Snakes are Scarier than Dogs

"And draw!"

It was merely a few hours past that the guests were enjoying their banquet in the Great Hall. At the crack of dawn, the Royal Guards were showing their archery skills at the start of today's festivities. Kilik stood atop the highest watch at the training barracks, commanding the men to draw their bow.

Royalty from all over the continent of Kazuure were gathered here today for the finale. They stood at the highest table atop the steps of the palace alongside Saith. Princess Fera and Queen Cora of Lednon and her son Prince Gillis just to name a few of said royalty. Two empty chairs sat beside them.

Behind them sat the High Priests' table. High Priest Mawith and Kripis were the only two who sat the table. Toasting to each other and sharing idle banter over a cup of wine, hardly paying attention to the games. Only Omni was missing.

It paid no matter to Cateile. Her eyes still sat heavily on them. After her ordeal last night with Cobrantes, she had questions. They could not wait any longer, she must know the truth. She feared that only the High Priests would be able to help her achieve the understanding that she so desperately wanted.

She kept her eyes fixated on the two men as though they would disappear into thin air right before her eyes. Speaking of disappear before her eyes, where was Cobrantes? Cateile had felt very anxious since she did not see her, doubting that she would miss out on today's festivities.

"And release!" Kilik, with his hands firmly clasped around the railings, continued focus on the guards practicing their archery for the guests. Several women flocked around the railings, staring adoringly up at Kilik. Although he paid them no mind, Cat was almost sure that he was weary of them. She wasn't the least bit worried because she was his only betrothed. No one would dare compare themselves to the same status as a princess, now would they?

Cateile's eyes wandered around the training grounds. Her father was at one corner showing the father of Princess Fera, King Gillian and the Crowned Prince around the square. He took great care in entertaining his dearest and oldest friend.

Cateile had remembered seeing King Gillian a few times throughout her years as he often traveled to their southern kingdom. Lednon was Kazuure's northern most kingdom. At its south sat a wide land of ice and snow, snow caverns to it's east and west, and a cliff at it's north. The cliff was famous for being called The Edge of the World. Cateile had heard stories about the cruelty that the former King of Lednon used against his slaves that disobeyed. She could only imagine how many skeletons were scattered at the base of that cliff.

Ifira and Nara sat at the table adjacent to Princess Fera and Queen Cora chattering undoubtedly about their husbands and sons. Cateile tried hard to avoid their gazes lest she called upon to join their perilous gossip. After combating a few of Nara's questionable glances, Cateile denied acknowledging their advances and turned to concentrate on the guard's training as though interested. This was not as fun as she thought it would be. Oh well, it was only the preliminaries. She was sure it would become much more interesting when it was time for the hunt.

"Lady Ophelia! Welcome! Thank you for joining us." Cat could hear Ifira greeting the Lady of Eve behind her. She could hear the ladies making introductions to one another.

"Queen Cora. It is rather good to see you again. How do you fare through out these years?" Ifira held up her goblet of water and took a much graceful sip. Her mother's poise stuck out today, unrestrained. Peeking out of the corner of her eye, she could see Nara attempting to follow suit. Placing her hand delicately around the goblet, she extended her wrist and elegantly lifted the goblet to her lips. This made Cateile chuckle aloud.

"Ah! There she is there!" Ifira was waving over to Cateile to join her. Wait? What did she miss? She was far too concerned with her sister for her to not notice the change in subject, apparently to her. A nerve struck her, for if she were paying attention, she could have undoubtedly avoided the situation she was about to be in.

Wiping off any expression of annoyance, Cateile placed a smile on her lips and turned towards the ladies. They were now all standing and waiting for her to ascend the stairs towards their table. Dipping into a graceful bow, or rather an attempt, she lifted herself back up to await her mother's orders.

"So, you are the youngest princess? I remember you, but you were only a mere child. Oh you have grown into a young woman." Queen Cora smiled at Cat as she probed her up and down with her eyes.

"How are you, my Queen Cora? Yes, I believe I do remember you as well. You have...become beautifuler. Beautiful....More beautiful than you are now. Or were..." Lacking the proper training on flattery, Cateile made a jest out of herself as the ladies erupted in laughter. Although Ifira's laughter was quite questionable and awkward it was laughter nonetheless.

"Come now! It is perfectly fine. No need for formalities." Queen Cora was shorter than her mother, standing at the same height as Cateile. She was a lot lighter skinned, with a slight tanned, caramel complexion and jet black hair. Her hair had two braids along each side of her head with a small mohawk reaching towards the back of her head. Light blue jewels aligned the braids, shimmering in the morning sun. She had on a royal blue gown that contrasted with the head jewels she wore around her forehead. She couldn't tell if the woman was elegantly beautiful, or fiercely beautiful.

"Meet my daughter, Fera. You two are almost the same age, no?"

Cateile smiled and greeted Fera with a traditional bow. Her eyebrows slightly squinted together in shock as Fera put on airs and pretended not to notice. Cateile was used to several princess coming to her kingdom and deeming it inferior. Princess and Princes alike would think themselves high and mighty while in the presence of another member of royalty. It was almost as though they were testing to see who was greater than the other. Cateile wanted no parts in it. She always had a different goal than the rest of any other member of royalty.

The ladies strolled down the stairs and headed closer to the training ground to where a few Lord's wives sat under pavilions. One of the pavilions that they headed to was directly next to Kilik's stand. They were peering up at him and giggling as they gossiped amongst each other. The majority of the women, however, were gathered around someone, not paying him any attention. As they approached the pavilion, the ladies gave way to the person they had their attention focused on. Cobrantes.

Cobrantes was dressed in her infamous all black. However, this time she did not have on a gown. She had on men's training clothes. Unheard of! She had a sword anchored on a belt at her hip and her long hair was tied up into a bun atop her head. She had a gold band that ran across her forehead and tied at the back of her head directly below her bun. She was dressed for the hunt.

"Queen Ifira. Queen Cora." Cobrantes slightly tipped her head towards the two ladies as they stopped a short distance from her. Cat noticed her mother attempting to place a welcoming expression on her face. She struggled with it.

"Would it not be Queen mother? Or have I mistaken myself?" Cora stared between Ifira and Cobrantes with a slight smirk on her face.

"You are mistaken. Bite your tongue, Cora." Cobrantes' expression didn't change as she blankly stared between the two ladies. Cobrantes' normal calm and collected appearance had disappeared and with this new expression brought even more uncertainty. Her face stated that she was here with a purpose.

"One dog finally bit it's owner and now has come to bite the parents of said dog?" Letting off a slight chuckle, Queen Cora covered her mouth with her sleeve. Princess Fera held a sneer on her face as though proud of her mother's smart remark. Cateile stood in shock as she witnessed the flare in the two women's eyes burn as they watched each other. The crowd of ladies surrounding them dared not make a noise, nor show a response lest they pit one kingdom against another. This was supposed to be a welcoming festival and it was turning for the worse fast.

"Yes, dogs are quite scary. What is even scarier is a snake. I hear your lovely Prince sons found one slithering in their bed when they were younger. We must be grateful that only one life was lost and not both. Yet...if you had a dog present maybe it would have saved him.....my apologies." With those final words Cobra pushed past the two ladies and made her way towards the training grounds.

Queen Cora and Fera's eyes were tearing up with anger as they dared not watch the young Queen waltz away from them. Cora's right hand clutched at her side, the left ushered her daughter to continued their journey past the pavilion to the last one. Ifira swallowed hard and gazed down at the ground as she let Cora and Fera take lead and pass her. Lady Ophelia slightly squeezed Ifira's arm as they locked arms to follow behind the ladies. Ifira briefly glanced over her shoulder to make sure Nara and Cat were following her.

What was happening? Cateile was very confused. There was a level of animosity present that she did not think would be. Of course, her royal family was anxious due to their sister but she had not heard about anymore ill blood between her sister and others. Well, speaking frankly, Cateile didn't even know she had a sister near a month ago so that was a given she didn't hear about anything else. All she knew was that she hated the gossips between women and longed to be among the men who showed their dominance through the art of war.

"Cat. Come." Nara was holding her hand out to her sister who was still staring at Cobra walking away. Cat grabbed her hand in hers and followed obediently. She dared not give Ifira any amount of annoyance seeing as how there was enough of that at present.

The ladies sat under the pavilion and servants surrounded them with long banana tree leaves to briskly fan them. The pavilion was tense with silence as the ladies waited for each other to calm down. Lady Ophelia was the first to speak. Bringing up idle banter about her business and inviting them as guests for her newly arrived jewelry.

"Let us begin today's festivities! We thank you all for joining us year and year again for our Moon Festival! This year will be a much memorable Dance of the Swords!" Saith stood atop the stand that Kilik had previously stood on. All the guards now stood in uniformed lines, staring up at their mighty Heliar. Kilik stood at the helm of the guards.

"Let us welcome our longest and strongest ally! The King of Lednon!"

The crowd erupted with cheers as King Gillian waved his arm slightly and bowed his head gracefully. He smiled brightly as he looked up at his dearest friend and patted his shoulder.

"Now I must say very little but so much. This Heliar Saith thanks Lednon for it's many years of friendship and prosperity between our kingdoms. We have made a pact to be as brothers! If ever we are in need of aid one will answer the call! Let this signify a lifelong time of peace and prosperity between our kingdoms!"

After a bustle of laughter and excitement, Saith raised his hand to quiet the crowd down.

"Without further ado! Let us introduce our champion of last year's Moon Festival! Kilik!" Kilik knelt down on one knee to receive the Heliar's grace and rose as his sword was handed to him. Turning to face the crowd, he lifted it. Erupting the crowd into another frenzy of cheers and bustle.

Cateile glanced over to notice Fera leaning forward in her chair. Her eyes nearly shot hearts out of them as she gazed upon Kilik. Her smile quickly disappeared on her face as she noticed Cat's lingering eyes. Fera straightened back in her seat and pretended to focus on removing a wrinkle in her gown.

"Now! For challengers! Anyone dare to fight the mighty Kilik of Kajor!?"

The crowd went silent as no one lifted their hands nor spoke to challenge Kilik outright. After a long minute of silence and peering out into the crowd. A man's voice could be heard from the far-right pavilion opposite where Cateile sat on the other side of the training grounds.

"I shall like to challenge!"

It was Qemor. He stepped forward, closer towards where Kilik stood at the front of the soldiers. Cobrantes stood beside him, unbothered. Her hands were crossed over her chest and was staring up at Saith. Like Cat said, Cobra's expression was fixed with a purpose upon it.

Saith's eyes passed between Kilik's and Cobras for a moment. Although Qemor was the one who was challenging Kilik, Saith was no fool. The devil's hand was at play here. The devil being Cobrantes.

"Fine. Then let the games begin."