I'm sorry for the lack of updates, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your reviews! You all make me laugh and smile. :3 Please continue, and I hope you enjoy this! I promise more...events in the next chapter. Maybe a little illusion of a sort. ;p
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When in her own environment, a space she created herself and kept herself, Queen Illysa was not the stoic, intimidating woman she seemed to be. She was a scholar, going against the tide of previous, air headed woman rulers like her mother did. Her walls were all bookshelves, each with one category of books: history, navigation, astronomy and astrophysics, languages. The list was as long as the great queen's hair, which, as she sat on the ornately carved chair at her matching desk, reached the floor. Before her stood Jim Hawkins, Onyx Arrow, and Admiral Amelia Doppler.
Amelia had been called first, and was the only one who had a remote idea what the hell this woman had in mind. At the door stood one of the palace guards. Like all people who worked at the palace, he had the tattoos from the rare golden ink on his body. For him, they dipped under his eyes and entwined about his wrists, ending in a wiggly line. There was no set pattern for the tattoos; they were each different, each done as the tattoo artist saw fit. The only ones that were custom were Illysa's, and even those were unorthodox. Unlike rulers before her, who had them all along their arms and then peeking from their face, going from the forehead and around the hairline, Illysa had demanded the face tattoos be scratched, having them put along her collar bone and then dip dangerously low to her breasts.
The young beauty adjusted her simple-for-royalty gown and looked at the three people before her.
"I'm glad to see you were able to attend, Mister Hawkins, Mister Arrow." She nodded to each. The nervously nodded back. Amelia chuckled lightly, relaxed.
"Calm yourself, boys. She doesn't bite."
They both looked at her, un changing. Amelia rolled her eyes, turning to Illysa. "Do you wish for me to get rid of the guard?"
"Yes, please." Illysa nodded. Amelia went over to the guard and shooed him out, closing the door and locking it behind him. At this moment Illysa let go of her undeviating posture and leaned back against her desk casually, looking like a commoner-almost.
"Thank God. I hate those prying eyes." She shook her head. "If my father knew I let my posture fault for a single moment he'd have a coronary."
Amelia smiled a bit, leaning against the wall, relaxing at the familiar feeling of the soft wallpaper against her fingertips. It was just like the wallpaper in the children's nursery...
"Now, Mister Hawkins, Mister Arrow, lets get a few things straight." Illysa leaned forward, hands in her lap, looking at them both in the eye. The sharp knives that habited her sockets were glinting with some sort of emotion Amelia couldn't distinguish.
"When I have invited someone to my chambers, all formalities are stripped. I am not aware of your names, and I request them now."
"J-James..." Jim stammered, looking like a nervous puppy. Amelia smiled a bit. He was too scared to say Jim.
"Onyx." Said Onyx, easily keeping his composure. Amelia had always found his ability to remain stone faced interesting. Inside she knew he was as nervous as poor Jim.
"You're...you're named after a stone, and you're a Cragorian? A rock named after a rock?" Illysa quirked an eyebrow, crossing her legs.
"Yes ma'am...my parents aren't exactly the sharpest tools in the shed."
"Mhm. So that's why your father is in politics."
Onyx smirked. "I think that's why most people are in politics. Using false images to substitute for lack brain cells."
Amelia saw the mischievous look in Illysa's eye as she leaned back, taking a document from the table of her desk. "I'm in politics. Are you saying I'm an idiot, Onyx?"
Onyx blinked. "Um, no ma'am."
"Oh, but you said people in politics use false images to substitute for lack of brain cells, and I am in politics, and I use a false image to reassure my people. Doesn't that make me a person who lacks in brain cells? Or does that just make you an idiot who makes things up to try and sound smart, when really he has even lesser brain cells than the politician he's poking fun at?"
Onyx held up a finger like he was about to make a point, but stopped, and lowered his hand, setting his jaw. Amelia tried not to laugh as she grinned. She'd never seen someone one up Onyx. And, from what she heard from Jeffery, it was a rare occurrence at any rate. The Queen grinned...until Onyx did too.
"Ma'am, your the one who first commented that my father was in politics after I commented on him being an idiot. So, in all technicalities, you called yourself an idiot, and I just won this argument."
Her cheek twitched. She narrowed her eyes and drummed her fingers on the table, staring at Onyx for an uncomfortably long time.
"You're a clever man, Onyx." She nodded slightly to him before addressing him and Jim again. "Moving on from our, um, distraction. From now on, when we are in our own company, I will refer to you by first name, and you will refer to me by first name. No questions. No arguments. Nothing. Understood?"
The two slowly nodded.
"Good. Otherwise, anything said in this room does not leave this room. It is soundproof long as that door is closed, so don't be afraid to scream for any and all reasons. Also, here, we are equals. You speak to me how you would to any other civilian, I speak to you however the hell I wish. Understood?"
They both nodded again. Illysa nodded back. "Good. Any questions?"
"Yeah, why aren't you a snob?" Jim asked bluntly. Amelia honestly expected Illysa to at least look a little ticked. All she did, though, was gesture to Amelia.
"Though this lovely woman didn't spend much time with my father, she did spent plenty with my mother due to her and Samuel Arrow's friendship."
"I got to babysit." Amelia twirled her finger in a whoopty-freakin'-doo fashion.
"Mhm. She gave me cookies." Illysa grinned. Jim looked at Amelia. "You never gave me cookies."
"You were never a chubby-cheeked five year old in the time I was present."
"I was a baby faced 15 year old."
"Not baby faced enough."
Jim snapped his fingers. Onyx grinned. "She gave me cookies too."
"Damn you, Onyx."
Amelia chuckled before clearing her throat. "Ahem, anyhow. We do have business to attend to. Illysa, if you please."
"Yes, yes, right. I called you both here by recommendation of Amelia. I want you two to head a patrol around the islands and the colonies on them within a, oh, 300 or so mile radius."
Both cadets jaws dropped. "Why?"
"The Iron Clads are attacking the colonies, and now I believe I know why. They're going after iron and steel and other metals. If there is a well-thought-out patrol going about, I think we can help warn the colonies so they can keep a look out and hide appropriately, or possibly so we may capture one of the Cretans. Either way, we've needed a patrol for awhile, and no time like the present."
"But, ma-"
"Illysa."
"Illysa...why us? W-We're not even graduated!" Jim gestured to himself and Onyx.
"Because Amelia recommended you, is why." Illysa shrugged a bit. "I trust her judgment. Should you fail to be satisfactory, then I'll remove you as heads of the patrol and you'll join the war or I'll have you put on as some sort of commanding officers on some ship. Though, I'm just as likely to gift you your own ship. Amelia has told me you work well as a team."
"Heh...guess so." Jim nodded a bit, still looking nervous. Onyx had plastered his face again and looked to Illysa. "We'll take the job."
"We will?!" Jim jumped, looking at him in alarm. Amelia went over and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Onyx is much like his uncle, James, he knows both your limits." She glanced at the young man. "You'll do fine."
Jim looked between the two, seeming to think. Amelia sensed Illysa getting restless and flicked her ears, taking a step back and tapping her shoulder. It was just her way of telling her to be patient while he thought. And he thought. For a long time. Nearly an hour. Finally, Jim looked at them and nodded.
"We'll do it."
Illysa smiled and jumped up, shaking Jim's hand as if he were a friend. The look on his face said he was surprised, and the blush on his cheeks made Amelia grin.
This was going to be an interesting development.