[center]Summit of the Phoenix Tower[/center]

As the Kings and High Lords filtered into the Palace of the Phoenix, the day slowly faded away into an uneventful night. The next morning was a rush of activity throughout most of the Palace. The Summit was to be held in the heart of the great ivory spire that was the Phoenix tower. The round main chamber owed as much to the talents of tilrinic artist and sculptures as did the main entrance chamber, as large statues of the various House heroes were erected in the hall’s indented outer ring: The Kammeth-chosen, who led the races of men into the wars against the Wyrm's of old at the end of the Third age; the chamber was arranged in such a manner as each house sat in a high back chair directly behind his ancient ancestor., their frozen visage cast out as if in silent vigil, a content reminder of their founding House Members who they represented. All held planks of their deeds and all seemed to gaze at the large round table in the center of the room: a stone slab with comfortable seats set aside for each representative, and a bench behind that could hold five Royal guards- each a true Royallander as their short stature revealed, their seats positioned behind the statues. In the center of the stone slab, a small pool of water was fed water from a fountain in the head of a Phoenix, only to be drained away by stone dragons, each with a blade impaling their skull.

At the head of the table sat the small yet imposing figure of Dawnbringer of the FlameKeep Shamgar Paragon. He was taller than most tilrinics, even when sat, with a red cloth hat that adorned his balding head. His skin seemed to have had some of it's glow resorted to a healthier shade of dark gold then the day previously. Of the great statues that adorned the hall, the most eye catching was that of Valarien Paragon Lightbringer herself. The wings of a great hawk or eagle extending behind her to almost seemingly encompass Shamgar in its folds. If anything it amplified his position. He was adorned in the long white robes as before, with tongues of flames about it, only now sporting a red shoulder cape behind him. Shamgar watched as the delegates were filed in, they came along bereft of their guards, but not their arms or armor. The ancestral weapons given by Kammeth seen more as badges of office. 

“Greetings, Heads and representatives of the Great High Houses; It is a pleasure to host you all in what is an unprecedented event among my people, though the time comes in days of sorrow. Rarely as you know have we had reason to call all the Houses together in such a manner,” He rose from his seat, set before him was a goblet of wine, and in front of each representatives assigned seat: several bottles of premium alcohol were stored in bottles: Tilrin Brandy, Black-apple mead, even bottles of rarer wines such as Agilbloom. Each uncorked and ready to be poured.

"We approach now nearly seven hundred turns of the wheel since the unification of Elyden. As you know, the recent events have forced use to act quickly in assigning a new Lord Regent, with the passing of Phoenix King Taramyth Paragon, and his beloved son Antrio Paragon. Now we must give thought to the present, as we mourn the king and his heir. Elyden, is without an active leader. The treasury is distress, a pretender to the throne has risen up, and strife and unrest, born from an uncertain future, are prevalent in all corners of the kingdom and the Greater Realm. One of you, Lords of Elyden, must be named worthy by your peers, to help lead this kingdom to glory. Let wisdom take hold, and speak a name that will set darkness in flight from our hearts. You may stand now and speak before us, the beloved mother and the lord of light, and give us reason to trust you in acting as the right hand of the future High king. So speak, who among you will stand as the Realm's Protector and ad visor to his Future High king?”

[hider= Yesterday]

Asura Sky made his way quickly through the palace, with unhurried steps. He fidgeted with his shirt more out of nerves then discomfort. His clothing was rather simple given the grand scheme of things, yet Tilrinics were known for their peerless works in nearly all crafts, and in regards to the embroidered Tunic he wore, that reputation is firmly upheld. Loose and flowing, the long, black tunic complemented his own dark raven hair, which was combed and tied back, leaving a few strands to huge the sides of his face. Asura might not have been the most handsome man in court, but he had a certain eye for the small details. His plain features, cloths, and demeanour allowed him to slip past mostly unnoticed by the High lords. He kept his head low, but kept his eyes open and alert. It did not take long before he spotted his query, easy enough to pick out with his long distinctive goat's pelt cape. He made a bee line for the head of house Cragmore. 

As he neared, he willed his hands from his mouth and bowed when he faced the man. “Lord Kenten Cragmore of Stonereach,” He said easily in a clear voice, making it sound as strong and sure as he could. “Well met, I do not believe we have met have we? I am Asura Sky, welcome to the Palace Lord. I hope Tilrinic hospitality is to your liking.” 

Kenten turned to meet the young man, nodding at him. "Well met, Asura." He was caught off-guard, not expecting someone to greet him that wasn't hoping to win some of Stormgully's metals, or a vote from him. "Everything is to my liking, thank you. To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting, young Master Sky?" It took him a moment to process what he had said even after saying it, but it clicked very quickly. Anyone permitted entrance posessed at least a small amount of noble blood, but, there was no such House Sky. Sky was a [i]bastard[/i]. Like [i]him[/i]. He furrowed his brow with genuine interest in what the young man had to say, a rare sight for the lord. 

Asura smiled inclining his head slightly. “I am glad to hear that Lord Kenten, as for your question. I would be glad to answer it over a glass of wine, you do partake I trust? I would feel I have done a disservice should you leave these ancient halls without tasting at least a drop of Agilbloom. Some connoisseurs of fine vintage acclaim it is the sweetest of its kind in all the Realm.” He waited a moment for Kenten's response. He'd prefer after all to jugde Kenten's reaction to his idea without the watchful eyes of the other lords and kings on them. 

Kenten's perplexed expression quickly faded into intrigue and amusement. It was rare that he was treated like the High lord he was, and even rarer that it was by someone who held less power than he. "I'd quite like that, Master Sky." Part of his interest came from the common bond the two shared as bastards, and the other was the simple fact that Stormgully lacked the climate for vineyards, and instead made use of ales and ciders. 

All things considered, he could've been served spoiled wine and still find it luxurious. But this wasn't the mountain ale he was used to -- He would be tasting wine and having discussions with a young Tilrinic nobleman. Like a High lord [i]ought[/i] to. He hadn't been in the Phoenix Palace for more than an hour, and already, he felt like things were going well for a change.

“Excellent, then if it would please you lord follow me,” He said before turning and escorting Lord Kenten down a hall that eventfully lead to an open garden built atop a balcony attached to a higher floor of the Palace. He had flagged down a servant on the way and quickly ordered him to bring back their oldest casing of wine they had. By the time he returned, a scant candlemark later, they had reached the balcony overlooking the lower districts of the mountain city bellow. Asura had always liked these balconies, they felt isolated yet open to the world beyond, he had always felt a sort of freedom when he came here. Often as much to escape the suffocating inner chambers of the palace. He would come here to think, or just be himself, without the judging eyes of lords and servants alike. 

He was all to aware of what they said behind his back, whispering barbed comments when they thought he could no hear. The [i]bastard[/i] the unwanted and unloved child of the late Taramyth. He dispelled such thoughts when the servant returned with bottle and glasses at hand. Asura took the bottle and uncorked as if with the ease of long practice, despite the fact he early partook of the beverage himself. But he was not lying about it's taste, the moment the bottle opened, a sweet smell wafted into the air. He offered Kenten a glass and gingerly poured out the crimson red liquid, before then doing the same to his own glass. 

Asura drank a sip first before beaming. “Ah, I tell you, tilrinic's may be known for our iron works, and art, or poetry, but abyss be damned if wine is not just as exceptional.” With that he sighed and sobered as he looked out across the city bellow. The area offered an excellent view to be sure, “I don't suppose Agilbloom goes very far south? I would imagine why, the nobles of Aglil tend to be greedier them most if I may be so bold. Sometimes I wonder what truly makes a nobelmen? They bleed the same as all other men, and are capable of the same evils given he chance. One might wonder if one is truly a better ruler because he thinks his shit stinks less then the common mans.” 

Kenten chuckled, raising his glass to Asura. "I'll drink to that." After taking a sip, he nodded his head in appreciation. "I've never been a close friend to the noblemen who think their blood is what makes them better, as numerous as they may be." He smiled slyly, knowing that Asura understood his implications about some of the other High lords. "Blood, a name, a special flag," He listed, before shrugging with a laugh, "Nowadays, they just seem like excuses for some of the noblemen to prove how entitled they can be." He said, his tone somewhere between sarcastic, amused, and bitter.

 "What you said about the Agilbloom wine is right, however." He took another sip, smiling. "Tastes like a harp sounds." He smiled, sighing, and looked over the view they had. Kenten was no strangers to mountains, but these were different than the crags of Stormgully. Rolling hills bloomed with life even in the city, and the sky had nary a cloud in sight.

"Must be quite the treat to come home and see such a sight every day." Kenten said. "Looks like Stormgully, for the three days of good weather we'll get." He laughed again, drinking more of his wine. The two shared a laugh for a few moments, before a silence approached.

"So, Sky, I must ask," He turned from leaning on the balcony to standing to face Asura "Now that we're away from the crowds, what was it you wanted to speak about?"

“Ah, I believe I did promise to answer your question, did I not?”He said with a nod. “As you might have already guessed good Lord, as a Sky, I am a bastard, not a truth I like admitting in the open, but it is true all the same. Yet more then that, I am the illegitimate son of Taramyth Paragon. Though I suppose that would be the late Taramyth?” He shook his head and took another sip of wine. “But I have not answered your question have I? The truth be told Lord Kenten? I find I admire you. You rose up from what many a noblemen would deem an 'un-noble' bloodline, all because the one who gave you into this world did not possess the luck to be born to the right people, so they would label us and cast those like us aside for a mistake not of our own making. Yet how can this be justice?” He took another sip, and looked down into his glass as he swirled the contents around. “The realm is on the state of civil war, my cousin has already made his move and bid for power, disavowing this new child king who may doom us to a long winter. He has the right of it perhaps.” 

He trailed his free hand across the marble railing as he continued. “But what option do we have? An oath breaker and rebel as our new king? A Paragon hardly even raised in the capital, and surely never groomed for such a responsibility? One not of the line direct? I believe there is a easier, and more sensible option before use Lord Kenten. And it is quite simple.” He drained his glass, before turning to Lord Kenten and saying simply. “Soon the summit will convene and I ask you, as a man who would best understand one in such a position as I, to elect to have me – Taramyth's eldest son- legitimized. No war, no bloodshed, and a simple piece of paper signed by my uncle may save us all form a pointless struggle in a time we should be banding together to resolve the very real issue of a missing crown of significant power. If the petition is brought up, the other lords will see the wisdom of it, no one wants a war to tear the realm apart while we slowly freeze to death. Aside from the fool Kreshvi prehaps.”

"I see." Kenten said, gulping down the remainder of his glass. He thought to himself silently, gently stroking his beard. "This certainly [i]is[/i] something one would require privacy to speak about, eh?" He nodded, and continued his thinking. He seemed a fine young man, wise beyond his years. A fine ruler. And one he shared things with, as well. It was no question that Kenten would speak on his behalf, but there were things he needed to have established first. He had nothing to lose, by helping Asura be legitimized, but had so much to gain -- Namely, being a driving force behind the King of Elyden's legitimization. It helped to have friends in high places, and it helped far more to have a friend on the throne.

"Lord Conrad has my vote for Regency, in exchange for returning the sword of my ancestors. My only concern is that you'll grow tired of having your advisor gnawing your ear off talking about saltwater and ships." He said with a light chuckle. "Have no doubt that I'll speak on your behalf, Sky." He paused with a smile "Then again, I may as well call you Paragon from now on, eh?" He chuckled, patting the young man on the back.

"I will speak on your behalf." He extended his hand to Asura, smiling one of his few genuine smiles. "My only request is that you not forget the Cragmore name as you sit on the throne."

Asura genuinely smiled as he took Kenten's outstretched hand. “Of course Lord Kenten, it is my hope, regardless of the outcome, I might say I can call Cragmore's friend.” With that he lifted the bottle. “What say you we have one last toast then? To our future friendship and good health?” 

"Aye." Kenten said, as Asura handed him his glass. "To friendship, health, and you sitting in your rightful seat."

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