#lividus

-

Tiny as I am even in heels, fighting to be seen, I have to catch up with the old man.

"I am not a diplomat or anything close to it, Provos."

"Neither am I." He smiles at that, as if I made a good joke. It's a dried out smile on a dried out man.  "Not many diplomats left to accompany me now, are there, eradicator?"

The empty hallways and long whiskers of the security personnel testing the depths of possible holes to slip out attest to the statement.

They have to hold everything together in the provinces as well.

Diplomacy won't kill rebels, but it may help to provisionally keep the leering silvers that are left in power back. If my kills don't. If Corros hasn't. It may be enough for now to stabilize whatever the demands of the foreign rulers is. For now.

My scars itch. 

We all play on time. And every day counts. 

"I value you never came after my house. Your father is my friend."

"That is up to the grace and mercy of the king," I answer.  A tape replayed. As much as I want to be cruel, mean and hurt everyone. I have turned on my belly. I am vulnerable for everyone to see. Or at least I have to act as if I am.

He doesn't answer me. He doesn't waste that breath. 

"What do you know about them?"

I am not familiar with Piedmont's splintered pieces of designated rulers. Silver countries are always the same. Perhaps it lies in our blood to bite our kinsmen and reach for power.

Not that they are able to reach the scandalous writing on the wall of losses nortan royalty and houses have drawn in the waters with all the colors of blood the last months.

We fight with ten invisible enemies. If we lose these allies as well, what is to say we don't lose even more?

"Nothing more than anyone else." I make sure everyone hears my heels stomping next to him. Look, I am alive.

"Do you want me to lay down the different types of treaties that were signed with some of the princes?"

"We are indeed no diplomats, dear woman." Golden glitter on him, he stops in front of the tailing doors, trailing to the stairs. " Daraeus is a swift. He is the soft spoken one with manners, I can handle that. Alexandret is the one you need to keep an eye on for me."

I tilt my head.  "The one that brings pain."

Provos nods.

"I can stomach pain."

And that makes him nod once more. "He has a temperament and is proud behind the mask.  Does that remind you of anyone you recently met, Lady Viper?"

"It reminds me of most men."

-