A Chance Encounter…?

Yesterday, as my dear Kirawill and I were standing about idly in beautiful Victoria City, having a small but extremely heart felt public quarrel on an otherwise deserted sidewalk, I chanced to look up and noted a singularly unexpected figure approaching us from the direction of the telehub.

To be honest, our argument about the nature of historical reference in relation to present courses of action was immediately dropped in favor of gawking at this new arrival. A chance encounter? Perhaps, though I doubt it. Needless to say it was an unusual moment when the Baron met the Kaiserin.

I must say the lady who approached us, none other than Kendra Bancroft, the Kaiserin of Neutwhatmacallit herself, was absolutely civil if glacially reserved. I had begrudging respect for her courage, as considering the lingering tension between our two lands, I would not wander unarmed and alone through Neualtwhereeverthecrap.

I was not totally certain this was not some sort of teutonic ruse, as she clearly had sought me out specifically, so I kept one hand near the hilt of my sword as we exchanged pleasantries. I even told her I was looking forward to Reconciliation festivities I had heard whispered about…just as certain powerful figures had instructed me to do, should the matter ever come up over tea or an exchange of small arms fire.

The Kaiserin noted in a patently duplicitous manner that she did not understand the animosity between Caledon and Neuthatothersim (as if…). As we talked, I could tell she was glancing around surreptitiously, as if looking for the location of vital power junctions or key levee dams or other essential items of infrastructure.

She must have realized that I was not being fooled by her ostentatiously casual reconnoitering, as she then from out of nowhere produced the absurd story that she has been invited to Victoria City by the Governor himself to (swallow anything you are drinking now lest you ruin a perfectly good keyboard) ASSIST IN SOME BUILDING DESIGN.

HAH!

DOUBLE HAH!

YET MORE HAHS!

As if our illustrious Governor, who practically built all of our beautiful land with his own pixelated hands and an ebook on Prim Wrangling required assistance from the likes of a Neutflippitygibbet potentate in a silly hat with a title that sounds more like a pastry than a ruler.

I controlled myself admirably, since I make a point of never calling a woman a Liar unless she is nude or my mother, but I believe Kira may have snorted once in ladylike derision.

We exchanged a few more pleasantries of a vague and insincere nature, and then the Kaiserin wandered off into Silver Rose, apparently thinking that the Governor may be there, trying on a new spring frock perhaps.

I kept careful tabs on her, however, until she finally disappeared for parts unknown, surely bent upon some other evil scheme.

Clearly, our enemies are subtle and active. This has made me even more certain that despite the desire of our noble Governor and certain other good-hearted but naive Caledonians to wish to think the best of foreigners, sometimes true patriots must take…desperate actions.

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