Off with his tongue! Er, maybe not...

["Kathie Care" <kathie@availablelight.net>]

Celestial Hall -- Imperial Palace (Kaitain)

        One of the greatest feats of architecture in the Known Universe, the
Celestial Hall is a fitting audience chamber for the man who holds sway over
millions of worlds, or even the woman who holds sway over his heart. Walls,
ceiling, floor -- all are covered in the lustrous blue of lapis lazuli, the deep
blue and twinkling flecks of gold seemingly wrought from the heavens itself.
Into the walls and ceiling have been placed hundreds of thousands of gemstones
of uncountable shades and colours, each gem chosen to reflect the physical
appearance of a world from the vantage point of space. Behind these miniature
worlds, lights have been meticulously hidden, illuminating them and shining
through the room in every shade and colour of the spectrum.

        In the center of the ceiling, a glowglobe disk shines a golden light
down upon a dais of white marble. The dais supports two brilliant thrones. Upon
this dais would be seated the Emperor and Empress, to receive what petitioners
may seek their audience and ear. Those petitioners might find purchase on
smaller chairs and benches artfully engraved with stars and other
constellations. Indeed, this room echoes the political role of Kaitain as the
centre of the Universe, the spokes of its myriad worlds and their noble Houses
radiating from the glittering origin of Kaitain itself, and the man and woman
who rule over it all.

Exits:
 Lapis Lazuli Archway <S> leads to Salon of Wallach I -- Imperial Palace
(Kaitain)

Fahahd walks in from Salon of Wallach I through the Lapis Lazuli Archway.
Fahahd has arrived.

The hall is mostly empty, save for a few of the more determined hangers-on and
courtiers who have managed to weasel their way back in. And then there are the
usual Noukkers, and, a somber, less-than-giggly gaggle of Ladies in Waiting.
Many of those present in the hall have donned the required garb of mourning, as
are the black drapes that have been hung everywhere else in the Palace present
in this ornate chamber.

The dais does not stand empty as it has for many days, either. The Empress,
similarly draped in black, has emerged from her self-declared seclusion for the
afternoon. For one audience, and one audience only, as the whispers around the
periphery go. But no names of yet have been called to summon forth the lucky (or
unlucky) petitioner.

Fahahd is among the gaggle present in the audience, though the darkness of his
formal uniform blends in well with the sober garb of mourning around him. He
waits patiently, though he's worrying a little at his lip.

The Imperial lackey standing at the edge of the dais steps forward, pitching his
voice to carry just enough to those in the room. No need to blast it, after all.
"Captain Fahahd Alaurans. You are hereby summoned forth to be heard by Her
Imperial Majesty." He looks around the room, trying to distinguish between all
the black-garbed bodies which one might just be the unfortunate.

Fahahd steps forward and makes the obligatory prostration, waiting to be heard.
Various of the courtiers titter among themselves, wondering precisely how this
nobody ended up at an Imperial audience.

Especially considering all other audiences have been denied, till now... even
stranger...

Tat'iana regards the man on the floor with a quiet sigh, her face not hidden
behind a bland mask for a change. No, she's quite grim-looking, if not tired.
Though the finer details are of course hidden behind the tinted veil before her.
"Captain Alaurans," she says tonelessly. "We are exceedingly curious about your
reasons for begging such a meeting, especially in light of the vicious gossip we
have had occasion to hear. Gossip, however, is mostly not to be believed. Do
rise, and enlighten us as to your predicament, hmm?"

Fahahd stands, and makes an abortive movement with a hand - a quickly stifled
nervous gesture. Really, he'd rather be facing down a legion of Sardaukar with a
toothbrush than be here, under the gimlet gaze of the court hangers-on. "I do
not pretend to know what picture gossip has painted of me at late, Your Majesty.
But I have come to confess an error against your most generous invitation, as
well as an infraction against the Forms, and beg your Majesty's pardon."

Tat'iana lifts a hand, a leisurely gesture. Though, in truth, she is quite
comfortably-settled in her seat. Extra padding and pillows now, it's been
re-fitted for her again. It is this gesture that she uses to signal the Captain
to continue, though a moment after, she says quietly, "We are listening."

Fahahd keeps his head bowed, as he goes on. "I was...accosted in the Library by
a Lady of House Corrino - the Lady Garamond, to be specific. She seems to be
suffering under the delusion that I am somehow pursuing her, or attempting to
monitor her movements. I admit, though, to not having responded to her
accusation with the courtesy her rank deserved. I was...rather rude."

"And why would the Lady Garamond think herself deserving of your... pursuit,
Captain?" Tat'iana asks quietly.

"As far as I can tell, Majesty, her belief derives from a few coincidental
encounters in the city. Otherwise, I am not sure," he admits.

"And you were precisely how rude to the Lady Garamond?" Tat'iana fires the next
question without pause. And, another. "And do you expect... serious
repercussions from this, Captain?"

Fahahd pauses a moment, considering his reply. "I spoke to her as if we were
equals, and dared her to prove her authority, when she threatened me for it. And
as for repercussion, I of course submit myself entirely to Your Majesty's ruling
upon this."

Tat'iana nods slowly. "Please, do continue... what else was specifically said?
What would you need challenge her authority over?"

Fahahd says, "She bid me leave the Library after noticing me there. I protested
that I had invitations from both Your Majesty and His Highness the Prince. It
was my tone that irritated the lady, I believe. I refused to leave, and she
threatened to report my behavior to His Majesty. Something about having my
tongue removed for insolence."

Tat'iana sighs quietly, her eyes rolling expressively, visible even beneath the
veil. "Great Mother, the self-inflated importance of /some/ people around here
just astounds me," she mutters quietly. "Captain Alaurans, since you've brought
this to my attention, you obviously feel some bit of guilt and remorse for the
incident. A written apology to Her Ladyship for your untoward manner and tone, I
think, would be most appropriate. I will, in the coming days, prepare for you a
written invitation you may carry with you to show your appropriateness for being
within the library. None may challenge that, I don't think, save His Majesty
himself. And... I will see that His Majesty is alerted to the behavior of the
Lady Garamond so that she might be reminded of her place here. Is this
sufficient, Captain?"

Fahahd dares to glance up. He's not going to have body parts removed. "Your
Majesty is more than kind," he replies, diffidently.

"There will be no tongues removed in this Palace for speaking up in defence of
oneself, and my wishes," Tat'iana declares, stabbing at the arm of her throne
with a fingertip on each syllable to drive the statement even more securely
home.

Fahahd inclines his head again. "Yes, MAjesty."

"Very well, Captain. This audience is at a close. I'm tired, and I wish to rest
now," Tat'iana murmurs. Indeed, even her voice carries a distinct note of
fatigue, if still a touch sharp from her irritation at the news delivered to
her. She doesn't even wait for the man to back away from the dais; she gets to
her feet, and, flanked by two of the Ladies in Waiting is assisted towards the
door of the chamber.

Fahahd blinks in surprise, as another wave of whispering passes through the
assembly.



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