HAHA IT ENDS WITH A REFERENCE TO THE SEGGZ
Oesala was sitting on the Silver Throne, receiving visits of people who had business with her. The last guest of the evening was introduced.
“Princess Kenele of Mronhe!”
Two young girls, not Ngimonian it seemed, came into the throne room and threw flower petals on the ground, with such a sweet smell Oesala could smell it from way over on her throne. They were followed by a few people playing stroking instruments, and finally, princess Kenele entered, wearing Ngimonian formal clothing, even if the rest her entourage wasn’t, and if.. this entire way to enter wasn’t.
She walked to the throne, then got on her knees, and pressed her face on the ground. “God-Empress. It’s an honour to be received at your court.
Oesala smiled at the whole presentation of the thing. Kenele was respectful, and showed respect by wearing these clothes, but.. being from the Three Cities, she still came in with almost a full parade.
“Great divine Empress, I’ve heard of your greatness. I know I’m nothing when contrasted to you. Seeing you has only confirmed that. However, the reason I came here.. I wish to make you even greater.”
She looked up, and Oesala guestured with her hand for her to get up, which she did. She sat down on the ground in the same way as Oesala was sitting on the throne.
“Yes?? And how would you do that, princess?”
“I wish to unite our lands. We can unite our lands, make yours greater, and bring mine under your divine rule.”
Oesala stood up and walked down the stairs of the throne, until she was near where Kenele was sitting. She put a hand on her cheek, and lifted Kenele’s face to look at hers.
“So you’ve come to offer me greatness, and offer yourself the same?? You too seem to be great and intelligent and gorgeous and dangerous.” She smiled.
“But God-Empress!! You don’t need to call me such things! I am lowly before you. I’m just the princess of a singular city, and you are the ruler of an entire nation!! I would wish to be like you. But maybe, I can be. I have a plan for the both of us..”
Kenele raised to her feet, and spread her arms. She slowly spun around, looking up into the sky, arms widespread. “...for all of us, even greater, still much greater..”
“Oh yes?? And how would we do that, princess??”
The empress was smirking. The princess was as well. She bowed again, though not as deeply as before.
“God-Empress, do I have your permission to speak frankly?”
“Why, yes, you do..”
“I am just the fourth child of the second child of the king of Mronhe. The throne shall never be mine... unless I take it. You are building a great empire. I’ve travelled through ((one city)) and ((another)), and I’m impressed. Clearly your empire is the future, and the Three Cities are the past.”
She was silent for a bit, seeing whether Oesala would respond. She didn’t. “Continue..”
“Empress.. do you have plans towage a war and conquer the Three Cities??”
One of the guards in the room brought his hand to his weapon. Oesala just laughed.
“If I were planning to, would I tell you of all people, princess Kenele of Mronhe?”
“Of course not, Empress. Please excuse my frankness. My people, however, are tired of wars. Khadok is starving, since their soil is losing its fertility, Masron is still sick of the pollution in the river caused by the war that destroyed the Empire, and we in Mronhe... we’ve never managed to rebuild our city fully. Another war would destroy us, and I have no doubt in my mind you would easily win that war.
I am a diplomat, I wage my wars with words instead of metal. And I’ve been pretty successful in that, collecting friends, and useful enemies, in all of the Three Cities. You, God-Empress, could waste all of your chattel on a war, preventing all progress because there’s fewer to do the simple labour, and all of that which is left has to go to the war.. But you don’t want that, do you??”
Oesala had been listening in silence. She had a thoughtful look on her face. “If war could be prevented, that would be great. So amuse me, princess, am I a friend, or an enemy?”
“A lovely stranger I would like to have as a friend, empress.”
She took a gift from her clothes. A stone egg, light-blue, not unlike the one around her neck. “And if you will be my friend, and accept this gift, I will bloodlessly provide you with the Three Cities.”
Oesala took the egg and observed it. While she did, she spoke. “And in return, you become my vessel and rule with me, starting a new imperial line. Did I understand that correctly??” She put her hand on the princess’ face again. “You’re pretty, young enough, seemingly healthy, and useful. I accept, provided you can actually talk the Three Cities into becoming part of my empire.”
Kenele looked a bit confused, and then slightly panicked. “Ah.. No, in return, I want to be made a spirit myself.. like Totelli was, when he added a new part to your Empire. And I want to eternally rule as High Queen of the Three Cities, faithfully under your command, God-Empress.”
Oesala looked slightly disappointed. “I see.. I would have to discuss that with the other spirits, and I would have to see what you actually have to offer.”
“Of course. I can show you all the Three Cities have to offer, my connections.. and why a war would be devestating for all of us.”
“Ah.. a threat.. a useful enemy indeed..”
Kenele quickly bowed again. “No, no, it’s just that nobody wants a war, but we’re all preparing for one. Enough blood has been shed, and our rural populatoin isn’t that large since the last war, I don’t want everybody to starve.”
“My my, giving me advice on how to destroy you..”
“But my Empress, you already know this in all your greatness. I am just a stupid princess who needs a helping hand knowing to know how to destroy your.. cautioness with me, so I can make you a friend to exploit for my personal goals.”
“Ah, there we go, that’s my language~ What do you want to know?? How to get into my treasury??”
“I would like to know something much more important.. When I show you the Three Cities we will rule together, how will I amuse you?? What kind of food, what kind of music, and do you prefer men, women, or both??”