"Lady Yihn?" it was Sachiro calling. "Lady Yihn!"
Knocks sounded by the Baroness' door at the seventh floor of the Harumyeon Palace at their leader's inattentiveness. Sachiro kept it gentle; he was with Mokiri and her children. It counted more than twenty thuds, but no one answered his call. Exchanging of concerned glances happened between the herald, Mokiri and Hevihara, but this made Sachiro temporarily determined to call Yihn once more.
He tried again just in case with a different addressment, loudening his voice a bit for clearness. "Your Excellency?"
But there was still no answer coming, not even a servant was inside the room to check the noise outside of Yihn's headquarter within the Palace. Sachiro decided to open the door on his own and sneak up to the Baroness. They must have prepared something urgent for Yihn to find out that they were in need of a conversation with her. Sachiro poked around the grandest hall of the Baroness' unit.
He led Mokiri and her family inside with silent footsteps. And continually searched for Yihn's presence, only to catch her in the main longue asleep with Yanica–resting bone-tired on her brown couch as she had her daughter wrapped in her arms; also asleep.
Before breaking into the Aechlerenne leader's sleep, the visiting members of the House's authority casted a look full of glee towards the mother and daughter. Sachiro and Mokiri shared quick looks and smiles, making Sachiro give his remarks, "I have never seen a female leader that attached to maternity before."
"For five years of her rule, Aechleranne has attained peace as it once experienced under Lord Srey," replied Mokiri. "I mean, despite the double work given by her motherhood and her singularity as a parent, she was able to promote amity within the House. She is managing her time well."
"That is right," Sachiro accorded. He turned to the sleeping Baroness, thereafter. To Yihn, he tried to wake her with a courteous call, "My Lady?" he tapped her shoulder until she has woken up. "Lady Yihn!" came his last call, and the Baroness finally opened her eyes. Unaware that her political assistants were present.
Yihn yawned and stretched her legs without dropping her child, battling her torpor. Her drowsiness ultimately petered out when she noticed some shadows standing by in front of the sofa she used to rest at. She gasped in surprise upon seeing their presence triggered the Baroness to sit straight, while her daughter has not felt her movements, and her sleep remained undisturbed. "Have I not told you to knock before coming in? Now, what do you need?"
"Your Excellency, Chief Zohaymar is dead," Sachiro informed.
The mentioned person may be from a different faction, but wind of shock blew through Yihn as she heard of it. "Chief Zohaymar is dead?" she echoed.
"Yes," muttered the herald. Yihn's emotional rejoinder made Sachiro curious about her expression looking upset. "Are you okay, my Lady? Is something wrong?"
Discomposure drove Yihn to narrow her eyes and look side to side. "N-No. I-It's just that–" she stuttered in unease. "W-Wh-What about Ardaja? Does that mean he is to be succeeded by his chosen son?"
Sachiro was even being skeptical to give an answer upon seeing Yihn's reaction to what might become the aftermath of the death incident. "Y-Yes, your Excellency. What is wrong with that?"
"I felt something. Something is not just right."
"Your Excellency, you always tell us that we should not dwell on the troubles of other Houses, for their problem is theirs to worry."
"That is not the way I meant what I said." Yihn corrected the herald, "We have to care nothing about their daily needs. But from time to time, we have to keep a close watch on their current situation. Especially with their leadership figures."
Yihn wanted to focus her attention on her conversation with Sachiro and Mokiri, so she carefully carried her daughter and laid her on the sofa, without causing her to wake up even for the shortest of seconds.
"My senses are strong. This is just the beginning of a preliminary suppression."
"Preliminary–what?" Mokiri echoed. "M-My Lady, we do not understand. What do you mean?" Yihn's neurotic-mannered visions puzzled Mokiri, Sachiro and Hevihara. "Are you talking about Koupfron Jaghar?"
Yihn learned to control her panicking actions after some time. She folded her arms and did not answer.
"My Lady, I think you are just being too stressed," Sachiro verified. "In fact, Koupfron Jaghar and his few scouts sailed on the shores of Aechleranne and got the chance to inform me about Chief Zohaymar's death."
Displeasure smoldered in Yihn, she lowered her arms fast after keeping it crossed before Sachiro's honest divulging. Sachiro was taken aback to see Yihn's flaming stare being thrown unto him. It was a strict rule she made that Aechlerennes should stay careful of outsiders.
"He came?!" she demanded. Eyes burning in anger. "And you talked to him?!"
She could not resist not reacting angrily. It was difficult for her to trust Jaghar now after seeing the other side of his aggressive nature when he nearly fought with King Tip. Yihn was only staying so careful of non-Aechlerennes.
Sachiro was caused to take two steps backward pass Mokiri; unmindful of the Baroness' sudden change of mood. So as Hevihara, who felt that he too was a part of Yihn's anger even though it was not he whom Yihn was yelling to. Mokiri glanced to the herald, whose dread of their leader's concurring irritability was manifesting.
Sachiro trembled while still witnessing Yihn's scowl in action. "My Lady! He meant no harm! P-Koupfron Jaghar just c-ca-came t-to spread the news…" his voice was shaking in fear, "…a-and h-he j-ju-just wished to know i-if y-you are coming over to the Chief's funeral!"
Yihn's death stare ceased, but her eyebrows were still lightly frowning with suspicions and with the tiniest remnants of disappointment left. Her outrage dispersed that instant. She believed him. "Did he tell you when is this funeral going to happen?"
"Tonight, he said."
Yihn scratched her chin with her right arm, and thought for a second. Her elbow laid over her folded left arm. She turned her back on them without being rude and had a walk around as she decided.
"Well, I do value the Chief at the minimum. He never held grudges, no matter how strained this historical conflict is ever since," Yihn reasoned honestly; likely showing an interest in paying homage to the late Ardajan ruler. "He even inspired spirit in other House leaders. So am I. I have learnt a little from him when we talked. When I was young and desirous."
Used to being kept away from affiliates of the other Houses since Yihn's rule began. Sachiro and Mokiri meant it literally themselves that they should not talk to outsiders ever. The herald asked, "You have talked before, my Lady?" In that question, Sachiro thought the Baroness was being contradicting to her orders when she previously interacted with non-Aechlerennes. Clearly, that was not what she meant.
Yihn faced her colleagues once again, and changed her hand gestures back to crossing her arms in a self-reliant bearing. "Speaking with rival House members by chance does not give enough credit to indict someone for treason." she evidently identified pessimism in the herald's tone. "As long as those strangers do not make contact more frequently. Most of all, as long as they do not share House secrets to their contenders."
There was no way Sachiro can deny his little doubt. "I am deeply sorry, your Excellency."
"So, are you coming?" asked Mokiri. "Koupfron Jaghar will be there. You will get to talk if he is to thank you for passing by." Mokiri was worrying about what Yihn might do if she and Jaghar got to form a simple chat when she did not really like him.
Before Yihn could answer, Sachiro added a question after Mokiri's. "You will not fight the Prince, will you?"
She flashed another sullen glance at the herald, "I am not saying anything." Then she eyed Mokiri and went back to her question. To her, she answered, "Somehow, I have huge respect for lost souls of good hearts. I will be coming for his father," she noted.
It was obvious that she did not like Jaghar at all. This caused Mokiri and Sachiro to quietly ask each other through exchanging of confused glances on whatever reason Yihn had for disliking Chief Zohaymar's son when she seemed to show gratitude for the dead tribal leader.
***
That same night. Tall tiki posts already lighted up the borders of the Ardajan zone.
The Aechlerenne group of visitors to Chief Zohaymar's funeral consisted of Yihn, Kervumasa, Sachiro, Mokiri and five other of their guards. They boarded on their private ship; the same vessel they used when they joined the conference in Prythermo, Neanthylae. The ship stopped by the eastern coastline and the patrol walked on the Ardajan shore planted with aquatic plants. The Aechlerennes seemed anew to the place. The bulk of the Ardajan territory to the center was still filled with small but more than three waters bounded by wet grasses.
Two Ardajan guards broached the matter to them with no malicious intent. Their minds were focused on the outsiders' likings to sympathize with them over their lost Chief. "Welcome, your Excellency," one of the scouts greeted Yihn, the other with a courteous nod. "We are so glad you came."
In the faces of their friendly approach, it still aroused the Aechlerennes to stay by each other's side while on Ardajan soil; knowing that they were still unsafe in spite of offering the mourners their sincere condolences tonight were their only aim.
The Baroness looked side to side, then back to the guards. "Where is Koupfron Jaghar?"
"He will be pleased to see you around. Come along and may we bring you there."
Kervumasa had the fiercest scowl thrown against the enemy guards when they turned their backs to lead the newcomers to the location of Zohaymar's burial site. Kervumasa learned to control and kept his passive temper to himself when Yihn raised her pointer back at him after hearing Kervumasa's low growl of grouch, without glancing back. Silently reminding him that they were there to rave about the dead.
In addition, apart from Kervumasa, Yihn did not only raised her finger for her toughest henchman, for everyone it was understood that they should zip their mouths and avoid talking while on Ardajan domain.
While being led to where Jaghar was at now, Mokiri found it hard to ignore the high tiki torches decorated all around Ardaja, and the peace of the territory. Every torch was lighted that night. Not only was she distracted by the completeness of the props, but every three faces carved in the middle portion of each wood.
Reaching the burial site of Chief Zohaymar, the Aechlerennes stopped by for a moment to have a look at the crowd of grievers about twenty meters away. They had not seen Jaghar in the crowd. They found him in front standing closest to the stationed wooden casket; only for them to discover that the leadership figures of other Houses came by to pay their final tribute, and even King Tip was there, who had a fight with Jaghar in their latest conference. But based on everyone's observation, King Tip and Jaghar were chatting well now.
"Koupfron Jaghar, I am dreadfully sorry for suspecting you as the brains of the secret Ardajan assault beyond our borders."
"Oh, come on. You know my father's peaceful rule that inspires unity and labor in your respective Houses. We are taught a lesson to discontinue our long history of thieving habit." Jaghar accepted Tip's sincere apology with a smile. "It is nothing, your Majesty, and I just overreacted harshly to your opinion."
King Tip's company consisted of Queen Garinka, Prince Oreebis, the beautiful Princess betrothed to Oreebis, Prince Sagan and his love interest, and six of the few royal Tarskan guards. Also joining them from the House of Neanthylae and Mehvrelli were Lord Rabiro, Countess Szόfrin and their own House guards.
Yihn felt little consternation sweeping through her again when she saw the same attendants from the Tarskan faction. However, Yihn coughed once, frayed this feeling and chose to move on with her company to make their presence known to Zohaymar's successor to the throne. She should not worry about a thing tonight for the main subject was Chief Zohaymar.
With Jaghar and Tip reconciled, Jaghar ended his conversation with the Tarskans and moved on to acknowledge the presence of the Neanthylaenean monarchs and high officials. His guards still keeping an eye on the Neanthylaeneans.
"Lord Rabiro."
The Ardajan's call prompted Rabiro. "Koupfron Jaghar!" the Neanthylaenean king blurted out in surprise. Rabiro and his honey-haired spouse as they shook hands with him forthwith.
"We offer our condolences to you," sympathized Rabiro's wife.
"Thank you, Lady Lotus," Jaghar said lowly, as Rabiro took him to meet up with the other Neanthylaeneans.
Jaghar forged an upbeat encounter with the commiserating group. He clapped eyes on each one of the members of the Neanthylaenean feudal order. Starting from Rabiro's queen, to their House courier and so on.
Jaghar paused his eyes longer on one of the female officials with an unswerving devotion to Rabiro's rule–rosy-pale skin complexion, five foot six inches tall and no older than her late twenties; with long, straight-textured hair three centimeters pass her shoulder level. Her eyes hooded in shape, yale iris. Her contour nose shape hooked with a lowered base, and her eyebrows rounded and medium-arched.
The Ardajan Koupfron eyed her apparently with a benign countenance. "Hello, Catherine," he dipped his head to her.
"Condolence, Koupfron Jaghar," she bid after a gestural approach she made to the latter through a courteous nod.
Jaghar's smile widened, his expression of quietly connoting his display of indebtedness to Catherine's condolences. Seeing her presence made him guess how she held a high status within the Neanthylaenean term of office. "Working good?"
The winsome Neanthylaenean knight could not find herself say "yes", although Jaghar did not wait for Catherine's response. She was oblivious. Jaghar's approach of her was rather friendlier than the rest of her allies as she perceived, apart from Rabiro. He asked her like he had known her for long.
To Jaghar and Rabiro's perspectives, one of Zohaymar's scouts had his say in the middle of the two monarchs' conversation. "Koupfron Jaghar," he benevolently tapped Jaghar's shoulder and notified him when Jaghar looked back at him, "Baroness Yihn and the Aechlerennes are here." Jaghar stretched his neck upward and checked to see them coming and guided by the two guards up to this time. So were the rest of the three Houses.
Szόfrin and the Mehvs gave off neutral gazes to the Aechlerenne group. Tip and Garinka flashed them welcoming grins, shorter smiles from Rabiro, his queen and the Neanthylaeneans. Seeing the yellow-coded House's arrival, Jaghar's smile became bigger that caused a little rising movement in his lower eyelid. Joyous to witness that they were complete. He had seen past the serious stares of the Aechlerennes.
Yihn managed to emit a milder expression at Jaghar in the presence of the latter's greater number of allies on their soil.
Jaghar moved a few steps forward to greet the newcomers; his hands still crossing until now. Before starting a dialogue with them, he dipped his head to the Aechlerenne leader, "Baroness." Followed by two respectful nods he gave Kervumasa, Sachiro and Mokiri. He put no meaning in Kervumasa's glare; thinking he normally looked at somebody that way.
Sachiro and Mokiri politely nodded back to him in return. Zohaymar's guards followed Jaghar closer behind. Jaghar stood much taller, even than Kervumasa. Yihn's height levelled up to reach only the lip of the middle-aged Ardajan heir.
She dipped her head back to him in appreciation of Jaghar's gallant gesture. "We profoundly offer our condolences to the Chief."
"Thank you, your Excellency, and I gratefully appreciate having all of you here."
"May we have a look at Chief Zohaymar?"
"Yeah, sure," Jaghar permitted cordially. "His coffin is over there."
"Thank you."
Jaghar's heartfelt smile instantly diminished and turned into a menacing look when they stalked away; so were the scouts. Jaghar and his father's loyal guards monitored them behind their backs as Yihn and her compatriots passed forward. Meanwhile, the greens turned around and constantly straitened their eyes altogether at them behind their backs. Jaghar narrowed his eyes; full of suspicions. Zohaymar's guards looked at him for signal if he might want to put an action. Jaghar told them in the lowest voice that only his guards could hear. Regardless of his misgivings, he told them instead, "Do not bother, men. I gave them my permissions."
Then he heard the footsteps of someone approaching growing loud as it drew near.
"Jaghar," it was Narwal moving towards the assembled group of her husband and the guards. "So the Aechlerennes have arrived. Whenever are you going to start?"
"You wait, Narwal. They just wanted to have a look at my father for the last time," Jaghar's voice was gentle and discreet, so were his facial expressions.
By coincidence, Yihn and her compatriots walked pass the Tarskans and Mehvs. Only the Tarskans greeted them such as King Tip and Queen Garinka, who warmly greeted them with a huge smile, where Oreebis could not move his eyes off them; most of all the Baroness, whom he had been following through his nervous gaze.
Yihn rewarded the same facial motion to their majesties, but she took no notice of Tip and Garinka's sons and their current love interests. Mainly Oreebis; unseeing him as if they were strangers. Prince Oreebis initially expected the Baroness to catch a glimpse of him, but not. He wanted to attract her attention by simply casting a prolonged gaze at the Aechlerenne. Finding it so difficult for him to pretend the Aechlerennes had not come. He inaudibly behaved like a cowardly child.
Much as he liked to have a word with Yihn, he could not make himself do it.
Zohaymar's body was fashioned in a tree trunk coffin made of browned bamboo sticks tied together by green strings. His wooden overcoat was carved with four thick, ten-centimeter poles on its four edges. Like an umbrella, Zohaymar was covered under a single green-striped fabric, whose trims were stretched atop the rectangular pillars. Four flaming posts were standing on the four corners, four meters away from the dead Chief's casket.
Yihn, who had never let go of her stick that symbolizes her leadership, repositioned the feathered rod herself by the time she looked at Zohaymar for the first time of his last night. She had it leaning while still under her left hand. Mokiri, Kervumasa and Sachiro accompanied her in her viewing of the deceased elder. Mokiri and Sachiro looked repentant about the Ardajans' loss of a Chieftain pure as the driven snow.
There was no dash of grief detectable in Yihn's face. Yet the way she looked down on him, after the death of the old Chief, she could sense something that she would intelligibly deplore.
Zohaymar's lips were dry since the time of his death the previous day. His arms were stretched straight down beside his cold, lifeless body.
Kervumasa moved closer to his leader's side, and whispered, "He looks so peaceful, right?"
"Yeah."
Kervumasa's insides were rumbling with the growth of his impatience. He could not settle down within the Ardajan surroundings. To Yihn, he whispered out, "Attending Zohaymar's funeral is no use. Why did we even–"
"Shh!" hushed Yihn. "We come in peace. Learn to show a little more respect to those who are grieving."
Few hours were left before midnight steps in, and Chief Zohaymar should be buried right before the next day enters. Jaghar would not want to delay his father's burial. He confidently went to initiate a short conversation once more with Yihn and her Aechlerenne company. Zohaymar's guards were not treading on his footsteps, but were keeping a careful watch on him now that he managed to have a word with them alone without keeping them close to him. But their watchful eyes were ensuring his security.
Jaghar brought on his friendly guise and short smile, shaping his level of self-assurance just as he advanced towards the Aechlerennes, whose final look on Zohaymar's dead body on display have prolonged when not disturbed as he perceived. Two elbows bent and rubbing his hands languidly. "Uh, Lady Yihn. Are you done yet?"
Jaghar received a silent greeting back from the Baroness and her compatriots with concurrent turning of their heads, facing him. Jaghar's thoughts were clean; no traces of speculations seen he forwardly bestowed on Yihn when the Aechlerenne leader had not gave him even the shortest smile. Contradictorily, Yihn was still aware given Jaghar's Ardajan blood in spite of his welcoming tone. Used to believing that all Ardajans carry bloods of barbarism.
Through it all, Jaghar carried on smiling to retain the peace within the night of his father's burial. "Um, I promised them," he meant the Ardajans, "that my father's funeral should not exceed the last hour of the night. Shall we proceed to the crowd?" he asked them. He did not lose his patience in waiting for the Aechlerennes to cease their final view of the dead.
Yihn forgave Jaghar's friendly request along with a grateful nod. She seldom spoke since she was overwhelmed with alertness. She only said, "Thank you. Our deepest condolences by the way," as she and her comrades walked pass Jaghar. Without turning a glance to the Ardajan heir. Jaghar rewarded them a thankful smile, which the Aechlerenne leader failed to notice as they hurried to the assembled grievers.
Jaghar had not noticed the lack of eye contact given to him by the yellow party. The Tarskans, Neanthylaeneans and Mehvs followed the Aechlerennes and stood by the Ardajan crowd at the front row. He crossed the opposite direction and placed himself in front in between the crowd and his father's wooden coffin on display as he was about to start a speech. Tahzir, Ardaja's heraldic figure, followed Jaghar and stood beside him three meters away; carrying a torch.
"A pleasant evening to everyone around here in Zaireb-am-Saydef." he greeted. "First of all, I would like to welcome and thank you all for making this ceremony happen. Especially the administrators of each foreign House. And for your sincere condolences to my family."
The entirety of the attendants was ready to listen. Their watery eyes were prepared to cry down those tears.
"Chief Zohaymar lived a full life dedicated to reforming the House of Ardaja. He led the House against corruption that were secretly growing within Ardaja." Jaghar did not shed a tear as he was wholly focusing on speaking publicly as part of the ceremony. But his heart was heavy that something stuck in it was choking him. "He was triumphant in topping a number of uprisings before it even happened. And in death, has finally granted the peace he deserved. Which was why I commended him. As his son, I want to be just like him. Or at least half the Chieftain he was if I could not fully be like him."
Yihn looked she could relate to the words of Zohaymar's heir. She felt the same during the late Srey's admirable reign in Aechleranne preceding the Baroness. Half of the women's whines were real. The passing of Zohaymar was comparable to the great loss of their loved ones, whoever those were.
She heard little children boohooing lowly, not so far away from her position. She spent a moment to check it out without leaving her place. Those were three of Zohaymar's grandchildren through Jaghar: Andhetra, Narmakur and Devonir, with Jakheem helping Narwal in making his siblings dry their tears up. Only Devonir was not crying. Rather, the death of their grandfather left him with a terrified expression that it came so soon.
Yihn's eyes grew big out of shock and compassion when she laid it on them. Seeing them struggle for breath in their cries made her realize and wonder who really was Zohaymar for a leadership icon, a family member and a friend. And what was his character composed of that made him more than just a valued Chieftain.
Yihn was not aspiring to become one like the ruler Zohaymar used to be when she knew that it would be up to the Aechlerenne people if she would make a great Baroness worth respecting and serving. The heartbreaks of the Ardajan people just dazed her thoughts so much that led to her confusion.
The Aechlerenne leader had a secretive look around without making it obvious. Szόfrin and Rabiro were emotionally dipping their heads down with respect to the deceased leader. King Tip looked so guilty about his previous actions. Even though it was not a big deal at all, Tip regretted countering words against the son of the well-treated Zohaymar back in Prythermo.
Only Yihn could not settle down. Still far more concerned about the safety of her House, a thought she brought even at the time of their presence at Chief Zohaymar's burial, when instead she came to sympathize with the Ardajans; not to add more and more evidences to prove her defensive hunches correct. Although she and her party were sincere in offering condolences to the surviving family members of the old leader.
"Chieftain Zohaymar taught us wisdom and good morals when we were young." Jaghar said further. "For me myself, he taught me what it means to be a tribe leader. He trained me through his works of philanthropy and humanitarianism, where he often brought me alongside him and his guards when we roamed around the entire Ardajan Islands to those who were in need."
Narwal and some of the Ardajan crowd nodded in agreement. Indicating that they have witnessed the activities Zohaymar has executed for the House of Ardaja as his son stated. Meaning what Jaghar was saying was true. Even leaders such as Szόfrin, Rabiro and Tip silently concurred with Jaghar. Seemingly based on their past meetings with the late Chieftain, they believed in the goodness within him.
"He was not just a family patriarch. He was a father to the entire House of Ardaja." Jaghar could not help but feel something getting heavier in his heart as he vocally grieved for his father. "Thus his reformation of the House, his sight of peace and love everywhere made him blind that caused his only mistake–his failure of sensing a treacherous act that costed him his life."
Jaghar, for the last time, allowed them to have another look at Chief Zohaymar for one more time. He moved away from the coffin. Making an entry for whomever in the crowd were ready to have a final viewing.
Beating of drums thundered and signaled the Ardajans from the corners. Only Zohaymar's family and friends proceeded in front, with flowers in their hands. Observing formality in their movements through the creation of a single line. The line was led by Narwal. Followed by Jaghar's children, and then the rest of Zohaymar's loyalists and friends.
One by one, they laid each flower on Zohaymar's hand-laid belly. For one time, they assembled altogether in front as they viewed their dead Chieftain, without messing up. The family members wept. They could not imagine a world without Zohaymar.
Jaghar's family were having some difficulties breathing while watching Zohaymar's lifeless body.
Narmakur sniffed numerous times, and Andhetra sobbed continually along with her grandfather's softer female acquaintances. Devonir's fear-widened eyes watered, although his tears seldom dropped. Narwal was trying to hold back her tears. Yet she often wiped her eyes. While Jakheem eventually failed controlling his tears. He remembered how he had been close to Zohaymar.
Those mourners were mindful that it was late night, and the event should not last much longer. By formal rule, they returned to where were they once positioned earlier at the time of Jaghar's speech.
Jaghar glimpsed at Tahzir to his left. "Tahzir," he called and dipped his head to him for signal.
Tahzir dipped in return in obedience. Jaghar stepped aside and made a way for Tahzir. He walked towards the coffin. Handling the torch with two hands. Gloom dimmed his face when he, too, watched Zohaymar's corpse for the last time. Much to his early contrite, Tahzir lowered the flaming torch in his hand after some time and stepped backwards from the casket of the Chieftain as it smoldered in flames like a bonfire.
The coffin was watched leisurely being reduced to ashes in the congested wet-soiled sector. Jaghar stared five meters away as the fire enlarged into a blaze until it utterly scorched Zohaymar within the coffin over a rectangular support built up of cemented obsidians. In the middle of the ongoing incineration, sobs were still heard around the clearing.
***
Posterior to the cremation.
Jaghar mustered the four other Houses in circles in the Karumstafi Circle, where the House was being addressed by tribal leaders. Armed guards were still behind his back sewing up his safety in front of their outsiders. "How kind of you to have made it back there in Zaireb-am-Saydef. I really appreciate it."
The Tarskan, Neanthylaenean, Aechlerenne and Mehv monarchs and nobilities sparked him a smile replying a hushed "you are welcome" greeting to the latter's gratefulness.
"You need not to thank us, Prince," King Tip remarked. "It is part of our commission as administrators of our clans."
"Never mind. I will make it up to you guys next time." Jaghar promised favorably. "With a sense of gratitude, may Goddess Ardaja light your paths."
Jaghar was far nicer now. Far from the quarrelsome behavior he once shown towards King Tip when they nearly killed each other on Neanthylaenean soil.
He reminded himself how late it was now. It was midnight. "Anyway, it is pass the dead of night. All of you should get some rest. You may all go now." he told the four Houses. "Men, guide them, please. Hurry back and you have House duties at dawn." To his father's guards he commanded–now his.
Gingered up by the concern in Jaghar's suggestion to send them home in time, the Tarskans, Neanthylaeneans and Mehvs clutched the amiability in his offer by obeying as he insisted them. The Tarskan and Neanthylaenean monarchs flashed him one last smile with credit, before being escorted away by the tribal guards.
The Aechlerennes tarried, basing their spontaneous decision of sojourning on their Baroness Yihn's refusal to move. She just stared into the three other Houses as they were taken into the Ardajan borders in order.
Her followers treaded on her heels. Yihn aimed to make overtures to Jaghar somewhat feebly. "Um, Koupfron?" she carefully addressed right before he fully turned his back. Her approach stopped Jaghar from heading straight home.
The broad-shouldered Prince reconsidered his actions. He looked back and fronted onto them with solemn mien. "Yes, your Excellency?" his normally sullen-looking, thick eyebrows raised.
"With Chief Zohaymar gone, you will kick upstairs at a stroke, right?" Jaghar listen during Yihn's clarification. "I mean, there has to be some regal pomp at the time of your coronation."
"You know, things do not go that way. Tribal Chieftains do not choose their children as heirs. It is our Clan mother's decision to make who serves to be the rightful leader after the previous one." Jaghar scratched his hair.
"Oh," Yihn noted down to herself. "Would you like to see the presence of each House officials, again?"
"As for your question, it is up to you, your Excellency. If you wish to come, things will be fine," assured Jaghar.
Yihn bore Jaghar's words in her mind. Though she looked like not really feel like interested in coming over to this certain ceremony. "Okay. We will go ahead, now." She dipped her head with courtesy.
Jaghar inclined his head forward, twiddling his thumbs; respecting the Aechlerenne leader in the same way. "Take care," he directed as the yellow-coded House fled.