The Captive.

[Razielle Alastor]

Stir crazy.. One single day of the Prime Ministers decree that she not leave without supervision. That she remain in her rooms otherwise and that her every inhalation be reported to him. She had nearly considered writing him a scathing, strongly worded, letter about her displeasure, but then recalled exactly who she would be sending the missive to.

The problem was she had too much time to think. Yet, she just couldn't think. She was too distracted. There was some kind of sadistic cosmic gag on her right now. She wanted Salem. She couldn't have him. She wanted to slice the General's throat in his sleep. Salem wouldn't let her. She wanted to run around the perimter of the palace, excersize her arm, practice with a sword. The guards couldn't keep pace with her and Salem insisted they go where she goes.. and the doctor advised further rest.

She was wearing paces into the bedroom carpet, a clear outline of her never altering path. From the bed to the windows where she could glare at the guards. To the dresser wher she weighed her options of how to ask Salem to be reasonable. She always threw down the pen in aggitation and then completed the circle by spying the orchids preserved in crystal by her bedside.

That was where she lost it. She'd gain an incredibly silly grin, even though she was angry. Recalling all the little details that hadn't gone unnoticed. Salem wasn't immune to her, he was just damned good at chosing to ignore her, when she was conscious. Otherwise she'd heard he'd barely left her side. Didn't change the fact that she was going to be insane and no use to him if he drove her to madness.

She had to get out, she missed her friends. Out of desperation she wrote to the Queen explaning the dire circumstances that she was in and how she couldn't leave but that she would be pleased to see Her Majesty, and possibly Captain Dejan for a game of dice, or lunch, anything so long as they came for a visit.

[Adraudia Basillie]

Adraudia understood Salem's reasoning in keeping the Princess under heavy surveillance, but at the same time she felt that it was her fault that she got wounded. Taking Razielle in as her ward put the Princess in terrible peril since she was now associated with the Queen. In the short time they had spent together, Adraudia had grown to care for Razielle deeply and it infuriated her to no end that her own guardsmen had failed in keeping the Royal family secure. And because of that, both she and Razielle had to have a full escort wherever they went.

So when she received the Princess' letter, Adraudia cleared out enough of her busy schedule to spend ample time with her, but she was curious as to why she wanted Victer to accompany her. The Captain was quite resourceful and reliable and did try to help the Queen, albeit unknowingly, out of a jam when a few drunkards crossed the line at the ball. She didn't question it too extensively and sent word to Dejen to meet her outside the Princess' quarters. The guards would be informed of their arrival and he needn't worry.

There were no formal matters on the books today so the Queen wore one of her favorite dresses; a wine colored that was tight at the arms and chest, but flared out snugly just underneath her breasts and stopped at the knees. It was comfortable and simple when she could actually relax inside the palace. Her sash and crown (her everyday one, not the formal one used in the coronation ceremony) remained inside its polished wooden homes. She looked like a normal woman today, not the ruler of a nation.

With her armed escort, she made her way towards the Princess' chambers. By her estimate, Victer should be arriving shortly.

[Victer Dejan]

Victer was glad to get a note from the Queen. It gave him something to do. Besides, he got to see her again, and maybe this time they could actually hash out details of what goods for how much and when. While moving about the palace wasn’t impossible since he had received his party invitation (he kept it with him at all times) he discovered moving in and out of the palace was more of a chore. His morning shopping/scouting excursion had gone well, but getting back into the palace had taken fifteen minutes. The closer he got to Razielle’s room, the harder the glances of each guard became. In his opinion, there were too many of them. Too many backgrounds, too many possible bribes. Then again, it was possible bribery wasn’t part of Mandilorian culture. It was possible they were too proud to do such a thing.

To get to Razielle’s room, he had to pass through three checkpoints. Each checked his very distinctively stamped invitation, and verified that he was, in fact, invited along with his standard citizen ID that stated his residence was Abegadro-Rae. They patted him down and scanned him for weapons at the second to last checkpoint. Victer carried none after the party, although he wished he could. He’d feel far safer if the guards were disarmed.

The last checkpoint was absurd. They did everything short of making him strip, and even went in to ask if he was, in fact, who was supposed to be there.

Once through the door he sighed.

“A pleasure to see you again, Your Highnesses.” He bowed and smiled.

[Razielle Alastor]

Razielle had dressed for entertaining, but knowing that she was on familiar terms with one guest and friendly terms with the other she didn't over do it. She chose a pale violet, empire wasted gown. It had short puffed sleeves and made her look the part of Princess, but remained comfortable as well.

When the Queen arrived, Razielle beamed with excitement and gratitude for the visit. "Oh, you have no idea how stiffling it is being locked in here!"

She gave her friend a hug and had no time for another word before Victer showed up. She gave him one of her most winning smiles for showing up as well. "Shall we go sit outside and catch up?"

[Adraudia Basillie]

"And a good afternoon to you, Captain Dejen." Adraudia smiled warmly and locked arms with Razielle. "It is rather lovely outside and the fresh air would do you well."

She led the Princess outside on the balcony and immediately a pleasant breeze hit her face causing her long brown locks to bounce gently on her shoulders.

[Victer Dejan]

He followed the royal pair out onto Razielle’s impressive balcony. He had to focus on being civil instead of thinking of them in their alternate outfits… and then taking… no. Instead, he smiled pleasantly, because it was lovely outside.

“It’s good to see you on your feet again, Princess.” Victer said. “I hope the investigation proved fruitful.”

[Razielle Alastor]

Laying her head on Adraudia's shoulder in a show of true affection, Razielle grinned. Her confinement might just be endurable if she had these two stop by every now and again. She hooked her other arm through Victer's and dragged them both off toward a table set half in shade, half in the sunlight, so that either preference could be met.

"Thank you, Victer. Let's not be so formal here. You can call me Razielle. Considering that I bled all over you and all."

She made a puckish grin and took a seat in the sunshine, which sent sparkles of red highlights through her dark hair. Sitting back in her chair, instead of her more formal rigid posture, she rested her hands on the arms and beamed. She was clearly choosing to ignore the armed guards strategically placed everywhere watching her everymove and speaking into radio's as if they were repeating the entire conversation.

"The investigation is still being looked into. That is the Prime Minister's official position, anyways. I believe that a conclusion is imminent." She looked irritated.

[Adraudia Basillie]

Adraudia did not mistake that look upon her friend's face. She had seen it far too many times. "You don't seem pleased by this, but you are right. Ave will find out who was the cause of your suffering, and make no mistake Razielle. I will personally see that justice comes swift upon them."

She had been toying with killing the assassin herself. In the past, the General was left to hand out the death sentence for those committing treason. But those individuals were trying to kill her. Adraudia accepted that her life was at risk while at war but when they harmed the Princess, they crossed the line and would pay dearly for their crimes. She was Queen and could inact justice herself if she chose to do so. It was her right, as it was her right to fight alongside her men in battle. But due to the laws of the land, until she produced an heir she couldn't. The Royal line had to be preserved first.

Finding the traitor would do wonders in allowing Adraudia to release her anger and prove to Mandalore that she was not someone to be trifled with. Perhaps she could return his gift from years ago and deliver him a head in gratitude.

[Victer Dejan]

Adraudia did the righteous anger thing well. It inspired confidence that she had the drive to do what was right and needed. Still, it all amounted to local news. Victer wasn’t too much for local news that wouldn’t get him any money. Besides, when people where full of anger, it was difficult to get them to negotiate sensibly. Eventually he would get a list of goods from her and start sending messages to his staff, but not until she (or an advisor) had fully outlined the opposition’s anti-space capability. The last thing he needed was several hundred thousands of tons of freight falling into Onderon’s jungle.

“It would probably be better if we focused on something else right now.” Like you two lovely ladies. Victer took a seat into the lounge chair in the sun and placed his sunglasses over his eyes. He seemed to immediately relax, and put his hands behind his head.

“The weather is fantastic. What do you do for fun out here?”

[Razielle Alastor]

"Quite so! A change of subject!" Razielle pressed a finger to her lips in thought and tried to think of what a normal Princess would do to entertain herself in the relative safety of Iziz.

"I keep telling Her Majesty that that fountain in the courtyard is begging us to frolic in it.. Alas my very best cajoling has gone unheeded. I'm thinking I'll have one put in up here.."

She teased the Queen mercilessly, trying to win a smile out of her, or even just to get her to losen up and lose the formality, if only for a little while. It was good for her. In fact Razielle had been thinking in great detail about what her next escapade of mischeif with the Queen should be. She was simply not going to allow the courtiers to marry her friend off to some peabrained statesman for the purposes of securing an heir and protecting the monarchy. Adraudia deserved better.

[Adraudia Basillie]

Victer was quite the character. His ability to act as if the Royal pair were old childhood friends was endearing and refreshing. Razielle's mischievous comment broke through formality and elicited a smile.

"And such a thought best be brief for I refuse to break down the palace walls in order to appease your need for frolicking." Her tone was nothing by jovial. The Princess had a wonderful knack of easing Adraudia's mind and relaxing.

[Victer Dejan]

Razielle was not getting her way today. Victer watched the play between the two women. It was amusing. He could watch it all day, but they’d eventually wonder why he was so quiet.

“I think you two could get away with your proposed fountain antics if it were for a painting. But perhaps there is something that we can do on this balcony that doesn’t involve remodeling the Palace?” Victer suggested. He stared into the blue sky. Aside from the excitement a few days ago, this was by far the best vacation he’d ever had.

“I mean, that sort of addition would ruin the view, don’t you think?”

[Razielle Alastor]

"I suppose you are right. I'll just have to invade the other one, as threatened."

Razielle tossed an evasive smile at Adraudia. It was bound to happen. The Queen would be informed that her ward was barefoot with her skirts hiked up to her knees splashing through the courtyard fountain, servants standing mouths agape. She smiled a secret smile at the thought. She would of course get a stern lecture later for her behavior.

"What can we do.. hmmmm. Her Majesty is quite the gambler you know, perhaps she could put forth a good game?" Razielle knew she was digging herself deeper, but she was determined to have a good time with her friends.

[Adraudia Basillie]

Razielle had been quite inebriated the night Adraudia had brought out the Bosca dice for a game of truth and dare. She didn't think the Princess would inquire why her Majesty came to owning a pair, but it seemed the guards had opened their mouths with the vast amount of time they spent with her Highness.

She gave them a most disapproving scowl towards the closest of them. They unconsciously took a step back. "And who would be spreading such rumors about me?"

[Victer Dejan]

Victer held his tongue. Partly because he was picturing Razielle in the fountain, garments clinging to her body, and partly because he did not want to get himself thrown out. He had only known the Queen and her Ward for a short time, and there was no need to push the envelope. While he had so far gathered the Queen rarely misdirected her anger, he did not want to be an exception to the rule, especially with the potential of trade.

[Razielle Alastor]

Razielle gave the Queen a puckish grin and shrugged. "No idea, Majesty.. Although I believe the rumor to date is that youu are nigh unbeatable.."

She gestured about the table. "What chance would a couple of mere mortals like us have against your divine gift for games of chance? Unless of course you are.. not up to the challenge?" She smiled slyly and examined her fingernails as if she wasn't enjoying baiting the Queen."

[Adraudia Basillie]

Ah the threat of challenge. Razielle was hoping to insinuate some semblance of pride to bait the Queen, but the Princess should know better. Adraudia would not cave so easily. At least, not under those terms.

"I humor you because this shall help to alleviate your boredom and prove to you that such rumors are unsubstantiated as I lose miserably. Falden?"

One of the soldiers stepped forward and lowered his head humbly. He knew quite well that the comment the Queen had made earlier was mostly to him. "Yes, your Majesty?"

"Please fetch us three bags of Bosca dice." Adraudia was indeed that good of a player. So good in fact that she could easily play quite a few terrible hands to avoid any such validation to said rumors.

[Victer Dejan]

Ah ha. Finally, Razielle's play had paid off. Not only that, but Adraudia was obviously lying about her skill. Victer had heard about Bosca, but only since arriving on Onderon. He had no idea how to play.

"Will you teach me how to play, Highness?" He asked.

If Adraudia threw the game, it was because she aimed to disprove a rumor or percieved slight. Bosca was likely a backalley affair, and it would not do to have the Royalty playing it. Or it was possible it was just frowned on, reason enough to, if caught playing, be terrible at it. Victer looked at Razielle expectantly, as if she should interpose herself between his request and the Queen.

It was always appearances, or bucking them without getting in trouble. Razielle needed to get off planet, and soon.

[Razielle Alastor]

Even if she hadn't been drinking the night of the ball, Razielle would still have required another recap on the rules of the game. She had played a few games of chance in her life, but this one had several diffent sets of rules. She would wait for Adraudia to state the terms for their game. Tossing a little wink at Victer she told him so.

"I'll just wait and let Her Majesty explain, she is the expert here.." Razielle twirled a finger around a lock of her hair and hoped the comment would go unscolded.

When the bags of dice were brought, Razielle jingled her dice around before spilling them into her hand with a sigh. "Oh, now I remember. You'll definately have to go over the pictures again.."

[Adraudia Basillie]

The dice were quite the same as Razielle remembered them, but there were two extra pictured dice and four numbered dice. As with Sabacc, Bosca could be played a great many ways. To keep it simple, Adraudia will just explain the simple game that they played together the night of the Ball.

"I only know of one game that I learned as a child." Partial lie but Adraudia spoke it with such innocence. "So you will only need two numbered dice and one of the pictured ones."

She held up the pictured dice for show. "The Boma is an automatic loss. The Seal of Onderon is an automatic win but in the case of a tie, the person closer to the number eight is declared winner. If that still produces a tie then those players roll the dice once more to declare a winner for that round. The other pictures are merely for show for this game."

Bosca was quite complicated actually. The coins, scepter, crown and sword could be continuous variables depending on what was a wild picture or what form of Bosca was played. Even the target number could change at a moments notice but to divulge such knowledge would only incite even more chiding from her friend.

After her short lecture, she raised a brow at both her and Victer. "So are we merely keeping score of wins to loses or shall we watch the Princess become ... inebriated once more for amusement?"

She grinned. Two can play the embarrassing game.

[Victer Dejan]

Victer chuckled.

“She might end up doing something we all regret this time. I’m game, though. It is your decision, my Queen.” Victer grinned wickedly.

Victer looked over the dice. She had left out details of how the game was played. He took the three dice into his hand.

“Are you leaving out some details, your highness?” Victer asked. “I understand if we add the more complicated rules as we go on.”

[Razielle Alastor]

"Oh ho! Her Majesty shall just have to amuse Herself at someone else's expense. I'm without a suitable reason for such behaviors today. I'll wait until you give me cause to celebrate again before I indulge to that level of.. of.."

She didn't seem to know which word to insert into her ramblings. Then suddenly she nodded. "Before I get toasted again."

"And you! Don't encourage Her Majesty. That's my esteemed job!" She swatted Victer with the empty bag and smirked.

"May we begin?"

[Adraudia Basillie]

She looked at Victer in utter confusion. "My expertise is lacking in the intriciacies of the game. My knowledge only stems from one childhood game."

Adraudia smiled sweetly and then laughed merrily at the two of them. "Yes. Let's begin and since we're all friends here, we'll just play for sport.

Are there any objections of me going first?" Her eyes looked between them as she rattled the dice and then threw them on the table. "No? Good."

Her cheeks reddened and a tiny gasp of surprise escaped as she rolled a six, one and the coins.

[Victer Dejan]

He looked at Razielle and smiled wryly after she tagged him in the arm.

He watched Adraudia roll and gasp. He wondered if she would gasp like that playing other games. Seven was a very solid roll, but what did the coins mean? She passed him the dice next. Victer rolled them around in his fingers for a moment, looking each of them over. He put them into his left hand and rolled. A three and a four came up, along with the scepter.

Victer smiled at Adraudia innocently.

[Razielle Alastor]

Oh joy, they are both lucky. Razielle shook her head and scooped up her own dice once more.

"Might as well be done with it." She already knew it wouldn't be pretty. Bosca was not her game. She wasn't certain what was her game though, so until she found out might as well get in some practice at Bosca.

She tossed them down, then smiled at her pitiful throw. A two, a three and a sword. "I think I should be granted some manner of handicap at this game.."

[Adraudia Basillie]

Adraudia merely smiled to try and console the Princess. "You just have bad luck regardless. But, it looks as if the Captain and I are tied."

She picked up the three dice and shook them once before sending them down against the table. A two, three and the scepter. "Five to you Dejen."

[Victer Dejan]

Victer rolled. A six and a six and the sword. He winced. He'd overshot the goal of eight.

"You have the better of both of us." He said with a chuckle.

[Razielle Alastor]

"You see? As I was saying.." Razielle scooped up her pitiful showing and cupped the dice in her hands once more.

"The Queen is quite good at this gambling thing. It's a good thing I'm not dim enough to play her for trinkets or I wouldn't have any sparkles to show off!"

She opened her palm and rolled the dice around with a finger. "Although, I am not completely averse to some kind of stakes. How about it, Your Majesty?"

[Adraudia Basillie]

Her lower lip puckered out just slightly. "I suppose." And then her attention focused on Dejen to whom she smiled. "It depends if our good Captain is game, but I honestly do not know what stakes to play for."

[Victer Dejan]

"I'm up for it." Victer thought for a moment while both women looked at him expectantly. Even though it was not his idea, they seemed eager to know what he thought they should do.

"How about... winner declares a dare for the outright looser. But let's keep it whimsical." Victer grinned.

[Razielle Alastor]

Razielle's smile grew to dazzling proportions. "Deal!"

She gave a quick kiss to her dice. Razielle might not be the best at games of chance, but she was about as daring as they came. She would get through her losses just fine and possibly have a better time doing so!

"Shall you collect your winnings for this round, Majesty? Or shall you go for your next throw?"

[Adraudia Basillie]

"No. That first game does not count since it was for sport. Now we keep track by writing down how many points the winner has beaten the other two players. For example, the Princess rolled a 5. Since I rolled a 7 that would have given me three points by how far the toss missed.

The Captain and I tied so we go by the second toss. He rolled a 12 and I 5. I was closest and would receive four points for a total of seven." She looked around the room for something to write with or a datapad to keep score. "We will need something to keep tally."

[Victer Dejan]

Victer pulled out a small datapad useful for taking quick scribbled notes. It would be more than enough to keep tally.

"Done." He smiled at Razielle.

"I think the Princess should get another go at it first, since her luck was not so stellar last time." Adraudia nodded in agreement.

[Razielle Alastor]

"How very chivalrous." Raz smirked and shook her dice, once more throwing them to the table. This round she'd scored a one and a five and a crown, slightly better than last time. At least she was improving.

[Adraudia Basillie]

"Quite," she said while giving Dejen an appreciative smile and took up her dice once more. Her roll was quite poor too and her nose curled ever so slightly in disdain. The Queen hadn't thrown such a terrible number in quite a long time. It was 5, 6 and then the sword.

[Victer Dejan]

Victer rolled next. The dice tumbled a few times and turned up with a four, a five and a sword. Victory was his. He marked down 2 and 1, having slimly beaten Razielle.

"How will the dares work?"

[Razielle Alastor]

Razielle really needed some private lessons from the Queen on the scoring of Boska, at the very least. She was definately going to need another few rounds before she got comfortable with the game. As for the dares, she could only smile.

"Considering my flare for drama, I believe maybe someone else should set the standard." She grinned impishly, tugging on a strand of her hair.

[Adraudia Basillie]

"Well, we cannot really think about what the dare will be until we know who the winner is." She tapped at her chin in thought. "But, I suppose the winner can either dare one of the two losers to something or whoever scores the lowest."

[Victer Dejan]

Victer showed no real emotion at Adraudia's suggestion, instead picturing the Queen and Princess locking lips. He smirked slightly.

He would somehow have to win by larger margins.

[Razielle Alastor]

"I'm game for whatever, as always. I don't think I'll be the one issusing the dare this time however." Razielle smirked down at her throw.

"So who's it to be then?"

[Adraudia Basillie]

Adraudia blinked as if hearing Dejen and the Princess for the first time. "Wait. I thought it was overall winner takes all, not a dare upon each throw."

She looked between the two of them. "Was my presumption incorrect?"

[Victer Dejan]

Victer sought compromise. Constant dares would be too distracting, but too many games would lead to uneasyness.

"How about a dare every three throws? It will keep things interesting." Delayed gratification, but not by too much.

[Razielle Alastor]

"As the Captain says, after all, he is the man with a plan.."

She sat forward in her chair, getting into the game a little bit more. She gave Victer a lopsided grin, knowing it was his turn to roll first. Razielle thought about her choice of words. They were true, Victer was a man with a plan. She just wasn't entirely certain what his plan was, not yet.

Somehow the events surrounding the attack on the Queen, and even the Masquerade Ball had broken through several layers of formality between them. Razielle had bled all over the man, danced quite scandalously with him and shared quite a few laughs. Victer had percieved that, while she lay bleeding, her primary concern had been for Salem, not herself. Yet he had politely managed not to bring it up since. By now he was probably aware of the rumors flitting about regarding the Princess and the Prime Minister.

Razielle was thoroughly charmed by Captain Dejan and had no desire to see him go, not unless he gave a solemn oath to visit again. She slid her gaze from Victer to the Queen and for a split second entertained a scandalous thought, but she didn't quite manage to keep her calculating grin from showing.

[Adraudia Basillie]

She nodded in acceptance. "That is agreeable Captain and yes, tis your throw."

Her attention settled upon her friend that had a look she knew all too well. Razielle was plotting something. Something ... insidious, though she would claim it was for the greater good however. "It looks as if the Princess is already starting to formulate her own ideas of what dares to force us to do."

[Victer Dejan]

Victer rolled, a six a two and the crown. Victory was almost certainly assured. He was feeling that special tingle lucky.

[Adraudia Basillie]

The Queen picked up her dice and tossed them straight away. Her roll revealed a two, one and .... the Royal Seal of Onderon.

She smiled like as if a little child on her birthday. "Seems my Ancestors are with me tonight."

[Razielle Alastor]

She hid another grin. "I would never force Her Majesty to do anything. I'd be far too frightened."

Razielle picked up her dice and prepared to roll them, watching the Queen. As was typical with the Monarch, luck was with her. There was really no need for Razielle to even throw her dice, but she would for continuity. A four, another four and.. The last one seemed determined to spin indefinately, then finally landed on a boma.

"Oh dear.."

[Victer Dejan]

Victer smiled despite himself. He canted his head sympathetically to Razielle, and gave Adraudia a wink.

"It seems that you won despite my throw." Victer made a special mark indicating a seal win. He threw the dice again, a three and a four with the sword.

[Adraudia Basillie]

"That is the beauty of this game." She shook the dice with one hand and smiled towards Victer. "Anything can happen.'

With a toss, the dice fell against the table as a two, two and the boma appeared!

Victer could have swore he heard a tiny growl coming from Adraudia, but both he and the Princess did see a bit of rose color her cheeks. "As I was saying ..."

[Razielle Alastor]

"Well, Your Majesty, there is a first time for everything. Isn't that what they say?"

Smirking, the Princess rolled her first decent throw for the day; a two, a five and a sword. She was still pretty certain she wasn't going to be the winner, but it was a start! Now the fun could begin..

[Victer Dejan]

Victer counter-smirked, if such a thing was possible. They were solidly tied, and would need to roll off to see who the winner was. Victer rolled.

Four, four, seal. It would be impossible to beat.

[Razielle Alastor]

"Uh oh.." She laughed and rolled her tie breaker. A rather unimpressive two, two and scepter. To the winner go the spoils, it would seem that the Captain was definately a good match for the Queen's ability. Razielle smiled again, she couldn't help it. She might lose but she was having all sorts of grand idea's flitting about her head...

[Adraudia Basillie]

As the Queen retrieved her dice, she noticed how the expression on Razielle's face did not match how poorly she had been playing.

"I don't think I've ever seen someone so happy while loosing, your Highness." She threw the dice onto the table which produced a six, three and sword. She missed tieing with Victer by one. Idlely her index finger tapped at the table. At first she was wishing to throw the game but with how well Victer had been playing, she was determined to win, regardless that there were stakes involved now. The Captain was showing up the Queen and it was a bit distressing to Adraudia, and it had been quite some time since another player caused a desire to defeat them in Bosca so mercilessly.

[Victer Dejan]

Victer rolled nonchalantly.
A two,
A three,
And the Royal Seal.

"Huh."

[Razielle Alastor]

Still only half concealing a wry grin, Razielle replied to the Queen. "Oh.. I don't know. Losing is a matter of perspective. I may lose the round but who is to say I haven't got a bigger picture, hmm?"

She winked and rolled, seriously overshooting the mark. A pair of sixes and a crown. Definate loss and yet still she was smiling, almost serenely.

"Although I think there should be a prize for worst roll, at the very least."

[Adraudia Basillie]

A bigger picture? Adraudia didn't like the sound of that. Not one bit. Razielle was definately up to something. Either way, it was her turn to roll but things were dire. It would take a miracle for her to beat the Captain now.

She sighed and threw the dice, accepting her fate. Her lips drooped downwards immediately.

A five, six and the swords landed, mocking her. She swore she could hear the dice laughing.

Damn!!!

[Victer Dejan]

She hid it well, but it was obvious that Adraudia was not used to being bested at much of anything. The problem was that Victer wasn't really trying to win. He never played dice games because it always seemed to be stupid luck instead of a measure of skill and strategy, like cards.

Victer rolled again, scoring eight and the coins. He looked down, as surprised as Razielle and Adraudia at his good fortune.

"Begginers luck." He declared.

[Razielle Alastor]

"I had no luck, even when I was a begginer!" Razielle sat forward with a grin and layed her cheek on her opened palm.

"So then..? Is that it, have I lost?"

[Adraudia Basillie]

"Yes," the Queen replied, having the 's' linger on her lips far longer then usual. Yet, she smiled warmly. "It seems the spoils of victory go to our good Captain this night."

[Victer Dejan]

Victer sat silent for a minute while he thought about what he was going to do with his dare.

"I dare Your Highness to an evening dinner." He said to Adraudia.

[Razielle Alastor]

She defintely wasn't expecting Victer to go quite that far, but it was even better than she could have done herself, given the opportunity. Razielle grinned like a kid with a new toy, and lowered her face so that no one would notice how pleased she was. Whether it was politic or not, whether it was proper or not, Razielle was convinced that Adraudia needed to live a little and she knew just the guy to make her do it.

"Oh darn, what a hardship that will be I'm sure.." She couldn't keep the laughter out of her voice. If the Queen looked to her for help, Raz wasn't going to help her out of the situation. She might consider helping her pick out a nice dress though...

[Adraudia Basillie]

It wasn't too often that Adraudia was caught off guard. This would be one of those times. Even her cheeks flustered with a bit of red tint. Razielle's giddish laughter was not helping either! She quickly recovered with a chuckle and took a sip of water. "The Captain has an impish sense of humor! Now seriously, what is your dare?"

She hoped that he was joking. He had to be joking. A commoner would never be so bold in asking such a thing!

[Victer Dejan]

Victer smiled broadly and slyly.

"That is my dare." he said. His face went to a half smile. "We could discuss trade routes and other details in a relaxed environment." And other things.

[Adraudia Basillie]

Adraudia was relieved to hear that Victer merely wanted to put his dare too good use as a way to have the Queen's ear solely directed his way. Many would love to be in his position.

They haven't had the time to properly discuss trade arrangements. Affairs of state, the attempt on her life, the General and the Princess' injuries had gotten in the way. Yet, something about the way he looked at her made her wonder. There was an air of mischief around the Captain, but it only last for a brief moment. She was probably worrying over nothing.

"Very well then," the Queen smiled. "I am looking forward to our discussion and seeing how we can mutually prosper from an arrangement between us."

[Razielle Alastor]

If the Queen had chosen to ignore it, or just plain missed it, Razielle hadn't. Victer was quite pleased with himself. Raz wondered briefly just what her friend was in store for, but she didn't think that it was anything that would leave her the worse for wear. Adraudia wasn't a silly girl, she was a woman who knew what she did and did not want. That and she was quite capable of cleaving a person in half if she felt threatened, Raz was sure.

She didn't know which one to feel sorry for, Victer or Adraudia. So she just chose to remain optimistic for them both.

"Now that is what I call a game! We will just have to invite a fourth next time.." She winked and rose from the table.