DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Colour Warriors
HTML https://colourwarriors.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Story Sharing
*****************************************************
#Post#: 8776--------------------------------------------------
Re: Vanguard
By: FloatingInSpace Date: December 16, 2015, 4:29 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[IMG]
HTML http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y466/dragontigeryea/Vanguard/The%20princess%20and%20heir_zps8spqxwtu.jpg[/img]
Before Galene had another moment to think, the castle doors
cranked open and she turned, seeing two figures in the doorway
that walked in swiftly.
"You must be the princess," the female said, approaching her
with measured steps.
"One of them," Galene responded, eyeing her.
"My name is Eirene," the woman said. "And this is my brother,
Homados, heir to the kingdom Autemiltis."
"You were both claimed dead by a letter sent to us," Galene
said, continuing to eye them.
Eirene glanced at her brother.
"That is a clear falsehood," she said, the smile slipping. "We
are very much alive."
#Post#: 8829--------------------------------------------------
Re: Vanguard
By: FloatingInSpace Date: December 16, 2015, 5:54 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
"Yeah," Galene responded dully. "I can see that."
The woman gave a small laugh. "The queen did warn us that your
tongue is sharp and your wit is never dull," she said, smiling
at Galene gently. "Would you care to show us around?"
No, Galene wanted to say. You lot are liars and I do not enjoy
the company of liars.
"The cook says the meal will be done soon," Galene lied. "It
would be best if you just stay here and wait."
#Post#: 9213--------------------------------------------------
Re: Vanguard
By: FloatingInSpace Date: December 17, 2015, 2:54 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[IMG]
HTML http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y466/dragontigeryea/Vanguard/Autemiltis%20family_zps8rq5arff.jpg[/img]
The woman glanced at her brother, who only shrugged in response.
They walked over to the table and pulled out chairs, settling
into their spots as Galene edged away, back out front. She noted
their elaborate dress and the shimmery fabric as her mother
appeared, her face pinched in irritation that she so rarely
displayed in public but always seemed directed at her and her
father, his mouth a fine line. Behind them stood three more
figures; a younger-looking male with blonde curly hair and the
queen and king of the kingdom she was to marry to.
"Galene," Naomi said and beckoned her closer, her face smoothing
out slowly. Galene trailed forward, lifting her skirts a little
as she approached the others.
"This is king Ision and his wife queen Lurina. This is their
third child, Kydoimos," Naomi introduced.
Galene glanced at Kydoimos, who had a somewhat sour look on
their face.
"Pleasure to meet you," Galene said and bowed slightly, glancing
at her possible betrothed.
"We understand that you received a letter proclaiming the deaths
of my first children," the king said grimly. "I fear the
situation in Autemiltis is one of mass chaos; many noble houses
clamor for a spot at our table. We apologize for the message and
believe that another had sent it. You see, I have a scribe write
most of my messages. It is possible that they were attempting to
dissuade you from welcoming us in, as we are told Vanguard does
not let its royal family go easily."
Kydoimos glanced at Galene then as well. Their eyes met and she
thought they looked more angry than handsome.
She bowed once more and slunk off back to the kitchen.
#Post#: 9234--------------------------------------------------
Re: Vanguard
By: FloatingInSpace Date: December 17, 2015, 3:21 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center][IMG]
HTML http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y466/dragontigeryea/Vanguard/Casimir%20intro_zpst31lijiy.jpg[/img][/center]
Casimir appeared out of nowhere, pale and sickly as always as
Galene walked back to the dining hall. He was clutching a book
and staring at her with wide round eyes.
"They're here?" he asked.
"What do you think?" Galene asked brusquely, folding her arms
over her chest. Casimir only raised an eyebrow in response to
her cold answer.
"Your betrothed is here, then."
"It's not confirmed."
"They are quiet bold, like you I have been told," Casimir said,
smirking.
"How would you know?" Galene asked, eyes narrowing.
"Mother was trying to find a match for you," Casimir said,
shrugging. "She sent many asking for the temperament of the
possible match and whatnot. Apparently, this one had the closest
personality to you, out of all the ones that she deemed
threatening."
"Threatening?"
"The kingdom," Casimir elaborated. "This one is a kingdom firce
times as large as Vanguard, maybe larger. They have an army as
large as our kingdom and thousands of mouths to feed from vassal
lords. They have wardens out by the Golden Isles and wardens up
in the cold Jerin Mountains that claim to guard the north. They
are a large and bountiful place and they are a true threat
should they choose to rise against us."
#Post#: 9236--------------------------------------------------
Re: Vanguard
By: FloatingInSpace Date: December 17, 2015, 3:25 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
"Why would Autemiltis rise against us?" Galene asked. "We have
no concern with nations a week's ride away, let alone ones
months to the south.
Casimir snorted. "You really don't understand?"
Galene scowled back in response.
"Autemiltis has armies, Galene. And armies that are larger than
other armies conquer."
"But you said their army was as large as our kingdom," Galene
replied. "The effort needed to feed, to encourage, to pay all
those people-"
"Not all soldiers are paid in gold by the crown," Casimir said
grimly. "Many loot and rape and steal from the lands they
conquer. You think that if a kingdom really needs to, they won't
lay siege to Vanguard and burn everything in its path?
Autemiltis is a threat because a daunting army breeds alliances
and when those alliances are called upon, there is little
another kingdom can do in defense."
"Your logic," Galene said, folding her arms over her chest, "is
that Autemiltis has an army. An army that still needs to be
convinced to march."
"You are naive," Casimir said, his own face contorting
unhappily. "Almost as much as I am. You have seen the terrible
world yet you believe in good in everyone."
"And why not?" Galene said defensively. "Vanguard is a good
home. The people are loyal. There has not been a war for
generations and there will not be a war that can topple us in
thousands of years."
#Post#: 9239--------------------------------------------------
Re: Vanguard
By: FloatingInSpace Date: December 17, 2015, 3:28 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
"You are a bigger fool than I am if you believe that no army can
topple our walls," Casimir said darkly. "In history, armies
conquer, not words."
"In history, women did not rule," Galene said sourly.
"In history,' Casimir countered, "the strong control the weak.
Vanguard is strong as ever, as I am sure you agree. But other
kingdoms grow stronger. We must try to be that way."
"And by binding me to another, that will happen?"
"Trade agreements apparently do not kingdoms as well as
marriages."
"So there needs to be a ceremony, and I am to assume children,
to be considered a true alliance?" Galene snorted. Casimir
nodded. "What is one head and possible others to food to feed a
kingdom?"
"Passing on the family name," Casimir suggested.
#Post#: 9260--------------------------------------------------
Re: Vanguard
By: FloatingInSpace Date: December 17, 2015, 3:43 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
"People are lost in that," Galene said, frowning. "What good is
being able to point at a kingdom and claim it for your own
family when the inhabitants of it are starving and preparing to
toss you out?"
Casimir opened his mouth to counter once more when Naomi
appeared, casting both of her children a look to remain silent
and ushered them into the dining room.
The cook was beginning to plate on food that they had no doubt
kept waiting warm over ember coals in case something did arise
(and because the queen had asked them to).
"It looks like a feast," Eirene said, smiling at Naomi, who did
not quite return it.
Galene sat down next to her mother who took up residence at the
head of the table and Casimir sat on her other side. Raleigh
took the seat furthest from Naomi, to sit across from her.
There was turkey and steak served alongside steamed clams and
carefully prepared snails. There were boiled eggs and tomatoes
and whole potatoes that were coated in a shiny glaze of butter.
There were carrots mixed with spices and beets and poured over
grain.
#Post#: 9645--------------------------------------------------
Re: Vanguard
By: FloatingInSpace Date: December 17, 2015, 8:20 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Galene glanced at her mother. Were they to wait for their guests
to eat? Most of the people that came by were representatives and
according to Nartai, they were technically not on equal footing
as royals so Galene consuming food before they were served
wasn't necessarily rude.
(Though the fact that she sometimes didn't wait for her own
family to get served was considered rude.)
"We apologize for the confusion," the king was saying to Naomi.
"I fear that there might be some hidden message within this
letter. Perhaps a threat to us, given that we have left our
kingdom for so long."
"A threat?" Naomi asked, her voice barely suggesting interest.
"Indeed," the queen said meekly, carefully plating a few pieces
of cooked meat and vegetables.
"There are many that wish to climb the ladder," King Ision
continued. "We were not the first family to rule the entire
kingdom and unless we secure the throne, we have no way of
continuing it."
"Why don't you just let one family have it?" Galene asked, a
piece of carved turkey already halfway to her mouth. Casimir
kicked her under the table, probably for talking out of turn.
King Ision turned to look at her carefully, examining her as if
seizing her up and deciding whether or not she should be privy
to the information.
"That is hardly the way royals do things," he said simply. "For
many people in noble Autemiltis, they are not satisfied with
what they have."
"Our family has clutched the throne for nearly three hundred
years now," Homados said calmly at the pause, as if this was
something they stated over and over. "The other noble lords and
vassals, however, are still not quiet satisfied with the
routine."
"A routine is dull," King Ision said, though he quickly added,
"in such a large nation, where houses are aplenty." He glanced
at Naomi, as if ensuring that she had not been offended.
Galene glanced at her mother as well and saw her face was as
blank as always.
She snorted into her turkey.
#Post#: 9715--------------------------------------------------
Re: Vanguard
By: FloatingInSpace Date: December 17, 2015, 8:29 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Naomi cast her a glance that seemed to demand Galene's silence
and Casimir kicked her under the table again.
The rest of the meal was carried in silence as Galene attempted
to avoid eye-contact with anyone and everyone, instead taking
the time to stare at the various foods much too intensely. Once
the main course was done, soups were brought in. There were some
that were creamy and others salty. There were broths and thick
stews and it was all far too much for Galene.
It made her unhappy that there was so much emphasis placed on
pleasing this one obscure family.
*****************************************************
DIR Previous Page
DIR Next Page