It hadn't been a long time since Viq first visited Mirror Lake; not two years ago he had spent an afternoon in Aldin's care, quickly learning the basics of skating from the eager teacher. This time, he was here with his friend, Hyvan Skyglow, an unsuccessful draughtsman and merchant. The place was unusually busy, but that didn't thwart their plans for the day. They started off with some warm plant infusion straight from Hyvan's flask, followed by a piece of sweet bread he'd made that morning. So taken was Viq by the flavors, that he fumbled his rhyme: "Marry a Winterflame, Hyvan, become a cook and please your man.", he said, to which Hyvan responded with labored laughter.
After the delicious snack, the couple took a stroll around the lake until they found a spot where they could experiment with their rented skates before joining the crowd that seemed to be picking up. Relearning how to maintain their balance on ice was not much of a challenge; before long they were skating together around the rink. Soon they were passing by what seemed to be a scene of sorts. Viq and, with his cue, Hyvan circled the group a few times out of pure curiosity.
Though he was not one to be interested in current affairs and who's whos, it was simply impossible for Viq to not recognize the people before him: The captain of the guard and her deputy, joined by the Whitevine leader. "but something must happen, Frostfawn must be recognized for its importance in the city" was the only thing he could make out after the heated discussion had reached its conclusion. Was it a hint of a wobbling peace and prosperity, or business as usual? Could it be that the Whitevines desired a larger share of the city's coffers, or maybe an elevated status in decision making? Would the Frostfawns recruit Icewatch against that end?
Mixed feelings enveloped him. On the one hand uncertainty regarding Icewatch's capacity to maintain peace, both in Avanthal and within its own ranks, were a civil war were to break out, contrasted with the depraved wish that such a thing would be enough to destroy the established social order he so despised. But maybe he was getting ahead of himself; maybe it was a simple complaint that the polity could handle by following set legal process.
With these thoughts lingering in his mind, he turned to his companion -as thick as the crowd-, only to be greeted by a countenance so comically uninterested to what has transpired that it would surely fall to the ground if it weren't attached to Hyvan's skull. He elected to remain silent, sure as he was that Hyvan did not share his ideas. The two men would spend the next two hours skating, before parting for their arvintas.
