Arshalous stared at Arlomė and smiled at her. They only had a slight acquaintance but she tended to like the elven woman. Arshalous that it was especially good of her to be part of the queen's retinue considering that the queen came from Alanzia.
"Have you had a chance to speak with the Emissary?" asked Arshalous.
Arlomė shook her head and said, "I have only seen glimpses of him. Have you?"
Arshalous nodded. "He was..." she tried to find the right word. "He had a quiet power in him," she said thoughtfully. "He commands one's respect. It's a pity that our nobles are not more like him," she added bitterly.
Arlomė frowned a little and said, "You think the alliance would be good then?"
"Yes I do," said Arshalous. "We would be very foolish if we did not ally ourselves with them."
Arlomė nodded and then asked with a small laugh, "Why are you sitting in the corner?"
Arshalous narrowed her eyes in irritation and said delicately, "Parties are such annoying things and more than half the people here I do not care for. I would much rather be at home curled on a couch in my library."
"I am sorry," said Arlomė.
"Oh don't be," said Arshalous waving her hand as if she was sweeping Arlomė apology into the dustbin. "It's not your fault that most everyone here is decidedly unpleasant to be converse with."
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