"Hmm?  What?  Oh!  Of course!  As you wish, your highness."<br/><br/>*Not realizing what those two girls had said to the Empress of glaciers but they must be the Chosen of Inshanna, indeed, if they were the ones who had just now presented this rare opportunity of escape!  Sukkana headed behind the throne to a curtained-off area, just after hearing several satisfied voices amongst the crowd who were most certain that this brash jezebel was about to be shown her place by their stern Empress*<br/><br/>*speaking softly, but with a sense of urgency.*<br/><br/>"I can see that there's a problem with my appointment to this court, your highness.  I can also see that you have little interest or patience with one such as I, and if I displease you so, then I will do all that I can to make things right and rectify the situation.  After all, good relations between our two nations is the main goal and if that is put in jeopardy because of the way you and your people feel about me then you are well within your rights to reject my appointment and request a new Shantarran ambassador to your esteemed court."<br/><br/>*looking into the eyes of the Empress, Sukkana's beseeching gaze seemed to betray more than her words.  It was almost like looking into the eyes of a card-player who was holding either an important hand...or a complete bluff.  It almost seemed like Sukkana was trying to mask her true intentions, somehow*<br/><br/>"I have the papers with me right here, and can name a wonderful successor, one Sharooq Al-Hadzi.  You will like him and I am sure he will be much more satisfactory to your scholars and advisors.  An absolute professional, with no interests outside his court duties.  I can assure you he is the perfect choice and would no doubt<em>delight</em>in an extended stay here...say, 10-15 years?  I have a pen tucked into my sash, and a bottle of ink....  Oh, where did I put the bottle...?"<br/><br/>*as the bottle drops to the ground Eclypsia can see that there is very much more than a bottle of ink tucked into the glittering golden tunic, something that easily rivals the biggest she's ever seen on a human being*<br/><br/>"Sorry about that, your highness, here, everything is in order and awaits your signature and approval."<br/><br/>*Thinking the Empresses' earlier whispered words to her were merely staged on her behalf, and not meant to be taken seriously...Sukkana was not even sure if she had heard them correctly at all, as they contradicted all the Empress's previous words fairly significantly.  Maybe she'd merely heard what she wanted to hear?  Best not to chance it...no...stay with the plan!*