The Tyrant's Queen

68: art of camouflage

The chamber of 'Nemese' Karlieus hinted at the life its previous occupant had led.

There was no window, likely for security reasons.

On one side of the room was a plain wooden table, spread out on which were a heavily annotated map of Aesna, neatly stacked piles of documents and a set of writing materials.

Adjacent to the table was a single-sized plain bunk bed.

Hanging on both sides of the wall were armors, swords, bows of various sizes, and weapons Thalia could not put a name to.

In the center of the room sat a round coffee table, barely big enough for about four cups to cram in.

And sitting on the edge of the wooden table was Karlieus.

The moment a bald, towering man in the room opened the door, Thalia caught sight of Karlieus and realized- she often forgot he was once a pirate.

The air of the room was hazy and heavy. A cigar in hand, Karlieus was smoking.

By his side on the table was a tray, filled to the brim with a pile of crushed cigars and ash.

The first and last time she'd seen him smoke was when she'd first met him at the balcony.

As he had at that time when she'd approached, Karlieus quickly snuffed out the cigar, crushing it against the tray.

Deep shadows rimmed his under eyes, and his face was unshaven. Thalia bit her lip.

Karlieus had known about Ikan's passing from yesterday afternoon, and she'd spent her time in ignorant bliss.

The tall man who'd opened the door, started upon seeing Thalia and Karlieus. He sank into a deep bow.

"Your Majesties. Thank you for your visit. It is the clan's honor. I am Gahon, Iha-Nemese."

Iha-Nemese was the right hand of the clan Nemese. That meant he had served as the right hand of General Ikan.

With a long face, long aquiline nose, a lanky figure and thin lips, Gohan gave the overall impression of being a long- and somewhat dry- man.

Like Karlieus, he was dressed in all black, of a crisp shirt and plain pants.

"We offer our condolences, Officer." Even as Lucien directed his sentence to Gahon, Thalia saw how his attention was on Karlieus.

Gahon's thin lips thinned further, as he bowed. "Thank you. I will leave you to speak with the Nemese."

As the sound of Gahon's footsteps had faded away, Karlieus dusted his hands, likely of the cigar ash. Pulling out three chairs at the coffee table, he spoke with his back to them.

"Please have a seat, Your Majesties."

~ * ~

Owing to the absence of a window, there was perfect silence in the room.

Only the thickening smell of smoke tickled Thalia's throat as she sat between Karlieus and Lucien, cautious not to swallow too loudly.

Lucien was looking to the north of the room, and Karlieus, to the east.

And Thalia kept her gaze down in what seemed like the neutral ground of this high-strung battleground- a highly restricted area of the coffee table, and her lap.

Finally, she could not help but burst into coughs. Oh gods of Aesna.

Promptly, Karlieus started pulling out a jug of water and cup from below the coffee table, and Lucien, a paper-wrapped candy from his pocket.