Dinner with the General (Dalamar)

[Salem Ave]

A little after midday, and the majority of the Queen’s court had already dined. Still, a few stragglers were coming and going from the dining hall. Among them was Salem Ave. In the royal palace of Onderon, everyone was treated as an equal and as such even the Queen herself would eat alongside the cooks and cleaners – albeit with a guard.

Salem had just sat down to his meal when he heard another arrival. The clink of armor was familiar. He looked up and smiled pleasantly, nodding his head in greeting.

“General DeSang.” He motioned to the seat opposite his own. “Come, eat with me.”

[General Devious]

Dalamar strode the halls, his mind was occupied with the unfolding events. The possible entanglement with the Assryian must be planned for. The Queen must be protected. His job was getting harder. Between the Imperial's, the Mandorlorian, The Sith Insurgents, and the arrival of Legion. His plate was full.

He arrived at the banquet hall in full regalia. He was to check the fortifications later with the Master of Arms. He marked the prescence of Salem when he entered. "Steak rare." the General ordered.

“General DeSang." Dalamar looked in Salem's direction. “Come, eat with me.”

The General Remembering the Queen's request to "Give Salem a chance and to trust her judgement." Played through his mind.

"Of Course Salem."

[Salem Ave]

As the General sat, Salem took a long sip of his water, glancing from the pale man to the bloody steak on his plate. Setting his glass down, he asked, “How are you, Dalamar?”

[General Devious]

“How are you, Dalamar?” Salem politely asked.

That was the problem he was always polite. But Dalamar could not shake the feeling that there was a viper behind that smile. Also the stirring of the force whenever he was in his prescence. Like Lil said it all added up to a Rat in both there minds.

"All is well Salem, and affairs of the court how are they?"

[Salem Ave]

Salem nodded lightly. “Stable, as ever.”

Carefully, he began to cut into his meal.

“The Queen tells me that there have been some problems of late… breaches in security?”

[General Devious]

“The Queen tells me that there have been some problems of late… breaches in security?”

Dalamar wondered where Salem was going with this. "Yes, its true and I expect the full coaperation of the council. We will be doing new background checks on all royal staff members."

The Waitress arrived with his steak and the special vintage wine that he 'ate' with every meal.

"If you see anyone that arouse's your suspicion feel free to point them out." The General said with a subtle hint to his voice...

[Salem Ave]

“No one springs to mind at present, but I won’t hesitate to speak with you should anything arise.”

The implications of the General’s words were not beyond Salem. He knew it would only be so long before the daggers came it out – however he had no intention of retaliating. In fact, he had decided to eat with Dalamar for the exact opposite purpose. After some time sat, eating in silence, he spoke up.

“We don’t often see eye to eye, do we, General? Why is that?”

[General Devious]

“We don’t often see eye to eye, do we, General? Why is that?”

Dalamar did not hesitate to answer. "Because Salem I do not trust you. You may even be a traitor but, I have no proof. The Queen has asked me to give you a chance. To withold judgement. This goes against my feelings in this matter."
The General set his utensils down.
"Everything is not what it seems around you Salem. I know this and soon the Queen will. Now if this mean's your a traitor or just up to your own buisness I don't know as yet. I will say this, I will be watching you closely...."
Dalamar stood up to bring his point home.
"If you are who you say you are Salem then you have nothing to fear from me. But.... if you are not."
DeSang pulled his sword showing the hilt a little better. The General knew that the message was not lost on Salem.

The General sighed. He remembered the promise to his Queen. Reluctantly he spoke again. "Salem your name is translated 'peace' live up to it and we will see eye to eye...."

[Salem Ave]

Through the Generals little speech, Salem regarded him with a look that slowly became one of hurt. He had invested a lot of time and energy into regenerating Iziz City in particular. For all his past was shrouded, his present was a gleaming testament to his constant commitment to Adraudia and her court.

“I’m not sure what it is that I’ve done to provoke this response in you, Dalamar. I only have the Queen and countries best interests at heart in all that I do. I’m sorry if you can’t see that.”

This said, his eyes lingered at the General’s for a moment before he took a sip of his drink to wash away the bitter taste in his mouth.

[General Devious]

“I’m not sure what it is that I’ve done to provoke this response in you, Dalamar. I only have the Queen and countries best interests at heart in all that I do. I’m sorry if you can’t see that.”

The General sighed again. "Time will reveal all things, and I am very patient. You strike me as an ambitious young man Salem. Ambition is not patient. So, I will give you this. If your desire is for Onderon then all will be well between me and you. But, if your 'ambition' leads you else where. Well then I will meet you on that day..."

The General knew everything was not as it seemed. The hurt look, the down cast eye's of Salem. Did he think he could play with DeSang's emotions?

[Salem Ave]

Salem did not take the time to reply to the implied threat that the General had spoken. He understood the mans loyalty perfectly, though suspected that there might have been a little personal malice in Dalamar’s words. Though DeSang had served the royal family longer, it was clear that Ave had a much more intimate relationship with the Queen, advising her on far more than tiresome matters of war and the logistics surrounding it.

After chewing another mouthful of his food, he asked: “I have heard that you have been recruiting more guards, General. The Dragons, I believe they are called…?”

[General Devious]

“I have heard that you have been recruiting more guards, General. The Dragons, I believe they are called…?"

Dalamar made himself comfortable. "You are well informed Salem. Yes, I have formed a new Squad. They will help protect the Queen better until the dangers have passed. I also have heard that we have a new arrival of a princess. I hear rumors that you and her are good friends?"

Salem only served to confuse the Dark Lord. His concern for the Queen seemed to be geniune. DeSang ordered some more blood wine to go with his food. The force surrounded him as he probed Salem openly...

[Salem Ave]

“Perhaps too strong a term,” Salem corrected politely, then smiling as though remembering a fond memory.

“We met two years ago during a routine visit to Davora, to maintain amicable relations between the monarchies. Lady Shadana is far better acquainted with the Queen – the two were childhood companions long before I came into the service of the Royal family.”

A sip from his drink and a quizzical expression appeared on Salems face. “This new squadron… where do you recruit your men from, if you don’t mind my asking? Are they selected from the Queens army or… some other supply?”

[General Devious]

“This new squadron… where do you recruit your men from, if you don’t mind my asking? Are they selected from the Queens army or… some other supply?”

Dalamar saw no harm in answering his questions so far so he answered. As long as Salem didn't probe to deeply into the Queen's new protectors...

"A few are drafted from the Queen's army and a few are specialist that I have enlisted. But all are checked our are personally known by me. Why? Do you have someone that I should look at?"

There was an itching in the force as if it had found a wave or crack eminating from Salem. It peaked the Vampyre's attention. The force surrounded him and filled him. On the outside he was quiet calm. On the inside he probed even deeper. It was there he could feel it... There! Something? Like a burrowing needle DeSang probed to find out what it was...

[Salem Ave]

The mental guards that Salem maintained did not waiver. So skilled and practiced he was in such things that it came as second nature and without any real concern. It was like swatting away a fly. At the General’s question, he shook his head.

“No one springs to mind. I was merely curious. Particularly with regards to the men you knew previously… past acquaintances or employees?”

[General Devious]

Outwardly like the General Salem showed no signs of the power that was being displayed silently between them.

“No one springs to mind. I was merely curious. Particularly with regards to the men you knew previously… past acquaintances or employees?”

Dalamar smiled at Salem showing his gleaming white teeth. "Your arrogance is your undoing Salem... Our discussion here is done. We will meet again I assure you Goodday."

Dalamar left the room pulling his gauntlet on snugly the first officer trailed after him. So confident in his abilities was Salem that his lack of reaction was the very thing that gave him away. Salem was talented Devious would give him that. He had not felt anything from him and it was this total lack of feeling that gave him away. The way Dalamar had probed would have revealed something. But to come up empty? A lesser trained being would have just moved on. But the experience of 3000 yrs was his..His comment to Salem was not intended to reveal anything. Let the advisor figure things out for himself.

Devious would deal with him later beaucratic red tape was not a threat to the Queen. But the fact that he concealed himself made Dalamar wonder. Was he just afraid of the Empire? Could it be that simple? He didn't know and didn't have time to figure it out. But he would have to keep a watchful eye on him from now on. No matter how much the Queen favored his advice.