The Grand Veranda

[The Smith]

The Grand veranda stares out down on the city and the sea and is probably the best view in the whole palace.

[The Smith]

On a warm summer night Nero and Sergyo sit playing a game of chess. Villisander leaned against the railling watching them smoking a long pipe.

[brigida]

Tristeza ventured onto the veranda alone, having left Timm and Kardaine behind, upon being admitted.

[The Smith]

The Sea Lord is focused on his game. Nero looked up ate Tristeza and then smiled, his finger running along his lips. He nodded politely to her.

Villisander looked at her as he rested against the railing and smiled at her. And waved her over.

[brigida]

Tristeza walked smoothly to stand beside Villisander, gazing down at the chess board; "Who is winning?" she muttered the question to him, as she reached his side.

[The Smith]

Villisander wrapped an arm around her, "Who do you think. Nero only wins one game out of five. And he is the best Sergyo can find."

[brigida]

Tristeza raised her eyesbrows, as she gazed down at the board, upon which only a small few of Nero's pieces remained. She watched as the game continued.

[The Smith]

Eventually Lord Nero nodded and sat up straight, "You have won this game my Lord." Standing he looked at Lady Martell and smiled again, "Do you know how to play Lady? I am done for the evening."

[brigida]

Tristeza shook her her head, and said politely, though she cast a sufficiently suspicious eye towads him, "I am afraid I am no master strategist."

[The Smith]

The Sea Lord looked at her with an warm eye, "Are you sure, Tristeza? Villisander is the worse player I have ever scene, and Nero and I play too often."

[brigida]

"If it pleases you, I will try my hand at it, though I haven't played since my childhood, and I don't believe I was very good at it then."

[The Smith]

The Sea Lord waves to the seat opposite him as he begins to set up the pieces.

Villisander laughed, "I have heard only two men ever say that before, it was not true in either case."

[brigida]

Tristeza took a seat across from the Sea Lord, gazing intently at each piece as it was set into it's place.

[The Smith]

The Sea Lord set all the pieces and then let her go first as she was white, "Do you have any concerns about the Meetings?"

Nero chuckled to himself.

[brigida]

Tristeza ignored Nero's laughter, as she moved her first piece, a pawn. "I wonder why they have been delayed; but ultimately, only you know whether or not I have cause to worry." she said in an even tone, which only barely betrayed the reality of her terror.