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Looking around Gil observed the other Princes who had accepted the invite. He had been given a crash course on each of them. As much as possible at least. His country was small, new, and lacked the resources to get certain information. Most of what he knew came straight from the mouths of the people from his Kingdom and he wasn’t sure how much was true and how much were rumors and speculation. Either way he took what he could get with a grain of salt.

His blue eyes also glanced over the Astalian Royal Family. They too were surprisingly different. He wondered how a family who was supposedly all related by the same blood could vary so greatly. He figured it was something to do with the late Queen, who had only been described to him as a beautifully kind woman. Though he supposed his siblings also varied greatly, both in appearance and personality. Gil was lost in thought when the King started his speech and by the time he had focused back in, the man had already finished speaking. He would have to ask Sioban what was said later, Aldar would only scold him for not paying attention the first time. 

Before he had the chance to move one of the Princesses was standing to address them. She spoke in a manner that commanded just as much attention as his own mother. As though she knew more than she was letting on. It piqued his interest to say the least and he listened to what she had to say to each of them, hoping to glean something new about the men that stood around him, as well as simply being fascinated by this woman who was addressing them. The Prodzy prince and himself made this woman look like a child and yet her presence was nothing if not large. 

When she finally moved to address him directly he couldn’t help but smile at her knowledge of his culture. Most simply chose to believe his people were cruel brutes so the fact that she knew something as simple as how his people showed their status and their achievements made him happy. The small smile on his face persisted when she moved to the last of the Princes. She ended her address with an invitation to an event of sorts and then she was gone. He had but just a moment to think before yet another Princess stood to address them. 

She too commanded the attention in the room but in a different way, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. This woman also addressed each Prince individually though from what he could see she offered gifts. When she offered him the box he gently took it, curious as to what it could be. He opened it to reveal the braided ribbon. He looked at the gift and then back to the woman who had offered it. As per his culture he would not be able to add the ribbon to his hair himself but he bowed his head in thanks and passed the box off to Sioban, who would have to look it over and perform the proper rituals before Gil could don the braided ribbon. Regardless, if the ancestors permitted he had every intention of adding the braid to his person. 


The princess moved to address the next Prince and finally there was pause enough for him to speak up. He stepped forward to address the King Aldar on his heels, holding a long rectangular box. “It is common practice in my culture, when visiting a leader of another clan, to present said leader with a gift, commonly said gift is a weapon. From my father to you I present this sword crafted by my country's best dwarven smith.” His voice deep and his Astalian mediocre at best. Aldar walked forward presenting the box, now opened, to the King revealing a simple blade with a heavily decorated hilt. The sword itself was very similar to that of a long sword however the decorative hilt was shorter than standard and the hilt also bore a metal guard where the hand would be placed. The box was taken by the King who looked it over and then handed the box off to a servant. The older man nodded in thanks and Gil stepped back, Aldar having already done so once the box was taken.