Talechasing 2012 ~ Unfinished Business
Jan. 28th, 2012 09:44 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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yrae
Title~ Unfinished Business
Author~ Annarti
Disclaimer~ All mine~
Notes~![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
talechasing is doing new challenges for the new year :D This time around I'm going to see if I can keep up to date with them, rather than let them pile up and get overwhelming. I miss doing regular minifics =( So first off the bat, unfinished business. Here we have Assili facing off against an old foe. Bitch =P
~ ~ ~
‘Of course, Empress, you are of course correct, but this is exactly why I would recommend increasing the funding for the region. Surely you, too, can see the benefit for the whole empire if you were to grant them this one small luxury.’
Assili narrowed her eyes and crossed one knee over the other as the self-important Razabes ambassador pleaded—no, demanded—her case. Assili had met the woman a few times before, though not for several years now. Apparently, she hadn’t changed. Assili wondered if Ambassador Gilass had even read the reply Assili had written her. She had spared the young princess barely a glance for the duration of the meeting so far.
‘New army barracks is no small luxury,’ Shizaaqa was saying. She had only been given the briefest of introductions from Assili herself before Ambassador Gilass had stepped into the throne room.
‘Why has the town not gone to its own queen?’ Assili pressed. ‘Why concern the imperial crown with a clearly domestic matter?’
Ambassador Gilass dipped her head with a thin, faintly amused smile before turning back to the empress. ‘Because, Princess, the defence of the empire is the imperial crown’s concern and should be paid for with the empire’s coin.’
‘Really?’ Assili pressed. ‘Bazad seems to be quite some distance from the Raykinian border.’ She bent forward to make sure the ambassador was watching her now.
Gilass repeated her small, patronising smile. ‘Only a fool would train troops so close to a dangerous border.’
‘It is, in fact, perfectly positioned with respect to the Ruzakan border,’ Assili continued, her voice clipped and terse. ‘A garrison such as you are proposing—‘
‘Barracks,’ the ambassador interrupted. ‘They are merely for the purpose of training, not outright defence.’
Assili bristled.
‘I’ve heard enough,’ the empress snapped. ‘Ambassador Gilass, this is clearly a matter for Queen Paaqera, not for the empire. Fight your own battles with your own coin.’ She nodded towards the throne room doors with a look that allowed for no argument.
Ambassador Gilass gave none. She bowed deeply and respectfully to the empress. ‘I look forward to continuing our discussions, Empress.’ To Assili she gave a quiet nod, then turned and swept down the long emerald carpet.
Assili seethed, glaring with narrowed eyes at the back of the Razabes ambassador. Her nails gripped the arm of her chair and her breaths came in angered huffs.
The heavy throne room doors banged closed behind the ambassador.
‘I can fight my own battles, Mother,’ she said, her voice quiet in her fury.
‘I know,’ Shizaaqa agreed. ‘Which is precisely the reason I sent her away. She’ll have an easier time realising this if I’m not around.’
Assili nodded, understanding her mother’s intentions now. ‘I haven’t been ridiculed like that in years.’ Not since Gilass was in the palace the last time, now she thought of it. She glared hard at the doors with hot eyes. She angrily wiped the back of her hand across one eye, but she wouldn’t sniff.
Shizaaqa let out a short sigh, then turned to her daughter and rested one hand briefly on her arm. ‘You’ll have to play this one carefully,’ she advised. It wasn’t for Shizaaqa to give empty comforts. It accomplished nothing. ‘Mere anger will not make her see the threat or the opportunity you pose. She will only see anger as a child’s tantrum.’
Assili felt her jaw clench, and she wiped her eyes again.
‘This doesn’t mean you can’t use it,’ the empress continued, her voice hardening to cold stone in demonstration. ‘Keep your anger chilled. Never raise your voice. When she raises hers, when she demands to see me, when she uses the word “child” to your face, ask her who it is who’s throwing the childish tantrum. Control is always the key, Assili. Win her now and she’ll recognise you for the empress you’ll become.’
Assili took a long, smooth breath. ‘I’ll arrange a meeting with her tomorrow afternoon.’
Shizaaqa shook her head. ‘No. Let her arrange it. Let her grovel a little first. It sounds as though you’ve already spoken with your father about the matter?’
The princess nodded. ‘He agrees that the barracks in Razabes City should be expanded, if for nothing but to remove Queen Paaqera from power.’
The empress’s eyebrows arched in bemusement. ‘How astute of him,’ she murmured. ‘Seek the opinion of a few of the Commanders, too, and throw those names at Ambassador Gilass. She’ll recognise your command soon enough.’
Assili nodded and smiled gratefully at the empress. ‘Thank you, Mother.’
Shizaaqa returned the smile, with more than a little venom. ‘You’re old enough to fight your own battles now, but that doesn’t mean I can’t give you the weapons.’
Author~ Annarti
Disclaimer~ All mine~
Notes~
talechasing is doing new challenges for the new year :D This time around I'm going to see if I can keep up to date with them, rather than let them pile up and get overwhelming. I miss doing regular minifics =( So first off the bat, unfinished business. Here we have Assili facing off against an old foe. Bitch =P‘Of course, Empress, you are of course correct, but this is exactly why I would recommend increasing the funding for the region. Surely you, too, can see the benefit for the whole empire if you were to grant them this one small luxury.’
Assili narrowed her eyes and crossed one knee over the other as the self-important Razabes ambassador pleaded—no, demanded—her case. Assili had met the woman a few times before, though not for several years now. Apparently, she hadn’t changed. Assili wondered if Ambassador Gilass had even read the reply Assili had written her. She had spared the young princess barely a glance for the duration of the meeting so far.
‘New army barracks is no small luxury,’ Shizaaqa was saying. She had only been given the briefest of introductions from Assili herself before Ambassador Gilass had stepped into the throne room.
‘Why has the town not gone to its own queen?’ Assili pressed. ‘Why concern the imperial crown with a clearly domestic matter?’
Ambassador Gilass dipped her head with a thin, faintly amused smile before turning back to the empress. ‘Because, Princess, the defence of the empire is the imperial crown’s concern and should be paid for with the empire’s coin.’
‘Really?’ Assili pressed. ‘Bazad seems to be quite some distance from the Raykinian border.’ She bent forward to make sure the ambassador was watching her now.
Gilass repeated her small, patronising smile. ‘Only a fool would train troops so close to a dangerous border.’
‘It is, in fact, perfectly positioned with respect to the Ruzakan border,’ Assili continued, her voice clipped and terse. ‘A garrison such as you are proposing—‘
‘Barracks,’ the ambassador interrupted. ‘They are merely for the purpose of training, not outright defence.’
Assili bristled.
‘I’ve heard enough,’ the empress snapped. ‘Ambassador Gilass, this is clearly a matter for Queen Paaqera, not for the empire. Fight your own battles with your own coin.’ She nodded towards the throne room doors with a look that allowed for no argument.
Ambassador Gilass gave none. She bowed deeply and respectfully to the empress. ‘I look forward to continuing our discussions, Empress.’ To Assili she gave a quiet nod, then turned and swept down the long emerald carpet.
Assili seethed, glaring with narrowed eyes at the back of the Razabes ambassador. Her nails gripped the arm of her chair and her breaths came in angered huffs.
The heavy throne room doors banged closed behind the ambassador.
‘I can fight my own battles, Mother,’ she said, her voice quiet in her fury.
‘I know,’ Shizaaqa agreed. ‘Which is precisely the reason I sent her away. She’ll have an easier time realising this if I’m not around.’
Assili nodded, understanding her mother’s intentions now. ‘I haven’t been ridiculed like that in years.’ Not since Gilass was in the palace the last time, now she thought of it. She glared hard at the doors with hot eyes. She angrily wiped the back of her hand across one eye, but she wouldn’t sniff.
Shizaaqa let out a short sigh, then turned to her daughter and rested one hand briefly on her arm. ‘You’ll have to play this one carefully,’ she advised. It wasn’t for Shizaaqa to give empty comforts. It accomplished nothing. ‘Mere anger will not make her see the threat or the opportunity you pose. She will only see anger as a child’s tantrum.’
Assili felt her jaw clench, and she wiped her eyes again.
‘This doesn’t mean you can’t use it,’ the empress continued, her voice hardening to cold stone in demonstration. ‘Keep your anger chilled. Never raise your voice. When she raises hers, when she demands to see me, when she uses the word “child” to your face, ask her who it is who’s throwing the childish tantrum. Control is always the key, Assili. Win her now and she’ll recognise you for the empress you’ll become.’
Assili took a long, smooth breath. ‘I’ll arrange a meeting with her tomorrow afternoon.’
Shizaaqa shook her head. ‘No. Let her arrange it. Let her grovel a little first. It sounds as though you’ve already spoken with your father about the matter?’
The princess nodded. ‘He agrees that the barracks in Razabes City should be expanded, if for nothing but to remove Queen Paaqera from power.’
The empress’s eyebrows arched in bemusement. ‘How astute of him,’ she murmured. ‘Seek the opinion of a few of the Commanders, too, and throw those names at Ambassador Gilass. She’ll recognise your command soon enough.’
Assili nodded and smiled gratefully at the empress. ‘Thank you, Mother.’
Shizaaqa returned the smile, with more than a little venom. ‘You’re old enough to fight your own battles now, but that doesn’t mean I can’t give you the weapons.’
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Date: 2012-01-31 10:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-04 09:49 am (UTC)