26 Jan 1999. After her meeting with the Temple, Brishen meets with Degarde back at the Embassy.
(Brishen) (Darkside) (Rephidim)
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Ashdod Embassy
The embassy of the Ashdod Territories (also referred to as the Babelite Embassy) is situated in some fairly remote real estate in Rephidim – Namely, it is right in the middle of the Old City, along the Old Cemetary. Even during the daytime, it seems particularly creepy, as this is far enough toward the edge of the island that the "shroud" usually shades this part of the sky island. The exterior of the Embassy bears some resemblance to the Moz Ezley Asylum, with slightly inward-sloped walls that make a forced perspective that makes the already tall building seem taller than it really is. Inside, renovations have made it far more hospitable, with touches of Ashdod in the form of vases in nooks, gauzy drapes, finely-carved wooden benches, tables and perches, and other furnishings for entertaining guests to the Embassy on the rare occasion that they visit.

A small dark shape darts out over the rooftops of the Embassy, looping about once before wings are tucked close to the form of their young owner and she drops to earth. Brishen looks around, gathering her bearings. It's very strange to be in the Embassy, knowing that she's no longer its ambassador. And a certain amount of courage needs to be worked up before she walks inside, her ears open for the voice of her former aide.

The Embassy is as quiet as a tomb, the servants and guards tiptoeing rather than make a noise that might be questioned. No one seems to want to meet anyone else's eyes.

It is in her aide's office that Brishen finds Degarde, turning a letter over and over in his hand. "Ohh, if only I had stepped forward and claimed complete culpability," he moans to himself softly, too lost in his recriminations to notice her arrival. "Oh, I should have resigned, and taken all the blame with me. What will we do now? We're lost, lost and when the High Prince gets around to sending another ambassador… " He shudders, foreseeing his career ending in a mire of doubt and despair.

Brishen sighs quietly as she pads up the stairs, her steps growing slower and softer until finally she stops, not far from Degarde. A small, slender hand reaches out, pausing, before she withdraws it. She rustles her wings faintly, though not so faintly that the other bat couldn't hear.

Degarde starts, looking up and clutching the letter to his chest. "Who's there – oh! Madam Ambassador – " He stutters to a stop, realizing that's no longer an appropriate title for Lady Kara. "Ah. Milady, we've just gotten the news here. Ah. I deeply regret… " He looks at a loss for what to say next.

Brishen's lower lip trembles. "I'm sorry. I never wanted it to turn out like this."

Degarde stands and reaches out as if to hold Brishen, but looks reluctant to take such a step that might infringe upon a pristine shell of air around his former Ambassador. "None… None of us did, Milady. It's simply unprecedented, that's what it is! It's hardly as if it were anything serious." He laughs a bit, voice trailing off into silence.

Brishen snuffles, once. It seems, as she wavers between standing where she is and taking a step forward, that it wouldn't take much for her to throw herself into her former aide's arms. "I – I heard what you said. And it isn't true. It was always important that I answered to anything I did. I can't – I couldn't let you take the blame."

"That's my job as your aide," Degarde says stiffening his back. His eyes tell the truth, that there's another reason he'd do it, but that it is one he cannot tell even now. Especially now, when it would only end in tears. "Madam – Lady Kara – we bureaucrats come and go. It's our lot. They would have found another job for me, they would have understood. But this… "

Brishen rubs at her tears as they trail down her muzzle. She snuffles again. "N-no. I don't think they would have. I t-thought that if I took the blame, that it would appease something – That." She looks at the floor. "I was afraid they'd kill you, when you returned to Babel. For ruining a fragile peace." Her voice fades to a whisper, "If anyone deserves that, it's me. I won't let anyone else take my place."

Degarde takes another step forward, hand reaching out to Brishen's tears to dab them away. He says, shocked, "Kill? But they'd never think of that, Lady Kara, you're a heroine of the people! No, no. I expect that they'll find something else for you to do. Ah. Something… Safe." His voice trembles.

Brishen smiles weakly. "That's why I did what I had to do. A lot of stories are being told about me. You don't want them told about you. When I'm gone, the new ambassador will need someone who knows Rephidim, who knows the trouble he'll be stepping into." She rubs her nose, then looks down at the floor. "Though, I'd understand why you might want to find another job." She almost smirks.

"But I, I am unimportant," Degarde says earnestly. "And besides, when a new ambassador comes… Well, how much will he trust the advice of someone who couldn't even help his own ambassador? Who ruined her projects by misreading maps, who failed to give her the warnings she needed… " He looks about to collapse into another tizzy of self-blame.

Brishen shakes her head, "N-no! You don't understand. You're my – " She stops as tears flow freely down her face. "You aren't unimportant. You couldn't be farther from it. I – " She leans back against a wall. "You can come with me, if you want. You, Sunrise, Snow-Ivy. All of you. I wouldn't want to stay here, if I were you. But I can't ask you to go with me. I – "

Degarde looks up with great surprise. "You're leaving, milady? You're not going to wait for the next ship back to Ashdod?"

Brishen's eyes remain fixed on the floor. "After what the Astromancer said, I – don't think I'd be welcome in Babel. I'm s-sure Lord Reewit will have a lot to say to the High Prince when he returns. He was here, with the Temple guards."

"Reewit!" Degarde's eyes widen. "But… What could have… " He looks at a loss for words. "There might be some other explanation for this, surely, Madam – Lady Kara. An inquiry, a letter to some friends in the Palace to ask after how the High Prince reacts to your name… " He grasps at straws.

Brishen whispers, "I wish I could know his thoughts. I wish I knew that we'd all be safe if we returned. But – I don't."

Degarde trembles. "But… Where will you go, if not Babel?" The way he says it suggests that everything else beyond Ashdod's borders must surely be barbaric.

Brishen shrugs. "I don't know yet. Maybe Abu Dhabi. You said you worked there, once."

"Abu Dhabi!" Degarde looks up reminiscently. "Ah, xocholatl in the morning, a siesta in the afternoon, the zolk-dressed… " Then blinks. "But that was when I was appointed there, milady! What will one lone Eeee do by herself, without political support?"

Brishen draws back a little, her smirk a bit incongruous on her tear-streaked face. "I used to be a courier. I stowed away on an airship to get here. I think I'll manage."

Degarde shakes his head, reaching out to touch Brishen's shoulders in unconscious reassurance. "No, no, my lady. You cannot possibly force yourself to… to menial labor to survive! It's unthinkable! A noble of Babel blood should rise above such tedium." He touches one hand to his forehead, evidently trying to think hard.

Brishen sticks her lower lip out for a moment, then furrows her brow. "There isn't much time. I can't stay here, and I can't stay in Rephidim for long. Maybe a few days. After that it'd be a good idea if I were somewhere else. I want you to be with me when I leave, but I can't ask you to go. I – I need to talk to Sunrise and Snow-Ivy. They're part of this, too."

"I – I – " Degarde looks stricken. "It would be dereliction of duty, but I couldn't abandon you, beau – " He stops himself on that word. "I need time to think about it, milady. There may be something we can do, maybe some way to guarantee you friends or help in Abu Dhabi. The Emir is said to be very generous, but he is also a man of great whims. Give me time." The aide whispers this last hopefully.

Brishen shuts the door behind her, quietly, then turns to fix her dark brown eyes on Degarde. "I don't know if I'll go to Abu Dhabi," she whispers. "I do know that I can't stay in Rephidim for long." She clenches her slender hands into fists, shaking a little, "I don't think there's time."

"We'll make time," Degarde promises the ex-Ambassador, squeezing her shoulder. "You can hide in my apartment. It isn't large, but it's paid for. Time, maybe enough time to think of what to do." He looks agonized, his thoughts evidently not having led him to a solution yet.

Brishen trembles, wrapping her arms around herself. She opens her mouth slightly, then closes it again. Her eyes take on a desperate edge as she looks over to Degarde. "I don't want to i-impose." Her hand, held carefully along her side, signs, "Temple watching."

Degarde looks paralyzed. "But, but, it wouldn't be an imposition," he says as he moves to hug Brishen, stopping just short. His hands are too shakey to form signs. He whispers, "Now? In here?" and gestures about the windowless office.

Brishen's hands shake as she signs. "Please. Please. Trust me. I don't want to see you hurt, but I'm flying through dark places. I'm afraid you'll be hurt if you stay here. I'm afraid you'll be hurt if you go with me. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO." She holds her hands still until she can sign again, "Not here. But the Embassy. If they aren't already, they will."

Brishen does collapse at that point, sobbing. Never in her wildest nightmares did she want to hold the life of another person in her hands.

Degarde wraps his arms around Brishen surprised, his face as shocked as if he had turned into a pillar of salt. "I… There, there, Ambassador. There, there, Lady Kara. It will be all right," he babbles. He squinches his eyes shut, taking a deep breath, trying to gather his wits together. "I'll go with you as far as I can."

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GMed by Lynx

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