Nikrael slowly pushed back her chair so she could leave it more easily in case trouble arose. She didn't know about this order, but nearly any group of people could be dangerous in the right circumstances.
Nikrael fell silent, contemplating.
"What reason do I have to trust you? Any more than to trust Brutus? I've known you for half a meal, and a conference in which you gave in far too quickly for someone interested in economic gain only. You want a say in things here, and you want it badly. Why?"
Nikrael studied John for a few seconds, then replied in a low voice.
"I am loyal to anyone who brings peace to the late Emperor's lands. Brutus is currently our only option."
Nikrael started. How did he know what I was thinking?
She continued to pick at her food, feeling uncomfortable but not showing it. It must have been his haggling and merchant skills, she finally decided. He knows how to read people, understand their thought process.
Knowing this didn't...
Nikrael laughed again. "Of course. Well, if you ever want him to be trained by a professional, my colleagues and I would be more than happy."
Nikrael couldn't help but wonder if their once golden reputations were stained by the Emperor's murder. Had anyone been there, they would know that no...
Nikrael laughed politely, intrigued that he would talk so openly about someone he clearly cared about dearly.
"And do you approve of him becoming a soldier?" She asked, wondering if the boy's father planned for him to follow his footsteps.
"Haggle for 750," Nikrael suggested. "You can always hint at a threat of a tariff imposed halfway through the year. He'll know that by then, any men he provides will be pointless to you. But do be subtle."
"Complete free trade," Nikrael murmured. "Good for an economic system. Not so good for a man who wins popularity with socialism." She raised her eyebrows at Brutus.
(2050 or so. I'm going to say that Nuclear Fission is a thing, since there's no way on earth that there's enough oil to keep these "facilities" running. Unknown to anyone inside of the facility (which is actually a massive submarine; everyone on earth is inside one, and there's.... oh, a couple...
Nikrael kept her face passive. Inside was a whirlwind.
Could Marcus be to blame for her brother in arms' death? If so, why would they consort with him? Or was it to throw her off a real trail?
Nikrael nodded smartly, grinning on the inside. Down to the nitty gritty, she thought.
She followed Brutus towards the meeting, hoping Draco would catch up; the Royal guards had often relied on him during such meetings before.
"Good to know," Nikrael murmured. This had always been her favorite part of guarding the emperor; foreign relations. Not being certain if you could trust the visitor, learning their customs. It was all fun and games to the curious young girl. Now that she was older, the negative possibilities...