The four finally sat down at the gazebo together. Together, almost being in the sense of a mother and father keeping their two murderous and dysfunctional children from killing each other. The mother and father of course being Vanity and Ag, but instead of having weird dragon-demon hybrid children, they have a relatively normal looking human man, and a not-so-normal looking elf woman who is older than all 3 of them combined.
The prince sat across from them facing the water. Even he could sense the uneasy hostilities in the air. "So... uh... how are all of you tonight?" He asked trying to lighten the mood.
"Fine." They replied in unison with varying degrees of emotion; from blissful calm to straight outright spite.
"Alright... awkward silence it is." The prince muddled to himself.
And so they waited a few minutes longer in the violent silence with only the sounds of chirping birds and the evening crickets to keep them sane. The quiet was finally broken when Ag leaned over towards Vanity. "Is it just me, or are we missing a strong majority of our team?" He whispered.
"From what I've picked up, beastfolk aren't well regarded amongst the nobility. The King has been making progress against such blatant racism, but he's been in political stalemates for years. Even his own wife is against him on it, which is why all the others likely aren't here." Vanity whispered back. This sparked a perturbed look on Ag's face with a matching grunt.
"No matter the world, there is always someone looking down on another... My duty as a Phoenix Knight is never complete is seems." He sighed.
"Please don't tell me you're thinking of commiting regicide right now? I know how your Order operates." Vanity whispered back worryingly.
"Time will tell..." Ag grunted as he stared forward noticing the esteemed lady in question approaching being flanked on both sides by Arkisium knights. He them motioned to the others to stand at attention for the arriving queen.
Queen Kivara Antonia Winshire stood at a clean 6 feet tall with a glinting gold tiara with several rainbow gemstones embedded inside resting within her long, smooth, and curly orange hair. A nicely rounded face that housed bright blue eyes that seemed to be the single shared factor of every member of the Winshire family, with the exception of Julia. Her thin lips sporting a dash of orange that matches her hair. She wore the royal forest greens of the Arkisium Kingdom with silver filigree stitching in her corselet and blouse, as well as burgundy bertha that wrapped from her shoulders over her sizable bosom. Her pagoda dress gave slight view to her high heels.
She kept a stern royal face as she waved her hand to dismiss her guards. Hawthorne offered a chair for his mother at which she sat without offering a single word. A servant soon followed behind with a readily made tea set as well a platter of sweets. An assortment of macaroons and tarts.
"Thank you for inviting us your majesty." Vanity said while she curtsied with everyone else bowing. Kivara gave a smile and motioned for them to sit which they followed suit.
Reggie went to grab a tart but Vanity smacked his hand. "The queen must take the first bite!" She quietly hissed. They both looked to Kivara who was now furrowing her brows with a concerned look. She then made a few strange motions with her hands. Dian reached down for a bite without hesitation causing the rest to recoil in shock, but Kivara instead smiled softly.
The four began to take small bites here and there. All waiting in suspense for any word from the Queen, but she simply sat there with a neutral expression watching all of them.
"Meh complements to the chef!" Reggie spoke up with a mouthful.
Kivara made a few motions with her hands with a slightly disappointed look. Reggie panicked not really knowing how to respond to the barrage of strange gestures. Luckily Dian started making the gestures back causing Kivara's smile to return.
"What the fuck is going on?" Reggie sat back to whisper to Vanity.
"I don't know! What about you Ag?"
"I'm at a loss as well... Dian, what are you doing?"
Dian stopped her hands for a moment to look at Ag with confused face. "Elven sign language." She said as she went back to gesture talking to the queen.
"Oh that's right!" Hawthorne smacked his palm against his forehead. "My mother is mute, so she communicates through elven sign language. I figured you all knew that already, my bad."
Dian and Kivara continued their quiet conversation as smiles creeped across both their faces. The queen even let out a hearty laugh that just sounded like flowing air.
"What are they saying?" Reggie questioned.
"It seems Dian just compared you to a donkey, but without the... 'member' to match." The prince said nervously as he continued to watch the conversation.
Reggie sat back in his chair with a huff as he angrily chewed down on another tart.
"Mother, I think it's about time to start talking business." Hawthorne put a hand on his mother's shoulder as she returned with nod.
\Can you translate? My son is a little slow with it./ Kivara signed towards Dian.
\Not an issue./ Dian replied.
Kivara, with the help of Dian, explained the situation. Arkisium is part of series of islands off the southern coast of the central continent Galisia. The chain consists of three main island kingdoms of Yogilov, Boshiro, and Arkheim in that order.
For the past few years the king of Boshiro had been growing mentally ill. He was prone to rash or lackadaisical decision making. This of course wasn't helped by corrupt nobles and advisers pushing him to pass unjust laws that would hurt everyone but the nobility. The peasantry was growing to be on the brink of rebellion. They fortunately couldn't be tried or executed as the more altruistic nobles backed them; giving them the strength they needed.
The king already corrupted by greed and illness needed a legal culling, and the best option was war. Specifically one with a stronger military force. He set his sights on Arkheim. It was obvious that he'd lose until Yogilov joined with them, as they only asked for a portion of Arkisium land. The king saw no issue with this as his plan wasn't one of a conqueror.
Yogilov, however, did too well in the war not knowing the full reason for it's start. As Arkheim was pushed to the brink of capitulation. During that time the first born of the Boshiro king performed a successful coup. With a strong backing of several noble houses as well as all of the remaining peasantry he was able to get rid of the corruption plaguing him and his people.
The new king, Martin Asuri II immediately called a ceasefire with Arkheim, and his newly appointed advisors were to arrive tomorrow to negotiate reparations. A Yogilov representative was also to arrive to negotiate the land they wished to claim as long as it wasn't useful to Arkheim.
And now where the party comes in. Many of the Boshiro advisors either despise beastfolk, or are extremely uncomfortable being around them in "noble" settings. So the party has been tasked with keeping their more beastly companions busy for the next few days. That being said, it was rumored that the Yogilov representative was going to be a Catfolk, as they've recently started allowing beastfolk into the nobility.
The rest of the party also wasn't allowed to know this as Kivara felt like it would make them feel looked down upon. Which was a strange thing to hear given the rumors about her.
"So we just need to make sure everyone stays away from the palace. Sounds simple enough." Reggie gave a solitary clap as he sat up in his chair. "Who's distracting who?"
"Rather I like it or not, the bird seems to be attached to my hip now. So she won't be a problem." Dian said a little disgruntled.
Vanity gave a silent thanks as she wanted desperately to not have to distract the hornbird. She then applied her choices. "I of course can hold onto Mordeki,... and I think I can take Yoona as well." Vanity was suddenly developing a plot in her head.
"I'll take the cats." Ag claimed adamantly.
Reggie sat for a moment thinking he got out of this scot-free, but then remembered the last member...
"Nonononono! You ARE NOT leaving me with the lizard! Anyone but him!"
"Do you want to take the cats then?" Ag asked.
"Yeah, I've at least built some rapport with Whistle, so I can manage."
"Fine, I'll take Ave then."
\Good./ Kivara signed. \Please have them out of the house by noon tomorrow./