All too soon everyone was meeting in the throne room. In less than an hour the gates would open to welcome the first of the delegations. Once approved to enter the city, the delegations would be escorted to the largest garden. Newly furnished wards to protect from the weather were being added as they spoke. This way any arriving delegation would be able to mingle with Smyrnaean nobility, break away to find accommodation, wait for other delegations, or even start perusing the capital market.
Tables, patios, bonfires, servants, and even a few nobles were already in the garden before first light. Yet before the last of the preparations could be finished, a panicked gate guard was hurriedly being escorted by a pale servant.
Sebastian raised a brow as he sipped on his tea, despite the last minute preparations being finished up, several nobles were already partaking in their breakfast. Such as himself. Sebastian didn't want to miss whatever show Lord Reece had planned.
The gate guard made a quick salute, "Your majesty, word from the main gate."
Lucian glared, "Speak."
The guard hesitated, "There are several groups approaching the gate, the largest is roughly 500 strong, they also have beasts..." The guard tried to explain.
Jaxon stood up, "What flag do they fly?" He demanded, 500 wasn't a delegation, it was an invading army. How no word had reached them before now would have to be dealt with later.
The guard paled, "There are two primary flags, one of a bird rising from the flames, the other of a gryphon in flight..."
Sebastian gave a light cough, "I do believe the Inago tribe carries the flame flag, and predecessor carried the gryphon flag." Everyone tensed as they turned to him, he only shrugged.
Lucian glared at Sebastian, "What did he say?"
Sebastian's expression didn't change, "Nothing at all your majesty, I simply took the time to learn about the Inago tribe when I heard of their participation. Though 500 of them, quite the number for a delegation."
Jaxon glanced at Leonard who nodded, "I think we should meet them at the gates your majesty."
Lucian clenched his arm rest, meeting at the gates could be seen as unwelcoming, if the 500 were here to start negotiations...
"I believe we should treat them as any normal delegation, they have traveled weeks without notice, if they planned something nefarious, they would not have bothered show their true numbers." Sebastian reasoned spreading a generous amount of honey over a toasted slice of bread. He'd grown more fond of honey as of late... how peculiar.
Leonard hesitated, "We have sent them letters every year inviting them to the tribute, perhaps... we should see what they do before we all but declare war."
Sebastian couldn't hide the twitch of his lips, "Especially after our last two excursions." He did at least keep the mocking tone out of his voice, but Jaxon still glared.
Lucian glared as well, the general who had also died in the battle of 4000 lost had been a distant relative of Jaxon. He looked to Jaxon for his answer.
Jaxon gritted his teeth, "Fine, a normal greeting then. But no beasts are to enter the capital."
The guard was still pale, "Your grace, a gryphon is flying their own flag."
Sebastian almost choked on the bite of toast; he managed to hide his discourtesy behind a cough.
At the main gate Jaxon was looking down, sure enough... roughly 250 women, 250 men, more than a dozen giant lions, and two dozen winged beasts stood in formation. At their head was a pure white gryphon with a breast plate embedded with the largest mana core he'd ever seen. Two gryphon's half its size flanked it, and yes, one held a flag. The smaller of the three most forward gryphons looked to be wearing... a saddle? Of sorts, attached was the flag pole.
The white gryphon had to be ten feet at the shoulder, standing beside a woman who was also a giant in her own right. He clenched his fist when suddenly every single person and beast below turned to stare at him.
The guards were hesitating, the gates were to be opened at first light, which was in less than two minutes. "Your grace?"
"They are to be respected as the emissaries they are." Jaxon finally announced, the guards jumped into action to open the gates.
"WE WELCOME THE DELEGATIONS TO THE CAPITAL OF SMYRNA, ENTER IN PEACE!" A group of guards announced as the procession started walking inside.
Jaxon waited on his war horse to personally escort the delegations. The woman was wearing a simple sheath dress, but her breast plate looked as if it were made of metal feathered wings that crossed over her shoulders and around her sides. She wore a traditional Usekh collar made of silver, also in the shape of wings. Her red simmering cape draped over the lion she was riding. Her makeup made her green eyes look longer and fiercer as she approached but didn't bother to look around. Her eyes were focused on the palace.
"I am-" Jaxon was cut off by lion roars and eagle screeches as he approached. He had to tighten his knees on his horse when it jumped. A moment later a man in similar attire armor urged his lion to break formation. Jaxon gritted his teeth as he examined the feather design. He'd never seen any of the tribes take up such a fashion... much must have changed in the last ten years.
"Our Regina has no words to speak until she confirms the truth." Alexei announced making sure to keep himself between his Regina and the Smyrnaean. Despite the tribe's lack of dress, all their armor was enchanted to withstand the full might of Agapi's strongest attack, not once, but twice. If the Smyrnaean's had not learned they were a force to be reckoned with... they would leave the capital in rubble.
Jaxon didn't let his displeasure show, he counted no less than three dozen lions larger than his war horse and two dozen gryphons of various sizes. If a fight broke out now... it would be a blood bath.
Neolani glanced over the crowd as she continued on her path. She kept her eyes on the palace while she forced her heart to stay calm, she was no longer a young girl at the mercy of these civilized men. Though, she was grateful the gryphons had agreed to travel with her, especially Agapi.
"Peace little Regina. You are the pride." Agapi reminded her telepathically as they continued forward. Her voice was sonorous and powerful, she instilling tranquility into her potentially temporary companion. Agapi didn't bother looking at the humans as she walked. She'd already made herself smaller to not cause alarm.
Neolani straightened her shoulders, "For the pride." She agreed. She would not disgrace the Pride, or her guardian.
Lucian watched as woman gracefully leapt down from the lion's back looking around. Her tanned skin spoke of long days in the sun while her black hair swished back and forth like an agitated lion's tail. "We give greetings to the Regina of the Inago tribe, fiercest protector of the Savanah." Lucian announced already standing. The tribe may be less than five thousand strong, but she was their queen. Lucian would not underestimate her.
Jaxon wanted to gulp, Lucian already towered over most men, but this woman easily had a head over him as she once again looked around.
"Where is the dragon slayer?" Neolani demanded stamping her spear so hard it cracked the pavement.
Lucian's eyes narrowed, "What business do you have with him?"
Neolani drew herself to her full height, deliberately looking down on the emperor. "We answer the call of one, free the dragon slayer or we go to war." She announced loud enough for the entire garden to hear.
As if on cue every lion roared, the gryphons flared their wings, and all 500 of the Inago prepared to draw their weapons. Before the guards could react a soft, wistful voice echoed throughout the garden.
Ashton looked as if he were descending invisible stairs from the sun. He stopped only a few feet from Neolani, still suspended just high enough to be at eye level.
I see a beauty, standing there
Flowing locks of sable hair
She turns to me and in my heart
Burns an ember, I once thought lost
Neolani sang back clenching her fist around her spear as she looked into brilliant blue eyes behind his silver red mask.
I see a figure, strange and young
But eyes the same, I know but one
He stands and waits and I can see
The proof of why my heard does beat
Ashton started to step forward but stopped himself and just held out his hand.
Neolani let go of her spear though it remained standing in the pavement as she approached slowly.
I stand and stare, dare I approach
Or is our past, a haunting ghost
does my promise, long past due
Give me the right, to remember you?
Can this ember, my heart renew?
Ashton cupped her face in his right palm.
I come in close, to confirm
The oath and soul for which I yearn
The promises he never lied
A bit delayed, I pay no mind
Your memory, my greatest pride.
Neolani gripped his hand holding her cheek. Teers already pouring down her face, but her voice didn't waver.
Its been so long, dare I recall
A past so far, a broken song?
I can't imagine, the pain you felt
My unkept promise, the blow it delt
So I'll stop, I'll wait and see
No expectations, just a heartfelt plea
Please remember, please remember, please remember me
Ashton used his thumb to wipe the river of teers and infused them with mana so they crystalized into mana stones.
A few short moments, and see for you
The song I've remembered, my oath rings true
I only mourn, the loss of time
that I was not at your side
I run to you, and I remember
The day you named me your ember
Ashton stepped back and held his hands out as the mana stones fell to the floor.
You've grown so big, become so strong
You've earned the right, to stand up tall
I had left, I can't find fault
So I'll stand, hope all's not lost
This chance I offer, to you alone
To remember, or our past long gone
Neolani didn't even look down as she fell her a knee and but didn't break eye contact.
This once small ember, has always remembered
My knees I do bend, for far more than a friend
I knew all along, you couldn't be gone
Soar free and clear, we've nothing to fear
Rise up, born again, a mentor, our Great Guardian
I remember, I remember, of course I remember
Ashton then looked past Neolani
I ask now the pride, my oath set aside
Do you dare follow, one now so humbled
Your honor, and souls, search now for those
We could crash and burn, no where to turn
A memory, uncrowned, your fates still unbound.
A deafening clash of either feet on the ground, or weapons against shields met his call.
Soar free and clear, the pride stands right here
We remember with hope, as we searched every slope
We remember with pain, failed leads, endless rain
To see you again, run to the earths very end
Ashton pulled Neolani up and placed her hand on his heart as they sang together, the pride still clashing against their shields or stomping.
That day dark as night, your ember was my light
The oath I did make, holds true come what may
As long as we remember, (we remember)
Come hell or high water, we will always remember
Together we'll roam, your heart is my home
This oath we remember, my oath I will always remember
My/ your ember will always remember
They stood still as the echoing voices of the pride, but as by ranks they started falling to a knee.
Light a fire in our souls, honor to those
Who remember, remember, we will always remember
So now take our oaths, all knell those
Who remember, remember, kneel those who remember
With a flash of silver light Ashton shot up, a sea of silver red flames encompassed the sky above the garden. When Ashton waved toward the kneeling pride the flames engulfed everything.
Ashton watched as not a single man, woman, or child of the pride moved or cried out as a tiny flame was branded onto each of them.
For the pride I do give, for the faithful who live
my blessings for now, stand strong and proud.
The flames were absorbed into the brands, some on their shoulders, some on hands, some over their hearts. Neolani's had already had a red brand from years ago, now the tiny flame flashed silver between her brows.