Brenner somehow seemed to keep his composure no matter the situation. Even as Stephan struggled with his own his admiration welled for his brother and it gave him strength in turn. He must live up to Brenner not shame him by expressing weakness in public.
As the party moved on Stephan nodded, once, decisively. "Of course, you need have no fear, the culprits of the attack were caught and dealt with for their crimes. Massacre is the language of the mages in Zaichaer." He couldn't keep the contempt from his voice, even if he kept it from being directed at the ambassador.
After the shock wore off, though he would not have appreciated know it, his mind began running along similar lines to those of the prince. The timing of the accident and the miraculous nature of the failure of all the safety precautions stretched coincidence to its limit. It did not seem as though the incident had been intended to damage the Imperium, or even the Dornkirks themselves. It just didn't make sense to kill one random worker. A massive accident that killed many might have made the city-state seem as though it did not care for its people, but a single failure of what could be proven to be extensive protections wouldn't cause an international incident.
It seemed more likely that the situation had been manufactured to do damage to the prince. If their father had been present the afternoon would certainly have gone differently. The prince would have been removed, by force if he refused to leave, and the city would be ringing with the story of how an innocent worker had been attacked against his will by the Kalzasian ambassador himself. Society would have been polarized quickly over it, underground mages and their supporters would have lauded the rescue while the government would have had to choose between pacifying the majority of the population by punishing Talon or avoiding political issues with the powerful magically based city he represented. The implications were staggering and there were several moments when Stephan had to stumble through explanations he made by route several times every week.
As off balance as he was, Stephan found himself genuinely flattered by the compliments his work was receiving. It really was a great pity Talon had been born as he was. In another world, the two might have made strides of progress working together. But this was the real world, not an ideal one, so the elder Dornkirk pulled himself together, dismissing fancies and worries alike as they entered the drawing-room. Dienerin was there to subtly slip Stephan a note and stand watch over the two other servants who served the refreshments. Taking the moment that Talon was receiving his drink to glance at the note he was informed that the worker was in the custody of the Order of Reconciliation and a report of the incident had been delivered both to the Order and the government.
Stephan placed the note into Brenner's hand before accepting his own cup with a pleasant smile for the serving girl. He took a sip immediately, wondering if in a city of disorder his guests might fear poison. The question, once posed, surprised Stephan and a small frown creased his face. It was the sort of thing they asked you in the Military Academy. He suspected that the sort of answer his teachers had been looking for would not be right with the ambassador.
He looked at Brenner briefly but then turns his attention back to the prince.
"We are one." The statement was simply made and more powerful for it. Though, after a moment, he did go on to explain,
"Our people faced extinction and when that happened we came together. It became our foundation. Whatever hardship or complications we face we do so as a unit, willing to sacrifice the personal for the good of the whole. Even when it's painful and difficult everyone accepts that our survival, our ability to thrive as a society, depends on working together."
It was true to Stephan, entirely. Whether it was true in reality or not he believed it to his soul. The poignance of his words, almost as if he was daring anyone to argue with him hung in the air until he tilted his head a little to one side and said tone all amusement now,
"And the beer, have you tried it? Best you'll ever have."
He waited to let Brenner make his own answer before bouncing the question back to Talon. "Since we're being personal, I would like to know what it is you love about your home?"
As the party moved on Stephan nodded, once, decisively. "Of course, you need have no fear, the culprits of the attack were caught and dealt with for their crimes. Massacre is the language of the mages in Zaichaer." He couldn't keep the contempt from his voice, even if he kept it from being directed at the ambassador.
After the shock wore off, though he would not have appreciated know it, his mind began running along similar lines to those of the prince. The timing of the accident and the miraculous nature of the failure of all the safety precautions stretched coincidence to its limit. It did not seem as though the incident had been intended to damage the Imperium, or even the Dornkirks themselves. It just didn't make sense to kill one random worker. A massive accident that killed many might have made the city-state seem as though it did not care for its people, but a single failure of what could be proven to be extensive protections wouldn't cause an international incident.
It seemed more likely that the situation had been manufactured to do damage to the prince. If their father had been present the afternoon would certainly have gone differently. The prince would have been removed, by force if he refused to leave, and the city would be ringing with the story of how an innocent worker had been attacked against his will by the Kalzasian ambassador himself. Society would have been polarized quickly over it, underground mages and their supporters would have lauded the rescue while the government would have had to choose between pacifying the majority of the population by punishing Talon or avoiding political issues with the powerful magically based city he represented. The implications were staggering and there were several moments when Stephan had to stumble through explanations he made by route several times every week.
As off balance as he was, Stephan found himself genuinely flattered by the compliments his work was receiving. It really was a great pity Talon had been born as he was. In another world, the two might have made strides of progress working together. But this was the real world, not an ideal one, so the elder Dornkirk pulled himself together, dismissing fancies and worries alike as they entered the drawing-room. Dienerin was there to subtly slip Stephan a note and stand watch over the two other servants who served the refreshments. Taking the moment that Talon was receiving his drink to glance at the note he was informed that the worker was in the custody of the Order of Reconciliation and a report of the incident had been delivered both to the Order and the government.
Stephan placed the note into Brenner's hand before accepting his own cup with a pleasant smile for the serving girl. He took a sip immediately, wondering if in a city of disorder his guests might fear poison. The question, once posed, surprised Stephan and a small frown creased his face. It was the sort of thing they asked you in the Military Academy. He suspected that the sort of answer his teachers had been looking for would not be right with the ambassador.
He looked at Brenner briefly but then turns his attention back to the prince.
"We are one." The statement was simply made and more powerful for it. Though, after a moment, he did go on to explain,
"Our people faced extinction and when that happened we came together. It became our foundation. Whatever hardship or complications we face we do so as a unit, willing to sacrifice the personal for the good of the whole. Even when it's painful and difficult everyone accepts that our survival, our ability to thrive as a society, depends on working together."
It was true to Stephan, entirely. Whether it was true in reality or not he believed it to his soul. The poignance of his words, almost as if he was daring anyone to argue with him hung in the air until he tilted his head a little to one side and said tone all amusement now,
"And the beer, have you tried it? Best you'll ever have."
He waited to let Brenner make his own answer before bouncing the question back to Talon. "Since we're being personal, I would like to know what it is you love about your home?"
