Date: September 21, 2000 (Aether: February 17, 3907)
Place: Queen's Chambers - Atesh-Gah - Haven
Cast: Cassius, Shahar, Thalia
Scene: Cassius meets with the Queen-Maharani and the Shakir of Khalida in order to inquire both about what they might know of the Aesir, Najada, and Rusalki, and to discover whether the rumors are true that Khalid has invited his Clans to invade Avalon, thus destroying the peace treaty forged between the Varati and the Empyre.

Queen's Chambers - Atesh-Gah - Haven:
      Four pillars stand about the expansive room, equidistant from each other, and hold up a domed ceiling between them. Upon this concave surface is painted a night sky, points of light set against a deep-blue backdrop. The flickering illumination from oil lamps plays upon the gold-inlay of the stars, creating the illusion that they twinkle and shine just like their inspiration out there in the heavens. Tapestries and mosaics almost completely hide the walls and floors, each one telling a tale of the Varati people through woven thread and coloured tiles. Finely carved doors lead out to a wide balcony, peaked windows, covered with lattice-work, offer views upon the grounds below, and an archway supplies a glimpse of the bedroom beyond. Further archways lead to hallways that proclaim the Queen's domain to be expansive, having quarters not only for herself, but those who serve her as well.
      The furniture is crafted for those of the winged race, with low backs. Low tables, cushions and rugs lay scattered about the chairs and couches to form conversation nooks around the room. Paintings decorate the walls where the tapestries do not and fine sculptures wrought of stone and iron adorn pedestals, displaying the Queen-Maharani's taste in art.

The hideous chill of winter is abated somewhat in the main chamber of Thalia's quarters. A copius quantity of braziers, tables with charcoal heated sand below, and other contrivances against the cold keep the room warm. By one of the tables are ensconced Thalia and Shahar, engaged in conversation. Food and drink have been set on the table and the room's braziers have been moved to encircle the duo.

A rap comes at the door to the chamber, and without waiting for a response, it is swung open by the heavy fist of an Agni-Haidar. "The Varati ambassador to see you, Queen-Maharani," he informs, and a nod is given to Shahar as well, "Shakir."

With that, the pair of soldiers who escorted him here step aside, and Cassius is allowed entry into the suite of the Maharani of the Varati kingdoms. He'll have to admire it a later, though -- for now, he moves across the threshold and bows formally at the waist.

"Maharani," he greets. "Shakir. Ave. Thank you for granting me permission to meet with you."

Informally attired, bundled well so that her dramatic, near-fatal loss of weight, the Shakir of Khalida does not rise to greet Cassius, and her expression to him is almost apologetic to that end. But then the tawny green eyes of the Lioness downturn, focussing on the floor, as she awaits the message from the Empyre's ambassador.

Thalia has chosen a low settee for her seat and thus she manages to rise from it with a minimum of fuss at Cassius' entry. A pleasant smile greets the representative of the Empyre. "It is through words that bridges will be made between the Varati and the Empyreans. I am more than happy to entertain your presence, however brief it may be."

She gestures at the other side of the table. "Please, have a seat." This said, being female, she reseats herself rather than waiting for Cassius' to accomplish the action first.

Cassius crosses the room to the table, finally taking the opportunity to gaze around the lavishly-appointed suite. His glance roves upward and studies the flickering sky-scape painted upon the domed ceiling, and then skims across the sumptuous furnishings. If he's impressed, though, he's trying not to show it.

"Thank you, Majesty," he answers as he draws out a low-backed chair across from the Maharani and the Shakir and settles into it with a crisp rustle of wings. "Shall I get right to the point of my meeting?"

Silent is the dignified, honey-skinned woman at Thalia's side; this is the Maharani's audience with Cassius, and she will listen acutely to what is being said but keep her tongue. For now.

Thalia inclines her head but briefly to indicate that Cassius should proceed. To show that this is a less than formal occasion, she folds her hands in her lap and tucks her feet back under the table, where they can be warmed by the heated sand.

"Two things," murmurs the Varati ambassador. "The first is, hopefully, a less arduous topic. I was wondering if you could tell me--" his glance shifts aside to include Shahar, "--what, if anything, the Varati might know of these Northlanders? Those who call themselves the Aesir, the Najada, and..." His brow furrows as he tries to remember, "the Rusalka?"

That isn't quite right. 'Rusalki' would be correct, but he can be forgiven one small lapse in pronunciation.

Softly, her accent warm and exotic like the heady spices of ginger and jasmine, Shahar answers with regret, "It is to my shame, Ambassador, that I cannot offer knowledge of anything outside of our people, for, as you have been aware, I have been ill. And troubles within the Varati clans has kept what conscience I have maintained aimed toward our people. I wish I could be of assistance."

Thalia shakes her head. "Before I became a queen, I was an artist and a mother, not a learned woman. As the Shakir says, I have been occupied by matters among the Varati and have not investigated into these Northlanders. However, Khalid is much longer lived than I, perhaps he may have some tidbit of knowledge about them." She produces a wry smile. "Yet, I doubt that he does, given their obvious physical attributes."

"Perhaps, Maharani, you might be induced to inquire of your husband whether or not he has heard of these people before." Cassius suggests. "The Empyre is understandably concerned about their presence here, especially given the manner in which they arrived. As, I'm sure, are the Varati. It is only one boat-load of individuals, but there could be more. It would be in both our best interests to learn more about them, so that we might prepare for further... arrivals."

"It is said they are fearsome warriors who enjoy the blood of battle and lust for violence..." Shahar shakes her head and mentions to Thalia, still soft in her purring speech, "A strong, well-trained foe is nothing we should desire to see in the coming days."

Thalia throws a sideways glance over at Shahar as Cassius makes his suggestion. With a brief nod, she takes in Shahar's comment. "They are well-trained," she says, "yet do we not have warriors who are equally as well-trained, equally as fearsome in battle, and equally as fond of violence?" She puts her hands on the table, as if waiting to see if Cassius will provide inducements or further blandishments to encourage his cause.

"I don't think a reminder of the ferocity of your warriors is necessary," Cassius remarks. He doesn't exactly smile -- it's not a subject for that, but there's a wry note in his voice as he adds, "The Empyre is well-acquainted with that. But we do not know how many Aesir or Najada there are, how great is their magic, or whether they might have new abilities as yet undreamed of. Their arrival did bring about the harshest winter Haven has ever known. And that was just one boat-full. Who knows what an entire naval force could do? I am merely suggesting that we employ caution, and that we try to learn more about them. We could do this separately, or jointly. But the latter might be more beneficial to both our nations."

"And what," Shahar must here ask, clearing her throat a bit, "have the other peoples said? Surely this was brought to the attention of the Atlanteans, for the sea is their home. And a cautious man would approach them as well as the Sylvans, who know more of nature than many of us."

Cassius's gaze moves to the Shakir and settles there for an extended moment. "I am the Varati ambassador, imphada. Thus, I am here."

Thalia says, softly, but firmly. "That is not an answer, ambassador. That is an evasion. If we cannot be honest and forthright with each other, then how will we build these bridges?"

Cassius's cool blue eyes move back to Thalia. "I do not know, Maharani," he answers with apparent sincerity. "I was asked to speak with your people, not the Sylvans or the Atlanteans. I feel certain, though, that every effort will be made to contact them as well, and ask the same questions. When any answers are had, perhaps we can pool them together and see what pieces we can make out of this puzzle."

Shahar nods to this answer, though she does not seem to feel especially content with it, and and after her greenish gold irises meet Cassius' regard for a moment longer than is requisite, she again studies her hands. The Lioness of Khalida is in an odd mood today, so it would appear.

Thalia presses her lips together and appears pensive after Cassius' gives his apparently honest answer. "I will ask Khalid of what he might know about these Northlanders. However, it would serve us both well if you and your fellow ambassadors to the Atlanteans, the Sylvans and Delphi pooled your information before you made an return visit. Indeed, considering that the Emperor was captured by these people, I find it interesting that you do not already know something about them."

Cassius's wings twitch minutely at his back after that oh-so-subtle barb, but he manages to retain his pleasant tone. "I will do so," he answers, choosing to ignore the latter comment altogether. "Now, if I may proceed to the next point of my visit?"

Thalia is the one in charge, not Shahar, but she tries at least to indicate her agreement with a slight inclination of her chin. Body shifts idly on the cushion of her seat, and she gathers to herself more closely the heavy garment that keeps the cold away from her fragile form.

Thalia inclines her head in invitation. "Please." Her hands leave the table to rest once again in her lap.

"I am afraid it is already a tired topic," Cassius murmurs, maintaining an outwardly pleasant mien, though that doesn't quite mesh with the intensity of his gaze. "But I must once more ask about the province formerly known as Arelate, now called Avalon. The Princeps and I met with you in order to assure you that we were not violating the treaty agreed upon by our respective nations. And yet... I have heard, Maharani, that the Amir-al gave leave to his Clans to infiltrate Avalon and divide it amongst themselves. Has Khalid Atar changed his mind? What happened to the idea of a free nation for mongrels and outcasts?"

Knuckles tighten against the plush fabric of her robe as Shahar listens to Cassius; she cannot bear to meet either his gaze or that of Thalia, perhaps because of her own opinion toward this end. Other mitigating factors may contribute as well. But her attention is wholly on those questions from Cassius and the anticipation of Thalia's answer.

Thalia bites her lip, then places a sunny smile on her face. "Khalid is, as ever, a mercurial god and king to his people. As the treaty has been stated, Avalon has been an independent and sovereign nation for three years. Nothing in the treaty guarantees that the Varati shall observe that sovereignity into perpetuity. I have tried, for the better part of these last three years, to achieve a treaty with Avalon so that they might continue to be an independent nation.

"However, they have rebuffed my attempts, and I believe that since Avalon has chosen to exclude the Varati from an alliance, despite the aid the Varati have provide the mongrels in recovering the land from the ash of the holy site and the salt which was used to seed the earth, as well as sending teachers to help show the mongrels how to construct building, that Khalid sees their rebuff as insolence and has, thus, chosen to express his displeasure by withdrawing his tacit support plus protection of Avalon and allowing the marauding clans to do as they will."

Cassius has no return smile. If anything, his expression grows cooler as Thalia continues. "I had understood that Sylvans were assisting the citizens of Avalon with de-salting the earth and returning it to the fertile state it was in before the Varati armies marched through. And perhaps the mongrels residing there were unable to tell the difference between hostile Varati forces and benign ones. After all, Khalid himself seemed..." He should be careful, really, yet he can't resist, "...uncertain as to whether or not there were Varati warriors in Avalon or not, the first time this issue came up.

"First, he insists that the Empyre give up an entire province to the mongrels, which we do. He makes us sign a treaty, promising not to interfere with its government, which we do. We hear reports that there are Varati armies in Avalon, which he denies. Now you tell me of all these friendly overtures which your people have made to Avalon, of which I myself have heard nothing... and this is directly after he all but invites his own Clans to divide up Avalon as they see fit. I must wonder, Maharani, what the point was in the first place, and whether or not anything your Amir-al says or does is trustworthy."

Angry now, Cassius slides back his chair and rises from the table. "You just admitted that Khalid Atar broke his own treaty. I hope you do not expect the Empyre to continue to abide by it, as well."

Shahar is no longer Pasha of Haven, and her affairs are with the running of the God-King's clan. More essentially, and recently almost expressly, her duties have concentrated on Khalid's orders to remain alive. Thus she strives to remain neutral, or at leaast silent, as the words are passed between Maharani and ambassador, but the muscles in her jawline tense, and knuckles on her hand whiten again. But no, she shall keep her thoughts to herself and remain, to the best of her abilities, the dignified Lioness that she is supposed to be.

Thalia smiles pleasantly at Cassius. "Nothing in the treaty states that the Varati or the Empyre must observe Avalon's independence into perpetuity. As you have said before, Ambassador, Avalon is its own. It is time it stood on its own, be it able or not.

"As for the aid which was or was not provided, I do not wish to quibble over truth or falsehood. In relation to Avalon, much has been claimed. Some has been produced, but the division between what has happened and what is thought to have happened has blurred in the past three years. I was shown Varati aiding in the recovery of Avalon. During that time, I did not see Sylvans, yet you claim that they were providing additional aid.

"A treaty between the Varati and Avalon was presented to the representatives of that nation. Once the treaty was accepted but not ratified, once the exact same treaty was claimed to be unbeneficial to Avalon, a year later, the treaty was acceptable again. Then, the representatives of Avalon claimed that the Varati had never presented them with a treaty. Therefore, I do not believe that any sort of truth can be found in Avalon, by us, by you or by those who pretend to represent it. Let the chips fall, Ambassador, and see where Avalon stands."

Pale blue eyes glitter coolly as Cassius rests his fists on the table and leans forward, his gaze fixed solely upon the Empyrean woman who became Queen over her own people's long-time enemies. "So all this talk of building a bridge between our nations and attempting a peace that has never before been achieved meant nothing? Are we back to this? Quibbling over a piece of land? To be sure, the Empyre will stake its claim. We have no intention of upholding a treaty that your God and King just dissolved. I just want to know whether he ever intended to uphold his word in the first place. Perhaps you should ask yourself that, Maharani. And you should ask yourself just what you're doing here, and whether or not your sacrifice was worth it."

Shahar inhales sharply at this, but whatever words were to be borne on the exhalation die without utterance. Something catches in her throat or lungs, cracking the breath into a thousand pieces. Coughing, her breath rattling with each sound, she must concentrate for the time being on nothing but the fact that her breathing pattern was so severely shattered.

She tries to apologize, but she simply cannot stop coughing for the longest time... and once she does, well, whatever delicate strength she had gathered about her for this audience is gone. And the women of Ushas, forever close, whisper the need to bear her away... and do so.

Once Shahar has been borne away, Thalia replies to Cassius. "I, personally, no longer have a vested interest in Avalon. As for Khalid and my purpose within this Kingdom, all things change over time, ambassador. Some for the worse and some for the better. The time of change is not yet complete. I will strive, for as long as I am able, to join two enemies into allies. Perhaps, the arrival of these Northlanders will aid in this, but I do not propose to predict the future. I do not have the gift."

Cassius's gaze had shifted toward Shahar as she began coughing, and for an unguarded moment, his expression clearly displayed concern, as well as an uncomfortable flash of guilt. He watched while she was borne away to her own chambers, then returned his gaze to the Queen-Maharani.

Now, anger diminished, he only watches her a moment before responding. "No," he murmurs. "Nor do I. I suppose we can only wait and see what is to come." His wings flex and fold against his back as he straightens. "And try to weather the storm."

With that, he tips his head politely to the Queen of the Varati, his composure once more intact. "I will convey the results of this meeting to the Aegis and the Empyre, Maharani. I appreciate your... time. Vale, Majesty."

Thalia does not rise a second time to bid Cassius' goodbye. Instead, she merely inclines her head. "Until we must do battle upon the field of wits once again, Deus Augustin. Perhaps next time we might actually begin building those bridges."

FIN  

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