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rainbowfic2014-10-26 12:08 am
shadowsong26) wrote in rainbowfic2014-10-26 12:08 am
Alice Blue #6, Aqua #17, Cinnabar #1
Name: shadowsong26
Story: Back Channels
'Verse: Feredar
Colors: Alice Blue #6. six impossible things before breakfast, Aqua #17. Rain, Cinnabar #1. Silver
Supplies and Materials: eraser (Discovery AU), stain, feathers, chalk, seed beads, novelty beads (Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau), glitter (Have you ever been caught in the middle of two opposing forces or people? Tell us about it. Or write about it.),
Word Count: 654
Rating: PG
Characters: Sola
Warnings: Discussion of war, some ableism
Notes: Constructive criticism welcome, as always.
Sola was saved the trouble of seeking the Ambassador from Mafesar when he approached her at her twins' birthday function. "Highness, may we speak privately?"
She smiled at him, flickering her fan. "Privacy isn't easy here, Ambassador. There are so many people around. And this isn't exactly the time or place--I should be with my sons."
"I can be discreet."
She fluttered her lashes, using the excuse to size him up--he was tense, but not angry. Concerned, very concerned--he must have found out about her brother's discovery. "I suppose I can dance with you," she said, flashing a smile. "If you're quick about what you have to say..."
He bowed and kissed her hand, and she rewarded him with a silvery laugh. Let any witnesses think she was carrying on one of her various flirtations--she and the Ambassador were seen together often enough, at public events, that it wouldn't be a surprise. Her sons would, of course, be terribly embarrassed, but not upset. They knew how she was.
She let him put his hand on her waist and gave him a silvery laugh. "So, my lord, what is it you want to know?"
"I've been hearing rumors, Highness."
"Oh, there are always rumors."
He spun her. "Not like these."
"All right, you have my attention," she said, leaning in to breathe a secret in his ear. "What rumors have you heard?"
"Are you going to declare war on Glass?"
He was blunt--it was refreshing. He could compliment and flatter as easily as any diplomat, but when it was important, he got straight to the point.
"Oh, I don't know those things," she said dismissively, laughing again.
"Was Prince Isshiri arrested?"
Well, then. "You must let me speak to your sources someday, Ambassador," she said.
"So, he was."
"Oh, I haven't seen any princes except my brothers and my sons," she said airily.
He sighed, and spun her into the next set of figures. "Highness, my nation borders both yours and his. I need to know how to advise the Queen."
"Hm," she said. "That is a dilemma, I'm so sorry." She carefully considered how to phrase it. "A war would be such a terrible thing, don't you think? If those rumors you're hearing are true, well, what was the poor boy even doing here? Especially without advance warning...I know a few things about protocol, at least, and surely a prince's visit would have merited a party or two, wouldn't it?"
The Ambassador frowned, then nodded slowly. "I understand, Highness. If I find anything out, I'll tell you."
She laughed again, bright and shining. "Oh, well, you know me. I'm always happy to hear the latest gossip. Especially if it keeps things happy and stable, for everyone."
The song end, and he bowed over her hand again. "Many thanks, highness. And I wish you and your sons every happiness."
Sola smiled, swept him a curtsy in response, and resumed circulating among the guests. If all went well, she'd have an answer before too long. But she hadn't told the Ambassador the entire truth. While she certainly didn't want a war, and surely most sensible people wouldn't, either, there were interests at court that did. Kellom's faction, for one. And, no doubt, there were interests in Feredar pushing for it, too. That was the only reason to send a crippled mage with royal blood into her father's capital.
She needed that information, before she could act. And Papa wouldn't allow her access to Isshiri, and while she could get the boy to tell her if he did, it would take time. Events were moving too quickly to hope for that. The Ambassador was the best back channel she had available to her, for potential trouble with Glass. If she had any hope of a peaceful resolution to this crisis...
But, for the moment, she'd done all she could, and it was her sons' birthday. Business could wait. Her father would be arriving soon, and she, after all, had a party to throw.
Story: Back Channels
'Verse: Feredar
Colors: Alice Blue #6. six impossible things before breakfast, Aqua #17. Rain, Cinnabar #1. Silver
Supplies and Materials: eraser (Discovery AU), stain, feathers, chalk, seed beads, novelty beads (Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau), glitter (Have you ever been caught in the middle of two opposing forces or people? Tell us about it. Or write about it.),
Word Count: 654
Rating: PG
Characters: Sola
Warnings: Discussion of war, some ableism
Notes: Constructive criticism welcome, as always.
Sola was saved the trouble of seeking the Ambassador from Mafesar when he approached her at her twins' birthday function. "Highness, may we speak privately?"
She smiled at him, flickering her fan. "Privacy isn't easy here, Ambassador. There are so many people around. And this isn't exactly the time or place--I should be with my sons."
"I can be discreet."
She fluttered her lashes, using the excuse to size him up--he was tense, but not angry. Concerned, very concerned--he must have found out about her brother's discovery. "I suppose I can dance with you," she said, flashing a smile. "If you're quick about what you have to say..."
He bowed and kissed her hand, and she rewarded him with a silvery laugh. Let any witnesses think she was carrying on one of her various flirtations--she and the Ambassador were seen together often enough, at public events, that it wouldn't be a surprise. Her sons would, of course, be terribly embarrassed, but not upset. They knew how she was.
She let him put his hand on her waist and gave him a silvery laugh. "So, my lord, what is it you want to know?"
"I've been hearing rumors, Highness."
"Oh, there are always rumors."
He spun her. "Not like these."
"All right, you have my attention," she said, leaning in to breathe a secret in his ear. "What rumors have you heard?"
"Are you going to declare war on Glass?"
He was blunt--it was refreshing. He could compliment and flatter as easily as any diplomat, but when it was important, he got straight to the point.
"Oh, I don't know those things," she said dismissively, laughing again.
"Was Prince Isshiri arrested?"
Well, then. "You must let me speak to your sources someday, Ambassador," she said.
"So, he was."
"Oh, I haven't seen any princes except my brothers and my sons," she said airily.
He sighed, and spun her into the next set of figures. "Highness, my nation borders both yours and his. I need to know how to advise the Queen."
"Hm," she said. "That is a dilemma, I'm so sorry." She carefully considered how to phrase it. "A war would be such a terrible thing, don't you think? If those rumors you're hearing are true, well, what was the poor boy even doing here? Especially without advance warning...I know a few things about protocol, at least, and surely a prince's visit would have merited a party or two, wouldn't it?"
The Ambassador frowned, then nodded slowly. "I understand, Highness. If I find anything out, I'll tell you."
She laughed again, bright and shining. "Oh, well, you know me. I'm always happy to hear the latest gossip. Especially if it keeps things happy and stable, for everyone."
The song end, and he bowed over her hand again. "Many thanks, highness. And I wish you and your sons every happiness."
Sola smiled, swept him a curtsy in response, and resumed circulating among the guests. If all went well, she'd have an answer before too long. But she hadn't told the Ambassador the entire truth. While she certainly didn't want a war, and surely most sensible people wouldn't, either, there were interests at court that did. Kellom's faction, for one. And, no doubt, there were interests in Feredar pushing for it, too. That was the only reason to send a crippled mage with royal blood into her father's capital.
She needed that information, before she could act. And Papa wouldn't allow her access to Isshiri, and while she could get the boy to tell her if he did, it would take time. Events were moving too quickly to hope for that. The Ambassador was the best back channel she had available to her, for potential trouble with Glass. If she had any hope of a peaceful resolution to this crisis...
But, for the moment, she'd done all she could, and it was her sons' birthday. Business could wait. Her father would be arriving soon, and she, after all, had a party to throw.