[center][h3][b]Zakroti Unalim[/b][/h3]
[sub]Husband of Aymiria Cassiel and Kasari Liesma[/sub][/center]

"Kind? No, but honest. I am pleased to have your company, Aymiria." Zakroti replied with a curious look in his eye. Something was wrong about this, about her movements and that little smile she wore. Or maybe that was just his mind again, he could never be sure. Perhaps she was simply thinking about playing again or remembering these old things she was telling him.  Yes, that had to be it for what else could it be? What was he expecting, that a small girl like her was going to beat someone too death with a flute of all things? Of course not.

He did his best to set his misgivings aside, though they are at the back of his mind and crept back into his thoughts.

"A royal orchestra? I have heard of such things, large ensembles of instruments that play complicated music and are orderly and composed. I imagine only the very best would play in such an institution. I would like to hear more about this- orchestra at some point. And I would like to hear your play."

After a few moments he opened his mouth to speak again, a joking smile on his lips as he considered what she had to say about her playing. "But what a great many surprises this day is bringing, when I go to take a pair of brides I acquire a confident young musician with a beautifully crafted instrument and an experienced dancer with such odd choices of clothing. Vivari preserve me, next I shall acquire a fool, if I am not fulfilling that role myself considering the circumstances, and complete this fair. Then what will my grandfather say."

Zakroti motioned for her to follow and led her down through the halls and talking to her as they went "How well do you know the princess, if you call her your friend?" Zakroti asked, turning his head back towards her to reveal an inquisitive look on his face, his brow furrowed slightly. She had to have known her very well; one wouldn't spend such money on anyone, surely.

Finally, they reached a pair of doors and two guardsmen opened them before him. They entered the banquet hall, which was in the process of having its tables covered with food by rushed servants...

[centre]***[/centre]

Kzaar released his grasp around the warriors throat and shoved him to the side. For several seconds the Drakken grasped for breath on his knees before finally stumbling back to his feet, looking up to Kasari before turning his head towards Kzaar

"My lord has eyes far and wide; You would do wise not to disobey my lady." Kzaar growled to the injured Drakken, who nodded back miserably as he skulked away, looking down at the floor in embarrassment. Kzaar kept his eyes on the warrior until he was out of sight, then turned to face Kasari 

"Ha, so long as you are not going to make a habit of punching people, my lady; We may be free to exact violence here at the Wroth but when we return to the west- Justice is more vigilant." Kzaar grunted with what sounded like approval. Ayltam cast a short glance over to him before looking back to Kasari, her eyes darting down to the girls hand; She had been cradling it just moments before and so she supposed that Kasari had injured it when she had punched the warrior.

"It must be a taxing occasion, I cannot even begin to imagine shat this whole thing must be like for you so such volatility is understandable- I suppose ultimately Zakroti will decide whether it is or not but- I think that he will say something similar. But please do be; It's not good to upset my great grandfather, as you have seen he can be fairly- excessive. Your hand- is it injured?" Ayltam asked with a slight incline of her head and a furrowing of her brow. She had crossed her arms to stave off the cold now that she had lost her cloak, clearly not used to the mountains and their cold climate.

Kzaar motioned for the group to follow and went towards the doors on the far side of the hall. Again, two guardsmen opened them up and allowed the group access into the halls beyond.

After passing through the doors, the small congregation were met by Zakroti, Aymiria and Vain. Zakroti opened this mouth to speak to them but was cut off by another voice; He turned to see his brother standing there beside him

"Hilyat, an Muthseran gaiar kala epe ma odzi."

"Kala epe ma odzi? Ha. Epe [i]kala[/i] odzi." Zakroti replied with a light chuckle. Qeynate grinned in response and led the group over too where Zakroti's grandfather sat, the food taster by his side and already at work. Nastaki looked towards the two brides with his intense stare for a few seconds before looking up to Zakroti 

"Sev. " Nastaki said, motioning to the chair beside him "Your brides too, on your left side." Zakroti complied with the command, sinking into the chair slowly and cautiously, motioning for Aymiria and Kasari to sit as well "Do you remember your tutelage?"

"I do."

"'An ogim-bar tri o kaoz, o xarxkaoz; karaza tormas ma mishaxi a anga O mittazeoz. O hilyatoz an tor tormas. O sepoz grunis an torze tormad. An Aranhame a an Osh o kalasevoz kzi mu'doon; Alduris o shantaoz. An Aran a an Ish o edeoz. Kala-" Nastaki began; Zakroti knew it all by heart and after it had registered he cut in to finish it off

"-An seran ush norhame o hilyatoz. O shantaoz, O mitta shakaoz. I know it." Zakroti affirmed.

"Then what is the last sentence and who said it?" Nastaki said with a small smile, looking down towards his grandson

"Naan Aran gais gaiar Kala epe geho o meh, oris o hilyatoz, zela geh hilyatew. It was said by Kastaki the Great." Zakroti replied with a small frown. He hoped his grandfather wasn't about to launch into another lecture, that was the last thing he needed at this time.

"Kastaki a acta Unalim."

"Odzi Unalimi zan aranize. Unalim zan muthserani." Zakroti replied with a slow shake of his head.

"Unalim a gais odzi mitta ta. Zu odzi mitta ta seran, ta a seran. Zu odzi mitta ta seranivre, ta a zan seranivre." Nastaki responded with a degree of anger and annoyance in his voice, mixed with pride and determination.

"Wre jusla epeoz niz yui." Zakroti noted with a light nod to affirm what his grandfather was saying; he was right of course, greatness was never achieved by one saying that they were not great and giving up. Things often wwre as you made them, not including lifes misfortunes. "Why do you bring it up now?"

"The count of Seychest, Adhelm Capek, a vassal of house Azinmur, has had his son vanish on the road in Gemminia. It is his first born and his heir."

"Azinmur? Do you suspect Isilmur?" Zakroti said with a frown. Azinmur and Isilmur descended from the same household in the distant past, both lay claim to the others territory and declared themselves to be the descendants with the strongest claim. Isilmur was more friendly with Unalim than Azinmur was. Azinmur had been in steady decline ever since the loss of their most profitable duchy, Karin, to Nastaki some thirty years ago but if was conceivable that Isilmur was growing impatient and were hoping to coerce house Capek using hostages, Seychest being the largest remaining Azinmur vassal it would certainly be a major boon if Isilmur wanted to accelerate the decline.

"No, he was firmly past the Wroth when he was last seen, planning on passing through the mountains of the region. Gem territory" Nastaki explained with a grimace. Zakroti cocked an eyebrow in response to this as he put two and two together

"And as house Azinmur is crumbling, they are no longer capable of dealing with this; They cannot protect what vassals they have left. You want them to be our vassals instead. There's just one problem; Vassals cant just switch liege lords, it defeats the entire basis of the system. They have sworn fealty."

"Azinmur is collapsing. They have nothing left, they are dukes in name alone. Already their vassals have begun to defect from them; The entire County of Allesia defected to Isilmur and several of the barons of Milander swore fealty to Karstagg. Azinmur can bring up all the oaths it wants, nobody is listening any longer. If we want to make Unalim greater, we must capitalise on this opportunity."

"You hope that if we do this favour on the counts behalf and have the Gem Lords find his son he will swear fealty to us instead. We would have to keep a very close eye on him if that is the case; defectors might defect again, once you have broken one such agreement why not break others."

"Yes, he has asked himself and the Gem Lords found, or at least they claim to have found, nothing while the Drakken lords of the border didn't even care so much as to send a response. I will have them send out search parties. I doubt they will refuse our request. You have Gems in your employ, yes?" Zakroti shifted in place and glanced cautiously around before leaning in and whispering 

"Grandfather, do you wish everyone to know of that? You know there are ears everywhere. I have some agents in Gemminia, yes; You wish me to have some search for his son. This I can have them do." He whispered to him, glancing to Qeynate as the young Drakken spoke

"Only our men are near us now, I feel we can trust them." Qeynate commented with a small chuckle.

"Gais numad an 'brides'?" Nastaki replied with a grunt, casting another cold glance towards Aymiria in particular as he spoke. Zakroti paused and turned his head towards them, before looking back to his grandfather and nodding lightly. 

"Gehdzi zan juze kala ro naan redia, o ulma. Zela gehdzi vru?" Zakroti replied and waited for his grandfathers response. Nastaki paused for a few moments in apparent consideration before nodding and speaking again

"Zela gehdzi vru. I shall inform Capek of our decision and write the letters to the lords. Zakroti will have orders sent in the morning. Qeynate, you will send a handful of men to support the search efforts. That is all." Nastaki reached out and picked up the goblet, drinking from it.

Zakroti turned back towards Ayltam, who was sat across from him with Vain standing a few paces behind her, and gave a short sigh.

"Kasari jorloz an kaan lia." Ayltam commented quietly, before continuing "Kasarieiz zyro- geh camoroz an kaan va an barjeh."

"Arvar." Zakroti said in response, turning slowly to face Kasari and cocking an eyebrow curiously. "Is this right? Did you punch one of the guards in the face? I suppose I should probably have expected as much from a fire gem. Please tell me more about this, I'd like to hear your reasoning behind it all."

[@WeepingLiberty][@RomanAria]