The Orb Weaver

[NDak 0]

The Imperial Plaza in the capitol city bustled in the late evening. Summer had set in on ch’Rihan, and the warm nights brought out the best (or worst, depending on your point of view) in the capitol. In a small, tucked away open air restaurant on the edge of a fountain park, Colonel Savu N’Dak sipped a glass of wine while listening to the music of a street band. Habits were hard to break, and as much as she tried to focus her mind elsewhere, she couldn’t help but make mental notes about the subversive activities going on around her; like the teenager across the way procuring ale from a merchant illegally, or the young couple behind her who were clearly on a tryst, despite being bonded to other people. Her Tal’Shiar training, she had long decided, was both blessing and curse.

 

She’d be so wrapped up in thought she’d almost missed the fact that her table had been joined by a tall, dark and (if she allowed the thought, which, she noted she didn’t) handsome Rihannsu with steely blue eyes and chiseled features. Chaelon tr’Naierth, her immediate supervisor, smiled thinking he’d managed to sneak up on her -- that was until she addressed him by name without looking over.

 

“You really do now how to pick the best meeting spots,” she said, eyes still wandering. “It really is a rather wonderful night.”

 

He smirked. “I used to come here when I was younger.”

 

“Why do I feel like I am not the first woman you’ve brought here,” she said finally turning to face him with a playful grin. “Does your wife know about this place?”

 

Chaelon smirked wider as the waiter brought him a glass of ale. “Where do you think I met her?”

 

“No wonder you’ve been bonded so long,” she said. “But aren’t you afraid then, she’ll hear about us?”

 

“I told her I was meeting with a female operative. I only lie professionally, not in my personal life.”

 

Savu tipped her head at her superior. That was a novel concept, she thought, considering. Not that she particularly cared if people thought that she and the Sub-director were having an affair. They weren’t. And wouldn’t. Even though, she suspected, he would enjoy it. She didn’t see the need to use that currency to get what she wanted.

 

“I understand your pet project is going to your liking?”

 

Taking a sip of wine, she considered. “I wouldn’t call it a pet project. While I am clearly the main addressee of the benefits, I think we both know the Empire will benefit from its successful conclusion as well.”

 

“All I would remind you,” he said carefully, “is that end the end, the resources we’ve spent had best not been wasted or there will be questions about your actions.”

 

“Is that a threat?”

 

“No,” he said soberly. “Just a friendly warning. I won’t risk my career for yours. I wouldn’t expect anything else from you either.”

 

“There is a reason I respect you.”

 

“I’d hate to think if you didn’t.” And he sincerely meant that.

 

After a lapse in the conversation as they ordered simple meals, Chaelon opened again. “So, tell me, how is the relationship between your brother and the Khre’Riov? It certainly couldn’t have helped that your agent is compromised.”

 

“Better than ever,” she said with a grin. “My sources tell me she’s rather angry with him that he apparently once more refused to take action to support her.”

 

“A happy accident then.”

 

“Yes,” she said. “I didn’t even count on using her to actively drive a wedge between them. I have to admit, I was rather... surprised.”

 

“Mmm,” Chaelon said non-committaly. “So you think t’Rexan continues to distrust your brother?”

 

“I would hope she never really trusted him,” Savu said disdainfully. “He is an opportunistic whore. But yes, from what I’ve gathered, she continues to distrust his motives.”

 

“Hmm. Then it should be interesting to see what happens.”

 

She nodded. “Ie,” she said. “We shall have to see how the web we have weaved unfolds.”