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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1493752" data-attributes="member: 15043">The Party Winds Down - half drag nf ly, half meThe group returned to the party, and an affair worthy of an Imperial celebration was underway.  Wine flowed, laughter filled the air, and it was to Siabrey’s relief that she saw her formerly tense commanders and their subordinates relaxing, laughing, joking, or lounging around.  She was even more relieved to see a couple of the mages had joined in... perhaps they could be beachheads for improving relations between the group and the Imperial Mages Council.Earlier in the night, Siabrey had also specifically agreed to the ‘courtesans’ that normally appeared at private Imperial affairs.  While to some such entertainment was unseemly, she recognized that the inclinations of many of her subordinates were not inclined as hers.  Trained in the art of good conversation, in addition to more usual courses, she’d specifically asked three of the more musically inclined males to go and talk with Tess.  Even if all she does is just have a relaxing conversation with them... it might take the edge off of her for a bit.  She’s been near the edge so much...As the hours wore on, and Siabrey continued to make her rounds, talking quietly with officers about their men, or more lightheartedly with her friends, things grew rowdier.  Wines were replaced with ales or bourbons, and some of the unattached officers slowly started to trickle out, many with courtesan’s in tow.As she surveyed the crowd, Siabrey noticed Shaun on a divan in one corner, next to three quiet drunk Imperial officers... and by his red face and exaggerated gestures, it was obvious he was drunk as well.  A look towards the doorway revealed Elenya getting ready to leave.“You aren’t waiting for Shaun?” Siabrey asked as she headed over.  With a yawn, Elenya shook her head.  She looked back at him and grinned.“He’s having fun, I’m not going to take him away from it, but I’m so tired... is there a place we can specific place we can...”  Siabrey had already clapped her hands, and two servants came over.  “See to it that Lady Dice and Lord Dice,” she pointed out Shaun to them, “have an elegant room to stay in.”  She then winked at Elenya as the servants took her outside, and to bed.I’m almost getting used to this power thing. She thought with a shake of her head. Scary. I never wanted this, yet no one seems to be complaining.It is often the ones that least want power that are the most apt at wielding it Kelir mused.A few minutes later, she was far more surprised to see the normally dour Orion stumble past, a flashy, under dressed young woman in tow.“Enjoying yourself?” Siabrey asked, knowing the obvious answer.“I’m gonna be!” he laughed, and she waved him on with a smile.  Good... he’s relaxing too... Relaxed people fight better... and think better, right Kelir?You’re going to need sleep too, you know... her sword mentally chastised her, and she smiled.... sometimes Kelir was almost like a nanny... just one that could slice a foe into pieces.The number of guests in the room had dwindled.  She watched as Shaun stumbled towards the exit, only to have the same two servants that had guided his wife to a room practically carry him out, presumably to bed.A few minutes later, her heart rose a little bit when she saw the last of her friends present, a very drunk and happy Tess, saunter by, with the three courtesans in tow.  Tess gave Siabrey a wink.“Can’t pick, Tess?” Siabrey asked with a mischevious grin.“Nah... this one here... he knows harps really well, which is good,” Tess stopped, the process of ceasing movement making her stumble.  “This one here... he knows music theory.... I loved talking to him.   And this’n... well... I like his body,” she gave a laugh.  Siabrey merely shook her head, the comments making her miss her own Luke all the more.  “Go Tess... enjoy yourself!” Siabrey blocked from her mind any thoughts of what kind of enjoyment involved that many.   The thoughts of activity, and comments made Siabrey’s mind go back to Luke.  As her friend and escorts stumbled up the hall, Siabrey’s eyes went to stone for a second, before looking at Tess again.  The bard was laughing her head off at some comment made by the courtesan, ‘that knew music theory.’ A slight smile of satisfaction came to the fighter’s face.  Of all of us, Tess needs this chance to relax the most. Sometimes I fear what will happen to her if she keeps up this charade of vengeance.You are not much better yourself, Siabrey. Kelir’s patronizing tone reminded her. Siabrey’s hands tightened into fists, then relaxed. The sword was right. If she tried to chase down the Countess herself, she’d probably be killed before she could get anywhere near Lucius. Not the mention the fact that the entire Empire needed her; she couldn’t abandon all these innocent people, not even to try to save her love, and she had no time or right to appoint a new leader in her stead. However painful the thought may be, the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few.No, Lucius was gone, and there was nothing she could do about it…for now.Siabrey breathed a deep sigh, which quickly grew into a yawn.“Majesty, perhaps you should get some sleep.” It was the Chamberlain again, looking up at Siabrey from her elbow, a worried look on his lined face. Siabrey looked wanely down at him: somehow, the man always seemed to know exactly what was needed.It probably comes with the job description She thought wryly. He is right, Siabrey. You have been up for much too long. Kelir chastised her.But I can’t go to sleep, Kelir, you know that. Not yet…not while Lucius’ face still hangs behind my eyes… Outwardly Siabrey forced a smile.“I will be alright. Thank you though.”The Chamberlain bowed and stepped back. He was unwilling to give up without a final comment however. “When you are ready, Your Majesty, I have had the Empress’ Chambers prepared for you.”Siabrey stiffened, then nodded again. “Thank you.” I’ll be sleeping in the same chambers where that whore Zoe wanted to seduce Lucius… Anger and bile rose momentarily in her throat, before she remembered that Zoe was dead, and couldn’t hurt her anymore. Still, the memory of the old Empress kept Siabrey going for about another hour. Finally, however, she could no longer counter her body’s demands. Rather than fall asleep on the throne, as she was starting to, she allowed herself to be lead off to the chambers.Once there, she spent several tormenting minutes assuring the maids that she did not need help undressing, before closing and locking the door behind her.Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and turned to look out over the immense bedroom.The room was decorated in shades of blue and gold; colors that Siabrey felt were oddly ironic, considering her family’s background. The floor was covered in thick honey-colored woven rugs that begged to be dug into with toes. The room was actually rather sparsely furnished. A few tables lay strategically scattered around the room, while a massive wardrobe covered the wall she was standing beside. A door to her left led to what she assumed was a bathing chamber of sorts, while one directly across the way appeared to lead out onto a balcony.Ignoring the substantial gilt bed that dominated the room, she crossed the room and opened the silk-shrouded doors.They did indeed lead out onto a balcony, one surprisingly small for such a large palace. Siabrey stepped outside, and looked out over the city. Immediately below her lay the palace grounds; an intertwining mass of sculptured bushes and well-manacured lawns that she would have loved to stroll across with Lucius, and perhaps have a little impromptu fun under the stars.Far in the distance, she could just make out a thin dark line topped with fires at intermittent spots; the outer wall, no doubt.She gazed for a while before the night air, surprisingly chill for mid-summer, cut through her robes of state, and she shivered and went back inside.Latching the doors behind her, she finally allowed her gaze to settled on the object of her dread.The Empress’ bed was huge; much larger than any piece of furniture Siabrey had ever seen. Although it looked warm and comfortable, the fighter felt repulsed by the thought of sleeping in the same place where Zoe once had.Except she probably didn’t sleep there. Kelir reminded her. She was with many men, sometimes several a night, even during her short stay here.Siabrey stared down in astonishment at her sword. “And how exactly do you know these things?” She asked.The sword responded almost smugly. Some of the other swords talk, and I listen. Besides, it doesn’t exactly take a genius to figure out that that woman was a man-slayer. She went after every piece of meat that appealed to her; Lucius certainly wasn’t the first.Siabrey smiled slightly. What Kelir had said made sense, given Zoe’s character, and she felt a little better. Enough so that she gave in and prepared for bed.Shedding the robes, she crawled quickly under the covers and tried to sleep. At first she lay Kelir on the bedside table, but on second thought she brought the sheathed sword into the bed with her.She lay there for several minutes, fighting hard to stop her mind from thinking and just go to sleep. As tired as she was, however, she couldn’t stop running the previous day’s events through her head. She saw Lucius’ kidnapping about 50 times, each vision more painful and horrific than the last, before Kelir sent her soothing memories of her time together with the young noble.Heartbroken and lost, the visions were both comfort and torment, and under the careful protection of the katana, she finally let herself break.Curling up tightly around the sword for comfort, she closed her eyes and sobbed and sobbed, till finally the night wrapped her in its all-forgiving embrace, and she slept.</blockquote>

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