It was still a couple of seconds after Aleksandra spoke before attention began to turn to her. Lady Kaya separated herself from Maleki, straightening out the front of her dress and turning towards Aleksandra.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffff"> “Forgive me. The Bl-...”</span>she began just as Elril shut the door, and immediately, Lady Kaya changed her choice of words now that they were in private.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffff">“Maleki’s history in this city merits what he has received. But please, tell me how well you two know the most infamous man of our city.”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">“For once, you are speaking sense Kaya,” </span>Bach bellowed from his chair at the table.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">“I want to know why an unarmed woman and a bowman barely old enough for the latter half of his job title is with the Bloody fucking Exarch of Valkaren. Who and what am I looking at?”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#808080">“W-why are we here…?”</span>Tommen choked out as a slight whisper to Aleksandra, but it was loud enough for Maleki to hear and subsequently Kaya.<br/><br/>“<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4d4dff">Because I have debts to pay,”</span>Maleki said, cutting in before anyone could pounce on and devour the poor young man.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0000ff">“</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4d4dff">Too many to count to the people in front of me, and one to each of you for my life.”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30059">“Is this debt why you brought a princess of Hammarfell to us?”</span>Lord Arslan asks, his voice quiet as his eyes fall on Aleksandra.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30059"> “My father clashed with your’s enough for me to remember your face, though my mother’s skirts and father’s bellows were enough to hide from you.”</span>Bach twitched, and Elril visibly tensed at the thought of royalty in front of them, but not in the normal way. Both of them were now closer to an edge as Elril’s hand rested on the hilt of his blade, and one of Bach’s hands just casually disappeared from sight as he adjusted in his chair.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">“So someone new is in charge and they sent a former heiress to get to your brain through your pants then?” </span>Bach asked aggressively.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">“Because I’m pretty damn sure that the old bastard who court martialed my father wouldn’t send one of his daughters out whoring. I can at least give him that much, if nothing else.”</span><br/><br/>Maleki simply raised his still manacled hands up defensively.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4d4dff"> “Lord Bach, I can ex</span>-”<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">“No, she will explain,”</span>Bach demanded, slapping the desk in front of him.