Terra paced slowly back and forth across the wide stone expanse outside Tamerlane's office. She stopped and looked at the antiquities display that covered one wall at the far end of the space.
Terra looked over when she heard the door to Tamerlane's office open. Ashan remained at his post while three Nietzschean males emerged from the office. It appeared to Terra that one was important and the other two were his staff or aides or something less important. Terra's gaze moved back to Ashan but the older male did not signal for her to come to his desk.
After their family dinner, Terra had excused herself with the ruse of going for a walk. After leaving the courtyard area, she had headed through the gardens and entered the entrance to the business side of the palace. Although Tamerlane had said he needed to get back to the office, Terra had been unprepared for the activity in the business area of the palace during the after dinner hour.
Surprisingly, Ashan had not been at his post when Terra walked up to the counter. Another male, younger than Ashan but obviously much older than Tamerlane, was manning the desk. When Terra asked about Ashan, the other male, name Eucaryius Magellan, had offered no information other than the obvious – Ashan was not there at the moment. When Terra had requested to see the Nietzschean Emperor, Eucaryius had actually snickered as he tapped on the console, as if looking for an opening. He had then given Terra a look of mild distain while informing her that the Emperor's evening schedule was fully booked. He could give her a five minute appointment in three weeks if she would like to get on the official schedule. Terra had given him her most withering look and informed him she would wait to see if an opening appeared. If not, she would speak with Ashan when he returned. Terra had never seen anyone at the desk outside Tamerlane's office except for Ashan. Terra was betting on Ashan reappearing in the near future. Then perhaps she might get in.
As time wore on, and the hour became later and later, Ashan had finally returned to his post. Terra guessed even Ashan needed a meal break and time with his family. While enduring the wait, Terra sat and waited, paced and waited and stood along the walls and waited. She was quiet and did not make a nuisance of herself with Ashan once he returned to his post. After speaking with Ashan, Terra had smirked at Eucaryius's surprised expression when Ashan assured her he would make Tamerlane aware of her request to see him between meetings. Ashan could not do more for her than that.
The door opened again causing Terra to look in that direction. Ashan escorted two more people into the office before shutting the door and returning to his desk. Ashan glanced in her direction and shook his head 'no' before turning his attention back to the contents of his desk. Various people came and went from Ashan's desk while Terra waited. Occasionally, one of them would slip into Tamerlane's office with flexis in their hands before slipping out a few moments later empty handed. The bustle of activity surprised Terra in a way, considering the lateness of the evening. She could only guess that spending time with his children and having dinner with them had set Tamerlane up for a late night in the office.
"Hey beautiful."
Terra turned when she heard the voice behind her.
"Hi Bart," Terra smiled when the man walked up to her. She was surprised to see him there at such a late hour. It was already past 2200 so Terra figured Tamerlane's actual scheduled appointments would be over by now. Based on the traffic in the reception area, Terra wondered just how late the meetings would continue. It was obvious to her that Bart was there on business. He was dressed in a tailored suit and was carrying a briefcase. Terra looked by him and saw several other older men as well. She thought she recognized them as part of the Carnige family.
"What are you doing out here?" Bart asked as he gestured to the reception area.
"Waiting to get a minute of Emperor Anasazi's time," Terra gestured toward the doorway into the office with the flexi in her hand.
"How long have you been waiting?" Bart asked as he looked around the reception area.
"Nearly two hours," Terra replied as she looked over at the chronometer on the wall. "I thought I might get squeezed in because I literally need two minutes of his time. After seeing the revolving door of people going in and out, I actually believe there is no time between appointments."
"My family has the 2215 appointment," Bart looked up at the chronometer. It was 2210. "We have found over the years that Ashan keeps things moving. Even when Emperor Anasazi gets behind when a meeting runs late, there is little lag in turnover. They run a pretty efficient schedule."
"I did not realize there were official scheduled appointments this late at night," Terra sighed deeply as she looked back at the door.
"I have known people to get scheduled times as early as 0500 and as late as 2230," Bart shook his head. "I guess it all depends on how Emperor Anasazi wishes to structure his day."
"If that is the case, I might be here all night," Beka frowned as she looked back up at Bart. "And still not get in."
"You really need to get in to see him?" Bart raised his eyebrows. "Don't you have …like … unrestricted access … because of your mother?"
"No," Terra shook her head with a soft laugh. Truth be told, she saw very little of Tamerlane because of her mother. She guessed Tamerlane bringing his children to their suite or coming to speak with Tyr might be considered access. In Terra's mind, she doubted anyone had unrestricted access to Tamerlane Anasazi. Not even his wives and children. "Fairly certain Emperor Anasazi's entire life is one booked engagement after another. I don't see him much in our residential area. I have to make an appointment or wait just like everyone else."
"We have a thirty minute time slot," Bart gestured toward his family. "We probably don't need the entire thirty minutes. My uncles like to keep their presentations short so there is plenty of time for discussions afterward. I could probably get you two minutes if that is all you need."
"I only need two minutes," Terra assured him. "Three tops."
"Let me see what I can do," Bart turned and hurried over to his family. Terra watched as he talked to several of the men. After some intense conversation amongst the group, Bart headed back in Terra's direction. From the expression on his face, she was expecting a 'no'.
"Well?" Terra asked when Bart reached her.
"Have dinner with me this evening," Bart replied with a smile. "And you can go in before us. I will approve it with Ashan."
"Dinner? Tonight?" Terra raised her eyebrows. It was late in the evening. She had eaten dinner earlier with her mother and Tyr before Tyr dashed back to the office to meet Tamerlane.
"Yep," Bart nodded as his smile widened.
"I ate dinner with my family like two hours ago. I will let you take me out for dessert and drinks if you get me through those doors," Terra offered as she looked at the chronometer when the door opened and the office started to empty.
"Drinks and dessert tonight," Bart countered her offer. "Drinks, dinner, dessert and dancing one night this weekend."
Terra considered it for a long moment before finally nodding. She could do a nice dinner and some dancing if it got her in to see Tamerlane.
"You are asking an awful lot for just two minutes of time," Terra frowned ever so slightly as she considered it. Two evenings with Bart in exchange for two minutes with Tamerlane tonight.
"And you invite me to be your escort for the next palace functions you attend," Bart added before he put up his hands as he looked over toward the doorway. Any minute now he expected Ashan to show them in. He looked back at Terra with a faint smirk. "How bad do you want your two minutes with Emperor Anasazi?"
"You drive a hard bargain but okay," Terra acquiesced before pointing her finger at him. "You're picking up the tab for both evenings. And I get to decide which function … not you."
"Of course," Bart nodded.
"Fine," Terra agreed as she looked over when Ashan disappeared into Tamerlane's office like he always did between meeting to clear out old materials and put out new documents that were needed. Terra liked to think it was a brief second for Tamerlane to take a deep breath and relax a little between meetings. "I'll meet you out front when your meeting is over."
"Sounds good to me," Bart nodded as he hurried over to Ashan's desk and waited for Tamerlane's gatekeeper to emerge.