Cleriance, who had finished her meat, resumed the discussion.
“By the way, how did you meet Jalia?”
“It was about twenty years ago,” he said, “twenty-two years exactly. The kingdoms that had joined the Sea Brethren Union had decided to make their bond even closer by creating a common political structure, specifically a Council. The place chosen was Kushan. At the time I was a second lieutenant, my garrison was assigned to supervise the Council. The council chamber was set up in a wing of the Governor's Palace in Kushan. Jalia is the Governor’s daughter. Her curiosity drove her to see what was going on. She was cautious at first, but she soon got used to all the noble people meeting there. However, despite our proximity, we could have passed each other by without extraordinary luck. My si
