Anastasia Bianchi ჯ Death (nonespared) wrote in mythologs, @ 2012-02-07 10:38:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !zurvan, death, gwynevere |
[closed/complete]
Characters: Death (nonespared) & Gwynevere (vivatregina)
Date/Time: February 1st
Location: Death's office, Glastheim
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none.
Summary: A chat between the secret right-hand and the diplomat of Glastheim.
The written word had cut deep. Though she knew Death had not meant to castigate her, Gwynevere was nonetheless shaken by the way the diplomat had phrased the refusal. She wasn't abandoning Glastheim, was she? No, no - even as she prepared her belongings for the trip, she was mentally arranging the upcoming spring festival, drafting an amendment to the policing system, allocating funds for the granaries...
Though in her heart of hearts she realized she was being selfish, Gwynevere refused to acknowledge that she was throwing a tantrum and running away. She would be in Camlann for diplomacy, for the ease of arranging that Heimdall's will be done in Svarga. The journey did not concern her father's death nor giving her brother, her country away to an unwilling foreigner. It had no relevance to Arthur's marrying the Camlannian princess, not even the slightest connection to the way Hector's strong, steady gaze made everything seem more manageable.
It had nothing to do with herself.
Her actions were for Glastheim, Gwynevere stubbornly decided as she knocked twice, gently but firmly, on Death's door.
If Nanna knew how much Death worked then her little sister might fret more than normal. But watching over the region, especially in this time while a new queen was settling in, meant work. And she knew, in the end, Nanna would always understand. If not, she would pinch those cute cheeks and make sure her sister understood.
Death had always had a great fondness for those who were her family. It was something she could not replicate for others and she was fine with that.
The end of her quill ghosted under her chin, causing her to make a faint purring noise, the best a human could do. There were visits to make, people to see in town, necessary letters to send. In truth, she did wonder why Gwynevere wanted to make her trip. The weddings would be influential but the weddings would not be occurring now. Perhaps not for weeks, depending on Queen Freyja and King Arthur. It was a curious matter, indeed.
Then the knock sent her thoughts scattering. Her glasses slide down the length of her nose as she peered at the door and those were finally removed before she called out: "Enter, princess."
And if it was not the princess but one of her subordinates then perhaps he would have to deal with the new nickname she had for him.
Gwynevere entered, gently closing the door behind her. Briefly, she wondered if the previous right-hand had been as gentle as she was with the diplomat and the general. Did War and Death see it as weakness that she valued their opinions, did not impose her demands upon them? She dismissed such thoughts. Everyone in the faction was like family to Gwynevere, and she would make them understand those sentiments.
However, she did not bother with smiles and trifles as she sat across from Death. Business came first. Likely, the diplomat would not appreciate unnecessary frivolities. Pretty sentiments could come later. The issue of her father's demise loomed over the room as Gwynevere began, "Heimdall has decided to employ a two-pronged strategy. He wants to contact Skadi, for a surface cooperation, while sending in a mole."
She paused, letting the nature of the discussion sink in, before continuing, "If you are amenable, I would like you to be the one to speak to the right-hand. Make the matter appear like a business contract - logical and necessary. It's a perspective that I, as the daughter of the deceased, won't be able to impart."
Glastheim did seem like a large family. Her predecessor had been good to her, had respected her as much as superior would a subordinate. And there was a unity among most of them that could not be counted on in places perhaps like Ilium. Death did not see their system to be as strong as Glastheim's, after all. And if Svarga was wise, they would learn to be more like Glastheim. With all the mixing of blood between them, it would just make sense.
The quill was set down and she folded her hands between herself. "I would not say no to speaking with their right-hand. But there is a matter to consider very hard. Skadi is a Glasthein but she is a Svargan right-hand. Her logic is as chilling as mine and she is, perhaps, more likely to report to Zeus of our plans to guard her region from anything we may do. Her loyalty would be to her king, not Glastheim's. If Zeus found out she was part of this after the fact, it would be her head.
"What makes you or Heimdall believe she will sway and bend to this? And who is your chosen mole?"
"I do not think it is out of their interests to locate a king-slayer." Gwynevere gazed steadily at the diplomat, trying to make sense of the many thoughts dancing through her head. "To house a murderer, even just a suspected one, endangers their own king. Zeus's life. It is possible to be addressed as a matter of mutual interest, if handled appropriately.
"I believe Heimdall would like to preserve the new and fragile good will that has been established between Svarga and Glastheim. I, myself, am a bit more mercenary. The Svargans know things of their land that we do not, have access to resources we cannot hope to touch."
Gwynevere took out her journal, flipping to the conversation between Heimdall and herself. "Heimdall would like the mole to be a Svargan," she said, fingers tracing her brother's scrawl. "Dissatisfied, yet with some level of influence. This is where I come in. From a safe distance in Camlann, I'll oversee the employment of... scouts, so to speak. Our own men, disguised as hapless travelers, to journey to Svarga and open their eyes and ears to the slightest hint of discontent." Her lips quirked, as if she were tempted to smile at the idea. In truth, she disdained the petty squabbling of the Svargans. Like Death, Gwynevere felt Glastheim's system to be the most compact and most stable. If Zeus had been the one to die, surely the transition would not have been as smooth as it had been in Glastheim. "And to follow the smoke to what will most certainly be fire."
There was truth and danger in what Gwynevere was saying and the wheels were turning Death's mind. Skadi, from all she knew, was not a woman who could be swayed by the prettiest of words and deception. To suggest the Svargan king would fall if they did not act was both a good twist and a likely reason to put a blade her pale throat. One could easily perceive it as a subtle threat.
"You're tying your trip to Camlann in all this, then," she noted, her voice lowering a notch from its already quiet level. "Should I presume men and women have been chosen to be these scouts?"
"Of all of us, I am the only one publicly unassociated with the faction. So it only follows." Gwynevere nodded. "People low-ranking enough that they won't be prominent, but those who have shown themselves to be capable. And of course," she added, tucking a stray stand of hair behind her ear. The gentleness of the action contradicted the severity of her words. "people who would die for Glastheim, if need be."
Gwynevere closed her journal, having come to the part of her conversation in Heimdall wherein her emotions had gotten the better of her. Those feelings had no place in a meeting with Death. "Do you feel the plan is sound? If not, attack it with the ferocity of a legion. All possible holes must come to light and be accounted for."
"You are still the princess of Glastheim, the sister of the king and faction leader. Though his record has shown that our faction has been smoothly running, skeptics would assume he may confide in his sister. It would be logical among close family members." Her shoulders moved in a careless shrug, still more focused on her thoughts. "I'm not saying everyone would suspect that but it's a possibility."
Her hand lifted, her thumb running along her jaw line to the underside of her chin. Death had confidence in some but not in everyone, not the way Gwynevere had in these low-ranking individuals. Those who couldn't climb up should be less trusted or were too young. A rare few could be amazing but that was only if one truly took the time to groom someone or was just that fortunate.
"The plan is not as sound as I would prefer but it is a plan to start with, I suppose," she finally said. "Skadi may reject things and turn to her king and leader and tell him everything. Skadi could accept but the scouts you have chosen may not work out. They may find a reason to live for themselves or even be turned against us. There are no promises, nothing to make us feel certain until it is over. If you and Heimdall are prepared for every consequence failure or victory can bring, I will speak to Skadi about supporting our desire to plant a mole. And then we will take it from there."
"Oh, would you rather tell Skadi of the mole?" Gwynevere asked, surprised. She realized she had not been clear enough on what speaking to Skadi entailed, so she expounded, "Heimdall's intention was to coordinate efforts as a front. What he called 'a more superficial way'. The mole was to be ours and ours alone. It's more dangerous but more covert that we do not divulge it, but I can see some wisdom in doing so." An exhale. "Heimdall wishes for Angrboda to be kept in the loop, as well. But I am hesitant to have so many Svargans aware."
She thought over Death's concern the scouts. An idea came to mind, cruel but necessary. "Perhaps I should instruct them to kill whoever among them decides to defect. Though that may only cause anxiety and hostility." She thought it over, absent-mindedly running her fingers along the spine of her journal. "I suppose reward could be offered for a unified and cohesive effort, to balance out the threat... Would you have better ideas? Men and women you would prefer to send?"
Gwynevere was not sure if she was ready for failure. Barely resisting the urge to purse her lips, she realized she would have to speak with Heimdall one more time before allowing the plans to fall through.
A long look was offered to Gwynevere. She saw the tangle being created and knew complications would occur. The scouts, the extra secrecy, the lip-service while they dug around under Svargans. God knew if Skadi or another well-ranking member found out that there would be war. And she would never presume that they were the most clever.
It was time to halt and reorganize.
"That is what I thought we were discussing. But it seems not. So you want me to convince Skadi of what if telling her the mole is not applicable? That our factions must cooperate to look for the murderer in her region while we secretly send in a mole that she will know nothing about? And Queen Angrboda is technically a Glasthein. She remains part of our faction, not the Svargan one. We need not to keep her in the loop if that is too much of a conflict. It strictly depends on the comfort of the top functioning members of the faction. Only they need to know.
"However, princess, I am going to be blunt. Your intent is good as is your drive but you are overreaching. Now issuing an order to kill any who decide to defect? Yes, that will put fear in them but may even convince the ones to leave to slay those who may come after them. You'll create an internal conflict. If you are going to do this, you are better off gambling with trust than playing a game we can't afford to lose. Rewards are fine, they work well enough on dogs. Send those you trust the most but are least associated with us. That is my advice concerning that matter."
Gwynevere was glad for Death's set-downs. She had only been making suggestions, but for the diplomat to seriously consider them and pick apart the logic accordingly was pleasing. It meant that Gwynevere's word had at least some weight, that progress was actually being made on the path to bringing about justice for her father's demise. "Cooperation, yes. And secrecy, yes. Subject to change, if you find execution less practical than theory. As to the queen, Heimdall is comfortable with it, and if you and War are, I will set aside my reservations.
"If you dislike the idea of such an order, then I am relieved that we will not have to go to such extremes. I only worried that you would want a more brutal reinforcement, but positive incentive, I am more comfortable with. Reward and trust it shall be."
She tilted her head ever so slightly to the side, peering at something on the desk. "I am on the fence. She is the queen of the Svargans. Though loyalty she has shown, this may not be the time to test it. However, if we are informing Skadi of the mole, we know they are sisters and perhaps it would do to inform the queen as well. The king is more dangerous, having no blood of Glastheim. His children by Angrboda are half and his daughter is now married to a Glasthein but that still does not make him a Glasthein himself or trustworthy. Again, we need not to gamble too much trust.
"If I am to speak to Skadi and if the mole conversation is introduced, having her consent would lead to a strengthening of the bond. However, if the whole thing goes to hell, I advise we not expose our link to her. That will at least allow us to remain on good terms with her and even draw her back to ourselves. But this is all assuming she will agree. If she does not, we must be prepared for backlash. And I want you to take back to Heimdall all that has been said." A finger pressed to the desk. "No matter what plan is executed, we must be prepared for backlash. At this time, with a new king and queen, we cannot handle more grief and disaster. The more prepared, the better."
Death wasn't giving and, for betrayal, there would an appropriate result. The scouts simply did not need to alerted to that fact. The good ones, they could have their little rewards. Indeed, it was like dealing with canines. "I dislike that they will know the consequences of failure, that is all. Any who betray us will be hunted and slain."
Gwynevere again opened her journal, wondering if she should filter to Heimdall directly. She thought better of it, writing a neat private filter at the top of her page before taking down the important points Death brought up, along with her own thoughts on the matter. "Backlash will entail many sweet words on our part. And I agree with you. As things stand, the backlash would be lighter on us were we to have Skadi's support, however it should be something she reveals, and not us. All the better to give her faith in our loyalty. But, as you say, Heimdall must be informed before we decide anything with finality.
"In summary, what we have discussed so far is, first, that scouts will be employed with rewards promised and, though we will not make them aware of it, slaughter certainly awaits betrayal; second, that the scouts must come to scratch with a passable Svargan mole; and third, that Skadi will be contacted for the sake of cooperation. However, what remains uncertain are the extent to which Skadi and Angrboda will be informed and the measures we will be taking should our efforts turn for the worse. Have I missed anything?"
Gwynevere was unsure as to how much she was willing to inform either woman. She wanted to trust them as Glastheins, but their loyalty to Svarga was just as telling. It was, of course, possible to do everything underground. But the risk was high and the returns too uncertain. Even if no harm was meant to Svarga, Glastheim's poking around without their knowledge would not be well-received.
"It's a hopeful thing that she does. But the woman is just like you. Would you reveal something if their diplomat came to you? You'd play the part of a perfect politician, with evasive answers and, in your case, polite smiles."
Listening to the summary of the meeting, Death only offered a nod once Gwynevere was finished speaking. The idea had merit but it had to be ironed as much as they needed a solid defense in case of any unfortunate results. "Once the fine details are handled, I will speak to Skadi. How much she will be told will depend on what route the king decides to go."
Gwynevere nodded, ending the filter and closing her journal. After a beat, she added, "There is one more thing." She rose then straightened the chair she'd used. "Is there anyone you would recommend that I take in your stead?"
Not War. Although the woman would be a great defense, she was also incredibly...War. "Someone you trust that would not be myself or the king." A small pause. "And not War. She should remain here during this time to keep the soldiers trained well and prepared for anything."
It wasn't likely that Galahad would be willing to go with her, and she wasn't about to drag her aunt out of Glastheim either. It would be bending Heimdall's instructions, but it would be better that she didn't take anyone from among the highest ranks or the family. Surely, there would be some passably high-ranking faction member vacant enough. One that wouldn't be able to say no to her.
Distracted by her thoughts, Gwynevere nodded. "Thank you, Death."
The faintest of nods was offered. She would not return back to work until the princess had properly exited the room. It was only polite. "Of course, princess."
Gwynevere moved to exit Death's office. After closing the door, taking care that it slid soundlessly, she made her way to the throne room.