A Thunderland Meeting Between Royals

{{ A solitary horse appears in the perpetual mist of the Thunderlands. All appears normal until you consider the flaming mane and tail. Jaric dismounts, heading into the house, his usual armor not present, the only indicator that he expects troulbe is the ever present AngelFire.

Moving through the house he finds Ava sat at a table. Silently he settles into the seat across the table.}}

Her eyes followed Jaric as he entered the room. She didn't rise from her seat, choosing to keep to the point of things. Waiting for him to get comfortable, Ava cleared her throat and offered a small smile.

"Thank you for coming. Its been a while since I last saw you.."

Her voice trailed off, since the last time she saw him was indeed the awful ball at Grorr. So instead, she chose to change subjects rather than remind him of it.

"Lets try and be informal with each other, dear brother. I ask tha heret we can speak openly and honestly without fear of offending."

She paused to give him the chance to say something, but after a few seconds, decided to continue anyway.

"I invited you here to improve the relations of our nations. What you think of Vlad and what I think of Angel does not matter. At the end of the day, my biggest concern is the security of my realm. You can relate to this, surely?"

{{ stares at her blankly as if she is speaking a foreign tongue, his expression showwing less amusement than a stone shows emotion.}}

Since he did not answer with anything other than a look, Ava continued, but poured herself a drink of wine from a nearby bottle that had already been placed on the table.

"I had wondered if you would be returning to Aurora to reclaim your lands or if you intended to remain with us a little longer. Not that either matters. It just seems we have had a complete lack of communication since you were removed as general of Aegis. I like to keep informed, you see, dear, and you simply can't trust the words of others....anymore."

Meaning that your spies have all gone silent behind my walls and you can not afford to ask my brother for information, information I can assure you he does not have either.

Unlike others, my time is of value, so get to your point and be done with this Bathory.

She tilted her head to one side with a quizical look and matching smile.

"Spies? Why would I need such things? From what I have understood - we have always been honest with each other, have we not? Thats why we have such a firm allience."

With a pause to take a sip of her drink, she watched him carefully to make sure he wasn't about to lose patience and walk off.

"Now, Lord Jaric, please be kind enough not to order me around as you do your servants. Whilst I respect the time limits of realm leaders, we both are fortunate enough to have an eternity."

Ava cleared her throat and got to business, straightening up.

"Since you asked me to get to the point, I shall indeed. I want to be assured that the friendship between our realms will remain so. At present, I will not deny how uncomfortable the sheer amount of your troops that seem to harbor on the Icehold borders have made me. Whats going on? Aegis has never made any attempt against Aurora and as long as things remain peaceful it never will."

She paused to place the glass back down on the table, only to continue quicky.

"If it was the rather embarrassing scene at the Grorr ball that is making you feel threatened then allow me to assure you that I'm willing to put it in the past. Such personal matters shouldn't have been so openly aired, yet it shouldn't spoil the good relationship Aegis has had with Aurora in the years before you claimed a new Queen."

As far as the alliance is concerned, the terms are still in place and no overt move has been made to end our agreement. My people and I have made no attempt to claim any more than is our due, since it has now been twice that they have come to the aid of your realm while asking nothing in recompense. In fact, you should be more concerned with what would happen to your realm should my armies leave this place.

As for the incident you speak of, neither I, nor my Queen, are so childish as to allow the actions of one individual to jeopardize our realm. Perhaps You should concern yourself more with your realm than with mine.

"Oh make no mistake about it, Jaric. I am here exactly because I'm thinking of my realm. Apparently you have my heirs to it. The twins, Jared and Duke Ralean and Amarra all housed up in Icehold and I was wondering if you might like to explain to me why?"

Her tone was sharp, and it was made clear that she was making a statement rather than asking him a question. Resting one elbow on the table, she looked into his cold, and souless eyes with determination as she continued.

"Your armies have indeed been of great service to us, this has always been acknowledged - but must you bring it up as a bargin chip? You forget that Aegis granted you a home away from a home when the Stag had you cornered. We could play this game all day, I suggest we don't.

Now since you mention my military would be nothing without your own, are you intending to leave? Forgive my bluntness, but I'm in no mood for beng evasive."

She was almost on the verge of loosing patience with him, since she hated the fact he was so cryptic and secretative with her.

I have neither of the twins. They had been sent for to begin the training my brother had arranged with the tutors in my employ, they never arrived. I assumed their father had changed his mind. As for Jared, Ralean, and Amarra. They currently face criminal charges. Jared has been accused of attempted kidnapping by Amarra, Amarra faces charges of filing false claim in court and endangerring the welfare of my realm, and Ralean...Ralean is being held until such time as a verdict can be renderred on the other two to act as an escort for the prince, regardless of how he leaves my lands.

{{ rises to his feet}}

And what you forget lady Bathory, is that you did not grant my people anything. They earned it in blood. And if you should force the issue, we are in a position to retain what is ours by right through force of arms. You would presume to speak to me as if from a position of power when you have lost everything to your own ambition. Think carefully woman, you have placed a viper on the throne, and as with all who play with such creatures you will be bitten.

When he has no more use for you, where will you go for safety if you continue to antagonize the only allies you have left?

{{ adjusts his cloak before heading for the door}}

This meeting is done. I must return to my people.