Getting a Permit

[Kysis]

(Continued from New For Business.)

Alia breathed a sigh of relief when she finally saw the Guardhouse looming ahead.  It felt as if she had walked forever, and though the air was crisp and cool, she was feeling very overheated.  The young woman had grown quite good at hiding her discomfort, however, wanted no pity.  The heat only showed as a slight flush of pink to her porcelain cheeks, which could have been mistaken for cold or dryness to the skin.  It was possible.  Her heart was thundering, and breathing hurt a bit, but at least she was not coughing.  There was always a bright side to everything.

Taking in as deep a breath as she could without bringing on a fit of coughing, Alia entered, making sure the door remained open for Amillia.  She still held the box with the dagger close to her, even though the customer had paid for it.  Alia wanted to ensure she got the required permit, didn\'t just run off when she had the steel.  In Kreos that would have been just fine.  There were no permits and regulations on weaponry.  It was more a matter of... who could use their\'s better as to who carried what.  Oberon had more inforcable laws, though, and Kysis seemed determined to follow every one to a T.  It was an odd change, but Alia suspected it had something to do with the Captain, who he had spend an unhealthy amount of time with, wicked woman.

Head held high, determination in her eyes. Alia gracefully strode to the desk, proclaiming exactly what she needed, "We are here for request of a weapons permit.  Who must we speak with?"  When needed, Alia could put on all the importance of the customary noblewoman, that urgency to be attended to.  It was a skill she had been taught early on.  If she wanted something, the tactic was used, and people normally followed.  Hopefully some of the guards would recognize her coloring, know she was Kysis\' little sister, remember the exhibition, and get scrambling quick.  Having such a determined brother helped sometimes.

[Existentially Odd]

The two guards standing behind the welcome desk glanced at each other - not in the manner of amazement, but merely because they were amused by the woman\'s austere tones - and the dark-haired one spoke as he got to his feet.  "That\'ll be Lieutenant Frederickson, I\'ll just get him," he explained.

He crossed the room and strode limberly up the stairs, coming to a sudden halt when he instead found his captain at the top of them, gazing out the window - and then frowning at him when he skidded to a stop before her.  "Captain! I-"

"What does she want?" Wilson demanded bitterly.

"The... the lady downstairs?" he frowned.

"No, the blonde bitch acting like a lady," she responded curtly.  The guard blinked.  Wilson was surprised he didn\'t sway back from her and resolved to quell the venom she was feeling.  Just because Alia was a bitch... and she was bitter about what had happened with Kysis... didn\'t mean she had to chew out everyone that came near her (though that was, admittedly, her style).  She sighed.  "Yes, Harris, the lady downstairs, what does she want?"

"A weapons permit," he answered through stiff lips, not quite sure what he\'d done wrong but fearful of taking another step out of line.

"Oh," Wilson frowned, wondering why Alia would want such a thing when her guards had them and the silly waif could barely lift her own cutlery at dinner, let alone wield a weapon, but she waved a dismissive hand over her shoulder and slouched against the wall, determined not to go downstairs and find out (for she might also be tempted to ask after Kysis\' well-being and that wouldn\'t be met pleasantly).  "Freddy\'s in my office."

Guard Harris hastened to collect the much-friendlier Lieutenant and soon enough, they were on their way downstairs (Freddy conveniently ignored the piercing look Lam threw him as he turned the corner going down the stairs and glanced up at her).  The junior guard went to his partner at a desk in the background (whispering of the Captain\'s ire towards their current customer and sending more than a few curious looks the thin woman\'s way) while the large, muscular lieutenant stepped up to the counter with a pleasant smile.  His short hair was fair, his eyes a dancing blue-grey and his posture superb.

"How can I help you?" he asked Alia, though he included Amillia in the question merely by glancing at her.  The box cradled by the lady had also caught his eye.

[pentacledreamer]

Amillia had to count her breathes to keep her heart from exploding, she felt esspecially uneasy when the two men returned like the whole buildings air had been electrified by some unseen force and the sparks were dancing in her chest with each breath.

She peered down at the floor, standing oddly close to Alia as she was the only one that she trusted at this point in time and didn\'t want to leave that one security.

Her eyes refused to move for right infront of her as she noted the other guards around. She could only pray that the the two whom she did not, above anything else, want to see at all did not come around. Though her luck had been extremely well this day, it wasn\'t to say that that was about to end.

She peered up through her lashes at the man standing in font of them as he peered at her dagger, which she had felt upset that she couldn\'t hold it being she\'d paid for it, that was craddled in Alia\'s arms.

Grummbling under her breath she shuffled her feet and waited to see what Alia would say.

[Kysis]

"She would like to get a permit for this."

Alia flicked the box open, holding it so that Fredrickson could get a good look.  She recognized the man as the one Kysis had worked with on the exhibition details.  For a moment she wondered if he recognized her, but doubted it greatly.  She had been there for the meetings between her father and Fredrickson, but had steered clear wherever her brother was envolved.  That was usually how things went.  She saw him when she had to and no more, mostly around times when food was present, seeing as Alia did not know how to cook and generally did not speak with the house guards to see if any of them could.  Kysis was the translator.

"You are the one we should speak with?"

Though she did not mean to be overly critical, she was.  That was Alia\'s nature, after all, judging everyone before she knew them.  First glance generally did the trick.  When Alia first laid eyes upon Amillia, she thought \'poor girl in need\'.  So, Alia was trying to provide, even if it might have looked overly controlling and demeaning.  She did not know how to deal with those she could not boss about, trying to give orders where she could.  No one had complained... that she knew of.

A smirk had touched her lips as her eyes found where the lieutenant had come from.  Alia wondered if the Captain was up there.  What Alia wouldn\'t give to have a word or two with that woman.  No doubt she was to blame for Kysis\' moodiness as of late, the oddities showing up in his manner that Alia had not seen until she came along.  Business first, play later though.  That she had to keep in mind.  If she wished to call the Captain out on anything, it would have to be done after the permit was gained.  Amillia had paid, after all.

[Existentially Odd]

"I am, Miss Dinaris," he confirmed, cocking his head and frowning at Amillia before looking back at Alia.   Even if he didn\'t have an excellent memory, the fair woman\'s complexion was enough to give her away as a member of the Dinaris household; plus, there was the added bonus of Lam bitching at him about her, too.  Still, this matter wasn\'t about her, so the use of her name seemed acknowledgment enough for now. "She would, would she?  And she can\'t speak for herself?" he asked the blue-eyed noble with a hint of sarcasm, unsure of the relationship between the two women but thinking that the one seeking a permit should really be the one doing the talking.

As he asked, his body was leaning to the side and he was reaching for a bound ledger that was stored on a shelf beneath the counter.  It was the copy record of everyone who\'d paid for weapons permits - the original was upstairs in his own space.  Freddy liked to keep doubles of all his important paperwork.

When the book was on top of the desk, he opened it to about halfway through and then located a quill, not dipping it into the inkwell before him until he had confirmation that the woman could both state her name and pay the one silver fee (one silver was the amount for a commoner bearing arms because the guards wanted to deter such things if they could help it, but a determined soul could certainly achieve that amount).  Of course, the debate that it was too high and only caused simple folk to carry the weapons they wished - but concealed - anyway was a valid one, and an argument Freddy had had at great length and with numerous people.  It was just one of those things.

[pentacledreamer]

Amillia set her eyes on the guard, a cold icy feeling seeping up her spine. She placed her hands on her hips. A little upset that he would be so snide to Alia, she was a lady after all. The commotion upstairs she\'d heard only slightly, had her wondering just what kind of company she was in.

It wasn\'t that she felt uncomfortable anymore, it was the fact that she felt her intelligence was being questioned. That was how she was though, always to jump to the assumption that men thought more than a little less of women. She eyed Fredrickson before squaring her shoulders, " I would like a permit... " She dug into her pocket, "How much?"

Peering down at the book, she held back her urge to just up and walk out, and it wasn\'t just the fact she didn\'t like the place becuase it was crawling with men more so now that she didn\'t like his attitude and she wasn\'t much to keen on being around people she didn\'t like.

At the moment she wanted nothing more than to go back home to her quiet father, and her shoes. She had been working on a nice pair of shoes for herself. The only thing nice she\'d ever have, even her shoes now that were perfect and clean, with embroidered butterflies up the ankles, clashed with the dirty plain clothes she wore.

[Kysis]

Alia was all too glad to catch Fredrickson with a fiery glare.  It seemed the man had heard what the Captain had to say about her, though why it would be so bad, Alia was clueless.  She was merely concerned for her brother, wanted him to see a respectable woman, not some brute that merely posed as one.  Of course, such words would be reserved for her mind and for the Captain herself, not for this underling.

Ignoring the insult, she merely watched, cold blue eyes darting to that stairwell again.  Was the Captain hiding back there like a little scared child might?  Oh, the thought was a delicous one, such a proud and strongly built woman hiding from little sickly her.  Alia relished it.  Of course, such situations rarely came up, most viewing her as having as much bite as a toothless puppy.  Also, most never saw her snippish side, because they did not try splitting her family.  The Captain had made such a mistake.

Knowing that she would not be able to say anything more until this business was over, Alia stepped aside, waiting for the transaction to be over with.  She would have a few cruel words for this mannorless man before inquiring about the Captain, perhaps drawing her out.  If only Rico were about, this would be so much easier.

[Existentially Odd]

As soon as Amillia spoke, Freddy looked her way and smiled, showing that he hadn\'t meant anything too offensive by his tone.  He was a huge, broad bear of a man, but his blue eyes softened kindly as he gathered himself to tell her the price, expecting shock as her reaction - for that was generally what came first - followed by the yelling.  She didn\'t seem the type to launch straight into yelling, though he\'d ruffled her feathers with his prior comments quickly enough.  As quiet as she seemed, he was also aware that there was some reason she wanted to wield a dagger, so she obviously had a fire in her over something.

"One silver," he told her calmly, still not dipping his quill until he\'d watched her reaction to this amount.  To give her something else to focus on (and perhaps dissuade her from yelling), he added: "And what name should I list the permit under, ma\'am?"

[pentacledreamer]

Amillia was completely taken off guard by his change of expression and tone of voice. Peering at Alia momentarily, her fingers roamed over the coin in her pocket, She only had the two gold since she\'d paid two silver for the dagger, she\'d have to give him a gold.

Pulling the gold peice out of her pocket she frowned as she placed infront of him. "Does it havta be dat much?" She groaned, "Ma names Amillia Redintegro." She hoped he didn\'t know her, hoped he didn\'t connect that name with that of her mothers, or her own for the matter hence the reason she was purchasing the cursed permit to begin with.

Her eyes turned back to Alia a slight worry as why the girl was so dead set angry, her glare plastered at the stairwell. A slight pull in Amillia\'s stomach made her wish she would see Alia again after this since she did not have any friends to speak of. She surpressed that thought and turned her attention back to the guard.

[Existentially Odd]

Frederickson blinked as she laid a gold on the counter before him, brows knitting together vaguely as he pondered how she - a woman he\'d assumed a commoner - had come by such a significant amount of money.  His thoughts weren\'t all flattering, in truth, but he had the grace to keep them to himself.

He double checked her name and recorded it in his register, along with the date and a general description of the dagger he was being shown, his other hand smoothing over the gold she\'d laid on the desk the whole time.  "That\'s a lovely weapon - excellent steel," he complimented, dropping a wink towards Alia.  It was, after all, her family business that he was referencing.  "I\'ll just get you your change," he then told Amillia and headed up the stairs to where the cash strong box was securely kept.

Lam assaulted him with an impreious look and a raised eyebrow once he got to the top of the steps.  He sighed and explained that the weapons permit was for Amillia and he had no idea why Alia was there, but reassured the stubborn redhead that they would soon be off the premises.  He didn\'t get any further argument as he got nine silver out of the cashbox and then headed back downstairs.

He stacked the coins in a neat pile before Amillia (on the counter) and smiled.  "There you go, ma\'am; your change.  And here," he drawled as he tore off a small bit of paper - the permit she got to keep and show to any guards that might question her, "is your copy of the permit.  Have a nice day."

After he handed it over, he snapped the register shut with a smile and waited to watch them walk out.

[Kysis]

Finally, the transaction had happened.  Alia allowed herelf a sly smile, its twisting with devilish intent upon her glossed lips.  The young woman turned her eyes to Fredrickson, having remembered to nod slightly at his mention of good steel.  Of course the Liari product was good.  It had been for generations, why would it stop now?  Well, if her brother did not pull his head out from where-ever it was stuck, the business might not stay afloat too terribly well, but she was sure he would come to see reason... especially after Alia got what her alterior motive to coming had been.

"Oh, Sir, would you mind telling me where Captain Wilson might be found at this time of day?  I have some information on that shipment that needs to be passed to her, and only her."

Alia was plotting, most definitely.  From the runner which always came ahead, the shipment would be very near, perhaps crossing to the shore this day.  Alia did not know the exact details, nor had she been told.  It was just a rather good excuse to get at the Captain, which she just loved the idea of doing.  Alia knew a few things about Kysis, seeing as he had confided in one of the guards, and a gold piece had done well enough to loosen up his jaw a bit.  The young woman knew a few things, though he refused (on his honor, none the less) to tell her everything.  It was frustrating, but that was how it went.  Alex had always been a bit too loyal, anyhow.

"If you don\'t mind, good Sir?"

[Existentially Odd]

Freddy\'s expression turned instantly wary and he frowned slightly at the blonde.  He was the primary contact with regard to the weapons deal the city had made, it seemed slightly unreasonable that she\'d go over his head to impart a message to the Captain directly but... it wasn\'t his place to argue.  Long-nurtured gut instinct told him that something was awry in the request though, so he stalled slightly.

"I\'ll go and see if she has time to see you now," he murmured and hastened up the stairs yet again.

Lam was still standing with her shoulder against the wall, arms folded and staring intently out the window as if she was waiting to see something.  She was frowning when she turned to give Freddy an enquiring look.

"She wants to see you."

"What?"

"Something about the shipment that she can tell only you."

"But... "

"Yeah.  What do you want me to say?"

Lam sighed and straightened, adjusting her uniform and deliberately smoothing her expression.  "Bring her up to my office, I guess," she shrugged, worms of worry undulating in the pit of her stomach - for all she could think about was Kysis and (what equated to) the rejection she\'d endured - as she spun smartly on her heel and went to sit behind her desk and look like she was busy.  She was busy and there was a stack of paperwork to be attended to piled across the broad expanse of wood, but she hadn\'t been able to concentrate enough to deplete any of it thus far.

Freddy hesitated, wishing the redhead had just told him to tell Alia that she was busy; that would\'ve been so much cleaner.  Made his hope stay buoyant a little longer, instead of sinking like a rock balloon.  She couldn\'t help herself.  She was miserable and unprofessional but she couldn\'t resist a chance to be close in some way to the man that had made her feel that way.  Typically.

With a disappointed grunt, Lieutenant Frederickson went downstairs and faced their pale visitor, lifting the wooden barrier that would allow her entrance to the office area as he spoke.  "The Captain can see you in her office now, Miss Dinaris," he told her, giving the blonde woman an expectant look that informed her he\'d lead the way up.

[Kysis]

"Good." It was spoken in a haughty sort of way, Alia not caring if it offended either of the closest people.  She had gotten what she wanted, or was almost there at least.  Enough for her.  If Alia got turned away before she could deliver her message, they would be left to wonder and puzzle and fret and worry and not sleep at all for the next week.  Yes, that would be just dandy, but it wasn\'t what she was going for.  Alia wanted to claim a bit more than that, to say the least.  Alright, a lot more than that.

Alia made sure to hand over the box, giving a reassuring smile to Amillia as she passed by, "There you go.  See.  It wasn\'t so bad."  With that she headed off to the Captain\'s office, amazed that she was actually being let in.  That was.... easy.  Surprisingly so.  As long as the Captain did not have some elaborate plan as to how to kill her without first making Kysis suspicious...  Alia did not want to think about it, as the crazy woman probably had mused on such things.

"Ah, Captain, it is a pleasure to see you again."  She offered a curtsey and a smirk, never taking her eyes off the Captain once she was in her office.  Alia did not trust the woman enough for that.  However, she did want to try and make this as painful as possible for the woman, which her brain was already working on.  Not bringing up the subject immediately was a good start.

[Existentially Odd]

"Is it?" the redhead demanded drolly, gesturing vaguely at the chair on the other side of her desk.  "Have a seat if you wish.  What\'s this about the weapons shipment?"

Lam kept her expression cool, her voice neutral as she looked up at the blonde, not liking the fact that Alia was standing, and she therefore had to look up to her, thanks to her cleverly positioning herself at her desk.  Fabulous.

[pentacledreamer]

Amillia craddled the box to her, giving Fredrickson a sidewise glance as she skitted up the stairs, halting in the hall way just outside to watch meekly the goings on between the two woman.

She could of left, should of left, but the thought of leaving the building alone made her stomach drop and she didn\'t want to lose what little socializing she had with Alia on the way to the guardhouse. Hoping to be present on Alia\'s walk home, Amillia peered intentally around the door frame at Lam and Alia. Her fingers white as they clutched the box to her chest.

[Kysis]

Alia allowed herself to walk closer, but took no seat, standing behind the chair with her hands on the back.  It was like a physical barrier between them, adding to the already present blockage caused by the desk.  Alia could not help but keep smiling, all the more since she was looking down at the Captain, who usually towered over her by a few heads.  Her small stature was a hinderance, but now it seemed just fine, especially with the view.  Oh yes, Alia would take a moment to soak this in.

"The weapons should be arriving here within two days, according to the runner.  Kysis sent me to talk to you about the transfer.  He wants to know who will be coming for the exchange and if he is a required presence."

Tact was a thing Alia toyed with now.  Indirectly speaking, it was as if she blurted out \'Kysis does not want to see you, at all\' without actually saying it.  Alia did not know for sure if that was true.  The guard had been a bit dodgy with the entire subject, as if he was trying to hide one specific detail of the affair while giving all the others away.  Alia just wanted to stir up some trouble, find it out, and get the Captain away from her brother.  She wanted Kysis to show interest in a respectable woman, not some... she was running out of grotesque things to call the Captain.  She\'d have to think up some more on the fly.

"Might you answer these... requests?"

[Existentially Odd]

Lam tried very hard not to sneer at Alia\'s stupid pressing for an answer - if she\'d shut up long enough, of course she\'d have the requests met - but knew that that wasn\'t what the blonde was saying.  She was insinuating that Kysis wasn\'t interested in coming near her, which hurt but was hardly surprising after their disagreement the day before.  Lam\'s heart sank with resignation and the hope she\'d been clinging to that it had all been a misunderstanding sank with it.  He really didn\'t care to step into the public eye with her.  His sister was no doubt very pleased with the notion.

"He\'s not required," she said through stiff lips.  "I assumed that the weapons would arrive here and Lieutenant Frederickson would take possession of them.  It doesn\'t matter who brings them.  I will hasten the funds from the treasury, if I can, and try to have them to you in the next day or so - though the palace coin counters have had plenty of time to work on it and they haven\'t yet sent word that the payment is ready for delivery yet.  Once it is, I\'ll have to escort the money; shall I bring it to the shop or the manor?" she demanded crisply, verily glaring into Alia\'s eyes.

So like Kysis\' eyes...

She shut the thought off before it could weaken her too much, the pangs surprisingly strong.  She\'d allowed herself too much rope with her feelings, it was no wonder she\'d hanged.  She was too much to bear, of course Kysis had balked with her pressuring him.  Was there any way she could make that clear to him, though?  Could she even allow him the space he seemed to want, without smothering, even if she promised it?  It felt like she was already in too deep and she knew herself; she\'d start out with the best of intentions and then slip when she was feeling lonely.  He was too tempting for her to stay strong, in that regard.

[Kysis]

"Good.  He will be glad to hear it."

Alia smiled, leaning forward on the chair a little.  Her comments had not gotten as much of a rise out of the Captain as she had hoped, which was frustrating, but Alia was willing to keep at it.  Seiges tended to work better than unplanned assaults, anyhow.  She kept that sweet smile on her, staring intently at the Captain.  If she had a tan and some more meat on her bones, she might actually bear a closer resymblance to Kysis, seem like she was really his sister.  As it stood though, she was too pale and gaunt.  Most assumed she was just some sickly cousin or something else, not a sibling.  That was also irritating, but so be it.  Alia had more important things to concentrate on.

"Are you still planning on going to that banquet.... thing?"

Prying was something Alia had learned well.  She knew fully that the two were supposed to go to the banquet, together (and though Kysis was thoroughly confused on how exactly the Captain wished their appearence to be interpreted, he would go along with it).  She also knew that Kysis would not cancel out of such things full well.  He never backed out of anything (minus marriages), so it would be greatly out of his character to do so.  Alia merely hoped the Captain did not know her brother too well, otherwise she would see through the meddling without an issue.

Alia could try, though.

[Existentially Odd]

Lam frowned, not liking the fact that Kysis had spoken of the judge\'s welcome dinner to his sister and confused because she didn\'t have any idea how to answer.  She supposed that, technically, Kysis hadn\'t told her he wouldn\'t go, but the way they\'d parted... implied as much.  She wanted nothing to do with being seen with him if he wasn\'t willing to understand how it would all work and... well, it was damn confusing, which agitated the captain no end.

"He told you about that?" she demanded irritably, putting down the quill she\'d been holding in order to sit up straighter in her chair and run a hand over her hair, smoothing it for something to do.  She wanted to get up and walk around, stand over Alia at the least, but the tactic would be obvious and she felt she was transparent enough with the way things between her and Kysis were.  Did her brother tell her everything?  Did she know they were lovers too?  That thought made the redhead even more angry.  Was nothing sacred?

"It\'s not meant for common knowledge," she added, enjoying the fact that she was implying Alia wasn\'t nearly as noble as she really was.  Lam was well aware she hadn\'t answered the question and she hoped that her sickly interrogator got the hint that she wasn\'t going to, either.

[Kysis]

"He didn\'t tell me, per say, but I overhead a few.... snippets from a loose tongued guard.  Alex loves to talk.  Pity Kysis hasn\'t realized that."

Alia shrugged, loving just what she had gotten on this one.  Baiting seemed best, drop a few lines and see which ones got bites.  This one most definitely did.  Kysis had not told Alex much, but Alia could fill in blanks.  Something about a special dinner here, something about some conflict there, misunderstandings, frustrations.  That was all Alex would say though.  Alia knew it must have ran deeper, but how she was unsure.  Perhaps Kysis was just practicing the theory of \'keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer\'?  Alia could see quite clearly how the head of a guard group would be against a weapons merchant.  There would be a higher availability of weapons, possibility for more violence, things would become harder to regulate.  No matter where they escaped too, a little part of Kreos would always follow.

"Alex said something about a special dinner.  He could tell Kysis was very mad about something, and he rarely ever shows a temper..."

Well, that was a partial truth.  Kysis had been flummoxed, not angry.  He just wanted everything to be clear instead of so prone to interpretation.  Alia could exaggerate, right?  It wasn\'t a bad thing, right?  She was only looking out for the Lord Liari, right?  Well, she was looking out for her close friend Helen too, crying back in Kreos.  Poor dear she was.  A propper woman, too, not the ox of an imitation the Captain was.  Alia had here own motives.  Kept them to herself, but they were there, always working, gears never stilling.  Alia was used to getting what she wanted to.  There was always a chance that she would be disappointed.... but she wouldn\'t count on it.

[Existentially Odd]

Kysis was telling guards about them and their relationship?  What?!  Lam could hardly believe what Alia was saying, her expression twisted in anger and disgust as she looked up at the blonde woman.  What the hell was she playing at?  The more she talked, the angrier Lam became - but she supposed that might be exactly what her game was.  It was very difficult to bite her tongue and not simply react in fury to what she was being told, but so far she was doing alright.

"Kysis was mad, was he?  Is he?" she corrected through gritted teeth, changing the past tense to present when she realised that her lover likely was still upset.  Especially if he was avoiding seeing her (as much as she knew Alia wanted to upset her, it didn\'t occur to her to question the facts and accuse the little bitch of lying).

"That\'s interesting, considering he\'s the one that didn\'t want-" she stopped mid-sentence, taking a breath as she realised she was talking too much in her anxiety.  Alia had only overheard guards speaking, that didn\'t mean that she knew anything of substance and was probably here fishing.  Lam needed to hold her tongue on details - as dearly as she would like to see the look on the blonde\'s face should she begin to describe in lurid detail just how good the sex between she and Kysis had been, how tasty his dick was, how he\'d felt inside her.  That would certainly shut her up, but Lam would save that line of attack for a last resort.  It wouldn\'t do to confirm any details, really.

Clearing her throat and looking down briefly, Lam shuffled some papers into a neater pile and then met the other woman\'s gaze with a cooler expression.  "It doesn\'t matter," she said dismissively.  "He has a right to his own feelings.  I\'ll discuss the dinner with him when I bring the money from the treasury.  Now, if that will be all... ?" she asked crisply, raising haughty eyebrows as she attempted to evict the little witch from her office.  She was very clearly being dismissed.

[pentacledreamer]

Amillia had long since decided that this conversation was none of her buisness and crept down the stair well, peering at the other guards as she headed towards the door, but a little thought crept into her mind as she passed the two officers by the door.

Turning around she decided she wasn\'t going to abandon Alia to what might happen if the Captian got specially mad at the frail girl. She owed her that much for escorting her to this accursed place anyway.

Darting back up the stairs she wondered what Alia was thinking, as she peered in and saw again that they were facing eachother. The tension she felt she could cut with her knife if she wanted to.

Curious, she didn\'t hide in the hallway like before, more stood in the doorway watching Alia intently.

[Kysis]

Alia clicked her nails on the back of the chair, fingers rising and falling in a rolling pattern.  This was harder than she had thought it would be.  He hadn\'t what?  Oh, that trailing off just wouldn\'t do.  Not at all.  Alia figured she would have to use a little more coin to loosen Alex\'s jaw a bit more.  He was the only person Kysis talked to about anything, anymore.  He had just closed off like a castle surrounded by a mote, drawbridge up and not coming back down.  It hurt to know that he used to confide in her, but no longer did.  Alia hated the whole shake-up which had taken place in the last two months.  From the whole failed betrothal to Rico to the move to now.

"I\'ll warn him."

That was the last dagger she could hurl for now.  Alia wished she was in full armor or some other protective measure, had a guard to use as a meat shield, anything would have been better than the chair.  Smile completely gone, Alia turned in a huff, spotting Amillia and cocking a slender eyebrow.  Had that door not been closed by Fredrickson upon Alia\'s entrance?  How odd....  Not that it mattered.  Alia assumed Amillia would not even remember her brother\'s name, nor understand exactly what was going on.  Alia herself was unsure.  Just what had happened between the Captain and Kysis?  Hmmm, she would puzzle over that one for a while, and that coin should do the trick.  A few gold would get anyone to talk.

"Aww, you waited for me?  How sweet of you.  Perhaps we should spirit away from this cesspit?"

Maybe she did have a few more attacks up her sleeve.

[Existentially Odd]

"Cesspit?" Lam demanded, offended.  She found seeing Alia out was as good a reason as any to get to her feet and she did it hastily, striding around the desk as well, once the insult reached her.  It didn\'t matter that the blonde was goading her with such comments, they were entirely effective because Lam wasn\'t one to be able to take the higher (moral) road.  If she was offended, she let people know.

The captain spared a cold glance for the woman hanging about her doorway, briefly wondering why in Talon\'s name the guards had left her there unsupervised (though Lam would find Freddy lurking in the anteroom once she looked out, since he\'d followed the strange woman in her ridiculous visits up and down the stairs and through the main thoroughfare of the guard\'s business downstairs, bold as she pleased.  She had been shown leniency but she was by no means a trusted visitor).  She then looked down at Alia as she reached the girl\'s side in a few long strides.

"Oberon Castle\'s Guardhouse is hardly a cesspit, Miss Dinaris and I\'ll thank you to realise that such opinions are neither based in fact nor at all helpful in serving our community.  Quite frankly, it\'s a false representation and you should retract the statement," she said haughtily, lifting her chin defiantly.

[pentacledreamer]

Startled out of her wits Amillia stood there like a mute child, clutching her treasured box. Her eyes only on Alia as she bit out harsh tones at Lam.

Her brown eyes centered on Alia\'s cold expression and wondered if she was in the right state of mind to have stayed for the girl. Turning a quick glance at the riled up Captian she took the few steps back that would take her out of eye shot of the woman.

Looking down the hallway she contimplated why she\'d stayed, she didn\'t rely on the company of others normally and didn\'t need the escort home. She had her dagger and would of been quite capable of returning to her father safely.

Averting her eyes she awaited Alia\'s exit before moving, not mentioning that the door hadn\'t been shut properly and she\'d not been in full veiw the whole time.

[Kysis]

"Based on fact?  Why else would a busy woman like yourself go out of your way to be around a weapons merchant?  I wouldn\'t put it beneath you to sleep with someone for a discount.  Luckily such tactics will not work with my brother, as you might have found out."

There was no smile, no false charm to smooth over the biting works, a chill glare of her blue eyes locking on the Captain, before she turned again and headed out the door.  Alia was raised in a proper family, with morals and rules, honor and dignity.  From what she had seen of this woman, or at least heard in little chatterings here and there, she was no better than a brash and uncouth man.  Alia was absolutely revolted by the idea.  The Captain might have been fitting for her job, but definitely not for spending idle time with a person like her brother.  Despite his past mistakes, he at least had some honor.

Of course, she did not know the whole story.  Alex had not told her much, and she suspected that Alex had not been told much himself.  Kysis had gotten frightfully quiet, even for his normal self.  Alia was worried.  She had every right to be.  Marcos had told her to keep an eye on Kysis, and by Talon she would.

"Good day to you, Captain."

Alia swiveled, head held high as she walked right past Amillia.  The young woman did not take lightly to being ignored, whether or not the shoemaker was frightened.  A simple response might have been better that her cowardly truth.  Not even looking at her, Alia started down the hall, hoping that by some miracle the Captain did not find some ridiculous (and completely untrue) reason to get her arrested.  Yes, that would definitely get Kysis against the Captain, but Alia hardly wanted her means that badly.

[pentacledreamer]

Amillia quite put off now by both woman turned and followed a good pace behind Alia, having only given the Captian a quick glance as she did not want to see what the woman possibly thought of Alia\'s out burst.

Taking careful steps she eyed the guards as she came down the steps, thank goodness she could go home now.

But she was a curious creature and brought her steps beside Alia\'s, daring to look directally at the Lady. "May I ask.. what that was.. Why are you so mad?" She said slowly, careful to put no emotion but slight concern into her words.

[Existentially Odd]

The Captain wanted to argue Alia down right then and there, but catching sight of Freddy loitering at the desks just beyond her doorway and watching a complete stranger trot after the blonde wench held her tongue.  Now was not the time to declare loudly that she had had Alia\'s moralistic brother in her bed and it had nothing to do with discounts - as much as she desperately wished to see the look of horror cross the sickly face.  That would have to come another time.

Lam merely snorted her response instead, meeting her Lieutenant\'s gaze as he got to his feet to trail after the two women, then spinning restlessly on her heel and striding back into her office.  It took every ounce of willpower she owned not to slam the door.

[Kysis]

Alia sighed, casting a tired look back towards the Captain\'s office as she walked.  It took a lot of energy to keep that up.  She was feeling quite exhausted, wanting to just curl up in front of a fire with a book and be away from the harsh reality of everything.  Yes, that sounded just magnificent...  Attacking the Captain was not the answer her frustrations begged.  Alia had no confirmation for everything.  She had planned on grilling Kysis on the subjects when coming in to the shop, but Amillia had been in there, and in need, and Alia just couldn\'t help herself and...  It just all blew up from there.

"I\'m sorry you had to hear all that...  I just...  It\'s complicated.  Very."

Though Alia just wanted to spill all the details, about Helen and what happened and the duty Kysis had to face up with and currently wasn\'t, but she kept it in.  Amillia had no role in this whole feud, should not have been used as an instrument for it to play out.  Alia felt horrible for it, too.  It was terribly wrong of her, and she felt the urge to apologize again.

"I\'m so sorry.  Really.  I should not have used this as an excuse to.... further complicate matters."

[pentacledreamer]

Amillia stayed by the girl\'s side, walking intently, "It is no problem.." She looked ahead of them, her eyes inquizative, "I walk back wit ya to your shop.. alright?"

Though curiousity pulled at her gut, she wanted to know why this small Lady was so hell bent on putting their Captian in some sort of place, whether this was deserved or not and she was sure there were more than just two sides to this story so either of them could of been wrong. As she looked back at Alia she let out soft sigh, but than it wasn\'t her place at all to be part of this little circle as she only wanted to buy a dagger.

What a day this had been for her though, first she just wanted food, and damn that man for trying himself on her but she had her weapon and no worries, even if she felt that once she walked away she\'d be loosing a possible friend. Whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

[Kysis]

"Actually, is there anywhere you wish to go?  I was planning on heading home, but... Perhaps I could accompany you?"

Alia remembered what Amillia had said earlier, about men and her mother and all that.  If a noblewoman was with the young woman, then the men were less likely to make a move.  Alia felt she owed Amillia, for all the trouble caused in the guardhouse.  Some of the men might naturally have a grudge against Amillia because of her association with Alia, so....  She wanted to make it up.  Then an idea hit her, like a brick to the head, and though it made Alia pause in midstep and blink for a moment, she soon got it out.

"Would you like some food, perhaps?  To make up for all that I stirred up?"

Yes, it certainly was an idea.  Alia\'s personal guard (who could also cook) was a eunuch, so any man issues would not come up with him around.  Normally the man accompanied Alia everywhere, but this day she had felt somewhat confident, leaving him back at the manor.  Yes, it seemed like a wonderful idea.  If Amillia had nothing more important to do, that was.  Alia was starving for people to talk to, had been all her life, so this seemed a wonderful opportunity.

[pentacledreamer]

Amillia stared at Alia in a dumbstruck manner, barely holding back her eager answer, she stared in awe momentarily. Not that she didn\'t want to, it was more than any one could ever ask of her, but she thought of her father, still sitting in his bed probably talking to nonexistant beings, she hadn\'t been gone \'that long\' had she.

Purhaps it would be alright, her father would do fine for the time being as he usaully was when she went out. Not that he coudl do much but sit there in the bed and yell if he did gain enough of his mind to do so. But besides that he would lay there, silently if not conversing with the spirits he raved about.

Amillia offered a friendly smile, "Al\'ight.. I would like ta." She cupped the dagger, still in its box, under her arm and nodded her head at Alia.

[Kysis]

Alia allowed herself a measured smile, glad that she would indeed have company.  Her mind was already trying to figure out just who would be at the manor right this moment, thinking there might be a guard or two.  Her personal guard usually stayed about the manor when not in use, and since he was a eunuch.... Alia hardly saw a problem about him hovering about.  If only she could remember his name now.  That would be a miracle.

Nodding, pleased with herself, Alia cheerfully led the way from the guardhouse.


(Continued in A Friendly Afternoon)