Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 13
King Dogfael, the King of Tunid, and King Mizmeam, the King of Caster, each with their entourage, arrived in the grounds of Palace Azilard. It was a far cry from the grim motley greens and browns of the surrounding country. Instead, the green grass lawns were lush and shady. The well-watered gardens something of a paradise in comparison to the bleak Caster landscape beyond. On the western edge of Keneeshka it was irrigated with streams and canals, cut from the River Verda. With ornate fountains and other water features a recurring decoration. The clear soft blue waters offsetting the dark greens of the vegetation, and the spritely outcrops of brightly coloured flowers. The vast palace itself situated in the centre. Perfectly balanced in proportion to the vast palatial gardens.
Prince Aralak had been holding court in the absence of his father, and he strode confidently down the palace steps to greet his father's guests. Making sure to greet the King of Tunid first, bowing, then grasping him firmly by the hand. He then hugged his father warmly, and in turn acknowledged Drua Maleeva, who was now in a loose black chemise, more fitting to the climate, with an equally loose head shawl covering the greater part of her hair. As he spoke to Maleeva he playfully ruffled the hair of Seaspell, who was quietly and intently observing the adults as they interacted with each other.
Prince Aralak had been holding court in the absence of his father, and he strode confidently down the palace steps to greet his father's guests. Making sure to greet the King of Tunid first, bowing, then grasping him firmly by the hand. He then hugged his father warmly, and in turn acknowledged Drua Maleeva, who was now in a loose black chemise, more fitting to the climate, with an equally loose head shawl covering the greater part of her hair. As he spoke to Maleeva he playfully ruffled the hair of Seaspell, who was quietly and intently observing the adults as they interacted with each other.
Prince Aralak cut a dashing figure. Now on the cusp of thirty he'd led something of a charmed life thus far. Very much enjoying the shade and protection afforded by his father. Currently he was overseeing the naval efforts against the Western Islanders. Though his lackadaisical attitude and overconfidence often meant that he was more of a nuisance to the more experienced admirals under his command. Not that he ever realised. Nor were such things ever spoken out loud. Fear putting paid to any such daring. However, the endless failures, on top of the terrifying fire power of the Brynnyfirdians, meant that morale amongst those prosecuting the war was at a dismal low. As the conversation moved in this direction, Prince Aralak expressed himself in his usual cavalier form.
"We'll have to put every elder to the sword once we regain control, of course."
"Will we regain control?" asked the King of Tunid, only half in jest.
"For sure. It's just a matter of time, your highness ..it looks bad at the moment, but we'll wear them down. We have an endless supply of men and ships. They do not."
"But they now have an advantage we do not, too," interjected King Mizmeam, correcting his son's overconfidence.
The King of Tunid keenly watched this father-son dynamic play out. "Are we edging towards a breakthrough?" he then asked.
"We're getting there, slowly.." returned a frustrated King Mizmeam, "We've dragged the finest blacksmiths and apothecaries over from the Three Deserts, in the hope that they may be able to add something to the endeavour. So now we have every available mind on the task. It would help if we could take one of their ships." He looked over towards Prince Aralak as he said this. The prince, never fond of criticism - even of the mildest variety - taking it as a cue to switch his attention, and eject himself the conversation.
"Will we regain control?" asked the King of Tunid, only half in jest.
"For sure. It's just a matter of time, your highness ..it looks bad at the moment, but we'll wear them down. We have an endless supply of men and ships. They do not."
"But they now have an advantage we do not, too," interjected King Mizmeam, correcting his son's overconfidence.
The King of Tunid keenly watched this father-son dynamic play out. "Are we edging towards a breakthrough?" he then asked.
"We're getting there, slowly.." returned a frustrated King Mizmeam, "We've dragged the finest blacksmiths and apothecaries over from the Three Deserts, in the hope that they may be able to add something to the endeavour. So now we have every available mind on the task. It would help if we could take one of their ships." He looked over towards Prince Aralak as he said this. The prince, never fond of criticism - even of the mildest variety - taking it as a cue to switch his attention, and eject himself the conversation.
"How about a spot of archery practice?" he motioned to Seaspell, who always relished the rare opportunity he got to do such boyish things. Maleeva gave a smiling nod of permission. The two then strode off in common step towards the practice range.
"When does he turn thirty?" queried the King of Tunid.
"When does he turn thirty?" queried the King of Tunid.
"Just a few months."
"So it's probably time for his de-veiling then. Is he ready for it, though?"
"Probably not," laughed King Mizmeam, with a comic lament, "..But I guess he's going to have to be. It may actually instil a deeper concern for the world into him. Though I have a feeling it may just wash him over."
As the two kings continued to talk Madame Drua Maleeva listened on in silence, staring at the cascade of water that was hissing and swishing down through the channel of a large bird-shaped water feature. Her vision slightly falling out of focus as she watched it roll over the blue mosaic tiles that paved the bottom of the curved fish pond it emptied into.
"I remember when I first discovered the truth about this world. It was quite a dislocation," reflected King Mizmeam, his pace slowing as he also paused to take in the scenery.
As the two kings continued to talk Madame Drua Maleeva listened on in silence, staring at the cascade of water that was hissing and swishing down through the channel of a large bird-shaped water feature. Her vision slightly falling out of focus as she watched it roll over the blue mosaic tiles that paved the bottom of the curved fish pond it emptied into.
"I remember when I first discovered the truth about this world. It was quite a dislocation," reflected King Mizmeam, his pace slowing as he also paused to take in the scenery.
"I too ..it is indeed an odd world we find ourselves in. If only the rest of this world were to know these things we do."
Maleeva watched on wisely as she listened to the talk of secrets. Confident there were few, if any, that she was not privy to. As the two kings stepped past the elegant bird-shaped fountain, and on towards the white marble of the palace steps, they moved the conversation on to more mundane topics. Making sure to keep their arcane words away from earshot of the numerous helpers and servants inside the polished and pristine palace halls.
Maleeva watched on wisely as she listened to the talk of secrets. Confident there were few, if any, that she was not privy to. As the two kings stepped past the elegant bird-shaped fountain, and on towards the white marble of the palace steps, they moved the conversation on to more mundane topics. Making sure to keep their arcane words away from earshot of the numerous helpers and servants inside the polished and pristine palace halls.
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