The Sands of Time [PRIVATE- Vuari Royal Family]

The wind howled in the messengers ears as he struggled through the storm. His water-logged wings felt like they weighed twice as much as normal, and from the way the rain was pummeling him, it felt like a million icy knives were determined to drive him into the rocky slope below. He was Ki'shan, and proud of it too, but his graceful frame wasn't built to withstand the sort of abuse these gods-forsaken mountains seemed determined to inflict on him. But his message was more important than the pain; he still remembered with crystal clarity what his Kuz'a had said when she placed the scroll in his talons: "Take this to King Tharasis and Queen Xenithe of the Vuari Tribe. Give them my royal greetings, and call upon E'coran to shield both their home and their tribe from the dangers of the world. You fly with an offer, a proposition. One that, should proper terms be negotiated, may very well usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for both our tribes." Then, green eyes glinting like emeralds buried in the desert sand, the Kuz'a pressed her personal seal into the hot wax and placed the scroll in his talons. "Bright skies and swift wings to you Ugaan. Go, do not fail." Another crack of thunder and the accompanying flash of lightning broke him out of his reverie; if he didn't find the capital soon- Ah!! There! Another thunderous rumble shook the skies as a bright flash of lightning revealed the unmistakable silhouette of the new Vuari capital. As his sharp eyes focused on that point through the pouring rain, he began to see the individual flickering points of light from the windows and doorways of Vuarish buildings. Lights that marked warmth, safety, and the fulfillment of his mission. All he had to do was get there, one water-logged wing beat at a time...


To their Majesties, Xenithe and Tharasis, the Sky-Sung rulers of the Vuari Tribe,

You can learn much from listening to the songs the winds sing. Where they've been, who they've met, the promises they hold. I have heard many a tale of the Vuari whispered on these desert winds as of late. A tale of a civil war, ripping the land and its people to shreds. Of a pair of capable dragons, rising above the bloodshed to provide a path to peace. Of this pair of dragons becoming rulers, and bettering the lives of their people through continuous innovation and expansion.

I do not wish to take up any more of your time than need be, so I shall keep this brief. We are not so different, you and I. Each seeking to preserve and protect our way of life, and each having overcome a period of restless bloodshed. I believe that, through a mutually beneficial alliance, we might rise above our differences and enter a new era of prosperity. For both of our tribes. Of course, it would be unreasonable to assume you would make such a lofty decision over the course of a few letters. If I may, I would propose a meeting. One of a diplomatic nature, designed to quell any tensions that may arise, allow us to meet face-to-face, and thus more efficiently answer any further questions.

Do not concern yourselves with traveling to accommodate these requests, I will come to you at the time of your choosing. I believe that we have much to learn from each other, O' Rulers-Above-the-Clouds, and both our people would benefit from an alliance such as this. In more ways than just one. Please, take as much time as you require to consider this request.

Bright Skies, Swift Wings,
          Asherna Ky'aelri, Daughter of Za'fin, Kuz'a of the Ki'sha



'Finally. Our destination appears,' Asherna thought as the Vuari capital began to emerge from behind the next mountains. She had to bite back a slight sigh of relief as she and her trailing retinue of guards, advisors, and other necessary persons, soared towards it. It would, after all, be unwise for the Kuz'a to meet with another tribe without an escort. Most of her sandy scales were covered by a draping cloak of bear-pelt, but the occasional glint of early afternoon sun reflected off the beaten bronze and onyx armband encircling her upper forearm; the symbol of her royal station. It had certainly taken a bit of diplomatic fine-tuning, but that fateful day had finally arrived. Today, Asherna Ky'aelri, Kuz'a of the Ki'sha, was to officially meet with the Vuari rulers to discuss the formation of a potential alliance. They had been traveling for nearly a week now, crossing the sea, what felt like most of Layrian, and finally these seemingly endless mountains. But the weather had been pleasant for the most part, and now that their destination was in sight? There was an immediate strengthening of the tired wing beats flanking her left and right, and some even let out a slight whoop of joy. If she didn't have a reputation to uphold, she likely would've been hollering right alongside them.

As the approaching wing of Ki'shan dragons drew closer and closer, the details of the Vuarish city grew clearer as well. It was a far-cry from the wide open desert Asha was used to, that was certain. And, in addition to the icy winds that seemed to cut right through the protective layers the Ki'sha had donned, the air was quite a bit thinner than they were used to as they began their final ascent. For the most part, the diplomatic party had been able to stick to the foothills and the lower slopes of the Etcan mountain range, and therefore escape the thin air of the higher elevations. But as they wheeled up, and up, and up, Asha could feel the air getting thinner and thinner. And from a quick glance around, it was evident that she wasn't the only one feeling it. As her oxygen-starved muscles shrieked at her for daring to put them through this sort of abuse, the party reached the proper altitude and leveled off; Asha opting for gliding into the city and getting a chance to catch her breath before reaching the palace. Any sort of strenuous exercise would be difficult, to say the least, and much more punishing than normal as well.

But Asherna didn't have time to worry about the promise of sore-stiffness that the following morning promised. No. "Steady on," She called in Kishin over her shoulder to the rest of the group, "We should arrive within the hour. You will treat our hosts with the honor and respect they are due, is that clear?" As a murmured assent rippled up and down the ranks, Asherna gave a brisk nod before turning her attention back to the steadily growing city in the distance. With every passing minute, the hints of tiredness displayed in Asha's body language started to melt away. Her wings beat at a steady tempo, her posture tightened up, and her green-gold eyes homed in on the magnificent mountain city. 'Exhaustion is just a mindset,' she reminded herself grimly, 'Clear the mind, clear the body.' The fog of exhaustion that had clung to the edges of her mind since she left the desert slowly began to dissipate, though it wouldn't leave entirely until she had a good night's rest, the desert tribe were a hardy stock. When most dragons would tire and require rest, they could keep going for another few hours. And keep going they would, for their destination was in sight, and they carried the hope of a better future on their wings. For better or for worse, the Ki'sha were coming.


Cassius was uneasy. He couldn't help it. Ever since the messenger had arrived a couple months ago, it felt like there was an electric current snaking through the palace, infusing everything with the strange aura of anticipation mixed with apprehension. 'Or,' he thought to himself as he shut the door to his study (locking it, as always), 'Perhaps the better comparison is as if someone's died, but no one knows who it was yet.' But he knew who had died. They'd died many years ago, when his mother was very young: his Aunt, Zerista, and Grandmother, Shazzara. Cut down mercilessly by Ki'shan soldiers, while his Grandfather fought off as many as possible, before escaping the ambush with his mother in tow. He shivered involuntarily for a moment, if that battle had gone any differently, he probably wouldn't exist. 'So why would their Kuz'a propose an alliance with us?' Cassius pondered; was it possible that she didn't know? Or did she know and she was just choosing to ignore it? Was she going to officially condemn the actions of their murderers? From what he'd read about this "Asherna Ky'aelri", she seemed to have had a rather successful military career; and that likely meant she was good with tactics. Did she have some sort of dastardly plan that Cassius just couldn't make out?

All these questions and more whirled through his head as he hurried through the hallways and towards the chambers where most of the official royal business was done. But, he knew, all those questions would be answered soon. For today was the agreed upon date for the meeting to take place, and the Ki'shan diplomatic party would be arriving within the span of a few hours. But, all other concerns aside, he was worried about his mother. It had to be traumatic, inviting the very dragons responsible for your mother and sister's deaths into your home, and Cassius was concerned about how she would handle it. Shula was still very young, and Jinjuri could be very nervous and shy at times, but Cassius couldn't even imagine what he would do if something happened to either of them. And, with that dark thought in mind, he couldn't suppress a little bit of morbid curiosity that poked through: 'Mother is always so kind and caring... Is this going to be the moment that breaks her?'

He was so lost in thought that he nearly ran into several court officials on his way, each one startling him out of his thoughts long enough to murmur a quick "Oh! My apologies! I didn't see you there!" before he hurried away from them and once more towards the throne room and the other official chambers. He'd never been to a meeting of this caliber before, and he wanted to know exactly how everything was being set up, where he was supposed to sit, what he was supposed to say, everything. As he got to the royal family's personal quarters, he paused, unsure of whether to look for his parents or his sister first. Or! Perhaps he should look for one of the older court members to see if they knew anything about protocol for situations like this...? "Gah-" Cassius shook his head and just decided to head towards where the diplomatic party were going to land, waiting to see which of his family members would appear first.

Jinjuri had been adamant about wanting to use her plant abilities for the good of the tribe, having bought a book on botany from the local library just to lock herself in her room and explore it's many pages over and over and over, until she had memorized which ones she would likely need, and had really ignored the ones she didn't find helpful or important to her dreams. she knew she was going to have to start small, just so that she could begin to get used to the complexity of different types of herbs and the variations of how long it had to take to grow and how it comes to gain these properties that the Vuari healers can harness and put to use.

As she had begun to plan out how she'd start off with just a simple herb meant for treating a cold or headache, a HUGE thought had crossed her mind; today was the day that the meeting would happen! How could she have forgotten already?! She quickly looked herself over, making sure that not even a feather on her tail was out of place just like her mother's always was, and that her scales were always perfectly clean just like her father's. Maybe she could give the coming diplomats a parting gift from her personal collection of seeds or books, or maybe even a gem or two!

She leaped to her feet, adjusting her glasses that had nearly fallen off from her sudden jolt of movement, and finally made her way towards the exit of her room and out into the hallways mentally mapping out the quickest way to the landing zone where they would all meet the Ki'sha diplomats before finally scrambling her way to her final destination, excitedly squealing to herself as she did.

The day they received that letter was also the same day that began this long awaiting of anxiousness. As Tharasis and Xenithe had read it together in their room on the afternoon that messenger had arrived to give it to them. After going through a thorough inspection he would be let inside. And when the letter was passed he would be placed in one of the Vuari guest houses.

Tharasis, with his mate sat in their small private room. On the high end of the palace, where a single balcony which overlooked the grand city below them was placed. And as Tharasis finished reading the letter, he would place it down gently. Getting up and walking to the balcony.

There would be a moment of silence for the two rulers. Before he would speak.

" So... The Ki'sha wishes to meet with us. " There was a tone of trouble in his voice, since he knew of his mates... past with those dragons. And as he would drape a wing over her to cover her from the winds that gently breezed over them. He would breath a sigh.

" You know we have to answer. We... have to give chance. " He said softly. The tribe could benefit from this, Tharasis could not deny that. They were a militaristic tribe, strong, and with a religious background. They would be a force to be reckoned with if faced against. But a great ally if on ones side. And Tharasis knew, for all that the Vuari have. They would not be able to fight a war with them, as a tribe that has only recently freed itself from the debris of civil war has left them weakened.

And with Xenithe's words of not wanting to militarise drastically lead to the tribes total army to be small in comparison to the Ki'sha. Though possessing the mountains vast and plentifully rich resources. The hands of many skilled crafters, workers, leaders and traders.

He knew, the tribe was still weak. With many projects ongoing, with a tribe that relies on open trade to supply its shortages of food. A war could spell doom for everything Tharasis and Xenithe had worked so hard to build up.

...
...
...

He knew this would be a tough thing for his mate. To face again dragons who were associated with those who murdered your mother and sister in cold blood. He hoped his mate would be strong enough. She was this tribes Queen, she had dealt with far worst things.

He held her close, letting her have some time to think. When a few minutes had passed, Tharasis would slowly let go. Walking back to the table where the letter that was sent was placed, and of course. The writing material and tools which they would use to respond back.

He'd find himself using up 5 parchments already, throwing one away when the writing was not good, if he or his mate did not agree that the words used were right, or if there was something else that was wrong. But eventually, after spending nearly an hour. They would finally have their letter.

And it read...

___}0{___

I, King Tharasis have read your letter, and have found it to be of our great interest to take this opportunity you have so kindly provided to us to get to know one another in peaceful meeting.

Though we have not heard much if any from your side. As you must understand we have been very busy with the responsibilities of rebuilding a tribe that had just barely survived a civil war. We asks of your forgiveness if we may not know to much about you during our talks.

But I, Tharasis can say that we hope to meet you in person. And we are both happy to accept your diplomatic request to come to our tribe. We shall greet you with open arms and wings.

I wish only the best for our tribes, and I hope that we would benefit greatly with this proposal of an alliance. *the and writing of the king suddenly ends here, replaced with the what appears to be the hand writing of the queen.*

...
...
...

~~( 2 months later )~~

As soon as the group of Kisha entered the tribes borders they were immediately intercepted by a force of 100 soldiers, coming from the front they looked as though they were about to collide with the group. When the suddenly flew above them, before turning around and forming a protective flying circle around the group. An escort had joined them to protect them and if need be, guide them to the capital where their meeting took place.

Tharasis sat on the landing with his mate beside him. Draped by his wing as they awaited the arrival of the Ki'shan leader. Their guards lined up the path that leads from the landing pad to the entrance of the palace. There were a total of 40 guards, each wearing a full set of the tribes traditional war armour, but this time they were made from pure gold. A symbol of the tribes expert craftsmanship, and of course. Their access to the best pure resources.

" I hope everything goes well my dear. " He said to her softly, as the sight of the group could now be seen closing in.

---

Jinjuri and Cassius were both halted by guards when they either came out the door or when they tried to come close. The guards stating their parents wanted them to " Not interfere with important diplomatic matters. " It should be understood. They were still young, and both still had so much to learn. And... well, this was a very *very* important meeting, and Tharasis and Xenithe did not want any possibilities with it going wrong.

Jinjuri and Cassius were both escorted to a room. Above the palace where a balcony was placed, allowing them to view below and watch the coming from the top, far enough so that they would hopefully not cause any interference.

A single guard stood outside their room. Now Tharasis and Xenithe knew better than to rely on a single guard to keep their children from escaping. And they perfectly understood that their children were very... clever, when it came to escaping their rooms. But they both hoped that those two would know the importance of this meeting, and so they should know to behave and just wait in the room.

But the two parents really should know that is not going to happen now is it?

Xenithe never imagined such a day when her mate and herself would receive such a letter, not just to form an alliance, but...

This letter came from the Ki'sha. And their Ku'za was seeking peace between them.

It was good they had sought some privacy in their room at the time, as when they read the letter she needed a moment of silence, standing away and outside on the balcony, looking over their kingdom, theirs and their children's home, as she thought on the past.

Not a day went by when she missed her mother and sister, wondered how they would've felt about Tharasis, how they could've adored her children. She often thought of those days where her father would be locked in his room, mourning the loss of his mate and child as he blamed himself for not being strong enough to save them, days she looked at the scar on her own throat that took her flame from her, due to the Ki'shan soldier that almost killed her.

All of this caused by the very tribe her mother served for years, the very same tribe that was going to meet them now.

"I know...I know we do, love..." She spoke softly, almost hiding away with her wings as she clenched her eyes tightly in pain, breathing heavily as she fought the memories coming to her before she relaxed some as she felt Tharasis drape a wing around her.

The Vuarian Queen had to realize again it wasn't just her and her father anymore, and she wasn't a helpless hatchling. She had her mate, she was a queen, a mother now, and she had to be strong, [i]stay strong for her family and kingdom.

So as Tharasis went in to begin writing the letter, she'd wait a moment more out in the cold, gathering her thoughts before she would make her own way inside, her plumage flat.

As Tharasis finished the first half, she'd take the quill into her own hands, continuing where he left off.

__}0{__

I, Queen Xenithe, have also taken the time to read your letter, and am inclined to say we do have a mutual understanding of our people's wants and needs.

It is hard to say the winds have been so kind as to travel back to our lands to let us know of your own endeavors, and for that we apologize, but are still grateful to hear from the ruling Kuz'a at last.

There are many things we are happy to discuss with you in accordance to this alliance, as well as questions we have, but it will be in due time when you arrive.

We will gladly have you welcomed to our castle, and as one Queen to another you have my respect.

It will be a blessed day when we can share with each of our tribes our mutual trust, respect, and cooperation with one another.

We are awaiting you most expected arrival.

With Regards,
Xenithe and Tharasis, Queen and King of the Vuari Tribe

__}0{__

The day was here. The Ki'sha were coming and almost there to their home. It was obvious how much the Queen was a ball of nerves, anxious, tense as she prepared eerything.

Even with how her mate tried to calm her as she was draped by his wing, Xenithe was almost shaking, not quite in fear however as her gaze sharply spotted the Ki'sha being escorted to their landing area.

It was only to be another moment that they'd soon be face to face, and Xen didn't want to be sitting when it occurred, so she stood by Tharasis' side, her plumage rising stiffly to show her status in position, wearing her own thick cloak to shield herself from the colder winds.

Xen was more than deathly certain her children would not be left alone or come anywhere near the Ki'sha guests. Xenithe only knew of their brutality when they hunted her family years ago, and she would do everything in her power to be sure if anyone were to be killed, it would certainly be a Ki'sha before her mate or children.

But they were not violent in this moment, and she'd only give this brief chance for the Ki'sha to redeem themselves in her eyes. So when the Ku'za landed with her ensemble, Xenithe would speak proudly, eyes narrowed subtly as she analyzed the group for anything off.

"Welcome Asherna Ky'aelri, Ku'za of the Ki'sha, to the Vuarian City. I am Queen Xenithe of the Vuari tribe, this is my mate and the King of the Vuari, Tharasis." She introduced themselves, stance regal, yet there was an obvious tenseness to her she tried to control.[/i]

Cassius couldn't help the slightly undignified noise that escaped him when he and Jinjuri were so abruptly stopped, "Well I never-!" He understood why, of course, not only was this an important meeting but.. The Ki'sha had a bad track record when it came to his family, and of course his parents wouldn't want to give them any more of an excuse to repeat it than they had to. But it didn't make it any less humiliating to be escorted off to the, metaphorical, little kids table. He was nearly grown for heaven's sake! "..Fine. Fine, fine, fine, let's go Jin.. And look! You even groomed for this!"

And- though he'd heard about everything that happened before he had hatched- there was still a part of him that wanted to be there when they arrived, almost just for that reason; when you've grown up hearing about all the atrocities and horrors committed by this one particular group, well, lets just say Cassius wouldn't be at all surprised if the Ki'shan visitors were raving monsters. It was very much the same feeling one gets when a particularly menacing storm front breaks over the horizon, or when you see a large predator in it's natural habitat, you're in awe of its power, and almost paralyzed by its deadly grace, until you realize it's headed right towards you.

"Well, at least there's a balcony." Was all that Cass could really say, the long walk up to the room having only served to make him even more miffed. He knew it wasn't really the guard's fault, but, in his current mood, he could've sworn the guard was trying not to laugh. But at least the guard had the decency to stay outside the room and give the siblings a little privacy. It gave him a great sense of satisfaction to know that he could likely escape this situation, but that would on get the guard into trouble and quite possibly destabilize a great, if perilous, opportunity for the entire tribe. So, for now, Cassius would trust in his parents wisdom. Besides, depending on how long the meetings continued, there would likely be plenty of time to see the Ki'shan visitors.

Cass wandered over to the balcony, peering over the edge to the landing platform far below, "So- What do you think's going to happen? I haven't been able to find as much as I'd like on them, the Ki'sha I mean, or more specifically their Kuz'a. But I think you might spend even more time in the libraries than I do," Cassius teased, lightly bumping her shoulder to show he was kidding, "But seriously, what do you think?" He stopped to listen carefully to Jinjuri, it'd be foolish to disregard her thoughts after all, especially when having a second set of opinions would be so useful. But soon, a flicker of movement caught the edge of his gaze, "Look! Here they come!"


'Well that was certainly an interesting response,' Asherna thought to herself, alone that night in her personal courtyard within the Ki'shan palace of Dariius. 'One open, one reserved, one hopeful, the other cautious. This will be a most interesting journey..' Asherna had to admit, the Vuarian return letter was full of finely honed points, so carefully crafted and inserted that a less cautious reader might have missed them entirely. The slight emphasis on questions, "you have my respect." then, a moment later, "It will be a blessed day when we can share with each of our tribes our mutual trust, respect, and cooperation with one another." Carefully crafted points indeed. As she dipped her quill in the ink and finished off the customary letter of thanks and asking after the finer details of the arrangement, she just paused and gazed up a the sparkling stars in the clear night sky. She couldn't help the feeling- this meeting felt like it could change things. For better or for worse, time could only tell, but as Asha looked to the stars high above, she found herself hoping for the former option


When the 100 Vuarians came towards the Ki'shan head on, there was an instinctual bristling as a couple of the 9 Ki'shan guards, out of a total of 20 dragons (5 advisors, 9 guards, and 6 servants; not counting Asherna herself), went to protect their Kuz'a, but as Asherna swiftly turned and barked an order at them in Kishin, "As you were! They will not harm us under the banner of peace." each slowly drifted back to their positions in the flying V shape. Though they trusted Asherna, they were still in a strange land, and unfamiliar with the customs here. In their eyes, anything could happen; all they wanted was a chance to bring word of peace and friendship back to their families in the Uoangi Desert. A chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of the rest of the world. And that was exactly why Asha had chosen these particular dragons to accompany her.

As the escort led them ever closer to the Vuarian City, Asherna couldn't help but notice all the staring eyes turning to her party. Of course it was natural for foreigners to attract such attention, but Asha couldn't help the chill that ran down her spine; and it wasn't from the wind. It was uncanny, to know that there are dragons watching, but for them to be able to disappear as soon as you turned your gaze to them. Asha knew she cut a striking figure even from far away, she'd been specifically trained to do so, and if the sight of her scared some, then was it really her fault if they ran? But.. This felt like more than just her somewhat intimidating appearance. She'd heard rumors in her information gathering, as the choice to reach out to specifically the Vuari hadn't been made lightly or while ill informed, but these rumors were starting to feel more and more likely as the group of Ki'shan made their final approach. If Queen Xenithe had truly gone through such a thing, than she was both much stronger than Asherna had originally given her credit for, and had an equally worthy reason to turn away Asherna's offer. And, should the rumors prove true, Asherna would not begrudge her of that. But the fact that she and her mate had accepted anyways... That spoke volumes.

Asha and her entourage landed lightly at the very edge of the platform, each then stepping forwards enough to make room for their brethren behind them, but not getting anywhere near the two Vuarian rulers nor acting in a way that could be interpreted as hostile. Asherna was among the first to land, and, accompanied by a pair of guards, slowly walked forward to greet the Vuarian Rulers. Her thick bear-pelt cloak hung low on her frame, occasionally brushing the ground with e rhythm of her even stride. Both her armband and breastplate, though these more highly decorated than her usual attire, occasionally shone through the thick pelt just often enough to assure the casual watcher that they were there.

Both guards silently followed Asha's lead and flanked her, staying roughly 5-10 feet behind her, any and all weapons were securely stowed away, and showing no malicious intent. Their only job was just to protect their Kuz'a, if nothing untoward happened, then they would do nothing as well. One of the two guards looked rather similar to Asherna, perhaps a near family member? But he was in the same uniform as the other 7 guards, a single orange sash fastened at the shoulder with the symbol of the Kuz'a. It was the dragoness to Asha's right who was clearly the captain of the guard: a dusky sunset colored eastern ness, wearing a deep crimson sash across the opposite shoulder, whose eyes darted from face to face, gauging reactions, locating all the nearby weapons, plotting possible escape routes; it only took a moment of looking at her to tell that she trusted no one here.

Asherna made certain to stop a comfortable distance away from the Vuarian Royals, not getting too close, and nodded in respect to Xenithe's address, "A'kiri zaverina! Savin." she called in Kishin, then repeated the traditional greeting in Universal, "Bright Skies and Swift Winds to you both; Queen Xenithe and King Tharasis of the Vuari. Well met." Her bright green-gold eyes glittered with an intelligent curiosity as she briefly glanced over both of the, much taller, monarchs, noting Xenithe's tension and mentally adding another tally in favor of the rumors she'd carefully collected. "I would like to express my gratitude, and that of the Ki'sha as a whole, for permitting us to come and entreat with you this day. May E'coran bless and protect your people, your family, and your home in the years to come."

She paused a moment, debating whether or not to add the next part. If she was willing to give them a chance, it may prove to reassure as was the intention; but if all she expected were lies, all she would hear were lies. "Stormy-Eyed-Queen-of-the-Skies, you may lay your suspicions to rest. I recognize that my tribe may have acted dishonorably in the past, but we have come to make amends." Was that too much? She was really testing the waters here... "I give you my vow, no treachery is to come from the Ki'sha this day. Or the day after, or the day after. You have my word as Kuz'a." Asherna met Xenithe's gaze levely, absolutely no hint of falsehood, just an earnest desire to make herself understood.

Jinjuri was appalled by the suggestion that she and Cassius be sent away from something so important to learn! This was her one chance to get an on hand experience, and this guard was just gonna out them in the kiddie corner?! "This is outrageous! We're part of the royal family too, why can't we participate?! Come on Cassius, do something!", Jinjuri whined, clearly realizing their defeat when her big brother conceded to the guards orders, prompting her to let out a small disappointed sigh as they were ushered into their little room.

Jin paced the room, clearly annoyed that she couldn't be there beside her parents as they conducted this meeting. "Ugh! Why did mom and dad put us in this stupid room. I wanted to witness it first hand, something this important should be learned through experience, not from sitting idly by!". Jin sat in the center of the room, muddling over her thoughts before she caught onto what her brother had said about a balcony. "Well, yeah, but that hardly does anything for us! It'll be so hard to hear them from all the way up here, even with our keen sense of hearing as dragons! It's not like they're gonna be shouting at the top of their lungs the second they meet..." Jinjuri herself seemed miffed herself, though not by the walk, moreso she was excluded for something she wanted to do. Nevertheless, Cassius's words caught her attention once more, a question! How delightful, and about books too!

Jin perked up, her demeanor become far more cheerful again as she began to think rapidly. "Well, the local library has a few books on other tribes, one of which detailed the Ki'sha in particular, telling of their very strict culture, almost like some kind of cult if you ask me, but like... Not a bad one? I dunno, it's weird. Lots of it involves public shaming and whipping, even going so far as executions if you just look at somebody the wrong way, can you believe that?! Well, it gets even better with their religion, Anmaism, which is based arou- Oh... Uhm.." Jin was stopped short by Cassius telling her that he had been kidding before when asked his second question, leading her to ponder quietly until she opened her mouth again. "I think they'll be okay! Mom and dad have a way of settling things properly, remember? And surely the Kuz'a wouldn't dare pick a fight on foreign turf without an entire army to back her up!.... Right?" Her musing were cut short once again by Cassius, this time to tell her the company had finally arrived, instantly gaining her attention and making her dart over to the balcony to poke her little head over the edge to see them.

Tharasis watched them land. Seeing the Kishan queen touch down with her envoy. Tharasis felt his mate change her stance from her normal relaxed to the more regal and royal. And Tharasis knew she was either a little nervous or did not trust these dragons. And he understood and tried his best to comfort her, though when the Kisha Queen was now standing but a few feet away. It was time for greetings.

His mate was the first to speak, he nodded at her mention of him. And in turn he spoke too.

" It is great to finally meet you. Asherna Ky'aelri Ku'za of the Ki'sha, we have much to look forward to in talks. " He spoke just as regal as his mate, firm and strong. Yet warm and welcoming.

He listened to the dragoness speak intently. he heard her words of asking for forgiveness, to make amends from the past and to move on. And a promise that they shall not betray them. And Tharasis responded with a soft smile, followed by a nod before he spoke once more.

" I thank you for your words, and I look forward to our meeting inside... " He then gave his mate time to speak herself before he would then lift his wing off of her, right on queue as the winds started to pick up a little.

" Come, I am sure you are all feeling a little chilly after such a journey so far away. Come let us treat you inside. " He waited for his mate to turn around herself, before draping her once again with a wing. He leaned a little, speaking very softly to her.

" Its alright Xenithe, everything is fine. Just try to relax.. " He whispered to her. As they continued their walk towards the large palace entrance. The guards standing at attention all lined up, clad in ceremonial Golden armour, polished, and all stood with a firm stance. One can clearly tell that each one of those were of top quality, quite the sight. A symbol of the Vuari's expertise in the arts of craftsmanship.

The large doors opened, and as the group went inside. They walked through a few halls, each hallway guarded by 4 guards or more.
Eventually they would find themselves at the main room, it was so large. As this was the room where the big events were held at, parties, and the like. With all sorts of painting, and decors that lined the walls. As well as the very finely sculpted marble pillars that held up the roof.

A small group of dragons of various sizes waited for them at the other side of the room. They were not guards, but the representatives of the Vuari, and the ones who would speak to the Kishan representatives and negotiators.

They greeted them with a bow of respect, and Tharasis would kindly ask them to raise back up. Before he stopped to turn around and look at the Queen.

" These dragons here will take care of your people. Your guards can rest here while your representatives are free to talk with ours. " He pointed at the dragons who had bowed, gesturing for them to come closer.

" As for you Asherna Ky'aelri, I and my mate would want our own *personal* meeting with you. " There would be a slight pause.

" Alone. " Now he did not want to make the Kisha queen suspicious. So he told her that if she wanted she may bring with her a single guard. But Tharasis highly suggested that their talks should only involve the three of them. With a guard or not, the much smaller group of dragons split away from the main room. Leaving the representatives to talk by themsleves.

As they walked down a single hallway, Tharasis could not help but feel his heart start to beat a little faster. He felt very nervous now, with one wrong move everything he and Xenithe had come so hard to work on would be in danger of being destroyed.

He breathed, slowly. Calming himself down, before they finally entered the last room.

It was a small meeting room. But clearly this was reserved for the King and Queen. Everything here was cozy looking, from the fireplace, to the very soft and comfy looking cushions. Tharasis would ask for the queen to take a seat in one. While he and his mate took a seat from across the table that separated the 6 cushions. And behind the two rulers who sat close together, was a large balcony. One that if you stood on would allow you to see the large city below the palace.

The fireplace was already lit beforehand. So the room was warm, while the balcony windows were closed as to not allow the cold air to enter.

Tharasis would speak first. After being quiet for so long he had a feeling they did not want this to be awkward first meeting between them.

" So Asherna Ky'aelri, we have heard you are pushing for big changes in your tribe. Specifically about your policies about diplomacy, yes? " He asked, knowing from what he had read and what his advisers had told him and his mate that Asherna Ky'aelri, wanted the Kisha to become a more open tribe. To start trade and start froming bonds with the other tribes. Like them.

[OOC: Not gonna do an Asherna postie until Xenithe has time to post, but I'll slip in a Cassius post in the meantime]

Even though Cassius was expecting it, it was still alarming to watch such a large legion of foreign dragons swoop down into his home. Even though there were only.. 20 Ki'shans, the way they carried themselves made it feel like an army had dropped down into the Vuarian city. "Look! Those ones must be the Aliugaan- see the orange sashes- Those are... I'm not sure honestly- And, oh look! That one must be the Kuz'a!" Cassius excitedly pointed out the different ranks as he saw them, leaning almost the entire upper half of his body over the railing in his excitement. The undecipherable scraps of Kishin conversation drifting up to their balcony, the clearly exotic garb of the Ki'shan dignitaries, everything became suddenly and terrifyingly real to Cassius: This was really happening.

"No, no, you're right Jin. I'm just.. worried. Probably for no reason- as usual." Cass gave a slightly frustrated huff as everyone began to filter inside, now they couldn't see anything at all! It was ridiculous!! "About what you read about them- I found a lot of the same, so no. I don't think Kuz'a Asherna would be that foolish. There wasn't much about her specifically, and what I did find was.."

Cassius hesitated, before saying dismissively, "It had to be exaggerated. I'll just leave it at that. But, from what I could suss out of the rumors, she had a successful military career. So she has to know it's a bad idea to attack with just, what? 20 dragons? She can't be that stupid." She can't be. After the last stragglers made their way inside, Cassius sighed, wandered inside, and threw himself down onto a pile of cushions with another salty huff. "So. What do you think our chances are of getting out of here? I could get us to my study, but as soon as we tried to get closer again we'd be sent back to our rooms. There's surely some way to convince Mother and Father that we can handle ourselves, right?"

Jin pushed herself away from the balcony as the large group of dragons had poured into the castle walls, sighing. Ya know, it would have been nice to actually see how one of these meetings was done instead of having to just read about it and participate in those stupid made up scenarios that her teacher always put on her. Nonetheless, this stupidly small room wasn't going to keep her away from the action, no way! As Cassius flopped into his pillows, asking his questions she sat down for a moment, scheming, and suddenly came upon a queer thought. Why now we're the Kis'ha trying to make peace? You don't come looking for something as large as peace between two tribes without some kind of caveat or favor....

War immediately came to Jin's mind the moment she made this conclusion about their visitation. Perhaps the Kuz'a is about to enact a war with another kingdom and wants access to the Vuari mountains for our materials that we use in our armor and weaponry, after all, we only have the best of the best... "Call me crazy Cassius, but I don't think the Kis'ha want to make peace just for the peacefulness of it... Why specifically us, and why now, so out of the blue? I think she just wants to use our armor to have a better chance at survival... I-I dunno, it just came to my mind and it's probably not true at all.. but consider it, wouldn't that explain it? I'm saying stupid things again, aren't I?" Jin sighed louder as she thought on his questions of escape. Would she know how to get out of this room and into the meeting room, heck yeah she could! She always snuck out at night to fly around the mountains, and not once has she ever been caught out there, it's really still a secret from everyone who doesn't check up on her at night, like nervous ol' Cassius over there. "And I thought what I just asked was dumb, who do you think I am, some pampered princess with no street smarts? Ha! This room is folly to get out of and sneak away from. The meeting room is just across the way over there, near where the windows are! It looks simple to get to, but there's always guards patrolling the air to make sure no intruders have found their way into the castle grounds, so we gotta be very mindful of our surroundings. It's a short trip, but a hard one if you're clumsy, whaddya think?", Jin bounced with excitement as she looked doff toward the balcony at their destination; if they were fast enough, they could get there before the paparazzi of royals and guards and give them enough time to find a good spot to hide and watch!