In a way, he had dreaded his return to Verdimond. Yes, the country was beautiful, but he remembered (and remembered very well) the treatment he'd gotten last time. The last Ambassador assigned had been a Lord's younger son and had grown much more used to people simply giving way to his suggestions. His failure had become very known
( ... )
Aria was glad for his bath, the water was warmed him to the bones and washed away the grease and sweat and other clammy substances that had been clinging to his skin for so long. He used some clean water to wash the wounds on his body, some old, some new, marks left by teeth and fingernails and occasionally belts and whips.
He took his time drying himself, enjoying the peace, the time to relax, and once he was dry he changed into the clean clothes. He immediately felt more confident and better in himself just by being covered up in a more respectable way.
Aria was given food, and once he was completely content he found his way to Kithaniel's study and knocked the door, lightly.
He spoke as he wrote, having already sketched up a draft of the letter, now writing the final copy. His hand was smooth and confident as he addressed the Empress in writing, telling her of the injustice that had been wrought and formally requesting asylum for Aria. He was certain he had chosen just the right words.
Aria entered the room and bowed his head politely. "I hope I'm not disturbing you, Ambassador. I just wished to assure you I can still look semi-respectable with the grime now washed away. I also wanted to thank you again, I know you said it's not necassary, but I want to. This is the greatest kindness I have ever been shown."
"I will be sending a messenger to that residence tomorrow," Kithaniel said, "to see to either paying your price in full or, if that will be disallowed, to paying for your presence until the Certificate of Asylum comes from the Empress. It should come quickly once this letter is sent."
His quill tapped against the surface of the paper he'd been writing on. Already, it seemed to be waiting for only his signature.
"At that point, you will be a ward of the Empire of Vendesey. For anyone to act against you then, it will be considered an act of war."
Aria's mouth opened in shock, he hadn't realised that his little life meant so much, that what had happened to him was as important as the Ambassador seemed to be saying it was.
To think that the fact his country could be at war hung in the balance and would be decided upon by what his own fate was... it was overwhelming.
"It isn't about one man's liberty," Kithaniel pointed out after making his elegant signature on the foot of the page. "This is about a practice that Vendesey finds serious and injust. Once you are a ward of the Empire, you have the rights of a born Vendesian citizen. To injure, deliberately, a Vendesian citizen is a serious diplomatic infringement. I recognise that none of this is something you anticipated, but this kind of law, that punishes the innocent, affects the relations between my nation and yours."
"You make my people sound like savages..." Aria said, uncertainly. His husband's brainwashing had done a good job making Aria believe that the laws of Verdimond and the rules set down by Rased could not possibly be wrong and should not be questioned. Even after his ordeal he was still half convinced they were right and that perhaps he did deserve this fate. The idea of another country telling the High Priest what he could and could not do was not an appealing one.
"If the High Priest finds out about this he will not be happy. There may be trouble."
"I don't believe that your people are savages, but I do believe that, in this, they are shortsighted and are perpetrating a severe abuse upon their people. The trouble is something I actually expect. But I do hope that, by the time any 'trouble' comes, your ward status will already be established, which will give you a layer of protection."
Politics was something he had learned well, though this brand of politics was... uncertain. He had been sent to assist peace, but there was no way that could be done now.
"Of course," he nodded. "There is a guest room just across the hall if you want. Call the servants for anything that you need. There should be a nightshirt laid out for you."
His servants had been well-paid to do what he asked them to, and that included getting one of their employer's nightshirts for their guest to sleep in.
He folded the letter, sealed it with a circle of wax, and pressed his personal ambassadorial seal into it, leaving his mark. And then, inscribing a symbol like wings to either side of the seal with his fingernails he lifted the missive and bounced it into the air.
The paper had been enchanted by the strongest mages of the land. That little gesture activated the enchantment and, at once, it began to fly through the air and out the window behind Kithaniel, on its way to the island nation he called home.
Aria watched in wonder - he'd only seen magic for the first time when he was attacked, the men who had kidnapped him were demons. Then the magic had filled him with fear and dread beyond anything he'd known, but this was something different entirely. He waited until it was gone from view, smiling, and then bowed and dismissed himself politely. "Goodnight, Ambassador. And, again, thank you."
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He took his time drying himself, enjoying the peace, the time to relax, and once he was dry he changed into the clean clothes. He immediately felt more confident and better in himself just by being covered up in a more respectable way.
Aria was given food, and once he was completely content he found his way to Kithaniel's study and knocked the door, lightly.
Reply
He spoke as he wrote, having already sketched up a draft of the letter, now writing the final copy. His hand was smooth and confident as he addressed the Empress in writing, telling her of the injustice that had been wrought and formally requesting asylum for Aria. He was certain he had chosen just the right words.
Reply
"I hope I'm not disturbing you, Ambassador. I just wished to assure you I can still look semi-respectable with the grime now washed away. I also wanted to thank you again, I know you said it's not necassary, but I want to. This is the greatest kindness I have ever been shown."
Reply
His quill tapped against the surface of the paper he'd been writing on. Already, it seemed to be waiting for only his signature.
"At that point, you will be a ward of the Empire of Vendesey. For anyone to act against you then, it will be considered an act of war."
Reply
To think that the fact his country could be at war hung in the balance and would be decided upon by what his own fate was... it was overwhelming.
"It seems a lot of fuss for one man's liberty."
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"If the High Priest finds out about this he will not be happy. There may be trouble."
Reply
Politics was something he had learned well, though this brand of politics was... uncertain. He had been sent to assist peace, but there was no way that could be done now.
Not now that he knew.
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He sighed, what was done was done and all he could do was be grateful that he was clean, warm, and fed.
"I'll retire now and sleep, if that's alright?"
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His servants had been well-paid to do what he asked them to, and that included getting one of their employer's nightshirts for their guest to sleep in.
He folded the letter, sealed it with a circle of wax, and pressed his personal ambassadorial seal into it, leaving his mark. And then, inscribing a symbol like wings to either side of the seal with his fingernails he lifted the missive and bounced it into the air.
The paper had been enchanted by the strongest mages of the land. That little gesture activated the enchantment and, at once, it began to fly through the air and out the window behind Kithaniel, on its way to the island nation he called home.
Reply
He waited until it was gone from view, smiling, and then bowed and dismissed himself politely.
"Goodnight, Ambassador. And, again, thank you."
Reply
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