Twirling Blossoms (Closed)

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

30 Miles Outside of Imperial City
Shrailleeni Home Island

The cry of the Trii-akh echoed across the mountainside, bringing a hush down upon the songbirds and other animal noises that normally filled the Shrailleeni temperate forests. The shadow of the enormous raptor passed overhead, temporarily darkening the area around which the riders passed. Chella looked up from her kalko to watch the majestic bird soar above her, and gave out a two-part whistle. The black-tipped eagle wheeled around again, giving out another cry in recognition of the command. Then she turned her attention back to hunt, urging her mount forward with jerky but swift strides.

The Royal hunting party was arrayed around their Mother Empress, a large unit of guards and notables numbering around two dozen. They all rode Giant Kalkos, huge flightless birds native to these islands and domesticated by the Shrailleeni for centuries. Ahead of them, somewhere in the forest, lay a flock of their wild brethren. And with assured certainty Chella Resyanna fe Shrailleen, ruler of the Shrailleeni Empire, was closing in on them.

Rushing forward, her bird plunged into the undergrowth of the forest, saplings and thorny bushes giving way beneath the scaled feet and dense hairy feathers of her mount. As she did so she gave out a sharp cry, which was met by the startled, deep-throated honking of kalkos yet unseen. She soon caught glimpses of them, head bobbing between pine branches, as they ran ahead of her charge.

Finally she burst into the clearing that she had known lay in this direction, and halted her bird with some effort. Before her the flock, about a dozen huge birds, was plunging ahead for the cover of the trees that continued on the far side. In a few seconds their powerful legs would carry them to safety. They did not have a few seconds.

A whistle carried across the forest from Chella's lips, and in a flash the shadow of the Trii-akh reappeared. Like a thunderbolt it plunged, shrieking its distinctive cry, talons the size of meat hooks outstretched. One of the strangling kalkos gave out a short honk of surprise, and then disappeared in a blur of movement. It was over in an instant.

Where before there had been a kalko, a mass of flesh and feathers lay, the five-foot high eagle resting on top, peering around with piercing eyes and crying its triumph. The remaining birds fled into the forest, and for a moment Chella observed the scene with tranquil scrutiny. Blossoms twirled around in the wind, blown across the clearing to dance around the site of the kill. It was nature at its most beautiful and terrible, all at once. This, she thought, was life. This was the Empire itself.

Then she was moving forward slowly, dismounting her bird and approaching the mighty predator with calm assurance. She whistled to it, and though it looked at her with predatory eyes it made no move against her. She made the traditional gesture of greeting, and spoke to the bird in Railti.

"You have struck on the wings of the Goddess, noble lady. Now let us return, with honor, and celebrate your triumph."

The bird looked at her, uncomprehending, but was used to the procedure. With another cry it took to the air once again, trained to understand that it would enjoy the fruits of its labor upon their return to the palace. As Chella watched it fly, her entourage approached, prepared the lift that would carry the carcass back. There it would be prepared for the welcoming feast, and the choicest bits fed to her Trii-akh. One of the notables, a Queen from Vangarra, approached with a bowed head, making all of the appropriate signs of respect.

"My Mother, it is a most honorable kill. It will prove most fitting."

She answered while making the motion of the jaw befitting a mother speaking to her child.

"So it is My Child. But I fear that the hunt has taken more time than I had anticipated. When are our guests due to arrive?"

The Queen bowed and drew a pocket watch from her robes, reading the time swiftly.

"My Mother, they were to have arrived a few short minutes ago."

"Then let us return with all due haste," Chella replied, her hands moving to make the statement a command. "We would not want to keep the foreigners waiting."

There was a message in her small smile that betrayed a sense of humor, and the Queen responded accordingly. She would have whether or not she actually found the comment funny, but that was of little consequence. It was the act that mattered.

Re-mounting her kalko, the Mother Empress led her party back to the palace. Somewhere not far off, the cry of the black-tipped eagle echoed across the mountainside once again.

---

Royal Airport, Imperial City
The Shrailleeni Empire

All of the necessary preparations had been made to greet the foreign leader, with the traditional pomp and ceremony that the Shrailleeni so enjoyed being carefully prepared across the airport. It was the first time that a national leader had stepped foot upon Shrailleeni soil, and the occasion was being given all due merit. Many had assumed that such a historic moment would have been given to the President of New Edom, the famous William Touchstone. But circumstances were merely the whim of the Mother Goddess, and they had changed.

Now the leader of a hitherto unknown Empire was arriving any minute, the product of an accident at sea that had sent a Shrailleeni steamship crashing into a Xoriet vessel. The Shrailleeni ship, an outdated model with much wear and tear, had been sunk, but the actions of the Xoriet crew had saved the Shrailleeni sailors from certain death. The entire incident had made national attention, and prompted the Mother Empress to personally invite the leader of that nation to Imperial City to initiate diplomatic relations between their peoples. No one knew anything about these newfound foreigners, but excitement was high. It was sure to be a day that went down in history.

[Xoriet]

On the Imperial Plane
Somewhere Over the Ocean

The plane had been scheduled to take off at an ungodly hour that morning. The imperial alarm clock had gone off at exactly three-thirty in the morning. Those who had been appointed to the unrivaled honor of accompanying His Imperial Majesty, Kath Zandion Beralis, to the faraway lands of the newly discovered Shrailleeni Empire were expected to awaken upon the first tolling of the deliberately obnoxious bells. They had stumbled from their beds with bleary eyes and many a stifled yawn to gather their luggage and make their reluctant way to the front gates of the palace, where the royal chauffeurs awaited their passengers with an equal lack of enthusiasm. The drive to the airport had been...unpleasant.

It so happened that a rather vicious storm had crossed down from the northern territory of Raicora and swept down across the heartland of Xoriet to the Capital City. The drive had given the passengers of the cars a slow drive impeded by heavy rains, gale-force winds, and large bolts of lightning streaking down from a black sky. Deafening claps of thunder punctuated the sound of heavy raindrops pelting the cars. This frightful weather was looked upon with extreme displeasure by the peoples accompanying the Kath to the airport. There was only one thing that this weather meant for sure: Their plane was not leaving anytime soon.

Two hours later the storm had subsided and conditions had been deemed appropriate for takeoff. Because the Kath himself was present on this expeditionary flight, the plane could not be allowed to move so much as an inch when there was the slightest chance of preventable danger. To the irritated relief of the intended passengers, the flight was finally declared safe and the disgruntled party boarded the plane. Their eccentric Kath and his second daughter were the only two who had not displayed open signs of the aggravation evident in the other members of his entourage.

Now the plane was estimated to be a mere half-hour away, and the previously passive passengers began to stir and prepare for arrival.

Kath Zandion Beralis of Xoriet rinsed the last remnants of the shaving cream from his face and neck with the lukewarm water in the sink. When he finished, he drew his hand speculatively over his chin to see if he had missed any spots during his meticulous shaving ritual. No stubble met his probing fingertips, so he lowered his hand. It seemed as if he had been successful in his work. Even so, Zandion peered into the bathroom mirror one last time to make absolutely certain that he had done a flawless job. As always, he found nothing to criticize about his handiwork.

He then proceeded to study his reflection. His black curly hair, its color unchanged by his encroaching age, was combed and styled away from his fair-skinned face. Despite the early awakening that morning, there were no circles under his emerald green eyes. He was in his early forties and in the twentieth year of his reign, yet there were no lines on his face. Even so, his age was unambiguous when taking into account in his regal bearing and poise. Zandion nodded approvingly and his eyes glanced down at his clothing. The Kath was currently wearing a pale green gossamer undershirt with silver thread embroidered on the hems of the tight sleeves and neck. His vest and slacks were of a gauze of such a dark green that it was virtually black. He had eschewed his usual gold-washed shoes for a pair of silver-washed formal sandals on this occasion.

It was appropriately elegant for this momentous excursion into the world of the unknown. Fully satisfied with his appearance, Zandion emerged from the changing room into the private body of the plane which belonged solely to his family.

Her Imperial Highness, Princess Kathira Beralis, was seated demurely in the chair on her side of the royal compartment, her eyes scanning the pages of a slender book bound in cinereal linen. Like Zandion she had a very fair complexion and her large eyes were that same slightly angular emerald green. Her long sleek hair, as black as her father’s, cascaded over one of her shoulders.

“You certainly took your time, didn’t you?” she observed calmly, not looking up from the slender book on her lap. She might have Zandion’s coloring, but her features very much resembled his wife, Ariyala.

“One should always endeavor to look one’s best,” he replied blandly.

“You take more time preparing for formal events than most women do, Father. People generally label that as a display of compulsive narcissism. What would it be if we added it to your titles? Perhaps they might introduce you as 'His Imperial Majesty, Kath Zandion Beralis, Devoted Narcissist.'”

“What a thing to say to your father, Kathira Beralis,” Zandion mock-chided her. She also had the personality of his wife, give or take a few opinions regarding Imperial policy. Her pert little comments were classic Ariyala from the early days of their marriage. “Where ever did you learn your manners?"

“From you,” Kathira reminded him, her eyes glancing up from the book to her father. Her emerald eyes displayed the sly humor that her serene expression lacked. She had fully inherited his particular sense of humor. “I also learned from Mother. My commentary on your habits can’t possibly be a surprise to you under those circumstances.”

He flashed a quick grin at her and took his own seat on the opposite side of the room. “It sounds like something Ariyala would say,” he agreed with more than a hint of amusement in his voice. “But now it is time for you to prepare yourself. Change those clothes of yours in favor of a more suitable garment, my dear. And do try to wear something other than black and red this time.”

"Would ivory be a suitable color?" she inquired, her tone wry. "Mother agreed with you on my clothing preference."

He pretended to consider it. "I suppose," he said as if he was genuinely considering the matter.

Zandion looked out the window once Kathira and her maid Caraithe had obediently adjourned to the changing room. There was a faint twist of an emotion very like an amalgam of anticipation and curiosity in his mind. They knew nothing of the Shrailleeni nation aside from its status as a matriarchal society, and next to nothing of their Mother Empress. He was a curious man, hence his determination to visit in person.

It was not the custom of the Kaths of Xoriet to leave the country, but there was no-one in the Empire who could order around the Kath himself. Not even Arrinya Eridian, High Priestess in the Church of the Empire, had the authority to force the Kath to stay home if he wished to travel out of the country on his own business. A faint smile touched his lips. He had found it rather delightful to blissfully and blatantly disregard the disapproval of the Hierarchy and the Church as if they had no power over him.

In the midst of his positively unholy gloating, the announcement he had been anticipating for the last twenty minutes sounded over the intercom.

“We will be arriving at our intended destination in approximately ten minutes, Your Imperial Majesty, Your Imperial Highness, and esteemed guests of assorted titles and ranks. Please return to your seats and fasten your seat belts for the duration of this flight.”

---

Royal Airport, Imperial City
The Shrailleeni Empire

Any party selected to travel with the Kath consisted of two of the Caosi, Danell Colart and the Kath’s own sister and only surviving sibling, Mayrel Beralis, one of the Generals, Alamar Idyn, the Magistrate-Elect, Teros Edel, and of course his own daughter Kathira. The two bodyguards of the Imperial person were as omnipresent as ever, but only the two most professional of the extensive number had been permitted to participate in this particular trip. In a way, it was a benchmark in Xoriet history, as only once in the past had a Kath personally left the country to attend to outside business. Zandion waited patiently as the flight attendants opened the door, his expression relaxed and confident.

At his side his daughter, striking in an ivory-colored gown of gossamer with gold and pearl combs pulling her dark hair away from her face, waited with the same tranquil equanimity as her father. They were noticeably more at ease with the circumstances than their nervous companions were, a benefit of being raised to deal casually with unusual situations.

The plane door opened after a last check from the attendants, and then the satin-carpeted stairs extended slowly down from the threshold to the ground below. Zandion placed his foot down on the first stair, paused, then turned around with a deliberately blissful smile. There was no better way to irritate the gathering of people who had taken this moderately significant flight than to offer them than his most blithe attitude. Their immediate stiffening of posture was most rewarding to the peculiar humor of the Kath.

“And onward we go!” he declared brightly, earning himself several sour looks from the more hesitant members of his entourage.

Without a moment of hesitation and secret humor regarding the state of his startled bodyguards, the Kath descended the stairs with a formal regality that was most uncharacteristic from the rather whimsical, almost melodramatic leader of the Empire of Xoriet. If it was necessary, he could disregard his humor and the whimsy in his personality. This occasion called for that, at least for the time being.

“The first step into history,” Kathira remarked quietly as she followed him down.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Royal Airport, Imperial City
The Shrailleeni Empire

The Kath and the members of his party were first greeted by the weather of the Empire itself. Though the rainy season had technically begun, the heat of the midday sun was still mightily oppressive, especially in the shadeless asphalt of the open tarmac. Before them, through the haze of humidity, stretched the lavish building that made up the terminal of the airport itself, meticulously designed in the sleek, sloping curvatures that defined Shrailleeni architecture. The sky above them was a clear blue, with wisps of clouds floating unhelpfully around the blaze of the sun.

Next came the greetings of the Shrailleeni Empire, a sight that dominated the rest of the scene in an orderly mass of people and color. All across the terminal the oval-arcs of the Empire hung side-by-side with the black and red of Xoriet, the massive flags flutteringly limply from their positions draped down the sides of the building. A full complement of Royal Guards, several hundred women and men, stood at attention on either side of the corridor arranged for the Kath's walk to the terminal, their black-jacketed uniforms crisp and clean and the bayonets of their old-style rifles gleaming in the light. The Shrailleeni had never had to welcome foreign royalty in such an intimate capacity before, and had decided to simply offer every honor that they could. The anthem of Xoriet played in the background as the Kath disembarked from his plane, the Guards turned in unison to face each other from either side of the aisle, the sound of their boots echoing in unison.

Already in position, the official greeting party made its way to the steps of the plane, each of the Shrailleeni notables dressed in official robes despite the heat. They numbered around a dozen in all, a mixture of diplomats and Princesses, and were led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and second most powerful man in the Empire, Zattem Resbruck. The honor and dignity of his task was not lost on the Minister, who had taken great pains to arrange this welcome. His long hair, worn in the Shrailleeni fashion and sweeping down his back, combined with the asexual design of his official robes and youthful features to grant him a feminine appearance, though he wore it well. His green eyes lit on the man who strode confidently down from the foreign plane, a man whose bearing marked him as none other than the Kath himself, sovereign leader of the Empire of Xoriet.

Despite his long experience in such matters, Zattem still found it hard to truly comprehend that this man led a nation. Like most Shrailleeni, he took matriarchy for granted as a fact of life, even in light of his own considerable progress to the contrary. However, he let nothing of his feelings show on his face as he greeted the Kath in the traditional Shrailleeni fashion, bowing his head and placing his right hand over his heart, the left palm-out in front of him, a gesture of peace.

"On behalf of Her Enlightened Majesty the Mother Empress, and in the name of the Empire of Shrailleen, I welcome you Kath Zandion Beralis," he spoke in flawless English, speaking the name that he had memorized since receiving this important assignment. "I am Minister Zattem Resbruck, and it is my honor to represent the Royal Court in making Your Majesty's acquaintance."

[Xoriet]

Royal Airport, Imperial City
The Shrailleeni Empire

The torrid climate in the southern territories of Xoriet doused its peoples with endless waves of heat for most of the year, a natural occurrence that the citizens often bemoaned. Perhaps this Shrailleeni calidity might have critically affected a man or woman from a cooler country, but the arrival party had worn traditional garments for their people. The substance of gauze was very thin, gossamer even less substantial, and both of those fabrics often felt as if they were not there. This had been a most advantageous choice of costume, the Kath discovered as he stepped out of the plane and was welcomed by temperatures he had long ago grown to regard as normal. Years of similar experience enabled him to not squint unbecomingly in response as he walked from a dimly-lit plane into the blinding light of the afternoon sun.

He noticed right away that the greeting party was as extravagant as any that he himself might arranged, an indication that they took this as seriously as he did. The Kath could see the peculiar oval-arcs of the Empire’s insignia and the golden ocelot side-by-side. After a moment of careful speculation, he decided that he rather liked this military form of greeting. They were even playing the pretty little tune that was Xoriet's anthem. This party was led by a man, which could only suggest that meeting the Mother Empress was some time away. Of course, he was in no particular hurry to do so. The Doctrine of Equality dictated that he would have to focus his full attention on one of Equal status. That would prevent him from studying the Empire's customs as he wished to at the present time.

His gaze was almost assessing as he watched the Minister deliver his exquisitely prepared introduction.

“It is my pleasure to meet you and yours, Minister Zattem,” the Kath responded formally when the man had finished, offering the shallow yet graceful bow typically addressed to an honored presence in Xoriet. They might not be in Xoriet, but custom still dictated that this was the proper show of courtesy. “My pleasure and marked honor.”

Kathira stepped down from the last of the high stairs, resisting the urge to look around with the lively interest she was concealing. Her eyes fixed first on the minister, and then studied the formal gathering behind him, a flicker of interest rising in their emerald green depths. She had never seen anyone who was not a native of Xoriet (not counting the stuffy ambassadors of the court) in all of her nineteen years. The experience was intriguing…to say the least. Fortunately, years of practice under the strict tutelage of the Kath'a enabled her to conceal her shamefully childish excitement from the Shrailleeni.

“This is my daughter, Princess Kathira Beralis, Minister,” Zandion added almost conversationally as he glanced with veiled amusement at his bemused child. Her expression might well be courteous and composed, but he knew her well enough to know that she was submerged in a state of helpless fascination. She was, after all, her mother's daughter. That Kathira was as internally tranquil as her perfectly executed mask suggested was not humanly possible.

She bowed as well, a much deeper and more deferential bow than that her father had offered to him. “Minister,” Kathira greeted politely, her manner as regal as that of her father.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

"Princess Kathira," Zattem greeted the young woman smoothly, "It is an honor to meet you."

He was intrigued to see that the Kath had brought his daughter along, an wasn't sure what to make of it. He supposed that it could be a political gesture, it wouldn't be the first time that a foreign nation had sent a female emissary in an attempt to gain the Empire's good graces. From what he knew of this Xoriet it was a generally patriarchal nation, though with certain odd gender roles differing from the usual unenlightened society. Of course, it could also be that the Kath simply loved his daughter enough to bring her along. That would bode far better for this meeting, he thought, than if the Princess had come as a token. The Shrailleeni could appreciate strong family bonds.

He turned back to the Kath, gesturing toward the terminal with a small smile of welcome on his lips. "Kath Zandion, Princess Kathira, the Mother Empress and the other members of the Royal Court will be honored to welcome you in person. A railcar waits to take us to the Imperial Palace. Allow me to escort you."

The ceremony went into full swing as the Empire's important guests made their way down the tarmac, energetic despite the hot sun. Whenever the procession walked past a line of soldiers, all of them would turn to face the Minister and the Kath with a smart stomp of boots. As they moved minor officials and members of the nobility, mostly women, slowly formed an entourage around them. By the time that they reached the terminal there was quite a ceremony underway, and now the serene, delicate notes of the Shrailleeni national anthem echoed through the markedly cooler interior space.

The terminal was constructed in the elegant, sloping style of Railtic architecture. The arches and curves of te walls rose so gradually that they seemed almost sculpted, until they rose abruptly into towering domed ceilings. It was an inefficient style, but a beautiful one, with detail carved caringly into every surface. The area that they now entered was especially so, as it formed the Royal Rail Terminal as well. Five dedicated lines led directly between the Palace and the Airport, reserved for use by only the most important members of government, and for visiting dignitaries. A single engine, engineered from a mixture of Shrailleeni and modern technologies, pulled an elaborately decorated car with glass sides which contained comfortable seating, tables, and all the necessary amenities. It was into this car that the Kath was directed, accompanied by the Princess and the rest of the Xoriet procession.

Zattem was very smooth throughout the entire process. Although not of noble birth, his gender and drive to succeed had proved excellent teachers for him to learn the emotional control that formed the staple of Court life. He was also perceptive enough to recognize that the Kath and Princess had similar training; he could not easily read either of their emotions. They were the first outsiders to date who displayed an almost Shrailleeni manner of carrying themselves, and the Minister wondered how interesting this meeting would become.

As they settled into the car he played the host, offering water and other drinks as well as small fruits and pastries. Then he attempted to make conversation, emboldened by his new rank to engage the Kath directly.

"I am sure that the Empress will tell you this," he said respectfully to the Kath, "but all Shrailleeni are grateful for what your people did during the incident. Our Mother does not take the lives of Her Children lightly."

As he spoke the car began to move, gently at first but this increasing speed, into the route that ran through the dense rainforest of Home Island, curving around the outskirts of Imperial City. Bright green trees, decorated with a dazzling array of blossoming colors, rose high on either side of the track, the rainy season had just begun. Flocks of birds, going past too swiftly to be seen clearly, added another dimension to the sights the car beheld as it made its way toward their destination.

[Xoriet]

Zandion discovered early on that the more of the Shrailleeni lands he saw, the more fascinated he became with the natural beauty of this hitherto-unknown Empire. He had not been sure what to expect, as all reports gathered on this unknown Empire were vague at the time of their delivery, but from what he had seen and heard so far, his expectations for this acclaimed visit continued to rise…if such an occasion could be accurately described by a word as banal as 'visit'. This Shrailleeni nation, or what he had seen of it thus far, had already been categorized as undeniably one of the most extraordinary places he had yet seen. The unusual yet remarkable architecture in particular caught his appraising eye, the exquisite artistry of the structures and their tasteful ornamentation appealing to his private inner romanticist.

Its people were no less remarkable, as he observed from the gathering that had been placed at the airport as a welcome. In a way, they were similar to those lives he was responsible for back in the borders of his own realm, but in other ways, they were very different. There was something about them that he could not quite manage to place. An excellent example of the Shrailleeni natives was the inestimable Minister, Zattem, whose laudable skill had undoubtedly earned him his rather lofty rank in a typically matriarchal society. He was moderately impressed by the execution of process that presumably came from the hand of this man, though by rule he could not visibly display that appreciation.

Their matriarchal society was an interesting concept to an empire where Equality demanded a society that adhered strictly to the rules that the Doctrines dictated. That balance of Equality and Order had somehow maintained itself through the long years since its founding. The Shrailleeni Empire had an entirely different approach to the organization of citizens and government, but their society had just as obviously survived since its founding. The fact that both continued to exist contributed to the popular Xorietian theory that there was no absolute form of Order.

Once they had settled into an ornate car which provided them a splendid view of the scenic Shrailleeni lands, Zandion deliberately paid only passing attention to the other members of his party. It was his own little way of sending them his loving regard. By their frequent glances in his direction during their modulated conversations, he concluded with an inward grin that they were certainly 'feeling' his affection. Their irritation, though well-concealed, was still discernible to their Kath. Some of the others had accepted various refreshments, but he and Kathira simply took water, and, in her case, a pomegranate. His daughter alone was not a recipient of the indolent disregard engineered for the sake of his own entertainment. Kathira's presence was currently recognized as the counterpart to her father's, but he did not exclude her because of this.

She was simply his favorite daughter...and completely immune to his amusements.

As the Minister finally settled down and spoke to him with the presumable intent of conducting a conversation, Zandion directed his attention away from the others to the man who had been placed in charge of the affairs.

"We are pleased that casualties were prevented during the unfortunate collision. My people followed their moral and circumstantial demands by working to preserve human life, which I hope is a standard any respectable land will emulate," he replied in a light tone that was several shades pale of his usual mannerisms. His next words, though still moderately delivered, hinted faintly to an underscore of amusement. "We can both be grateful, I think, that this second encounter of our respective empires is not quite as eventful as the first."

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Zattem found the Kath's manner of speaking a little odd in a way that he could not quite place. It was incredibly formal English, but as a non-native speaker he could not place the exact impression that the words gave him. He did, however, gain a sense that this was a man accustomed to being at the top, especially in the way that he treated his entourage. In a way his mannerisms were like those of the Shrailleeni nobility, though cast in a different mold.

"Grateful that it is not so hazardous perhaps, but our Empire hopes that this will be an eventful occasion in its own right. It is not often that we encounter a nation so mindful of a moral standard, and not simply acting out of base emotion. Most cultures that we meet tend to be, diplomatically speaking, Children, at best."

Zattem's movements as he spoke were graceful, and he took care not to ignore the young Princess either. He was a diplomat, but some things were too deeply engrained to ignore completely.

The railcar wove its way around the valley in which Imperial City rested, clinging the side of the mountain range that had in ancient times sheltered it from foreign armies. The path that they took was mostly rainforest, although from time to time the right-hand side of the car gave a glimpse of the vast and glittering city of spires and curving architecture in the distance, as well as the large green clearings of farmland that stretched out from the city's edge.

Soon the rainforest shifted subtly into a more temperate climate, an odd mixture of evergreen and ferns still abundant with colorful flowers. Ahead of them the towering majesty of the Imperial Palace rose into view, its walls and spires rising out of the mountainside to dominate over the sprawl of the city below. The railcar headed directly for the outer wall of the palace complex, entering a tunnel to wind into the side of the mountain itself. It grew black outside of the car as they entered, but the light soon returned to reveal the massive Royal Station, a complex at the lowest point of the palace where all of the rail lines on the island converged. Electric lighting revealed tall and sloping walls and a domed ceiling, all painstakingly carved with images of natural beauty.

"Kath, Princess," Zattem spoke as they arrived, "I bid you welcome to the Imperial Palace."

[Xoriet]

Kathira had been sitting quietly for the most part, her green gaze alternately resting on either her father or the interestingly feminine-looking Minister. The pomegranate she had accepted earlier lay inviolate in her ivory-clad lap. Upon the realization that there was simply no regal way to eat this fruit in public, she placed the pomegranate down and turned her mind to her surroundings. As she listened attentively to the conversation between the two men, her fingers traced idle patterns on the smooth skin of the fruit.

What she had seen of the Shrailleeni Empire thus far was as beautiful as anything she could have imagined. She was grateful that her flawlessly gracious mask, achieved through many years of training, remained firmly in place. Her unbecoming, essentially childish excitement which she successfully concealed from the present company was further fueled by the glimpses of Imperial City and the Imperial Palace. What she saw was a stunning yet noticeably different style of architecture than she was accustomed to. The Imperial City and Androssi were dissimilar in most respects, as were their respective royal residencies. Had she been a child, it would be excusable to entirely disregard the other occupants of the car in favor of the scenery, but as an adult, youngest member of the party or not, that course of action was not available to her. It was also extremely impolite, which went against her upbringing.

The domed ceiling was the first thing she noticed about the station as the car finally came to a halt.The Minister announced their arrival at the Imperial Palace, leaving her free to assess her new surroundings. Something within her, a small part which had been uneasy over the ride in this foreign land, relaxed. Domes, unlike those arches and spires, were frequent in Xoriet's architectural style, and the sight of that ceiling provided a balm to diminish what nerves she had regarding her presence in the new Empire.

Only too aware of her excitement, she very carefully worked to prevent that very undignified elation from emerging in her words. Kathira repeatedly called to mind that the Minister had mentioned other foreign nations who were, diplomatically, children. That was an equally potent reason to keep her poise unsullied.

That particular remark also was what enabled the princess to speak without revealing her inner delight. "What has been seen of your nation thus far is different, but beautiful," she remarked evenly, proud of her tone.

“It is quite fortunate that none among my retinue are poetically inclined,” her father mused aloud after a few extra moments of contemplative silence.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Zattem noted the words of the Kath's daughter, and smiled in response.

"I thank you Princess Kathira. We Shrailleeni believe that every piece of this earth is a gift from the Mother Goddess, and should have its beauty glorified and preserved. I hope that you might find the rest of the Empire as aesthetically pleasing."

Noting also the Kath's remark, which Zattem took to be somewhat rhetorical, he bowed again and beckoned the party forward into the station. There an entourage of Shrailleeni attendants stood waiting, bowing and gathering the baggage of the Xorietians. Some of them carried it off to the rooms where the foreigners would be staying, the rest followed the group as they headed toward the grand stairway on the left.

"Rooms have been prepared for your stay in the North Wing of the palace, an area set aside entirely for visiting notables. For now, however, the Mother Empress awaits."

The group moved up the grand staircase and into the South Hall, which rose several stories to a series of windows completely open to the outside. The air inside of the palace was cooler, designed to create an air flow that kept the heat of the tropical sun at bay. Every wall was covered in intricate carvings and decorations, although there was notable lack of any tapestries or drapery. Everything was designed to mimic trees or other objects from nature, and as they neared the upper stories of the palace complex the detailing began to resembled a forest canopy. Plants bloomed from intricately carved pots in near the rounded corners of the hallways, and the walls were decorated in leaf-like molding painted in varying shades of green beneath golden arches and high slit windows. The corridors were immense and spacious, combined with the breeze blowing through were more reminiscent of being outside than the inside of a building.

Finally they reached a large pair of double-doors, crafted from hardwood. Upon them was the image of a gigantic tree with sprawling roots and a vast branching canopy. At its center was a large seal, around which were written the words "Peace," "Compassion," "Knowledge," and "Understanding" in Railtic script. Within the circle of words was the symbol of the Empire, the oval-arcs, exquisitely carved. Two Royal Guards stood at attention as the group approached, and without being told simultaneously turned and pushed on the timber. The doors opened with a slow, ponderous silence, and revealed the room inside.

The Throne Room was a large chamber, circular in shape and supported by 21 columns carved to resemble the trucks of trees. The ceiling vaulted upward into a high dome, beneath which had been painted a mural which again depicted the oval-arcs. Within the pillars sat a large circular table, around which numerous chairs were positioned. The far end of the room was elevated by three long steps in a half-moon shape, and at the center across from the doorway a simple throne of curved lines sat facing the table.

It was upon that throne that the Mother Empress, Chella Resyanna fe Shrailleen, sat gently, observing her guests for the first time. Beyind her throne sat her husband the Prince-Regent, her second-eldest daughter Queen Arianna, and her son Talmar with his wife Queen Atchell Thrina fe Fromathra. The rest of the throne room contained most of the Queens and Matriarchs of the Royal Court, all dressed in pristine black-and-white robes of state, and a throng of Undersectretaries, Secretaries, and attendants.

The room seemed rather full, but all of the assembled stood and greeted the Kath with their left hands out and their right over their hearts, bowing their heads. Zattem entered first, and bowed to the Mother Empress before making the introductions. The pressure was on him, but he handled it perfectly.

"My Mother, Mother of All, Your Enlightened Majesty Chella Resyanna fe Shrailleen, your Child greets you. May Your Child present to You His Majesty, Kath Zandion Beralis of the Empire of Xoriet, and his daughter the Princess Kathira Beralis."

Bowing low again, Zattem moved to the side as Chella rose gracefully from her seat, and began to step delicately down and forward toward the Kath.

"Kath Zandion," she spoke into the hushed room of still-bowing notables, "in the name of the Mother Goddess, whose Compassion shines upon us all, I greet you. Welcome to the Empire of Shrailleen."

[Xoriet]

“It is my unsurpassed honor to have come to such an astounding nation, Mother Empress,” Zandion replied, his expression of gracious sincerity and an uncharacteristically serious tone complementing each other. “We had speculated long about the entirety of your Empire, whether it be your people, your land, or your culture, but the reality casts deeply into shadow those speculations.”

The Kath was very rarely serious in manner or carriage when speaking to another after his over twenty-year-reign in Xoriet, but he had spent quite a number of his childhood years relying on his ability to present respect to the proper individual to save his life. This experience enabled him to discard neatly his usual manner to preserve his health. It was unlikely that words would put his life in danger here, yet all those years of practice could be summoned and remain as flawless as they had been during his adolescence. Out of the entirety of the gathering, Xorietian or Shrailleeni, the only one who could recognize his current manner would be his elder sister.

He finished with a bow that lacked its usual exaggerated extravagance, replacing it with a genial, formal gesture rather than one that could be interpreted as a lighthearted gesture meant to invoke amusement. In a way, it could be considered the ultimate compliment from the Kath. During this particular instance, he was also able to be completely honest, which was a relief. False flattery had never been his style. He did genuinely admire everything he had listed in his response to the Mother Empress, naturally including the Shrailleeni leader in his statement.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Chella looked over the man before her with an appraising eye. In his own land, he was her equal in power and right, even if the contract that bound him to his people was based on a less than Enlightened teaching. But his eloquence in the English language impressed her, in truth it took all of her skill to follow his introduction. At any rate, this was clearly not a man to be trifled with, and she intended to make no such mistake. He was clearly raised under some sort of etiquette, and neither his manner nor his clothing offended the Shrailleeni sense of formality. To be honest, she as impressed.

"Your words bring honor to this Empire, Kath Zandion, and to Her Mother Empress. You may address me as Empress Chella, as is fitting people of our rank. As may you, Princess Kathira," she said, turning her emerald eyes on the young girl for the first time. "You are my honored guests in this palace, as I am your honored host. We have much to discuss for the benefit of both our respective subjects, but first I shall ask if you would join myself and the Queens and Matriarchs of the Royal Court for a feast to be thrown in your honor."

At her words the attendants of the room were thrown into motion, opening another large pair of double-doors on the room's right-hand side. The notables of the courts finally looked up from their bowing positions, and the silence venerating this first encounter of sovereignty was broken.

[Xoriet]

“We are most grateful for your exquisite hospitality,” said Zandion.

Mayrel Beralis, sister to Zandion and the last remaining of the thirteen children of the Kath Emeritus, took careful notes of everything she laid eyes on. She was aware that the Doctrine would force her brother to focus on the Empress, difficult name to pronounce and all, and what she spoke of alone. She was also aware that he would be regretful at not being able to take careful mental notes on the fascinating details of the Empire.

So she took those notes for him. Her eyes, that same, sharp emerald green characteristic of the Beralis line, took in countless details, her mind filing away those endless mental observations. She was interested by the Shrailleeni manner of dress, elegant but lacking in the vivid colors customary of a Xorietian’s typical garb. The people were quite different from her own countrymen in terms of physical appearance, but the graceful formality and respectful airs of the Shrailleeni impressed the former Princess of the Empire, and was reminiscent of home. The architecture was beautiful, and its careful attention to nature enlightening. A matriarchal society and its unusual gender roles had only ever been a theory to Mayrel before, but now she was beginning to understand how it could work out after her brief time in the Shrailleeni Empire. There were many more things she noted, but they were smaller, less impressive observations than the main points.

Overall, her mind could only ascribe a single word to what she had seen thus far: Astonishing.

Certainly her brother was impressed from what she had been able to tell, and Mayrel was fairly positive that Kathira was feeling the same way as her father and aunt. They were, after all, both from the Beralis'i line, just as she was. While she felt no need to intrude into conversation, she still had mental responses to every word that reached her ears. She was, she concluded after a time, rather glad she had elected to come after all.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Chella smiled and began leading the Kath and his daughter toward the door. The chamber on the other side functioned for many purposes, once it had been a conference room for peace talks, now it was a grand dinning hall. A large rectangular table, or rather roughly rectangular as it too seemed to lack hard edges and corners, lay spread at its center, an immense roasted kalko dominating the rest of the spread with its bulk and the rich scent of its meat. Before entering the room, though, Chella was met by her husband, daughter, son, and daughter-in-law. These she presented and introduced to the Kath in that order, each accompanied by a little bow.

"This is my husband, the Prince-Regent Bavardo Resyanna fe Shrailleen, and our Children. The Queen Arianna, my son the Regent Talmar, and my daughter through marriage the Queen Atchell Thrina fe Fromathra. They shall be accompanying us at our seat."

As the introductions were made, the group led by Chella were led to the end of the table, at seats obviously reserved for the most important diners. The plates, fine ceramics, were accompanied by an odd set of utensils. There were the obvious knives and spoons, but two additional utensils were there as well, one three-pronged piece resembling a fork, and a pair of what appeared to be wooden-handled metal sticks. There were not a great deal of food dishes on the table, but there were some plates of vegetables that resembled salads, with leafy greens mixed with peppers and bits of what seemed to be egg.

As they took their seats, Chella taking her place at the head of the table with the Kath to her left, the Mother Empress continued the conversation with pleasantries.

"I hope that the food is to your liking, Kath Zandion. We Shrailleeni enjoy our vegetables, but we have met several nations which avoid the flesh of animals. We are not such a nation, the Mother Goddess created all life as a gift, and we honor the strength that it brings us. I did not know if yours was such an ideology, but if meat offends you we can produce something more suitable."

The Princess Kathira was placed next to her father, with Arianna on her other side. Arianna smiled at the Princess as they took their seats, looking friendly. Opposite them were the Queen and Talmar, who also looked pleasant enough as well. All around the table the other notables were taking their seats as well. They would dine with the Empress, but they knew that meeting the Kath would be a matter for a later date. Appearances were necessary though, and so the notables contented themselves with the usual hushed gossip and plotting that defined Court life.

[Xoriet]

“Your Highness. Queen. Regent. Queen,” said the Kath, offering a singular bow to each of those named that was slightly deeper than the one he had initially presented their Minister with. Sometimes it paid off being the head of a nation, he thought with private satisfaction. It meant that he had to master only one single style of bow to every person he encountered, all save an Equal. A quick glance at his daughter confirmed his thoughts.

Kathira, a perfect example of one who had to deal with the difficulties of being in a lesser position than his, was a bit more careful in her acknowledgement of the royal family of Shrailleen as introduced by the Mother Empress, Chella. To the Prince-Regent she offered the same courtesy she would have presented her mother with in formal situations, to the Queen the bow of one like the High Priestess, and she repeated the actions over with the Regent and his Queen-wife in accordance to the position of each.

Zandion did have to admit that she had learned very well from his wife.

The Shrailleeni feast provided an interesting array of dishes that caught Zandion’s attention, particularly an enormous bird-like creature that seemed to be the main course. Though the peoples of Xoriet did not frequently partake of meat, they had no objections to it. Besides, even if they had he might reconsider in favor of the large bird which had so caught his attention. Curiosity may have caused problems in the past, but another benefit of his position was that rarely would someone attempt to have him killed.

“We tend to not eat meat often, but that is only because in the past one of the High Priestesses and her brother, the then-current Kath, decided that they could not stomach the smell of cooked meat and their distaste inevitably and gradually spread throughout the Empire from Androssi and onward. Fashionable habits, you see. Oddly, that tradition remains the same to this day.”

The Princess smiled back at the one introduced as the Queen Arianna. She wanted to fiddle with the hem of her ivory dress, still a little nervous, but her mother’s words stayed firmly in her mind. Oddly, that also applied with the Minister’s words. She felt a sudden pang of annoyance that chased the rest of the nerves away. The idea that she was actually nervous over something so silly as her current situation was absurd.

Hell, she had been kidnapped by the leader of the Empire’s professional terrorists before, and now she was worried over making a good impression at a feast?

Though all of those thoughts flickered through her mind restlessly, her face was calm and her eyes bright. Once more she was pleased that her training was holding up so easily. She had no need to be nervous when there was nothing particularly threatening at the present moment.

“Queen Arianna,” she said with as much grace as she could muster. “May I ask of you a question?”

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

"Is that so?" Chella remarked with a hint of interest. The tidbit of information actually reminded her of things that occurred in Shrailleen as well. There were times when the practices of the Royal Court had their effect on all of society. Manner of speech, manner of dress, even the way that the Shrailleeni simply carried themselves could be traced back centuries to the reigns of the early Mother Empresses and their Courts.

"Meat is a subject of some debate in the Empire, actually. There are those who believe that we should not partake, and argue that it is actually against the teachings of the Mother Goddess. They are not, however, the prevailing theorists. You Empire seems to have much in common with Shrailleen, Kath Zandion. May I ask, in as simple an answer as you wish, what your lands are like?"

Meanwhile, Arianna smiled at the girl. She seemed quiet and reserved, something that any Shrailleeni woman of noble birth understood well. She must be nervous under that practiced exterior, Arianna knew that she would be in that situation. Indeed, as a girl she often was.

"You may ask anything, Princess Kathira. I am at your disposal."

[Xoriet]

Zandion considered that question for a moment. There was really no easy way to describe it. He would have to speak the first thing that came to his mind to express enough of it to Chella. So he channeled his thoughts into his words, deciding what he felt most needed to be expressed.

“Xoriet tends to be extremely warm in the Southern Territories, where our capital, Androssi, is located. Our people are fond of silks and gauzes and bright colors. Your average citizen spends their life surrounded with color and music. The weather tends to be somewhat unpredictable. All of our children are educated to be fluent in English, but it is not our native tongue. We are quite fond of towers in our structures, soaring towers with domed roofs and ceilings. Ah, and most importantly, I suppose, we strive endlessly to maintain the principles of Order and Equality.”

There was much more that he could have included, but those were the thoughts that came to his mind first. He also conveniently left out his personal contributions to the city. His tendency towards jokingly regarding his own people most likely would not have amused the formal Empress of the Shrailleeni.

Kathira, mostly ignoring her father's conversation in light of her own, looked again at the enormous roasted poultry dish on the table. “What species of bird is that?” she asked curiously, turning back to the Queen Arianna. She had not imagined of such a bird before, and its oddity had certainly captured her interest. "I have never seen such a bird as this one."

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Chella listened intently. Her mental images of the outside world came mostly from television and computer images, as well as from the foreigners whom she had met. Hearing descriptions was important to her, it helped her place the countries of the world around her sphere of influence. The Kath's description painted a realm not unlike her own, through decorated and sounding as if the Mother Goddess festival never ended. She pictured majestic towers, a difficult job without spires to accompany them, and approved of the idea of an educated youth. But the last sentence intrigued her the most.

"The principles of Order and Equality? I assume that these reflect their English translations, but in what way to you strive to maintain them?"

Arianna nodded understandingly, the kalkos were a subject of endless curiosity among foreign visitors to the Empire.

"Ah, that bird was one of the Giant Kalkos, the largest animal on the islands. They are extremely important to my people, and have special significance. Kalkos come in all sizes, from smaller than your head to as tall as me, but the Giant Kalkos are the true Queens of the island. They have given us much over the centuries, and we respect them greatly. This bird was hunted in the wild especially for your arrival, using the ancient tradition of eaglery. That is the only way that we can hunt them, and so eating them is a rare and great honor."

[Xoriet]

Ah, now there was a question that anyone from Xoriet could have answered by rote.

“The Principles of Order and Equality come to us through Fate’s Mandate,” replied Zandion promptly. “They dictate the means by which we live. Order is the responsibility of the Throne to maintain, while Equality is the responsibility of the Church. Through Order and Equality respectively, I keep my position on the Throne and the High Priestess is given the responsibility of the Church. So far its moderately strict parameters have kept matters in the Empire running rather efficiently for a number of centuries.”

Kathira thoughtfully digested the information given to her by the Shrailleeni queen. The idea of a bird that was a massively important staple of life to the Shrailleeni interested her. That one single animal could mean so much to the people was fascinating.

“These kalkos are solely native birds then,” she murmured. “Ah, but what kind of eagle could have captured such a large animal?”

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Chella was schooled enough in the arts of conversation to know that they were possibly approaching dangerous territory. Of the acceptable topics of dinner conversation, religion and politics were two of the four excluded. And from the sound of it, these mandates of Order and Equality qualified as both, as too did the teachings of the Mother Goddess. She was not here to discuss the eccentricities of foreign belief systems, she was here to initiate diplomatic relations with a strange nation. Therefore she chose her next words quite carefully.

"Order and equality are worthy traits to emulate. I would say with some certainty that our royal houses are not so different if keeping order in our respective realms is of the utmost importance. I am curious, what sort of equality does your Church enforce? Political, personal, or something else?"

Arianna smiled once more at the young Princess.

"The only creature that we Shrailleeni revere more than the kalko. The Trii-akh, the black-tipped eagle. They are the servants and protectors of the Mother Goddess herself, and are mighty predators indeed. They have even been known to hunt humans. Our Mother Empress is the only woman in all of Shrailleen who personally owns one, it is a symbol of her position."

[Xoriet]

Zandion once more ran words through his mind and decided what he could say easily. He was perfectly well aware of what to say and what to gloss over in the name of simplicity. After all, it was important that the system of beliefs associated with the Doctrines was generally kept out of polite conversation.

"Essentially you can assume that their domain is personal relations. They keep everything Equal among the citizens and ensure that they do not let such things as bias and prejudice spring up to disrupt life in the Empire." He grinned a little. "It sounds terribly boring I am told, but I do find that the Doctrines make my rule fairly enlivening. My oldest daughter, Ellane, is in the higher ranks of the Church. She might not like my usage of the word 'enlivening' however."

Kathira's green eyes widened marginally at the information. If it could hunt such a sizeable bird, it was undoubtedly verging on massive itself. Not only that, it also hunted humans. And the elegant Shrailleeni Empress truly owned one. That rather thrilled her her, though she concealed it fairly well. The idea of a bird that hunted humans sounded almost...fun.

"Do these Trii-ahks often catch humans?"

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Chella raised her eyebrows slightly, a sign of interest.

"Fighting bias and prejudice is a great task. Our own Empire has long and successfully fought the myths of racial difference and unfair prejudice. We believe that people should be judged by their works, not by their birthright."

This was true, of course, but perhaps not in the way that most people would mean in. The Shrailleeni pressured their noble daughters and sons to strive for the greatest achievements, as though this justified their noble positions. And, of course, Chella did not mean prejudice based on gender, which was so much a fact of life that questioning it was unthinkable.

"Why the use of the word 'enlivening,' then?" she then asked in a neutrally curious manner.

Arianna was adept at gauging the reaction of others, and saw that Kathira was intrigued by the mention of the Empire's most famous predator. She took a preliminary liking to the girl, finding her to be endearing.

"Not often," she answered truthfully, "they live in the most remote corners of the Empire now. We relocate them quickly when they enter civilized areas, and for many centuries it was legal to kill them when they presented themselves. But they prefer kalko meat to humans, it is only once in a great while that someone falls to the talons of the Trii-akh."

"The Princess Arianna almost did, when we were children," Talmar cut in from across the table, the hint of a smile on his lips. His wife, who had heard this story before, looked on bemusedly.

"Would you like to hear the tale?" Talmar asked Kathira with a real smile as Arianna gave him a warning look. She did not approve of telling children, for Kathira would be considered a child in Shrailleeni culture, such stories even if they were true. But her brother had always had a knack for telling tales, and she could not stop him politely.

That, and her brother was very good with the youth. He was always volunteering for 'uncle duty' for both herself and her sister, and that with his own young babe only recently added to his wife's household. He was a child at heart, he always had been, and she could hardly begrudge him his moment in the spotlight.

During this time, too, the Shrailleeni had begun to draw some of the salads to their plates, a signal for the Xorietians to do so as well.

[Xoriet]

“I chose that particular term because I rather enjoy the challenge of keeping Order in Xoriet. It provides an active challenge for me, to ensure the working organization of society. Fortunately for me, I have the easy job. Order is fairly easy to uphold in comparison to Equality, at any rate. I only have to worry about keeping balance between the genders, their positions, and their mutual rights,” Zandion replied, glancing at the members of his accompanying party.

“For example, you might notice that my party consists of two women and four men. Generally that would be considered to be unbalanced, but we took into account the ranking of the party members before leaving. Kathira is my daughter and Mayrel is my only surviving sibling and of high status in the Empire. Both of their ranks equal out the party regarding positions. Normally I would have brought a differently balanced party, but Kathira insisted on coming and it is difficult denying that child anything reasonable, particularly when my wife agrees with her.”

There was a slight softness in his voice as he spoke of his wife and daughter, but it was barely, if at all, noticeable. He followed the example of the Shrailleeni, his manner not revealing anything else of the like.

It took every ounce of her self-control to keep her face and eyes from lighting up with interest at the story. She wryly thought that perhaps her days of childhood were not so far behind her. On the bright side, she had the ability to hide most of that childlike demeanor. Kathira had always loved stories, and a story about something as fascinating as nearly being caught by a giant bird that hunted humans on occasion secretly delighted her avid curiosity.

“If Princess Arianna does not mind, neither would I,” she said cautiously to the Prince as she too followed the example of the Shrailleeni.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

This notion of equality intrigued the Mother Empress, especially as she was shown its practical application. She had simply assumed that more men were present because Xoriet, like most foreign nations, had adopted a primitive patriarchal system. But if what the Kath said was true, their politics were far more complicated than mere patriarchy. Chella was always impressed by nations that chose to enforce merit and break the unenlightened doctrines of patriarchy. For the Shrailleeni equality was to be commended because it would, inevitably, lead to women in the higher systems of government. That was the natural birthright of the female gender, and once the powerful bonds of patrilineal corruption were broken it was only a matter of time.

But that was a discussion for another time. For now, she turned her attention to equally important but less political matters.

"You have spoken of your wife and of an elder daughter, and the Lady Mayrel as your sister. Do you have a large family?"

Arianna hid her discomfort, and nodded her assent. "I do not mind, and I suppose it is a good story. Although I will insist that you refer to me as Queen, brother," she added with a twinkle in her eye.

"My apologies My Queen," said the Regent, now smiling at his sister. It was better for men, even siblings, to show deference to women while in the court, and the open smile was such a gesture. Acting childlike was always a good way to get away with things in the Empire, even if it lost you respect. And as a married Regent, there was too much respect placed upon Talmar's title for him to worry about that. Turning his attention back to Kathira, he started his tale with a narrator's voice.

"It was many years ago, when the Queen and I were young. It was the height of the dry season, and our lessons were postponed due to the heat of the day. Our elder sister, who is the now-Matriarch Aryni, was caught up in her studies, but I was a energetic boy of ten who was eager to explore the forest outside of the palace. I invited Queen Arianna with me, but she insisted that it was too dangerous and threatened to tell our mother."

His eyes flashed mischievously.

"But I wouldn't listen, of course, made my cunning escape from our guardians. The Queen made quite a fuss, but she came with me anyway. She said that she didn't want me to be out on my own. Called me foolish all the way to the outer walls. Of course, we would soon find out that she was right, but at the time I believe I labeled her what in English would be called a 'worry-wart.'"

[Xoriet]

Zandion took a mouthful of salad to give himself a little time to think on that question. This was bordering on dangerous territory, so he would neglect certain details. After all, there was no need to mention the number of sons and brothers lost in the succession struggles that were customary in the Empire. He doubted that Empress Chella would react well to an ancient tradition that usually thoroughly shocked outsiders. He eventually decided that there was the simple method: Answer the question, leave out the unnecessary details.

"You could say that it is fairly sizable," he admitted finally. "I have my sister over there, and my wife, Ariyala, as well as six children. Three daughters and three sons, including my current heir, Xaeyth, and Kathira, whose acquaintance you have already made."

Though it had taken effort, Kathira was finally able to listen to the story without clasping her hands together in that damnable childlike manner that had caused her trouble earlier. Now she could sit in dignified, if rapt, silence, and enjoy the story without other distractions. She had also found that she was growing rather fond of the Queen, whose friendly manner was both enjoyable and relieving.

She sat in quiet expectancy as he talked, her interest firmly caught by the introduction of the story and her attention completely riveted on the Prince Talmar. It was rare that she could have her fascination caught so suddenly, but today seemed to have been designed to confuse her sense of how she was supposed to feel. Though there had been numerous similarities between Xoriet and the Shrailleeni Empire, there were enough differences to keep her even just the tiniest bit off-balance.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Chella was impressed by the Kath's prolific family. The royal families of the Empire had once produced six, seven, or even eight children in a family, but in recent years that trend had started to wane. There were, simply put, a huge number of nobles in Shrailleen now, as a direct result of the large families produced in the early days. The modern trend was to have three, or else risk having a large number of nobles without any land or inheritance to grant them. And a large number of disenfranchised noblewomen was a dangerous thing to have in a country. The Mother Empress wondered how Xoriet dealt with this problem if its royals were still that prolific, but kept her question to herself.

"There is nothing wrong with a sizable family. Indeed, the family Shrailleen has more members than I would care to count. I have two sisters and a brother, all of whom have families of their own, not to mention all of my cousins and their children. Family is extremely important to us, it is the net that binds all of the Empire together. Even the other three royal houses, Fromathra, Vangarra, and Sevreen, have direct marital and blood ties to this throne. Nothing is more reliable than family, wouldn't you agree?"

Talmar was reveling in having so good an audience as the Xorietian Princess. He now added a hint of suspense to his story, voice becoming lower as the other Shrailleeni looked on with mild amusement and not a small hint of interest themselves.

"So there we were, just outside the palace walls, and the entire mountainside stretched above us to the clouds themselves. You must have seen a bit of our forest during your journey here, so you may picture it well. Tall trees both leafy and evergreen, their trunks tall and proud. The smell of damp forest soil, the dense brush. We Shrailleeni are raised to admire and respect nature, and we had often taken walks through the forest with our Mother or Father, but those were always peaceful walks during which we were bound to behave. This time, there would be no one to stop me from running and playing as I saw fit."

"By this time the young Queen was caught up in the moment as well, her worries briefly forgotten." He exchanged an amused glance with Arianna. "So we ran off into the forest, giggling and playing as Children are so driven to do. But we failed to follow one of the first lessons of the forest, we did not pay attention to our surroundings. Soon we were hopelessly lost. And little did we know, but that very day word had arrived at the palace from the city below. A Trii-akh had been spotted on the mountainside, driven from the high elevations in her search for food. And as we began to realize that we had wandered too far, Queen Arianna and I heard the cry of the eagle echo over the mountainside."