Church. The Church could probably never matched the Circle, no matter how many years past.

“I cannot deny this problem,” Lycaon said. “It will be many years before a workable program within the Church could be made for the training of mages. It will be one of the Church’s great challenges, and it shall take many years of hard work. There will not be an immediate change. However, there are those within the Church, who are part of us in one sense or another, who shall be glad to see this through. We will not try to replace the Circle, only create places of magical learning outside of it."
"I admire your dedication to the idea." Lana began, sounding sincere but still not entirely convinced.

"But I am afraid that I am not the one you must convince of this plan. Without the permission of the Circle, such a widespread endeavor could never flourish. I will send word of your request to them, but I suggest you send an advocate to the Summer Isles to convince them personally."

It was rare for Lana to pass agency on to anyone else, but in this case it was still every bit as selfish a move as ever. The Circle could still mandate her replacement as Advisor to the King - now Emperor - if they thought she was overstepping her bounds.

"Yet, I am willing to trial the concept here in Nyhem." She continued tentatively. "As long as I have significant oversight for the curriculum and selection of teachers, I will give you my blessing to start a school in the City."
A keen eye would have viewed a look of alarm on Lycaon's face. It was gone in a split-second. The Church actually knew very little about the Circle. There was very little knowledge of the inside, and “Church Mages” educated within the Circle were not at all keen to spy on the place they considered to be their second home, and were in general not particular close to the authorities in the Church anyhow. Still, Lycaon knew one thing. If there was to be a program for mages within the Church, it would never be under the control of the Circle. The Church would be extinguished before it would allow such a thing to pass. Lycaon certainly would not 

“I will certainly inform you when the proper measures have been taken to take the next step,” Lycaon said. “I thank you for your goodwill. This conversation has been most fruitful. I shall take my leave of you, for I’m sure you have better things to do than to talk to me. After all, this is a party in celebration of our new emperor.”
"Indeed it is... Long may he rule our lands." Lana acknowledged in a tone that suggested she might not be as happy about the idea of an Emperor as she was supposed to be.
"I thank you for your continued support of my kind Sir Lycaon. We do not forget our friends." Lana stated seriously, before smiling politely and turning away. Lycaon was making things more complicated as usual, but as long as he continued to do so in her favor she didn't mind.
[/hider]

(Collab by me and [@Sundered Echo])