[Imperial Chancellory] In times of war, laws are silent. (Alicia, Private)

[Alexis Sapientia]

Timestamp: Dianara of the Second Cycle of Melora, Twelfth Brightening of Melora, Era XIII in the Regency of Milo L'Evienne

The Chancellory was a busy place at the best of times, but the offices of Alicia Gil'dae were a small bastion of calm in the bustling efficiency and borderline over-exertion of the Chancellory.

In the Imperial Palace, of course, was the primary office of the Chancellor, but the Palace was not where Alexis journeyed to, this brightening. He preferred, and promptly indicated, if it please her Imperial Excellency, that they meet at the buildings where the main hub of Imperial business took place--the Chancellory offices themselves, a little walk aways from where the Regent now had his primary seat.

Upon approaching the dark oaken doors that Alicia insisted were kept open in order to be more inviting, two guards could be seen. One human, one elf stood, stock still and to attention at all times outside the door of the Elven Chancellor. They carried swords and paid close attention to those who came in to the vicinity of the Lady Chancellor's offices. To the side of the open doors, secured to the wall was a simple and elegant plaque

Alicia Gil'dae

Alexis stood stiffly at the threshold to the chambers of the Imperial Chancellor, feeling terribly naked as he handed over his officer's cutlass, and gazing intently at every facet of his full dress navy uniform, wanting everything to be perfect. He'd spent a good half-darkening making sure that his uniform was as ipeccable as always, particularly so today.

He was meeting the second most powerful official in the Empire, the Imperial Chancellor, and he hadn't had a clue on how she looked like. She was a Gil'dae, of course, but he didn't know who she was, in truth, and while she seemed friendly enough in her letters, one never knew how she would react when matters came to a head, as he'd so correctly predicted, once another Gil'dae had thrust that missive into his lap.

Taking a deep breath, he handed over his Imperial Visa to the elf, declaring himself, as well as his intentions.

"Trieririus Alexis Sapientia of the Imperial Navy, former naval aide to the Imperial Marshal, here to speak with Her Imperial Excellency Chancellor Gil'dae."

A good thing he'd had rosyun, but the tense feeling in his stomach made him feel that he could lose it soon...hopefully not here and now, he voiced a prayer to the Gods, especially Markalin, wiping his brow with his white gloves as he awaited a reply.

She was a busy lady, no doubt, but he'd prepared long and well for this brightening, and here it was, upon him.

He knew he was as ready as he could be.

ooc: location filched from Alicia's office at the Palace, but edited to ensure clarity of location. They're at her office in the Chancellory complex, not the Palace.

[Alicia Elsdragon]

Alicia was sitting in her office, her head bent to look at the piece of parchment that she was studying. In truth, it seemed that she had been hired to look at pieces of parchment all day, but she knew that this was not true, as such. Well, maybe, now that she came to think of it.

However, the voice at the door broke her out of her consideration of the latest feasability study for expansion projects here there and everywhere and she looked up.

The young elf whose head lifted to meet Alexis' announcement was a young elf indeed, and rather amazingly short for one of her race. Her pale skin was a stark contrast to her dark hair which she wore tied back today, and her misty-grey eyes looked with interest as she listened to the young man speak.

The Lady Chancellor smiled a soft and gentle smile, her lips quirking slightly as she stood and moved around the large wooden desk that was empty except for the single piece of parchment that she had been looking at, her quill and a bottle of ink. Should Alexis be the kind of person to notice such things, this office would undoubtedly be noted as one that was extremely organised. Everything was in its place, books behind her, placed on the large book-case were in exatly the right order, none of them upside down or out of place.

The woman who walked around the desk was, indeed, short for an elf. Her clothes were simple and elegant, she was not given to ostentatious clothing or jewellry. Her long black skirt fell to the floor, tied tightly at her tiny waist. She wore a red blouse with a black waistcoat over it.

Her smile widened as she reached a point in the room where she could greet him and she spoke softly and gently "Trieririus Sapientia! It is a pleasure to see you here! Welcome and be at home. Can I offer you something to drink? Some refreshment?" she asked, and motioned with her hand to the left of where he had walked in, towards the comfortable chairs and low table that was in the corner of the room. "Please, come in and take a seat. It is good to meet you at last!"

She had never quite understood the human obsession with hand-shaking and she quite often forgot to do it, but had he known her at all (which of course, he did not) then Alexis would have known that the gentle touch of her hand on his arm as she said that it was good to meet him, a brief touch and nothing more was quite significant. This was a young man that Motito liked and respected.

That was enough for Alicia, bizarrely. No matter what happened between her and Motito, his judgement was good enough for her.

[Alexis Sapientia]

"Tea would be sufficient, My Lady Chancellor," the young man managed to say quite smoothly, not missing a beat at all as he gave a quaint smile and nod of recognition, seating himself as he'd been bidden, waiting anxiously until she did the same. "Thank you for receiving me, I know you must be very busy, what with all what's been happening in the Empire these brightenings," he managed to say, as an opener.

The meticulous organization didn't escape him, and an approving nod soon displayed itself, his respect for the Lady growing more. He'd never heard of her--except for what he read in the Herald, which was few and far between. By and far, he was impressed with the warm and gracious way she'd received him, a part of him wondering how much of a contrast she was with the seemingly perenially gruff Motito.

Clasping his hands at the table in front of him, a bit shy, still, he decided on a simple question, at first.

"Your Excellency is well, I hope?"

[Alicia Elsdragon]

"Tea, of course" she said and nodded to one of the guards who was looking. She wouldn't be making the tea herself, guarding the closely kept secret that she was absolutely abysmal at doing so. She sat opposite him and shook her head "No thanks are needed. It's a welcome break, frankly, from the mound of parchment that I think is actually a ploy to bury me alive" she smiled and looked up as the guard brought in a tray to lay down between the two of them, tea for Alexis and fruit juice for Alicia.

"I'm very well indeed, but my name is Alicia. I fully understand that there are times when titles and all that are necessary, but in my office, I am Alicia. I hope that's alright with you? "

She sat back and sipped the juice, looking at him carefully. The lad seemed a little nervous, so she considered that the thing to do was to put him out of his misery quickly "So, what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"

She knew, of course, at least a little from his letter and she surmised quite a lot besides, but she knew that if she was in his place, she'd want to put the words out in front first, so she smiled encouragingly and listened to his response.

[Alexis Sapientia]

Her kind question and initial humorous remark was enough to coax the smile out from his lips.

"Oh, Gods, a whole lot of things, truth be said," exclaimed he, the dour personality he'd given suddenly breaking free as the tea arrived, vapor rising from the cup. Taking out a sheaf of papers and laying them on the side, he clasped his hands together, leaned back a bit on his chair, and began to talk more. "I'm not about to take up a lot of your time, because I know we've both a lot of duties to perform in our own little ways," Alexis paused to take a sip of the warm tea, a grateful sigh leaving his lips as he set the cup and saucer down with nary a clatter.

Taking a deep breath, he continued.

"As you very well may know, Lord Gil'dae had seen fit to appoint me Imperial Admiral, with the duty to take charge of the Classis and spin it back up to speed." He nodded, referring to the letters they'd both exchanged. "I've already met the new Minister, Lord Arkahn, some cycles ago, and he's given me a few marching orders as well."

A finger tugged at his very junior rank insignia as he did so, an embarrassed smile on his lips.

"Forgive my little ruse, ever since my appointment, I've been a bit hesitant to go out, what with all those forces out to do harm." A teasing grin. "You never know when orcs will suddenly come knocking out of the woodwork, and despite all indications, I'm terrible at swords."

"Anyway, to continue." He cleared his throat as he did so. "I've two major issues to put to you, Lady Alicia, in so far as it involves your office." He took another sip, and let the silence hang a little.

"The first involves a nation known as the...Federal or Federation or Federated...something like that, I believe, Matriarchal Society of Oceanis." A furrowed brow presented itself. "I'm not sure I got that right."

"I'm not exactly sure what you call them, that nation of merfolk who live under the sea," he added unnecessarily, "...and who, I believe, were also part of that chaos that visited Demios an era or two ago." His index finger pressed against his lips. "Marshal Gil'dae was there, and if memory serves me correctly, that quasi-war ended by the marriage of the Thane--I forget his name, but I think he was the first blind thane in recent memory," which gives points to his political acumen, he didn't say, "...and I believe an armistice was agreed upon, which was concluded by his marrying some merfolk princess."

Setting his hands flat at the table, he continued. "Now why is this important? I'll tell you." Without being bidden, Alexis began a concise, and yet highly animated telling of the events that had taken place in the short-lived Relief of Narim, where all the Southern Coast's forces, and all the Southern Coast's fighting men and women, couldn't even begin to put all the Oceanis troubles back into their box again.

"Main issue at hand, I believe, is related to all this news what with the Kattarians and all." He managed to lean forward and give an apologetic, and somewhat more indulgent smile. "I've forgotten how we ended that particular debacle," mentioned he, referring to the Narim incident, "...but suffice it to say, I think it would be a good idea for your good offices to see how relations are at present between the Empire and them, and see how we can...soothe their ruffled fins, so to speak."

He swallowed a bit of saliva, and with it, some of his personal pride, as well.

"The reason this is so important to me is because, well," pleading eyes looked up. "I can't even begin to plan how on Telath we in the Classis can defend ourselves from an enemy who lives, breathes, and knows more of the sea than we landlubbers ever will." A faint hint of levity, at that, but nothing more. "I'd hate to go to war against them, let me tell you the truth."

There were other minor issues to be discussed, but this was the one that lay paramount on the young Imperial Admiral's mind.