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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Aug 16, 2011 13:15:47 GMT -5
Backdated to the first year of Queen Sabrina's reign, a few weeks after the Royal Hunt Fete I'd come to the Palace, hoping for a chance to see the Akkadian prince – I'd not had a chance to offer polite greetings, and as diplomatic relations were virtually nonexistent between La Serenissima and Kebbel-im-Akkad, it seemed a good call, a nice bonus to report to Emilio, to offer my greetings to the Amir, and perhaps discuss possible trade opportunities. Of course, he was a busy man, and I'd put my request in, had waited, and in my impatience, I'd found myself wandering in the Palace gardens, hoping for an audience date, at least. I was in a strange mood – having been left by Mirielle for August de Trevalion had left me bruised, hurt, and I wanted to cry and punch things all at once. Yet it was a beautiful day, and though I was melancholy, I felt a little lighter. I still had my sister, I still had To-Biko, and I was starting to think perhaps a trip to Iz-Entre-Mer would do me good. After this, I would set it up, I promised myself.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Aug 19, 2011 22:50:44 GMT -5
Business had called, as it usually did, and I found myself at court in the City of Elua, once again. Our traditional arrangement to send me to Namarre was delayed this time around, and so father had suffered me to remain within the palace walls until they were ready.
My god it was so tedious.
"That will be enough, Elvira," I ordered shortly, tugging my hair away from her and hastily arranging it in a lover's knot, as I'd seen some women do here. I was not usually so curt with my servants but I was tired of being cooped up, confined to the guests quarters. I was sixteen for goodness sake, I was old enough not to get in the way.
Sending Elvira on a fool's errand, I seized the chance to escape, heading towards the palace gardens where I was sure no one else would be at this time of day. There were several diplomatic meetings taking place so I would not be troubling anyone.
My assumption was incorrect, however; it seemed a stranger had arrived there before me - and none too happy by the looks of things. Not wanting to seem like I was snooping, I slowed my pace and began to hum audibly.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Aug 21, 2011 12:00:08 GMT -5
I'd made sure to avoid the lion's statue – it was a place that still stung, and I didn't think I could bear to look at it. My knuckles weren't bruised anymore, contrary to my heart.
I'd taken to observe a fountain, it was indeed ingenious, and I suspected it was probably the work of a famous Siovalese engineer I'd heard the name of, vaguely, but couldnt' remember just then.
A young woman was humming, and I heeded her only distractedly, though when she slowed her pace, I inclined my head, very politely, so as not to lack in courtesy.
Regardless of my inner turmoil, I was a courtier.
“Lady,” I said, by way of greeting, not offering more, should she wish to be on her way. I wouldn't mind a conversation, though – to pass the time until word came from the Amir.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Aug 24, 2011 6:45:59 GMT -5
The stranger having taken notice of my presence inclined his head politely and I responded in kind.
"My Lord," I dipped a curtsey and smiled, a little foolishly I think, from the fact that I was actually outside. Noticing the object of his attention, I nodded my head in the direction of the fountain.
"They're quite clever, these D'Angelines," I commented brightly.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Aug 24, 2011 22:30:54 GMT -5
“Aye, that they are,” I replied, nodding. She had an accent I could hardly place, and was young – but had eyes that fit the L'Envers line. Interesting. I tilted my head, and asked, “Or should that be, quite clever, aren't we?”
It was a wry tease, and one in which I included myself – I had no small amount of pride in my mother's blood. She seemed fairly young and was, I noted, quite pretty. In other dispositions, I might have been interested in her in that way – but my mind was still full of the woman who had spurned me for a fop.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Aug 24, 2011 22:48:09 GMT -5
His comment made me look at him more closely. Quite astute, he seemed, and part D'Angeline too, definitely more so than me. I grinned and gave a little shrug.
"Quite clever a generation or two back. In my case anyway." Sinking into another curtsey, I introduced myself, hoping that he would do the same. "Soraya de la Cruz. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Aug 24, 2011 23:23:35 GMT -5
I bowed very politely, but not lower than my station required. “Gillermo Stregazza, clever a generation back,” I replied, chuckling. “You have the eyes of house L'Envers, Lady de la Cruz – and so there is little cleverness there. It must be the Serenissiman in me, who put two and two together.”
My smile was a bit humorous, even if it didn't reach my eyes entirely, I knew. “It is always a pleasure to meet a daughter of Aragonia.”
I had a special fondness for her country – I counted several friends in Amilcar, and one in Rosa. It was a good recommendation.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Aug 25, 2011 0:08:48 GMT -5
"Likewise it is to meet a Serenissiman." And a Stregazza no less, of the Doge's own family. "Though I've not had the pleasure of visiting for long enough." Having split my time between Aragonia, Terre d'Ange and Khebbel-im-Akkad it was no wonder. Though thinking about it, my cousin from the latter was at court. I should probably call upon him, sometime soon after father's negotiations were complete.
I glanced at the Lord Stregazza shrewdly. "You have the advantage of knowing my D'Angeline ancestral house, yet I cannot begin to guess at yours. Pray tell, which angel's blood runs through your veins?"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Aug 28, 2011 9:43:40 GMT -5
I smiled, a touch amused. “It is a natural alliance, Signorita,” I replied humorously. “For what angel would be best suited, to court Asherat of the sea herself?”
Of course, it had to be Azza, and so my mother as seafaring as much as my father was, as much as I was myself, though alas I'd also inherited pride from them both.
I tilted my head, brown curls shaking a little, and offered the answer. “My mother is Azzalese, though of a lesser house.”
Not being related to August de Trevalion was a blessing, really. I'd hate having to dislike family.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Aug 29, 2011 8:34:25 GMT -5
"Ahhh, Pride in all his glory." It seemed rather fitting, for though he wasn't one of the brazenly arrogant types there was a quiet dignity in his demeanour. His earlier words made sense now too, I'd almost forgotten Azza had bestowed the gift of navigation, and spawned many a good sailor.
"You've inherited the love of travel then?"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 3, 2011 13:28:54 GMT -5
“It's hard not to foster it, when one moves from a seafaring side of the family to the other,” I replied, chuckling.
To-Biko hovered about, a tall hunk of a Jebean, and his low basse of a voice let out a touch of amusement.
“His grace is being modest,” he said to Soraya, and though he'd been conspicuous until then, he was now in full view, sitting on the fountain's ledge. “How else would he have come about a Jebean retainer?”
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Sept 4, 2011 5:59:30 GMT -5
I started at the voice, deeper, I'm sure, than any I had heard before and realised that we were not entirely alone.
"How indeed!" I inclined my head in greeting, quite surprised, then turning back to Lord Stregazza, eyes wide with interest. "Jebe-Barkal! It is a long way to from Terre d'Ange or La Serenissima. What an adventure you must have been on to go such a way."
I was honestly curious as to why. Even having been half raised in Khebbel-im-Akkad, I'd never been that far.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 7, 2011 8:54:16 GMT -5
Ah, what an adventure indeed. Finding To-Biko, and angering the shamans, with terrible consequences, which were now thankfully of the past, but still.
“Aye, a plenty,” was all I found to reply. “Have you ever seen a beast with a nose as long as its legs, and tusks that might knock a man senseless just for a careless move?” The laughter was a touch low, and it was my Jebean friend's. If he wanted to join in the story-telling, he was more than welcome to it, and he well knew.
Best, I decided, to keep the true adventures discreet – there'd been enough rumours as it was, and I felt no desire to fuel them. I spoke confident that To-Biko would not betray our oath of silence – he was like a brother to me, and ever would be.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Sept 13, 2011 0:06:09 GMT -5
"Truly? Such a creature exists? Surely you jest." I felt like a right peasant then, and felt rather envious that he had journeyed so far. "Are you a scholar then, to have travelled so far? Or perhaps just an adventurer?"
From anyone but me it might have sounded a little rude, but I often found that as a girl and a young one at that, I could get away with it being sheer interest. Which it was, for once.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 13, 2011 2:22:04 GMT -5
“A servant of the Serenissimus Emilio,” I replied, amused for the first time in a while by her easy manner and wide eyes. “As I am here on embassy, I was then, to the Ras Ligasu.”
“As for the beast,” To-Biko volunteered, perhaps trying to spare me from a tedious explanation of my work as en envoy, “it is called ndovu in my people's language, and it exists as true as your boars and stags do, my lady.”
As an afterthought, I surmised that he might simply prefer talking of beasts, rather than of a ruler who would have had him executed, had I not accepted to take him into exile with me. Thankfully, the mission had gone well, and had ended in a trade to which La Serenissima now owed a new commodity which was quickly spreading.
Ah, but I did enjoy the smell of coffee in the morning.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Sept 15, 2011 7:26:19 GMT -5
"Ndovu," I repeated. It sounded positively exotic and magical; how I wished I might go there. Looking from Lord Stregazza to his retainer, I wondered how many other tales they might have.
"You are like my father then," I said eventually. "He is also in diplomacy, though only between Aragonia, Terre d'Ange and Khebbel-im-Akkad. Never so far as Jebe-Barkal, at least that I know of. What's the farthest you've ever been? Do you know how to speak all the languages of the places you've been to?"
I realised then that I was on the verge of asking a flurry of questions and stopped myself short.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 19, 2011 20:49:44 GMT -5
She reminded me, in her excitement, of my sister, and I smiled a little – perhaps I might invite her to dinner, if her father allowed. I should like for Cascata to have friends, though it was, I realized, merely my own projections. My sweet sister had never lacked for company.
“Some,” I replied to her last question. “And Jebe-Barkal is as far as I have been – many of the lands of the sea, I've seen, though never Alba.” I stopped myself short from adding – perhaps it should be my ext post. I felt oft that I had outstayed my welcome.
“Who is your father, then, my lady? I reckon, I would like to meet a colleague, if he can spare the time.”
Having never noted any such ambassador in any fete, I suspected they'd only just come.
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Sept 24, 2011 9:25:26 GMT -5
Alba! Another place I wish I'd visited, and could likely travel to considering it was not far from Terre d'Ange. When he asked about my father I practically felt myself beaming with pride.
"Cervantes de la Cruz," I supplied. "He is in talks right now, maybe with my Akkadian kinsman, but I think he would be delighted to you meet you too. Both of you." I nodded at the retainer.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 24, 2011 21:43:35 GMT -5
I appreciated that she included To-Biko into the conversation, though I made no sign of it – part of his advantage was his ability to melt into the background when necessary, true, but most importantly, he was my best friend. Both these facts needed to be kept under the carpet of appearances, for covertsy's sake.
“Then it would be at your leisure, milady,” I replied pleasantly. “Would your father not be acquainted with Prince Eduardo de la Rosa, per chance, or with Signore Tomas da Soria?”
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Post by Soraya de la Cruz on Oct 1, 2011 8:47:51 GMT -5
I smiled brightly. "I should think he is. If not he'd be doing his job poorly. We are often at court, except for when we are sent to the embassies."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Oct 3, 2011 20:40:21 GMT -5
“Then should your paths cross,” I said with a small smile, “do give Prince Eduardo my fond regards, for I've not seen him since Rosa, and it's been quite a long while.”
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Post by Silvana de Lucca on Oct 15, 2011 11:01:34 GMT -5
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