Thunder of Thanasis Family Dinner

[Kaveh]

Outside Thanasis - On the Thanias Plateau

This had to be simply the worst Orissa and his mother had ever had.

Ever.

Kaveh stood at the edge of the Plateau, staring off into the mountains where a dozen miles nestled within the valleys he could see their home city of Thanasis. Beside and behind him lay Rayvath's massive form. The gargantuan dragon wrapping protectively around the Prince of Rage and his two companions. Briseis stood beside him and Ciraxis' besides her. On his other side stood Djana, Kaveh's second wife, who had insisted on coming if only for the oppurtinty to needle his family.

An option she had only precisely because of the manipulations of the fairer half of his family. Mother and his sister apparently thinking that it was time they all had something they'd been missing out on for nearly a decade; a family dinner. "This is an utterly ridiculous idea."

He repeated out loud, not for the first time that day.

"Yes, My Heart, we know." Djana repeated, also not for the first time that day. Her eyes shooting over to Briseis and rolling with all the pronouncment of an acclaimed actor. "You can always just go."

She offered again. "Bri and I are happy to say you felt ill, or perhaps you'd rather prove your brothers right?"

Her words needled him, poking and prodding as she purposefully pushed forth a small bit of rage. The petulant child within the Prince almost immediately rising to the bait, only to be pushed back as Kaveh reminded himself of why Djana prodded. She knew him better than anyone, save perhaps Shirian, and right now anger was what he needed.

But he needed to control himself first. Keep the rage back, biting only when pressed. That was how to win. That was how he showed them he was no longer the same angry little boy. That they didn't need to have this celebration out on the Plateau, that the 'caution' his brothers had insisted on had been nothing but a way to anger him in the first place. This was all a game, he knew, and one that Nasri played far better than he ever had.

A hand gently brushed against his arm as Djana stepped up besides him fully. Her voice whispering in his ears. "Don't worry, Love. We'll kill them one day, you and me."

She purred softly, her palm curling beneath his chin as she bent him down and pressed her lips against his cheek.

"Rayvath, there's a Roxen over here for you!"​

His mother's voice boomed out, and in an instant the massive Red Dragon whipped up her head. Bright yellow eyes flickered over towards the Queen of Thansis, drawing ever further towards the massive cow-like beast that had been brought onto the plateau by a group of guards. Almost unable to contain herself, the traiterous guard leaped upward, bounding across the ragged flat earth and shaking the earth as she sprinted to snap up her meal.

Kaveh let out a sigh, Djana releasing him from her grasp as he turned and finally faced the 'dining hall' which had been set up upon the plateau.

It was impressive in a way, really, and if the Palace hadn't been a short flight away one might have even called the setup before them the most fitting place for their family to dine. His mother and Orissa had spared no expense, the pavilion large enough to hold even most of the families Dragons. A massive dining table and decorations marking where they would share their first family meal in nearly fifteen years.

 

[Orissa]

"This would have been a very good lesson to teach you in how to cope with those telling you no, dear Orissa." Nasri was none to pleased to be here, staring at Kaveh and his companions.

Orissa smiled despite the notable displeasure of her brothers coming to be here, for her sake and at her behest that she wanted all those she loved and cared for to be here. She had asked their Queen Mother to aid in the effort to pull this off, but it was the gentle heart and love Orissa had for each of her brothers that had them agree to a truce for a few hours. Neutral ground, that is what she had deemed this plateau.

"I do not want to scare off my husband to be. After what we both witnessed on the shores, I doubt seeing the royal siblings and their dragons at each other's necks to be an encouraging image to marry into." Pixaelys huffed, mere feet from the set table and decorations. He was the smallest of the royal dragons, but still at a larger size due to his age.

"Despite the Araelors coming to the palace to meet us all, this is good opportunity for us to show Jensen Ararelor to be comfortable with the ruling family of our city." The Queen now fussed with Orissa's hair, much like her own.

"I should go speak with Kaveh." The only brother that stood aside from the family. Orissa was still waiting on the arrival of her betrothed, but seeing her favourite of her brothers brought a wide smile to her face. "Come, Pixaelys." And the Ransa rose to flank his rider moving towards where the prince stood with one of his wives and Briseis.

"Thank you for behaving on my account." She gave him a sheepish smile, knowing that he quite possibly would rather be anywhere else than here with family. "I knew getting you all together for a wedding would be disastrous, but this? Thank you." Warmth spread across her expression now, appreciating Kaveh's presence. She had told him to invite whomever he wished so that he would not be alone with their brothers or their parents. Orissa gave each of his guests a geuine smile of greeting and appreciation.

 

[Briseis]

It'd been some time since she'd been living in the belly of the beast, and most things had been getting at least slightly easier. She was less terrified of flying, she could read a little - thanks to Rune -, and Vhagor had been putting her through her paces in training, but as much as she tried to blend in, Briseis did not belong. Especially not at Royal dinners. She'd been more than happy to remain in her chambers, hell she'd have been happier with flight maneuvers or letting Vhagor beat her into the ground twice than she would be here. Alas, she'd been all but dragged along, and Kaveh's wives had once again enjoyed dressing her for the occasion.

Briseis let out a quiet sigh, nodding absently in agreement of how ridiculous an idea this was. She huffed a laugh at Djana's 'suggestion' of the Prince feigning illness, and she turned to them both with a light smirk. "We both had the same breakfast stew, if our Prince is unwell then it only makes sense that I am too." she mused with a shrug. Joking aside, there was no way in Arethil she was going in there without Kaveh. His brothers made her anxious enough as it was.

She turned away as Djana quietly assured that she'd help him murder his family. It was rare, but sometimes Briseis forgot how afraid she should be in the presence of these people. Kaveh had become a dear friend, he'd saved her from imprisonment and probable death and so she knew that she owed him her life. She didn't fear him, despite the rage he carried - but the Royal family were unhinged.

Bri watched Rayvath go, then Ciraxis as he strut after her, and she straightened as Kaveh's sister approached them, waiting for acknowledgement before she dipped into a slight curtsy. "Princess Orissa. I am so very grateful to be here." she lied politely.

 

[Jensen]

Jensen was fairly certain this marriage might kill him, despite the instances from his parents it was a good match. Valathor seemed to share his opinion as the Tsyone dragon caught sight of the red behemoth of a dragon that belonged to the youngest Prince bounding across the plateau. Despite the dragons being similar in age, if the red dragon wanted she could likely snap Valathor in half with a single bite. The only other dragon who could do such a thing was the bad tempered Blue that Vhagor barely kept control of. At least Rayvath, Jensen was fairly certain, wouldn't try. Valathor didn't seem keen to test his riders hopeful nature and made sure to give the gathered dragons a wide berth as he circled above.

"Right, remember what I said. If I say the word coconut, you come up with an excuse for why we need to go back to the Wall, right?" Jensen had not been foolish enough to walk alone into the Royals open jaws and had convinced one of the soldiers from the wall to join him. He hadn't lied to his future wife when he had said he would need to return to his patrols on the Wall at the end of the evening. Technically he was on active duty having been given the all clear from the Medics Quarter. Today's leave had not been scheduled but his Commander had informed him the Queen had personally asked for a favour to grant it for him. He'd worked hard not to have his noble status entitle him to different treatment and so the 'favour' had chaffed somewhat. Insisting he would have to return by the end of the night was his small way of making a stand he wouldn't have his work interfered with.

 

[Kaveh]

As his sister approached, Djana gently stepped away from his side. Moving closer to Briseis to allow the siblings to speak. "I will control myself as long as they do."

Kaveh said with a slight flicker of his eyes towards Nasri and Mehran.

Their two brothers were standing by their father, both of them competing for a moment to speak as the King listened intently. For a moment he thought their discussion might have been something about him, but from the expression their father wore it was obvious something else was afoot.

Not that he would be told. His brothers had long since ostracized him from any sort of news of Thanasis' government. Most of his information in that came from Shirian, or Orissa.

"Your intended?" He said, glancing over towards the only one on this platform he did not know. His first wife had nearly sicced her spies on him, but Kaveh had convinced her not to do so. Orissa knew well enough to find a good choice for herself, and she had enough strength that she would buck against anyone of bad-match that could be chosen for her. "Probably would have been a better idea to have him meet us all individually."

Kaveh said, a slight tinge of humor to his tone. "No, it's really not better."

Djana interjected, glancing at Briseis.

"Right?" Jensen was not outsider to the Royal family here. "Having to wonder which face in the palace is going to try to stab me and which won't was a massive pain in the ass."

His beloved offered, clearly searching for agreement.

Orissa | Briseis | Jensen

 

[Orissa]

Orissa's gaze followed to where Kaveh looked, a small smile lifting her lips. After their last meeting at the Palace, Orissa had found herself liking Jensen for his true, natural self. She had thought this had been a good arrangement being made, that she had lucked out with her parent's choice of her husband, after all, she had insisted that she would have one husband and not be wed multiple times like her brothers. It was clear the Princess was smitten.

"Oh, he has already met Nasri and Mehran." She delighted, watching Jensen converse with the other Ascendant he must of invited at her insistence. That way he had someone to keep him company if he found being alone with the royal family to be much. "In fact, they met the entire brood of Arealor children. You said you were ill that day and did not show." Orissa never showed anger, not even hurt, but there was a chosen sharpness to her tone. She had begged her brother to put aside their differences then, but perhaps she ought to be glad he was present now.

"We have been sending each other letters before the wedding, and I have told him all about you Kaveh, and of your beautiful wives." Orissa loved each of his wives, but got on famously with Mahsa. It was her that Orissa went to in order to better understand healing and medicine. "I wrote about you too, Bri." Another friend she got to make. Rumour and scandal did nought to sway the Princess' mind when it came to the young woman under her brother's protection. Orissa made sure to have tea with her often. "All good things, I promise! Just... I did not want to bore him with stories about the ladies I am friends with, and I already talked his ear off about my Gilded Wings."

The five dragon riders that served in her private gaurd were stationed not too far from Jensen, and gave him polite greeting.



Briseis Jensen Kaveh

 

[Briseis]

"Agreed.." Briseis sighed quietly to Djana with a sage nod. She had never been used to people having hatred toward her. Disgust, perhaps, at how low she had been on society's ladder, but she had at least had a purpose and people didn't generally care enough about her to hate her. Now, though, she had grown rather used to it, and Kaveh's siblings had made their opinions of her quite plain.

Her eyes shifted back to Orissa as she spoke of writing about her, her brow quirking along with the corner of her mouth.. "Oh?.." she said, and had been about to ask more when the princess offered her assurance. Orissa was sweet. It was difficult to imagine her writing anything but nice things. She drew in a deep breath and let it tumble out in a sigh.

"Shall we?" she asked, wanting to get this over with.

 

[Jensen]

Valathor landed on the remaining largest space which could accommodate his wings and bulbous tail without accidentally felling the erected pavilions or disturbing the dainty centrepieces he knew someone had been at pains to drag up here. The dragon was surprisingly light despite his size and despite the gust from his wings that flattened the grass beneath them, caused little disturbance. Once landed he dipped his wing to allow for his rider to dismount, casting deep yellow eyes around at the other dragons gathered.

Jensen gave the guard a polite nod when he had dismounted. They had not been overly joyed when he had taken the Princess off for their day together a few weeks back, but he had seemingly passed some small test when he had brought her back unharmed before midnight as promised. At least, he assumed he had passed some test for they had not stuck a sword through his gut.

He turned to the dragon landing beside him. He didn't bother to offer his sister a hand as she dismounted, for whilst Danika's pride was strong enough to take the sympathy from others, it would break her to take it from her brother.

 

[Danika]

"Don't look so glum!" she chided her brother and looped her good arm through his, all but dragging him towards the tent. Her brother much preferred a beer hall to a formal dinner, though they had both suffered their fair share of the latter growing up. "I am fairly certain if Kaveh were going to have his dragon eat you he would have done so already," Jensen rewarded her jest with a huff of a laugh beneath his breath.

Danika cast a brief glance back at Sylvraxis as they made their way to the pavilion. The female tsonye was protective of her rider and she tracked every step Danika made, ready to move should the need arise to protect her. Dani blew her a reassuring kiss which the dragon huffed at.

The twins cut quite the figure together. They had chosen their outfits with great care after their parents had chided them on the importance of these functions. They had both opted for the green colour their family adored, trimmed in gold. Danika's was a well cut dress that swirled around her legs, the two slits going up either side enabling her to sit astride her dragon with ease. Jensen wore a simple silk shirt under a well tailored jacket fashioned in the military style - a dark green with gold braiding creating elaborate patterns across his chest.

As they reached the royal cohort they bowed and curtseyed in union.

"Thank you for the invite, Your Highnesses."

 

[Kaveh]

”That sounds like something I'd do.” The Prince admitted, earning him a small look of ire from Djana. Though she did preen someone as Orissa called her beautiful, never being one to fail at taking a complement.

A long sigh escaped Kaveh, but he said nothing more and offered simply a shake of the head and a wave of his arm to signal his ascent.

In truth, he'd had reason to miss the last meeting. Though speaking as to why wouldn't have been conducive to this endeavor. Nasri, at least Shiriam had told him it was Nasri, has sent an assassin into their suite the night before. The man had been from Kemarrah, and though he'd not succeeded in the endeavor, Kaveh had been far too furious to see his brother the very next day.

He could only control his rage so much.

Walking up to the pavilion, the small group arrived just as Jensen and Danika greeted their King and Queen. ”Oh you are most welcome.”

The Queen said with a wide smile.

”It has been so very long since I've had my children all gathered, and I've always believed the more the merrier.” The King let out a chuckle at those words, his head turning towards Kaveh as he approached. A small smile tugged at the monarch’s lips, though only for a moment as the Prince offered his own greetings.

”Mother, Father.” He said. ”It's good to see you.”

Kaveh offered, pointedly ignoring his brothers as he turned his attention towards the Ascendent. ”And you as well, my sister has told me much about you.”

 

[Orissa]

Orissa was beaming.

Rare of an occasion that the Princess let down her pretty training and allowed herself to truly express her joys. She took it upon herself to link her arms with Briseis as their small group approached the twins. Of course, the pink warmed her brown cheeks, looking as if she had gone a touch too heavy with the rouge that morning. Orissa looked the most like their mother, with the warm complexion and the dark eyes, even standing at similar heights. It was not hard to miss as the Princess came to stand beside the Queen, Briseis still attached to her.

"I am relieved you both get to meet my brother Kaveh finally. And please, he exaggerates..." Nerves sprouted inside her, the blush no longer a worry when the Princess rooted herself to the spot instead of approaching her betrothed or his twin sister.

She did not spend too much time with her brother's ward, but on the times they did enjoy each other's company, Orissa wished she did have more time to better get to know the young woman. She did not think on that as her hand resting at Bri's arm tightened ever so slightly, as if to keep her from leaving her side. Even after the day spent with Jensen, Orissa was nervous to have him see her back as the Princess of Thanasis, surrounded by the entire Royal family. She hoped it was not too much... too intimidating...

 

[Briseis]

Briseis smiled warmly as Orissa's arm snaked through her own. The princess had never looked at her with a hint of judgement, and she was a comfort to be around, but she knew that some other members of the royal family would be irked by her growing friendship toward the former slave. They'd no doubt put it down to her so called scheming and manipulating. Gods, all she wanted to do was exist.

Approaching the others, Briseis greeted the King and Queen formally before turning her attention to the russet-haired male, her lips twitching with amusement as she felt Orissa's grip on her arm tighten. She gave the princess a look that suggested she was in agreement with her, when she'd told her of how handsome he was. Good for you..

Bri dipped her chin in a polite greeting to him and to his sister, and she sighed as propriety insisted she also greet Kaveh's brothers. She would not meet their gazes for long as she dipped into a short, sharp curtsy to them both.

"I'm honoured to be here, and to meet you both." she said as she turned her gaze back toward the guests, knowing exactly how they felt, walking into the belly of the beast. She hoped, for Orissa's sake, that the meal would pass without incident.

 

[Jensen]

It was only due to years of practise that Jensen didn't wince as his sister dug her elbow into his ribs, prompting him to respond to the Queen. He had quite forgotten everyone else present when Orissa had stepped forward to greet them.

"Our mother says the same," he gave the Queen one of his most charming smiles to cover up the slight winded note to his words. "She insists on having a family dinner at least once a month with us all," though as his eyes cut to Kaveh and then the other brothers who had wandered over to give their own greetings, he wondered if that might only lead to violence amongst the royal family. He made a note to tell his mother it was probably best to alternate which royals she invited to their dinners.

"Well met, Prince. You were missed at the last gathering," he bowed and Danika followed suit. Then his hazel eyes flickered to the woman on Orissa's arm. "And..."

 

[Danika]

"The Lady Brisels," Danika helpfully filled in for her brother who shot her a grateful half smile. Briefly, the Blacksmiths eyes wandered to the white dragon beyond who would go down in legends as being the first of dragon-kind to choose to break a bond. She had heard the stories of course, as had most of those in Thanasis, but Danika's tone held no contempt or disgust merely curiosity. She had once asked her own dragon if it were an easy thing to do for a dragon to break that bond and had received nothing but a complicated series of feelings and images back and a sense she had not wanted to discuss it further.

"I'm amazed Vhagor let you off training to come to a dinner," her warm hazel eyes danced with amusement. Most who visited the Smithy treated it like a personal venting ground. It was often how Danika learnt of the new recruits and - this year - Brisels herself.

 

[Kaveh]

”Vhagor knows better than to invite my wrath.” The Queen stated quite frankly. Her voice a powerful steel that would have gone unbent by man and dragon alike. Words that incited a small chuckle from all three of the brother Princes, each falling silent almost instantly as they noticed the others had the same response.

An angry look was all that Nasri and Mehran received from Kaveh, his expression softening once more as he returned his attention towards the Ascendent guests.

”I was indisposed during the last gathering.” Kaveh stated simply, though offered no elaboration. Behind him, Mehran seemed to grin wide, the wolvish smile reflecting in his eyes. ”But I am glad to be here now. I'd have been remorse not to meet the man my sister is to marry.”

He said with a smile, eyes flickering beyond Jensen for a brief moment. ”Orissa tells me you're stationed on the wall?”

Kaveh asked. ”I was just there a few short weeks ago. Commander Jür and I ha-”

”Yes yes, war and battle and all that. Enough of that talk Kaveh.” The Queen begged as she began to motion towards the pavilion. ”Were here for a nice meal, not battle strategy. Come come. All of you.”

The Fiery Mistress of Thanasis beckoned, more than willing to hold her children to the flames of they dared to disobey.

 

[Orissa]

Even as the Queen invited them all to take their seats, she knew she should have left Briseis and gone to Jensen, or at least his sister, but her nerves kept her glued to the other young woman's side. "Gods, there is this feeling in my stomach."

Flutters, just as she had felt each time her intended had smiled at her, had looked to her through his lashes as he would kiss her hand... Her cheeks burned! How could this one man make her blush so? Even Pixaelys was amused that the Princess had become unlike her usual self.

She had always put Thanasis first. Other people were always high on her priority list, and not just as a medic, or a princess, but even in her family she cared enough to help ease tensions between the princes. But Jensen, he had taken her away from the title and responsibilities for half a day and Orissa had the most fun in her life that day.

"Is it me, or is this evening warm?" The Princess murmured to Bri, hoping that it was a warm day so that it may explain the bush at her cheeks.

Briseis Jensen Kaveh

 

[Briseis]

The Lady Briseis.. She wondered if she'd ever get used to the title. It would no doubt cause some sneers, but she much preferred it to some of the other titles that'd been created for her. She dipped her chin in thanks to the woman, and her smile split into a quiet laugh as she mentioned Vhagor.

"Ah, yes. I have double drills for the rest of the week." she grimaced, her lips twisting with mild amusement.

Briseis followed behind the Queen, her lips curling into a grin at Orissa's fluster. "Perhaps you need a medic." she whispered. She had never known such feelings herself, had never seen such things for herself nor had the literacy to read of it, but it didn't take personal experience to know that it was the Princess' betrothed that had the girl so flushed.

"Yes. Positively roasting." she agreed, fanning at her face with her hand.

At their seats, Briseis managed to slip herself free of the Princess' grip with a reassuring pat pat to her arm. She politely thanked the server who pulled her own chair out for her, and waited for the Queen to gesture everyone to sit before she would do so.

 

[Jensen]

Jensen seemed to perk up as the Prince moved the conversation to a topic he actually held an interest in. He gave a short nod to Kaveh's question and leaned into the tantalising start of the tale, only to be snapped to reality. He tried not to grimace until the Queen's back was at least turned, and rubbed at the back of his neck with a wary chuckle.

"Perhaps you can tell me after dinner, my Prince. I know Jür well," perhaps he could ask the Commander to be included in more of these royal missions now he was marrying in to the family. He had only heard of the Prince's visit in passing and he suspected that was only because Kaveh's dragon was impossible to hide out on the plains.

The Queen sat and then so did the royal children, before Jensen and Danika took their own seats. He found himself sat between the Prince and his wife, opposite his own fiance.

 

[Danika]

Danika found herself sat next to Briseis.

"So, how are you finding the training?" she asked as the servants stepped forward to serve the first course. A dainty salad that someone had taken a lot of care to sculpt into the shape of a dragon's eye. She picked and the beetroot absentmindedly, her mind noting what farm and region they must have been flown in from for this meal at this time of year.

"I remember the first time Sylvraxis and I flew together - I think I nearly threw up from the excitement," she laughed.

 

[Kaveh]

Suitably chastised, Kaveh flashed the Queen a quick smile. ”Of course, Mother.”

Though thought uncouth by some, the Queen of Thanasis has never been one to stand on ceremony with her children. She had long since demanded they abandon the title of ‘majesty’ when in private, and even sometimes in public. Only in front of the crowds were the children of the King and Queen required to use the proper titles, and that was mostly a hold over from the priests.

The Queen beamed at Kaveh's acquiescence, smiling wide as she motioned for everyone to seat themselves at the massive table that had been transported up here. As they did so, the Prince leaned into Jensen, whispering his answer.

”Yes, after, I have a great interest in events there.” Kaveh said mysteriously, though turned his attention to the man sitting directly opposite him.

Nasri sat, already smiling. His gaze briefly flickering to Briseis at the Prince's side. A sneer drawing over his features for all of a heartbeat before the pleasant mask he usually wore reappeared.

“Nice of you to join us, brother.” Kaveh's sibling offered. “I was rather surprised you missed the last one.”

A long breath drew into the Dragons Wrath, his fingers slowly flexing to a fist underneath the table. Reminding himself of where they were. Why he was here in the first place. His eyes briefly flickering to Orissa as Nasri continued his needling. “You and yours have such a propensity for being where you're least expected.”

It was clear the word he would have preferred to say was; ‘wanted’.

”Well, we can't all hole up in the Palace all day drinking wine with the servant girls can we?” Kaveh countered, countering Nasri’s barb with the rumor of some of his conduct as of late. The Queen glared at bother of her sons, and cleared her throat.

“Tell me.” She said firmly, drawing upon Jensen to cease the siblings bickering. ”Have you picked the Bridal Stones yet?”

An old Thansian tradition. Massive boulders taken to the sight of the marriage by the bonded Dragons of those who were to be married. The boulders would be placed at the entrance of the wedding, then heated with dragon fire and carved into intricate statues.

 

[Orissa]

Seated between her older brothers, Orissa gave Jensen a sweet smile. She tried to keep it there as Nasri began grating Kaveh, but even she could feel the stern gaze of their Queen Mother.

Being a more relaxed dinner setting, the King and Queen sat at opposite ends of the elder Princes, leaving Orissa in the middle.

Orissa cleared her throat, taking a bite of the salad prepared for each of them. Only until after her mouth was clear of food to chew, she turned to Nasri. "If you will not heed to Mother's warning, then you must heed mine." She murmured softly, only her brothers either side of her could hear. Nasri huffed, but the other snickered.

Only Orissa almost choked on her second bite at the salad when her Mother asked about the Bridal Stones.

Her eyes lifted to watch Jensen, before darting to look at every one else seated opposite of her. In the time she had spent in Jensen's presence, even writing letters, never did they discuss the Bridal Stones.

 

[Briseis]

Briseis waited until all of the plates were served, and until everyone present had had at least one bite of their meal before she picked up her own fork and gently stabbed it into a slice of carrot.

She listened to Danika, though her gaze rose to Nasri as she felt his eyes on her, and she did not miss the sneer on his face despite him being so quick to mask it. It was difficult not to tense, and she found herself somewhat more wary of her food and wine.

"Excitement.. Yes, me too.." she laughed quietly in response to Danika, recalling how Kaveh had thrown her from his balcony to prove his point to her that Ciraxis would not, in fact, let her fall. She had thrown up, but excitement had been the last thing she felt.

"The training has been.." she frowned, trying to think of something more polite than how she truly felt, but she couldn't and so settled for. "An experience." Though for Briseis, it hadn't been a particularly pleasant one thus far.

"Absolutely everything was new to me. I think Vhagor sees me as little more than a child, which is understandable." she shrugged a shoulder, speaking quietly. Lord Errune had his work cut out for him too, whenever she had time to squeeze in her reading and writing lessons.

"But I am learning." she assured, cutting another glance to Nasri. She had at least learned to mount and dismount, to keep her seat during her flight maneuvers, she had honed muscle that she hadn't realised she possessed, though even still she wondered if flying would ever not make her feel queasy. Combat, however, was something she had yet to grasp.

"I understand that you are a blacksmith?" she asked out of intrigue, inviting the woman to tell her more of her craft.

 

[Jensen]

Jensen had been listening to his sister having seen her mood change, so when the Queen addressed him for a horrifying moment he couldn't recall what it was she had asked. His throat closed up and he swallowed to try and wet his tongue which seemed stuck to the roof of his mouth. Mentally he tried to replay the words he had heard but not paid attention to. Something about stones...

He choked on his mouthful of salad.

"I, ah. Um... no we hadn't really discussed..." his eyes flickered from Queen to Daughter and back. And back again. Did Orissa want bridal stones? Of course she would. "I must confess, I have been too caught up getting to know your daughter, Your Highness, that I have rather forgotten the detail of organising the wedding..." He silently wished for the ground to open up beneath him under her stare. Desperate to find something to get him back into her good graces he stammered on, "I did, however, finally get back a type of wedding stone..." from his pocket he pulled the small box. "I know it's tradition to use an ancestral ring, but after seeing how much you loved those gems I had Danika weld them into ring instead..."

When Orissa opened it she would indeed see a delicate engagement band, crowned by three perfectly cut Thanazite blue gems.

"To match your new tiara..."

 

[Danika]

Danika's eyes followed Briseis' to the other Prince and back before he could note her staring. It was no secret the dangerous game they played with one another and would continue to play until one of them took the throne and felt secure in it. It seemed, they had expanded to include those Kaveh called friends. She wondered if her brother would be drawn into them soon too, though the Princess seemed to get nothing but smiles from all three of the Princes.

She listened to the tales of the girls training with a grin.

"Well, you have to remember that most of us do start off as children learning. That... and Vhagor is said to be as old as the mountain itself. He probably sees us all as children," she leaned in close and lowered her voice. "I remember one time, where he let Nyxondra shove poor Sylvi off the the highest peak during her first flight because she was too scared to go."

To her question, Dani's smile faded a little.

"Yes," she forced it to be a little brighter. "Though an apprentice really - like you. I'm right at the start of my journey. Before, I used to serve on the Wall. Have you been to see it yet?"

 

[Kaveh]

Kaveh held his hand gently over the knife besides his plate, considering the cost and benefit of picking it up and simply shoving it into Nasri's throat.

Mother would be upset. His father would likely never forgive him for killing the current Heir, and undoubtedly Mehren and Orissa would shout at him; though for entirely different reasons. Icy blue eyes flickered down for a moment to the ornate silverware, and then he shook his head. Lowering his hand back to his lap and quietly fuming instead.

"Oh dear." The Prince heard his mother say to Jensen's words. Shaking her head profusely.

"That simply won't do. Orissa, we'll have to contact Petula immediately. She can handle all the planning and get the both of you into ste-" Before the Queen could finish, Jensen quickly produced a small box. Kaveh raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as a new engagement band was produced. The Queen's eyes opening wide as her Husband's single eyebrow perked. "What a lovely gesture!"

"Not exactly tradition-"Oh what do we care for tradition!" The Queen said, interrupting her husband before he could get a single sentence in edgewise. "Your mother barely wanted to give up her rings!"

Kaveh's mother complained, launching into a story all of their children had heard a thousand times. Telling how their Grandmother had quite literally forced their Mother to actively steal the jewelry she was to inherit rather than simply giving it to her. "That damned woman did everything she could to spite me."

The Queen said bitterly as the King interrupted. "Darling, please. We're trying to make a good impression..."

"Father, I'm fairly certain that ships already sailed." Mehren said, letting out a small chuckle as he offered his first comment of the evening, his eyes drawing over Kaveh, His wife, and Briseis.