Post by opalgirl on Dec 7, 2011 16:16:10 GMT 10
To Griff:
Message: I hope this is what you wanted, and happy holidays!
Title: Reminiscence
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,031
Wishlist Item: #4 - Kalasin and Aly - Aly is sent on a diplomatic mission to Carthak
Summary: Empress Kalasin spots Aly in a delegation. Aly is appropriately stealthy in visiting the Empress.
Kalasin knew she wasn’t supposed to have noticed her. No, that particular member of the Copper Isles delegation was supposed to have gone unnoticed, unseen.
But in Carthak, golden hair touched with red stood out, even beneath veils and scarves. For all her attempts to blend in, fade away into the background, Aly still stood out. She was still visibly a northerner even with her tan.
“My dear?” Kaddar touched her hand and Kalasin shook her head, smiling a little.
“I thought I had seen someone I used to know,” she said, carefully. “It seems I was mistaken.” Aly was here, for gods-only-knew what purpose, but Kalasin wasn’t about to announce the woman’s presence from the rooftops.
If they knew, the politicians would only take the arrival of Queen Dovasary’s ‘Cunning One’ as a threat. She wasn’t certain that she’d disagree with them; at home, Aly had been a terror and she had shown she knew how to wreak havoc as an adult.
No matter the reason for Aly’s unannounced visit Kalasin decided, she’d see her old friend before the delegation departed. Privately.
Finally, when Kaddar rose at midnight, she was free to return to her quarters. Her ladies would be easily dismissed, the children were in bed, and if he didn’t retire immediately, Kaddar would occupy himself in his study.
Undressed and prepared for bed, she waited until the door of her dressing room closed behind her ladies-in-waiting before walking onto the balcony to think. Her calendar was well and truly full, and she wasn’t even certain where Aly was housed. A puzzle, then.
“You know, Your Imperial Majesty,” said a voice that had Kalasin jumping and reaching for both her Gift and the ring that would summon the household guard to her.
Assassination attempts were rare now, but still of a concern. Here in the royal wings of the palace, she was safest. A slim figure stepped out of the shadows of the balcony and Kalasin swore. “Alianne Cooper,” she scolded, letting the fire of her Gift fade
“There hasn’t been an attempt on the life of any member of the Imperial household since the second year of your husband’s reign,” Aly pointed out, matter-of-factly. “And it seems to me that you’re quite well-liked.”
“Not nearly well-liked enough,” Kalasin grumbled. “By the Goddess, how did you get up here? I know these wards backwards and forwards. And that’s no cursed easy climb.”
“As I was going to say,” Aly continued, “anyone else would have reported me once they’d spotted me. You didn’t.”
“I should have.”
Aly grinned and perched on the railing, swinging her legs as if she was just a girl all over again. “Married life treats you well?”
“Well enough.”
“I thought as much. Aunt Daine never had a bad word to say about him.”
Kalasin frowned at her old friend. “Word from home is that you went and married a crow. Really, Aly?”
Aly just shrugged. “He makes a better man. Goddess—your son, the oldest—"
“Binur.”
“He’s got Roald’s face.”
There was no one else in the country who knew her older brother well enough to make a comparison like that. It felt oddly… comforting somehow to hear someone else say what she’d thought since her son was very small. “He does. Mother says you’ve a brood all your own?”
Aly’s mouth twisted wryly. “Triplets, Kally. Never have them if you value your sanity.”
The childhood nickname made her heart twinge. No one had called her that in person in nearly ten years. “Triplets. Mithros. You do wreak havoc quite thoroughly, don’t you?”
“I blame Mother.”
“Of course you do.” Wrapping her dressing gown more snugly around herself, Kalasin sat in one of the chairs on the balcony. “I’m not going to ask you what you’re doing here—doubtless, you can’t tell me—but why couldn’t you pay a call like an ordinary person?”
“That would draw too much attention. What business would the likes of me have calling on Her Imperial Majesty, the most beautiful woman in Carthak?”
Kalasin gave a distinctly unladylike snort. “You’ve heard that one, then.”
“Of course I have.” Aly slid from the rail and stood, her hands tucked in her belt. Up close, in this lighting, she looked older, a bit more worn. Then again, they’d both been much younger the last time they’d seen each other in person. “You’re popular here. I’m impressed.”
“I’ve heard bits and pieces of what you’ve done in the Isles. I’m impressed.”
Aly shrugged, as if shaking off the compliment. “I didn’t do it alone.” She paused a moment and then said, her grin pure mischief, “You get all the news from home, my dear. Tell me—is Aunt Thayet still going out in the nude on balconies to shoot at things?”
The laughter started in her chest and didn’t stop, refused to be restrained. It wasn’t the polite laughter of a noblewoman; it felt like the times she’d laughed with her sisters when they were girls. When she’d gathered herself again, Kalasin shook her head. “You know, I’d almost forgotten about that.”
Aly clicked her tongue in disapproval. “How could you forget that? That’s like forgetting the time Liam and Vania magicked a suit of armour to follow the Tusaine ambassador around.”
“And to answer your question—no, she isn’t. Not that I’ve heard. Mother says Roald and Shinko’s little ones’ favourite nursemaid is your brother.”
Aly blinked. “It isn’t Alan, so it must be Thom. He likes the little ones, wouldn’t you know it? Da used to say that if it wasn’t for the red hair and Mother’s Gift, he’d think Thom didn’t belong to us.”
“I remember that. If it’s news you want, Alianne, have a seat. There’s a bit of it.”
As Kalasin supplied all of the stories and gossip from home (Vania’s letters were a fine source of gossip) and reminisced with someone who’d been there, it almost felt like being home again. Carthak had become… almost home, in a way, but it would never quite be the same.
Retelling a childhood prank proved much more amusing when someone who’d participated in it was there, after all.
Message: I hope this is what you wanted, and happy holidays!
Title: Reminiscence
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,031
Wishlist Item: #4 - Kalasin and Aly - Aly is sent on a diplomatic mission to Carthak
Summary: Empress Kalasin spots Aly in a delegation. Aly is appropriately stealthy in visiting the Empress.
Kalasin knew she wasn’t supposed to have noticed her. No, that particular member of the Copper Isles delegation was supposed to have gone unnoticed, unseen.
But in Carthak, golden hair touched with red stood out, even beneath veils and scarves. For all her attempts to blend in, fade away into the background, Aly still stood out. She was still visibly a northerner even with her tan.
“My dear?” Kaddar touched her hand and Kalasin shook her head, smiling a little.
“I thought I had seen someone I used to know,” she said, carefully. “It seems I was mistaken.” Aly was here, for gods-only-knew what purpose, but Kalasin wasn’t about to announce the woman’s presence from the rooftops.
If they knew, the politicians would only take the arrival of Queen Dovasary’s ‘Cunning One’ as a threat. She wasn’t certain that she’d disagree with them; at home, Aly had been a terror and she had shown she knew how to wreak havoc as an adult.
No matter the reason for Aly’s unannounced visit Kalasin decided, she’d see her old friend before the delegation departed. Privately.
Finally, when Kaddar rose at midnight, she was free to return to her quarters. Her ladies would be easily dismissed, the children were in bed, and if he didn’t retire immediately, Kaddar would occupy himself in his study.
Undressed and prepared for bed, she waited until the door of her dressing room closed behind her ladies-in-waiting before walking onto the balcony to think. Her calendar was well and truly full, and she wasn’t even certain where Aly was housed. A puzzle, then.
“You know, Your Imperial Majesty,” said a voice that had Kalasin jumping and reaching for both her Gift and the ring that would summon the household guard to her.
Assassination attempts were rare now, but still of a concern. Here in the royal wings of the palace, she was safest. A slim figure stepped out of the shadows of the balcony and Kalasin swore. “Alianne Cooper,” she scolded, letting the fire of her Gift fade
“There hasn’t been an attempt on the life of any member of the Imperial household since the second year of your husband’s reign,” Aly pointed out, matter-of-factly. “And it seems to me that you’re quite well-liked.”
“Not nearly well-liked enough,” Kalasin grumbled. “By the Goddess, how did you get up here? I know these wards backwards and forwards. And that’s no cursed easy climb.”
“As I was going to say,” Aly continued, “anyone else would have reported me once they’d spotted me. You didn’t.”
“I should have.”
Aly grinned and perched on the railing, swinging her legs as if she was just a girl all over again. “Married life treats you well?”
“Well enough.”
“I thought as much. Aunt Daine never had a bad word to say about him.”
Kalasin frowned at her old friend. “Word from home is that you went and married a crow. Really, Aly?”
Aly just shrugged. “He makes a better man. Goddess—your son, the oldest—"
“Binur.”
“He’s got Roald’s face.”
There was no one else in the country who knew her older brother well enough to make a comparison like that. It felt oddly… comforting somehow to hear someone else say what she’d thought since her son was very small. “He does. Mother says you’ve a brood all your own?”
Aly’s mouth twisted wryly. “Triplets, Kally. Never have them if you value your sanity.”
The childhood nickname made her heart twinge. No one had called her that in person in nearly ten years. “Triplets. Mithros. You do wreak havoc quite thoroughly, don’t you?”
“I blame Mother.”
“Of course you do.” Wrapping her dressing gown more snugly around herself, Kalasin sat in one of the chairs on the balcony. “I’m not going to ask you what you’re doing here—doubtless, you can’t tell me—but why couldn’t you pay a call like an ordinary person?”
“That would draw too much attention. What business would the likes of me have calling on Her Imperial Majesty, the most beautiful woman in Carthak?”
Kalasin gave a distinctly unladylike snort. “You’ve heard that one, then.”
“Of course I have.” Aly slid from the rail and stood, her hands tucked in her belt. Up close, in this lighting, she looked older, a bit more worn. Then again, they’d both been much younger the last time they’d seen each other in person. “You’re popular here. I’m impressed.”
“I’ve heard bits and pieces of what you’ve done in the Isles. I’m impressed.”
Aly shrugged, as if shaking off the compliment. “I didn’t do it alone.” She paused a moment and then said, her grin pure mischief, “You get all the news from home, my dear. Tell me—is Aunt Thayet still going out in the nude on balconies to shoot at things?”
The laughter started in her chest and didn’t stop, refused to be restrained. It wasn’t the polite laughter of a noblewoman; it felt like the times she’d laughed with her sisters when they were girls. When she’d gathered herself again, Kalasin shook her head. “You know, I’d almost forgotten about that.”
Aly clicked her tongue in disapproval. “How could you forget that? That’s like forgetting the time Liam and Vania magicked a suit of armour to follow the Tusaine ambassador around.”
“And to answer your question—no, she isn’t. Not that I’ve heard. Mother says Roald and Shinko’s little ones’ favourite nursemaid is your brother.”
Aly blinked. “It isn’t Alan, so it must be Thom. He likes the little ones, wouldn’t you know it? Da used to say that if it wasn’t for the red hair and Mother’s Gift, he’d think Thom didn’t belong to us.”
“I remember that. If it’s news you want, Alianne, have a seat. There’s a bit of it.”
As Kalasin supplied all of the stories and gossip from home (Vania’s letters were a fine source of gossip) and reminisced with someone who’d been there, it almost felt like being home again. Carthak had become… almost home, in a way, but it would never quite be the same.
Retelling a childhood prank proved much more amusing when someone who’d participated in it was there, after all.