[b]"I would be delighted to teach you, if perhaps you could teach me more about Eorzia in return?"[/b] Lady Cheldarine smiled and proffered her hand palm up, fingers splayed, a gesture of exchange. The autumnal shawl draped around her shoulders shifted as she did so, revealing a mark where the upper arm met the body. It was a blotch of darker skin against the grey, a fading bruise. She did not seem to notice that it had been revealed, but still it disappeared from sight once more as she lowered her hand back down.

[b]"And yes, I am King Ozragad's cousin. He is somewhat older than I, so I cannot say that we were ever particularly close, but I suppose being a relation I do perhaps know him more intimately than many of his other subjects."[/b] She paused for a moment and glanced at the King once more, making sure that his attention was fully elsewhere before continuing. When she spoke her tones were hushed and the eyes upon Elise were quizzical, questioning, trying to gauge the princess before her. [b]"I cannot claim to know what you think of His Highness, but I know he is unlikely to be the husband of your own desires. But still... he could make a good husband, if you can find the man all his armour. The Man beneath the King."[/b]

At that moment that the man of the end of the high table, who had previously been arguing with the older woman sat next to Manawyndan, lurched to his feet. As he did so, he spilled wine from his overflowing goblet onto the front of his white tunic. It dripped down the fabric meeting the purple sash and robes that were draped across it. He seemed well on his way to being drunk.

[b]"Greetings most esteemed and worthy peoples of Morganyth! As some of you may know I am the noble Iria of the House of Kiriath, Lord Chancellor and councillor to His Highness, King Ozragad!"[/b] Despite the slight slur to his words, he spoke eloquently enough, his voice carrying clear and true throughout the large stone hall. [b]"As Lord Chancellor, it is my sacred duty to foster good and proper relations between our fair nation and our neighbours! Hence I address you all today in order to discharge my duty to my country and King to the best of my modest abilities!"[/b]

Chancellor Iria continued with convoluted platitudes, his tongue running in eccentric and verbose circles. There was a smattering of heckles from the back of the hall, most of them relatively good in their nature, a few of them less so. Ozragad himself seemed was watching what his councillor was doing, one corner of his mouth upturned in somewhat scornful smirk. But his eyes were not filled with hate, nor did he hold his body with the rigid tension of the truly angry. 

[b][color=f7941d]"Lord Chancellor, I hope you are considering arriving at your point imminently."[/color][/b] The councillor paused, as if to consider his King's words, before instead hiccuping up loudly and continuing.

[b]But, of course, Your Highness! Assembled Lords and Ladies, in order to foster good will between nations, I propose a toast! To His Royal Highness King Ozragad of the House of Gwydion, King of Morganyth, long may he reign!"[/b] The shout went up around the hall, all the gathered Formori drank to the toast. But the Chancellor was not yet finished.

[b]"And to Her Royal Highness Princess Elise of the House of Hydaelyn, Princess of Eorzia, and our Queen-to-be, long may she reign!"[/b]