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Arrenhe tr'Khev

A Little Honesty

Most anyone who'd known Destorie Ma'Lyn Sheuij N'Dak for any period of time would have expected that by now, the infamous lazer-eyed glare of death he'd become infamous for would, by now, be burying into the soul of Arrenhe tr'Khev. Instead, the calm, placid nod from the Daise'Erei'Riov would likely have been far more frightening to the observer. "I see," he said, as he casually looked back to the file. "I suppose that is a common enough sentiment among the crew."

 

"Ie," Arrenhe said, still horrified that he'd actually said what he said. Too late though to take it back, he could only now try to soften his line as it would be cowardly, and impossible, to step behind it. "I sincerely doubt there's anyio on this ship that likes au, and many who only respect au out of fear. There would be parties and much alcohol consumption if au ever left... io way or the other."

 

"Perhaps," he said thoughtfully. "I have formed a strange bond with t'Ksa and t'Temmarr. I assure au neither of them fear me."

 

"Why would they?" Arrenhe asked with a lopsided smile. "They both are frightening enough on their own accounts, and have both the position and attitude to tell au precisely where to stick it." He shrugged. "Yet they manage to have that and still have heart left enough for others and na just themselves. Something I do na see coming from au."

 

The elder Rihan snorted. "Laehval, the Ice Queen of Talon! Don't let her hear au say that or au will end up with a malfunctioning 'fresher."

 

"Of course," he said, unable to hold back a snort of his own. "Just because it is unwise to mention it does na make it any less true."

 

"I believe perhaps au believe too many of the rumors au have heard about me and my past, tr'Khev," Destorie said leaning back in his chair. "Contrary to popular belief I am not completely heartless."

 

"The rumors also indicate that au would say au were a Lloann'na Faerie King if it would advance au's position," he said earnestly, though the amusement of the statement flashed in his eyes. "Though that specific case would probably na be of any help. So why should I, or anyio else, believe anything that comes from au's mouth?"

 

A long glance cast briefly at the younger Rihan before his eyes worked their way to the personnel file on his monitor screen. "tr'Khev has continued to show himself to be a fine, capable officer who puts himself fully into his duties. He is a credit to his lineage and to this crew. Losing him would be a great loss to the Talon D'Heno and administration. Hopefully though, his musical career will continue to bud; it is not hard to imagine him performing in the Imperial Theatre someday..." He glanced up. "Who do au think wrote that?"

 

"Pithy, concise, and only proves excellent observation skills," Arrenhe stated. Though the pride resulting from the statement, as well as the sting that the musical career seemed nipped in the bud, was certainly felt. "It could have been written by any Galae officer with eyes and ears."

 

True, Destorie mentally conceded and glanced back to the file. "It is with both great pride in io of my young officers, and regret that he could soon be leaving us that I send you my letter of recommendation as well as my pledge for the support and patronage an aspiring artist as he deserves and needs. Signed, Destorie N'Dak, Executive officer RES Talon."

 

With a slight, careful smile. "Au see, shortly before au... accident, I'd heard rumors au were planning to leave the Galae to pursue au artistic career. My family has several reserved positions at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Gaen-Iaum. Io of them had come open and we were looking for possible replacements."

 

"Hmph," the diminutive officer replied, his eyes closing. "I appreciate that, I really do. Though of course it's utterly useless now." He pinched the bridge of his nose with his good hand, as the potential and sudden demise of his career in music was na something he wanted to discuss. Or think about. "Nonetheless, it's hardly any great proof of heart, seeing as throwing patronage around is as much a political statement as anything else. I certainly do na share the same negative feeling for my own father as I seem to for au but even he has done the same.

 

"Na to mention the fact it's hard for me to believe au had the slightest interest in my music when au could na even be bothered to listen to it during the concert before the leave."

 

Destorie snorted outright. "On the contrary, I found it to be exceptional. I am not sure how much au know about the Academy, but just because a patron asks for ios admission does na grant it, not even from my own family. I sent them a recording from that night. They were exceptionally pleased, especially my old instructor."

 

"Au's old instructor..." Arrenhe said, his voice surprised before trailing off. He couldn't imagine N'Dak with an instrument for more than just the token necessity of being 'cultured.' Though, he realized, even a family of the N'Dak prominence wouldn't bother with the expense and work of getting a IAA instructor just to teach the basics. Therefore, there must be some talent in that bag of political intrigue that served as N'Dak's body. The shock of that just left Arrenhe speechless, and his youthful face echoed the consternation of that.

 

"Ie, ie... I had quite promising career apparently," Destorie said with a fond, slight nostalgia. "My mother had wanted me to pursue it instead of the military. Even my father would have prefered it I think."

 

"Wait. Wait, wait, wait..." Arrenhe said, his voice returned and incredulous as he tried to wrap his head around that io. "That's just... I can na... The N'Dak of legend and lore just won't quite pop into my head playing an instrument or singing merrily," he stated. "So either this is another Lloann'na Faerie King moment or perhaps there is something under that facade au are hiding."

 

"There are many things about me only a few know," Destorie said with a grin. "This is io of them." Sighing ever so slightly Destore looked back at the file then to tr'Khev. "But that was a long time ago. I gave up my singing career to pursue the military. Sadly it looks as now aurs will be too."

 

"That may be the case," Arrenhe said. The thought of what those other things could be was so majorly disturbing, yet compelling, that it drove his face into a sight of pure confusion. He shook his head, but the look stayed put. "So au would prefer to be known as a selfish, political opportunist with na compunctions on means, na compassion for anyio? What purpose does that serve, or do au actually enjoy it?"

 

"It protects me from emotional entreaties. It keeps the crew unified, even if it means villifying myself."

 

"That's ridiculous," he said heatedly. "There are a thousand other paths to that end, why choose the hardest on auself, the least pleasant for everyio else? And what in the Elements name is wrong with 'emotional entreaties?' Do au want to live au's whole life alone?" He shook his head again, and, as the discussion of N'Dak's musical past had obviously opened the door to Arrenhe's belief, it was clear both in his voice and on his face that he was disturbed by the thought of N'Dak being isolated.

 

"I've grown accustomed to it, I don't mind it."

 

"Na," Arrenhe replied. "I think au do mind it, but au are obviously so good at the deception au have managed to convince auself, na to mention everyio else, of the lie." He sat back in his chair. "Now that I know that, I will be forced to attempt to befriend au" he said, smiling sweetly. "Of course if au have read my Academy file, au would know that's coming, as I've even seen that remark from an instructor. 'Too much compassion.' Terribly un-Galae of me, I know."

 

Destorie nodded. "Something along those lines, Ie." Then added. "Do na get to close to me, those who do usually end up yy'a."

 

"It is amusing," he said, his lips widening into an open smile. "My family was set on me going into politics, and only many years of my patience allowed them to accept my musical talent as a career. Yet, here I am, in Galae. Au's family went the opposite way, yet here au are, in Galae. Both on the Talon. The Elements are hard to fight, ie? Whatever they have in store for me, for au. I will ride that storm, whether I'm drowned or na."

 

"Ie, now I believe au have duties to attend to, na?"

 

"I do, some, ie." Arrenhe grinned. "Though of course au were supposed to consdider other additional duties for me considering my... condition. I imagine au are too mired in duty to have forgotten that."

 

"Na, I think au have enough on au plate, when io includes the rehab t'Ksa will put au through."

 

"Ah, compassion in there after all. Do na worry, I will na tell anyio... na that they would believe me. They'd just send me right back to t'Ksa for more medication."

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