Chapter Text
The Alcethmeret was the beating heart of the Untheileneise Court. Flowing out from it, threading through the walls and between floors and ceilings like veins and arteries, was the pneumatic tube system – more than thirty miles of tube, and carrying more than three-quarters of all messages sent within or outwards from court, it almost never fell silent. Even in the early hours of the morning there would be messages in motion; late night personal messages from nobility, perhaps, but also the more functional kind, as servants, secretaries, and soldiers not granted the privileges of peak access passed around low-priority requests and information.
As the number of messages from the nobility eased off, the official secretarial paperwork having largely ceased a few hours before, the nature of the messages shifted. A hierarchy remained, however, and so first in line, of course, were the messages from the tower – the Upper Alcethmeret.
Highest priority, running from the tower directly to the office of Captain Orthema, was the nohecharei report, numbering any issues with the Alcethmeret security as well as the more mundane details: guards on duty, guards on leave, spot check results, advanced notice of any planned excursions that required the greater presence of the Untheileneise Guard.
Then the weekly household order, signed and sealed by Merrem Esaran, for supplies received and anticipated. Three copies, one to Mer Holtar the court steward for him to arrange, one to the treasury to account for payment, one to the guard station at the supply gate for their records.
Also to the treasury, the monthly sign-off on staff wages, confirming all the same staff were in position and what their entitlement was – docked or advanced or raised, organised by Mer Hallettar on behalf of Mer Aisava, signed off by the latter and Merrem Esaran in concert.
Next came the working requests. A list of books from Leilis Athmaza, sent to the Mazan’theileian in request to supplement the education of Prince Idra. A speculative offer on a new type of silk, written out by Tirizan Hulzhin on behalf of Dachensol Atterezh, pending further information from the merchant – this went to the external-bound courier’s hub, to be run down into Cetho the next morning. Similarly, from the edocharei, an advanced notice of a need for repair work on an older piece of Michen Mura, written in a series of euphemisms so as not to alert the casual reader to the journey of the priceless jewellery later in the week. A scheduling missive from Mer Aisava to the Imperial Stables, noting that His Serenity’s riding lessons would be a day displaced the following week to account for preparations for the wedding.
Finally, the personal correspondence, a class of its own. The Cetho-bound would make its way in the morning; those pieces to more distant reaches would be held, waiting for an appropriately high-level message they could accompany, allowing them to take advantage of airship travel.
From Cala Athmaza to Erevis Athmaza, chief librarian of the Mazan’theileian:
Erevis! Much appreciated thy recommendations last week, am a little short shifted to come so is it any trouble if I hold onto them a little longer than expected? Haven’t quite had time to finish, but will get them back to thee if another is in need of them. Also, thou didst ask for my thoughts on the Merust Paper, and I…
From Isheian Fentin to Merrem Ishu Fentaran, Grocer:
Ma, I have wonderful news! Though as expected I will not be able to join you all for dinner next week, there being far too much work here, Merrem Esaran has confirmed that I am on the list to have Summernight free!! I cannot wait to see thee, and Pa, and little Brema and everyone, and I hope that…
From Suler Zhavanin to Mer Obratis Elada, Schoolteacher:
…I am adjusting well and hope thy students are not causing thee too much strife – I am very happy thou hast been granted such an opportunity as to teach in so intriguing a locale, though I must confess it seems an agonising age until the autumn when I may see thee again…
From Kiru Athmaza to Boru Athmaza at the Cetho Hospital:
…when I tell thee I may have taken a fair number of young souls under my wing here, thou must promise not to say ‘I told thee so’ – at least, not more than once! But I am merry with it; of course I must keep much to myself, but I look forward to catching thee to talk at some near time, and will keep a careful eye on the schedule in that purpose…
The Upper Alcethmeret complete, the priority moved to the Lower Alcethmeret and the court staff, then to the Households who operated with their own idiosyncrasies, and the messages sped through the tubes under the floorboards of the servants’ corridors and past sleeping households and out. And in the morning, carried back on the wind, there was a breath of spring on the air.
The emperor, his eyes tired, walking in the Alcethmeret gardens, looked up with a faint smile.
‘Not long until spring begins,’ he observed.
The nohecharei, one step behind him, gave a quiet agreement.
The wind, unhearing, flew on.