After the somewhat tense opening to the talks, the actual trade negotiations began. And, they were dragging on for, it seemed, yet another hour.
Aria and Silviana discussed stuff like grain prices, silk tariffs, and magical reagent exchanges while Melisa stood by the balcony, not even pretending to pay attention.
No, her mind went right back to the subject of the previous talk: Nim rule.
[Well... shit. They're actually right about all of that.]
Her mind kept circling back to Silviana's words. Nim who once ruled through seduction and pheromones. Not myths. Not legends. Actual history that Queen Melara had confirmed before her death.
[B-But, that doesn't mean we want to take over now, come on!]
She watched a group of nim servants bring refreshments to the council. They moved with quiet efficiency, heads down, tails still. Nothing like the confident nim she'd seen in the corridors yesterday.
