The Vendesian Archipelago

[lordinmanner]

The trip to the shore had gone smoothly enough despite the circumstances, as the Empress had sent word swiftly, along with the hoped-for Certificate. A ship would be waiting for them, she assured, at their usual port, and as promised, the three-masted vessel was standing tall in the berth

Comments

[so_far_fallen]

It felt like a dream to Aria at first, like this was all happening to somebody else. He'd been born in Verdimond City and he'd never left, now he was to be one of the only people in the land to have ever left it, and he was quite sure it would be unlikely he ever returned

[lordinmanner]

"There are some things you will need to know about addressing Her Most Exalted Highness," Kithaniel continued. "She should be addressed, first, as 'your Imperial Highness', and 'my lady' after the first greeting. When you bow to her, bow at your waist until your upper body is parallel to the ground or lower - but you will not be expected to kneel. As you bow, you will be expected to present yourself with your full name as you are a newcomer to the court. When she speaks with you, answer respectfully and honestly. She is one of a very few who can hear the difference between the truth and a lie

[so_far_fallen]

Aria felt sick with nerves, but he made a very conscious effort to note and remember everything Kithaniel was telling him. He wondered what sort of woman the Empress was and worried about how she would recieve him. If he made an error during this meeting he could be sent back to a life of prostitution and abuse in Verdimond, or worse yet he could start a war between their nations. Being with Narim had taught him quickly how people in positions of power could be temperamental

[lordinmanner]

The clothes that Aria had been given were not precisely the height of Vendesian fashion. That was obvious just from looking through the vehicle windows at the men and women strolling the streets. The quickness of his transport had precluded any such tailoring. But his clothing was perfectly suitable for a meeting with the Empress. Kithaniel nodded to himself as, with a wave of recognition at the gates, the vehicle was allowed through to the foot of the Citadel itself