“I can hardly fault you for that!” Indra swept an arm to underscore his point. “If my travels have taught me anything, it’s that power changing hands rarely bodes well for the rest of us.” Though a grim look briefly swept across his face, it soon ebbed to give rise to the usual warmth – and an air of contemplation. As for what the Maharani was planning? He couldn’t make heads nor tails of it.
“It is exciting, though, isn’t it,” he agreed. “Oh, how the earth quakes,” he quoted - never one to shy away from waxing poetic.
Her teasing was received with little rebuke. He shook his head lightheartedly, coursing a hand down the patchy side of his silver-flecked beard. “Ah, These days I’m not sure I know much of anything,” Indra mused. “But- I do know I’ll be staying long enough to see this all play out.” He wouldn’t pass up such a spectacle for the world, nor such a luxurious guest treatment.
“Fair weather, fair seas, fair trades,” he lilted in response to her central inquiry. “What more could one want?” As he spoke to water, one such feature came into view: the grand fountain that served as the centerpiece of the gardens.
“Perhaps it’s merely selfishness or better yet, simply the thoughts of a concerned court woman, but I do worry what new leadership might mean for my own future,” she admits, knowing that despite her recent establishment within Parakram’s court, her claim to her late husband’s titles could be easily disputed, if their new leader deemed her unbefitting of the court.
“Please,” Monika grins in response to his musing, “I’d wager a good bit of gold that you know just as much of the world and all worldly things as any of these people wandering the halls,” comes her response, “Though I’m certainly glad to hear you’ll be staying for the competition-- it brings me great joy to know I’ll have the pleasure of your company for a little longer than usual,” she admits, offering her companion a warm smile.
There was nothing quite like the presence of an old friend, an everlasting thread between nostalgia for the past and her unknown future. She wasn’t one to readily admit her own loneliness, but even Monika couldn’t deny the happiness and comfort that came with a dear friend and a reminder of simpler times.
“I suppose that’s really all one could ask for,” Monika chuckles as they find themselves before the fountain. Taking a seat and motioning for Indra to join her, she finds herself lulled by the motion of the water, however her moment of peace is quickly shattered by the sound of hushed whispers echoing from a distance away. Turning to her friend, she frowns, “Do you hear that, Indra?” she asks, attempting to discern the seemingly animated conversation taking place on the other side of the courtyard.