꧁༺ 𝓓𝓪𝔂 1: ༻꧂
A knock at the door shattered the silence. Kazi walked across the white floor, her hand instinctively reaching for the sword that was not there. Althea's overreliance on protocol made her feel naked without her weapons.
As she opened the door, she expected to see a servant but instead Seraphinael stood there, his face unreadable. "General Kazi," he announced, "I am here to inform you of a royal dinner tonight at eight o'clock. It is to be held in your honour."
Kazi raised her eyebrows. A royal dinner? She was here on a mission, not a social call. "A dinner...." she said slowly. "How... delightful." She tried to keep the disdain out of her voice, but it was no use.
Seraphinael, however, seemed oblivious to her tone. "Indeed. It would be... unfortunate... if you were to miss it.
"Kazi gritted her teeth. She knew arguing or protesting would be futile. And besides maybe she was going to meet the king tonight, after all. "Of course, Seraphinael," she replied, her voice carefully neutral. "I would not dream of missing it."
Seraphinael bowed before he turned to leave, leaving Kazi alone once more. A dinner, then. She had no choice but to attend. She stared at the white walls, a wave of panic washing over her. Dinner meant... clothes. Proper clothes. And Kazi, had only packed clothes suitable for journeying across the seas and battlefields, not for attending a fancy dinner party.
She rummaged through her small travel bag, hoping to find something suitable to wear, but it was clear that her options were limited. Three pairs of trousers and a thick, worn shirt designed for functionality, not elegance, were all she had. Althea, with its white dressed angels and wealthy fabrics, was a foreign world to her.
She pulled out a pair of sturdy black trousers and the only shirt in her bag. It hung loosely on her frame, more like a robe than a proper shirt, but she hoped it would have to do. Tonight, she would be the black sheep at the royal banquet, the foreign general with the mismatched uniform.
Stepping out of her chambers, Kazi was met with a bustling hallway. Servants scurried about, their movements graceful and efficient as they arranged vibrant flowers into intricate bouquets and polished the marble floors. They bowed deeply as she passed, their white uniforms immaculate, their heads bent nearly to the floor. The sight, though impressive in a way, made her feel even more out of place.
"There is no need for that," Kazi muttered, as she walked towards a young woman.
The servant, however, remained kneeling, her gaze fixed on the marble floor. "But Your Excellency..." she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.
Kazi sighed. This overly submissive nature was beginning to grate on her nerves. "Please, just call me Kazi," she said, trying to soften her tone. "There is no need for formalities between us."
But the servant girl refused to meet her eyes. "It would not be proper, General," she said, her voice gaining a hint of firmness. "You are our guest."
Kazi felt a sliver of respect for the young woman's backbone. This was not blind obedience; it was a deep-seated belief in their rigid social order. Fighting it would not change anything tonight.
"Alright," Kazi relented, "But next time, just a nod is fine." The servant girl nodded, a slight smile curling her lips as she rose from her knees. "Thank you, Your Excellency," she said, her voice steady now.
Kazi continued her way to the dining room. This Althea, with its dazzling beauty and suffocating protocol, was a land of contradictions. She would have to tread carefully, navigate the treacherous waters of its customs and courtesies.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of walking through white corridors, she reached a set of massive white oak doors, covered with carvings of angelic figures. Taking a deep breath, Kazi pushed open the doors, bracing herself for another display of white. She was not disappointed.
The dining room was a vision of white - white tablecloth, white marble floors, white walls covered in paintings of Althea's landscapes. Her eyes scanned the room, immediately finding her soldiers. They sat at a separate table, looking slightly out of place in their Niamedan armour amid the sea of white Altheans.
Despite the formality, a small smile played on Kazi's lips.Making her way towards the table, Kazi noted a small white card at each place setting. Her own card, at the head of the table, written in elegant font with the name 'General Kazi'. Taking a seat, she faced her soldiers, who greeted her with a "Good evening, General."
"Good evening, everyone," Kazi replied. "I trust your accommodations have been... adequate?"
"Adequate enough, General," one soldier admitted "The beds are like sleeping on clouds, but I would not mind a little less..." he gestured towards the white surroundings, "...brightness."
A few other soldiers chimed in with murmurs of agreement, while one or two seemed content to remain silent. Kazi smiled to herself, understanding their discomfort. It was always difficult to adapt to new surroundings, especially when those surroundings were as foreign as Althea.
This whole situation, with its suffocating formality, felt ridiculous. But they were guests, and causing a scene would not solve anything.
Suddenly, the double doors at the other end of the room swung open, and Seraphinael entered, followed by a group of servants. Each servant carried a silver tray covered in food, the aroma filling the room.
As they walked towards the table, Seraphinael gestured to the table. "General Kazi, your fellow soldiers, and I. Tonight, we have prepared a meal of our finest cuisine, including a sampling of Althea's finest delicacies. Please, enjoy."
The soldiers bowed their heads in thanks and reached for the food. Kazi, however, felt a knot tighten in her stomach. Food was the last thing on her mind. She needed answers, and the King's continued absence was starting to irritate her. She had expected him to make an appearance by now, but he seemed to be content to keep her waiting.
Kazi gestured for Seraphinael to come closer, lowering her voice. "Seraphinael," she began, her voice low and firm, "when will I have the opportunity to speak with the King?"
"The King," he replied "will grant you an audience... eventually."
Kazi's jaw clenched. "Eventually?" she repeated. "Is that Althea's official policy? To keep foreign dignitaries waiting with no explanation?"
"Patience, General Kazi," he said simply. "Althea operates on a different rhythm than Niameda. The King will see you when he deems it necessary."Kazi felt a surge of frustration bubble up inside her.
This passive-aggressive approach was infuriating. She was not some visiting noble, here to be pampered and entertained. She was a general, here on a mission of vital importance. But she knew better than to show her anger openly. Instead, she forced a smile and took a sip of wine, hoping it would calm her nerves.
"Let me rephrase my question. When will I see the King? Because waiting 'eventually' simply is not an option for me." Kazi's tone was calm but firm.The tension in the room seemed to thicken. The soldiers, sensing the shift in atmosphere, exchanged nervous glances.
Even Seraphinael seemed taken aback by the General's insistence.
Would she finally get a straight answer, or would this frustrating dance continue? Kazi held her breath, her gaze unwavering, waiting for Seraphinael's response.
The air crackled with anticipation, and the white dining room suddenly felt less like a place of luxury and more like a battlefield – a battle for answers, for respect, for the safety of her people.
"The King is aware of the situation, General," he replied, his blue eyes never wavering from hers. "He values the alliance between Althea and Niameda. However, he has... pressing matters... that require his immediate attention."
Kazi scoffed. "Pressing matters? Like what? Does he have a sudden craving for a specific type of cloud to sit on?" she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Because I can assure you, the situation in Niameda is equally dire." She took another sip of wine, hoping it would help to steady her racing heart.
Seraphinael's lips tightened into a thin line. "The King's activities are not for your speculation, General."
"And my mission," Kazi shot back, her voice rising slightly, "is not for your dismissal. These attacks are a threat to both our nations. We need a plan, a solution. And that requires a conversation with the King, not a dance around a white tablecloth."
The tension in the room was palpable. Even the servants, who had been carefully moving about, pouring wine and serving food, seemed to sense the shift in atmosphere. They paused, waiting for a reaction from Seraphinael or Kazi. The general's words hung in the air, unchallenged.
"Very well, General," he said, his voice measured. "I will inform the King of your... urgency. However, I cannot guarantee an immediate audience."
"Thank you, Seraphinael," she said, her voice regaining its calm tone. "Any progress is better than none."
Seraphinael inclined his head curtly, then he and the servants walked out of the dining room, leaving Kazi and her soldiers alone. She exhaled slowly, feeling a mixture of frustration and relief wash over her. She knew that Althea was a powerful nation, and that dealing with them would not be easy. But she also knew that her people needed her, needed her to find a solution to the trade boat attacks.
Kazi looked around the table, meeting the concerned looks of her soldiers. "Alright everyone," she said, forcing a smile. "Let's try to enjoy this... cultural experience. We may not know when, but rest assured, I will get us an audience with the King. And then," she added, her voice lowering to a steely tone, "we will get some answers."
The soldiers murmured their agreement. They may be far from home, surrounded by an unfamiliar culture, but they were Kazi's soldiers, and they would not back down from a challenge. The battle for answers had just begun, and they were in it to win.