It was not long before a crowd began to surround the small group. It was all that Ishay and the council could do to avoid staring at the oddly dressed group encircling them. The guards made themselves into human shields around their leader and council, hands on their swords and prepared to engage, though several of the less polite guards were taking the opportunity to look at all the different colors of humans before them.
One of the guards snickered at the sight of a man dressed in clothes that looked way to small and his bright red hair, and was given quick smack in the back of the helmet by a less-than-happy Leth to remind him of his place.
This quiet stalemate went on for about thirty minutes, before a woman squeezed her way out of the crowd and made her way across the no-man’s land between them and spoke silently to one of the guards. She was a very interesting and short looking woman; her straight hair was black as coal, eyes as round as the moon and her skin was a dark brown that somehow only accented her beauty. This mysterious woman was clad in a white shirt that was tucked neatly into a black skirt that was oddly poofed and an odd device (a corset) tied across her waist.
The guard she spoke to turned to face his King and said “Your majesty, this woman wishes to be granted access to you. She claims to be a translator sent to assist you for the duration of your time here.”
Ishay calmly looked over to Leth who simply nodded his aged head slightly. Indicating the woman’s body language had not proven her false. Ishay faced the guard once again and said “Please allow her in and apologize for any inconvenience.”
“Your will be done” He replied and did a na before gesturing for the woman to enter.
“My name is Erica McGowan. Your majesty has attracted a lot of attention in a short time. ” She noted before doing an odd movement that consisted of crossed ankles and lifting her skirt slightly (a curtsy)
“I only hope it is due to positive motivations that they have come” Ishay said with a warm smile
“I could only assume so” She replied dryly
Before any more could be said an odd voice shouted from the crowd, though it was impossible to be sure who said it or understand the weird language
“The man is asking what the name Procellia means your majesty.” Erica translated
Ishay looked at her questioningly and said “It means ‘land of the demon king’ in old Procellian”
Erica, without warning, yelled out the translation into the crowd giving most of them a fright. Yelling or even speaking loudly was considered very rude and the woman earned herself several glares from the council which she ignored.
The crowd quickly exploded into more questions, or at least Ishay assumed they were questions since he could not understand a single word of the language.
“Perhaps you could show us to our rooms Mrs. Erica? Before my guards have to hurt someone would be preferable.” Ishay said in calm tone, though his face showed his annoyance at the situation.
Erica looked and using her peripherals saw that the guards were indeed standing with swords drawn and ready to go. “That sounds like a good idea” she noted
____________________________________________________________________________
The trip did not actually take very long at all. An abnormally long steam car and picked them up within minutes and after loading it was a short drive to their quarters, contained within a large hotel in the center of the city. And checking in had been even quicker.
The room that had been reserved for them would be more accurately called an apartment. It covered a full two floors and according to Erica had 9 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. It was decorated very exotically, with fanciful furniture and elaborate wallpapers.
“Is this a common style of decorating here?” Ishay asked, voice expressing interest
“Yes your majesty. It is called ‘Victorian’ and has remained popular for over two hundred years.” Erica relied
“Wonderful” Ishay said “Where will the staff I brought be staying though?”
“They have rooms on the lower floors”
“How convenient.” Ishay said thoughtfully “Would you please invite Mr. Alexander to dine with us this evening? It is nothing political, I just wish to meet him and maybe talk about our countries.”
“He is very busy so I doubt he would be able to make it” Erica said carefully
“I understand” Ishay said calmly as he went up the stairs to investigate the bedrooms
As Erica turned to leave Leth grabbed her arm to stop her. They stood quietly until the Dras was out of earshot and then he said “I do not know how you think things work in our country but let me tell you this. Rejecting hospitality from anyone in our country is a heavy insult, especially meals and most especially when the man doing the inviting is the leader chosen by the Great Demon King himself. Our king is too polite to say this to your face but that is why he has me, it is not a man you want to upset.”
Leth let go of her arm and the council left the room, Erica speechless at the open hostility exhibited by Leth.
“It seems the council serves as the strong arm so the king can keep a polite façade.” She thought to herself as she left, stopping by the president’s office on the way home and gave the message to a secretary at the door.