New Gryphos was the epitome of the Gryph Empire. When you walked through the gates, you could feel the money oozing out of the city. Every time you walked passed someone, they were toying with wallets too small to hold their ample fortunes. There was not a single crack in the street, not one house built a little awkwardly, not even a brick out of place. As long as you were in New Gryphos, you could forget that there were still be people who hunted for food and slept on rags in fur tents not ten miles away. Perhaps you might not see then cross pinned to the door as a warning to everyone who entered, unused for several years now. New Gryphos had a long-standing reputation for being the perfect Torin city, and for good reason.
A prime example of the city's wealth was Luchairt Palace. Everything about the Palace screamed 'Notice me' - the pristine marble columns, the exquisite golden roof, the silver-grey fence running around the perimeter, the gaps wide enough for the peasantry to see through but not quite wide enough to fit through. There were gargoyles placed strategically on every parapet and balcony and the gates were adorned with two golden lions. Someone had clearly splashed out on this place to make it the single most noticeable building in New Gryphos - that was saying a lot. The palace was full of grand rooms and expensive furniture, and it would take several centuries to describe the beauty of it all, so allow me to save us some time and move straight to the grandest room of all - the Empress' throne room.
Normally, she only sat here when seeking consul from the Inquisition, or perhaps some wizened Tribe Leaders. The area was totally off limits to the public except during a debate or royal decree, and when it was, the entire place was jam-packed. Now, it was bare but for a handful of choice figures.
It was Bitter-root who had called for the meeting. Any messages and letters, especially those from foreign nations, went through him, and he had decided that this particular letter was important enough to be brought to the Empress' attention. It was, of course, the Gu-Shedal's letter.
"It is certainly something new" the old man started. Father Bitter-root was a sprightly old man, with kind, bright eyes and a fluidity and grace that defied his age. As a young man, he had been as delicate and as fragile-looking as the rest of his kin, but any signs suggesting weakness had long since faded, leaving behind a grizzled, cheerful old shaman. Though he must have been quite a sight with his long, dark cloak and staff intertwined with bones and skulls, one look at his face could eradicate any fears one could harbour about him.
"And it was nice of them to think of us!" Little Lady Luna added "Oh, please say we can go, mother! I'd love to go to Manram! My tutor was telling me about Shu Zidish, and she says..."
"Well of course we can go, little one" the Empress cut her off. "Why, it would be a massive faux pas if we refused!"
Luna and Kali were like chalk and cheese in terms of looks. Kali was often considered to be like the rest of the Gryph - honey-coloured skin, dark brown hair, strong but not bulky. Though she was attractive, there were definately better lookers out there, and she wasn't the tallest of Gryph. Luna, by contrast, seemed to lack any suggestion she shared a race with her mother at all. Instead of the sweet, caramel tan of the rest of her kind, Luna had a complexion more like that of a light peach. Her dark ginger hair was almost unheard of, and her face was far more round and gentle than her sharper, stronger kin. Perhaps most notably, she was fifteen years old, but was yet to bleed. Her chest was still flat. Yet she was almost at the age where she would be expected to marry, have children and create strong, healthy heirs to lead the Torin of the future. It was hardly a secret that the girl was not growing up entirely the way she should be, but who was going to argue with the Empress?
"If I may be so bold, Your Majesty, this 'party' sounds a little risky." It was High Inquisitor Corvus who said that. Malin Corvus was the Empress' last line of defence and most trusted guardsman, as well as her head Inquisitor. He was a relatively older man, having served faithfully for twenty-eight years, and with age came experience. He kept his dark hair cropped short and his blue eyes were marred by a long scar running down his anatomical right, a gift he received from a man who decided he didn't feel like getting nailed to a cross for his crimes against nature. He returned the favour many times over to that man.
"Whatever do you mean, Corvus?"
"Well, for starters, it is going to last the whole week. I significantly doubt that the...Gu-Shedal needs an entire week to grow older."
"More time to party, if you ask me" Luna beamed joyously.
"And the request that everyone is disarmed. Why would he say that if he didn't want us to be at his mercy?" The Inquisitor seemed to ignore the girl entirely.
"What are you suggesting, Malin?" Bitter-root asked
"I'm saying that there is something fishy going on. We should make our excuses and decline."
The effect was immediate. Bitter-root glared at the Inquisitor as if he had personally insulted the Empress, Luna's jaw hit the floor and Kali herself merely gave a bemused smirk.
"And what will that say about Torin? That we don't trust our neighbours?" The Kasai started
"And miss out on the party?" Luna whimpered
"Ridiculous that you can't trust a foreigner..."
"And what about Mundir? We haven't even met the poor man! He could be the nicest guy in the world!"
"Peace, Father, Daughter. The Inquisitor's fears are not without reason" the Empress finally spoke, silencing her advisors. The duo still shot the poor man dirty looks, but said nothing more. Malin's face lit up into a smug grin.
"... which is why I'm entrusting my life to him when I attend this happening. Torin cannot be seen as a nation of isolationist loners now, can we?"
The whole scene changed. Now it was the old man wearing the grin and the inquisitor frowning. Luna was too busy hugging her mother and squealing with delight to show any emotion other than joy.
"My lady, you cannot truly be serious..."
"Malin, you've known me for years now." She was using his first name. That meant this was serious. " If I'm walking headlong into an ambush, and I do get attacked, I want you to be the one fighting at my back. And Luna, since you wanted to come along, I'll let you come as well.
"Thank you, mother!" The ginger girl squealed, trembling with glee. "I-I gotta go pack! There so much to do and such little time!" And with that, the child shot off, presumably to go pack a bag or two. Or twelve.
Bitter-root had some more questions, though "Hang on, mi'lady. If you, Corvus and Luna are away for a week, who's going to lead Torin?"
"Isn't it obvious, Father? You are. From the moment I leave, you will be Lord Regent and will have all my powers while I'm away."
Bitter-root looked like he might keel over, but he managed to mutter a "I'll do my best, mi'lady.".
"Is there any more news that needs to reach my, or do I have time to prepare?"
Silence
"No? Then I shall start packing at once. Corvus, you should do the same. Father, send a bird out to Manram. Tell them we accept wholeheartedly"
