[center][b]The Grand Ball[/b] [i]Xixis & Esyllt[/i][/center] --- Hard to believe she was only a few days away from home, Esyllt could not shake the sense of awe the entrance of all the other nations had brought upon her. From golden armours, to goblins riding scorpions. She could feel her heart pound as high as her throat merely by the memory it, and now she stood in the middle of it all; wearing a ballroom gown specially made by the master tailor of Edmundal for this occasion. Esyllt remembered the tailor sweating and stuttering when she had brought up the subject. Hadn't her request been accompanied by a direct order from Edmundal's reigning lord, he would have profoundly refused the task. Efforts nor resources had been spared and the result was unlike Esyllt had ever dared imagine wearing. Now, the tightly strapped corset, the laces on her back and layers of half-cut ruffles falling down from her hips, made the ballroom gown her only awkward reminder of home amidst a gathering of the world's ruling class. Although Esyllt steeled her face and composure to remain graceful, but had a hard time fighting off the blush on her cheeks. She felt like a small child within the ballroom. Renalta was a land of many races and cultures, but the Edmundal certainly wasn't visited by anything but the odd halfling or elf. It was exciting and overwhelming, and Esyllt kept catching herself staring just a little too long at the different races. The heat of battle and crisis had been between herself and fawning over Naraem, Aëyr and Draza earlier, but now she simply couldn't keep her eyes off of the magnificent variety in people that had gathered at the ball. Her attention shifted to a green man with a strange animal accompanying him. Esyllt brought her hand to her mouth to smother a small shriek of excitement she let out, seeing the an eight-legged creature as big as a full-grown man. It had a tail almost the creature’s entire body-length that arced over it’s back. Esyllt had stared just a little too long at the goblin and his animal to have gone unnoticed. Esyllt, painfully aware of the ball's purpose and to an extent, her being a representative of the Queen's Blades. She couldn't wander off into the crowds after exchanging eye-contact. Forcing a modest smile, she walked over to the goblin in question. “Are you enjoying yourselves?” Esyllt asked politely, doing her best to not let her nerves echo through her voice. “Esyllt Boudica, knight of Edmundal and member of the Queen's Blades.” She made a small bow, as she ran through the long forgotten memories of ballroom etiquette she'd been taught at home. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”   The Scorpion skittered at her approach. “Well, I wouldn’t want to speak for Skatz here, but it is most adequate, though it lacks the boisterousness of some events.” Xixis cocked his head at the woman, he supposed she might have been pretty for a pinkskin, but he’d always felt like throwing up a little whenever he considered their kind that way. “I do hope you don’t intend to work in an outfit like that.” Xixis chuckled. “Of course.” Esyllt smiled, this time more genuinely. She felt a weight drop off her shoulders at the goblin's casual response. Boisterous was contrary to the etiquette of the ballroom she knew, but Esyllt knew very little of the cultures of other countries nor their festivities. “Skatz is the name of your...” Esyllt took a moment to think, not actually knowing what a scorpion was, “-Pet, is it? It is a creature unlike I've ever seen. Is it's kind common in your homeland?” Perceptive as always Xixis noticed that relaxation. “Don’t worry Esyllt. Not all us rulers of nations have pikes up our arses, but pet, companion, mount, assassin dissuader Skatz is the second of his line to serve in such a role for me. But yes, they’re fairly common. Pity I could not bring the Asimov Worm to show off. Fluffy has intimidated more than a few to surrender.” Esyllt was not sure how to respond to such a crude language, less so than the fact those words from a king. In her curiosity, she’d failed to recognise the goblin as Xixis, ruler of the Goblin Holds. In truth, Esyllt found it difficult to tell goblins apart, but she could not let that thought surface. Nonetheless, it took a hold of her tongue for a few silent moments. “How interesting,” Esyllt recovered, unsure how she could speak to the goblin king in orderly fashion. “It must be intelligent to fulfill so many roles.” She commended Skatz, as her eyes strayed towards the scorpion. Esyllt studied it’s body, it’s structure, the way it moved. It was truly something she’d never seen before. Her (desperately) collected composure somewhat faltered in the light of her curiosity, as Esyllt’s eyes sparkled and her voice loosened a little. “In my home, we have but horses and dogs. Fine animals in their own right, but nothing like Skatz.” Esyllt spoke, turning back to Xixis. She blushed a little before she continued with a question that had been on her mind since she Xixis mentioned the scorpion’s role as a companion. “Would you mind if I… If I pet it?” Xixis paused thoughtfully. “I haven’t had a good haunch of dog in weeks, I should see if Kouri can get her chefs to get me some, some of the dogs here are terribly fat and juicy looking.” Xixis grinned. “Horse is ok, but on the tough side, as for patting Skatz, I would not advise it, it dissuades assassins in a very specific manner like that.” He thumbed over his shoulder at the stinger tail waving carefully. “He is smart enough, but not much more so than a well trained horse or camel, he’s just much deadlier.” “I see.” Esyllt flinched a little at how Xixis described Skatz’ likely reaction, but moreso at the mention of eating dogs and horses, animals Esyllt only knew as companions. She would not speak out to the king, but Esyllt feared for the life of the animal that she had ridden to the capital. Xixis chuckled. “Kouri reacted much the same way.” He winked at her. “Oh, did she?” Esyllt suddenly felt a little more connected to the queen, in spite of never having spoken with either. The more she spoke with Xixis however, the more Esyllt realised he was closer to a countryman than nobility in behaviour. “I could only imagine her majesty’s reaction. Neither constitutes as a meal here in Renalta. Dogs are companions, shepherds and guards. Horses are mounts and labourers. Our cuisine must be very different from yours. I hope dinner was to your liking.” Esyllt let out a soft giggle, though she quickly smothered it not to offend the king. Strange as the goblin’s mannerisms were, she couldn’t help but feel intrigued. “Oh, the Cuisines of the Free Holds and Goblin Holds are spicier, but not that much different to your own,” Xixis said plainly, “Of Cat, Dog and Horse as well as other species it’s a matter of wealth, I would wager that there are regions in Rheinfeld, Tuleria and even the Amazons who during times of great poverty have been forced to consume the flesh of animals they thought they would never, such as even rat.” Rat Esyllt only knew as carrier of disease. She herself had lived in poverty before the kind lord extended his hand to her and her mother, but never had she turned to eating rat. Perhaps that was the difference between an entire nation in poverty, versus her own experiences. Xixis sighed. “And before my rise Goblins have never been wealthy or looked down on well, and so I have to use sorcery to force equality. It’s a lesson the dogs of the Free Holds learn slowly.” He manipulated some dust and dirt in the hall to create a tiny dragon golem, it was little more than a magically animated caricature but it amused him to make it anway. Xixis decided not to mention how alike man-flesh was to bacon. Delicious bacon... Esyllt held her silence as Xixis commented on the Free Holds. She knew too little of international affairs to discuss such topics, especially at a ball that was supposed to unite nations. Yet when Xixis animated a small dragon… “Is that golemancy?” She asked, quite surprised. “Coincidence has it, I dabble in it myself.” Esyllt said, far too modestly. To reprociate Xixis’ creation, she summoned small pebbles of rock from her pocket dimension and let them form into a tiny Skatz in her hand. “Would this look about right?” She asked, continuing to rearrange the structure roughly as she looked at the scorpion, probably unaware it was modeling. “Equality has been a topic in Renalta as well. We live under the united rule of our queens, but generations of habits don’t die easily. Many cities struggle with the new morals, as does my home unfortunately.” Esyllt thought back of Edmundal. One of the very reasons she’d only ever seen humans, spare the odd elf and halfling, was because Edmundal was not as tolerant or the other races as their new monarchs. Although her adoptive father and lord had tried to adapt Edmundal in the Queens their vision, the townsfolk didn’t change overnight… “It must be challenging, ruling a nation. I can only imagine.” Esyllt wondered out loud, showing slight surprise to how quickly she’d gotten to speak so easily with the goblin king… Xixis chuckled and turned the sand dragon to glass. “No it’s not a true golem, the moment I ceased animating it it’d return to mere sand. And it looks alright.” Skatz began to take on an agitated stance. “But scorpions are not terribly social with other scorpions.” “As for ruling.” Xixis said with a slight frown. “It is simple enough if you have the power and will to force hands, though I am a Goblin ruling an nation of ex-slaves. When most were once downtrodden it is easy to see the virtues of equality, even if the Freeholds do not. Orcs, Goblins, Humans, Elves, Trolls, Ogres and Grumpkins are all welcome, we care not your race so long as you respect our laws.” Xixis shrugged. “True equality. Though our methods are differ, that is not too different from Renalta’s vision.” Esyllt said, although rule through force was somewhat of a bad memory for Renalta it’s citizens still. Then again, racism was still a big topic in the isolated towns, even if Renalta was becoming more coloured by the day. The topic was way over the woman’s simple understandings of politics, she didn’t dare speak of it in front of a king. Esyllt let the scorpion-golem fall to pebbles in the palm of her hand, before putting them away. “I have never met another golemancer and I know little of it besides my own discipline. I inherited the knowledge from my father, but I have no memory of him.” Esyllt admitted, somewhat disappointed that Xixis wasn’t a true master of her art. Still, her spirit uplifted a little when she remembered Naraem. “Yet, an ally in the Blades has recently asked me to show him the craft. He is a quick learner and creative thinker. Simply studying together teaches me new perspectives.” She spoke with enthusiasm. “Answering the Queens’ call has blessed me with both the honour of service as well as a wealth of opportunity. I know little of the world and you are truly the first goblin I’ve ever spoken to.” “Be wary,” Xixis said calmly, “Not all of my kind are as well disposed as I am, many have been mistreated for most of their lives and though we are not a terribly long lived species without magic intervention our memories are long and grudges are hard to let go of.” He reclined a bit in on Skatz’s carapace. “And for some goblins, and orcs, the taste of human flesh is not a strange one.” He chuckled, “And please, don’t misinterpret that as a sexual advance, I’m sure you’re attractive enough for your kind but just the thought of that made me throw up in my mouth a little.” He grinned to show he was just being humorous… despite the slight taste of bile. Esyllt decided to let the comment go, part unsure how to respond, but also part because in spite or reminding her more of an barbarian Xixis was still a king. “Thank you for your warning.” Esyllt decided upon, although she also remembered Xixis’ earlier request for her not to worry so much about appearances... “There seems to be much I do not know about the Goblin Holds. Would you care to tell me more about your lands?” --- [center][b]The Grand Ball[/b] [i]Maeven & Esyllt[/i][/center] --- Although thoroughly enticed by Xixis' stories, other matters would come to the goblin king's attention. Esyllt thanked him for his company and stories, before she wandered back to the ballroom. Although she had filled with courage to make acquaintances with yet another culture, it was a familiar figure she noticed dance with Naraem. Esyllt had a question for the drow's dancing partner, something she couldn't help but ponder. When she left Naraem's hand, Esyllt followed and approached the woman. “Excuse me, you are Maeven Lucre, is that right?” Esyllt wasn’t sure, she was certain she'd recognised the woman, but her hair was of a different colour. “Esyllt Boudica, we’ve fought together but I believe we haven’t been properly introduced.” Maeven stops from her listening on on the various conversations of the people about her, letting her drink drop to a tray of a servant nearby after she sips from it one last time. Finally she turns to address the most recent person to address her. She was growing famous it seemed. She smiles and offers her hand out to this Esyllt. “In the flesh. Is it my mechanics you heard about? I was known for my shop in Tuleria for a time, but I’m afraid I’m no longer open for business if that’s what you wished to talk about…” She pauses, Esyllt’s features a little familiar before she can place them. “Ah, you are right, though. We have seen each other. Back in Arian. Back at the little game.” Esyllt shuddered at the mention of the skirmish as a game, hopefully Maeven wasn’t as insane as the little girl who dubbed it as such. “I have no doubt your mechanical skills are top-notch,” Esyllt smiled politely, hoping to ease into the topic she’d wanted to bring up with a little small talk. “I have never seen anything quite like an iron dragon. Of course, I must admit I’m not familiar with mechanisms or dragons.” Even if she was genuinely curious about Fafnir, Tuleria and engineering, something else weighed on her mind. “There is something I wanted to ask you, if I am not too forward, but it has come to my attention that you’ve spoken with the girl who fought us in Arian. The entire ordeal remains a mystery for me, why would a young child command demons and threaten to destroy a town? It is beyond my comprehension.” Maeven suddenly wished for her drink back. Her eyes flit across the ball room, trying to pinpoint where the key people were and make sure they were just far enough away from her that she was not going to get in trouble. Gustavo was not supposed to really be making a scene she was figuring, she could barely catch him and she was used to spying things most did not notice. Amanda was off trying to bother a goblinoid. Kouri and Alex were busy with other dignitaries for the moment… She turns to Esyllt and drops her voice in volume from before, not entirely sure why herself but feeling a bit protective of Meryl now after knowing her. “Look… I don’t know the entire story myself… But if you talked to her, you’d know that she has connections with Sloth.” She pauses trying to let that sink in, “Yes. THAT Sloth. The demonlord. It should explain the command of demons right away.” She pauses and shakes her, crossing her head, “Her name is Meryl, though, and she really is a sweet girl, though. And I’m not really sure how she came into the company of James the Illusionist. All I know is that that rat bastard tricked her. He told her that people could be fixed like they could in the Nine Hells so it was all a game.” “She herself came from the Nine Hells?” Esyllt suffocated a gasp and spoke in the lowest whisper she could manage. She was quite taken aback by Maeven’s answer, finding it difficult to swallow. “There walk demons among us already...” Esyllt murmured, it would explain the company she kept... No wonder Maeven had to whisper. Certainly, Esyllt was not to question the conduct under orders of the throne, but from both the streets and the library, all demons were inherently evil and sinister. “I read demons are expert tricksters.” Esyllt suggested, calmly and neutral as she could. “Is it possible to trust Meryl’s word? What about her book, have they confiscated it?” Maeven furrows her brow before turning with a servant that passes by to steal another drink, downing it with one go to try and keep up with this conversation. It was frustrating her to hear about the way Esyllt regarded Meryl. She holds up a finger to collect what all was just said before addressing each point as it needed to be. “I don’t know where she came from, but she definitely spent some times in the Hells with Sloth and It must have been fond of her and It her just from tales of some of their interactions or we have no understandings of the Nine Hells at all, which I find highly unlikely.” She taps the empty wine glass along her other hand as she purses her lips, looking up at the ceiling. “Secondly, I don’t think she’s a demon. Gustavo made mention of a puppet? And the angels present have not gone up in a panic about her presence on the grounds…” Maeven pauses for a moment before focusing her gaze upon Esyllt, “And something I think very key there… She almost seems like a blank slate for things to be written. Most everyone seems to believe that demons are innately demons of chaos and bound to exhibit the corruption they are born of. She doesn’t speak of any of them and has no demonic traits to speak of… And as for Meryl’s word… I trust it. A lot farther than I can say of most people.” She puts on a hollow smile to Esyllt before raising her free hand, waggling a single finger, “Ah, but before you make a habit of putting all demons in the same basket… Keep in mind… The King Boann of Tuleria has Demon blood… As did two of the Legendary heroes that successfully completed the journey with the esteemed Queen Kouri… And their Sister, that sacrificed herself, or so the tale goes, so that they could make it out of the Warlord’s Keep at Southblood. We do not live in a world where it is safe to speak in ignorant black and whites. You do not know who you will offend.” It was true that the angels would have noticed a demon below… Although Esyllt never had seen a celestial being before, she had noticed some guests with something radiant about them… Well that and one guest had two white wings popping out of his back. Still, the tale of demonic blood amongst the heroes of Renalta was new to Esyllt; a note contrary to all she had previously believed. Esyllt would inquire Naraem later, because Xixis already had proven his race to be different from the insult worse than calling one’s mother a harlot, and the drow had appeared mannered even… Even if a little obsessed with death and nonchalant about the dead. “I did not know that.” The restrain in her voice hinted at Esyllt not being convinced (as well as slightly annoyed, as she frowned at Maeven’s wagging finger). “The writings make it seem like our knowledge covers their nature and structure, but much I’ve learned has already been pulled into question since my arrival.” She admitted, but for some reason she found it difficult to swallow Maeven knew that much more than her. “We need to learn more about this. Even if Meryll is innocent, her presence and company is worrying. She must have been sent here with a reason…” Esyllt thought, but couldn’t grasp exactly what it was… Nor James the Illusionist’s motivation behind the attack. There was so much Esyllt couldn’t even grasp, it was difficult to tell if anything was real. For the first time that evening, she mimicked Maeven and pulled a drink away from a nearby servant to wash away the doubt and chaos. Although the alcohol did little to clear her mind at all… “I don’t know how this makes you speak so much clea- hic.” Esyllt hiccuped, then coughed not to choke on her drink. Maeven had robbed her of her composure somehow, something even Xixis’ lewd comments hadn’t managed to do. Maeven pauses for a moment before wriggling her fingers with a giggle, twirling the glass between them. “Showmanship, sweetheart…” She pauses before trying to balance the empty glass on her palm and barely catches it before it can fall. “And that I’ve had to hold my liquor in the past.” she winks before letting the playfulness drop, a dangerous glint coming to her eyes. “You, of course… Might be thinking along the wrong path. Thinking she’s sent on a mission. She’s still a child. Someone loves her. She could have been swooped up, abducted… Or maybe she’s just a lot more powerful than we give her credit and can be taken advantage of easily. Kids, you know. They’re what you mold them to be. Be they monsters or saints. I hope you aren’t one who would see to treat her like a monster or that’s just what she’ll become, though.” Esyllt found the logic in that with human children, but she still had to pull Meryl’s humanity into question. Many animals held onto their feral instincts, even if treated well, she’d learned. “I don’t know,” Esyllt admitted, though she couldn’t shake her unease, “I hope you are right, all these unanswered questions worry me… To think someone would use a child for their killing intent is as disturbing as a child with killing intent themselves. Bandits in our regions sometimes use their children to catch travelers off-guard, but never do even these villains put swords in their hands, much less tomes to summon hellspawn with.” Esyllt sighed, and threw her at her feet. “It would sadden me to learn our enemy would push children this far. I hope you are right for Meryl’s sake, but I hope you are wrong for ours.” “With some of the villains in our midsts, those we oppose have to be the vilest this and the other realms have to offer, Esyllt,” she nods to the Free Holds, “How else do you rationalize murderers, slavers and more being with the good guys, hmm?” She snorts and begins to walk away. She felt this conversation was about at its end. A feeling that was mutual, as with a small nod Esyllt acknowledged the hint. Perhaps she was naive to the outside world, but in some way Esyllt couldn't help but sympathise with Maeven's feelings. The prospect of their future was so dark, she'd hope for the child's innocence.. Even if it only meant tipping the balance in her heart.