Old Allies and Older Friends
Set during the first evening of the Davo Festival while Londo is in his Audience with the Emperor and after departing from Mariel's company.
Adira had to get away from everyone. Well Londo’s presence would have been welcome but he was in an audience with the Emperor which would have been disregarded had it not been for the message from her mother informing her that the Emperor had requested to speak with Adira as well. It could be good, the Emperor had the power to end the rumors but that was doubtful, his feelings on marital devotion were widely known and it was even more doubtful that he would approve of an affair between the ambassador and a former slave. She sighed heavily sitting on her favorite bench before the Koi pond at the rear of the opera house. Then there was Mariel and her less then well timed arrival. Though her company was indeed pleasant as Londo had said, her timing had made the entire situation awkward. Nothing can unnerve someone more then meeting a woman for the first time when you are involved in a moment of intimate passion with her husband. Though Mariel’s dislike of Londo had made it a little less problematic then it could have been.
Then there was everything else; the Narn, Palen’s unusually happy disposition over the past few weeks and the pressure of an impending performance in front of many people, including the Emperor. Everything seemed to be going to hell to use a human expression. She sighed again watching the fish swim about.
“Valerie?” The voice had come from the path behind her and everything grinded to a halt.
“It couldn’t be.” She mused as she stood and turned to face her visitor. Her eyes fell upon him and shock overtook her as she hurried to him. “Alexia? Alexia Silas?” She hadn’t seen him in almost six years but she was already quite sure that was the man standing before her.
He smiled. “I should have known you would be here.” Her brow furrowed as she wondered why he was here. It was unlike him to go anywhere unless business called. Business? Adira’s eyes went wide as things started to fall together in her mind.
She pointed at him. “It has been you sneaking around my House?” she was accusing him but she knew now what was happening. The poison garden, Palen’s happiness but what was the job?
“I most certainly have not been to your house yet on my visit. If I were to go to the estate of House Torr I would have undoubtedly asked about you.” He had lost none of his arrogance over time and his flamboyant gesturing while he was speaking had seemed to increase. Adira smiled slyly she knew what was going on and it was both amusing and disconcerting.
“That is odd. My mother, Lady Deljah, certainly said that Lady Palen, the mother of my brother Kailin, was being visited by a guild member.” She gave him a mock innocent smile though she wanted nothing more then to laugh.
His brows furrowed, “But..... That…..” he was lost in thought and then gazed at Adira in surprise. “That would mean you are Adira Tyree.” She smirked at him and he laughed making a final move to hug her. Looking down at her he continued to laugh. “I should have known it was you, when I heard that a beautiful slave girl from Davo had started an affair with the ambassador.”
She didn’t say anything just grinned as she watched his bewildered and amused expression. He let her go and took her arm to walk with her, grinning. “You have really out done yourself this time, though I can’t blame him. Who could resist the most beautiful woman in the Republic, slave or not, beauty has a way of getting to a man’s hearts.” He placed his hand over his hearts. The gesturing was so absurd that Adira began to laugh.
“Are you free now?” There was concern in his voice but when Adira gave and affirmative nod he smiled. “Ah…You have deserved freedom now for years. You know my offer still stands.”
“Offer.. Oh. I will think about it.” It was indeed a tempting offer but it would stir up a new load of rumors. “Former slave girl turned assassin in affair with the ambassador.” She laughed at her thoughts. It was like a phony ISN report. “Why are you here? I didn’t think you left the Colony much these days.” Adira wanted to know what was going on and why he was here. She had sent an invitation to him but not knowing his whereabouts she had sent it through the local guild and it was highly unlikely it had reached him.
“Oh,” he looked away. “Lady Palen invited me to come to Davo about three weeks ago.”
Three weeks! Now she was more then curious about what was truly going on. “Why would she invite you to Davo?”
They begin to walk up the stairs to the entrance of the gallery building as he smiles nervously. “I have been to visit her on a couple occasions since I brought Silvas here to be laid in the tombs of House Thero.” He hoped that it would keep her from further questions but inwardly he knows she would press the issue, it is her way.
The mention of Silvas brings a slight sadness to Adira that does not go unnoticed by Alexia who reassuringly pats her hand that is resting on his arm. Adira is curious “Why?”
“Why not?” He didn’t want to give her the real answer as he was still unsure where her loyalties lie within House Tyree.
Adira laughs at is obvious avoidance and having seen this behavior in the past she now knows for certain what is happening. “I didn’t think she was your type.”
Alexia is completely caught off guard and left speechless by her comment as they enter the main building and begin to descend the stairs into the main gallery. “How…?” is the only thing he can manage to say.
Adira laughs. “You are avoiding my questions and she has been pleasant since your supposed arrival. The circumstances are odd wouldn’t you agree?”
He smiles and then chuckles. “Always the analyst. So tell me, do you still associate with that most disagreeable and charming Narn?” He grins.
“Oh, Na’Loth is here somewhere.” Adira smiles remembering the first meeting between Alexia and Na’Loth. He was naturally flirtatious without trying and she was not amused by it at all. It had ended in wounded pride and a slap in the face that had bloodied his lip and nearly broke his nose. She laughed unable to control it as she recalled the scene.
Alexia was again concerned and he patted their interlocked arms. “This is not going to get me in trouble with the Ambassador, is it?”
“I don’t think so but he does have a temper like Silvas. Years in politics though I think will keep it at bay long enough for introductions.” She was being sarcastic and it made him laugh.
Adira had to get away from everyone. Well Londo’s presence would have been welcome but he was in an audience with the Emperor which would have been disregarded had it not been for the message from her mother informing her that the Emperor had requested to speak with Adira as well. It could be good, the Emperor had the power to end the rumors but that was doubtful, his feelings on marital devotion were widely known and it was even more doubtful that he would approve of an affair between the ambassador and a former slave. She sighed heavily sitting on her favorite bench before the Koi pond at the rear of the opera house. Then there was Mariel and her less then well timed arrival. Though her company was indeed pleasant as Londo had said, her timing had made the entire situation awkward. Nothing can unnerve someone more then meeting a woman for the first time when you are involved in a moment of intimate passion with her husband. Though Mariel’s dislike of Londo had made it a little less problematic then it could have been.
Then there was everything else; the Narn, Palen’s unusually happy disposition over the past few weeks and the pressure of an impending performance in front of many people, including the Emperor. Everything seemed to be going to hell to use a human expression. She sighed again watching the fish swim about.
“Valerie?” The voice had come from the path behind her and everything grinded to a halt.
“It couldn’t be.” She mused as she stood and turned to face her visitor. Her eyes fell upon him and shock overtook her as she hurried to him. “Alexia? Alexia Silas?” She hadn’t seen him in almost six years but she was already quite sure that was the man standing before her.
He smiled. “I should have known you would be here.” Her brow furrowed as she wondered why he was here. It was unlike him to go anywhere unless business called. Business? Adira’s eyes went wide as things started to fall together in her mind.
She pointed at him. “It has been you sneaking around my House?” she was accusing him but she knew now what was happening. The poison garden, Palen’s happiness but what was the job?
“I most certainly have not been to your house yet on my visit. If I were to go to the estate of House Torr I would have undoubtedly asked about you.” He had lost none of his arrogance over time and his flamboyant gesturing while he was speaking had seemed to increase. Adira smiled slyly she knew what was going on and it was both amusing and disconcerting.
“That is odd. My mother, Lady Deljah, certainly said that Lady Palen, the mother of my brother Kailin, was being visited by a guild member.” She gave him a mock innocent smile though she wanted nothing more then to laugh.
His brows furrowed, “But..... That…..” he was lost in thought and then gazed at Adira in surprise. “That would mean you are Adira Tyree.” She smirked at him and he laughed making a final move to hug her. Looking down at her he continued to laugh. “I should have known it was you, when I heard that a beautiful slave girl from Davo had started an affair with the ambassador.”
She didn’t say anything just grinned as she watched his bewildered and amused expression. He let her go and took her arm to walk with her, grinning. “You have really out done yourself this time, though I can’t blame him. Who could resist the most beautiful woman in the Republic, slave or not, beauty has a way of getting to a man’s hearts.” He placed his hand over his hearts. The gesturing was so absurd that Adira began to laugh.
“Are you free now?” There was concern in his voice but when Adira gave and affirmative nod he smiled. “Ah…You have deserved freedom now for years. You know my offer still stands.”
“Offer.. Oh. I will think about it.” It was indeed a tempting offer but it would stir up a new load of rumors. “Former slave girl turned assassin in affair with the ambassador.” She laughed at her thoughts. It was like a phony ISN report. “Why are you here? I didn’t think you left the Colony much these days.” Adira wanted to know what was going on and why he was here. She had sent an invitation to him but not knowing his whereabouts she had sent it through the local guild and it was highly unlikely it had reached him.
“Oh,” he looked away. “Lady Palen invited me to come to Davo about three weeks ago.”
Three weeks! Now she was more then curious about what was truly going on. “Why would she invite you to Davo?”
They begin to walk up the stairs to the entrance of the gallery building as he smiles nervously. “I have been to visit her on a couple occasions since I brought Silvas here to be laid in the tombs of House Thero.” He hoped that it would keep her from further questions but inwardly he knows she would press the issue, it is her way.
The mention of Silvas brings a slight sadness to Adira that does not go unnoticed by Alexia who reassuringly pats her hand that is resting on his arm. Adira is curious “Why?”
“Why not?” He didn’t want to give her the real answer as he was still unsure where her loyalties lie within House Tyree.
Adira laughs at is obvious avoidance and having seen this behavior in the past she now knows for certain what is happening. “I didn’t think she was your type.”
Alexia is completely caught off guard and left speechless by her comment as they enter the main building and begin to descend the stairs into the main gallery. “How…?” is the only thing he can manage to say.
Adira laughs. “You are avoiding my questions and she has been pleasant since your supposed arrival. The circumstances are odd wouldn’t you agree?”
He smiles and then chuckles. “Always the analyst. So tell me, do you still associate with that most disagreeable and charming Narn?” He grins.
“Oh, Na’Loth is here somewhere.” Adira smiles remembering the first meeting between Alexia and Na’Loth. He was naturally flirtatious without trying and she was not amused by it at all. It had ended in wounded pride and a slap in the face that had bloodied his lip and nearly broke his nose. She laughed unable to control it as she recalled the scene.
Alexia was again concerned and he patted their interlocked arms. “This is not going to get me in trouble with the Ambassador, is it?”
“I don’t think so but he does have a temper like Silvas. Years in politics though I think will keep it at bay long enough for introductions.” She was being sarcastic and it made him laugh.