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Post by Vaan Seraph on Nov 4, 2009 21:31:57 GMT -5
The black strider carried an exhausted young man straight to the door of the Twilight Castle, where he almost fell off it's back. It seemed worried about him, but he got to his knees.
"I have an urgent message for Queen Lunestise! I must get in to see her at once!"
His blue eyes glowed slightly in the moonlight, and the guards suddenly realized how they'd missed him in the dark of night until he was past the ones who would've stopped him.
"Please! I bear an urgent message under flag of truce from Queen Elexa B'Shera of Nerezza!"
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Post by milicia on Nov 4, 2009 22:02:34 GMT -5
One of the guards, seemingly less fazed by the mysterious messanger's arrival muttered to himself. "Sigh, ever since this dang war started." He whispered to one of the guards who vanished around the corner. An awkward silence stayed in the air till the guard came back with a simple nod. The older guards let out another sigh, "Come on messenger, follow me."
As they moved down through the twisting corridors, guards moved back and forth relentlessly through the castle walls. Security was all out given that the Sumata were all back from the Other World. "Let me tell you messenger, you'd do well to be careful with your words. You probably don't know this, but our Queen can be... less than welcoming during the night. Just watch yourself, deliver your message and leave it at that. You'll be better for it."
Approaching a set of double doors the guard carefully slid one open, appearing worried he might disturb the lady within. The room was covered in piles of books and charts, lit by several candles. A pair of guards stood at the ready on either side of the door. Upon hearing the creak of the heavy door, Queen Lunestise peaked out from her desk and grumbled. "Come in Nerezzian! Make this quick, I have other matters than the wills of your queen to worry about." Not to be completely rude she got up from her desk to face the young Dhampir.
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Post by Vaan Seraph on Nov 4, 2009 22:11:34 GMT -5
He bowed low and elegantly, still carrying the Truce flag with him.
"Milady, I am aware that your time is not so free and that you have other pressing matters to attend to, so I will make this as quick as I can. My name is Vaan Seraph, and I am Queen Elexa's royal messenger, sent with an urgent message for you, Milady. She wishes to negotiate a secret truce with the Crepusculum Kingdom, in order protect both the lands of Crepusculum and those of Nerezza from the rest of the Sumata. This she swears is true on her name and her bloodline, and there is no higher oath in our country. I have been given rights to negotiate a time and place of meeting should you accept her offer... she begs you to consider her words."
He bowed low once more, producing a sealed message tube.
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Post by milicia on Nov 4, 2009 22:24:28 GMT -5
Queen Lunestise's expression remained stoic as Vaan spoke. Ever since Alex had came to speak with Milicia she had known it wouldn't be long before others would follow suit. Her experience with Onyx had shown the disharmony the royals could feel for Trucido. Though she had wondered how many were like Onyx, agreeing to join if only for safety it had seemed the war had brought all that to light. Still, she knew enough of Elexa. The woman was a sneak, and cunning as they came. She had been one of the few she'd expected to be loyal to Trucido.
"Messenger, I care little for the reassuring words of a commoner, regardless of whose mouth you claim they come from. Her and your people alike have sided with that monster of a man, and now you come with a message of peace between our people? Hmph, at worst your queen is a liar, at best a coward. Why should I place my trust in either?"
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Post by Vaan Seraph on Nov 4, 2009 22:37:41 GMT -5
His eyes hardened and he straightened.
"Milady. I mean no disrespect... but my Queen is the one person in this world who, other than the striders I care for when I am not off delivering messages for her, I can trust with my life. And one thing I may say about her - she is a liar, yes, and a sneak, and a spy, and a deceiver, all true. But when one of our People gives her word, she means it... and my queen is a keeper of the Old Ways, where an oath was binding and a treaty as bendable as stone. If you would reject this offer of peace, that is your choice. If you wish to make war, that is also your choice; in fact, if you would kill me, that is your choice as well - I have been forbidden to raise my hand against you and yours even in self-defense.... but in Nerezza the tide is turning, and my Queen informs me our alliances run deeper than ourselves. We beg you to at least hear out Nerezza's plea and set up a time and place to negotiate - that is all."
He stood straight and proud, like a true Messenger, and held a brave face, even though, inside, he was worried and afraid.
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Post by milicia on Nov 5, 2009 1:48:24 GMT -5
She moved up towards Vaan, and took his chin inbetween her soft hands. "You hold so much value in her words do you messenger? But words without consequences are only that. For example, should I place my hands against your throat and drain the life from you, how long before your selfish instincts would kick in? I wonder..." Her hands trailed down to his throat, cupping it just enough she could feel his Adam's Apple slid with each swollen and move with each breath. She paused as she stared into the glowing azure eyes, holding still as if waiting, watching for something to reveal itself.
But in an instant she removed her grasp, leaving her eyes on the young one. "You are indeed loyal, if a little too mouthy about your superior. But I respect that much. Vaan was it? Truth be told I know nothing of the traditions upheld by the Nerezzians, and even less those held by her kind. But if you so strongly vouch for your queen, then at the very least I owe her a meeting."
Yet it was more than that for Lunestise. As much as she hated it, she knew the dangers that lurked from all around, but even more she knew the incredible benefits that treaties from Santo-Luce and Nerezza would hold. To have the entire continent secured by allies would mean the world over to their efforts, and with passage to the Shade Mountains guarded by both sides, she could afford greater troops to be sent out to the war effort across the seas. Should she be so lucky, things could not turn out much better.
"What did your queen have in mind for this meeting Vaan? You are here to delegate the details of this are you not?" Her gaze finally left his eyes, looking back to the maps and charts that laid about the room.
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Post by Vaan Seraph on Nov 5, 2009 20:40:32 GMT -5
"A meeting near our borders," he replied after she asked. He had been afraid, true, but he'd kept a brave face throughout - he was here to represent his country, and by Darkness, he would do it well. "Although that can be negotiated if you so wish. She suggests a meeting at dawn or twilight, but understands that that may or may not be possible - it was only that way in order to put you upon firm ground, within your own element. SHe says that if it would be more comfortable for you, she is perfectly capable of meeting with you in the daytime. She stressed the importance of letting you pick the time, setting, and day, in order to prove to you that she truly means no harm, and will be no threat - she instructed me to tell you this if I thought it would help."
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Post by milicia on Nov 6, 2009 5:18:29 GMT -5
Lunestise knew she could spare no lenience with the Queen of Darkness. She had to be careful of the woman, and needed to ensure the meeting would be safe for her, even at Elexa's expense. "Very well, should the decision rest with me than so be it. Tell your queen that the meeting shall be held in seven days time in this very castle. We will meet right as the sun rises into the sky. I trust there should be no objections then?"
She hated to leave this in the hands of Milicia, but a master of the darkness was best kept in the light. Though she feared the soft hearted tactics Milicia held would let Elexa in too easily, she had begrudgingly admitted the woman was not as naive as she had feared. After all she had dealt with Onyx well; she'd gained what their kingdom needed. She only hoped things would go as planned.
"Is there anything else you wish to say Vaan?" Her attention all but gone from the Nerezzian.
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Post by Vaan Seraph on Nov 7, 2009 18:34:54 GMT -5
He shook his head. "I would merely like to thank you for your willingness to listen to our plea." He bowed again.
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Post by milicia on Nov 8, 2009 2:30:36 GMT -5
"Hmph, very well messenger of Nerezza. Go to your queen and tell her of our agreement. I shall be waiting." She waved her hands towards the door. "Guards, see the messenger to our border safely, understand? I shall not have him harmed within our country." With that the guards led him out the door.
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