Balcony Games

Balcony Games

“Ah, there you are. You don’t seem to be enjoying the festivities, Ambassador.”

“Funny, General. I don’t seem to recall anything festive about them.”

“Everyone else is having a good time. Would it kill you to play along? Laugh a little, try an hors d’oeuvre, mingle with the commoners, or smile like this isn’t a funeral.”

“Not immediately, no. But you see I’m a bit anaphylactic about faux  promises, you see. Eventually, I’d die from this façade of coexistence.”

“You are not a prisoner here; you can leave anytime you’d like. Just remember the door to escape is in the opposite direction and not this balcony. Unless…you plan to take a coward’s way out.”

“What a daft brood you are, Khadir! You think you’re not a prisoner here, either?

“Prisoners are uncooperative, defeated soldiers. It’s best to know when you’re beat, Tikhe. It’s not just your lavish life on the line, but everyone in the small city you and I call home as well.”  

“Add your honor to that line while you’re on it.”

“Honor…Honor? You wish to speak to me about honor, Tikhe?”

“I’d rather not speak to you at all, and yet here I am

…coerced to live out my greatest annoyance.”

“…Ambassador, you are as immature as the children you claim to fight for. If you are this uncooperative at a simple soiree, I need not request your surrender elsewhere in our obligations tonight.

“Now, wait just a minute!”

“- I’d rather not waste a lifetime of childish games with you. Enjoy your own cowardice alone and think twice before you speak on my honor.”

“I cannot believe what I am hearing, you hypocrite, come back!”

“I think we both are hypocrites; how ungrateful you are for the escape route I offered you from the trades! But if you are annoyed by my mere presence. Enjoy the trades, I’m sure you’ll find a befitting protector-even an ambassador is not exempt-especially in these precarious times.

“Khadir, this good deed doesn’t make you anymore a hero than your surrender made you a coward! Trying to convince yourself otherwise is useless. You are a murderer and a traitor to your brethren; the elderly, the women, and the children you swore to protect!”

“… I wish you and them nothing less than that you all enjoy the freedom this coward has bought you. Forgive me for believing that you would be grateful for a peaceful outcome...”

“Peaceful?! You think their lives are going to be PEACEFUL now?! I bet their rations will be more meager than those of esteemed soldiers gambling in basecamps. I would estimate their artisans and merchants will be paid less in a year than those salaries you and your colleagues will earn in each month. Thanks to this treaty!”

“-careful. I’m sure an ambassador’s perks are just as lofty as a General’s. Don’t cloud the mirror just because you don’t like reflection, Ambassador Tikhe.”

“Wow, congratulations, you did it!  You found something we both have in common. I was starting to worry about how all this was going to work, and now you’ve found a solution! Cheers! Does the maimed soldier want a gold star?

“That was a low blow even for you, Ambassador Tikhe.”

Councilman!

“Councilman!

“I thought I was invited to sign the final drafts of a treaty of peace and trade. And yet

 I am informed by a maidservant-lovely mind you-

 that two of our representatives are bickering

 on a balcony that amplifies sound as we know it.

I don’t make mistakes. Did I just make my last two?”

“Councilman, I can expla-”

“No, sir. I take full responsibility for ushering Tikhe away from her duties, Councilman.  I shall return to the gala to make amends for leaving our hosts abruptly, immediately.”

“Hold your flaming chariot, General.

 I’m not done with you, nor have you been dismissed.”

“Yes, sir!”

 Ambassador Tikhe?”

“…yes, Councilman.”

“As I am sure you have been briefed on how important this assignment is, I would like to inquire as to the piss-poor behavior you and your colleague seem to be exhibiting in front of our past enemies on such a precarious night as this?”

“…”

“The moment to gather your thoughts was before you decided to sashay weakness in enemy territory. Use your tongue or I’ll find another use for it. Painfully.”

“…”

“I m-misspoke, and it led to a misunderstanding

between the General and I. …It won’t happen again, sir.

 I’ll head back into the ballroom, now.”   

“…”

“I think you’ve embarrassed our city enough for tonight. Make your apologetic rounds to our gracious hosts and then retire for the evening. I have no more use for you tonight.”

“…yes…Councilman.”

“…”

“…”

“Well, done, General Khadir, you

couldn’t have chosen a more unpleasant

female companion. A great representation

 of our matronly stock for the trades.”  

“Tikhe can be…compliant, she just needs a little direction. She is trusted in the city and abroad.  We could use her as the perfect misdirection for this mission. Should another misstep happen, I will be responsible for her…personally, Councilman.”

“You know that our chambers are not kind to prisoners, General.

And they are even worse for leadership who fail in their duties, no matter how miniscule.

Her actions will be your lashes or worse.

 Think twice, I am about to sign the last page.”

“And may I ask what awaits her, should she return to the city, sir?”

“You were debriefed on this mission, Khadir.

Do not play the daft fool. There will be no mercy in the city during the trades. You know that.”

“…Then I will be responsible for her personally, Councilman.”

“I pity you, the fool.”

“Survival dictates sacrifices, sir.”

“Very well. Let us finish what we started. Make your rounds as well, and I’ll finish out the treaty. I have no further use for your either. Retire…and make sure it’s to her chambers. Your misdirection is all we have now, thanks to your screwups with the caravans!”

“…Understood, Councilman. …Sleep well.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“You can come out now, Ambassador.”

“I thought I hid myself quite well, Councilman.”

“Hardly. Now, we have few seconds,

what did you uncover about our Dear Khadir?”

“Straight to the point as always, are you sure we can’t…tally?”

“The General is quite fond of you.”

“You do know that an avoidant attachment style is frowned on in some circles, yes?

“Ambassador.”

“It’s business as usual I see. Shame.

Anyway, here are the travel logs, and

 the inventory sheets. He’s been busy and quite crafty.”

“Moles and spies are inevitable in any operation.

 I just didn’t think this one would be so predictable.

 He’s practically doing our job for us-why are you touching me?”

“Dilly, Dally, shall we tally?”

“Save your skills for one who is less experienced

 in such matters. I know this game rather well.

 My past wife was one. I have no desire to play-least of all with you.

  Please remember that although you were hired, you can most certainly be fired just as quickly, and permanently.”

“Duly noted.

Do I have any additional orders for our General?”

“Yes, he should be waiting for you

…in your shared quarters. Plans have changed. You know what to do.”

“Your wish, Councilman, is my command.”