Lauryn wakes disoriented, tangled in a light sheet and resting on a very thick and fluffy mattress, with equally thick and fluffy pillows scattered around her. Afternoon sunlight streams through two open windows. The air is hot and humid, and her shed black fur is scattered across the light brown bedding. The walls are clay and the floor is packed earth covered by woven mats. It takes her a few moments to remember where she is. Who she is.
Lauryn rests a hand on her chest, feeling her breathing slow as she calms herself down. She blinks, blearily; the light helps her clear her head just as it scatters shadows. A dream ... or a nightmare ..? For a little while, I was someone else. How novel. Her nightmare posed her as the vary feline girl she cursed the prisoner to seem, but with far darker results extending to the time after. The young sorceress finds herself with mixed feelings about the illusory time she spent as a Khatta: on one hand it was terrible and violating -- but such things are nothing new to Lauryn's waking or sleeping nightmares -- while on the other it revealed a side of herself she had never considered before. Her dark fur hides her blush as she considers the matter, then she shakes her head. "Only nightmares desire me," she whispers before pushing herself up and looking around.
The room has another mattress, as thick and fluffy as the one she's on top of. Both mattresses are on top of low wooden frames, and between frame and mattress they're perhaps a foot and a half off the floor. The door to the room is open; she can hear feline voices elsewhere in the building, speaking in the Yemenen tongue. A few moments later, she hears more words in Laosian, though it's too muffled to make out what they're saying.
At least I can be glad I'm not waking up bound by Yemenos guards, Lauryn considers as she searches for her clothes. After dressing, she stands up and takes a moment to regard herself, then shakes her head. It isn't her appearance that keeps people away. Deciding dwelling on her lack of suitability as a intimate partner of any sort, she choses the bold path and proceeds in to the hall in search of the voices.
As it happens, one of the voices comes to find her. While she's descending a narrow staircase, she hears Archon Skotonys' voice, saying "Excuse me," followed by his footsteps. A moment later he appears at the foot of the stairs. "Ria Vetyros. You are well?"
"I am haunted by nightmares and tortured a man who was only doing his duty," Lauryn replies in a bland tone, before raising an eyebrow and pausing briefly for effect. "Thus, I am as well as ever." Her words are sharp, but she smiles genuinely. "I am glad to see you, Archon. What has happened?"
"You have been asleep for most of a day. Ulifi -- " it's striking that the archon does not give the man his title, or indeed any title -- very unusual for Skotonys " -- remain in our custody, at least nominally; in practice the Yemenos hold him for us. The Yemenos have remained cordial with us, but they know what we know and are, of course, concerned. The kyria has not yet decided how to convey the latest news to our lord. Formal diplomacy with the Yemenos has not resumed."
Lauryn raises an eyebrow again, this time at the lack of title assigned the Archon -- or is he still an Archon? Ulifi's conduct was quite out of hand, even by Lauryn's review, and she would not be surprised if the man was demoted. "It may be to our benefit that formal diplomacy has not been resumed. Indeed, it may be our salvation. I have been thinking, Archon. I believe our -- Yemenos and Laosian -- interests may depend on how we approach what we have learned."
The archon looks intrigued. He gestures back up the stairs. "Our hosts have been gracious here, but I would speak with you in private on this matter. And others."
"Of course." Lauryn follows the Archon upstairs. "Caution is our guide and savior."
They return to the room Lauryn emerged from. The archon kneels on the mat flooring, making shift as if in a Laosian home, and looks expectantly to Lauryn for her to continue.
Lauryn takes a seat across from the Archon, mimicing his posture. The woman's found the Laosian way of sitting uncomfortable, but she finds that she's getting used to it with practice, and adopting Laosian ways is vital for her if she ever expects to rise in their complex heirarchy. "My thought is this: our enemy -- whomever that may be," and here Lauryn gives the Archon a knowing look, "will expect signs of his plan's success, or failure, soon. My thought is that will provide him signs of success. Working with the Yemenos, we -- if we can -- will concoct a ruse. We shall work out a breakdown of negotiations, a falling out between our peoples."
The archon flicks the whiskers above his eyes and his ears back, and then swivels them forward again. "Go on," he encourages.
The woman nods. "After the point that we have arranged a falling out with the leadership and have feigned a rough departure, we shall return to our capital and inform Dynatos Tyr of what has occured and what we have wrought. A secret line of communication must be arranged, so that each leader may know of the other's secret plan. Should the Tyr chose this is not the best course, our ruse can be removed. Sgould the Tyr decide our ruse is the correct course, we can further arrange our trap. My thought is that our enemy desires us to break alliance, and at worse, be at war. It may be necessary to feign these things -- even war -- to lure his or her agents out of hiding. Perhaps, to lure his or her armies in to action. Then, we shall know the truth, and if they come as an army, we shall turn upon them united."
The archon considers this idea. "Doing so convincingly would be problematic. I believe it is too late to pretend that we did not hear Rio Ifiro's confession; too many witnessed it, particularly among the prodotis. It would not be too late to pretend that we do not believe it. Indeed, I am not sure that any of us do."
"Yes, what you say is wise. I had hoped we migth still feign a falling out, but you know the prodotis better than I." Lauryn can't help but find herself inwardly amused that she now refers to foreigners with the same condescending title the Laos once -- and still do -- apply to her. "On that thought, I believe we may see similiar signs among our enemy's enemies, if we take a moment to look. Deoending on his or her time table, he or she may reveal her overall plan in the failings of our neighbors. That is, unless we are first to be targeted, and thus first to feel his or her wrath."
"It is not too late to feign a falling out. It is not too late for there to be an actual falling out. We might, for example, claim that Rio Ifiro's attacks and confession were all alike engineered by the prodotis, to set the Laos Enosi upon themselves with their false claim of betrayal by our own dynatos ypertos tyr." Skotonys grimaces. "For all I know, that might even be the case. It is no less unbelievable than Rio Ifiro's own claim."
"It is all quite unbelievable, I agree, Archon. But then, so is my presence here. We must work with what we have and strive for the truth. But, I fear our time may be limited: do we have time to ascertain the truth? If we were to return to court and research further? Or, do you feel we must act now, while we are here?" Lauryn then tilts her head as she finds herself faced with another oddity: Ifiro's lack of Archon title. Curious, she ventures a an inquery. "And if I may ask, what has happened to Ulifi that he has lost the right of title?"
"He has not been stripped of his title, yet. But he has proven himself unworthy of it. At best, he is an ungovernable fool who let his emotions control him and has played into the hands of our enemies. At worst, he is a traitor. Whichever, he is no archon to me." Skotonys speaks with an unassailable calm, his voice lacking the heated tone that his words imply. "As for time: I do not know. This is not my bailiwick."
"Nor is war and governance mine, but it seems we have been given a task greater than ourselves. May we prove our Tyr's faith in us and chose the correct path." Lauryn closes her eyes, taking a moment to calm and steady herself, then nods slowly. "Whatever the case may be, we must chose a course of action soon, I think. If I may, I suggest we gather our officers and make our plan."
"Yes. We should speak with Kyria Orevo." Skotonys does not rise, however. He rests his hands on his knees. "A moment. There is something you must understand first, Ria Vetyros." His dark eyes meet hers, steady. "The Laos Enosi do not rape. That is a crime of the prodotis. The threats you made to Rio Ifiro were not appropriate."
Lauryn meets the Archon's eyes. "I feel that all of what I did was inapproprate, but I did it to serve and succeed," she says after a long momement. "And, I must admit to an overzealousness in my desire to fulfill my duties and acquire information for our Tyr -- I see that in hindsight. It is a difficult thing, to know how I might break a man and rend his thoughts from him. I must be honest: in a way, I wish I had been a failure, unable to do him any harm. As it happens, I am quite vicious." Lauryn's ears wilt, but she maintains her gaze, unflinching. "May I make amends somehow?"
"Absolution is not mine to give to you on this matter. Ask it of dynatos tyr when we return. Do not repeat the error, and I will think no more of it." Skotonys rises to his feet, and offers Lauryn a hand up. HIs expression is calm and composed, the atittude of one who has said what needed to be said and heard a satisfactory response.
"I will." And Lauryn finds she means it; she will ask His forgiveness for her wreckless overzealousness. A bit of suffering, she thinks, may even make ehr feel better. She stares ahead a moment as she considers the results of such a request from the Tyr, and finds her mind wandering to her nightmare, and the punishment it inflicted -- and then she finds herself speaking aloud the thought that had been eating at her since she awoke. "Archon," she asks as she takes the man's hand, "do you think I will ever find a husband?"
Reflexively, the vulpine helps her to her feet, but the question makes him blink. He still hasn't answered by the time she finishes standing. After a moment: "That, too, is perhaps a question for dynatos tyr." He releases her hand, and gestures for her to proceed.
Lauryn, in return stunned by the Archon's response, can only blink and say, "I think I fear that answer more than the Tyr's punishment over my mistake."
A smile ghosts at the corner of Skotonys's mouth and then is gone. "If the answer you wish is 'no', that may be more easily arranged."
"I ... " Lauryn stares at the Archon with her mouth opened, too stunned to speak, and then she puts her hand on her hip and shakes a finger at him. "I will think long about how to respond to that! It is not often I see you smile, or ... or ... I do not know the word for what you are doing, but I will find that too!"
They meet with Kyria Orevo and Afentis Pilis in private; they are all that remains of the diplomats of their party, with one afentis dead, one archon dead, and the remaining archon disgraced. The kyria's composure is strained; she fidgets in a strangely un-Laosian way as Lauryn explains her idea. When the canine finishes, the kyria doesn't answer immediately. For several long moments, all four sit in silence, waiting for the kyria to speak.
Lauryn decides not to break the silence, concerned excessive speaking may redirect Laosian insecurity and fear in to anger against her. She knows she is a foreigner, a prodotis, and while she may have gained some esteem by her recent successes she isn't about to think she is safe. Instead, she tries to keep her gaze moving and cultivates an expression of concern and focus, frowning slightly and keeping her ears slightly canted.
At length, the kyria speaks. "Archon Skotonys, review the options before me, as you understand them."
Skotonys's ears tilt slightly to the sides. "Yes, Kyria. There are many. We can leave our business here unfinished to report back to dynatos tyr with speed. We could continue here and send a messenger back; but I believe you have already rejected this option due to our inability to guarantee the safety and security of such a message. We could continue here on the assumption that Ifiro's final claim was a lie and his mission to disrupt our talks by some other party. We could ask the Yemenos to feign a falling out with us, with each side accusing the other of betrayal and bad faith -- they could pretend to take Rio Ifiro at his word, we could pretend he was working for them. And hope to lull Rio Ifiro's master into a false sense of security." He pauses, and then adds, "Or we could have an actual falling out with the Yemenos."
The kyria nods once, slowly. "I see. Afentis Pilis, Ria Vetyros, do you see any other alternatives?"
The afentis shakes her head, at a loss.
"Several of the options listed by the Archon are my suggestions, so you are aware stance there, Kyria. As for other options, I am uncertain. It is clear we must ascertain the truth of this matter, or face ignoring an enemy as it prepares to move against us. My other thoughts focus more on what we may do once we have decided what to do here -- such as sending spies to detect sabotauge in other regions," answers Lauryn.
The kyria nods. "Your recommendation, Archon Skotonys?"
"Ria Vetyros's plan, if the Yemenos may be persuaded to go along with it." Skotonys does not hesitate.
"And you, Afentis?" The kyria glances at Pilis.
Pilis shakes her head. "I ... forgive me, kyria. I do not know what to say. To think. Return to dynatos tyr and let him decide?" She says it with such hesitation that it is more question or plea than recommendation.
Kyria Orevo gives another small nod, a longing look passing over her features.
"If you wish, Kyria, I will remain here to oversee Yemenos cooperation, although I am uncertain as to their acceptance of me, my abilities, and even my gender. Given my prodotis nature, they may more readily accept me, and my behavior in acquiring what information we have may allow us to feign my abandonment here as punishment. Further, I may be an unknown to our enemies -- but then again, I may also be a key target if war is considered. Were I an enemy, I would make efforts to assassinate me," Lauryn offers, doing her best to try and copy the Archon's calm.
The kyria considers that, too. It's a long moment before she speaks. "Very well. We will fight fire with fire. And subterfuge with subterfuge. If the Yemenos can be persuaded to back such a ruse, we shall attempt it. I will see what they think regarding your disposition, Ria Vetyros." She rises and calls for a servant. "Tell your Third that Kyria Dolesa Mara of Orevo Diplomat to Notios of the Laos Enosi, would speak with him at his first convenience."
"Thank you for your consideration of my plans, Kyria," Lauryn says, bowing her head. It really is quite gratifying for the young woman that these important Laosians have not only considered, but acted on her plans. Lauryn had never considered herself a strategist or particularly military minded, but here she has found a cleverness she never knew she possessed. Perhaps her long battle with demons of the mind have given her an insight in to the nature of trickery and deceit, and her poor treatment by her family a suspicion of people in general. Whatever the case may be, it's all very heartening for the sorceress, even despite her mistakes along the way.