Resting in her chamber, Aerin reclined while facing Eun’he’s bed situated directly across from her own. The evening waned languidly, and it wasn't until much later that she was roused by Silandra's arrival, prompting Eun’he's departure.
Silandra entered with a huff, shedding her armor in frustration. “Can you fathom the audacity? Eun’he breached the royal family’s trust, and Mother is simply brushing it aside!”
Internally sighing, Aerin, a commoner girl hailing from a rural corner of the empire, found herself unequipped for the intricacies of family drama and politics. “Silandra will you trust me if I tell you the truth?” Aerin sat up looking at the flustered Princess.”
Seating herself, Silandra gestured, “please be my guest.”
“You know where I am from and my background. We spent nearly a month training all day together. Even I as a commoner knew of your brother’s personality. Frankly the fact he continued to want to see Eun’he and knowing Eun’he’s personality this is probably the best thing your parents could have asked for.”
Silandra wanted to speak up, but no words came out of her mouth.
Aerin laid back down “I need to sleep. I have a guard shift and won’t get much more sleep for tomorrow, but just try and understand Eun’he I suspect you both will be sisters soon.”
“UGGHH don’t say that!” Silandra groaned frustrated as Aerin rolled over trying to sleep more comfortably.
…
Serraye Windfeather was pleased with the reaction her proposal had received; it seemed highly likely that with a bit of haggling they would agree to terms. Like most Harpy she didn’t particularly care who her mate was, but as Queen she felt it was important for her to present an example to her people. A political marriage was extraordinarily common among the other races and she saw no complaint with Draakin; they had their own charms.
Today marked the meeting with the proposed mate, a crucial step toward potentially solidifying the agreement. The Draakin despite being a bit more outward looking than Harpies did not realize how radical humans were getting. Draakin were not as widespread as the other demi-human races they managed to centralize into mostly a single point and were largely self-sustaining.
Despite her youth, Serraye remained far from naive. She sensed the brewing storm of war, recognizing the volatility where even a minor incident could trigger an explosion.
Flying from her room down onto her throne she waited for her guests to come.
Queen Cithri entered her presence was that of someone who had a firm grasp of what her position was and what she wanted. Serraye admired this about her even though she in theory was below her husband in hierarchy it seemed more like a union of different strengths than purely of one having lordship over the other. If she was honest with herself she saw the benefits to having one person whom you can completely rely on.
Amidst the group of females stood a solitary male Draakin. Towering in stature, his form echoed the usual Draakin largeness, yet he carried a more sinewy build, towering in height rather than sheer bulkiness. Serraye was curious about the horns of Draakin as they came in many patterns and styles as Harpy had types of feathers. From what she could tell his draconic blood was strong in him his horns, wings, and claws revealed this to be the case.
Looks wise he seemed to be quite close to the Princess, but short black hair and green eyes. What she couldn’t figure out was his demeanor seemed that of endless anxiety, but she assumed it was being the only male in the room and all the attention she gave was on him. Few people wouldn’t be nervous at all in the presence of a ruler.
“I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all again today and hope you had the evening to think on my proposals.”
“I have and the details of the proposal will be drafted by my advisors, but the only issue that needs to be decided is with my nephew. Obviously the parties involved need to agree. So I propose that over dinner we allow you both to discuss the matter further. As for me I do not oppose it.”
Serraye smiled internally; she was getting exactly what she needed. A union with Areiat and the Draakin through marriage would bring immense benefits even if this man was not a direct descendent it would give her political leverage and a useful advisor on the cultural and political workings of the Draakin Empire giving her a huge boon to her ability to deal with them in future negotiations.
“Excellent!” then let's eat.
They ate without much being said by either side. The Princess seemed to be in an irritable mood, but wasn’t directed at her so she didn’t care. While the Cithri was seemingly unaffected and chatted frankly.
“So Queen Serraye tell me. When do you anticipate Myerdien will attack Areiat Peak?” Queen Cithri said without notice her eyes staring unwaveringly at Serraye as if they were boring holes through her soul.
With a sigh Queen Serraye watched as everyone at the table grew silent and watched. “How did you know?”
Cithri laughed lightly “Queen Serraye if you had ten more years under your belt you might have been able to hide behind other motives, but you underestimate how us Draakin became an empire in the first place. While I am sure in part you wish to reform how your people are perceived by their neighbors, a nation's leader doesn’t propose a marriage and a defensive alliance without suspecting they could be attacked.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Serraye didn’t see the point in hiding her intentions further. “You are correct, I do suspect Myerdien will attack with their allies. The Temple of Caphaine has become more and more radical in recent times and we are the most easily singled out of the other races. Plus with the arrival of these so called heroes in a single point I don’t see how this isn’t a test or a demonstration of sorts.”
“Humans are surprisingly more volatile than Harpies ever were. Much more expansionist and far less reasonable once they find a justification for conflict. The Elves are far more isolationist, but their fervor for Caphaine is growing and Thresi goddess of the wood is their patron deity of all elves. Despite their isolation we have bore no fruit recently trying to work with the Tenlar elves.”
Serraye nodded “I hope you don’t hold it against me, Queen Cithri.”
Cithri shook her head “No don’t concern yourself with that we are not blood nor even of the same race I cannot hold you to standards I would not hold to myself.”
Serraye knew she couldn’t dwell on negativity to long and stood up “I think Espry Masyre was going to give you a tour of Areiat and hopefully show you the boons of our potential alliance.”
“Yes, I look forward to it. How about in the meantime Qilin my nephew stay with you and see if our proposed arrangement would work.”
“Excellent idea!”
…
Serraye bowed as Queen Cithri and her entourage left the hall leaving only her and the man known as Qilin behind. She had decided that a more revealing outfit was due today as it clung to her shape much more firmly than her more ceremonial garb from the day before.
Qilin wore a well made tunic with intricate embroidering and an open back across his shoulder blades that allowed for his wings to comfortably fold behind him.
“So Qilin Torash nephew of Queen Cithri have you been fully informed of everything about our potential engagement.” Serraye approached him; it was common for Harpy to be straightforward people.
“I did hear about your proposal Queen Serraye and…” Qilin spoke in a near whisper his voice was timid and not usual for a man of his stature.
Serraye found his timidity mildly amusing and cute. “I see you are not comfortable with me yet” raising her arm she offered it to him “why don’t you prove to me you are a man and fly with me.”
Qilin looked at her with a determined look. Serraye found his trigger faster than expected; he clearly didn’t like people questioning his manhood due to his shyness. Raising her arm she “escort me on a flight and show me if you are capable of being the one and only consort of Queen Serraye Windfeather.”
…
Qilin Torash hated that he was nervous around women, but he never knew how to speak comfortably with them. The female Harpies of Areiat peak were something else; they were unashamedly straightforward which was refreshing. Social rules were less hierarchical, something he had never gotten used to in the courts and clans of Flamespire.
When Queen Windfeather unfurled her majestic feathered wings and shut up into the air he felt a stirring in his heart. While he couldn’t deny her rapturous beauty it was secondary to her unrestrained attitude from the first moment he saw her he could feel it.
While she darted around the room and towards the open ceiling beckoning him he took his larger and slower wings and shot himself like a meteor through the air.
“I see you finally worked up the courage to reveal yourself to me. I’m pleased!” she called over to him. “Follow me descendent of dragons.”
…
Aerin watched as Qilin and Serraye darted off the opposite direction Espry Masyre had taken them. Standing at the peak's edge, she gazed eastward. The safest places in the world were on the eastern coast of the continent. In the far distance the mountain tapered off into dense forests where the trees were three to four times the size of normal trees where she lived.
“Espry Masyre. What lies beyond Areiat in that direction “she pointed towards the dense trees that were at the edge of their vision.”
“There lies the Katari tribes and their lands.” she said, looking where she pointed. When the trees grow thicker and stronger is where their border begins. Those lands are dangerous for us. We hope that with an alliance with Draakin it can open talks with the Katari as we have heard they have the most difficulty with human trespassers than even us.”
Aerin, despite her wingless form, didn’t shy away from heights and steep cliffs. Draakin even the ones with no wings had a sort of odd durability and affinity with climbing and so she never felt like she was out of place even in this place.
“Why don't you reach out to them like you did us?” Aerin asked absentmindedly.
“We have. Unfortunately Katari are not as centralized and they do things conciliatory too many of them hold bitterness in their hearts towards us.” Espry Masyre frowned as she led the way towards another section of the peak.
The day went without a single incident which relieved Aerin. The population of Aeriat peak was massive everywhere and was dotted with clusters of homes forming a natural layered defense. Aerin was sure that attacking Aeriat Peak would be a nightmare for any force.
Upon entering the grand hall again Aerin was ready for a long break. If she was honest she didn't think the Draakin could easily take on the Harpies either.
“Welcome back! I hope your tour of Areiat was an enjoyable experience.” Queen Serraye said her demeanor seemed slightly more relaxed than before.
“It was quite interesting. I am sure there will be lots of benefits to be had from our new alliance.” Cithri said in a bemused tone.
Qilin who was standing at the side not sitting down did not speak. His face was difficult to read Aerin didn't speak much to him compared to the rest of the guard.
“I must say. I am pleased with Qilin and if he will agree I think he would make an excellent consort.” Queen Serraye said looking at the man fondly who in turn turned his face away as his neck turned red.
Cithri smiled “It seems so. Qilin, this is your chance to tell me know if you agree. If it is so, I will send word of the arrangement immediately.”
Qilin's shyness seemed to melt away immediately “I understand my Queen's request and agree to the proposal. Queen Serraye would make an excellent wife.”
Aerin wasn't sure about that since Harpies didn't have a culture of monogamy; she felt some doubt the Queen would know how to treat such a union.
“Then it is done!” Queen Cithri clapped her hands. “Queen Serraye, while we are united by marriage affiliation, let me be the first to offer an engagement present.” Snapping her fingers, one of the aids who had traveled with the brought out a small black stone no larger than her palm and polished into a perfect sphere.
Giving it to Espry Masyre she looked at Queen Serraye “That is an obsidian heart. It has been used to carry a large amount of dragon fire.”
“I appreciate the gift Queen Cithri. As our deal is finalized in coming months I wonder if you could consider in the meantime helping us with improving relations with the Katari tribes?”
“Of course. I will convey your regards and desire to them.”
Aerin watched both of the beautiful Queen's continue to small talk. The only question was if the rest of this tribe would go as well as this one.