Mai listened to Fareeha delve into the details of how she developed her fondness for snakes with interest. She was struck by how frank the other princess was, but she supposed that she should not have been so surprised. Fareeha Amari was known to be blunt and straightforward; her comment to Mai's face about snakes was evidence enough. [i]Not very subtle, is she?[/i] Mai thought to herself. Still, though, it was a refreshing change from the veiled threats and fake smiles that Mai had grown accustomed to back in Liang. 

[i]I suppose that Princess Fareeha and I are complete opposites in this regard,[/i] Mai mused contemplatively. [i]Fareeha is extremely direct. She reminds me of Niklas, actually. Direct, and unashamedly so-she's got this look in her eye that practically dares you to challenge what she's saying. It was quite clear when she publicly rejected Casimir's 'gift'. My oh my. She doesn't seem like much of a politician, though. In fact, I would venture to guess that politics[/i] bores [i] her. She'd rather be out with her snakes or hyenas than sitting in a conference room with a bunch of prissy officials discussing things in polite, [/i]boring[i] language. At least, that's what it seems like to me, although I really shouldn't make such a judgement so soon. It's much too early for me to accurately assess her character.[/i]

Fareeha's story about the cobra and the guide was different from what Mai was used to when other royalty talked about their pets, that much was for sure. [i]She thinks I'm a snake, hmm? Like I'm something dangerous yet something she's intimately familiar with and immune to?[/i] Mai would have let a small smile fall over her face if she were alone. However, seeing as she was in the company of Fareeha and Liviana, Mai did not let her expression change from the one of polite interest as she listened to Fareeha. [i]Oh no, Princess Fareeha. I'm a rat. When the animals were racing across the Heavenly River, the rat rode on the water-ox and jumped off at the last second, securing its place as the first animal of our zodiac. Rats are much more intelligent than you would think they would be...and much more dangerous too, if the occasion arises.[/i]

Fareeha finished her story. Mai let her words soak in for a moment before speaking. "How...intriguing," she replied, slowly, deliberately. "It must have been quite an experience, living near such a desert." [i]It must have been quite an experience growing up in an actual palace as well,[/i] thought Mai, though she did not voice her feelings out loud. "Surely you must have mourned the death of your guide. He sounds like a genuine friend and a wonderful companion."

Mai smoothed out the front of her vivid red dress and shifted slightly, pushing an invisible strand of hair away from her face. "I suppose it is my turn now, is it?" she asked with a soft laugh. "I unfortunately did not have the privilege of a pet when I was growing up, although I'm sure you could count the various animals that came to steal from our vegetable garden as pets if you wanted to," Mai began. "The rabbits were the worst. They would chew through our plants before they even had a chance to ripen! But uncle and I did not mind too terribly much." Mai giggled at the memory.