Deena didn't keep a track about how many bottles she had already drunk, and it didn't matter actually. The wine didn't smoother all the bitterness that was lying deep inside her soul, but it helped up to a certain point. So she continued to drink, and ordered another Marsala.
A shadows approached her, but Deena didn't care about that, and continued to try to drown the sorrows in the alcohol.

- May I have a seat here?
- Get lost.
- Grand-admiral, I require a talk with you.

Deena snorted before to answer in a bitter laugh, keeping her eyes on the glass :

- There's no grand-admiral there, get lost.
- Well, your stars show that you're still in duty, grand-admiral.

Deena took her stars with one hand and threw them in the far, touching another customer. He made a hiss but when he understood that it was from a drunk grand-admiral, he prefered to keep a low profile

- Deena, you shouldn't drink that much.
- Who the hell are you to give me lesson, my mother?

The unknown took a place, and was staring at her. Yet the black-haired doe never stopped to look at her glass.

- I'm your friend.
- HA! You consider yourself as a friend of mine?
- Yeah, I kinda dare to consider myself as your friend, even if your sister would be more appropriate?
- My... Sister?

For the first time, Deena had a look on the newcomer.

- Impossible... You're... A Doenès? Deena had a small cry running down her cheek
- I am.
- Man, I'm THAT drunk?
- No you're not. We survived the Great War, except we didn't join the Armada.
- Bullshit.
- That's true. We then had our reasons to stay hidden, the same reason why you're trying to drown your demons in alcohol.
- What do you know about my demons!? Leave me alone you ghost of a forsaken era!

Risea took her hand and stared in the very deep of her eyes

- Slavery. Abuse. The fate of the Doenès back then. But it's all over. You're not alone. We survived. Thanks to your decision. Thanks to your devotion.
- Is... that true?
- It is.
- Then... Why. Why now? Why did you wait that long! I...
- I'm sorry, it wasn't my decision all alone. Scars were too deep to sincerely think they would heal in just a generation. We thought that it would be better to keep a low profile. It took time, but here I am.
- I sense you're lying.
- In a way I'm lying, 'cause I'm doing this without the approbation of my nation. I'm here to save you from your demons.

Deena listened to her carefully, and marked a long silence. She then resumed.

- I already heard your voice previously. During the Lisitsa's discovering. ...You're the Hidden Admiral?
- How clever of you! I used a demodulator to make my voice unrecognizable, and yet you unmasked me! That has to be expected from a grand-admiral!
- Flattery won't give you my trust.
- Let's hope my name will then! Risea, nice to meet you!

Risea ordered a glass as well, the talk was just beginning

---

And so as well as another serie that will reveals more about the Doenès origins, and their new civilization.

Deena Doenès & Risea © Amiral Aesir

Watercolors, the 11th August 2013