Thread: An Empire in 100 Nights (Rosewood x LeatrixSage)

Lady - That phrase was tickling her last nerve, but there was little she could say about it. What should he call her? She wasnt a ruler anymore, something that was still very hard for Solveig to swallow with any sort of grace or dignity. His insistence on reminding her that she was well and thoroughly conquered , didnt help. He had come to add the Valley of the Gods to his vast Empire. She had expected that was the case, of course. It seemed silly that his aims had been anything less. It may not have been when first they had met his armies a few years before. Her husband had lost battle after battle through nothing but his own idiotic nature. After Solveig had unseated him, shed sent his armies back over the mountains licking their wounds. Perhaps, then, this was her fault in truth. Had she not sent them scurrying, maybe Morgundt never would have come to her lands himself. My people dont even pay taxes to me, Solveig pointed out briefly during his diatribe, but he continued as if she had not spoken. His demeaner had completely changed. His new seriousness was familiar and comfortable. What humor had been in him had vanished, and yet nothing about the woman relaxed. She remained tense, and poised, on the edge of her seat. He took her aback yet again as he praised her for how she had led her armies and her people against him, and she frowned at him while she listened. You treat with me, the answer came to her lips too quickly, and her cheeks warmed slightly with color. One thing she knew beyond the shadow of a doubt was that she didnt trust anyone else to do this. But, you need to understand that there are those that no longer feel I have the right to speak on their behalf. They will fight against any agreement we reach, and they will fight you. Beyond that, accepting your rule here youre asking a lot of a people that follow blood they believe to be tied to their Gods, to set hundreds of years of tradition aside in the name of your rule. Solveig paused, made herself take a breath, and set her own outrage aside. It didnt serve her needs. You are either a great fool, which I already know you are not, or you must have something damn good to offer, other than taxes and trade deals, to win the hearts and minds of those you mean to rule. She couldnt stay sitting. There was too much nervous energy in her and sweat was trickling down between her breasts. She needed to move before she went mad, but she didnt want him to see anxiety or fear in her fidgeting. That meant she had to stay where she was. Resigned, she made herself take a slow breath, I appreciate the seriousness of my situation, so much so that I know any deal I work out with you is going to be met with opposition, and I do not want to watch my people suffer. Youll have to forgive me if I do not believe the man that burned his way across my home cares about the people that live here. The plague you proclaim to wish to help them with was made by your hands. You and your army. Her voice was rising, and Solveig paused to reign herself in again. Her hands were gripping the arms of the chair so tightly that her knuckles were white. Her fingers ached when she made herself let go, and then she clasped her hands in her lap. We dont need you, we do not want you, and before you came here, we were thriving. Knowing these things, what can you possibly offer us? And, what do you want from us, other than our sons, fathers, and husbands for your armies and our wealth? Before we discuss what will be happening to me or my nation, I want to know what you expect to receive as your spoils. And there her tongue went, running away with her, again. Solveig had never been so furious with any human being before, and yet despite their situation he had been noting but courteous. He even seemed to respect her on some level. Which was even more infuriating. Gods be damned, she wanted to hit him. It was foolish and childish, but her fingers twitched for the wanting. The emotional wreck that she was quickly becoming simply would not do, and she finally gave in to her need to stand and pace the length of then tent while she yanked at the front of her woolen gown to open it. The thin brown shift beneath clung to the damp skin of her chest, but at least she could breathe. You tell me what you want, she sighed, calming a little are the nervous energy bled out of her, and I will tell you what it costs.