Galanor, the capital of Elphanor, was filled with excitement. The castle was filled with gold and white banners, fancy streamers, and yellow and white roses along the servents inside the castle rushing to one task to the other. Trying to get everything perfect for this special night where the engagements of the heirs of the six kingdoms will finally be announced. Though unknown to them or the nobles, that the princes and princesses will be engaged to simple commoners that hold to ties in sociality. If they did, the air inside the caslte probably wouldn't be as festive as it was.

Some of the rooms inside the Elphanoran castle was even busier than the halls in it, with the servants finishing decorating the ball room and preparing the commoners' and royals' bedrooms. Everything had to be perfect to the ball since all of the most important people of the whole country will be attending. The maids whispered, giggled, and day dreamed to themselves and many of them thought a masquerade ball was a romance setting for such an occasion. Most of the younger and single maids sighed dreamily when thinking of dressing up in a beauty gown and mask and staring into the eyes of another under the moonlight on the balcony. Wishing that they could have a chance to live out their own little versions of their fairy tale come true, but knowing only royals and royals or nobles could marry each other. What chances do they have as commoners? Ironically after tonight’s events, nearly everyone in the five kingdoms would question the sanity of the High King for doing just that.

Like everyone else in the castle, the Elphanor royal family and High King were busy themselves getting ready. Alexander, the High King, was standing in front of the glass case that stood in his bedroom that held his priced lances and spell books inside it, holding memories of his younger and more gloryic days. Along with those proud, joyous, and a few embarrassing memories a couple of sad ones entered the old king’s mind. One of which was the Great Battle of Galanor, a event that Alexander would do anything in his power to keep it from happening again.

A light knock echoed from the other side of the wooden door, and the door opened slightly for a male servant around his mid 40s to poke his head in. ”Your Highness, it is almost time for your last fitting for the clothes you will be wearing this evening,” the servant announced in a polite and respectful tone.

Turning his attention from the memories of the pass to the present, Alexander turned his wrinkled and bald head towards the door and the servant. ”Alright, I’ll be on my way in a minute.” After getting a reply from the High King, the servant nod and closed the door to go on his next task on his list of duties.

”It’s about time for the youngsters to be getting here I suppose, the ball will probably start within the hour or maybe some point before. Eh, I wonder what fate and the Gods have in store for us this time,” the old king muttered to himself before taking one less glance at the objects in the glass cabinet for leaving his room.

All was pretty quiet and nothing out of the usual in the small town of Thronecrest. Well besides the large pile of ash and black rubble that was once the Xandar Forge. In the place that stood of the pride and joy of both Escasriet and her family. A week ago, the smithy caught on fire and was sadly brunt to the ground. The Xandar’s had no doubt that the fire was not an accident from within the shop but was either done on purpose or by some stupid drunk. Without any real “proof” of anything explaining the fire, even it was obvious that the fire started from the OUTSIDE of the shop and not the INSIDE, starting from any other source than flames somehow getting out of their forge. Escasriet and her grandfather along with the pink haired girl’s five older brothers were digging through what was left of the smithy.

”Hey! I found one of the tongs!” The second to youngest son, Cythnar, yelled while waving a cracked tongs in the air. As everyone in the little search party went to turn their heads towards him, one side of the tongs completely broke in half. ”Never mind! It broke!.... Hey, can I take a break? We’ve been at this for like three hours now!” Cythnar started to complain…. Again. He was always been the most fussy one out of the siblings when it came to breaking a sweat in labor work. Escasriet and the other four Xandar siblings gave him the nickname, “princess”, years ago. ”Unless you want me to rib off your arm and shove it down your skinny little throat, I suggest you get working, Princess."

Escasriet answered with a glare aimed for Cythnar’s right arm, causing him to grumble about how he’s all sweaty and how Escasriet biting his head off every time he wanted a break every ten minutes. Escasriet’s threat caused Medarin, the oldest of the siblings to poke his head up with that sly, Cheshire cat-like smile on his face. ”I thought you were going to do that when you found out who brunt the shop,” he commented in a amused voice. It was one of his past times to tease any of his younger siblings when he had the chance. ”…. Shut it, Medarin.” She replied as she turned over a large piece of black wood.

'Conversations' went between the seven family members until a large traveling group entered the town through one of its dirt roads. Normally, people would think it was some company of traders that come year round for crops and items made in the Xandar’s smithy but this wasn’t the case. The company that came into the town were riding either pure white pegasuses, were wearing uniforms with Elphanors's colors on them, and there was a large carriage being pulled by a couple of horses with what seemed to be soldiers riding in a circle around it. This even caused Escasriet to stop the task of finding something, anything, that survived in the fire.

”What do you suppose Elphanor officials want from anyone here?” Scythe, the second oldest, asked as the unusually party didn’t stop traveling until they stood in front of Escasriet and her grandfather’s cabin-like home, which was basically right next to the ashes of the smithy. Since her brothers had moved out of the house years ago, it's only Escasriet and her grandfather left in the house. The carriage door opened to reveal an older dark elf gentleman in a suite as he stepped out and glanced around at his surroundings. There was more than a small little crowd that was trying to be sneaky as they were trying to get the scoop of what was exactly happening. Well, small crowd would be an exaggeration since nearly the whole town was trying to get a better look. The dark elf’s eyes stopped wondering as they landed on the Rainiar family.

”May this be the Xandar's residence?” He asked the group that was covered from head to toe in sweat and ashes. The grandfather was the first to climb down the rubble and walked towards the gentleman and his party and stopped once he was four feet away from him. ”It’s one of them… What is exactly your business with us?” The grandfather asked getting straight to the point.

The dark elf looked like he was taken back a little from the old man’s forwardness but he quickly regained his bearings and continued as he unrolled a document that was in his hands since he got out of the carriage. ”My business is with a Ms. Escasriet Xandar," he read from the piece of paper then he continues after glancing at the growing crowd around them. "If you would be kind enough it let me into your home, we could speak privately and away from the prying ears,” he answered. Not only her brothers and grandfather’s eyes were on Escasriet, but all the eyes from the townspeople. The last five minutes have been the absolute strangest on Escasriet's life. It's common knownledge that a carriage that bears the colors of Elphanor and being pulling by pegasuses is from the floating Elphanor captial where only people that work for nobles, nobles, royal family, and the High King live. It would make sense if the carriage being rode into one of Tibolt's major cities or even if the carriage wasn't as high class and was pulled by normal horses would be normal. Not only a noble carriage from the floating captial of Elphanor waltz into their blackwater town, but with someone from the party asking for HER. It was plain unheard of. One thing is for sure, she felt whatever is going to happen- she's not going to like it.


When the soldiers and gentleman connected the dots and figured out that the old man was Escasriet's grandfather and the men in the pile were the woman's brothers, it was some of the detail of the dark elf's document, and that the pink haired woman that covered with dirt was the woman that was requested to see by the party’s leader. Shocked by this as well, Escasriet hesitated a bit before she answered still more than a bt confused. ”Uh… Sure?” What did you expect her to say? Escasriet's pace been thrown off pace, tossed into a twister, and hammered the hell out of it. It may seem like a answer from a idiot, but who can really blame her at this point really. Then she carefully stepped down of the pile, making sure she stepped on a piece of ruined metal or wood that wasn’t going to give out and make her fall the rest of the way. She was already uncomfortable being in the dead center of everyone’s attention, the last thing she needed was to look like a fool by falling on her face. Too bad that was the same for the middle son, Thor, who fell face first down the little hill after he stood his very first step down. Well, at least the attention was off from Escasriet for a few moments until her feet made contact with solid ground and the rest of her brothers standing behind her.

Poor Thor was picking himself off the ground as their grandfather opened the cabin door to let the dark elf, himself, and Escasriet in. As the five brothers tried to go in after their sister, but the two guards stopped them which made Escasriet turn her body around to face them. ”Whatever that guy has to say to me, he can say in front of them.” She stated bluntly without a second thought. The soldiers glanced into the house from the outside to see the dark elf sitting at the dinner table, who gave a nod. Agreeing to Escasriet’s request.

After the Xandar family was in the house, a soldier closed it. Leaving Escasriet and her family to listen to what their visitor had to say. "Let me begin by introducing myself, I'm Badic Pharalnup, the assistant to the High King. As why I'm in this.... lovely town as I'm sure you seven are eager to heard. By now, I’m sure that you heard some rumors that the heirs of the five land kingdoms and Airis are getting engaged at the ball which was thrown by the High King himself at Elphanor's captial, Galanor. Now, what you have not heard is that the princes and princesses are going to be promised to be wed to commoners. Much like yourself, Escasriet. Which brings me to my means of my visit, for reasons of his own the High King has chosen you out of all the commoners of Tibolt to be engaged to one of the crowned princes,” The Badic stated. "My job is to gather all the commoners and bring them to the castle. After I drop you off in Galanor, then I'll take off and pick up the remaining five commoners." There was an awkward silence that filled the room, sounds of breathing couldn’t even be heard, but it quickly ended by roars of laughter escaping everyone of the Rainier’s mouth. That was until the man cut the family cut after a few moments of tear jerking laughing. This had to be some sick joke or something, it wouldn't be the first time. Since Escasriet lived in a small town, everyone knows everyone pretty darn well. Friendly pranks are not uncommon. It was the only logical explantion to the outmost craziness of this afternoon. Sadly, the hopes that all this was some little joke quickly died when Badic spoke his next sentence.

”I’m serious. Now before you refuse the offer, keep in mind that this isn’t a request. This is an order from the most powerful man in all of the five kingdoms, the High King. But it would be so crude to threaten you into agreeing… So how about a little bargain? I couldn’t help notice that you lot were digging through that burnt down building. If I had to guess, it was probably your shop. If you be kindly come with me, Escasriet, your family will have no trouble of rebuilding the shop.”

The old man turned his head towards his grandaughter, who was ticked off but mainly confused by all of this. Escasriet basically had her own life planned out. She would continue working in the shop until Gramps felt it was time for him to retire and then she would take the role of the owner since her brothers were either really bad business since, too lazy for the responsiblites of being the owner, or liked the jobs they had. Most likely she would have her own house at that time so her home would be opened for her brothers if they get into a fight with their wives and needed to cool off their heads for the night. Even though she wouldn't really be willing but reliantly sheltering them. She would grow with or without a husband, the only part that she has not planned, and would retire. If she had a husband, the smithery would likely be passed down to her child. If not, she would be willing to sell to someone that at least respects the art of blacksmithing. She would then live the rest of her life as an old lady that was still kicking until she finally died in some way.

That was going to be her life in a nut shell, that's what she always believed what was going to happen. Nothing too boring but simply ordinary. Nothing special like suddenly becoming a princess like some cheesy fairy tale that's read to little girl when getting ready for bed. But here Bedic was telling her that she was going to be wisk away to a castle to marry a prince and completely turn her world not only upside down but being tossed in a twister and being spit back out. Not if she had to say anything about it.

Before Escasriet said her answer, She glances at the faces of her grandfather and brothers. Which made her calm down slightly and made her comment a bit sugar coated then it would have been moments before. "I refuse. As you probably gathered by now that I am far from being princess marterial and I'm more than happy where my life is now and we could always build Rainiar Forge on our own without your help. If your really insist getting a girl from Thronecrest, there's a dozen or more girls out there that would accept your offer. So please take your rusted scrap metal and get out of this house."

Medarin opened the door and kindly said, "Well you got your answer. Now please get your ass out of here and go back to your gorillas and take them with you." But Badic stayed in his seat with his legs and arms crossed with a emotionless expression on his face.

"I'm sorry, like I stated earlier this is not a request. Meaning you have no choice in this matter, Ms. Xandar. The decision has already been made by the High King. He has his reasons, that are unknown to me, for choosing you out of the 'dozen or more' girls outside. I don't think you quite understand the situation. If you don't come willing to Galanor, then I have no choice to use force. I could make not only your life but your family's lives that death would be welcoming. I have been ordered to bring you back with me, at any cost. Even if I have to make it that your little shop would never be rebuilt, becoming outcast in not only here but out of the whole kingdom, or destorying your family. So I ask again, will you come willingly or do I have to use force?" Badic explained his voice as cold as ice and his expression and eyes un moving, that man was died serious and he wouldn't think twice before carrying out his threat.

Kordoshi spent most of the day foraging and hunting for a few of the elderly folks he had come to know over the last year or so. He still wasn't very good about staying and talking to them, which is something they tried to make him do quite often, but he was familiar enough to speak to them for about five minutes before excusing himself. Today had been a fantastic day for hunting, and he was quite happy with what he was able to provide for them. The only problem was that he had forgotten to hunt for himself over the past two days, so he was famished and a bit disoriented as he walked home.

Along his way, he listened to the sounds of the forest around him. Birds chirping, squirrels bickering, a wolf howling in the distance as the moon began to peek over the mountains in the distance, and the sounds of the wind through the trees all served to ease his mind and bring him some comfort after a long day. The pathway he walked on was a simple animal trail that had been worn down over the years as small and mid sized animals traversed through the terrain, breaking branches and shaping bushes and grass patches. It was a hunter's dream to find such a trail because it meant it was a heavily traveled route and was frequented by animals quite regularly.

Today, Kordoshi was wearing his traditional 'split shirt' as he called it, since he was not well versed in proper clothing names when it came to custom designs. He wore simple black pants and had a grey scarf around his neck for warmth. His weapon of choice for the day had actually been a rather large sword. The blade was too heavily for most to lift without using two hands, but being a Taura he wielded it one handed with ease.

The forest route home was not a long one, and before too much time had passed he was outside his cabin, which he had built himself. He didn't want to live in the city, nor did he want to find an apartment. He preferred to be away from society being as solitary and estranged from it as he was, and was neither very keen on the idea of finding someone to take him in. He enjoyed the solitude and serenity of living on the edge of the forest like he did, and relished in the fact that nobody knew where or who he was... That is, until he looked into the sky after seeing a strange shadow begin to form nearby in a small clearing just off to the side of his house.

He drew his blade and ran to the spot where the shadow began to gather and was shocked to see eight Hippogriffs descending with a carriage just behind them. He stepped back to give them room and watched in amazement as everything came down in front of him, and there was a short silence before a well dressed man finally stepped out of the carriage.

"Perchance is this the home of a one Kordoshi Tei' Sai?" The man asked casually.

Kordoshi composed himself and swung his blade, placing it level with the man's throat. The man had two bodyguards come out of the carriage behind him and take a place at his sides, obviously undaunted by Kordoshi or his blade.

"There is no need for that my good sir, I have come in peace to ask you a simple question, provided you let me ask it. My name is Badic Pharalnup, the assistant to the High King. The question regards your future and is of utmost importance, my dear Kordoshi."

He eyed the bodyguards for a moment before looking back to the man in front of him.

"There are very few alive today that know me by that name, and even fewer who know of my whereabouts... how did you come to possess this information?" He demanded, his voice laced with ire.

"Ah, yes... How do we know that you exist. There is a simple answer to that question my boy. You were taken in as a child by a man in the employ of the High King, as a matter of fact. He has a network of spies and Assassins, as is normal of nobility or royalty no matter where you go. Anyway, the High King has known about you for a long time, and whether you remember it or not you have met him once before when you were a lad in training. You have been watched for a long time, and the High King is very interested in you my boy."

Kordoshi's head tilted to the side. He was excellent at reading people's eyes and body language to find out if they were lying, but this man was obviously telling him the truth. He lowered his blade and the bodyguards relaxed as he placed it behind his back and clipped it into place.

"Let's say I believe you, why would I listen to you or hear your question?" He asked harshly.

The man simply smiled. "As I told you, my question regards your future and indeed the future of all the kingdoms. The royals of each nation are to be wed to a commoner from each nation. The High King has decided that, as a skilled Assassin, you would be the ideal match for a Princess since you would be a capable and strong husband worthy of succeeding the throne of her kingdom. My question is this: Will you come with me to Elphanor and accept the graces of the High King to be wed to a Princess of his choosing?"

Kordoshi was silent for a long moment as he stared at the man in front of him. He looked to the bodyguards, who were as stoic and serious as he was, and then back to Badic.

"... Is this a joke? If you knew about me, then you know what I have become over the years. I am not fit to be the husband of a Princess. I have nothing to offer anyone besides my skills as a killer and a hunter. I'm sorry, but I must decline this offer."

He turned around to head inside when a hand suddenly found its way to his shoulder.

"I am afraid that I must insist. This question is not a request, but a command from the High King himself. If you refuse, then I'm afraid that I must use force to bring you with me. I understand your skepticism about your qualifications, but the High King has his reasons for choosing you and it was no accident or coincidence that he did choose you to begin with. Please do not make me resort to force to bring you in..."

Kordoshi turned his head around slowly and looked Badic in the eyes.

"... Take your hand off my shoulder Badic..." He said in a low and threatening tone.

Badic did so, but let out a sigh.

"Very well the Kordoshi, I am sorry..." He said as he gave a wave of his hand.

The two bodyguards rushed forward, and Kordoshi spun to face them. They were much faster than he had expected, and despite his strength as a Taura, these men were able to grab both his arms and lift him off the ground. Without a solid base to stand on his strength was all but useless so long as they had him in the air. They slammed him into the wall of his cabin with tremendous force, slamming his head into it in the process as well. The momentary loss of focus caused by the impact was just enough for Badic to come forward and throw an unusual powder into Kordoshi's face. He tried to hold his breath but it was too late, he had taken in the powder which now burned his nose and eyes as he backed away from them.

It didn't take long for the concoction to take effect, and Kordoshi lost consciousness. When he awoke, he was inside a carriage with a young and attractive woman sitting beside him with his head in her lap.

"Are you feeling alright?" She asked.

He stared at her and then shot up to a seated position. She placed her hands gently on his shoulders and did her best to calm him down.

"Relax, you are already in Elphanor and are in front of the main Castle where the Ball is to be held. Your weapon is on the other seat, and we would like to bid you welcome to the Capitol and to this most glorious event. Congratulations on being chosen, by the way." She said sweetly.

He looked at her with anger, but that quickly subsided. It was not her fault this had happened, and it was not by her plan or design that he was now here. He had no future, at least none that he had been able to see. He was simply going to live the rest of his life alone in the forest if he had a choice in the matter, but the thought that perhaps he didn't have to live that life alone was actually a comforting thought. He doubted that any self respecting Princess would ever find someone like him attractive or as husband material, but there was hope building in his heart.

He grabbed his sword and clipped it to his back when he exited the carriage. He was welcomed by the guards at the entrance and allowed passage to the Ballroom. Once inside, he looked around at the massive room and found it almost ridiculous that it was so big. When he thought about the event that was being hosted, it didn't seem so crazy, but it was still something he was not used to seeing. He walked over to one of the tables where there were some refreshments and poured himself a glass of water. His outfit had not changed since this morning, thankfully, and he was grateful not to be dressed in a suit. He didn't like fancy clothing.

"Well... You've gotten yourself into quite the fine mess now Kordoshi." He said to himself as he sipped his water.

Nair stood on his balcony naked, a rolled cigarette in his mouth, watching the snow fall on the mountainside below. With each puff he found himself falling more and more into a dream, one that he both wished he would never witness again and also never escape. His right hand lazily gripped a mostly empty bottle of northern whiskey, though his dreaming had caused him to forget that he had it. When her figure appeared, as if often does, his eyes widened in shock. Despite her often appearances in his drunken hallucinations, she always came as a surprise.

Floating no more than twenty feet away, out in the distance, he could barely see her through the snow fall. Her back was turned towards him, and she sat brushing her hair, completely oblivious to his voyeurism. Nair opened his mouth to call to her, but no sound came out, or maybe she just didn’t hear him. He had to reach her though. She needed him; his Jaden needed him to save her. With a push from reality, he found himself floating towards her, slowly, calling her name out as he flew, willing her to turn towards him.

“What are you doing, my love?”

Words from behind him snapped Nair back into reality. He turned his head to see a girl standing at the entrance to his balcony draped in a thin silk nightgown, the features of her face distorted with fear and confusion. Nair realized that he had, in his dream, climbed on top of the railing. To the girl, it must have appeared like he was planning on leaping to his own death. Nair simply reacted on instinct, by throwing the bottle of whiskey at her, exclaiming “don’t call me that!” Luckily in his drunken stupor he missed, and the bottle exploded above the precipice, raining glass and a bit of whiskey down onto the balcony. “Get out of here, witch!” The girl turned in tears with a yelp and ran from the room, and Nair slipped off the rails and landed on the balcony below, a few pieces of glass cutting into his skin. “Get out!” he yelled again, though she was already gone. In tears, Nair curled up into a ball and fell asleep.

When the sunlight hit his eyes the next morning, he awoke to a splitting headache. Arising from his bed, he found himself clothed in his gown with a few bandages on his chest and shoulders. On his bedside table was a glass of water, which he drank down quickly, before walking over to where a set of clothes were already laid out for him. “I see you’ve once again survived another night. I do believe you reach closer to death here than you do out in the field, my lord.” Nair smiled a hung-over smile while putting his under clothes on.

“I don’t know why he bothers calling me back like this. I’m more soldier than prince, Harkin,” Nair addressed his personal servant, an elderly man in his late fifties, who was the most loyal man Nair had ever known. He was more of a father figure to Nair than the king himself, having been assigned to watch over Nair since childhood. He was there through Jaden’s death, and even when Nair offered to relieve him of his duty when he was assigned to the armies Harkin still remained at his side, proving to still possessed the skills he had during his soldierly days. It was this man who kept Nair sane, and Nair trusted no one more than him. “I’m sorry old friend. Cleaning up my drunken messes is-“

“Exactly what I’m here to do,” Harken interrupted. “I’m your man, through and through, my lord, be it bloodshed, or ushering out the occasional servant girl before helping you find your way to bed.” With that, Harkin bowed and left Nair to his privacy.

A few minutes later, Nair emerged fully dressed in traveling leathers with his long sword hanging from his waste. They had a trip to make today, a three day’s ride to the Elephanor. “I dislike this, Harken,” Nair said while the descended the steps towards the castle exit. “Iroldak owes nothing to this High King, yet we must answer his every whim? I’m to go be wined and dined by some nobles with their heads up their asses while my men freeze and fight and die in the north? Gods, were I in charge back during the revolution I wouldn’t have stopped at this partly independence that we achieved. The High King can rot in hell for all I care.” The sight of his father waiting in the entrance hall only further increased his annoyance. “Father,” Nair grunted in acknowledgement.

“Your caravan is prepared, Nair. This is your duty, son, to the realm, same as your duty to our military. No different. I know you’ll remember that when you are south.” King Romanth stood a mere fraction of his former self. Where once stood a proud, strong King of the North, now stood a frail, skinny, old man who was no more intimidating than a dying lamb.

The king would not be joining him on this trip, having grown too weak for such long distance travel. However, there was an assortment of nobles who would attending, though only a handful decided to join Nair on his trip over land as opposed to taking the far quicker path of flight. Nair personally disliked flying. It felt unnatural to him, so when he heard about this trip he immediately declined the hippogriffs, despite the fact that it cut the time down by two days. Nair was a man of the earth, of the mountains, and he cared little for the sky. Let the soft nobles who couldn't handle the rough terrain take to the sky; he'd be fine with his horse. Plus, the nobles who opted to join him overland were the ones who's company he enjoyed the most, anyway. The old soldiers and warriors and mountain men would have many stories to tell him of their youth throughout the three day trip.

“Of course, father. I’m at the whim of Iroldak.” Things would change when he took the crown, Nair made sure to note in his head. There was little talk after that. His relationship with his father had faltered greatly after Jaden’s death. Both of them were broken, though, so it wasn’t one to blame. Both had lost the loves of their lives and never fully recovered, so they had an understanding that there was little point in playing loving father and son anymore. With a final good bye, Nair mounted his horse, choosing to ride on his own than in the comfort of a wagon. With him was a caravan of a little over two hundred, though only fifty were his own men. The rest were an assortment of merchants looking for safe travel south in order to pedal their wares. Nair agreed to this partly because protecting a group of civilians would give him something to do other than a boring three day travel, but mostly because the merchants often had daughters in their caravans—which would also give him something to do other than a boring three day travel.

The road was, for the most part, uneventful. Being the highest ranking member, all problems that occurred were brought to him for judgment. It was mostly petty excuses, imagined problems so that they could say they were in the presence of royalty, but there were occasional real problems such as theft, and even one murder, that took up his time. Disappointingly, there was not an overabundance of pretty girls in this trip, but there was one that Nair took a liking too, disclosing to her that nothing would continue once they reached their destination.

Arrival was what he expected. A nobleman met him on the outskirts before ushering him into the city by flight, something Nair always hated about trips to the city. It wasn’t the heights, after all he is a mountain man, but simply the fact that he preferred to keep his feet on solid ground. This floating city always made him nervous, especially if it ever came to war. Placing a floating city under siege could prove to be extremely hard, should it ever come to that. Also what annoyed him was the pretentiousness of the whole thing. Nobles in the sky with peasants on the ground? Talk about a sense of self importance. Nair was of the opinion that the nobility couldn’t be the nobility without the peasantry, and that opinion caused him to have a great respect for those who weren’t lucky enough to be born to a king or a rich man.

After the welcoming committee, Nair was shown to his quarters where he was given leave to bathe and change into his formal wear. The tiredness left in him from the travel caused him to regret putting off leaving Iroldak so much, considering he had little time to rest before the night’s events. It was no matter though. A few cups of wine and he would forget his fatigue. His clothes were elegant in their simplicity. Made from fine cloth, it was a suit with a seemingly random arrangement of black and white snowflakes, the symbol of his kingdom, with a black mask that only covered his eyes. Harken was in leather armor, armed with a long sword. While not allowed in the ball himself, he would be outside in case he was called upon or needed should the worst happen.

“I do say, my lord, you might as well hang up your armor and dress only for elegance.” Harken knew how to push Nair’s buttons, and often did. With him though, Nair only laughed.

“The day that happens, Harken, is the day I put you in the stocks for allowing it to happen,” Nair spat back. The old man’s face cringed and the two stared at each other for a few moments before simultaneously breaking into laughter. “Damn it, Harken. You’d best be ready. If they don’t plan on assassinating me in order to keep us from going to war, I may end up starting a fight myself.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time, my lord,” Harken grinned.

Nair thought about that for a moment before sighing, “no, I guess it wouldn’t.”

“I suggest my lord not worry about his safety tonight. Try to enjoy yourself. Maybe you could gain something of an understanding on civilized life.”

“I sure as hell hope not, Harken. But hey, if they want to bring me miles from my home to watch me attempt to drink myself to death, more power to them.”

“Who knows. Maybe you’ll meet a nice lady.”

“Why would I want to when I have you, Harken?” That caused the two of them to laugh again, and Harken held the door open for Nair to walk out. As Nair passed him, Harken gave a bow so low that it was obviously meant to be ironic. Nair responded with a pleasant “fuck you” on his way out the door and down the hall. A servant was waiting to escort him to the ball room. As the servant began with the pleasantries, Nair interrupted him. “Yes, yes, just show me to the booz. The sooner this night’s over with, the better. They still have yet to inform me why they brought me all this way. You wouldn’t happen to know, would you?” The servant didn’t, so Nair let the subject fall. It wasn’t worth it. Let the High King have his fantasies. If he expected this kind of power when Nair gained the throne of the north, he had another thing coming to him. One night to ease the High King’s conscious about his power couldn’t hurt, for now.

When he stepped foot into the ballroom he realized he was a bit late, and a few eyes turned to see the newcomer. Nair, in return, gave a mocking bow similar to the one that Harken had given him moments earlier, before walking towards the table with the finger foods and alcohol.

“Woah, slow down. You’re saying that you’re engaged?!” Saarik exclaimed, leaning against the edge of the stone balcony, and stared at her with narrowed green eyes. The vines of plants wound around the stone so much that it looked to be made completely out of plants with no support, yet it was obviously strong for Vito was sitting on top of it directly in front of Rima. He was frowning, clearly displeased, but the most unimpressed one of the group was Antaeus who was staring at Rima as though she was to be executed.

Rima rolled her eyes, “No, I’m not yet. I’m going to be engaged... tonight.” She said explained, biting into a piece of dragon fruit to keep from screaming. The news had been dropped on her yesterday and she had not taken it well. In fact, she was quite sure her parents wished they had never found their now wild daughter who was so obviously unfit to be a princess. She ran her tongue over her full pink lips, liking the juice from them, and lifted herself up onto the railing of the balcony next to Vito. She was dressed in her own handmade clothing, her skirt rising high on her tanned lean legs, and her hair was a mess of dark brown curls. Vito threw a brotherly arm around her and she smiled in response, shrugging it off, “Look, I’ll be back eventually and I’ll still be the same... just engaged.” She said, trying to make light of the situation, and then frowned, “or married. I’m not really sure if I’m getting married there or here, but I suppose it doesn’t matter either way since I have no choice. I mean-“

“Run away with... us” Antaeus burst out, nearly saying ‘me’ but saved it just in time. It was the first he had spoken since she had broken the news. They had gone out into the forest in the early hours of the morning and he had known immediately that there was something wrong. How could she be going along with this? She was the strongest and most independent person he knew, she couldn’t possibly accept that others were making such important decisions for her!

Rima, Vito, and Saarik looked at Antaeus with mixed expressions. Vito and Saarik gave him a warning glance to stop it, for they were aware that he had strong feelings for Rima but confessing them would make it that much harder on her to go through with the marriage. Rima, on the other hand, gave him an exasperated look, "I can't! The engagements are to help ally the kingdoms so that we can ensure there are no more wars. Or, at least, try to ensure that." She said, wondering why Antaeus looked so upset. She was the one being married off to some stranger, not him!

"Besides," She continued, "It's not as though I need to love who ever it is I'm being married to. It's just for show so if I ever find a guy who isn't terribly irritating and controlling, then I can just sleep with him and it will all be fine." She said with a laugh, causing Vito to frown in disapproval but Saarik gave her a playful thumbs up in support. It was comments like this, which she made so openly, that often made people around her uncomfortable and whisper that this wild child could not truly be the princess.

Antaeus had turned away, playing with the hem of his shirt so that it began to fray. It was true that Rima was stubborn and independent, he had always known that, but she was more than that... she did what was right; She would do it her way, but she would still do what was expected of her if she thought it was the right thing to do. A marriage to help prevent war was something that was right in her mind and of course it was. If he had the opportunity to help ensure that no wars would break out he would do it. Behind him he could hear Vito, Saarik, and Rima chatting about Elphanor which was where she would be engaged. The three of them sounded light-hearted, teasing each other, and he smiled in spite of himself. The four of them had always tried to make the best of every situation and he was not helping right now. He was so lost in his thoughts that he did not notice his brothers leave, climbing down the tree branches, or that Rima was beside him.

"Don't be so sad, Prince Charming."

Antaeus nearly jumped and turned his head to see the girl of his dreams standing next to him, a whimsical smile on her beautiful face. She had given him the nickname because women tended to follow him around which was the complete opposite of Saarik who chased skirts when ever they were in town. "I'll miss you." He managed, looking directly into her emerald-gold eyes, and felt his heart hammering nervously.

"I'll miss me too." Rima replied seriously and then laughed, shaking her head at Antaeus before closing the space between them and throwing her arms around him in a tight hug, "Don't act like I'm dying, Antaeus. I'll be back and I'll still sneak out with you, Saarik, and Vito. Nothing will be different except that I've got a ring on my finger. That's all." She said, her warm body pressed tightly against Antaeus'.

Antaeus was thankful for the hug because it made him shut up. His feelings for Rima threatened to spill from his lips at any moment so he clenched his jaw and hugged her tightly back. He knew she had to leave now to get ready and be made up into some glittering goddess so that she would fit in at the ball tonight, but he did not want to let go.

Rima hugged the three brothers all the time, having always been quite a physical person, but her hugs with Antaeus had always felt a little different. He hugged her tighter and longer, as though he thought she would never hug him again. That feeling was very strong right now, causing her smile to falter slightly. What was wrong? It was painfully obvious to everyone else that Antaeus was in love with her, but she had always been blind to such things.

"Antaeus, what-" She began, pulling carefully away to look at him, but before she knew what was happening Antaeus pressed his lips firmly against her own in a heated brief kiss. She didn't even have time to close her eyes, let alone consider how she felt about kissing the man who had basically been a brother to her for half her life, when he pulled away and looked at her in a completely horrified and ashamed expression.

"I-I'm sorry. Good luck tonight with your... your engagement." Antaeus muttered, quickly letting her go and swinging gracefully over the edge of the balcony and onto the tree branches below so that he could meet his brothers on the ground. His cheeks were bright with color, his heart racing painfully, and his mind screamed at him that he was an idiot and had just ruined everything with Rima.

Rima stood firmly planted where Antaeus had kissed her, still reeling from shock. Had that actually just happened? She was thankful that at that moment the door opened and in walked her styling crew which demanded her immediate attention so that she would be dressed and primped in time to leave for the ball.

She spent the next few hours being molded into a shimmering and vibrant princess. Despite the efforts of the style crew, they could not scrub the henna tattoos from her arms and after much consideration, they decided to use gold body paint to trace the lines and make them a part of her ensemble for the evening. Her chest length dark hair was pulled up into a loose up do so that stray curls fell alluringly around her face. Her makeup, which Rima was actually excited for, was vibrant and daring which she instantly loved. Gold, red, and orange glitter shadow layered her lids, while mascara elongated her already length dark lashes. The dress choice was a hard one, for the stylists knew the princess would want something unique and daring which would allow her to move and feel comfortable. Ultimately, they had designed a one of a kind gown for her which was inspired by the butterflies Rima so loved to watch on her balcony. It was shorter in the front, showing off her tanned and toned legs, and longer in the back so that it grazed the back of her calves. The bodice hugged her frame firmly, but the fabric was easy to move in and Rima quickly gave her thanks to the seamstress. The final touch were gold and red sparkling kitten heels which Rima immediately declined to wear, but they quickly stressed that she needed to wear shoes at the ball. After some convincing she gave in, but only if she could choose which bracelet she wore which they agreed to. She selected the bracelet Antaeus had made for her, which was made from the wood of a beautiful black tree called a Vallore Tree whose rings were gold in color.

After kissing her parents good bye, who both looked very pleased with the transformation their daughter had made, she was lead to an elaborate green and gold carriage with four green dragons at the front! She dashed across the field towards the dragons, who were easily the size of two homes in the village, and greeted each of them quickly. Her parents, though they too were nymphs, watched their daughter uneasily for dragons were decidedly resistant to most people and these four usually only responded to their trainer Garret. Rima, however, always had an unusually strong gift with creatures and each dragon allowed her to touch them and one even gently nudged her in a playful way.

A few minutes later she was seated inside the carriage, enjoying the weightless feeling of flying as she gazed out the window and watched the sun set over the kingdom of Gai. Her finger trailed over the bracelet around her wrist and she thought back to the kiss that had been so sudden. She spent the rest of the ride to Elphanor thinking about it and if, perhaps, Antaeus had just... slipped? She knew it was far fetched, but she just couldn't understand where it had come from. Just when she was starting to allow herself to think about how she felt about the kiss, they were landing and she was being escorted from the carriage.

She was about to enter the ball when Garret dashed after her, "Princess! Wait! You forgot your mask!" He called, catching up to her and held out a fine black glittering mask with seven diamonds in the center. She had not even noticed it in the carriage, having been so lost in thought.

"Oh, thank you Garret." She said, taking the mask from him and placing it on her face before tying the black ribbon into a bow behind her head to secure it. There. She was officially someone else for the night, an elegant unknown woman with swirling gold arm 'tattoos' and a monarch butterfly gown. She was actually thankful to be dressed in such a way, because it made her feel like she could separate the two women she had become: Rima, a child of nature and Princess Rima, the daughter of the Kingdom of Gai.

She entered the ballroom, which was undeniably beautiful, and let the music wash over her. Instantly she wanted to dance, because that was what she had always done when the three brothers and her had sung and made music in the forest, but first she would have a drink. It seemed like the social thing to do, since many were gathered around the bar, and perhaps by then more would be dancing. She crossed the room, trying her best to walk steadily in the heels, and reached the bar. Without thinking she ordered what she always did when she was with the boys, "Do you have any ale?" She asked, smiling kindly at the bar tender who returned her look with one of confusion.

"Um, no miss. Would you like a glass of champagne?" He suggested instead, handing her a flute of the sparkling clear drink. She wrinkled her nose and then shrugged her shoulders and accepted the drink. It was better than nothing!

Anne stood in front of her balcony doors. She was wondering if she was going to go out or not. It was snowing in Elphanor, but despite that fact, she had an urge to go out and stare at the sky. It was very peaceful and she will be away from the world, even for just a little time. Finally, after such a long time of thinking, she opened the glass doors that led to her balcony. She sat down on the chair and caught a snow flake. She stared at it and then blew it off her hand. She was finally separated from the world that she doesn't acknowledge that well. She was like a prisoner at her own kingdom. Not being allowed to go out and all. Not being able to do freely what she wants.

" Princess Everdeen, your mother is calling you " a voice that belonged to her private maid broke her out of her reverie. But she refused to even look at her. She didn't want to go back just yet. She wanted to stay where she was and just watch the snow gathering in her kingdom. She doesn't even want to talk to her mother because it will probably be about her getting married to some royalty that she doesn't even know.

"Princess, your mother wants to talk to you "the maid said in a louder tone. After ignoring the maid calling her for several times, the maid walked towards her and gently led her to her mother's chamber. Anne wasn't fighting back, though she doesn't want to talk to her mother, but then she had no choice. After several minutes of walking, they arrived in her mother's room. The maid knocked softly and they got the signal to come in seconds later.

" The princess is here, your Majesty " the maid opened the door for Anne as she bowed, then she left right after closing the door. Anne just looked at her mother with her tired eyes. Her mother was sitting down on the edge of her bed while reading some parchment that she doesn't know what about. Her mother was dressed in her usual attire, a long gown that covered her legs and her arms, while Anne was wearing a long gown with sleeves that only reached her elbows.

"You wanted to talk about something, mother? " Anne asked her. Her mother rolled the parchment back to its original form, laid it next to her table then stood up. She walked towards Anne as she smiled.

"Do you want to see the princes who are asking for your hand in marriage? " her mother asked her. Anne knew about this, then. Her mother had always wanted her to get married at a young age, so that they may be trained to rule their kingdom early. But then Anne doesn't want to get married yet. She hasn't even experienced falling in love. She means finding her one true love.

"Mother, I am not yet prepared to get married " Anne answered her in a composed manner, like she always does. She respects her mother truly, but she goes overboard sometimes about her personal life. She was asked by her mother a few times already, but her answer stayed the same. She wants to find her future husband personally, so that she will be happy with him forever.

" Your answer stays the same then. If that is the case, you may return to your room. But be ready because dinner will be served soon " her mother told her as she patted her shoulder gently. Anne knows that her mother also respects her decision. Bowing slightly, Anne left the chamber and walked back to her room. Once inside, she lied down on her bed and kept on thinking things that would make her get the chance of exploring the kingdom.

The wind whispered softly through the fire-colored leaves as though murmuring a soothing lullaby, causing the branches of the trees to sway back and forth in a sleepy rhythm. All was quiet in the forest of Pyr except for the occassional shreik of the birds up above. Tibolt Princess Ariadne Quinn moved through the shadows quickly, weaving in and out of the trees as if she were one with the wind. Her bare feet made contact with the green earth over and over without a sound as she took a quick glance over her shoulder, a slight smirk dancing across her lips. She quickly ducked to the right as a dagger whizzed past her, barely missing her cheek. She pressed herself against a tree, her hand sliding down to the sheath strapped to her bare thigh. Her finger tips made contact with the cool metal in a almost loving carress as the very faint sound of footsteps came closer, matching the pace of her racing heart. Ari closed her eyes and took a long breath before sliding out from behind the tree and sliding her dagger, Biz, from it's sheath. In the blink of an eye the dagger was slicing through the air and made contact with a large tree located right behind a large figure.

"What do you want, Kale? More importantly, didn't your father ever teach you to not make an assassination attempt on your princess?" A cool, sarcastic voice rang through the trees, sliding from the princess' mouth silkily. Her eyes slid open slowly, their crimson gaze making contact with the young guard's blue ones as a sadistic smirk made it's way across her lips. She arched an eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest, glancing briefly at the blood that was dripping down his face from where her dagger had nicked him.

"You and I both know that was the only way to get your attention, Your Majesty, so forgive me if I startled you. I was sent here to take you back to the palace to get ready for the ball tonight. You aren't supposed to leave the castle, especially not today of all days." Kale crossed his arms over his broad chest as a smirk of his own creeped it's way across his dashing features. "Don't make me drag your ass back there kicking and screaming like the little girl I grew up with." He lazed back against the tree behind him and flashed her one of his charming smiles, white teeth gleaming. Ari rolled her eyes and strolled over to the tree, stopping an inch from him. She leaned up on her toes and moved close to him, pressing her body lightly against his as she moved her hand slowly up to the dagger sticking into the tree.

"If you were anyone else, you'd be dead." She whispered softly in his ear, then pulled her dagger out of the tree and lowered herself onto the balls of feet in one fluid motion. She took a step back as her crimson eyes glanced him over before catching his gaze. "I'm not that little girl anymore. Treat me like it and next time it won't matter who you are. Oh, and you've got a little..." She trailed off and pointed to his right cheek where the blood was drying over the cut. With that, she turned and took off, disappearing into the trees. The faint sound of Kale's following footsteps echoed behind her as she made her way back to the palace to go get ready.

~~~~~~~~~Two hours later~~~~~~~~

Ari stood in front of the large floor length mirror in her bed chambers, frowning at her reflection. She hated balls, but most of all she hated dressing up. She turned to the side, running her fingers over the black gown's silky fabric. The dress flowed nicely over her lithe body, accenting her curves with every little movement. This was one of the few times Ari would ever be caught alive dressed up, especially since it was against her will. She thought dresses much like cages where she was confined and uncomfortable. She let out a soft sigh ran her fingers through her waist length raven hair, which was at the moment falling over her shoulders in it's natural loose curls. She pulled the required mask over her face and tied the ribbon in a neat bow to hold it in place. She quickly adjusted the skirt of her dress, lifting it up over her waist to strap her daggers to her thighs. She then dropped the dress back down into place, the hem of it brushing the ground.

A knock at the door signaled that it was time for her departure and with that Ari swept out of the room and down the hall to the main entrance of the castle. Once outside, she reluctantly slid into the carriage that awaited and sat back for the ride.

In one part of the untamed deserts of Ruthen, several friends were enjoying the coolness of the night and the lack of blowing sand around a campfire. The scents of cooking meat were wafting up from and around the fire, and had it been anyone else, they would have been afraid that the smell would attract the savage beasts that Ruthen was famous for. These friends, though, were not afraid of those creatures, as they had earlier that day proved that they could handle the beasts, and the proof of their conquest was cooking over the flames as they spoke.

Chad leaned back in his spot on around the campfire, physically and mentally detaching himself from the relaxed, yet rapid conversation that his companions were taking part in. It there was one thing that could be said about Hiess’s Vanguard, as they were called, it is that there is never a lack of things for them to talk about to each other. Chad did not dislike that at all, in fact, he found that talking so much helped keep his mind from wandering unpleasantly. However, sometimes one needs to step back and take a breather.

Lugh, who had just a few moments ago been talking animatedly with Chad about “Taking unnecessary risks in battle”, turned to start the conversation again with Hawker. Having had to give both men a healing draught after the day’s battles, Lugh felt that it was very much in his right to do so, however Hawker was not proving to be as good a person to argue with as Chad was. No matter how Lugh rephrased his point, he would just say “Lynx be dead, right? What be problem?”

The night sky was beautiful that night, and as he stared up at it from his spot on the ground, Chad couldn’t help but to admire it. Back in Tibolt, the sky around villages was often muddled with chimney smoke, and even out in the open, rain and fog had a bad habit of obscuring one’s view. In Ruthen, though, the sky was as clear as polished glass, except during a sandstorm. If you were outside trying to look at the sky during a sandstorm, though…you deserve whatever happens to you.

Chad was drawn out of his reprieve by an excited, feminine squeak from the center of their circle. Drawing his eyes down from the sky, where he had been tracing constellations that Matthew had once shown him, Chad saw Kath fiddling over the lynx meat that was cooking over the fire. Making another pleased noise, she knifed off a piece of the meat and walked it over to Hawker. As tradition, Hawker tasted all of their food and told them whether it was done or not, and as he chewed on the piece of lynx meat, he broke out into a big, cheesy grin and guffawed a bit. Taking a big breath, he happily said “Leeeeeeeetttt’s EAT!”

And then the carnivorism began. Everyone jumped up from their seats and clamored around the fire, trying to get their share of the food. Once they had as much food as their hands could hold, they sat back and began to stuff their faces with it. Even Kath ignored her proper lady manners and dug into the food like the rest of the guys.

Once nothing all the food was consumed and the fire had died down considerably, everyone let out a collective sigh of content and fell back, turning their spot around the bed into their sleeping area. After a few minutes, Lugh got up from his spot and set about the fire, cleaning up the mess that had been left in their frenzy to eat, as it was his turn to do so.

Everyone was tired. It had been a long day, filled from before dawn to darkness falling with hunting in one of the most dangerous regions of Ruthen. It had been a great hunt, though, and their carriage cart was filled to the brim with superb kills and rare finds like herbs and minerals. Hiess predicted that they’d make far more from this haul than they had with any of their past ones, and was already planning to return to Kahm’shat the day after tomorrow to sell it all. So great was their surplus, that Hiess had given Chad several lynx pelts to sew into a cloak for Kath.

As Chad was already drifting into sleep, the edges of his fantasies already forming in his peripheral vision, he didn’t notice when a while later Lugh sat back down in his seat and drew his harp from his belongings, then started to play. Chad’s, and everyone else’s, dreams were painted with music that was both haunting and incredibly happy, as if a bird that had been caged for all its life had finally been let free and allowed to fly, and it was singing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Their arrival in Kahm’shat was greeted with much festivity. Hiess’s Vanguard was fairly well-known throughout Ruthen for being not only very strong, but also for being uncharacteristically kind and fun-loving. Whenever they arrived in a town, it was usually cause for a party to be held in the local inn, and as they walked into the town, it seemed as if everyone was ready to do just that. Much ale and food was passed around, and Hiess had no trouble selling their wares not only to merchants, but to the local folk as well.

Everyone was enjoying themselves, the prevailing mood of the time forcing even the depressed to crack a smile. The men of the troupe were being doted on by the village women, and several of them had made a game out of making poor Lugh blush. The only thing that could dampen the spirits of anyone was the arrival of the king’s men. Not the King of Ruthen, whose men would have likely simply joined in the festivity, but the High King’s men, from the Mother Land of Elphanor.

They had come a long way, they explained in tired voices to Chad and Hiess off in a corner of the room, to carry the High King’s message. “Chadwick is to be brought to Elphanor by the word of the High King. He is to be wed to a foreign princess, and in doing so, hopefully bring peace to a future where there might otherwise be great conflict.” Hiess raised his eye and Chad, but to his credit, he did not question the boy. Chad, on the other hand, could only glare at the men. “How do you know my name? I haven’t been called that in years.”

Seeking to keep the conversation from turning negatively, the speaker of the group, Badic was his name, quickly said “I’m sorry, I didn’t know any other name to call you by. I’ll tell you what; it wasn’t easy to track you down because of that. We knew you left for Ruthen, obviously, everyone knew that after your little rebellion in Port Tarmein.” Once again, Hiess looked questioningly at Chad, but didn’t say anything. He was just here as Chad’s ‘employer’, not as his friend. It wasn’t his place to make any comments that didn’t directly refer to Chad’s work.

But Chad, narrowing his eyes, angrily said “Well, maybe that’s because I didn’t want to be found! In fact, I never want to see your lot ever again. So do me a freakin’ favor and bugger off!” Badic was obviously surprised by Chad’s harsh tone, but he didn’t comment on them. He leaned back in his chair, folding his fingers to cradle his chin, and stared quizzically at the boy in front of him. As the silence grew, Chad felt increasingly uncomfortable, to the point where he actually shifted in his seat slightly, yet he refused to look away from Badic. The man then spoke, his voice very level and direct, saying “Chad, surely you of all people would do this. Surely you would do whatever it took, sacrifice whatever it may require, to stop any blood from being shed for the sake of power.”

Badic’s words struck him like a harsh punch in the gut. Chad’s eyes, force open wide, looked down at his right arm on the table. Hiess, no longer able to contain his questioning, went to ask Badic what exactly he meant by that, but Chad’s voice calling out to him, quieter than he had ever heard him talk before, stopped him. “Hiess, leave me alone please…” Stopping, looking surprised at him, he said “Chad, are you sure? I jus-“ “Hiess, I said bugger off! Please just…leave me be.”

Hiess, apparently understanding Chad’s feelings, just nodded and stood. He clasped him on the shoulder, and then made his way over to talk to a very distressed looking Lugh and Kath. Both of them looking ready to burst if they didn’t hear what was being discussed in the corner.

Still looking down at his hand, Chad quietly asked Badic “Are you saying that…if I do this, if I do what you ask…I’ll stop more people from…from being like him?” Badic didn’t know exactly who Chad was talking about, but he knew enough of the boy’s story to understand the meaning of his question. He felt for the kid, he honestly did; no one should have to go through something as a child that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. And yet, in some ways Badic knew it had made him a better person. The High King himself had looked a Badic and told him “This is a boy who could not possible refuse you. He is a fiery youth, and will most likely resist, but his very soul will compel him to do it. He will do it for the one that he has lost.”

Not saying anything, Badic nodded at Chad. Even though he wasn’t looking up, he knew that the boy had seen him, and his thoughts were confirmed when Chad mutely nodded as well, agreeing to do as he was asked. And yet, even after Badic and his men had already thanked him for being so compliant and made arrangements to come pick him up the next day, Chad still sat in that same spot, unflinchingly staring at his hand. As everyone around him continued with their partying, Chad stared desperately at his hand, drying to erase the image of Matthew’s blood staining his palms and running down his fingers.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

As the noon sun beat down on the center of Kahm’shat, which was devoid of any people other than Hiess’s Vanguards and Badic’s men, Chad prepared to depart for Elphanor by saying his goodbyes. He was dressed for travel, wearing a long shirt and pants made of crosses between leather and cloth, with lizard-hide gloves and cloak on. Beside him lay his satchel and a rucksack containing the few things that he was to bring with him on the trip. His friends stood in a half circle in front of him, while the carriage, which was hooked up to several phoenixes, and Badic waited behind him. All of his friends were sad to see him go, but showing it in different ways.

Hawker was crying not so quietly, causing Chad to chuckle lightly and walk up to hug the larger man. Hawker sniffled loudly and wrapped his big arms around Chad, lifting him several arms and suffocating him in a bone-crushing hug. Laughing nervously, Chad patted his shoulder, saying “It’s alright big guy…I’ll be back, no need to cry…” After a few moments, Hawker let him down, and proceeded to turn around and blow his nose in a spare piece of linen he had with him.

After dusting himself off and cracking his neck, Chad turned next to Hiess. Hiess gave him a small, encouraging smile and stepped forward to grasp Chad around the forearm. Smiling back, Chad did the same to his arm. Hiess wasn’t touchy-feely like the rest of the group he’d put together, so this was as close as he’d get to hugging Chad full-out, and the boy knew that. Chad nodded as Hiess released him, and said a quick thank you for helping him make a home in Ruthen. He just shrugged that off, so instead Chad grinned mischievously at him and said “Don’t have too much fun without me Cap’n, I don’t want to miss anything good.” Hiess just waved him off, laughing and saying “Oh no, never.” Then he turned him to face Lugh instead.

With a very forced straight face, Lugh held out his arm to be grasped like Hiess and Chad just had, and Chad did so, tilting his head slightly as if asking Lugh ‘why?’ Lugh tried to open his mouth to speak, but doing so just cracked his flimsy resolution, and he let go of Chad’s arm and moved to hug him tightly-though thankfully not as tightly as Hawker had. Lugh sobbed into Chad’s shoulder, trying to talk but having his words muffled, he said “I’m gonna miss you, Chad! I’m really, really gonna miss you!” Chad chuckled at the actions of his faux little brother, and hugged him back. “Hey hey, I’m not going to be gone forever. I’ll come back, you’ll see. I won’t let some noble lady keep me from my best mates, you know that.” If Badic had any contrary information, he kindly didn’t pipe up about it.

After Lugh released Chad, there was only one person left to say goodbye to. Kath, who had been watching Chad move about the others, after realizing it was her turn, quickly turned around and determinedly stared at the buildings to her right. She refused to look at Chad, knowing that if she did…she would cry just like Lugh. And she wouldn’t do that, she was much tougher than Crybaby Lugh. Then she felt something on her shoulders, and deft hands tying a string around her collarbone. Turning her head to look behind her, she saw a lynx fur cloak falling from her shoulders, expertly made by a hand that knew what it was doing. It was a beautiful cloak, made from good pelts, and it was just the right size and thickness to suit her body and keep her warm on breezy nights.

She turned around fully to look at a grinning Chad, but before she could raise a word of protest, his lips were on hers. It was a passionate kiss, but not filled with the frantic fever that their kisses were normally filled with; it wasn’t rushed, it was emotional, and it was all the more intimate to her for that. As Chad pulled away from her, she raised one hand to press fingers against her lips. Her face felt hot, and she knew she blushed redly as Chad said “I’m gonna miss you Kath, I will.”

Kath looked up at him, meeting his brown eyes with her own, and said with all sincerity “I know.” Then, looking down nervously at her free hand playing with the tie of her new cloak, she added “Chad, just don’t…please don’t give away everything you have to that princess, ok?” Raising that free hand to press against his chest, right over where his heart was, she continued staring into his eyes and said “Because there is a girl back home waiting to get some of them too.”

Then it was Chad’s turn to blush, and he turned his head to look away from her searching eyes. She just stood on tip-toes and put her hands on his shoulders, forcing him to look at her again, and she said “And don’t you ever forget that either: This is your home, with m-with us. No other stupid country will ever be your home, ok?” He nodded, and that apparently satisfied her, for she kissed him on the cheek and then went to stand away from him. Her eyes were still turned to him, but no longer with sadness like before, but with something a bit more romantic, and she clutched the cloak around her.

As Chad then turned to go, picking up his bags, he couldn’t help but feel mortified by the blown-away looks that the other guys were giving him. He wasn’t sure what was worse, Hawker’s wide ‘O’ of a mouth, saying incoherent phrases like “He? She? They? Together? They, she?”, which were accompanied by pointing gestures from his hands; or Lugh, who was blushing hotly himself and covering his eyes with his hands, but peeking obviously through splayed index and middle fingers. Even Badic and his men were politely and pointedly looking towards the carriage as chad stepped up and into the vehicle, sliding over to make room for Badic’s men.

Once they were all inside, Chad waved one last time to his friends before the carriage took off, speeding away from Ruthen as fast as it could. Chad continued to watch the scene outside, keeping his eyes trained on Ruthen until the last trace of his home disappeared from his eyes for the second time in his life.

“Demetrius are you ready ye…”
“Prince Demetrius Lastarus Septum! I thought we went through this.” The young desert prince pressed as he entered the grand throne room of his palace. His face showed a bit of irritation as he fixed his crimson red robes. The man that had addressed Demetrius “incorrectly” seemed unsettled as he looked at the man young enough to be his own son with fear.

“I’m sorry… Prince Demetrius Lastarus Septum. Please forgive my incompetence.” The shaken man said as he kneeled to the ground before Demetrius who simply walked around him and moved toward his throne.

“It’s fine, just remember that stuff.” Demetrius seated himself before continuing.
“I’ll cut you some slack because you’re filling in for your brother… and because I have other stuff to worry about.” Demetrius said before sighing heavily. The prince wasn’t looking forward to the ball, and even tried to think of ways to get past it. All he could do was complain, so he’d do exactly that. “For example, this ball I have to get dressed up for… This is bullshit… and stand up, stop kneeling.” Demetrius said with a scowl. He hated overly obedient people more than ignorant disobedient ones. People that challenged him always seemed to spark his interest. To have be opposed by another was a thrill to Demetrius at times, even if he did have to make the effort to assert his position. “Like I was saying before, I’m the prince of Ruthen! Why must ready myself for something so… so… social.” Demetrius complained and the servant listened, nodding every now and then, fearful that his words might aggravate the prince further. “Are you a mute?” The prince questioned as he noticed the servant’s silence. He didn’t even know the man’s name and didn’t care to know or remember it.

“No sire. I ju-”

“Forget it. Leave…” Demetrius said coldly before the man gave him a puzzled expression. “Leave!” Demetrius repeated in annoyance. Sometimes Demetrius wondered why he even had people like that employed at the palace, but figured it kept some family’s mouth fed. While watching the man leave, Demetrius reached into his garbs before pulling out a small black book. He flipped through it with a bored look before stopping a page. His facial expression didn’t change. As his eyes trailed through a page in the book, his mouth followed suit with a soft whisper.

“You shouldn’t call the dead for your personal affairs. It could be an ill omen.” A voice seemed to echo throughout the throne room.

“Mhmm, and so is questioning a prince in his kingdom… Maybe that’s not an ill omen, but it’s just as bad in my book.” Demetrius said with a smirk. He appeared to be the only person in the room.

“What do you need now? More advice?” The voice asked.

“What else would I want from a ghost? Anyway, the High King has gathered the princes and princesses of the land for a ball of all things. I tried to think of a way of getting around it without angering the High King. I can’t disobey his order, but I really don’t want to do thi-

“Just stop being a baby about it. I honestly doubt anyone would even talk to you after spending a minute with you. So just go. It’s just a few hours.” The voice said as it cut Demetrius’ rant off. The prince appeared shocked as his face showed pure bewilderment. “Was that good enough?” The voice added. Demetrius scowled, but it didn’t last long as he sighed afterwards.

“I guess I should just go. It wouldn’t hurt… And everyone loves talking to me… I’m me.” Demetrius said before holding up one of his hands and snapping his fingers. “Thanks though.” The prince said without receiving another reply from the mysterious voice. With another sigh, he got himself up from the throne and made his way to the stairs. If he was really going to go to this ball, he’d do it in style.

It didn’t take long for Demetrius to reemerge wearing a pewter blazer over black dress clothes. Upon reentering the throne room, Demetrius hears soft voices speaking in a very fast manner. Looking to the source, Demetrius spotted his mother with her advisors and attendants beside her. She seemed busy, but when her eyes fell upon her son, she stopped in her tracks.

“Son?” She said blankly before a smile crept on her face. Demetrius grimaced, obviously a bit embarrassed. He never got this dressed up, especially not for things like this. The Ruthen prince wasn’t one to impress others… ever.

“Mother… I’m attending the ball. The one I told you I needed to go to due the High King’s orders.” Demetrius spoke. He seemed more polite and soft spoken in front of his mother, which he always was toward her.

“Well don’t you look like a prince charming.” Demetrius’ mother teased before letting a giggle escape her. Demetrius couldn’t do anything but smile. “Or perhaps you learned spell that allows you to create a perfect copy of yourself.” His mother speculated, but knew full well Demetrius’ growth in magic was somewhat stunted.

“Mother, you know I have to present myself well amongst my peers.”

“Not just in appearance either. You should be respectful to the other kingdoms, even if we do have our differences.”

“I don’t see why you’re so diplomatic toward them. Grandfather always told me they were people we should only associate with under dire circumstances and trade. I’ll only see them for a few hours, so perhaps I can keep my strong opinions to myself.” Demetrius seemed to say, but not think. Demetrius barely had respect for his followers. What would make him show any ounce of respect toward someone not native to Ruthen? His mother just gave him a look before walking, with her company following alongside her.

“Have some fun for once. Different doesn’t always mean bad.” She said to him as she passed her son. Demetrius took in the words with a discouraged look. His mother and grandfather never saw eye to eye, especially on matters regarding affairs in general. He wanted to believe his mother was right, but sometimes he felt that she was too optimistic. Walking across the throne room and to the huge golden doors that led out into the heavily guarded castle hall, Demetrius took time to take out his small black book to read. He gave no notice to the guards that remained as still as statues. Most military, guards, and any type of fighters throughout Ruthen were either of Taura or Ifirit decent. However, the castle guard was only composed of Taura soldiers.

Once Demetrius exited the long hall of the castle, he found his magnificent carriage awaiting him outside. His eyes looked to the phoenixes that waited patiently just before he took a step into the carriage. The coldhearted prince didn’t know what to expect from this ball, but he had a feeling nothing good would come of it. Taking a seat in the carriage, the desert prince quickly found himself reading his small black book. He didn't even give notice to the movement of the carriage when it took off. as the Phoenixes reached their peak altitude, Demetrius gave Ruthen a single look, a look of emptiness.

Ai loved the reef. No particular reason why, but there wasn’t any question why either. It was the most beautiful and lively part of the ocean. Although, it also left little space between her and the surface of the water, which to most selkies was among the scariest places to be. They were always so worried a fisherman would see them laying on the reef, but what were they going to do? Dive in after them? It wasn’t as though they were allowed to catch selkies in their nets or on a hook. If they were ever discovered doing so there were some severe consequences. That is however if they were caught. The one thought that never occurred to her was that the chanced of anyone seeing were next to none.

The wash of the current over her gills and fins tickled her and a small smile flashed on her face. A smile that held in laughter and even a giggle. To hold in the small sounds a chuckle may make she turned her face and dug it into her arms. She didn’t lay perfectly still, it wasn’t likely a selkie could remain still in or out of the water. Her tail slowly and smoothly stirred with a pattern as the water moved about her.

Her light blonde hair flowed wildly about her and angel fish nestled themselves within it. Gold eyes peeped out from behind her small arms and glanced around but just as quickly hid themselves again. Ai was waiting for something. A common thing when she was on a reef. Just what she was waiting for most didn’t know, most didn’t have the patience to find out.

One gold eye appeared for a second time, they focused intently on a certain spot of the coral. It was there a large cone shaped object sat unmoving. Rather than hiding her eyes again she simply closed them tightly and reopened the other one. The bud before her began to open; not obviously, it gradually untwisted itself and as it did her other eye opened. She bit her bottom lip in anxiety and excitement. Finally, the animal in front of her opened completely revealing a purple sea anemone that moved in a mesmerizing pattern. Her arms uncrossed and Ai stroked the ‘legs’ of the anemone lightly; she didn’t want to scare it or it would close again. “Hello there,” her voice came out as a vague whisper only audible to the angel fish still in her hair and the creature she was now petting.

It didn’t close this time; she was thankful, it meant it was starting to like her. That was no easy task, an anemone doesn’t just befriend anybody and it takes days for it to allow you to stroke it. It was a lucky week for her, the carnival hadn’t moved that week so she had become acquainted with many of the creatures here. Mainly the ‘plants’ and a few fish.

She stroke the creature for a little while then stopped, she didn’t want to push her luck. Her tail paused for a moment, she gripped the corral and with a twist of her fins and a push of her arms she flipped herself around. Then her tail uncoiled and gently rested on the plants beneath her. One of her hands laid out to the side and the other reached up to gently brush her hair out of her way. It was so hard to control her hair sometimes.

Of course now was no different. As if in defiance of the supreme universe, which was of course her, it moved right back into her field of vision. She glared at the strands that moved needlessly in and out of her scrutiny just so that she could analyze a new one.

After becoming uninterested with the blonde curls she attempted to peer around them; her eyes focusing on the glare above her. She frowned and looked away; the sun hurt her liquid gold irises and pupils. Unfortunately that wasn’t enough to save her from the solar leer so her hands gently moved to cast a shadow over her face.

Ai was bored. She had made friends with an anemone because she was waiting; this was where she always waited. For whom? Three boys to come and find her, after all she was playing hide and go seek with these boys. It was funny, she always won even though she hid in the same general area every day.

“Ai!” She knew that voice that was Ryu.

Immediately she sat up, she couldn’t see him yet. That means she had some time to actually hid instead of remaining in the open. She twisted herself around and swam much faster than her dainty figure would suggest. A small flip and she was hiding in a small cave; for some reason the corral refused to grow on top of the sand here.

“Hey, Ai!” A blush spread up her chest and to her cheeks. Unconsciously she covered herself; there was no shame among selkies to have their upper bodies bare. After all, as a half fish her chest was covered by a second skin, but as a human she had to admit it was embarrassing. It was also embarrassing around Set.

She liked him, but unlike so many other men, he did not return those feelings. Her many attempts at making him jealous always ended in a ‘damn it!’

“Ai, seriously come out! The performance is going to start soon!” Ha, she wasn’t falling for that one again. “Come on! You need to get ready!” Unconsciously she rolled her eyes. They must think she was one of the gullible sorts. Well, they are sadly mistaken.

Then Lana spoke, her stern voice echoed throughout the corral, “Ai Quen, get your little tail out here.” This was the time where she started taking them seriously. Her head popped up from behind the corral and she saw the three searching for her amongst the corral. Lana appeared quite annoyed, she clenched her teeth hoping she wasn’t annoyed with her.

“Yes?” Her whole body then appeared, “You say there is a performance starting somewhere?” She smiled awkwardly, she loved Lana but she could be a little scary sometimes. A small gesture told Ai that she was to follow and she did so, the two boys followed in line behind them. It wasn’t long until a shore-line came into view; on it sat the small group of carnival carts that she lived among.

Lana led her up to the surface and she rolled her eyes, she had figured out quite quickly where it was she was going. Rather, she had always known. The city of Airis had called their small, yet famous, Carnival to perform for the city and to once more draw trade from some of the smaller towns. Apparently they were very good for that.

Either way, they were being paid so no one honestly cared.

Getting dressed was the hard part. She didn’t wear clothing much since she spent most of her time in the water so there were occasions she wasn’t positive what goes where. However, she always figured it out sooner or later.

Once finished she placed one or two flowers in her hair and let it dry on its own. Something that Lana always craved was her naturally curly and perfect hair even when there was no comb involved. The flowers were not of any specific sort; just whatever she could get her hands on and they went wherever she wanted to put them.

The performance was the easy part. There was a throng before they even got there so all they needed to do was start the music and dance. Of course, what was a good performance without some theatrics. The story this time was of a young lover bound to be to be married to the one she hated rather than the one she loved. Unconsciously she thanked whomever there was to thank that this story was not a real version of her life. (Snicker, snicker)

As the dying down of the music commenced and the dancing stopped the audience clapped, he clapped so hard that the city seemed to rumble. Then they left. It was funny to watch how a busy street could completely clear when nothing interesting was happening. No one of interest watched as they packed up.

Oh, I take that back there was one person that was watching intently. Watching Ai intently, as though he was a bird waiting for the right moment to strike, but she would beat him to it. Standing back up she looked at the man, her eye in complete seduce mode. A very irresistible mode.

She gracefully made her way to the man, a slight sway to her hips added to the view. Almost immediately the man rolled his eyes, annoyance took grip of her very soul. Who was he to act that way, he was the one staring. With one hand on her hip she glared at the man; he, however, wasted no time making his way over to her and then spoke, “Ai Quen, I assume?”

The young selkie smirked, “That depends, who’s asking?”

“I am Badic, assistant to the High King.” The man bowed slightly as he spoke leaving her standing there awkwardly. She glanced around before removing her hand from its position on her hip and wiping some hair from her face.

“Err, it’s very nice to meet you…I think. That all depends on what you have to say, so what exactly do you want?”

“I am here to invite you to a masquerade in Elphanor.”

Ai blinked once or twice, somewhat confused, she thought for a moment and then comprehended his words, or at least she thought she had, “You want us to perform there? I am truly honored.” Lana, Ju, Ryu, and Set had all made there way up behind her, curious as to who it was she was speaking with.

“Oooh! We get to perform at Elphanor! I’m excited! I’ve got to go pack my bags, I’ll be right back.” Ryu exclaimed quite happily, he was stopped half way through.

“I believe you have misunderstood. I am inviting Ms. Quen alone, as a guest.” The man spoke with an annoying authority.

Ai couldn’t resist, she was a flirt and Set was in range and thus she flirted, “Oh, I see!” her face approached his and her hand delicately held the bottom of the dark elf’s chin, “you want me you be your date,” she pouted for a moment, “as much as I would love to, you’re just not my type.”

The elf rolled his eyes again and moved her hand, “No, I do not wish for you to be my type, I have absolutely no such interest in you.” Now Ai was insulted, no one told her that she wasn’t their type. It was always the other way around. Now whether he wanted her to or not, she was going just to make him regret those words.

“Fine Badic, I will happily attend your masquerade, if only for the purpose of making you regret those words.”

“Not to interrupt your parade Ai, but would you like, at all, to know our opinion?” She could hear the concern in Ju’s voice. He was like an older, less mature, and way too protective brother. She shrugged and waved her dainty hand at him without even turning to look at the man.

“I have to agree, I don’t feel comfortable with this.” Lana was next.

“I don’t mind.” Set, that bastard. She swore he knew how she felt and said those kinds of things just to hurt her feelings.

“I’ll be back tomorrow; don’t worry so much.” Ai did catch the sly smile Badic had after she said those words. He most definitely knew something she didn’t and that bothered her, but not enough to deter her resolve. The others were still not entirely comfortable but knew they did not stand a chance against Ai’s determination so bowed their heads in defeat. She looked the dark elf before her, Bring it on, she thought. “So, Badic, how exactly do you plan on taking me to Elphanor?” Ai could swear that this was on cue because the moment she said that a ‘royal’ carriage carried by three sea serpents emerged.

At first the young woman just stood there and stared in shock and awe. She watched as the dark elf opened the door into the carriage and motioned her in. For a moment she just blinked and then finally she allowed her stiffened muscles to relax. “Oooh, fancy.” She proclaimed as she let herself in.

Of course, the thought that these creatures flew didn’t occur to her until she leaned out to wave farewell and they took off. She fell out of her seat, quite literally but didn’t try to get up. Rather she gripped anything she could out of instinct and fear. A scream echoed from within the carriage and a small bit of laughter could be heard from the small group of soldiers that accompanied it. “You son of a-”, Ai’s declaration of rage and fear was interrupted by an ungraceful bump and the hitting of her head.

Unconsciously the selkie had backed herself into the carriage walls as she frantically glanced around her. What was happening? Why was she flying!? Selkies were made for swimming in the ocean and walking on land. Flying was not on this list. She wanted down, now!

That however wasn’t happening until they reached Elphanor.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Three hours, or maybe four, or maybe five, or who knows it could have been an entire day, passed and Ai finally felt the bump of the carriage landing on the ground. She sighed in relief and fear. Where was she? Elphanor, yes, but what was Elphanor in comparison to Airis. What sort of strange creatures existed in this strange land?

The carriage ride had given her time to think these things through and she realized on just how little she had based her decision to come on. Internally she slapped herself. This was not her finest moment. Actually, usually, she was an intelligent and, though a little happy-go-lucky, wise young lady. It was amazing to see how a spark of annoyance and insult could inspire such a reaction and unwise decision.

She officially did not like Badic.

Behind her the door she had been leaning on opened. As it did she lost her balance and nearly fell out but in the end she caught herself on the door frame of the carriage. The men around chuckled again. That was beginning to annoy her. They had chuckling and outright laughing at her since the ride took place.

After exiting the carriage and embracing the feeling of stability and the ground three maids made their way over to her. They curtsied, which confused Ai, and then took her away. More forcefully than they had to. Behind her Badic spoke, “These young ladies will help you prepare. I’m afraid I still have my own duties to take care of.

Ai glared at him; but alas that was nothing new considering how often she did. The ladies brought her through elaborate and somewhat boring always that echoed the sound of her bare feet. Apparently, that was actually possible. She would have never known that if it wasn’t for this boring castle.

They made it to a room that had been prepared in an elaborate decorative way. Much out of her style. Actually, she kind of despised it. Everything was too perfect and elegant. There was nothing fun or interesting about it.

The room was closed and the ladies began undressing her, Ai pushed them away “I can do that on my own, thank you.” The ladies bowed and rushed to the closes pulling out a black and grey dress. Ai gagged, “I refuse to wear that,” the girls looked at each other, confused. Obviously they weren’t used to having someone where such a high quality dress.

“Um, madam, what would you like to wear then?” One of the maids asked her. Ai smiled, mischievously.

“What all do you have?” The maids looked at each other and smiled for the first time since she had met them. Away they rushed in and out of the closet each time carrying a dress that they would try to sell on her. Each time she said no. Most of them were composed of blacks, whites, grays, and dark blues and purples. “Come now ladies, I’m not dressing for my wedding and not for my funeral. I thought this was a party?!”

They threw the dresses they had on the nearest chair, and one of the smallest spoke, “I think I know of something you will find pleasing, Madam.” She whispered to the two others whom left the room, then she took Ai’s arm and brought her to a mirror. “If you don’t mind I will start on your hair and make up. Just hold still.”

Whoever this girl was she was fast and good, so good Ai was considering on hiring her herself. In less than fifteen minutes the young lady had taken control of Ai’s natural curly locks and pulled half of them into a messy, curly, half bun. Oh yeah, she was hired.

The make-up took a little longer and Ai was unable to see it until it was done, however she could most certainly tell she was using quite a bit of eye-liner, eye-shadow, and mascara. Although not quite as much mascara. Ai always had naturally thick and long eyelashes. When Ai was finally allowed to see her eye make-up it was dramatic and most definitely made her eyes pop. That and it made the rest of her face seem to be without any fault of any kind.

When the woman was done the other two had returned. In one of their hands was a red and gold masquerade mask. In the other was a bright red dress. Ai smiled, “Perfect.” The maids smiled, quite happy with themselves. They then proceeded to help dress the selkie in this salient dress. The dress by itself was remarkable, however, they all agreed that after the dress was on her it was alluring and stunning. No man could resist her charm in this red mermaid dress. Ai smiled, the three maids did so also.

“Thank you. I am afraid I don’t know your names though.” Ai said to the three women.

The maids looked at each other flabbergasted; they had never been asked that by someone. One finally stepped forward, “I am Redora, this,” she said as she gestured to the tallest women, “is Kayel, and that,” the shortest, “is Madde.”

“Thank you Redora, Kayel, and Madde.” Ai bowed to the three.

Madde spoke this time, “D-don’t mind us, it’s are job. H-hurry and put your mask on.” She stepped over and placed the mask on Ai’s face, “You are truly beautiful, no man can resist your allure now!” She giggled, a small blush spread across her cheeks.

“Madde, hush now, we must lead her to the ballroom. Now is not the time for small talk.” Kayel spoke that time and immediately it quiet the younger maid. Redora took Ai’s hand and led her out of the room and through the halls once more, the black heels Ai wore clickety and clacked through out the hallways. She hated that, they were so obnoxious.

Finally, after long travels, music could be heard emanating from behind two doors or one double door. Whichever you prefer.

“This is where we must leave you, Madam.”

“Call me Ai.” With a wink and grin Ai walked up the stairs and stood in front of the two doors. She peeked in first, it was beautiful, and so were the people inside. Glitter and sparkles were everywhere, including the floors. How they managed to keep such a place so clean was beyond her capacity of understanding. Oh dear, I have a feeling I’m in way over my head, oh well, wouldn’t be the first time, she thought to herself.

With a sharp intake of breath she opened the doors and walked proudly in, Her red dress did bring a lot of attention to her, but it soon passed and she was allowed to walk on her way. Immediately she caught sight of an empty chair and took a seat. She looked away for a few moments before looking back up at all the masks. As she did she imagined what the faces underneath looked like, she got a small chuckle when she imagined faces of abnormality. Giant eyes, misshapen noses, oh it was all up to her creativity and boredom.

Her mind only wandered when a young man offered her a drink which she took and then dismissed the man. Rude sure, but it most certainly revealed her sense of nobility and superiority. That, to her, was all that mattered.

Valentine swum through the freezing water, yet felt no cold.

The warmth of the ever-shifting muscles of his Black Carapace surrounded him, making him perfectly comfortable, despite the near-zero temperature of the water around him.

A few seconds later, his feet touched rock. He stood up, and as he walked forward, his head emerged from the water, looking around at the dark shoreline of the lake. He saw no targets yet.

He looked around; the skull-visaged masks of his fellow Black Templars surrounded him, as they all stood up too, surveying the shoreline for signs of threats. They slowly advanced, swords drawn, the water slipping off them silently as they emerged from the inky blackness of the water.

Valentine breathed in the cool night air as he walked forward into the forest of rocks around the lake. His fellow Templars – a unit of twelve in all, six of whom were his bodyguards – spread out around him, looking around.

“Titus, targets?” Valentine asked the man who crouched atop one of the rocks.

“Movement up ahead. Hundred feet and closing. They’re fast. Looks like Tauras.” Titus replied.

Valentine nodded. “Black Templars, move out, fast and quiet. Kill anything you come across, but try not to initiate a struggle. We’re looking for our target, nothing more.”

His fellow warriors nodded and spread out around him, and they all walked forward in a broken line.

Valentine didn’t see the Taura until the man was right in front of him. He was a big one, alright; 6’8”, with a shaven head and carrying a battle axe.

The Taura literally walked into Valentine, then looked down.

“What the-” The Taura started, beginning to raise his axe, but he was cut off by Valentine’s blade entering his skull at high velocity.

Valentine pulled his sword out of the mixture of blood, bone and brain, and then kept walking.

He killed two more Tauras, more quietly this time, as he was remaining alert.

They quickly found the encampment. It was big; all sorts of different creatures lived there, based on the different styles of tents.

Valentine grouped up with another three Black Templars and the three of them moved towards the command tent.

They entered through the flaps silently, and Valentine drew one of his crossbows. They sighted their target; an Oni warlord, and a big one at that. But size did nothing against crossbow bolts, and one was promptly planted in the man’s brain.

“Target neutralised.” Valentine whispered. “All forces, retreat immediately.”

They walked out of the tent, and were more than a little surprised to see a veritable legion of creatures in front of them, carrying a range of weapons and all looking very, very angry.

“Oh.” Valentine said, more to himself than anyone else. “So, it’s going to be one of those days…”

His opponents charged.

He leapt into the air, then came down upon one, his sword plunging through the armour, before withdrawing it and cutting the throat of another. He heard footsteps and turned; a charging Taura stood there, running at him, too close for comfort. Unable to bring his sword to bear, Valentine drew a crossbow and discharged it directly into the man’s head.

He hit the deck as a blast of dark magic flew over his head, missing him by inches, before responding with a shot from his second crossbow, the Oni disappearing into the crowd below. He took a few steps backwards, stood up, and drew his halberd in his off hand.

He cut through one, two, three enemies with its long blade, then impaled another with his sword.

He looked around; his fellow Templars were doing similar damage. The mistake cost him, however, and an axe slammed over his back, cracking the plates of his Black Carapace and making the muscles writhe in pain.

He turned, dispatched the one holding the axe – a Uranus, by the looks of it – and grinned. This was too easy.

However, he was short of time, and the pleasures of war would have to wait for another time. He had to get back to base; his father had summoned him shortly before this operation, but Valentine had gone anyway, thinking that he’d be back before his father sent people to investigate. He did not want to invoke his father’s wrath, however, so it was time to get moving.

He called out to his fellow warriors. “All forces, time to get out of here! Back into the water!”

They broke their little blockade around the tent and ran, cutting down all those in their path without blinking.

Valentine jumped onto a rock and jumped from rock to rock as a method of mobility, reducing his speed slightly but also vastly reducing the number of targets on his tail.

A minute later and they were at the shoreline. Valentine’s team was already in the water, and he quickly followed. The Black Carapace adjusted its body heat to cope with the cold, and he swam away, but not before calling out to any Tiger Sharks in the area to charge.

He saw only black streaks in the gloom, but knew precisely what they were. The screams of those who foolishly entered the water filled the air behind him as the sharks launched into a killing frenzy.

------The Next Day------

Valentine walked through the chambers of the Imperial Citadel, flanked by his elite unit of Black Templars, and entered the throne room just on time – his honour guard waited at the door. He’d had to sprint the whole thirty kilometres from the outer city where he was stationed to here overnight in order to make it.

His father looked down at him from his throne. “Valentine. How good to know that you managed to make it, even though you decided to take a little jaunt in Gai before you came here.”

Valentine groaned. So his father knew. “My apologies, father. I felt that I could make it here on time even if I left to go perform an operation with my Black Templars. And, evidently, I did.”

His father nodded. “A good decision. A righteous commander always leads his men into battle, even if he is given orders from a higher power, but he can’t forget that he must still follow the orders of said higher power. You took a risk, but if you did not, then you would hardly be worthy of the title of Warrior Emperor.”

Valentine nodded. That was the closest his father ever got to giving him a compliment. “Thank you, father.”

“Now, to business,” his father said. “It is time for what may well be the most difficult assignment of your life.”

Valentine’s fist clenched. His father was always finding new and increasingly creative ways of killing him. Nonetheless, he was commander of the Black Templars, the most powerful unit of warriors in existence, those who knew no fear and crushed entire armies under their righteous fist. He would not show weakness here.

“I am ready, father.”

His father nodded. “Very well, my son. You are to leave for Elphanor immediately.”

Valentine’s eyes widened. “Elphanor? Father, is it… is it time? Time for our conquest?”

His father laughed, a deep, booming sound. “No, Valentine, it is not that. You think of war, as a Warrior Emperor should, but you mustn’t be so hasty. It will be some time yet as to when we can launch our conquest, but when we do, we shall not fail.”

Valentine felt both relieved and disappointed. He wished to be the one to conquer the land, not his father; but then, that was a common sentiment, and he couldn’t wait for the thrill of finally being able to unveil the Black Templars to the world in all their power. “Then what is my objective, father?”

“I am not quite sure, but we have also been instructed to send a commoner, and one has been selected. Whatever it is, though, it shall be diplomatic, not a matter of war, unfortunately.”

Valentine cursed. He was terrible at diplomatic things, and he despised commoners. His father was right – this would be the hardest mission he had ever faced, because it would take all his willpower not to simply slaughter everyone in the room. Nonetheless, he still served.

“Yes, father. I shall not fail you.”

With that, he left the throne room. One of his honour guards turned to him outside the door, looking at him quizzically.

“Pack your things,” Valentine told them. “We’re going to Elphanor for a diplomatic assignment. But if we’re lucky, we may be back here and back in the thick of war before too long.”

He couldn’t help but notice the Black Templars smile at the thought.

It was exactly what Nair was expecting, which meant he was having a terrible time. It didn't help that all they were serving was champagne and wine. The north was known for its liqueur, especially its whiskey, so try as he might Nair was finding himself unable to get the slightest bit drunk. At most, he was a bit tipsy, which was almost worse in his opinion.

Of course, there were plenty of people to talk to, and many of them were quite curious as to what was going on in the mountains. Nair put on his diplomatic smile, happy to answer all of their questions, knowing that this was only for one night. Only one night, he had to keep reminding himself.

When alone, he often found himself wondering what things would be like if Jaden were still alive. She always loved this sort of thing. Every where they went she wanted to dress up and go to these parties, and, with her, they weren't so bad. Hell, he even enjoyed them to a degree. They would be married now, and she would be pestering him about his drinking, playfully of course considering he knew full well she could throw them back almost as well as he could. And she would constantly throw him into conversations with other people just to vex him, but it wouldn't matter. Any pain she caused him during the party she would more than relieve later that night, in their personal after party.

Maybe that was why Nair was constantly going after women now. Despite being in such a formal environment, Nair felt himself wondering what the different noble women were wearing underneath their dresses, which ones were prudes and which ones were whores. He had no intention of leaving this kingdom without a good taste of its...culture. It was a conflict though. No number of these women could fill the hole left by Jaden, despite how much he tried.

Even now, he could picture Jaden, such a social girl, being the center of attention in whatever group she went to. Her dress would be blue, ice blue, her favorite color, and it would be just the perfect combination of formal and revealing to make her look both beautiful and sexy simultaneously. She would look at him in a way that she knew drove him absolutely crazy, then turn away leaving him begging for more. No other girl could do that to him--not a one.

As far as the guests go, it seemed to be an interesting mix. Every kingdom seemed to have some kind of representation here. The party reminded a person that there was life outside of their own kingdom. There even seemed to be some peasant man walking around fully armed for some reason. In fact, there seemed to be a few people who felt the need to bring their weapons to a social event. That always confused Nair, why a man would do that. It's like, why? Are you really expecting something to happen, or is it a pride issue? It seemed that every formal event there was a handful of these winners who seemed to feel the need to point out to everyone in attendance that they happen to carry a sword when they're not sipping champagne and eating biscuits in a room full of strangers. Nair, personally, felt no need to prove to anyone that he had a large penis by carrying his sword. For one, he was a good enough warrior without it. Two, there was enough water in this room that could easily turn into ice and then, well, one doesn't need a sword when one's enemy has an ice cycle through his head.

It also began to bother Nair that he still hadn't the slightest clue just what this function was all about. His father either didn't know himself, or refused to tell him for whatever reason. It was rather annoying. Everyone else seemed to have a good idea, like they were on their toes with anticipation, expecting something, maybe an announcement of some kind. Nair, on the other hand, was clueless. As far as he knew, this was just an ambassador trip. Royals like to think they run the world, and like to get together with other royals and talk about running the world, and that's all Nair was led to believe this was. On the trip down he was constantly wondering just what he was going to hear about the other kingdoms.

Maybe it was just loyalty, but everyone liked to argue, friendly or otherwise, why this or that kingdom was better. "We have this kind of army." "Oh yeah? Well we have this kind of army." "Well, your economy is inefficient." "Not a chance, it's your economy that can use some work." And so on and so forth. It god old really quick. Nair didn't give a damn about what army has what, to be honest. No army could invade the north, that much he knew, and that much was enough for him, for now. No one could wage war in those mountains who didn't know the mountains. Besides, with a group of Ymir Nair could manipulate the mountain glaciers to close off any pass he wanted, and to cause avalanches on any army. No, the mountains were impenetrable. So let these southern folk have their armies, it meant nothing. He was confident enough to trust that his own men could outfight any army these weaklings in the south could muster. Damn though, maybe that was just him being loyal, too.

Just when he thought his boredom would be his death, he heard something that snapped him back into reality. "Do you have any ale?" The voice, a female's voice, asked. Nair turned his head to see a stunning woman in what looked to be a dress made out of large butterfly wings, with mesmerizing designs on her arms. Knowing that this was probably his only chance to have a decent conversation, Nair grabbed himself a glass of champagne and walked over to her.

"It's absolute shit, yes, but if you drink a gallon or two you may start to feel a little bit tipsy." A woman who requests ale when champagne is being served, Nair had learned through experience, is not the woman you pass up. Nair smiled and tilted his head towards her in acknowledgement. "I plan on raiding the kitchen later for the good booz, if you want in."

Rima took a few steps away from the bar, her dress grazing her tanned thighs as she moved, and turned her attention to the crowd. Everyone looked immaculate, dressed from head to toe in fine clothing and jewellery so that they all looked the same despite whatever social status they may have. Along with their fine clothing, everyone seemed to have an air of importance about them that they held around themselves like shields. It was an odd thing to watch, people chatting with hard edges to their voices and making snide comments about the other’s kingdom.

Rima tipped her glass back, taking a long sip of the bubbly champagne, and decided immediately that she did not care for champagne; it was too sweet, like drinking candy. She would have much preferred to be in her own clothing with the brothers at the pub in the village, drinking ale and telling stories until the early hours of the morning. She was not one to drink simply for the sake of getting drunk, but she had reached that point on a number of occasions when celebrating one event or another and saw nothing wrong with having a few drinks.

"It's absolute shit, yes, but if you drink a gallon or two you may start to feel a little bit tipsy."

Rima looked away from the crowd of elegantly dressed people and into the face of a handsome man who had quite the presence. She was immediately given the impression that he was someone of importance, whether that meant royalty or not she wasn’t sure. Most of the kingdoms thought that the princess of Gai was dead, as she had been missing for ten years, and she was unsure whether or not the word of her survival had reached all the kingdoms yet. It had only been a year since she had been discovered and it was unlikely that the good news for Gai had been passed on, since it meant little to the other kingdoms. Because of her disappearance, she had missed all of the balls and meet and greets with the other royal families, so she had no idea who anyone was or what they acted like. For all she knew, this man could be a prince, a soldier, or a commoner. In truth, it mattered little to Rima for she often thought that the class systems were ridiculous.

Nair smiled and tilted his head towards her in acknowledgement. "I plan on raiding the kitchen later for the good booze, if you want in."

Rima’s lips broke into a grin as she tilted the glass back; sipping the remains of the champagne, “Count me in of course! You’d think they would have something decent to drink.” She commented with a shrug of her well defined shoulders and placed the empty glass flute on the table behind her before turning back to the man. He was tall, which was nice considering Rima was easily six feet tall even in her tiny heels, had short gleaming white hair, pale skin, and a handsome face which was half covered in a well maintained beard and moustache. She wondered for a moment how old he was, for his mannerisms placed him in his early twenties but his white hair and beard made her think he could be older.

“I’m Rima.” She said after a moment, laughing lightly, “Sorry for staring I was just trying to decide how old I think you are.” The comment was light hearted, and she thought nothing of it, but some turned to stare at Rima in disbelief that a young woman would say something like that. She had no idea it may be considered rude to remark on someone’s age, and likely would have thought anyone silly to say so. “I’m going to say...” she trailed off, taking a confident step forward to look up into his face and smiled as she noticed his eyes for the first time, “Twenty five.” She said with a nod.

“Young lady, it isn’t proper to comment on someone’s age.”

Rima turned to gaze at an older woman in a black gown with a pink mask. Rima laughed and raised her brows beneath her mask, before responding, “I didn’t know that, but I know for certain it isn’t proper to eavesdrop.” Her voice was not cold and cutting, the way that some would have replied. Rather, it was honest and teasing but the woman looked completely affronted and turned on her heel and stormed off into the crowd.

Rima looked back to the man before her and offered him an apologetic grin, emerald gold eyes bright in the light of the ball room, “Sorry if my comment was rude. I’m twenty if it helps level the playing field.” She said before plucking another flute of champagne from the bar top, brushing gently against him as she did so. The movement would have been considered flirtatious by some, in the way that she tilted her head to look at him while she did it, but it had not been her intention to be flirtatious. The truth was, she knew very little about flirting and almost always did it by accident when she as simply being herself which often got her into awkward situations. Rima sipped on the champagne while waiting for the man to respond, her dark hair falling in random loose curls around face.

When Anne woke up, it was still dark. She looked at the clock located at her bedside table, it said: 4:00. It was still early in the morning, but Anne got up, took a bath and dressed herself in her usual manner. She peeked outside her door to see if anyone was already awake. Besides from the guards and some of the maids, everyone was still asleep. She sighed as she closed her door. Then she suddenly realized that the day she was waiting for has arrived. Today was the very day that her personal maid always went to town to buy some seafood and other stuff that they were in need of. She got excited about this as she opened her door again. She walked past several bedrooms and floors, until she reached the maid's quarter.

She knocked on the door and opened it carefully. Inside, some maids were still sleeping, but her personal maid was already awake and preparing for her trip to town. Her personal maid, Amanda, looked at her with a surprised expression. " Princess Anne, what are you doing here in such an early hour? " Amanda asked her, letting go of the basket she was holding and walking fast towards her. Anne smiled and whispered, " Amanda, can I go with you in town? " Amanda had her puzzled expression on. And Anne was afraid that she won't be going with Amanda.

" Please? I really want to see other people. I'm getting tired of this palace. " Anne told Amanda with her lips pouting slightly. She realized that she might have looked weird. Amanda laughed lightly and nodded. " But what if your parents would learn about this? " she asked Anne. Anne thought of an alibi that would make her reason for going into town valid. But then, it might be not so easy. She was forbidden to go outside the palace grounds. But if she really pleads her parents when they get back, it could work.

" Then please don't tell them that I left " Anne told Amanda with a smile. It was the perfect plan. " Well, if you say so. Let's go " Amanda told her as she led the way towards the palace exit. The guard was clearly confused about the two of them going somewhere. " I will just be in the pool or the garden " Anne told him. The guard opened the door and let them out. "Wait. How do you get down from here? " Anne asked Amanda.

" The queen allows us to use the pegasus for this. " she answered with a grin. Anne grabbed her wrist as they went towards the pegasus that were waiting for them and rode it. After a few moments, Amanda told her that they have reached their destination. Anne got down from the pegasus with Amanda's help as her eyes wandered immediately. There were plenty of people even though it was still early. She couldn't say anything, she was speechless. ' So this is what it looks like. I hope that I meet some people here ' Anne thought as she smiled.

Ariadne stepped from the carriage and let out a long, tired breath as she looked up at the palace looming infront of her. It was a beautiful palace with lights strung up as decoration for the ball she was about to walk into. She strolled up the steps to the door, nodding to the two guards on either side as she followed the maid who was to lead her to the ballroom. It was exactly as she expected it to be when she walked into the large dimly lit room and she was all but thrilled to be apart of it. When Ari first heard of the ball and the circumstances surrounding it, she immediately refused to take part in it. The cliche princess who sat around preparing to be a wife and dreaming of the day her prince walked into her life was everything Ari wasn't. She never wanted to get married, and the fact that she was getting forced into it disgusted her. But, that was the life of a princess and though she'd had to live it for the past five years she would never get used to it all.

She remained by the door, her gaze sweeping over the ballroom slowly as she took it all in. Everyone was in masks, as expected, and dressed in their finest clothes. Some were already dancing though it was still early, and some were chatting with drinks in their hands. She made a mental note to make her way over to the drink table later; she knew she'd be needing it. Ari took in a deep breath and folded her arms over her chest as she felt a familiar presence close to her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, her gaze continuing to sweep over the ballroom as she wondered who she was to be paired with. Surely not the fat man standing in the corner checking out the ladies as he stuffed his face. She couldn't help but grimace at the thought. Though she wasn't a shallow girl that focused on someone's physical appearence, there was still a limit.

"You know what I'm doing here. I'm supposed to make sure you don't get yourself into trouble, remember? That's what a personal body guard usually does." Kale replied, stepping up behind her. "Besides I couldn't resist. I wanted to see for myself who the unlucky fool stuck with you would be. Maybe offer him my regards and give him some pointers so he doesnt piss you off and end up dead. I pity the man already." Kale teased, a smirk spreading across his lips. Ari turned to face him, her eyes narrowing on his. He too was wearing a mask and a nice suit, probably to blend in with everyone else. The black mask covered half of his dangerously handsome face and matched the silky black locks that fell over his forehead, also bringing out the shocking blue color of his eyes. She hadn't seen him in a suit in years, not since they were younger and the jacket drapped over his bony shoulders awkwardly.

"You look stunning by the way, I almost didn't recognize you." He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall lazily, his eyes sliding over her from head to toe.

"It's a shame I couldn't say the same for you." Ari replied, turning away from him. She was lying of course, but lying was something she excelled in. "And I'd keep those so-called pointers to yourself. It would be following those that would get him killed." She muttered, loud enough for him to hear. With that, she moved her way through the room towards the drink table. The dim lights made her red eyes glow softly as they flitted across masked faces as she passed. There wasn't anyone she recognized, but that didn't come as a surprise since Ari barely associated herself with the other royals and avoided any get-togethers like the plague. She picked up a glass of champaigne and downed it quickly, wishing she had some ale. It was going to be a long night.

Kordoshi sipped down another glass of water and placed the cup face down near the back of the table. He didn't know where they were keeping the glasses that had been used and he really didn't care, he just wanted out. He was still wearing a mask which had been placed on him while he slept on the trip over here, and he looked in a mirror off to the side of the room.

"... I hate nobles..." He unconsciously said aloud.

He ripped the mask off his face, snapping the cordage in the back with a loud whipping crack that reverberated through the area of the room he was in and scared a few of the nobles around him. He looked at the mask in his hands and stared at it for a moment. It was a finely crafted ceramic mask with a shining and reflective surface and beautiful black and golden inlays running along its edge. It was a half mask, so his mouth and the bottom of his nose had been free which is why he was able to drink before, but the rest of it completely covered the upper half of his face. Now that it was off, he'd had enough.

He crushed the mask in his hands, causing quite a few people around him to back away in fear as he simply continued to stare at his hand as the mask cracked, shattered, and fell to the floor in several pieces.

He hated masks. Covering up the face was a sign of cowardice in the world he grew up in and was frowned heavily upon. If his master had been here to see this he'd have punished Kordoshi on the spot for allowing such a thing to occur. Assassins didn't hide their faces, they showed them to their prey before they died. He looked up with a light scowl on his face and scanned the faces of those who were now staring at him. He had a thought and inside he began to smile to himself, though his face did not share in the smile. He reached up and grabbed the hilt of his sword, giving it a light twist. Five feet of tempered golden metal shifted on his back and sent part of the crowd into a panic. He smiled and closed his eyes.

He had adjusted the position of the sword at his back just so, making sure it was easily accessible if he needed it. The sight of him reaching for a sword with a five foot blade that had no sheath had seriously disturbed many of the spectators around him which made him quite pleased. It was the only fun he'd had all night, though it was now over. His smile disappeared and he turned and walked towards the side of the room near one of the windows. He removed his sword from its clip at his back and stabbed it into the ground next to the seat. He didn't care for letting a blade lean against a surface and risk it falling to the ground. Letting your weapon hit the ground without control was extremely disrespectful to the weapon and showed no discipline on the part of the weapon's owner.

He sat down in the chair and let out a sigh as the people who had watched him before turned away from him and continued their conversations, no doubt remarking how rude, crude and awful he had just been.

"... Pathetic, underhanded, two faced, scheming, suck ups... I really hate nobles." He said to himself under his breath.

He scanned the rest of the crowd. There were literally hundreds of people and the sight was almost overwhelming. The sheer size of the room and the number of people who currently inhabited it was astonishing and somewhat unnerving. Kordoshi was never good with crowds, given the solitary nature of the life he led as an Assassin, but this was ridiculous.

As he continued to watch the crowd, a young woman in a sky blue mask and a beautiful white gown approached him and sat down in the chair next to him.

"Such a lovely evening tonight, isn't it Kordoshi?" She said.

His eyes widened slightly at the sound of her voice, and his mouth opened to say something, but no words escaped. She let out a small laugh and turned to face him in her chair, and he turned his head to face her, his eyes narrowing as he did so.

"You haven't changed have you?" She asked with a smile, "Still can't stand crowds or those of noble birth I see. When will you learn to accept people for who they are rather than what they were born with?"

Kordoshi frowned at her.

"Taira... " He said quietly, " What in the Hell are you doing here?"

"Oh, just keeping an eye on you. Master asked me to do so after all. He wants to make sure that things go smoothly between you and your new bride to be."

He squeezed the arm of the chair, splintering the wood as he did so.

"I had a feeling he was in on this the moment that Badic told me that the High King knew of my existence for a long time. So Master was grooming me to be a fighter so I'd be a good match for a stuck up little princess was he? He can keep his teachings and ride the first boat to the realm of the dead for all I care, and if you continue to treat this matter so lightly Taira, then you can join him!"

His words were intense, but his volume was controlled. Never the less there was no mistaking the anger and hatred in his voice. She took off her mask slowly, not letting any real emotion show in her actions, but when the mask came down there were tears rolling down her cheeks. Kordoshi was taken aback by the sight, as he'd only seen her cry once before and that was when he left the life of an Assassin behind. She looked at him and offered a smile despite the tears.

"You think this is easy for me? I think you forget who you're talking to and what we shared for many years... Did you forget that you and I had planned on being wed one day despite the fact that we knew you would earn your freedom before that time could come to pass? You have no idea just how hard this actually is, to be here beside you at last and not be able to do a thing about it. I'm not allowed to interfere, I'm not even supposed to be talking to you right now but... I had to."

Kordoshi had to lean back and take in the sight. Her tears, the slight tremble in her speech and the sadness in her voice all came down on him like a lead weight. He closed his eyes and turned to face forward in the chair as his grip loosened on its arm and he let out a sigh. For a long moment, there was silence between the two until Kordoshi finally broke it.

"... I'm sorry Taira." He said gently.

"It's alright." She replied while she removed a tissue from her gown pocket and wiped her tears away.

"You know just how stubborn and hot headed I can be... I guess I just can't get used to this while arranged to a princess thing. I've let the stress and the anger get to me and it has clouded my judgement of the situation."

"That it has, you big dummy." She said with a smile and a giggle.

Kordoshi smiled as well and chuckled slightly. "Big dummy" was what Taira always called him when he made a mistake and had become something of a nickname for him between them whenever he would mess up. To hear her call him that again was refreshing and actually quite charming. He had missed the sound of her voice and the times they shared together. Their sharing of missions were some of his fondest memories growing up, and he looked over at her and offered her a genuine smile for the first time in over a year.

"I'm glad you came, Taira. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too Kordoshi. Life just isn't the same without you back at headquarters. Even some of the others miss you, though they'll never admit to it."

Kordoshi laughed aloud at the thought, since most of the others always said they hated his guts. Taira laughed with him and he felt the tension and the stress beginning to slowly melt away as they continued to converse.

"I remember them well. I have to admit that I almost miss them too, almost." He said casually.

"Almost... Sure. And yet if you were to go back I'd see them run up, lift you up and hug you and you'd laugh until they put you down again. You can't fool me Kordoshi, I know you." She said, laughing a bit to herself at the image.

"... Never the less Taira, tell me something. Did Master really know that all of this would go down? Did he know that this is what the High King could have planned for me all those years ago?" He asked, his smile disappearing and being replaced with a broken hearted expression.

Taira stopped laughing and looked at him with a similar expression before closing her eyes and letting out a sigh. She opened her eyes and tried to smile but it just didn't work.

"I'm afraid so. Master is one of the High King's many high ranking secret officials. He happens to be an Assassin as well, and he knew full well that ever since you were a teenager that you were being considered as a prime candidate for what the High King had in mind this day."

Kordoshi let out a breath through his nose and leaned forward in the chair, his elbows finding their way to his knees as he clasped his hands together and brought them up to cover his mouth as he began to think on the matter.

Taira rose from the chair and walked to his side, placing her hand gently on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Kordoshi... I know that there isn't really anything I can say that will remedy this situation or ease your mind about the idea of being married to a woman you've never met and being brought into a lifestyle that you abhor. But even so I'd like to say that no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you. You know that, right?" She asked quietly.

His hands came away from his mouth and he was smiling. It was a comforting sight for her to see him smile after everything she had told him. He looked over at her and brought his left hand up to her face, opening it as if to stroke her cheek before suddenly turning it and giving her nose a gentle flick. It caught her off guard and she backed away a step, but regardless of the surprise she smiled and started to laugh. Kordoshi simply smiled, but no laughter escaped from him as he watched her.

"Thank you Taira, for everything. I'm not happy about what the High King has done, but now that my head is clear I can see the motivation guiding his actions this evening and I believe in his judgement on the matter. I doubt that a man like him would deliberately pair someone like me to a Princess unless he knew that there was a way for us to find a future together, as otherwise a pairing would be completely pointless and it would destroy us both in due time before any sort of peaceable life could be attained."

Taira stopped laughing and walked over to his side and once again placed her hand on his shoulder. "You're right. I've met the High King once before when he visited our headquarters shortly after you left us, and he is a kind and honest man. I believe in him as well, and I hope that you can find happiness Kordoshi... That's all I've ever wanted for you since the day we met."

Kordoshi gently placed his hand on hers as it sat on his shoulder and he continued to smile. He looked up at her for a moment and then back to the floor in front of him. For a moment he was silent, but he soon spoke once again.

"Thank you Taira. I'm sure that I will find a way to find peace with this. I always do." He said proudly.

"Yes you do Kordoshi, yes you do." She said quietly.

She leaned down and kissed his cheek, whispering something in his ear before she stood up straight, placed the mask back on her face and disappeared into the crowd before him. With her parting words Kordoshi stood up, pulled his sword from the ground by his chair and replace it on his back where it was meant to be. He sighed to himself at the thought of trying to interact with anyone here, but he resigned himself to the task. He would find anyone to speak with on this side of the room, however, so he followed Taira's initial path towards the other side of the vast room where nobody had seen or heard of the slight scene he made earlier.

As he walked towards the other side of the room, Taira's final message echoed in his mind.

... Though your future is a blur, remember that your past will always hold the answers you seek...

At present he didn't understand what she meant, but he had a feeling that in due time he'd come to understand her words.

After a minute or two of walking across the ridiculously long room, he found his way over to one of the refreshment tables and poured himself a small glass of wine. He was not a big fan of drinking, but the occasional glass was alright. Even though he had an incredibly strong tolerance to alcohol, he preferred not partaking of it when he could avoid it. Never the less he looked up and sat back against the table, despite the large blade at his back he tried to look as friendly as possible for anyone who would see him and feel that they could talk to him.

This girl was something else, and Nair figured that there were definitely worse things he could do with the next thirty minutes or so, or however long she managed to keep his attention. Nair chuckled as she spoke, his hands moving to his beard as if this was the first time he had even noticed he had it since he grew it out. It wasn't too long, by and means, nor was the mustache, but they were both thick enough to give him a more masculine appearance than his old, baby faced self. Of course, his facial hair had been trimmed and cut to perfection, but it was something that he no longer thought about. At least, he hadn't until Rima had brought it up.

When she spoke, she brushed against him, and Nair felt his heart beat quicken. His heart fell so easy some times, always ready to try the next flavor available. Nair took a few deep breaths, settling himself down.

"Don't apologize. These nobles only become offended when asked their age because it reminds them that they're old and have accomplished nothing, that they wasted their lives on vanity." Nair let out a boyish giggle, knowing he had already done more in his short life time than many of these nobility ever will. "I"m Nair." He was wondering if he should add his title into his introduction, but decided against it. She did not use her own. Looking towards a double door in the back of the large room, Nair noticed servants bringing food in and out. "Come," Nair said, taking Rima by the hand, "let's see what they have hidden from us."

Rima raised her brows in amusement at the man's comments on nobles. While it wasn't out of her nature to say something like that about one individual about whom she knew the truth about, she was often wary about making such generalizing comments. She didn't judge others for doing it, though, and it was possible that this man did know what he was talking about. Rima had barely met any nobles and it was true that almost all of them had been rude and haughty.

She grinned when he laughed, a boyish and youthful sound. He didn't give off the warmth and welcoming vibe that the three brothers did, but there was something there that was quite different from anything she had experienced. He had a deeper voice with a distinct masculine edge that was calming in a weird way and she thought that, when he introduced himself as Nair, it suited him.

When Nair took her hand she did not resist. Vito would have scolded her for being so trusting, but Rima saw nothing wrong with slipping off with Nair and thought nothing about how it would look to anyone who was watching the pair. "Sounds good to me." She agreed, placing the mostly empty flute of champagne on the table, and slipped her long thin fingers around his hand in a confident grasp.

She had noticed the doors as well and kept pace with him as they moved through the crowd, slipping between circles of masked people who talked of politics and war, until eventually they were at the door. Just as she was about to push the door open a young waiter came through with a tray of food and narrowed his eyes at her. "If you would just wait out here I'm sure one of us would be thrilled to get whatever it is you would like." He snapped, balancing the tray with one hand as he ushered a few waiters in and out of the kitchen.

Rima smiled warmly in response, seemingly unfazed by the rude waiter, and shook her head once, "Your hands are full and we don't mind getting it ourselves." She said kindly, watching as the man seemed to weigh his options and quickly come to the conclusion that in order to keep his job he needed to bring food and champagne out. Two strangers in the kitchen was the least of his problems on this insanely busy night. Without another moments hesitation, the waiter dashed off into the ballroom, leaving the path open for Rima and Nair.

"After you." She said, pushing the door open wider so that Nair could enter, while she offered him a playful smile.

Nair thought it humorous when the servant actually seemed to think that he would have any power to stop them from getting what they wanted. Of course, this whole thing could be solved quite simply. All Nair really had to do was intimidate any one of the servants with a "I am Nair, prince of Iroldak, commander of the norther legions, and if I want ale then I will have it!" But, honestly, he was actually enjoying himself, and part of that enjoyment came in the form of their anonymity. All he knew of her was that her name was Rima. What title or rank she held he hadn't the slightest idea. And it seemed that she did not know who he was, either.

Although that was odd, in a way. Nair had the snow white hair held by the royal family in Iroldak, and his suit was made with designs of snowflakes, another common Iroldakian symbol. For anyone even partially versed in the royal families and politics of the kingdoms, it was quite obvious who he was, despite the mask. Nair remembered thinking that his outfit defeated the purpose of the masquerade, but he was never really one for fashion so the simplest solution was to not even bother harassing his people on what they felt like dressing him in. That sort of thing never really mattered to him, anyway. It wasn't what a man wore that made him, but the man himself. Nair felt no need to have a huge, intimidating sword, or frightening heavy armor, preferring simpler weaponry and armor. The same went for these functions. There was no need for him to make himself look opposing in anyway.

The two of them slipped into the kitchens, and Nair, again, actually enjoying himself, wanted to keep up the fun of sneaking around. For instance, when a cook was about to turn and see them as the lightly walked through the kitchens was immediately distracted when the pot boiling lobster right next to him suddenly froze, encasing the lobsters and vegetables inside in a thick chunk of ice. It had been a while since he had used his magic, and it was always a rush to feel it coursing through his veins once again.

It was not long at all until they had found their destination, and even better the two of them managed to do so without alerting anyone of their presence. The door was wooden and old, but Nair just knew what they sought lie beyond it. "It's through here," he said with a grin, giving Rima's hand a playful squeeze before releasing it to open the door. The door opened up, and the room beyond was in total darkness. Then, Nair heard footsteps coming from behind them. Thinking quickly, the prince grabbed one of the torches on the wall in the kitchen and pulled Rima inside the room, closing the door behind them.

"Well, my lady, I think we just found some treasure." Nair laughed as he stared out as far as the torch light carried, showing shelves of barrels obviously full of a far more heavier drink than the champagne being served outside. Considering it wasn't on the menu, they must have decided to not even bother lighting this room tonight. "Tonight we'll drink from the High King's personal stores. I'm not sure why he brought me here, but dammit will we have drank his finest ale before the night's end." With another laugh, Nair looked towards Rima, noting again her beauty, though this time amplified even more so by the torch fire. "Shall we?"

Rima had stopped briefly to watch in amazement as Nair turned the pot of boiling water to ice in an instant. So he was a Ymir. She supposed the snowflake designed suit should have given that away, but she was never one for fusing over what race someone was or wasn't. All of the races were interesting in her mind, none being above the others, and she was one of the few who honestly did not care about those of mixed blood. In all truth, she was almost jealous for their powers were often far more interesting than her own.

Rima managed to bring herself back to reality and follow Nair down the hall, wondering if he often snuck into kitchens to drink for he seemed to know exactly where to go. A moment later Rima found herself being pulled into a cool dark room as the pair of them avoided being caught by service staff who dashed busily down the hall.

Inside the room, lit only by the torch in Nair's hand, Rima regarded the man before her with interest. Her heart was beating quicker than usual, but otherwise she felt completely at ease. The evening was proving to be much more exciting than she had expected so that when he suggested they drink she quickly agreed.

"Definitely." She said, looking at him a moment longer before moving. The shadows of the torch light played with his features, highlight his angled cheekbones, and lighting his eyes with an alluring glow.

Rima looked away, searching the shelves for glasses. The glasses here were not the fine crystal that were in the hall, but she had drunken from far worse for ware glasses in her life. She selected two without hesitation and moved to the closest barrel. It had the name of a type of ale on the front, one which she had not heard of but could only assume was strong and expensive or it would not be locked away like this.

She quickly knelt down, the vibrant gown moving with her body like air, and filled both of the cups to the brim so that the foam of the ale threatened to spill over the side. It was cool and smelt delicious and earthy, far better than the bubbling sweet champagne that was being served continuously in the ball room. Rima stood up, careful not to spill, and turned towards Nair while offering him his glass before taking a long sip out of her own glass, "Thanks for stealing me away. This is delicious." She said, smiling up at him over the rim of her glass.

The ale was more than delicious, and was exactly what Nair had needed. He found a place to stick the torch, leaving one of his hands free. Silently he walked around, studying the barrels in the dim light. The Ale was aged about a year, giving it a full, rich taste. Nair finished his cup quickly, and walked over to refill it. He was definitely in the mood to get drunk, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so.

Nair couldn't help but fall into nostalgia when placed in a room with firelight and alcohol. They had casual conversation back and forth while they drank, Nair not wanting to go into too many personal details about either of them. It wasn't that he didn't find himself incredibly curious about this woman, who she was and where she came from, but he had no desire to give her much about himself, so with that he gave her the same common courtesy that he wanted from her.

And yet, as a few rounds came and went, Nair felt his world beginning that sweet, wonderful spin. It got to a point where he knew his tongue was beginning to loosen up, so he knew he should slow down, but at the same time he had no interest in slowing down, and drank more. His years of drinking large amounts gave him the distinct ability that all alcoholics gain after so long, the fact that he was far drunker than he appeared. The world was spinning around him, but he was able to stand and move with decent enough precision.

Turning back towards Rima, Nair suddenly lost his breath, the shattering sound of his dropped glass emitting from the ground below him. Instead of Rima stood none other than Jaden, ghostly and pale, with blood on her stomach where her stab wound lay. Nair staggered backwards, tripping and falling onto his bottom, staring up at where Jaden now stood in front of him, whispering her name into the air barely audible. Then, as if she had never been there, the image of Jaden faded away, leaving behind it the figure of Rima. The whole thing startled him closer towards sobriety, though he still felt quite drunk.

Laughing a distant laugh, Nair looked up at Rima, "Sorry about that. For a second you looked like someone I used to know." Nair got to his feet and refocused his eyes back onto Rima. "No worries though," Nair started to walk off towards the exit, staggering into the darkness, leaving the torch back with Rima, unsure of whether or not she was following behind him, though he hoped she was.

Rima had downed quite a few glasses of ale, enjoying the warm heavy feeling her body took on as she drank more. Nair was very handsome and she found herself undeniably attracted to him, an experience which she had never had to this degree before, and found herself wondering what it would be like to kiss him; she imagined it would feel far different than the brief one sided kiss with Antaeus.

The conversation flowed just as steadily as the booze did, talking of non-personal things that weren't terribly important. Rima would have usually asked whatever was on her mind, but something about the way Nair lead the conversation seemed to suggest he didn't wish to talk about himself and she felt just fine not going into her own story. 'Oh, by the way, I was kidnapped when I was ten by some crazy elf who wanted to use my blood to curse my family and destroy my kingdom but it sort of backfired and he disintegrated into nothing... then I lived in the forest for ten years, not knowing who I was. How was your childhood?' It really wasn't the lightest subject to touch on.

Nair continued to drink with growing enthusiasm while Rima began to slow her pace, sipping slowly from her current glass. She knew that soon enough she needed to head back to the ball room to be engaged to some stranger and it was probably best if she could walk and maybe speak coherently. Rima finished her drink, placing the cup on the shelf, and turned her attention back to Nair to suggest that they head back when suddenly Nair gasped, dropped his glass, and fell to the ground with an expression of pure shock on his face. His lips moved, shaping a name that she could not make out, as he continued to stare at her.

Rima had jumped in surprise at first, taking a step back and jamming her shoulder violently into the tap of one of the barrels. The pain was instant and she swore harshly, knowing for certain that it would blossom into a dark bruise by the morning, but quickly turned back to Nair as he spoke. His voice was steady and not alarming, but his words triggered a sense of unease in her. She opened her mouth to speak, but was struck silent as he stood and walked out of the room, leaving her standing alone in the dark. Someone he used to know? He had looked like he had seen a ghost or something truly terrible. The sense of enjoyment and ease vanished quickly and she was left with two options: Stay where she was and let Nair leave and wonder drunken and alone back into the ball or wherever he was headed... or she could go after him. For Rima, there really was no option; she had to go after him.

Turning quickly she extinguished the torch and slipped out of the room, dashing gracefully after him. She caught up with him within seconds, glad that the hall was empty, reached out and took his hand in her own without hesitation. It wasn't a clingy gesture, the way some girls grasp at a man's hand for attention and praise. She simply grasped his hand to get his attention and slow him down, but it did not feel awkward to do it, "I think we almost drank the majority of the king's prized ale. At one point I thought you were my Uncle Sheldon, but his beard is not as fine as yours and it would be very weird to be drinking in the dark with him." She teased lightly, her expression kind. Something told her that if she asked what was wrong he would brush it off and she knew from experience not to press people into talking about things they didn't want to talk about. So, instead, she did what she did best and tried to lighten the situation as she directed him back towards the ball room. She was able to walk much straighter than Nair, so she casually used the side of her body to direct him in a straight line back to the ball room and away from whatever dark place Nair had just ventured.

Anne had fun during their trip to the town and fortunately got back to the palace before her parents woke up. She was saddened not to meet anyone though. Back in her kingdom, she sneaked back to her room and pretended to be asleep. When it was already 9:00, her mother knocked on her door. She opened it and pretended to rub her eyes. " What is it, Mother? " Anne asked her mom. Her mother smiled at her and said, "You are to attend a ball later on, so you must pick a gown to wear. And pick a mask " her mother said and left.

Amanda entered her room and told her that she was to choose a gown from several gowns that were shown to her. There were hundreds or maybe thousands of them. She couldn't pick a gown before lunchtime. But after a few moments after eating, she chose a nice gold gown with a white lining. It was just the right gown for her. It was not too big and it won't really be a bother to her. She will wear black shoes that matched her gown.

5:00 came and she was to ride her carriage and go to the ball. Her mask was in her hand, and it was colored black and gold. She really didn't want to attend, if it weren't for her mother. She wanted to sleep and meet some common people in town, rather than to go to the ball. After some time of riding the carriage, the driver announced that they have arrived. Amanda helped her down and the driver led her to the massive doors where the ball was currently being held. She took a deep breath and entered.

Inside were nobles and people dancing together and talking to each other. But she was a sheltered princess, and she didn't know any other nobles beside the princes that were introduced to her, and she hasn't even paid attention to them. ' I hate it here. I want to go home ' Anne thought as she walked down the path. Nobles and other people alike looked at her as she walked past them. She didn't like getting attention too much. And so, she proceeded to a seat near the side of the room. She sat down, thinking of what to do. Then she remembered that she was supposed to wear her mask.

She wore the mask and looked at the nobles around her. They were having fun, and there she was, sitting alone. " I honestly want to go home " Anne muttered.

The city of Lamolrian was busy as ever.The streets filled with people going to each shop, or the shop workers going on their normal day servicing their costumers. Inside of a tavern called 'The Laughing Mug' was no different. People of the town or just passing through, came in and out of the alcohol, potions, and machine shop. As usually, the table were mainly filled with older men either reaching the end of their prime or already passed it, then you got your married men that were looking for a few hours from their nagging wives and noisey children, some of the more masculine energy women that could hold their drinks and dish out their fair share of tavern comcial insults, and a few "kids" that finally reached the legal drinking age and discoving the joys and soon the curse of alcohol. The tavern was filled with the smell of drinks, roasted meat, yeast from bread, a touch of oil, and the odd mixture of various of potions being mix the back.

Normally, converstaions vary from day-to-day but since the pass month or some, it seems like peope can't tear away from the huge news of the five princes and princess going to engaged and a rumored sixth prince. Since news got around about the royal engagements, people of Lamolrian can't shut up about it. But in the way, who their princess is going to be engaged to will affect them in some way. So, converstaions were mainly about how they were going to do the engagements and what might change after they get married. Like will any of their laws change due to their princesses being married one of the princes and change to suite his passed culture, or will they have to look for a new heir since their princess moving to another kingdom? Naturally, you got people that will say all the "pros" and how things will improve for them. Then you got the people listing all the "cons" and how things will negatively change their average lives.

One of the few people that has no opinion on this matter had his back against one of the whine barrels in the basement of the tavern, sleeping with his droppy hat covering the top half of his face and even his sunglasses. Sado was snoring his worries away while hiding from his old man and his grandfather, who were probably switching from serving the costumers to hunting their lazy future owner of the tavern down. It wasn't long before the basement door opened from the top of the stone stair case and the sound of heavy footsteps bounced off the stone walls and didn't stop until they reached the barral that Sado was sneaking a little cat nap behind.

"SAAADOOOO! What the hell are you doing sleeping while you should be upstairs helping out serve drinks!" Yelled a large, tan skinned, short black haired man with slit eyes and wearing glasses. Buck's face shown some evidense of his age from some wringles under his eyes and the corner of his mouth. The wiskers on his chin didn't help to make him look any younger.

The peacefully sleeping Sado did wake from his slumber, but didn't jump from the surprise from the shouting of his father like most would. After a couple of decades of being yelled at, lod noises really didn't surprise you no matter how deep in sleep you were. So, Sado acted like he didn't hear his old man's question/order and kept still and tried to get a few more minutes of his nap.... To bad Buck had other plans. When Sado looked like he was ignoring him, which he was, Buck's right fist made contact with the top of his son's head.

"YEOUCH!" The 'reply' came from the lazy man as his sunglasses fell to the ground and Sado rubbing the spot of the head that was punched. "You didn't have to go on and use full force on your only son, Pa." Sado replied as he set his odd hate back to it's usual spot on his orange head and picked up his shades and put them on, but lowere than most people, with a lazy grin of his face followed by a light hearted chuckle.

While most people would think that the tall, odd, orange haired man was mocking them with his easy-going attitude, those who sadly know him knew he was simplely laughing it off. No use making a fuss of what's already in the past, is one of Sado's little mottos that he lives by. Even though it happen just moments before, it's the past- it can't be changed. so why bother and move on to your day with an upbeat attitude.... Just as long it doesn't involve any work like Buck was suggesting.

"It's high time you got your act together, Sado! I mean you're as lazy as the homeless drunk that looks in out garbage for scrapes for his dinner because he's too damn lazy to get a job! The Laughing Mug is going to get passed down to you as my dad did for me and his old man did for him, and I'll eat my own shoes before I see you riun this place," Buck complained as he grabbed his son's left ear and started to drag him up the stairs.

The two of them were met at the top of the stairs by Prysala, Sado's mother, who for once had a serious expression on her face with a slight mixture of surpise, curiousity, and confusion. When she normally had a sweet simle with somewhat dark intentions underneath. The sight of his wife looking strange cause buck to stop dragging their 21 year old son by his ear like a little brat and stopped in his traces. Before either of the men could ask what was going on, the drak organed haired woman answered before them.

"There's a special guest to visit our Sado all the way from Galanor. I'm pretty sure his said his name was Badic, but anyway he's waiting for Sado at one of the back tables where we usually keep free for newly weds and other local VIPs." She answered as she lead the confused dou to the table she was taking about. Sitting there was a dark elf that looked some years younger than Buck that was wearing an emotionless mask, not giving anything about his visit away, and Sado's granddad, Gothar, who looked like he was trying to entertain their unusal guest but was failing at it. Gothar stopped telling whatever story that he was in the middle of telling with sado walked up.

"Aw, there's my grandson now. Well, you did say you wanted to talk with him alone and all. so this old man will buzz off now!" Gothar said with a drin as he quickly got up and directed Buck and Prysala away from the table and to a near by counter and looked busy preparing more drinks. While in reality, the three of them were trying to overheard about what Badic exactly wanted with their no good Sado who has no clue what work means.

Badic turned his attention to Sado once he sat down. "So... What's up, elf dude?" Sado asked. 'Elf dude' looked more than a little displeased by the new nickname. "Mr. Oxbaren, please refer me as Asistant Pharalnup or simply Babic," the dark elf corrected. "No problem, elf dude- Uh, Badic."

Badic then explained about how the princes and princesses of the six kingdoms were going to gather at Galanor in three days, and how shocking that they were going to be engaged to commoners. Which Sado was one of the 'lucky' commoners.

"WHAT?!" The surprised three shouts came from Sado's family that had their heads up from their little 'busy' circle, not believing what they just heard. Causing everyone that was near them, including Sado and Badic, turned to stare questionably at the trio. Then they looked embarrased and quickly turned to their fake tasks, waiting for Badic to leave so they could question Sado more of this topic.

Sado was speechless at the news, which is rare of him since he seems to always have something to say or at least laugh about it. Sure the news of commoners marrying royality was shocking enough, but couldn't the High King choose someone as lazy and unmotivated as him. He was one of the last guys that anyone would expect to run a tavern and unthinkable a whole kingdom.

"Are you sure you don't happen to got the wrong guy? I'm not sure you noticed, elf du- uh Badic, but isn't there someone um more fit for the job?" Sado asked, still not fully believing what he was hearing.

Badic stared, minorly glared, at Sado as he fell silent since he couldn't think of an arguement. With some of the commoners chosen, even he questioned the High King's right of mine. Sado was no different. Well, at least the man in front of him would be easy to convince to come without force. "You would never have to work again," the dark elf said, stirring the converstaion so it can end.

"I'm in!" Sado happly agreed without hesistation.

Hours later leaving her hometown that she lived in for all of her 21 years faded completely and entering one of Tibolt's cities to exchange the carriage for a griffin pulled one. Since the pegasuses were tired from flying from the floating city to where ever they landed and trouted to and from Thronecrest. There was an awkward silence, at the least on escasriet's part, as the gold or red trees came and went outside of the carrage window. The carriage would probably would have gone faster if it wasn't for all of Escasriet's luggage. Unlike one would expect from a woman, she actually had about a bag and half of clothing. The rest of the three travel bags were filled with forging hammers, thongs, and any little tool she would need if she could located Galanor's forge or at least a suitable olace for her to craft decent weapons and armor.

If she had to go to dress, noblity, fake Hell, Escasriet will at least make it a touch less miserable by doing what she loves. Pounding hot iron over and over and make it to something that could help to her make her future enemies 'mysteriously disappear without a trace but blood'. Though unlikely send Galanor is on a sky island and only a matter of time for her crime to be revealed and excuted. Yes, the thought of being a princess and the bride of some spoiled royal brat sicken her to no end, but she wasn't suicidal just yet. But forging will grant her a little 'happy place' that she could hopefully retreat to. Not to mention her tools did slow down the carriage into delaying her leaving homeland, which was a little extra bonus to bring her tools with her.

After an hour and a half of leaving Thronecrest, the party entered the city called Diamondback, one of Tibolt's major cities. Escasreit barely had enough time to properly streach her legs before 'escorted' into a new carriage now will be pulled by griffins. She would have at least like the chance to delay them a few minutes longer to get rid all the stiffness of her legs from traveling straight to the city from her little blackwater town.The fact that she would probably never see Tibolt again started to become real in her mind as she stepped into the carriage right before it took off. The griffins opened their wings by the order of the driver and lifted off the carriage off the ground.

Escasriet was no stranger to flying do to her being a half Phoenix Faaras, and able to transform into her bird form and fly. Since she's only half Faaras, her transformations feel like she's the hot iron being hit by ten forging hammers both way. But luckly for her, they're somewhat brief in times. Though she's left breathless after she transforms. Also, she could only stay in her Faaras form for around three hours. But flying was only for a short time and she never fly as the carriage and griffins were now. She always tried to keep it safe by not going to far above the tree line incase her time ran out.

Though she's used to heights, Escasreit had to admit that she was weiry of the ropes holding the carraige to the flock of griffins. It was a little hard to not to think if those ropes broke... Well, if worst came to worst, she guessed that she could always transform but it was 100% sure that she could transform in time before she crashed into the ground. Since panic of falling would make it harder to safe her skin and go into her Faaras form. Tibolt quickly became the size of a large red and orange lake, and it wasn't long before the legendary sky island came into view.

Escasreit was speechless, she heard tales of Galanor since she was a kid and at time image what it would be like to actually see it. It real thing was completely different from what she ever thought, but her awe didn't last for long. As Badic's threat that he had to use to get her here filled her mind. She was her against her will to marriage someone no only she never met, doesn't even know his name, but also is expected to rule one of the six kingdoms. What the forge Gods name is the High King thinking? Maybe his old age is finally cracking his samity;s armor. All the more reason for Elphanor's officals to reconsider this whole royal and commoner engagement shit.

The pink haired girl's opinionated thought were interupted by the carriage landing right outside the castle. The driver quickly let go of the riens to open the carriage door to let Escasriet out and servents were rushing over to get her luggage. She couldn't help to let about a small laugh at the confused men's faces as they lifted the bags that had her tools in them and trying to figure out why they were so heavy that they really couldn't carry them. "Those bags have my forging tools," Escasreit answered. The servents were still confused, but now why would a future princess have forging tools? But it wasn't their place to ask and they figured out a system to carry the heavy bags without breaking their backs.

B A couple of maids hurried out and escorted her into what was going to be her overly decorated jail cell, it was made for a princess. Which Escasriet was far from it. Maybe she could do a little redorating? All the lace fabric and bright colors will be taken out. Sounds like a job that she could do to get her soon to be very angry mind off from things. Nothing says therapy than ripping fabric you hate to shreds. The maids were eager to get Escasriet for dooms day.

"Princess, we got some dresses for you to choose from," a maid with features of a light elf addressed Escasreit. "I'm not a princess, just call me by my name- Escasriet." She replied in a harsher tone than she wanted. The maids looked taken back and slightly scared of Escasriet now. since they have been trained to be submissive to their 'bosses'.

Letting out a grunt mixed sigh, she looked back at the two maids. "Sorry, I'm just having a hard time dealing with all of this. Bluntly, if I had my way I wouldn't even be here."

The light elf and her partner, who had folded dog ears and a curled up dog tail, relaxed again and gave a simple nod. "Yes, I can see how it would be difficult for you to adjust. To think, you were basically like us until today!" The dog Faaras maid spoke cheerfully. Which earned her a sturn glare from the light elf, "Firda! Know your place. Miss Escasriet will soon be a princess to one of the three crowned princes."

Frida's dog ears dropped along with her tail with the light elf's reply. Before Escasriet could say that she really couldn't care less about statues and titles and they could do without as far as she was concerned. The light elf picked up a dark purple dress and held it towards Escasriet. "The color really doesn't give your hair any justice, Princess." The light elf thrown the dress in the floor and moved on to the next one that sooned joined the first.
What started as a small pile soon grew as the light elf was now carefully looking at Escasriet feautres and the dress before throwing it to the pile. At least now she could at least give some say before, but they were more like grunts and unsure 'Uh"s. "How about this one, Princess?" The light elf asked holding up a dress that was... well suited for a princess and was pale blue and was a full ball gown with a lot of bead work.

"I keep telling you to call me Escasriet.... Don't you guys have anything... simpler? You know, something not showy and easy to move around in?"

Frida's ears picked up at Escareit's request as her tail started to wag. "Hey, Calina! I know just the dress!" Frida exclaimed as she dropped the dresses she was holding dropped to the floor and rushed to the closet and pulled out the dress she was refering it. "... It's a lot better than, Calina's been offering. Like I said, I'm NOT a freakin's princess. So could you please just call me by my name?"

Caline hesitatly nod her head into agreement, for a maid. She was a stubborn light elf to breaking tadition. "Very well, Escasreit, now we'll prepare your make-up. since your hair looks fine as it is.... But it COULD use some touching up"

For a woman that only worn a dress a few times in her life and never saw the need to 'pretty up'. Escasriet rose a brow and praying that Calina was kidding. "Is that really nesscary?" She asked with her tone clearing hoping that she didn't. A excited gleam glowed in Calina's and Firda's eyes as they both answered. "Yes!"

Two hours painful or make-up and hair, Escasreit was finally was able to step in the ballroom in a white and black dress with a black mask. The sun had already gone down and the moon and stars were slowly raising in the dark blue sky and lamps were already glowing with tiny little flames inside of them.

People dressed in various shaped and colored clothing were already eagerly entering room with their fake smiles and greedy glances. The ballroom was decorated as much as the rest of the castle was. On one side of the 1/3 town size room, were tables that were set up for finger foods and drinks. On the other end, a throne has already been set up but was empty for the time being. The room also had a few opened doors that seemed to lead to a large balcony, and the center of the room was where people socialized, danced, and listened to the musicians that were playing. After glancing around the room a few times, Escasriet thought it was best for her to get some food and a little of alcohol in her stomach. Who knows, maybe she’ll bump into some of the other commoners while she’s eating. But it was doubtful since she had no clue what they looked like, what they were wearing, and it would be hopeless to look for anyone in the large crowds.

When she finally got to one of the food and drink tables, with some fighting trying to get through the crowd. The idiot nobles thought they were far above everyone else and refused to take a single step aside to let her through. They're manners were equally repaid as she 'accidently' made their whine glass fall on their shirt or dress or stepping on their feet. They wouldn't have stains or throbbing feet if they had kindly stepped aside.

The table was filled with a wide varity of foods from all the kingdoms. Instead of feeling adventurous and testing out different finger foods of other kingdoms, Escasriet stuck to what she knew she would like from the Tibolt's section. She had pumpkin bread, spiced apple slices, and a slice of chestnut pie on her small plate. Brief little memories of back home entered her mind as she bit into her sloce of pumpkin bread. She was not too prideful to ignore the fact that she was already homesick, but she'll die before she told any of these stuck up nobles that had hot tings up their asses.

If she was going to barely get by tonight, she needed a drink. So her next stop was the mini bar. "Got any beer?" She asked to only get a no. Escasriet then asked for ale and only got the same answer. "I'm sorry miss, we only serve whine or cocktails. If you are interested, there is a drink called 'Dark and Stormy'. It's made from Gosling's Black Seal rum and ginger beer." the bartender suggested.

"What the Hell, it'll be better than staying completely sober," she answered as the bartender quickly mixed and was poured into a tall glass, half filled with ice and had a lime wedge on the side. After finishing up Esacsriet's drink, the man moved on to the next guest who looked like she went through a chicken house before she came with all the white feathers she was wearing.

'Time to give the drink a test,' She thought as she took a glup of it instead of sipping.... It wasn't nearly as strong as striaght rum, beer, or ale but it'll do. Dark and Stormy was probably the strongest drink they have that didn't completely ruin the taste of the alcohol. Sure it had a strong gingery taste, but it's better than some stupid sweet or fruity taste to it. She then made her way to a table, the was correctly empty, without much of a fight. Probably because the nobles didn't want Escasriet to spill her food or drinks on them from struggling to get through. Where she can finally sit and try to relax a little.

Anne stood up from the chair she was sitting on and decided to take a drink. She rarely drinks, but this time, she had no choice. She was so bored that she could sleep the whole night. But of course, it would be a disgrace to her kingdom if she did that. She walked towards the table where many nobles were drinking and sat down on one of the chairs available. It turned out that she only wanted grape wine. She couldn't risk to drink some other stronger alcoholic drinks, she might blurt out things that were...not quite good to hear. Taking a sip, she scanned her eyes on the crowd to see if there was someone she recognized. But there was really no one to talk to.

" I shouldn't have come here " Anne muttered as she tried to sit up and look like a princess..in her case, she already was a princess. She tried her best to keep her eyes open, but she was just to sleepy to do so. She wanted someone to talk to her, then she would be able to keep herself from sleeping. Her gown wasn't even helping. It was really a bother to her. She wanted to run around the palace and go to the balcony or something, but her gown is preventing her from doing so.

And so, seeing that there was nothing she can do, she kept on eating slowly until her system was awake. She looked at the people dancing. She wanted to do that too, but she didn't know how to dance. It's not like she hated it, she just wasn't given the chance to learn it. Her mother hated dancing, and her father didn't like attending to these kind of things. So they never bothered to let her learn how to dance. She was jealous of the people around her for having the chance to dance. Looking around her, she noticed that some nobles are already drunk. Good thing that she only drank grape wine and didn't end up like that.

" I guess I won't be dancing then " she told herself as she just smiled. She was happy to watch the people dancing while they were also having fun.

Chad wasn't sure when he fell asleep in the carriage ride to Ephanor, but as he was shaken awake by Badic once they arrived, he realized he must have. The ride to the foreign country, although cut quite significantly thanks to the phoenixes’ speed of flight, still took several hours. They left Ruthen a bit before noon, and yet as the carriage came to land, the sun was falling down the horizon, bathing Castle Elphanor in orangey light. Rubbing his eyes to clear away the sleep from them, Chad stepped awkwardly down from the carriage.

Some of the castle's attendants came and began the work of unhooking the phoenixes from their carriages and preparing them for the ride back to Ruthen. Badic, in an apologetic tone that's effectiveness was somewhat ruined by the rushed air in which he talked, said that he had to attend to some things before the ball started, and so he really had to be on his way. Chad mutely nodded, giving him permission to do so. Badic ordered one of the servant women to take him to a room and help him get ready for the ball, and then was promptly off with his men following right behind him.

The maid that was ordered over to him took his arm and immediately began to pull him into the castle and down the hallways. She was an older woman, shorter than Chad and a bit wrinkly, with graying hair and steely eyes. Based on appearance alone, Chad would have guessed that she wasn't a very nice lady; but he didn't have to rely on appearance. She dragged him roughly down the halls, shoulders squared, and mumbled angrily about having to deal with him. She seemed totally put out with him, but he doubted it was anything he directly did. From her words, and knowing what was going on in the castle, he could guess that she'd been dealing with foreigners all day long in the form of visiting nobles, and most of them were probably horrible people.

He was lead into a medium-sized room, colored with darker blues and purples to match the dark wood of the furnishings, with a slightly larger bathroom connected to it. After seeing that he found the room and tossing a towel at him, the old maid left the room without another word and with a slight slam of the door. Chad cringed as the door banged shut, cradling the towel that had been thrown pretty accurately in the direction of his face in his arms.

And so Chad stood in the room, not moving except for occasionally shuffling his feet to shift his weight. The only sounds in the room were the muffled sounds of people-most likely servants of varying degrees-hastily moving through the castle trying to get things ready and prepared for the nobles. From what Chad understood, some of the guests had already arrived, and many more would be arriving very shortly. Badic had bid him to get dressed quickly and join everyone else in the ball room. The problem was...how was he supposed to do that?

Chad looked down at himself and felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. His clothes, although considered decent finery in Ruthen, would surely garnish looks from the nobles. The clothes that Ruthen Mercenaries favored where a mixture of practicality and appearance, and Chad's clothing was no exception. He wore a lizard leather vest, of an earthy brown color, over a linen shirt dyed with a shade of pale green that was made from underlight cacti. These cacti were a bit rare, in that they could only be found in the underlight ravine area of Ruthen, known for housing a number of nasty nocturnal beasts. The plants had been part of a haul that Hiess's Vanguard had made one time, and much of it was used to make Chad's shirt. His pants were of a thicker cloth, also dyed green, but a darker and more commonly found shade. Over his shoulders rested a lizard skin cloak that was an essential part of any good mercenary's outfit.

In Ruthen, these clothes would have earned him some respect, but if Chad's memory of Tibolt dinner parties served...they were more likely to get him laughed at. And it's not like he had anything to change into. These were the best things he had, any spare clothes he brought were even worse, to be honest. Chad sighed, and deciding that it would do no good just to stand there and do nothing, went ahead into the bathroom. Since when was he worried about looking the part anyway? He kept telling himself that as he stripped his clothes and washed the sand and grime from his body, even though he knew the answer in his head. He'd started to care after he'd finally started to look it.

Chad exited the bathroom feeling cleaner and refreshed, upper body bare as he tried to towel off the wetness in his hair. For some reason, the medium-length spikey locks liked to suck up liquid, and didn't like to let it go. It was a bit of a pain for Chad, really, since it took so long for his hair to dry. At least in Ruthen the hot sun would help dry it, but in Elphanor...not so much. In fact, as he stepped out of the bathroom and into the main area of the room, he shivered from the cool air touching his skin. Elphanor felt much cooler already than most days did in Ruthen, and the sun was only just going down.

And then a knock at the door nearly made him jump up in the air. Turning his head to the door, he saw it crack open and heard a voice, obviously female, call out to him. "Mr. Hearthel? A-Are you there?" Chad stared owlishly at the door. Mr. Hearthel? Well, Chad doubted that he'd ever been called that before. Maybe some time before he'd left home with Matthew, someone may have called him that, but never since.

Realizing that the girl was still waiting on an answer, Chad tossed his towel back onto the bed where he sat his bags, and pulled his shirt back over his head. That done, he moved to the door and pulled it the rest of the ways open. Doing so revealed a younger girl, no older than fifteen or sixteen, dressed in the same maid outfit that the old lady had worn. Although she was a bit young, she already was pretty to look at, and had the promise to be a real beauty when she got older. When she saw Chad, she bent down into a curtsy, and then gently nudged her way into the room.

As he shut the door and turned to look at her, Chad saw the maid come to a stop in the middle of the room. Curious as to exactly what she was doing there, Chad cleared his throat to get her attention. "Umm, excuse me? What are you doing here?" At his words, the girl snapped out of her trance and turned to look at him instead of the room. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm, umm, Mrs. Ruthey sent me to check on you. She said she didn't do much by you when she took you to the room, so I'm to make sure you had everything you needed to get to the ball."

Oh, so that explained it. He assumed that 'Mrs. Ruthey' was the old woman from before, so that meant that she must have felt a bit bad for just tossing him in the room. Smiling a bit to himself, he made to tell her that he was fine, but she'd turned her attention to something else. He walked up to her and tapped her shoulder lightly, and she jumped in response. With a bit of color staining her cheeks, she started to stammer apologies. He waved her off, but gesturing at his cloak on the bead that she'd been playing with, he said "Is there something interesting about my cloak?"

Covering her face with her hands, she shook her head from side to side. "Oh, no, no...I just, I've never seen anything like it. Is it made of snake skin or something?" Chad chuckled and patted her on the head, trying to ease her embarrassment. "Nah, not snake. It's lizard skin, Pit Lizard to be exact. Nasty little buggers they are, I'll tell you that. But the leather is good at keeping off the cool and water, when there is any." She looked at him like she obviously didn't know what he was saying, but she was interested in it anyway.

As if deciding that he wasn’t going to snap at her for touching his things, the maid then quickly reached into his rucksack and pulled at a piece of something that had been sticking out of the flap slightly. Holding up the piece of lynx fur, she ran her fingers over it relishing in the softness that made the fur so valuable. “Ohh, and what is this? It’s so soft, it’s like a cloud.”

Chad snickered at her, finding it funny that anyone would describe a lynx as being ‘like a cloud’. “It’s just a piece of fur, a scrap from the cloak I made, I guess. Keep it, if you want. Can’t fetch a fair price for anything less than a full pelt, anyways.” That made her eyes wide, both from hearing that she could keep it, and that it was a piece of a bigger thing. “What animal did this come from? It feels like my kitty back at home!”

And that caused Chad to burst out laughing, tossing his head back and filling the hall with the sound. Several of the workers that had been strutting about stopped and looked to the ceiling at the sound. The maid cringed, afraid she’d said something stupid, but he held a hand out to her and patted her head to tell her otherwise. “No no, don’t worry…It’s just…ahahaha, that is a cat! But not just any cat, it’s a desert lynx, and honey, that bugger would tear your head off before he’d let you pet him like that. Gosh, it’s just so funny…I can just picture you petting tha’ beast…”

Although she was no longer worried she’d done something wrong, she still seemed a bit weary, and the maid even seemed to be a bit afraid of the piece of fur now. It’s funny how people’s opinions of things change when they learn where it came from.

And that thought cut him suddenly and quickly in the chest, with its cool irony. What did it matter how he dressed up? What did it matter how he looked? People might look at him nicely, and some may even like him, but as soon as they learned where he was from-a desert rat from Ruthen-well, they’d change their tune right fast. It didn’t matter if he was Tiboltian Nobility, his time in the desert will have dirtied him in their eyes. If they found out, they’d look at him like the girl was now looking at the fur. His humor now officially killed, he decided it was time to kick the girl and go to the stupid ball, dressed as a noble or a savage, it didn’t matter anymore.

“K, well, you can still keep the fur, you might be able to swap it for a pawfull of coin if you don’t really want it. I just gotta find something to wear now, though I’m likely to just walk out looking like this…” The last part was said mainly to himself, but the girl perked up and looked at him expectantly even as he turned his eyes from her and to his meager belongings. “Excuse me, sir? You said you didn’t know what to wear?” Turning to her again and arching an eyebrow at her, silently telling her to continue. The girl’s face lit up, and she pulled the corner of her lower lip between her teeth, a visible sign of her excitement. “Oh, I have an idea…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

When Chad stepped into the ballroom, he did so outwardly confidently, but inside his nerves were wracking. He had to admit, he looked better than he could have made himself look. That maid had done herself justice, in his opinion, by turning a rogue from Ruthen into someone who could pass for nobility again.

Chad wore his pale green shirt, which was being worn differently than normal. It was a bit big for him, giving him room to grow in and stretch room to use during battle, but she’d arranged it to where it hung loose and puffy on him. Over his shoulders and hanging down to his waist was a brown coat, made of cloth, not leather, that was colored a dark brown. It reminded Chad of fresh heartwood, the kind that could be found in abundance in the forests of Tibolt. A similarly shaded brown pair of slacks fell down his feet, also breezily cut, and pooled over his leather boots-which had been polished to a satisfying shine.

His skin was cleaner than it had been in a long while, and the tan that he’d formed from his time in the desert could finally be shown clearly. His hair had been fixed with a lot of effort from the girl, and although it was still ‘spikey’, the spikes were much gentler and softer than he could make them. His hair actually looked…fluffy, and the state of freshness it was in made it a lighter shade of blonde. She’d had to finagle him into it, but around his wrist was a simple band of pale gold, the only jewelry he wore besides a pendant around his neck that was a parting gift from Lugh. On the end of the chain was a little indiscriminant shape with a small, round tiger’s eye gem in the middle.

He seemed to pass their original inspection, for several of the nobles that turned to look at him either regarded him neutrally, or even with a hint of respect. He released a breath that he hadn’t been fully aware he was holding, and was blown away a bit as a few ladies came up and asked him his name. He answered their questions, flirting a bit back, but without being too descript of where he came from. After a few minutes, he untangled himself and moved off to the middle of the room, trying to decide where to go next.

He didn’t know anybody, and he didn’t really feel like making unnecessary conversation with the suits. He still wasn’t feeling too friendly around these nobles, not after harboring such hatred against several of them for years…

Other than that, there was the food table, but he doubted that he could handle eating anything; he still felt a bit squeamish. There was a bar, and while that was slightly more appealing, he also doubted he could take much alcohol with his stomach the way it was. But there seemed to be a few appealing prospects over at the bar, namely a few ladies who looked to be far fairer than the ones he’d just talked to.

And then his eyes caught on her. The dark color of her hair, the red of her eyes that he could just make out from here…there was no doubt. She likely wouldn’t recognize him, he even doubted she would remember him, but he hadn’t forgotten the appearance of the demoness he grew up beside.

Chad sauntered over to the drink table, a bit of a spring in his gait from the prospects of surprising the girl, and plopped himself down in the seat beside her. He turned the chair so that he could put his back on the counter and face outward towards the center of the room. He did just that, siting with quite poor posture, and crossing one leg over the other. His head turned towards her, Chad offered Ariadne a wicked grin and said, in his strange mixture of proper noblespeak and ruffian talk:

“Why hello there, Princess Ari. It has been a long time since I’ve laid eyes on you, hasn’t it? Time has been quite kind to you over the years, ma’ Lady, you look absolutely stunning tonight.”

"Prince, please wake up! It's almost time to leave and you've not a moment to spare!"

There was no response. The Prince continued to sleep on his amazingly comfortable waterbed near the outer wall with the window open and the gentle breeze brought by the morning flowing into the room. His servant, a young woman named Marci, continued to try to wake him with no success for several minutes.

"Oh, now what to do?! The Queen will surely punish me if he doesn't make it to the carriage on time..."

Suddenly the covers of the bed were thrown away and the Prince jumped to his feet and landed in front of Marci, his night robes waving in the breeze as he stood in front of her, his hair billowing gently in the breeze. He brushed a strand of hair from his face and smiled at her.

"The finest of mornings to you Marci! What can I do for you?" He asked with a bow.

Her face turned red with embarrassment and anger at his sudden jump and her reaction (which was to jump and scream slightly). She walked forward and put her face right up in front of his and huffed through her nose at him.

"You've got some nerve Prince Xei, waiting until the last second before you get ready to leave for what may be the most important day of your life! Do you know how angry your mother would be with me if you weren't to arrive on time because of sleep?! I'd be flogged!! Not to mention you'd disgrace your family name by arriving late to such an event! What in the name of the Goddess were you thinking?!" She yelled.

He simply smiled at her, and since her face was so close, he leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. Her face turned red as a tomato as she backed away from him, hands covering her lips. He laughed out loud for a moment before throwing off his robes. He was fully clothed underneath, save for his bare feet and fully ready to leave.

"I apologize Marci, but I took the liberty of waking myself long ago. Notice my finely brushed and straight hair despite my apparent 'sleep', and my unwrinkled tunic and pants! My belongings are packed and ready to go as per my request and for quite some time I have simply been playing at sleep to annoy you. Forgive me my dear, but it was all in good fun!" He said with another bow.

Marci fell to her knees and let her head fall. A single tear fell down her cheek before she wiped it away and let out a sigh.

"You did all that to annoy me, your majesty?... How could you?" She asked weakly.

He looked indignant at her question.

"My dear Marci, I do these things to you because you're a good sport and it is entertaining to watch you throw your little fits. I mean no harm by it all, you know that. Anyway, I must grab my sandals and be on my way now. Take care of the Castle while I'm gone!"

He threw on his sandals and left the room, Marci still on her knees on the floor just staring out the window. She was the one who tended to almost all of the regular chores throughout the Castle regardless of who asked her to do so. She was the one who was in charge of waking, feeding and aiding the Prince every day, and yet here she was... On the floor and nearly in tears of frustration and grief.

"I don't like your fun... your majesty." She said quietly to herself as she stood up and walked out of the room.

The Prince arrived a few minutes early to the carriage, greeting everyone who came to see him off, including his parents. They asked him to remain calm and play no tricks or tell any jokes, as this was a formal event and not one to take lightly. He promised them he would behave himself, but in his mind he crossed his fingers. He knew that nothing would be able to stop him from having his fun, and nobody would know it was him at this place because nobody knew him. It was a magnificent thought, going to a ball where nobody knew him and where he could pull all the pranks he wanted.

"Well, I must be off now! Farewell my beloved Airis! I shall return with a new bride soon!" He called from the carriage window as it departed, three giant sea serpents flying it into the heavens above.

Along the way, he thought about many things. He wondered who he'd meet, what they'd be like, how he'd be able to pull a little prank on them as a greeting given this and that, and a great deal many other things. He would not intend to hurt anyone, but still it would be nice to see a few red faces and perhaps a bit of frustration from some of them, especially if they were naturally hot headed.

"Oh Goddess... What wonders and amazing laughs await me at this place? I must know!" He said to himself as he leaned his head out the window and felt the wind on his face. It was cold, chilling him to the bone, but he didn't mind. He left his face outside the window for a good minute before pulling it back in, a tiny bit of frost in his hair. It quickly melted, returning his hair to normal. He brushed a few strands back into place before he was suddenly struck by an idea.

"Driver!" He called out.

"Yes Prince Xei?" Came a response.

"I need to make a very brief stop. I promise it will be no longer than a couple minutes. I'm sure these magnificent beasts can get us to Elphanor on time despite this stop. Please pull them over when we reach the trade post on the north end of Airis's borders. I have someone I must speak to!"

"As you wish my Prince." He called back.

The carriage veered down and headed for the border just below. It only took a few seconds for it to come to a stop, and Xei was quite surprised by it.

"You called to me just in time Prince Xei, we were about to pass the point to which you wished to stop."

"Goodness, I cut it close didn't I?" He remarked as he stepped outside.

Xei told the driver to wait for him, and wandered off towards a small hut near the trade post itself where he was greeted by an old acquaintance.

"It's been a long time boy, still up to your old tricks?" Came a low and husky voice.

"Haha! Valdmir my good man, it's wonderful to see you. I have had a most glorious idea, and I need you to help me realize it. I thought about what kind of fun I could have at this ball with all the other Royals and commoners, and I felt that a... disturbance would be in order. Nothing too grand, but enough to upset the mood and rattle the cages, if you know what I mean. There is a substantial reward in this for you if you manage to pull it off."

Xei pulled out a purse of gold and showed it to Valdmir, to which the old man grinned. Valdmir had been an agent for the black market and a contact of one of the crime circuit underworlds that lived within the societies of all the nations beneath Elphanor. His reach was vast, and his influence was strong. There was almost nothing he could not accomplish when he put his mind to it, but these days he was retired and trying to live a quiet life, even if it wasn't exactly pure. He took the gold from Xei and promised him that a disturbance was in the works, and the Prince bowed to him and left for the carriage.

Once he returned, he climbed back in immediately and they headed off once more. The mighty serpents managed to arrive at Elphanor in good time, and indeed the Prince was early enough to enjoy some of the more quiet festivities upon arrival. He paid his carriage driver and bade him farewell until it was time to return home, and walked inside the Castle. On his way, he smiled and bowed generously to the guards and nobles he passed. It was the usual for him to do so, and he relished in the thought that they believed him to be a calm, quiet and honest young man. It made it easier to win them over later and convince them he had nothing to do with anything strange that was happening.

Once he arrived inside the ballroom, he looked around and noticed that nearly everyone was wearing a mask. He suddenly realized that he had no mask, as it was the only thing he'd forgotten to pack in preparation for this day. He sighed and looked around, and spied a young man leaning against a table on the far side of the room looking like he had plenty of time on his hands. At his back was a large and intimidating blade, no doubt wielded by a powerful individual.

Must be a Taura to wield a weapon like that... He thought to himself.

He approached the young man and smiled.

"Greetings sir, and what might your name be?" He asked with a bow and a smile.

The young man's head slid towards him, and he cocked it to the side in confusion. Xei suddenly realized that he was speaking in his native tongue, and that he needed to translate before this young man could understand him. As there was with every nation, there was a native tongue that was passed down through the generations, but there was also a universal language that was learned by all as well, and Xei had forgotten to use it.

"My apologies, I had forgotten where I was for a moment. I am Xei Val Airis, Prince of the Kingdom of Airis, and I would like to know who I have the pleasure of addressing!" He said, still with a smile.

The young man's eyebrows furrowed slightly as his expression changed. Airis could not figure out what was going on in the young man's mind, but whatever it was, it could prove to be trouble.

"... Kordoshi... My name is Kordoshi, and I will warn you now that I am not a fan of nobility or royals. Pardon my bluntness, but I would like you to leave me be. I have no desire to speak with you..." He said in a low voice.

Airis's smile vanished and was replaced by anger. Never in his life had he been spoken to in such a manner, let alone by a commoner without any noble blood running through his veins. He calmed himself and let out a sigh.

"Very well then Kordoshi, you have made your point. I shall not bother you anymore." He said with a bow.

He turned and walked away, finding a new table and pouring himself a cocktail. He took a sip and looked around, wondering if he was really a guest or if he was someone else entirely who didn't belong. Either way, Kordoshi was obviously immune to his charms and would not be easy to fool when the time came for a prank. He'd have to keep an eye on him if he was to have any fun.

Ariadne sat back in her chair by the tables, her gaze roaming around the ballroom as another wave of boredom washed over her. This was why she never came to these foolish things, they were tragically boring and she had better things to do. She let out a long breath, her eyes narrowing on Kale across the room. He was lounging against the wall still, his arms folded across his chest as before. Only now there were three pretty, young girls surrounding him, each giggling and playfully slapping his arm. Kale obviously didn't mind any of this with the way he winked at the one on the left as he continued to flirt profusely. Ari rolled her eyes and took another gulp of her champaigne. Here she was, bored and sitting in the middle of a ballroom involuntarily wearing a ridiculous dress while she waited to hear who she was to be trapped with for the rest of her life. And there he was, flirting away with three floozies as if it were any other day. She needed a stronger drink. More importantly, she needed something to do.

“Why hello there, Princess Ari. It has been a long time since I’ve laid eyes on you, hasn’t it? Time has been quite kind to you over the years, ma’ Lady, you look absolutely stunning tonight.” A deeper voice interrupted her thoughts and she glanced over at the man it belonged to, arching an eyebrow. He was lounging back in his seat, a wicked grin plastered across his face. There was something familiar about him...the way he talked, his body language, even his eyes. Yes, she definitely recognized those brown eyes.

"Chad. Its been quite some time. The last I saw of you was the back of your head. You were passed out face first in the dirt after one of our sparring matches as I recall." Ari replied a smirk dancing across her lips. "Didn't you make a bet that you could beat a girl? I believe you still owe me." She teased, turning slightly to face him. She took a moment to take in his appearence, slightly surprised by how well he looked. He had definitely grown much taller since the last she saw him, and his hair was slightly longer and softer looking. His skin, which had been a pale shade before, was now a dark tan color and no longer looked baby-soft. He was definitely not the little boy who's ass she'd kicked years ago. Now he was a grown man, and an attractive one at that.

"What are you doing here anyway?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. He hadn't been called here as a commoner to get married to one of the princesses had he?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kale Winters surveyed the large ballroom, smiling and pretending to listen as a young girl chatted away next to him. There were three of him surrounding him and at the moment, he was trying to find a way out. Ari was no help, though that didn't come as much of a surprise. The girls' voices drowned into the background as he fixed his gaze on Ari and the man sitting next to her. Truth be told, Kale wasn't ordered to follow her tonight, but he felt that he needed to anyway. He knew Ari could take care of herself better than anyone else ever could, but he still felt extremely protective and wanted to keep an eye on her (and her new husband-to-be).

He felt a nudge on his arm, immediately tensing up. When everything came back into focus, he glanced at the girl who had nudged him as she stared at him waiting for a response. He had almost forgotten they were standing there. He flashed her an apologetic smile and excused himself politely before squeezing passed them. He let out a long breath and made his way through the crowds of nobles to the bar.

"Got any beer?" He heard a woman next to him ask. When the man behind the counter replied with a no, she asked for some ale, only to get the same answer.

"I'm sorry miss, we only serve whine or cocktails. If you are interested, there is a drink called 'Dark and Stormy'. It's made from Gosling's Black Seal rum and ginger beer." The bartender suggested. Kale glanced over at the woman as she took the drink, his bright blue eyes sliding over her for a brief moment as she walked over to the tables. She was attractive of course, but in an odd way. Her hair was a pale pink color that he had never seen before though suited her well, as did the black and white dress she was wearing. Though she was pretty, it wasn't her appearence that caught his attention. It was her confident stride and there was a stubborn air about her that, for lack of better word, intrigued him. He grabbed a glass from the counter and strolled over to Escasriet's table, sitting down in a chair across from her. He pulled out a small canteen and poured half of the contents into his glass before taking a a big gulp. He glanced over at her and held out his canteen, a grin spreading across his lips.

"Beer? Some of Tibolt's finest." He offered, his bright blue eyes coming to rest on her's.

Ai had never been to a more boring party. Truthfully, she was positive this was the most boring party in existence and she was even surer that none of the people here realized it. She doubted that the men here realized anything else, for example: every single one she had seen thus far was a loser. The fact that they all took it upon themselves to, first, consider themselves attractive, and secondly, attempt to reel her into a dance annoyed her. Was it that hard to see that she was way out of their measly leagues? Perhaps her complete lack of interest, and supple severity in limited converse was also not clear enough for their dull minds. Somehow she felt she had devised and reasoned the answer out of their idiocy, since their speech, though impeccable, was absolutely worthless.

All they spoke of was the weather and politics. Politics in of itself was sheer absurdity and now even more absurd boneheads took it upon themselves to share the factors of its progress (of which it had no true progress among the actual people whom it affects) and the benefits a good political stand point and leader could have upon the way a country and nation shows its own superiority (though the lacking of both sufficient leaders and viewpoints among these men certainly did not even begin to deceive her into thinking that any one of these kingdoms were any shrewder or better governed than the rest, such that one could be show in a higher view, or even possibly rule over another).

Men.

Especially noble men. They were raised with the understanding that their own intelligence far outranks the acumen of any other man and most women. After all they were of the male species (for the difference between the two ‘sexes’ are so great that they must be two completely different animals of the same family) and were of a higher quality breeding (the thought, however, that this breeding was sustained sometimes, more often than one would realize, through incest brings to mind the uncleanliness of the heart, mind, and in the end the blood).

Ai unconsciously laughed at the idea that they, mostly, thought they were more ‘intellectual’ than her. The things coming out of their mouths and ultimately their brains certainly did not reveal otherwise. How anyone expecting these idiots to marry was beyond her. Only an imbecile would marry these guys; although, that would effectively make them the perfect match, would it not?

Still, the thought of having to look at even half their faces would make her sick to her stomach. Poor, unreasonable, fulsome men. Oh how you will stand in shock when she tells you how much your face is loathsome to her.

This, conversely, will not be that day. No this is the day she will oh-so-gracefully dismiss herself from their abhorrent ‘tête-à-tête’, as one so noble as them would say.

With a slight obeisance she thanked them for their intriguing banter, so that she may more fruitfully understand and use politics. She smiled a honeyed smile that deceived the hearts of these doleful men and walked away. Far, far away; her dress followed in lithe torrents. Well, at least she was enjoying her dress…and her hair…and her mask.

She made her way through the horde that made up the masquerade; she had no set path or place to be. Simply, anywhere but where she was. If she had to sit among those males again she’d pass on; she couldn’t live off of ennui, and they expected her to.

Approximately a fourth of the way through she heard a grunt, nevertheless, she made no reaction to see what it was. Unfortunately, soon after she felt someone close, too close, inappropriately close. Being she was used to hoary lechers, her reaction was swift and habitual and she completely overlooked the beginnings of an apology. The bottom of her palm flung behind her and thrust upwards. She felt her hand catch on the bottom of someone’s nose and said person gave way to a slight crunch.

Uh oh.

“Ow!” the voice, even she had to admit, was attractive in of itself, the words…not so much, “What is your problem!”

Ai immediately turned around and had to hold back laughter. Whoever he was he was deeply attractive. Green eyes bored into her forehead, and a…almost perfect nose aligned with his face in harmony, the rest of his face was covered by his hand, the same hand that was attempting to hold in the blood from his bleeding nose. A small snicker escaped her lips and she immediately clasped them, “I’m so sorry. It’s a habit.” Unfortunately, she couldn’t hide the laughter she was attempting to hold in.

The man was unsuccessfully stopping the bleeding and looked at her awkwardly for a moment, “It’s a habit to nail someone straight in the nose while they’re apologizing? Isn’t that a rather strange habit to have?” That time there was no holding back laughter from either of the two young adults. Thus, blood started getting all over the young man’s suit. “Whoops!”

“Oh no! What will we do with you now?” Ai asked sarcastically before attempting and failing to turn serious, “here hold you head back a little more. It should help with the bleeding.” She wasn’t a doctor but whenever she started bleeding Lana always said to get out of the water, hold you head back, and stuff your nose with plugs of some sort.

So, Ai led the young man to the nearest chair and sat him down before running off to find some cloth. When she returned the young man asked, “Err what are those for?”

Ai smiled, a mischevious smile to say the least, “I am putting these in your nose.”

“I’d rather you not.”

“Too bad.” A rather comical exchange ensued, one that greatly reminded Ai of the time she spent with the three boys Ju, Ryu, and Set. She would try to get passed his arms and he would attempt to hold hers back. In the end he was unsuccessful, much like the three boys, “see that wasn’t so bad was it?”

“Right, this is coming from the stunning young woman who doesn’t have cloths up her nose?” Ai raised an eyebrow, or tried at least, before finding one more cloth and sticking it up her own nose.

“Better?” They both laughed. She liked him; he had a sense of humor! That was so rare in this vile place! It was as though her life among the Carnival was reestablishing itself among the attendees of the masquerade; all she had to do was find them. “I am Ai Quen, and you are?”

A dramatic bow ensued followed by an introduction, “I am the Duke Kaimal Unka of Ruthen,” this was followed by a light peck on her hand.

“It is very nice to meet you.” She mimicked his own bow with one of her own, the kiss on the hand included. He laughed again, Ai liked his laugh. It was hearty and authentic. Not a fake, pitiful laugh meant to simply put the mind of the joker at ease. The conversation that ensued was once of sarcasm and fun. Mainly fun through the teasing of politics and the nobles, and even the royalty.

If Ai had to take a guess on how long the conversation was she would put it at being roughly an hour long, but she could easily be wrong.

No the important thing was that at the end of it was the last exchange, “Hey, Ai, would you like to do something really fun?”

With another dirty smirk Ai answered, “That depends on what it is you want to do?” The first thing Kai, as she was told to call him, did was point out a lady with an obscenely large hat and some olives, then he gestured for her to follow.

He walked towards a single door, and opened it, but not before stopping to retrieve a giant bowl of olives. Of course, he handed it to Ai for her to carry. There was something about the way he did it; like he was getting so excited he couldn’t trust himself with them. She, however, still hadn’t pieced two and two together.

Kai led her up two flights of stairs before finally entering a balcony from which the view of the masquerade was marvelous. Then the man took an olive and tossed it at the lady with the giant hat. Things clicked then and with a giggle Ai also took on the task and she would be the first to complete it.

As it would turn out, tossing an olive into a hat from the second story balcony is actually much harder than it would seem. The olives ended up landing everywhere, including peoples head. At which point they had to duck in order to keep from being talk. Oh, but the effort was worth it. As everyone knows the art of throwing an olive into the hat of an old lady was so much fun it was worth all the pain and trouble.