Private Tales Fraternal Diplomacy

[Orissa]

Orissa could not help that bridal blush on her cheeks.

"Yes, to a noble Ascendant. We are hoping for a wedding at the end of the season..." To give Orissa enough time to learn about her husband-to-be. It would be her only wedding in her life, and Orissa and Jensen had discussed that they were to live at his estate once married. "Of course, the Royal Family of Yurelia will be invited. Cadoc, my Captain of the Gilded Wings, would happily provide a personal guard for the Majesties and Highnesses during their stay in Thanasis."

The Vizier smiled, perhaps too much, thought Orissa. "Perhaps an invitation on parchment would better sway the King."

Orissa blinked, before laughing once she understood it was a jest. "Oh! Of course! Mother is already commissioning the scribes to write their best invitations. No doubt they will be distributed soon."

From behind her, Cadoc cleared his throat, and caught Orissa's attention.

"Do you need to leave, Princess Orissa?"

"No," she assured him with a smile, turning back to face the Vizier. "Just... one moment. His dragon is keeping guard over my own, and Pixaelys was not his usual self when we arrived here."

Orissa turned to speak to Cadoc, who greeted her with a polite smile. "I am smiling because Sirine has spotted some patrols on her own search. A convoy on horses headed away from Yurelia." All information he had gotten from the Malennis Guard talking to Olazor to convey the message down their bond. "Now, get the Vizier talking about Yurelia and not yourself."

The Princess gave him a scowl, quickly masked with a look of relief as she returned to the Vizier, who saw it and wore the ghost of a smile. "Good news, I presume?"

"Yes, Pixaelys is merely resting. All one can hope for their dragon after such a long flight."

 

[Kaveh]

"Ah, excellent." The Vizier said, his face an implacable mask.

The man had been intertwined in the politics of Yurelia for almost as long as the King had reigned. He knew well how to play the game, hiding his true feelings behind complements and praise. Words that meant nothing to him, but everything to those he spoke with. "I cannot imagine the care of a Dragon is an easy thing."

Cadoc continued, driving the conversation and easily showing his mastery in doing so.

On the other side of the room, Kaveh was dealing with must the same obfuscations. Though the First Captain of Yurelia showed far more nerve than the Vizier.

Something even the Prince picked up on.

"We're not here for war Captain." Kaveh said with what he thought was a reassuring smile. "It'd be rather uncouth of your guests to act as security."

The Captain let out another chuckle that felt more than a little forced. His gaze flickering briefly, ever so briefly, towards where Orissa and the Vizier were standing. Kaveh caught it, noting the slight bead of sweat forming on the other man's brow. He's hiding something.

He thought to himself, plucking a drink one of the waiters who passed him by before turning his attentions back towards the First Captain.

"Do you know the Vizier well?" Kaveh asked, likely pressing the topic far too soon.

"What?" The man responded, his head whipping to face the Prince. "Oh...err, not much more than anyone else in my position would."

 

[Orissa]

Orissa smiled, "And I am sure being the King's Advisor is an easy feat either, Arman." But the Princess gave a light chuckle. "Will you introduce me? I would love to meet many Yurelians so that I am not entirely clueless when the wedding comes around."

The Vizier ave a brief smile before offering his arm, in which Orissa took. A vision in blue silks, her tiara glittering, it was hard for anyone not to notice the foreign princess. "Careful now, Princes Orissa. You may receive marriage proposals before your first wedding."

She turned her head to laugh, spotting her Gilded Guard following dutifully along the walls.

"How many are in your guard?" He asked her.

"Oh... well, uh, ten, but halving the number for this trip seemed best. Ransas are protected you see, honoured. I would have had just Cadoc, Captain of my Guard." The numbers were a lie, and the part about the Ransas partially true. Orissa could hold her own in a fight provided she had a weapon on hand, but still, she was sloppy with her work despite each of her brothers, even seasoned High Ascendants, had their turn in training the Princess. "Maybe even Aillard considering two Royals are in attendance..."

"Those are the names of the guards following yourself and the Prince, are they not?"

"Yes."

She needed to play clueless, to get him to trust her enough to try and divulge any indications that he wished harm on Thanasian dragons.

"Princess Orissa of Thanasis, I would like to introduce you to Ishaan Reverois, eldest son of the most powerful noble house in Yurelia. Cousin to the Prince of Yurelia." Arman presented Orissa to a handsome man, one with light sandy hair, skin shades lighter than her own, and captivating amber eyes.

At first, Orissa frowned, but forced one of her diplomatic smiles on her face. Ishaan looked familiar, but the kind of recognition that put her at unease.

"Your Highness." Ishaan smiled before bowing before her.

"Reverois... any relation to the Reverois of Thanasis?" Orissa kept her voice steady, trained. Everything she did was now an act, and she did everything in her might not to let the Vizier beside her see how unnerved she was.

"Yes, I believe my half brother served in the Royal Guard... you may not remember him..."

But she did. Beneath the feigned recalling of the name, Orissa knew just who he spoke of the disgraced dragon rider in her Gilded Wings. An appointment Nasri had made, but it ultimately came to her decision to let him go for his... affections.

 

[Kaveh]

Kaveh seemed to hone in on the First Captain. Keeping his expression a neutral mask, but unable to keep the intensity from his gaze. The icy blue of glacial eyes piercing directly through the man as his tongue found itself tied and beads of sweat flickered on his brown. "He seems a good man."

The Prince continued.

"Most welcoming to my Sister and I." The First Captain looked at the ground, and it was then that Kaveh realized the man was perhaps not entirely with the plot. His discomfort was not because of the secret he kept, but because of fear.

He had seen the look in others eyes before, of course he had. Throughout his life Kaveh had been known as the Dread of Servants. A title bestowed to him teasingly by his brothers, but admittedly deserved in his younger years. Though he had never harmed anyone, Kaveh had been known for being going into rages when a mistake was made.

Rages born of a Red Dragon. Even as a child he had been a terrifying force, and the fear he'd induced was not something he was liable to forget. The same sort of fear that he now saw in the First Captain. "Y-yes, a great man."

The First Captain agreed finally, the coolness completely gone from his voice. Kaveh frowning slightly as he thought about his next steps.

"Indeed, but you should not be discounted, Captain." He praised. "You've welcomed us into your home, insured our safety. I cannot thank you enough."

Kaveh tried to remember Shiriam's words. Tried to remind himself that Kindness often went a long way. "I'd like to extend an invitation to you, to come to Thanasis."

"M-me?" The Captain stuttered.

"Yes of course, back home we appreciate those who serve well." Kaveh explained with a smile. "I would like to show that appreciation."

 

[Orissa]

"A touch of home!" Called Arman, grinning between the Princess and the Prince's cousin.

"Yes, a welcome connection." Orissa plastered her trained smile on her lips. She could feel Pix's slight unease at the name, and Cadoc's quiet fury at the mention of a name that had brought such darkness over the Gilded Wings. But he could not escort her away and towards Kaveh and Aillard just yet. The Princess needed the Vizier to divulge more information.

"Ah! The Countess of the Vale! Allow me to introduce to you the Princess of Thanasis, Orissa Aeldren. Princess, meet Countess Ivenine." The Vizier waved over the Countess who stood nearby, a matriarch of her house, who regarded Orissa with a face of cunning.

"Princess." Even her voice and tone made Orissa share in Pixaely's unease, the Lady managing a graceful curtsy. "My son was present at the Thanasian arrival. A Ransa dragon... tell me, they are not known to be fighters among your Thunder. Why is that?"

The Princess did her best not to fidget. Kaveh had once told her it was a clear indicator she was uncomfortable and not to let their enemies know how she felt. She kept the pretence of a smile, going as far as to give a polite laugh. "Lady Ivenine. Ransas are natural healers, you see. If trained while young, I am sure they will be capable in combat, but it is true that most are not fit to serve in the Thunder. The rider bonded to my Pixaelys was a scholar and found uses for Ransa Tears that have now changed the medical practice for humans and dragons alike in Thanasis."

"Yes... but it is curious to some of us to hear that a Princess with a Ransa is still keen to learn about warfare. Ishaan's brother had mentioned it once... Ah, there he is."

A sudden coldness washed down her spine, a sudden sinking feeling taking root in her stomach. Before Cadoc could move, shield his Princess, someone new came past him and behind the Princess. He shared the same sandy hair as Ishaan, was taller too. When he turned to face the Princess, bowing, his blue eyes opened to stare at the Princess as he straightened his back. "It is lovely to see you again, Princess Orissa."

"Casimir."

 

[Kaveh]

"Well if you're being serious, Your Grace, then I'd be happy to-" Before the First Captain could finish, before Kaveh could pull back the line he had thrown out, The Prince turned his head to see what was happening with Orissa.

Though his brothers stood at the forefront of his mind due to their schemes and plots, Kaveh loved and cherished his sister beyond almost anyone else.

He was well aware of the troubles she had experienced. If she herself had not told him, then Shiriam would have. The Prince of Thanasis Wrath spotted the figure striding towards his sister, and almost instantly he chewed out three simple words. "Excuse me, Captain."

Kaveh said, holding up a hand to the man as he stepped away.

Not bothering to wait for a response.

Without a single word The Prince began to stalk across the ballroom. The air around him seemed to bend and shift somehow, those in his path practically rushing out of the way as the atmosphere in the room itself began to change.

Every one of his steps seemed to thunder, though made no noise at the same time. His eyes piercing forward with an unspeakable intention.

 

[Orissa]

Their plan was falling apart... well, that was only how Orissa felt.

She had not known she would ever see that face again, but she remembered the knife Casimir held to her throat before he was given leave from the Gilded Wings. His obsession with her had been unhealthy, and while she had thought it had been sweet at first, she had soon shrank away from his watchful eyes when he had served to protect her. She had began to question her good graces, the meaning of her words, anything that may be taken the wrong way...

It had been the first time she hated her role as Princess and the dangers it could bring into her own home.

But just like that day, Kaveh was there to save her. He always had been there for her, unafraid to use his rage against those that deserved it. She should not be grateful for it, but Orissa felt relief settle over her as she heard someone greet the Prince of Thanasis as he approached. His steps were powerful, charged with a thunder only those of Thanasis can muster, and Orissa kept her pleasant smile on her face.

"You remember my brother, do you not?" Of course he did. Kaveh had done quite the number on the disgraced guard, who two years later looked much healed after what was done to him.

She was glad the knife had not left her with a little scar. Would Kaveh had killed him then, furthermore driving their brothers' campaign to put Kaveh out of existence and call it cautionary?

Casimir smiled, a little forced, but a good show. He bowed to the Prince, not as deeply as he had done for the Princess, but enough to keep him sharp should the Prince were to take another swing for him.

"It gladdens me to see the younger royals so close still. I suppose not much else has changed in Thanasis, and I look forward to my return. I have missed my dragon, I must say." Casimir looks to the Vizier, chuckling.

 

[Kaveh]

Over the years many had called Kaveh a monster. They had said he was naught but a thing of rage, a beast who could not control himself. A danger that strutted around the palace and would one day get somebody killed. The day Casimir had touched Orissa, all those people had very nearly been proven correct.

There had been no control that day. No holding himself back. If it were not for the intervention of Belsarus, Casimir would have been dead. A fact that both men knew. A fact which should have kept the smile from the wretches face.

Rage bloomed in Kaveh's chest, feeling like a burning sun.

It seethed and flared, flickering with heat that threatened to come to the surface with every smarmy word that fell from Casimir's lips. The words he spoke sending a spike of fury through Kaveh. Fingers slowly drawing into a fist as he struggled not to strike the snake. His gloves creaking as his knuckles turned to white. "Have you?"

"A shame then." The Prince said, forcing his fingers to unfurl. "That you won't be returning."

Kaveh continued, the threat in his voice plain to everyone standing nearby.

 

[Orissa]

"Kaveh..." Orissa whispered, reaching for his hand but only finding a tight fist as he kept himself composed. She wanted to leave, to admit defeat she could not get the right information from the Vizier, to get far away from Casimir as she could. And so she dared to look back, to Cadoc and Aillard, both catching the silent plea in her brown eyes.

"Pardon for the interruption, but..." Cadoc came to stand on the other side of Orissa, a hand reaching across her front to begin steering her away from the group.

But Casimir's smile was too large, too eager to watch Orissa squirm in his presence. It was easy to forget the threats the Prince promised him then, but to see the Guard that had replaced him only furthered his ego. He went to open his mouth, but was interrupted by his brother, Ishaan.

"That is all, brother. They are the royal guests of the King and Queen. Long standing allies of Thanasis." He pulled his younger brother back, giving Orissa an apologetic smile. "Apologies, Your Highnesses."

Cadoc turned to Orissa and Kaveh with a grim look, "Shall we move along?" The Captain asked, looking at the Princess. Orissa's skin had paled, her usually warm complexion much darker than Kaveh, but never had the Princess look so ill.

 

[Kaveh]

"Yes." Kaveh's voice was cold steel. "We should move on."

The Prince said the words, but he did not move an inch.

Instead he simply stared at Casimir as a Dragon might a dog biting at it's claws. He wanted so badly for his Kopesh to be handing at his side. He wanted so badly for Rayvath to be perched on the building opposite the Palace.

It would have been an easy thing, to burn the man to death. "My Prince?"

Cadoc's gentle prodding echoed out, the other man reading Kaveh like an open book. The Guardsmen knew well that if he didn't get the Prince away, this would very likely turn bloody. So he did what most would not, reached out and gently grasped Kaveh's shoulder.

Fingers pressed down into a gentle squeeze, the Prince's head shooting to catch Cadoc's eyes. There he saw not rebuke, but sympathy. The man knew exactly what Kaveh wanted to do, and it was obvious that he wished for nothing less than allowing the Prince his free reign.

But both of them knew it would be folly.

Grinding his teeth together, Kaveh said nothing more as he turned away from the scum and gently took up Orissa's hand. Leading her away from her tormentors, and whispering. "At least now we know."

The words a reflection of his thoughts.

The answer as to why anyone would want them dead.

 

[Orissa]

Orissa tried not to grip his hand like a vice, that she was not as bothered by the sudden appearance of him deep down, but her anxieties stirred her dragon through their bond. Pixaelys wanted to be near his bonded, to offer her comfort from her distress, but she willed her friend to remain in the field.

Aillard took up the front, leading both Thanasian Royals outside the doors, and only nodding to the Yurelian Captain of the Guard.

"Everything all right?" He asked, speaking directly to Kaveh. Orissa flinched beside her brother, a sharp intake of breath causing her to falter in her step, but Cadoc murmured for her to keep moving.

"Just nerves, Captain." Orissa smiled, although it broke several times as she held it. "I do not do well being far from home." It was not untrue. The Princess had only ever been at least no more than a days travel from the Palace, and without her other Gilded Guard, her dragon, Orissa was feeling useless and powerless by the second.

And Casimir knew her too well, would know what would make her tremble because that was what his parting gift to her had been back then.

 

[Kaveh]

"Too much excitement." Kaveh said with a flicker of a smile towards the Captain, doing his very best to walk that thin tight rope of rage.

It was difficult now.

More difficult than it was with his brothers.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, the red dragon lingered. The source of all his anger, the rage which took hold of him so strongly. It came from Rayvath, he knew. It was the anger that all of her kind felt, when they bonded, all of it had been given to him.

That anger, that Red Dragons rage now called to him. Not in the same way it usually did, no, because here he knew that his rage could solve the problem. If he wanted to, truly wanted to, he could burn this place and every living soul in it. He could wipe Yurelia off the map, and end any threat it might have to offer. That was the impulse he now fought.

"If you'll excuse us." He said, flashing a smile the Captain. "I'll take my sister to sit down."

The Prince continued, maneuvering Orissa and her guard away from everyone else and towards the balcony. Parting themselves from the rest of the gala, and not speaking until he was sure they would not be overheard.

 

[Orissa]

She had thought they were headed for the doors, but the escape to a balcony still left Orissa feeling trapped.

Not a strong warrior like those of her Gilded Guard, not of a fierceness and poise that her younger brother possessed, or the arrogance and confidence their brothers held, Orissa was too kind and too forgiving to pull herself together in that moment. She felt as if she were too ill suited to play along with charade of gathering information, too naive and inexperienced in navigating the political field.

A frustration that showed with tears falling in tracks down her cheeks as Cadoc and Aillard closed the doors leading to the balcony, guarding it.

"I cannot do this, Kaveh. They know I am weak willed, that I cannot fight for myself." And the Vizier knew all of this because of that snake that slithered his way into her life. Nasri had been friends with him, had pulled some strings to get his friend in such a coveted role. After the events of what happened... he simply laughed it off and said "You are a Princess, you are bound to have admirers."

And her love for him began to dwindle from that day.

"We need to leave this place. Send one of the shadow riders to investigate here." Hells, they could leave Sirine and her Moon Dragon here to find out what they could not. "Because I cannot go back into that room, Kaveh." She was shaking, getting all her anxieties out here in their momentary privacy but still Orissa spoke in hushed tones.

 

[Kaveh]

Kaveh looked down at his sister. The only sibling that had ever loved him. The only member of his family whom he had never thought, even for a moment, wanted him gone. "We will go."

The Prince declared.

Not even for a moment would he risk Orissa's life. Not even for a second would he think to use her comfort as something to be bargained with. With this marriage Yurelia might fall into another sphere of influence. Hell, with the Pike it might even spark a war down the road.

But the simple truth was Kaveh did not care. He would rather see this city burn, he would rather see this whole world shattered than to deny his sister her request.

"Take a breath." The Prince said as he reached towards his bond. A hand extending at the same time as he reached towards Rayvath. Summoning her, beckoning the other half of his soul to come to his side. "You are safe."

He told his sister, Rayvath in the distance stirring. Her great wings extending as she scoured the earth around her and threw herself into the sky. "And we will leave."

Kaveh said. "No one will ever hurt you again, Orissa."

 

[Orissa]

Through the tears, the anxiety, Orissa managed a smile at her brother. It conveyed her appreciation, her relief that he was so ready to lead her away from all of this, and so quick to come to her aide... but her smile faltered, her lip wobbled, and her brows knitted together. "What about the Pike? We have not found where it is."

Her hands came to brush away her tears at her cheeks, trying to console herself and regain composure. "Gods, no... we cannot leave yet! What if they attack us? What if they have more?"

There was no time to be foolish now. No time to falter while eyes were certainly on the Thanasian Royals.

She should stop becoming paralysed with fear at an old face that was no longer welcomed back to the Royal Palace.

 

[Kaveh]

The pike. The miserable, bloody fucking pike.

Almost as soon as Orissa reminded him of it's presence did his stomach turn. He knew that she was right. Knew that leaving such a weapon here was beyond dangerous, but that didn't meant he liked it even one bit. Fingers furled into a fist, and he found himself biting back his tongue.

He wanted to rebuke his sisters words, but he knew that he could not. Orissa was entirely right. A Versix Pike could mean the death of a dragon, and if they had more than one? Disaster would reign down, and neither of them could allow that. "Fuck."

Kaveh swore, his head shaking.

"You're right." He admitted, words biting at some unseen anger. "We can't leave."

Not yet. "But talking won't do us much good anymore."

Not now that they had found out who was actually behind all of this. There would be no convincing those at court who had taken the bribes, much less those who thought Kaveh and his siblings as unfit to rule.

 

[Orissa]

Orissa was glad to only wear light cosmetics for the ball, not that she needed much, but it was easier for her to clean up and be ready with the reflection of a window, the dark curtain on the inside giving her perfect mirrored guidance to do so. "We can go back inside. Cadoc will have to stand beside me now." She was not much of a warrior, but in the lessons she learned by sitting in on the War Council meetings, Orissa knew that one should never show weakness to their enemies.

Seeing Casimir had surprised her, put her off task, but she had once before put on the act of being unbothered by his presence after what he did. She had suffered so much trauma but hid it behind her practiced smiles and pleasantries taught to her as a Princess, but now, as she prepared herself to be under scrutiny of an entire room of strangers, Orissa was putting on her war paint one practiced smile and pretty dress at a time.

Even her expression eased into something she had often seen their mother adopt when dealing with foreign delegations, with council meetings. It was unreadable.

"But Kaveh... promise me something?" She turned around, facing her dearest brother.

"If he hurts me again, burn him."

 

[Kaveh]

Kaveh watched his sister for a moment, letting her words settle upon his mind and draw away from of the rage coiling within his chest. It was a difficult task, but one that he had practiced for the whole of his life. Anger ebbing away as Orissa eased back into calm.

"I do not think there is much of a reason to return inside, at least not for the same purpose as before." The Prince said with a slight frown.

There was still diplomacy and pleasantries to share of course, but the purpose of ferreting out the truth was now gone. The reason for the plot had found them, right in the very center of the room.

"Casimir." The Prince said plainly. "He is behind this, at least in part, I think."

It was conjecture, of course, but the history made sense and the intent did too. The mans twisted mind no doubt still held some pedestal for Orissa, and the only way to claim her...Kaveh's frowned, his rage flickering even at the very thought. "He will not touch you."

Kaveh told her calmly.

"And if he dares, then he will experience a Dragons rage." The Prince said simply, his voice cold steel.