Strange Happenings

## The Meeting

The halls were far from quite, as the trio walked, there was much to discuss. Central to the whole affair, procession, and nation(s) on whole was Emperor Vedat Avci of the The Duel Monarchy, Supreme leader of the Nations of Austrayan, Denishue, and Kyslev (Kislev). He had dismissed his guards, after all, if they did their jobs right then he ought to be sage in his own palace of all places. They were headed to a meeting, like always, the drearily dull things never seemed to end. The others with the young emperor were first, his personal secretary Izolda Antal she was going through the reams of numbers that he apparently need to know before talking to the stonemasons Guild. Dockmaster Rin Benenati was the the other, they were a L'acquan representative who had arrived almost a year ago now to ensure the existing infrastructure would be able to handle the battleship *Sulusi* when she was delivered. They had taken up a supervisory role in overseeing the others representatives of the shelter islands when they arrived to arrange payment for the *Portents*. They were had proven quite popular among the court, a lifetime of hard work had endured them to the military establiments, and a razor wit and unflappable calm had endeared them, or at least protected them from the worst of the royalist bickerings.
Avci liked them even more when they interjected into the ever growing list of things about rocks he "needed" to know, It was a antecedent about one their grandsons, one they had told but a good one. He turned to hear the punch line better and was about to preempt it when suddenly the Hall in front of him was not as empty as he thought it to be. He fell back and someone fell across his legs books and scrolls going everywhere as well as a soft clinking of metal and glass.

Emperor Avci did pause for a moment to enjoy the ceiling form an angle he never had before, but only a moment. Before he rolled to sit up appreciating the utility and mobility of his military cut garb the old robe would have smudged, but in the new clothes he looked just as regel after as he did before, ah, there Rin now holding out a hand. But there was something in it, a pair of glasses, Probably belonging to who ever was still laying across the emperor's legs feeling around the floor.

It took a moment for him to recognise them, they were Col Matija Laitinen of the Prem-Bol Embassy. Avci vaguely remembered he had a meeting with them later today. Ah the glasses where thiers. On one hand He was the emperor and they had just short of assaulted him, the other was the importance of manners, they had saved his life so often. So he took the glasses and tapped them on adjunents probing hands.
Col Matija Laitinen slid their glasses back on There was an unfortunate crack across the right lense, but now she could see their unfortunate collision target, panic settled in. It was Emperor Vedat Avci himself. Fear was not something the Colonel was very prone to, they had had feild commands before their vision degradation had led to promotion out of field command to the current level. But then He spoke.

"Are you alright there? The fall seems to have set you unawares."

They were flatf ooted but only for so long.
"Ah no, I was just concerned for you safety."
They moved their legs kneeling position, careful to avoid ripping their skirt.

"Touching but rather unnecessary. I would hardly have survived this long if a mere bump in the hall was enough to finish me off.

Oh wow, he looked good in uniform. The thought was unprofessional, unwelcome and smothering present in their mind. They almost didn't notice that they had only managed to collect half of the papers for the info they were supposed to be presenting later. The rest were with Izolda, who handed them back.

"The Emperor will most likely now be late for his next meeting, therefore you will need to clear your schedule this evening to present during his dinner in the garden."

"Yes Mam i will be there promptly, I am sorry again my liege."

Emperor Avci looked the officer over, honestly to make sure they were uninjured, They looked good in uniform.
"Think nothing of it if a little tumble is all it takes to secure an excuse to be late to a meeting and not remember anything about rocks when I arrive I would take it thrice daily. I look forwards to talking more at dinner."
and like that the groups departed for another, for now.

The meeting was every bit as boring as feared, but fortunately Izolda & Rin didn't half to attend so they waited out side enjoying the view. Izolda broke the silence once they were unobserved.
"How did you set up *that* of all things?

"In the end Avci is little different than my middle granddaughter and the same thing will work this time."

"That isn't an answer."
Rin smiled ever wider.

"Mhmmmm, I suppose not, if you are having doubts we could go double or nothing again?"
Izolda didn't even have to think, fool me once and ect.

"Absolutely not."
Rin somehow smiled even wider.

## Gallery

Col Matija LaitinenIzolda AntalDockmaster Rin Benenati