By morning, Rathe had managed to calm down. He was back to his cool, controlled self.
This time, he wasn't with Fontu and the others. He was waiting in a vast open hall with luxurious seats and a platform in the front.
Rathe wasn't the only person there either. There were both beasts and humans slowly filling the seats, most of them with their heads held high with pride. It was the gathering of territorial rulers for the decennial regional conference, the first under the new King Portro.
"Do you know what kind of beast King Portro is?"
"I haven't seen him, but he's probably a type of serpent based on the region's name."
Some of the territorial rulers were chatting aimlessly, bored and trying to pass the time. The thing everyone wanted to know was what kind of beast King Portro really was and what was his attitude toward the many territories now under him.
