[[person:Uvereth]] chose to wear her armor for the meeting. It was necessary, as she was well aware. The image was important, because it was one that Kodei would recognize: a general, //Kodei's// general, her former superior in service to the [[geopolitical:Empire:]]. Uvereth herself had taught the young barbarian, commanded her in battle, recommended her for promotion. She wanted to be sure Kodei wouldn't forget it. But more and more often, she dreaded the weight of the armor; the last four turns had taken a lot out of her.

She was seated when Kodei entered her tent, escorted by a pair of soldiers. The young woman threw back her hood, revealing a startling half-rainbow of a face, running through the spectrum from green on the top of her head to purple on her chin and throat. Though she had not been permitted into the camp bearing arms, she did not need any to exude confidence; her expression was prideful and her status-markings dark. Looking Uvereth up and down, her crooked grin suggested that the attempt to appeal to old loyalties was not lost on her.

She gave her former commander a meaningful look, then jerked her muzzle over her shoulder at the guards. "Are //these// really necessary?"

"Uncomfortable times," Uvereth replied levelly. She saw the faint hurt in Kodei's eyes, hesitated, and made a curt gesture; rather reluctantly, the guards withdrew. The two commanders, eyes locked, slowly relaxed.

Once they were firmly alone, Uvereth murmured, "I wasn't entirely sure you would come."

"It doesn't cost anything to talk with an old comrade," Kodei replied lightly. She peered closer at Uvereth's face. "[[mythology:imperial_religion:siathar:siath#the_mother|Mother's]] name, you look horrible."

While Uvereth appreciated the informal tone, it was somewhat mortifying to think that her troubles were written so plainly on her face. "That bad, is it?"

"Your antennae are drooping like wilted flowers, your eyes look like someone rubbed sand in them. You're doing a very creditable impression of someone having no problems holding her head up, though; I was almost fooled."

Uvereth sighed. "So much for dignity. But we have weightier things to discuss than how horrible I look."

"Maybe. But I imagine that they're connected, aren't they?"

It wasn't really a question, and Uvereth felt unable to answer it, even in the face of Kodei's intense expression.

Finally, the latter asked, very quietly, "Is it true? About your daughters being targeted as well?"

"Yes." The answer was flat, strained.

"Did they-"

"They got Suneth," she interrupted, nearly snarling. "They //took// her from me."

{{tag>wip}}