A Repsonse to Rokkenjima

[KrisNord]

Following the suspension of Rokkenjiman sanctions we will obviously follow suit. We however will not be accepting the invitation of the Empress. In the past monarchs of Rokkenjima have accused both our nation and myself criminals. Having seen diplomacy between our nations fail in the past I believe neutral territory is the only fair compromise. With the Empress being currently aboard her vessel I have put forward the following two options. The first is Portworth in East Moreland. The second in Abertone City as I intend to visit for the World Cup.[1]. Should this be acceptable then I shall meet with the Empress shortly.

Signed

King Finley

1.	Assuming the voting has closed as I'm writing this past 7pm UK time

[Beatrice]

A Private Response To King Finley

I do believe that a meeting in Portworth would be best, seeing as we share a mutual friendship there. For my part, I promise to maintain an open mind, after all my information comes from my education and a series of predecessors who've not been the friendliest toward you or your Government. I do intend for the Vicegerent and Imperial Liaison for Foreign Affairs to be joining my delegation. I will look forward to this opportunity to talk and, should things go well, perhaps you may join me for dinner afterwards in the now State Dining Room aboard the United States. In hindsight I can recognize where I acted impulsively, but where I differ from all who came before me is I'm willing to listen and, given the looks I've received from the Vicegerent in the past few days, I know I can trust the impartiality of his voice, McKenna's too.


Empress of the First Empire of Rokkenjima
A bit of a post-script, but one I wished to convey prior to our meeting in Portworth, I had a discussion with the Empress which I feel has left an impression upon her moving forward. While her words and actions were impulsive and certainly misguided, at the end of the day, we're dealing with a young lassie who's found herself at the helm of a nation. You and I certainly remember how we were at that age I'm sure, me without the added stresses of an entire nation on my back though. The girl's got a good heart, she hasn't had the best examples to look to in the shoes she's now filling, I can only say I'm doing my best to guide her and I gave her a bit of a chewing out after the incident at the ADSN that I think got through to her. I think if you give her an honest shot (not whiskey of course, though if you'd share one or two with me, it's been so terribly long since I've tasted mostly rice beverages and the ever-persistent mead of Rokkenjima) we could perhaps see an end to this cycle between the Kingdom and the Empire. As someone who has been trusted to speak with the full authority of the Empress I've informed her that I will be supportive, but critical if she doesn't heed the words I shared with her, including that I would resign if we saw a repeat of the Saisei days. As you know we Seaforthians seemingly have a built-in aversion to the worst impulses of Rokkenjima, but it's my hopes that in the new generation upon Chrysanthemum Throne those impulses are in their death throes.

Also, as it has been some time with my residence in Rokkenjima, the next time you get the Celts together I hope I'd be able to get an invitation. I must admit I miss the shores of Seaforth greatly, I don't regret the path I've chosen but to be among my people again would certainly renew my spirits. All the best to you, and I'm quite hopeful and optimistic in what we'll be able to accomplish together.


Gregory McKenna
Imperial Liaison for Foreign Affars

United States nears Portworth, East Moreland

An unscheduled stop to be sure, but one that could prove to be one of the most critical. The arrival in Portworth went without notable events as usual and, as per the instructions relayed to them by the hosts for these discussions, the Empress and her delegation would arrive as perscribed following their departure from the United States, and taken to the place of their meeting with King Finley. A man she'd heard stories about, nursery rhymes which suggested a Rokkenjiman monarch left him "waiting in the woods 'til his legs fell off", here she stood before him in person. "Your highness," she said, in the traditional manner of a Rokkenjiman monarch greeting a foreign monarch, "to my left is Gregory Mckenna, my Liaison for Foreign Affars and to my right is my Vicegerent, Count Emerson Ravenswood. I am Empress Sutāraito of the First Empire of Rokkenjima. It is perhaps the greatest understatement of 2023, but I believe we have much to talk about. Thank you for accommodating my request, for what it's worth."

[KrisNord]

OOC- Dave wrote/agreed to bits of this.

The East Moreland Naval College was on paper the HQ of the Royal East Moreland Naval Service however for the past two decades every major decision had come down from the dockyards at Ostlake West. The College however still served as the centre of officer training and from time to time held conferences and the like. Today Admiral James Thompson had been given very clear instructions, welcome both guests then get the hell out of the way. To facilitate this he'd first sent an escort to the airport to pick up King Finley, Princess Una and the heir to the Cenneg throne the 18 year old Prince Keane. Their drive through Portworth would have taken much more time, meanwhile the Empresses ship was free to utilise one of the berths normally reserved for the REMNS King Robert when it was in town. As the car returned from the airport the timing was nearly perfect. At the Northern end of the College Finley was greeted by a detachment of Royal Marines while an honour guard of sailors meet the Empress. Both were escorted into the Royal Mess, what was more like a medium sized lounge designed for use on occasions the royal family or some other VIP attended. Admiral Thompson waited and ensured both parties were settled before heading off. "If you hear screaming just make sure we don't have a regicide on our hands ok boys" he jokingly told the Marines on guard at the door as he closed the old oak ones behind him.

Finley was a tall man with broad shoulders, his thinning red hair was showing signs of white here and there and his son often joked he'd soon be hunted down as a fox. He wore a red and white tartan, one he'd commissioned the day after the founding of the CNN, called Morelander, there was one for each of the CNN members, Lodja and the Iwi. Above that was a crisp white shirt with black bow tie and a short waist length black jacket. Tucked into his long white socks was a Sgian-dubh, a bone handled knife, its handle visible and inlaid with a silver family crest. Keane was dressed almost identically except he had opted for no bow tie. Una meanwhile wore a traditional white blouse over a black skirt but wrapped in a shawl of the Morelander tartan. The trio took a seat opposite the Rokkenjimans after the greetings.

Finley leaned back in the sofa and began "Once you'd declared sanctions I suspect a meeting was always on the cards. I had intended to come today and be rather upset. We've , as you're no doubt aware, a rather sketchy past with Rokkenjima. However when a Celt asks a fellow Celt, especially one from such a respected clan as the McKenna's, to basically do them a favour you listen." Finley turned towards McKenna "Our relationship with Seaforth is a dear one and so Mr.McKenna you've got your favour. I'm here and I'm open minded but be warned I'm not buying the whole "the Empress is young" deal much longer. I've no idea what went down at the ADSN but we've seen monarchs across Mundus similar ages do great things. The Veiled One of Gusano is I believe 18, Viktoria Tar was beginning reforms in Lodja, and I've seen countless 18 year olds sent into combat having to make life and death decisions in a blink of the eye. Some of which you lassie will be sending to have to make those decisions." he turned back to the Empress. "If you're going to sit in the big chair then make sure you're ready." He concluded. "Now I'll like my sister here talk about Scordisci" He sat back as Una leaned forward.

"Since 2017 I've served as Royal Governor of Scordisci. In 2020 I was elected to run that position again. I don't get to make day to day decisions about the nation, I sign off on any legislation from the Seanadh, what you'd maybe call a Parliament. I can't block legislation but I can delay it in two ways. The first is by sending it to a judge to see if it is compatible with existing legislation and the second is to propose amendments and this then sends it back to Seanadh where they either accept my amendments or send it back. The only role I have to make serious change is to manage security, ensure various elections are held and to manage a budget. We've elections next year and I've determined I will not stand so the future of the province is up for grabs."

"Now allow me to explain this so called Imperialism" Finley took over "Its no secret, my dream is that one day we have a super-Celtic nation, a united land ruled by a Celtic monarch, preferably an Ó Séaghdha. I also dream that I can fly and drink whiskey by the lake full but those don't happen either. What I believe realistically can be achieved is a grand Celtic Alliance, think the CNN but in kilts and lots of bagpipes. Now King David, King Piripi and Queen Natalya know that if that was achievable but meant leaving the CNN then we'd depart as friends. The reason I have this dream is I don't see Celts as really being nations, we're clans. McKenna here will recognise that. We're clans working together within a geographical region with one guy, in our case me, driving the bus. So when the Scordisci have allowed for decades attacks on our border you act. The problem is while your Empire had to recently deal with a conflict with a neighbour or enemy was not so obvious. You had direct avenues towards peace, we didn't. So when you see a bus of children set on fire and their government don't make a single arrest or take any action you sort it yourself. In that moment of seeing that bus fire I would have gladly wiped every Scordiscan from the face of Mundus, but did we? No we did not. We invaded to secure our border, to capture those responsible. In return we saw a government use chemical weapons, banned chemical weapons.......at least six canisters of which are still missing somewhere on Mundus. We therefore we not going to allow a criminal government to stand. The provisional one was weak and so when Jacobson hit what were we to do? Watch a neighbour suffer? Watch the SFR take advantage and take control of the land? No we went back in and we have established a system there that serves the people far better than the old government did. Scordisci's economy is growing, its agricultural output is going up and its got access to a wider range of markets than it ever had. If I was a Scordiscan I'd be thanking my lucky stars and why has there been no rebellion, no attacks? Because the Scordiscans are our clansman, just as McKenna will have clansman in Claith, in Eigg, in Cantabria and beyond. So perhaps answer me this. Why when we go and establish a new government, one that is working, in a neighbouring land ruined by disease and chemicals we're imperialists, when the Ålanders annex what remained of the Union of Nordic Peoples, basically Uppsala, they're not Imperialists?"

[Beatrice]

Whilst the Empress listened in attentive silence to the King McKenna would offer a nod of respect when the King turned to him, "I thank you, and hopefully it's one I'll one day be able to requite. I am confident, however, that none of us will be wasting our time here today. Removed from the lens of motherhood, many of us in this room are mindful of the worst impulses of the Saisei Empress, and I believe I've impressed on the Empress that path is not the one to emulate. I only wish that she had tapped some of the same energy and brilliance as witnessed from her in the time following the hostilities between Rokkenjima and Daitō here."  The Empress remained silent as she listened to the two speak, reflecting on their words against the backdrop of those she knew, before responding.

"From then-Empress Evanthe, Vicegerent Euphemia, the Lord High Steward, what occurred has long been portrayed as a denial of self-determination and, on some levels, bordering genocide by those in the Imperial Government, a couple who share my surname even. Empress Evanthe, joined by Vicegerent Euphemia, voiced those positions with conviction, I remember the talks that there was, at least on some level, a "cultural genocide" like what the Federal Republic subjected Rokkenjima to, at least I remember my parents talking about it in those terms, but that's part of the problem in only citing one source in any matter. We see that I took one perspective, irrespective of anything objective beyond that, and while I'm sure there's some back home who would be happy with what I did and what I said, after hearing you and Princess Una speak, I'm a bit disappointed in myself, and I can't offer an answer to your question. Perhaps that's something that was a critical flaw in those came before me, seeing things through such a narrow lens, taking what we believe and perceive as being absolutely right, they became ensnared on paths that were anything but right."

"Coming here I didn't know what to expect," she continued, "I feel that the examples left before me left me with expectations that weren't met today. I think, had I not jumped the gun so to say, we probably could accomplish some things together, from all you've said we seem to have the same goals in mind for our peoples, and you certainly don't seem to be how you've always been portrayed as being to me. And I realize my fault in this next point, but there's so much that could've been prevented by communication and that issue goes back years before my ascendance to the Throne. For what it is worth I am sorry and, if it's possible, could we put into place a normalization of relations between our Kingdom and Empire, so we may avoid in the future impromptu meetings such as this? Perhaps, following our meeting, we might see this day as the one where we put down the first bricks in a path to a more amicable future before our nations and peoples?"

[KrisNord]

"Well I'm glad you've been open to the truth" Finley said placing his hands on his knees, "Seems the jobs done, much shorter than the last time I meet a Rokkenjiman Empress" he pretended to stand and then smiled and sat down. "Sorry but couldn't resist" he said as he settled the folds of his kilt. "Look while I'm thankful it seems we've avoided the issue of sanctions the idea of waving magic diplomatic wands is not something I'm comfortable with" he reached into his sporon and removed a long green thread that he threw onto the table between them. On closer inspection it was actually wool wound into a long repeating pattern "Its called a sailors knot. Its one of many variations of Celtic knots" He arranged it so it was straight. "It has no beginning and no end just like the waves on a sea. Legend says sailors and their friends exchanged them before each voyage as a symbol that no matter what happened they'd be friends forever." He pulled another single red thread out of his sporran and began manipulating it while still looking at the Empress. "Like most kids in Ui Cenneslaig you make these growing up and share them with your friends, I never got really good at it, that one there was made by my daughter Isobel. Some kids can make them in pretty patterns but I never could master that." He finished after making just two loops leaving the knot incomplete. "That's where we are at the moment" he pointed to the bracelet he'd just begun "That's where people like me and East Moreland are" he pointed to the perfect one made by Isobel. "You don't get to jump from one to the other just by hopes and wishes." He leaned back for a moment as though pondering whether he actually wanted to make the next decision. He looked at the Empress then at Keane before giving a small nod, more to himself than anyone else, "A true friend is a rare gem, worth more than gold. But like a gem, they must be found in the dark" he said looking at McKenna to see if he recognised the old wife's saying. "I'm willing to take a punt in the dark to add another loop to the bracelet. You made the first loop by reaching out rather than following through with the sanctions so I guess its only fair I do the next. You see when you issued your sanctions I already gave orders for our ambassador to leave Rokkenjima, that means his accreditation is cancelled under traditions of such a role." Finley reached back into the tardis like sporon and removed a piece of creamy coloured paper before reaching inside his pocket and scribbling.

"You're handwritings still like a spider crawling across the page" his sister mocked him as the short note was finished and signed before being almost casually slid over to the Empress. Finley just ignored his sister.

I hearby declare on this date that Prince Keane Ó Séaghdha shall, until further notice, be the official ambassador for the Kingdom of Ui Cenneslaig.

King Finley Ó Séaghdha

"Three months, you've my son sat in your capital for three months." He replied "That gives you the speediest line of communication to me that any ambassador on Mundus has. At the end of those three months the lad has to drag his arse back to Claith to either go to University or go to the Army. I'm effectively giving you my heir as a kind of trust fall. Beside if anything happens to him we do have a spare." He turned to Keane and winked. "So do you want him or not?"

[Beatrice]

McKenna nodded knowingly, though the Empress absorbed quite a bit more before ever responding. The entire display before her was most unexpected, and the traditions and everything therein weighed upon her as she took them in. She thought, at times, how Rokkenjiman education on the Cenneslaig would have to be updated and, certainly, how certain perceptions in the Imperial Government would have to be cast aside. The gestures of the King were most certainly not lost upon her and, perhaps, she had an opportunity none who sat upon the Throne before her had. It was, honestly, a lot to absorb in the moment, but she would soon find her footing.

"I'll see that neither your time, nor his, has or will be wasted," she began. "I expect the Prince and I will be spending a great deal of time talking, working toward normalization of relations talks, all while addressing the differences that have kept us opposed for so long; in short, I'll be taking full advantage of his residence on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Whilst most embassies still hold grounds outside of the Palace, and we've a whole process to transitioning them to the new complex, your new embassy will be within the walls of the Imperial Palace so, just as you've given me a speedy line of communication, so too shall your Kingdom enjoy a speedy line in return. I expect that I had many misconceptions about you walking into this room today, and I'm sure you shared them with me, and while I don't expect some magic force to move us towards friendship, as my predecessors said back to the days of the Great Matriarch, perhaps today is a good day for new opportunities. While that tomorrow has many unknowns, I'd walk into it with few others with the expectations as I do walking into it with you."

"I understand your initial apprehension," she continued, "but as we've covered the basics I feel for normalization between us, can I offer you and your delegation a dinner aboard my home? My cooks have been working on traditional Rokkenjiman dishes as well as those from your lands, and I'd appreciate your voice as to how they do on those. And I know already that McKenna is hopping with the chance to break bread with his kin, and what better way to do so in my impromptu State Dining Room than with a chance for a amicable future between our peoples? As the Morelanders have so gracefully hosted us, would you trust me to show a measure of Rokkenjiman hospitality? It is expected of a Rokkenjiman, after all, to show ultimate respect to a new friend, and I hope not to disappoint both my culture and you to those ends. It would also be a good opportunity to discuss any lingering concerns though, as the Prince will be on the Palace grounds, his safety is most certainly secured, I won't let even a bolt of lightning threaten him whilst he's in our care."

[KrisNord]

Finley thought for a second or two, he may be willing to offer a metaphorical olive branch but he didn't fully trust the Rokkenjimans yet. As such he was not willing to put all three of them onboard a ship controlled by the Rokkenjimans. "Unfortunately my sister and son have prior arrangements. Keane has I believe a night on the tiles in Northfort. He spent some time here as part of the CNN's attempts at ensuring our royal families are well connected and well now he's of an age to enjoy a beer or two he's meeting some old friends." The King explained, "After all we had no expected such an invitation and he's about to loose his chance to get of the 'sesh for a time." He smiled at his son before turning to his sister. "Meanwhile Una is scheduled to get back this evening, she's a few matters to attend to in Scordisci. However if it is acceptable I'd like my wife Riona to join us, she's currently out visiting the shops of Portworth with our daughter Isobel. If thats acceptable shall I see you at 6pm?"

[Beatrice]

"I think that will be more than acceptable, I'll look forward to seeing you and the Queen at six," ," the Empress would say.
HMY United States, 6 PM local time.
The Empress made sure that the final efforts had been undertaken before the arrival of the King and Queen and welcomed them warmly aboard the United States. "I'm happy you could join me, and a pleasure to meet you," she said turning to Queen Riona. "Perhaps a bit of a tour before making our way to the State Dining Room, yes?" she continued as they made their way to the bridge. "My tour of good-will has yet to begin and, already, I've had the pleasure of visiting a foreign nation as well as hosting my first guests; I certainly hope it sets the tone for a successful tour. I figured we'd make a stop at the bridge, the view of the bow is a sight to take in, but also the Captain, while a devout Rosari Faithful, has a sort of fascination with your Blue Men of The Minch and has been known to ask Nemetona's favours before departing port and, naturally, once he found out who my guests would be this evening he asked for an opportunity to meet you. I do hope you don't mind," she said as they approached the bridge.

Approaching the bridge.

"While her top speed has never been disclosed I hear the Captain has a habit of approaching north of 42 knots," she said as she introduced the King to the Captain. "Your Majesty," he said respectfully, "I'm honoured to welcome you upon my bridge. Your culture and faith have long fascinated me, I think back to when I was but a boy with an interest in all the seas of Mundus and I read much, from Rokkenjiman sources and foreign sources, those from your People have had a way of inspiring me over all these long years. While you and the Queen may formally be guests of Her Imperial Majesty, as the master of this ship you and the Queen are my guests of honour and I wished to thank you for this opportunity. I know that the designer of my ship said that no one could catch, burn nor sink her, and in our voyages across the seas of Mundus I've often wondered what I would do if faced with the Blue Men of the Minch; would I truly be able to outrun them? I'm confident I could outrun any other threat to this ship and her passengers, and despite my passion for poetry I wonder if, in that moment, the cat may hold my tongue so to say."

On the bridge.

"I told you he was enamoured with my guests tonight," the Empress would say with a chuckle. Following an exchange between the two the Empress would lead her guests, joined by Count Emerson, Imperial Liaison for Foreign Affairs McKenna and the Earl of Eastwood to the State Dining Room.

A most impromptu State Dining Room.

"She was built in the '50s and my mother ensured that she was true to the period she was constructed," the Empress would almost lament. "To think, in the Grand Staircase, we've imagery that would be more appropriate if the Federal Republic had won the Second Great Patriotic War....just, ugh. King Finely," she said with full attention, "my cooks have prepared a spread of delecacies from your nation, if you could choose just one for me to try, what would your recommendation be? Better yet, I'll have whatever you're ordering, so that perhaps I may understand your tastes and, yourself, a bit better."

[KrisNord]

Finley went and changed slightly. The kilt was changed to one of the family tartan and of course he had to pick up his wife Riona who had opted for a black trouser suit hemmed in the green and gold pattern of the Ó Séaghdha tartan.

As they arrived Finley guided his wife carefully up the walkway and onto the deck accompanied by some army uniformed aides. "Thank you for your hospitality" Riona said, "We've customs that if someone invites you to their home you bring drink, something growing and something you've made." With that one by one she handed over a bottle of whiskey, "My husband tells me that he picked one aged in old rum barrels, a kind of combining of Celtic and Naval tradition." She explained. Next there was a sapling, "The Rowan tree marks protection from evil spirits, no idea why but legends tells us they won't pass one by, the Claith estate we call home is actually ringed in them." She waited for the aid to put the cloth wrapped sappling down carefully. Finally there was a silver tray full of what at first glance appeared to be perfectly cut yellow rectangular blocks looking like fugde, then on closer inspection there were the odd shard of tablet dotted around. "And we've some tablet, its basically diabetes in snack form." Riona explained with a smile.

Upon meeting the captain Finley remembered the Empress speaking of the Blue Men, "I hear you're interested in the Blue Men, if I may offer some advice to avoid the rotters." Finley smiled, "Rowan wood, they hate the stuff....or at least I'm told that. Every captain in the Cenneg navy has a piece of the wood worked into their desk in their cabin as a kind of tradition. I've heard of some even having chairs made from the stuff to keep them at bay. Failing that just throw silver coins at them." I would think however their confined largely to The Minch (some part of water off the celtic coast of Ardia) as the name suggests. As a member of the Cenneg Airborne he'd never really enjoyed ships but he had to admit to the captain he had a rather impressive vessel.

The dining room was a little large for the small group but no less impressive. He helped his wife take her seat then his own. As the Empress told him of the chefs preparring several dishes he felt an urge to first talk about wasting food, he may be a King but he was still conscious of wasted food as it just never sat right with him. Growing up on estates with their own farms and woodland stocked with wild food and game also many had rivers stocked full of fish meaning you could literally tuck into a meal that was running around the forest just a few hours earlier. "Well Empress we don't do fine dining in that well. We're a land that serves hearty food designed to warm you in winter and stick meat on those ribs. We eat lots of stews and things most people turn their nose up at, I mean haggis literally frightens everyone as its the heart, lungs, liver, kidney and often brain of a sheep minced up, mixed with herbs,  oatmeal, suet, and spices and boiled practically to death in the stomach lining of a sheep. Serve it with a load of neeps (turnips) and tatties (mashed potato) but again its not that delicate a dish. For something as delicate as these surroundings you need a dish thats name is perhaps not so elegant. Cullen Skink, its a delicate soup made with flaky smoked haddock, cream, potatos, onion and milk.....and lashings of buttered bread."

"My husband would like to consider himself a chef" Riona interjected, "Truth is though he tends to just sit and watch the palace kitchen staff prepare the stuff he brings in from the estate."


 

 

[Beatrice]

The Empress was somewhat surprised by the gifts despite brushing up on her knowledge of UC prior to their arrival with McKenna, accepting them graciously. She handed the bottle of whiskey to McKenna while adding a knowing "That's not entirely for you, Mister." She was taken especially by the sapling and its story, "I will be glad to see it planted in the Imperial Garden once I return home; given the many people who now call it home, not only myself but employees, those who have embassies within the walls of the Palace, I will see that it grows into a strong sentinel. Just as she had handed the whiskey to McKenna she handed the tray of tablet to an aide, "Please see that is delivered to my suite," she continued with a smile. "I am thankful for your gifts and, though our nations have met before, I believe it was a meeting most incomplete," the Empress began.

She would then hand Riona a bottle of Pyrenan Mead, "brewed with the honey of the bees kept at Pyrena Castle, and fashioned with tangerines, peaches and a blend of spices it is traditionally given on a first meeting, however, as this is in many ways a reintroduction for us I believe it's appropriate. Two bottles have been brewed to commemorate this occasion and, it's my hope, that we'll be able to open them seven years time from now together. It's not universal but, on average, I've heard that our mead ages optimally at seven years, so it's a date we like to get together and look back on what we've accomplished and experienced since then over a shared glass. I'll be looking forward to it," she said with a smile.

"Well then, we might have to betray the vision of the designer of my girl," the Captain said with a chuckle. Famously, the United States was designed with no wood, apart from a piano which was constructed from a fire resistant wood that had been proven after Bechstein Piano doused a sample in lighter fluid, only for the fluid to burn off leaving the piano unscathed. I'm due a new desk as it is, your Imperial Majesty," he said turning to the Empress. "I'll make the arrangements personally on your behalf," she replied, "now if you'll excuse us. Your Highness," she said to Finley, "thank you for your time here on the bridge," and, as they walked out of earshot, "you've certainly made his day. He'll be talking about this visit for years I'm sure."

"I must admit I find myself intrigued by this, what did you call it, haggis? I suppose I'll have to wait until I've had the opportunity to visit your Kingdom to try it, honestly food is something that unites us all, despite its many incarnations and preparations, you can learn a lot about a people by what they eat. My mother has been a proponent of conscious eating," she continued, "it's the reason why any vessel serving as the Imperial Yacht has adequate freezer capacity so that anything not utilized on our voyages are promptly frozen to be donated to various charities within the First Empire. So, whilst I know no Rokkenjiman chef would be able to navigate a dish such as haggis, I'm confident that they'll find themselves at home working with haddock. I'll see that they focus their efforts there," she concluded with a glance to a server standing at table side who would relay her words to the galley.

The Empress chuckled at Riona's comments, "It sounds like he was supervising in that respect, then, which I'm sure is an important part of the process." As she conversed with the King and Queen she noticed that McKenna has brought the bottle of whiskey with him and sighed, "Alright," she said as she stood, walked over to his seat, and poured each of them a glass before returning to her seat. "If I may offer a toast," she said as she looked first to Finley, then to Riona, and to McKenna, "may we be walking into a new future together, full of prospects of friendship and understanding, and may this not be the last time we break bread together. To my new friends," she said raising her glass to the King and Queen, "and to my trusted friend and aid," she said raising her glass to McKenna, "always orienting my compass to what is right and just," she added, "cheers."

As she took the whiskey she turned away, hoping neither Finley or Riona had seen her face prior to. She'd had Pyrenan Mead, but this was something of an entirely different spirit, in both senses of the word.