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Brynacha · #1 (**permalink**) 06-26-2009

Lord Alaunos II rode along with his entire cluster of aides and guards and advisors, he, of course, at the head of the procession. His characteristic war-look on his face, Alaunos was in a particularly good mood. He had sent ahead a messenger letting the royal family know of his arrival. Though he’d been hinting this was what he wanted, he’d never made it official. He hoped to do so tonight, where a feast fit for a king would surely be waiting. And there he would set his eyes on his future wife, the princess. A grin spread over Alaunos’ grim face, making him look fearsome and malevolent. “Onward,” he announced, seeing a vague outline of the palace in the distance.

AmateurPhilosopher(H3O) · #2 (**permalink**) 06-27-2009

Princess Kelehiran sat in her bedchamber, preparing for the warlord’s arrival. At a desk that overlooked a large window, she combed her hair, prepared for her maidservant to style it for her. That was not a usual custom, but despite all of her skills, those of a scholar, tactician, and politician, some of the most simple feminine tasks had always eluded the young woman. Today, her mother had asked that she wear one of her most ornate traditional Irinzian gowns, and that her hair be combed to its most formal style. Apparently, a great warlord by the name of Lord Alaunos II had sent a messenger forward to announce his arrival. There were rumors as to what his wishes might be, but Kelehiran did not particularly approve of the direction they led. Surely, they could not be true? A great feast was being prepared downstairs, and a young nysfian, or a page as he might be called, had sent word that he was within a few cvisids, a unit slightly smaller than a kilometer, of the palace. A few minutes later, after Riviana had finished her hair, another servant strode through the door.

“Your majesty, Princess Kelekiran, your father has summoned you to the banquet, milady. He asks that you sit at his left hand, opposite your mother.” The servant requested, bowing as he relayed the message

”Thank you, Ishtan, I am coming, but please call me Kelehiran, or Kel, when we are in my quarters? My longer title does become a bit tiresome doesn’t it?” the young princess replied, strolling towards the door, smiling. Quickly bowing back to him, out of respect and common courtesy, even if it was against traditions, she smirked and walked purposefully to the great hall.

Ignoring the herald as he announced her arrival with her full title, the young woman impatiently waited for him to finish, her hand twitching as she half-desired to mock the process with a few gestures. She refrained for the sake of duty and dignity among the nobles, always playing the part. Even though it killed her, Kelehiran walked slowly, each step graceful and with purpose, until she reached her seat at her father’s left.

“Father, I do not like this, she began, “what do we know about this ‘Lord Alaunos II. No one has had time to enlighten me, and it sounds as though we could be allowing assassins to enter right into the palace. How would it reflect on the nation’s morale if that were to occur?”

“Kel, Kel, please, be quiet. It is nothing of the sort.” King Orwandin than began to explain everything he knew about the warlord to his daughter. What he told her did not exactly quell her fears, in fact, it did the opposite. But before she could voice her concerns, the double doors to the great hall opened, and a young man, most likely one of the warlord’s subordinates, spoke to the herald at the doors to the great hall. Kel could not hear the conversation, but she assumed that he was explaining that the Lord had arrived and relaying his full title.

Brynacha · #3 (**permalink**) 06-27-2009

Indeed, it was one of Alaunos' men who came in to relay the message to the herald in the royal hall. The herald nodded and piped up. "Your Highnesses, Thane and Lord Alaunos II, Leader of Clan Mictlan, Ruler of Plains Norctan." As the herald was finishing, in walked two Mictlan guards followed by Lord Alaunos himself, striding purposefully into the hall as if it were already his. Random pieces of armour jingled on his person, and the feathers in his hair fluttered out behind him. Though Alaunos was a relatively young man, his poise and demeanor bespoke that of someone much older and more experienced, and to look at him was to wonder if this man had ever been a child.

He made a shallow, sharp dip with his head and shoulders, just enough to ensure he was acknowledging their presence and power. Several attendants stood arrayed behind him. "Your majesties," he rumbled. His voice was low and resonant, with a hint of raspiness that only years on the battlefield might afford. "I am honored that you were able to make such rapid preparations for my arrival." The warlord's accent was slightly foreign. He hit his consonants sharply, as if piercing them with a spear, so much so that the vowels were nearly lost in the scuffle. "I, Alaunos, am indeed glad to be feasting with your majesties this afternoon." It was custom for people of his clan, especially the thanes, to repeat their names several times in a conversation. This was to ensure that they were never forgotten. And truly, Alaunos would not be forgotten easily here.

AmateurPhilosopher(H3O) · #4 (**permalink**) 06-27-2009

The immediate royal family all stood in one accord and bowed sharply to the visiting warlord, in the same manner as he had to them. Though without the same fluidity, all of the other nobles, dignitaries, and bureaucrats arose and bowed to the royal family and this warlord, who quite obviously commanded their respect. They were to remain standing until the rulers took their seats, which was not to happen until a few more formalities had been exchanged.

The king's eyes penetrated those of Lord Alaunos, trying to divine his character and the nature of his visit, but his words were gracious, as was expected by tradition in the presence of another ruler. “We, I, King Orwandin, my wife, Queen Alievia, and our eldest daughter and heir, Princess Kelehiran, all were more than honored to prepare for the arrival of such a fine guest,” the king replied, using the Mictian clan’s own custom to subliminally ensure that the Lord understood that he held the authority here. It was both a gesture of both respect, and of power. His voice, like all Irinzian nobles, carried only a slight accent of his own country. Noble’s accents, and none more than those of the royal family, were more generic, from speech training and from spending so much of their valuable time speaking to foreign dignitaries. “May we ask the purpose of your visit this fine evening, dear Thane?” The king asked politely, the entire hall still standing, and all eyes, including the Princess’ herself, awaiting the warlord’s answer anxiously, to see which rumors, if any, were the least bit accurate.

Brynacha · #5 (**permalink**) 06-27-2009

The lord brought his right arm up perpendicular with his chest and inched his feet apart only slightly to show that he was no longer on alert, that he was at ease with the company. He hadn't expected to be asked so soon the reason for his visit, but he easily answered with, "Something nearly that concerns both of our people, Your Majesty." The warlord's sharp eyes fell on the Princess for a moment, and the corner of his mouth twitched in what might, for him at least, have been a small smile. She was beautiful. Beautiful and perfect. Not that it mattered in the end, but it was definetly a perk. "As you probably know," he added, turning his attention back to the king and dropping the smile back to his usual serious expression, "Clan Tlaloc has been pushing for war with my own, Clan Mictlan, and has been explanding its borders rather steadily. The purpose for my visit is whether an alliance of sorts might be arranged between Clan Mictlan and your Irinzian monarchy." Everything he said was smooth and practiced. Alaunos stood stoically, waiting for a response, and hoping he might sit and eat soon.

AmateurPhilosopher(H3O) · #6 (**permalink**) 06-27-2009

The Princess caught his smile, if it could be called a smile, as her ash-like eyes, yet like pearls, met the Lord’s with gravity. It was no so much that hostility was revealed, as wariness, deeply seated wariness. She had been taught to read the slightest change in expression, as it was highly useful for politics. But surely his own features were unfathomable, surely he could not confirm the most outlandish of rumors, the ones that made Kel scoff. The King noticed the glance as well, not at all delighted in his suspicions.

“Lord Alaunos, why do you not take a seat at my lovely Queen’s right, and we shall discuss this alliance further while we consume this bounteous supper with mirth? Your court will find their places as well. There is much to be discussed, and I do not recommend doing so on an empty stomach.” The king’s kind words, along with his own relaxation in posture also confirmed that he was more comfortable, though still wary, with the warlord’s arrival. As was required by international respect, the royal family bowed again, in the same manner as before, and waited for their guest to take his place before resuming each of their own.

Brynacha · #7 (**permalink**) 06-27-2009

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I sincerely agree," rumbled Lord Alaunos, and with a sharp gesture and a grunt motioned for his advisors and influential aides to sit where they were instructed to. Handing his sword off to an aide, Alaunos approached the dais and bowed to the Queen before taking his seat. He would rather have sat next to the Princess, of course, but this might be better tactically. He could see the royal's suspicious gaze on him, and it would do to set them at ease. Though Alaunos wasn't the best diplomat, it certainly would help with his inevitable conquest if he could allay some of their fears.

As was expected, Alaunos waited to eat until the royal family had taken their first bites, and then he tucked into his own food with relish. It was not Clan Mictlan's custom to eat daintily. In fact, the more rapidly one ate the more power he had at the table. Alaunos was finished with half of his meal before most anyone else had taken three bites. "Your Majesty," said Alaunos, turning to the Queen after a moment, "You look fetching tonight." Everything Alaunos said was at once polite and powerful. He had a great deal of power, and he knew it. He wasn't going to waste it by flowering his words with ceremonial fluff. A small smile twitched on his hard features around his eyes, as if the very thought of happiness was a painful one.

And then he turned to King Orwandin. "Your Majesty," he started, after washing down a mouthful of food with good wine, "I, Alaunos, am sure that you have heard of the rumors regarding Clan Tlaloc. They plan war for their opposors, one of which is Clan Mictlan, and one of which is your noble house." Alaunos wasn't one for small talk.

AmateurPhilosopher(H3O) · #8 (**permalink**) 06-27-2009

The royal family appreciated the gracious and respectful demeanor that Thane Alaunos displayed, though the King, Queen, and many of the nobles were apprehensive concerning his table manners. Princess Kelehiran observed them, but did not mind so much. She herself only followed the painfully slow eating habits of the royal court because she understood that these manners were part of her duty as the princess and future queen. She was required to maintain the traditions of the nobles, at least while in the presence of the dukes, thanes, and other royal titles that to her seemed insignificant. When she was younger, she had been lectured for reading or studying tactics, philosophy, or mathematics while at the table. Even still, when she was alone, she tended to either scarf down her food so that she could return to more important matters, or eat while she worked. It was all she could do not to daydream through the two, sometimes three, hour ordeals that the Irinzian monarchy called their meals. But no, she participated in the small talk, feigning attention as the old men told stories of battles long past; she giggled with the duchesses as they talked about matters that to her seemed inconsequential, all to preserve tradition and the family name. Her parents, finally realizing her passion for intellectual discussion, rewarded her by allowing her to spend a meal or two every few weeks with different scholars, who occasionally fell into debates and discussion at their tables.

Meanwhile, as they ate, the Queen smiled at the warlord's compliment and the King ignored his own disapproval with Lord Alaunos’ customs in order to answer him. “Yes, we have in fact heard the rumors, though our investigations into their validity have yet to yield results. My generals and tacticians are preparing as we speak, advised and directed by myself and my eldest daughter, Princess Kelehiran, of course.” His wariness was most certainly not dispelled; neither was the princess' for that matter, but he, his wife, and his daughter knew that it was far more diplomatic to be polite to the Thane than to reveal their suspicions at all.

Brynacha · #9 (**permalink**) 06-27-2009

"Of course. A wise decision," said Alaunos with a short nod. He sat back for a moment, leaving his meal half-eaten and apparrently waiting for the others to catch up. The rumors were true, Alaunos knew, if anything that his spies said were true. What the king didn't know, however, was that, though Alaunos was there to propose an alliance, if the alliance failed Alaunos would ally himself with Clan Tlaloc and wage war on Irinzia instead. He would need a strong ally to fight either of them off, and he preferred Irinzia for more than one reason, not the least of which was Princess Kelehiran.

"As are my advisors also preparing for war. Can never be too careful in these violent times," said Alaunos, voice totally free of emotion as usual. "Tekos have mercy on both our houses," he rumbled, raising his wine glass to the unseen god of his people.

AmateurPhilosopher(H3O) · #10 (**permalink**) 06-27-2009

“Most naturally,” King Orwandin replied, raising his glass in the same gesture as Thane Alaunos had, in order to respect his customs. His wife, daughter, and son all did the same, and soon the rest of the hall followed, even if they had not heard Alaunos words. That was how these banquets were conducted. Every word, every gesture, had significance, and this was even more pertinent for the monarchs, especially when foreign rulers and dignitaries were present.

Continuing to eat, and noting in approval that the warlord was attempting to follow their customs by waiting for the rest of the guests to ingest more of their meals, King Orwandin avoided the small talk that such an occasion required with most dignitaries, and asked, “Would you care to discuss and negotiate the nature of this alliance? Or would you prefer to wait until after our meals have been consumed and we can adjourn to a more private area, apart from the chatter and listening ears?”

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