Talia simply put her teacup down with a quiet clink. Across from her perched high on pillows was her former-lover Radesh and off to her left-hand side nestled in a silken blanket the product of their lust-fueled nights; Nera. Perfectly sculpted nails idly played at the ceramic drink-ware tactilely examining the surface for any invisible flaw; the atmosphere between the trio was pleasant albeit somewhat strained.

“No one is buying into these scare tactics,” evenly began the long-haired general as she reclined back into her woven wicker chair. “Are they?” For just a moment the woman shifted her weight, wine-red eyes narrowing with speculation ever so slightly upon making her inquiry towards her daughter and the high-born Oban prince. Both simply gave a casual shrug nearly in unison, the eidetic idioms even in body language that the two shared flabbergasted the war-hardened soldier; genetics were truly an astonishing cartographer when it came to mapping the unseen traits of individuals.

Radesh was the first to speak. “Of course people believe the stories. If they didn’t there wouldn’t be rumors, Talia.” The comment was nonchalant and executed in a warm velvety tone as the man mussed with his meticulously groomed facial hair; the coarse whiskers gleamed with exotic perfumed oils in the ambient lighting of the room yet when he retracted his fingertips they remained unsullied and without residue. Though his words lacked combative stipulation the thinly-built, tower of a woman jerked her head towards the pampered sovereign and sneered with contempt.

“How idiotic are the masses?” She fumed loudly while pushing the teacup further across the table and shoving her chair backwards, the wood screamed out in opposition but the redhead woman ignored the clamor. “It is just--- propaganda to stirrup issues on the mainland. Those Yael scum are trying to find an excuse to invade us or at the very least infiltrate our cities.” Talia huffed once more then slumped dejectedly back into the contour of her chair. Radesh did his best to hide his amusement and pointedly turned his face away towards their oddly silent opinionated offspring. Nera remained have draped in the silk blanket that he brought her as a gift, her crooked nose peeked out along with the underside of her jaw but her bright pink hues remained obscured from view. Despite his short stature Radesh had a difficult time peering up at his child from where he sat on his throne of pillows, for all he could tell she might have been ignoring he and her mother completely however the way her pouty mouth tensed at the lull in banter gave proof that the boyish youth was still in fact paying attention to the topic at hand.

“There has to be some truth to the stories,” Nera began, her voice a hazy mumble that lacked boisterous volume. Sleek fabric rustled noiselessly as it fell away from the young-woman’s face and shoulders collecting at her bare midsection in a heap. “It has to have something to do with those extremist,” shifting at her hips the white-haired tamer failed at smoothing over her expression before burrowing back down into the expensive duvet the visiting prince had brought her. “I’m not completely sure what is going on over there but surely we can’t just sit back and wait to see what manifests,” turning her attention towards the dark-complexioned high-born Nera extended her unblinking gaze at the man, willowy fingertips escaped from silken folds and casually danced in place punctuating her line of thought. “We have to be proactive, don’t we Lord Radesh?”

At this the man with the neatly trimmed beard and thigh-length dark-crimson hair fell silent. The gregarious smirk that normally adorned his visage all but drained away leaving his expression stern and a bit taciturn. “I might be the crowned prince but even my influence cannot sway the manpower required to undertake such a exploit. I have the funds of course but without the King’s permission I cannot attempt such an expedition.”

“It is a waste of time anyhow,” Talia barked with irritation. Elegant fingertips made quick work of picking up the drink-ware that had found itself in the middle of the table. Tossing her head back some the Oban General scoffed all too loudly then silenced herself by taking a cautious sip of her still hot herbal tea. “We need to focus our attention here on the mainland, we do not need to venture out to those that plan on doing us harm, it will just end up weakening our defenses if we do so.”

Perhaps her mother was right. Reclining back Nera couldn’t help but mumble just loud enough for the pair to hear her. “We shall see how this all plays out, for now we wait.”

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