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Post by milicia on Dec 4, 2009 16:57:03 GMT -5
As the pale light of the moon slipped past the horizon of the Twilight Castle, the sky was left only with the shining sun to hail in a new day. By the magic of Milicia's rune, her eyes fluttered open from her twilight trance. Already she knew that she was sitting in her war room, the large map of the planet spread before her on the table while the guards stood on their highest alert, awaiting the arrival of their guest. Despite the urgency in the room, Milicia sat calmly, her mind refreshed and relaxed.
Almost instantly the door slammed open by a nervous looking guard. Amongst gasps of breath he managed to get out, "She's here."
"Well then don't be rude. Send her in."
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Post by Lady Elexa B'Shera on Dec 4, 2009 19:27:33 GMT -5
Elexa stepped in, looking almost pale in the dawning light. Her dark makeup had been left aside - she did not need it today. For once, she wore a fairly modest (for her) dress, plain black that hung around her ankles, accented by a red belt and long gloves. Her purple eyes rested on the queen, and she curtsied. "Lady Queen Milicia of the Crepusculum Kingdom... it is an honor, a pleasure, to meet you in person." There was respect in her actions and her words. "I am equally honored that you accepted this offer of a meeting, so we could determine a truce between our nations."
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Post by milicia on Dec 4, 2009 20:28:19 GMT -5
Milicia rose in response to Elexa's entrance, and bowed in response to her greeting.
"And I you Elexa B'Shera of Nerezza. I wish that the pretense for our meeting could have been a bit more pleasant, but these are trying times for all of us. Have a seat." She motioned down to a seat opposite her own. "To be honest Elexa, I'm still surprised that one such as yourself would be willing to betray Trucido. Yet I assume that you do so in order to gain something out of this alliance?" Her voice holding a sliver of skepticism.
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Post by Lady Elexa B'Shera on Dec 4, 2009 21:32:44 GMT -5
Elexa sat and looked Milicia in the eye.
"To pretend I do not have my own motives for this truce would be a pointless mistruth... but, then, everyone has their own reasons for everything they do, do they not? What Nerezza stands to gain from this alliance, and myself in turn, is simple."
She took a deep breath, more from habit than necessity, and continued.
"Should Nerezza rise against Trucido on it's own without alliance, it would be crushed mercilessly, both by those we wish to help and those we fight against. Also..." She glanced down at the map on the table, absentmindedly smoothing one of the creases in it's surface.
"No doubt you know, being our only bordering land, that Nerezza is a land of strange creatures, of diverse life living in the darkness - life no light-dweller has ever seen or understood. I care deeply for every living thing in my realm... and Trucido would sacrifice it for his light-dweller'sworld, if he truly intends to recreate the world at all. Trucido would stab us in the back as soon as we finish his purposes... my alliance with him was simply to save my people until something or someone could stem the tide of blood. It is a decision that I may regret in the future... now, all I can do is right it, by making the alliance I should have made in the beginning."
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Post by milicia on Dec 5, 2009 3:25:30 GMT -5
Milicia stared off at the map, her mind picturing everything Elexa explained as if it was happening right on the map. She sighed softly at the desperation of the chaotic battle they'd been forced into. "It would seem either way we're doomed to great loss because of that man. But I don't blame you for your choices Elexa. We've all done what we thought was right at the time. Onyx taught me that much on the battlefield. Still..." She moved slowly around the table, her hands tracing against the map's edge as she concentrated.
"He also taught me to think carefully on who I let into my circle of trust. My whole plan was almost destroyed because of a single spy of his within my walls, and I don't intend to let another fish info out from under me again. So tell me Elexa, you talk well enough, but what can you do to prove to me that you fully intend to oppose Trucido? Can you hurt your former master enough to show that you mean business?" Milicia almost had to catch herself, realizing how curt and forceful her words were. It almost felt like Lunestise was rubbing off on her for a moment, and she wasn't sure if she liked it. Composing herself quickly she decided it best to take her seat back and keep her distance from the dark queen.
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Post by Lady Elexa B'Shera on Dec 5, 2009 18:28:56 GMT -5
Elexa nodded. She had come prepared. She didn't know much about Trucido's plans, but information about where power lay was her stock in trade.
"I can tell you Trucido hates the gods. He's a secretive man and keeps most information to himself while pretending to share. The queen of Unda, Suisei Fukaku, is infatuated with him, but his eyes are for Queen Lilith of Alberisato alone. Politics in the Sumata are strained - there are many Sumata fed up with Trucido's power. I am not alone in my plans; Lord Zelos Shinigami of Guasto stands with me. Trucido's army is on the verge of tearing itself apart... and I know for a fact that Trucido was planning on killing us all anyway, when he got the chance. I know that Suisei and Lilith are lost causes. I do not know much about the king of Vuoto, Trucido's homeland. I know that it will take only a little pushing for the boy Alexander of Santo-Luce to turn; he suspects Trucido already, and his Captain has a few questions of his own, the poor boy." She spoke as if she were much older than she appeared, but she didn't care - Milicia had the right to know just who and what she was allying herself with. "As for what I can bring to this alliance in concrete... Nerezza's forces are the best spies and stealth troops in the entirety of the world of Crepusculum. Also, while Trucido does not trust me, if he still believes I am following him, I can find out information you would never be able to have any other way."
She laid her cards on the table for the Crepusculum Queen to inspect, an open dealing that many would not expect from her. Still, she hoped Milicia believed her words - it was vital that the Secession had backing.
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Post by milicia on Dec 7, 2009 14:40:43 GMT -5
Milicia's eyes widened at the sheer amount of information Elexa handed her. She had expected more resistance from the woman, thinking that she'd hold out till their alliance was more firmly in place. Yet it made sense in a way and Milicia wasn't going to turn it down.
"Thank you Elexa, I admit that I was skeptical of any information you would give me. Understand that coming from a land of such skilled deceivers can leave that impression on others. However you provided me with a crucial truth, that being that Alex is not only waning in his faith in Trucido, but that he has already come over to our side now. Our continent stands united against that tyrant, and with the shaking bonds that hold his forces together I have no doubt that his reign will end soon." Her tone radiated with confidence, no longer fearing the what ifs of Elexa's motives.
Milicia once again turned to the map, scanning the borders of Guasto and Ketalunanox as a plan formulated in her mind. "Elexa, you said that King Zelos stands with you in this effort. To what degree is he willing to aid our cause?
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Post by Lady Elexa B'Shera on Dec 7, 2009 21:00:22 GMT -5
"So, then," Elexa murmured thoughtfully. "Young Alexander has finally turned, then..."
Shaking her head, she returned to Milicia's question.
"I cannot speak for him," she replied cautiously, "but he is on our side. He will stand witht he Heroes when the moment of truth comes, and the Sumata are forced to show their hands and reveal just where each of our loyalties lie. As for this war..." She shrugged. "He may actively support you, as I will, or he may simply choose to stay out of the fight. I will speak with him as soon as we are finished here."
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Post by milicia on Dec 8, 2009 3:42:50 GMT -5
"Very well Elexa, it would do us well to know his intentions. Still, for now I ask that you take no part in the war I've waged. If Trucido deems me so small a threat that the Sumata need not retaliate yet, then that's fine for me. I ask you maintain your role as the skilled spy and let your motives be kept hidden from him entirely. We will need an ace in the hole for when he fears me enough to strike back, and then we will have the means to crush his resolve." She eyed up the young vampire queen with a cunning look.
"At the same time, I ask you send a few of your spies out to the other kingdoms to monitor the other royals. Learn their habits, their abilities, maybe even their weaknesses. Anything we can use to gain an advantage when the time comes. I trust the request I've made will be no problem for you or your people?"
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Post by Lady Elexa B'Shera on Dec 8, 2009 18:01:03 GMT -5
Elexa's eyes may as well have been purple chips of ice for all thewarmth in them, and she smiled coldly, lazily, running her finger abesntly down the Dark Border on Milicia's warmap.
"Of course not," she said, her voice filled with the same cold, calculated waiting that had suddenly become as much a part of her as any one of her limbs and changed her from a teenaged ruler into a silent, deadly predator, ancient and careful. "It was my plan all along... and my people are, naturally, the best at what they do."
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Post by milicia on Dec 8, 2009 18:13:10 GMT -5
"I'm glad to hear it Queen Elexa. You are indeed wise for your age. Forgive me for my somewhat hostile tone but I am glad to have you on my side. Perhaps with the union of this continent we might even be able to do away with the tragic conflict between your people and Alex's." Suddenly a nagging sensation seemed to be pecking at her mind, as if she was forgetting something. She paused awkwardly until it came to her.
"Of course, I had nearly forgotten. Elexa, as you seem to have info regarding many of the Sumata and their... demeanors towards Trucido, could you tell me anything concerning Kind Seigmand? Onyx had said something cryptic back in the aftermath of the invasion, but I was hoping you could shed some light on that; excuse the pun." She pulled herself closer to the table, curious to see what she would say.
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Post by Lady Elexa B'Shera on Dec 8, 2009 18:20:35 GMT -5
Elexa smiled. "Milord King Seigmand Dezmar of Roccia has no idea that this Secession is forming... but I believe he is not unsympathetic to our cause, having concretely helped the Heroes secretly on one occasion."
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Post by milicia on Dec 10, 2009 16:16:08 GMT -5
"Hmm, i see..." Milicia pondered the information. "Well, perhaps we will leave him to his own devices for now. No doubt he will show his true colors when he thinks the moment is right." Milicia rose from the table and moved right beside Elexa. "Queen Elexa, it is a pleasure to have sat and had this talk with you. I cannot tell you how much the aid of your people means to my cause." She extended her hand towards the young looking woman.
"To new beginnings and a better future." She said, a warm smile at last returning to her face.
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