AGELESS CAMPAIGN, Episode II, Part VI.

[Queenie]

"I have been there for eleven years. My late husband is a cousin to the Sultan. When he died I was offered a job there as a chambermaid and have been promoted three times since then. I very much enjoy my job but am unfortunately as far along as I can go. He and his Uncle have even told me privately that they would make me manager if not for the attitude towards women that many Egyptians hold. Perhaps that will change with the new Queen."

"You were married? I'm sorry to hear about your husband. Sounds like you've worked pretty hard to get where you are.

Where I come from, it's not much different, they don't take women seriously there either. I've learned if you want something you have to just take it in whatever way you can.

As for the Queen, she is young and smart, so I would bet on it that things will change."

 

[Silver Moon]

"As for the Queen, she is young and smart, so I would bet on it that things will change."

"Oh, I hope so. I have met her many times before, many of them in this very room. This is one of her favorite places in Zakazik, and this town was where she would go to retreat from Cairo. It is no surprise that she chose here to begin her reign."

She lowers her voice and says, "And her father believed that she met General Orabi in the palace after he was assigned there, but it was more the other way around. They had met here in Zakazik years earlier and he sought career advancement that would bring them closer."

 

[orchid blossom]

Callum says, "Regarding the carpet, it was only borrowed, the Queen had it back in her possession in less than a day.

"Yes, I dove off that carpet into the Nile in the company of the Queen herself. I can't say I recommend that."

But I will say that I am most disappointed in all of you. I had previously thought that you were gentlemen, as well as masters of your individual professions. Now I discover that you have degenerated into being nothing more than petty thieves."

Abby lifted an eyebrow again and looked at Cal. She felt he was referring to more than just their desire to get the artifact back.

 

[Silver Moon]

Abby lifted an eyebrow again and looked at Cal. She felt he was referring to more than just their desire to get the artifact back.

A long pause follows. Gerome speaks first saying "There is nothing petty about that item, it belongs to our group and is very important."

Callum says, "Correction, it did belong to your group, but you decided to pick a fight with the wrong person and it is now forfeit. However, it is also clear that if I give you the information about the vault then the lives of myself and my companion are as good as over. You will not release us, as you said you would, since it may take considerable time for you to actually acquire the item from her vault and in the meanwhile we would be free to tell her of your intentions."

Fouccault says, "That is not entirely true. We will hold you until we have the item, and then you will be released."

 

[Queenie]

"Oh, I hope so. I have met her many times before, many of them in this very room. This is one of her favorite places in Zakazik, and this town was where she would go to retreat from Cairo. It is no surprise that she chose here to begin her reign."

She lowers her voice and says, "And her father believed that she met General Orabi in the palace after he was assigned there, but it was more the other way around. They had met here in Zakazik years earlier and he sought career advancement that would bring them closer."

"She did tell me she loved it here.

My, I suppose you have heard a lot of secrets in this room. I know the Queen truly loves him. But I wonder if his feelings are the same."

 

[orchid blossom]

Fouccault says, "That is not entirely true. We will hold you until we have the item, and then you will be released."

"You'll forgive me for not putting a great deal of faith in that statement," Abigail said. "You would do better to pursue another avenue for the lengthening of your life-span. I'm sure there are others."

 

[Silver Moon]

"She did tell me she loved it here. My, I suppose you have heard a lot of secrets in this room. I know the Queen truly loves him. But I wonder if his feelings are the same."

She replies, "That is the thing about secrets, they should stay that way. I have probably already said more than I should have about our new monarch."

 

[Queenie]

She replies, "That is the thing about secrets, they should stay that way. I have probably already said more than I should have about our new monarch."

Ruby grinned. "The only new thing you've told me is that she comes to this lovely establishment, which after coming here myself I would have guessed anyway. I've spent some time with her over the past week or so, in some ways we are much alike. Of course, now she is Queen and I am sure our paths will greatly diverge from here. Which is a shame, for she is a good friend, so I hope having to be in charge of a country doesn't have to change her too much.

Actually, she may be meeting us, when her business this morning is done. If you've already met her, I am sure you won't mind."

 

[Silver Moon]

"You'll forgive me for not putting a great deal of faith in that statement," Abigail said. "You would do better to pursue another avenue for the lengthening of your life-span. I'm sure there are others."

Fauccault says, "Not for us. One problem with life extending magics is that once you start using one type it is extremely dangerous to attempt to use another. Nobody knows why, but reduced aging is not something that becomes cumulative with different methodologies. Attempting another means would in all probably not work, but could negate the benefits we have already enjoyed."

Callum says, "Mr. Fauccault. I believe that you are sincere in your desire to keep your word, and hold us until you obtain the item. However, you might never obtain in, in which case you are proposing a lifetime sentence. Furthermore, you have not seen all of the facial reactions and body language from your companions during this conversation. Mr. Gerome has absolute hatred towards my companion for inflicting his injury, and Mr. Marcel blames us both for the death of his grandfather. Neither of these men have any intention of ever letting us go."

 

[Silver Moon]

Actually, she may be meeting us, when her business this morning is done. If you've already met her, I am sure you won't mind."

"I am certain that our new monarch is far too busy with the affairs of state and stopping a war to go shopping with the pair of us."

"Then you would be incorrect," Neferka states as she enters the room.

She iis far from alone as four female attendants accompany her, two like the Queen also attired only in a plush towell, but the other two dressed in dark silk belted tunics. One has a scimitar and pistol attached to her belt, the other has three daggers of varying sizes on her belt and a rifle slung along her back.

OOC: As Ruby is a few hours ahead of George, I am assuming that the Queen's encounter with the negoatiators will wrap up at some point.