Courtly affairs, especially those in which the mangled Royalty of the Mikaelidas family were involved, were events in which Nikos spared no expense of time or preparation. Stately occasions meant the opportunity to mingle amongst the nobles of Taengea, which translated to an occasion to showcase the wealth and power of the Condos family and, more importantly, to garner both favor and favors with his fellow elites.
As per the usual with these sort of formal gatherings, Nikos was draped in his house colors and dripping in gold. House pride was, to Nikos, the name of the game, and he certainly never disappointed in that field. He donned the Condos crest on his shoulder fibula, and golden grapevines (the export of his House that garnered the most respect) coiled around his body in the form of bracelets, circlets, rings, belts, and the like. Though his father never flaunted their affluence so much as Nikos did, he knew that in order to be heard, one must first be seen.
Fresh from the baths and garbed in his regalia, Nikos arrived at the steps of the Palati, already swarming with throngs of nobles and other guests anxious for the arrival of the Egyptian convoy. Indeed, they were surely docked at port by now, perhaps even moving towards the assembly at this very moment.
Nikos didn't particularly care for the Egyptians one way or another, but he did hope the peace treaties would be bolstered. More wars would mean less production, and peaceful relations would hopefully lead towards future trade agreements that would further benefit his House. Although he greatly favored Prince Irakles over Stephanos (Zenon's line was the one to blame for the seizure of the throne; Stephanos got what was coming to him.), he was unsure how the Prince would handle dealings with the Egyptians, but he wouldn't be surprised if the other branch of the Mikaelidas family proved as incapable as the first.
With the convoy set to arrive at any moment, and with so very little time left for conversation, Nikos thought it best to not fight the crowds inside for only a handful of brief greetings. Intent on loitering outside for the time being, he spotted Lord Gavriil perched near the top of the steps, and Nikos thought it good to join him as he peered out towards the gate. House Dimitrou had proven good friends and strong partners in trade for years, and Nikos and Nikolias had always been on pleasant terms with the Head of House himself.
He ascended the steps about as quickly as his finery would allow, but as he neared the top Xene of Mikaelidas had already settled into conversation with him. With Stephanos imprisoned, Nikos felt a little less embittered towards the family and instead leaned more into smugness, what with the internal struggles and powershifts that have plagued them recently. Of course, his blood still boiled at the sight of her, for Mikaelidas still sat on the throne, but he would not allow his anger and resentment to crack the mask of peace and friendliness that he had learned to don so effortlessly over the years.
With warm demeanor and a coquettish grin, Nikos approached the pair, intending to greet them with the affection that Houses so closely tied together as the three might demand. "Please pardon my intrusion, but I was hopeful that I might first greet two close friends of my House upon my arrival," he stated quite amiably with a slight bow. "Lord Gavriil, Princess Xene."
Dorothea was never exactly pleased to attend events at the royal palati. She did, of course, because her father asked. Today was no exception to that rule. The thought of standing for hours to wait for a delegation of foreigners to talk to anyone but her was so utterly boring, she was already bored upon waking that morning. Naturally, the real reason she was there was to remind any and all eligible (and probably at this point, ineligible) bachelors of Taengea that she was still available to be married off. Who wouldn’t want to find their match at a stuffy royal event?
Yet, there was far too much going on in the kingdom for the whole day to be entirely stuffy. Not directly living in the action, Dorothea had not been able to keep abreast of every issue at hand, but sufficiently bothered her father enough to have a picture of what was happening. While Dorothea had a mind for knowledge and understood politics well enough for a woman in her position, she’d always had trouble stimulating enough interest in the matters of state. She’d rather expand her knowledge of lands afar and other languages than muddle her way through the thick bog of politics. Even if that meant leaving out her extended family in this case.
And so, she was far more interested in what the Egyptian party would entail and was quite intent on speaking with a member of the group. No doubt her father would be concerned, but Dorothea wouldn’t do anything to harm anyone’s position. She glanced at Gavriil, standing besides her, impassive. The fact that he wasn’t scouring the crowd, searching for a suitable suitor for her had Dorothea happy enough. Though she was sure it was only a matter of time. No doubt he would latch on to the next man he saw.
Dorothea was wearing one of her finer dresses, a soft green sleeveless chiton that was modest but becoming. Like her father, she wore relatively little jewelry, but had focused her attention on her hair. Her naturally curling locks cascaded down her back, but were pinned just so to allow for some air flow on her neck. If she couldn’t wear her usual braid, this was the next most comfortable, yet stylish option.
Sharp eyes noted when her father was looking away, clearly studying something else, and with that Dorothea made a quiet escape before he could find any men to throw at her. She’d return before he’d miss her too much. It was her preference to find a quiet corner to occupy, but the area was quickly filling with the arrival of others. She had just managed to find a spot when she was bumped into by a man not paying attention, clearly scanning the room for another.
“Pardon me,” she said, biting back a retort that he ought to pay attention to where he was going. “Perhaps I can assist in your search so as not to be stepped on again?” Ah, well, she couldn’t help it. And her father wondered why she’d never managed to attract any men…
Xene of MikaelidasGavriil of DimitrouNikos of Condos The pieces of a world that Gianna of Mikaelidas had been so desperate to hold together had finally shattered with a single Senate vote. The implementation of their decided punishment was simply insult to injury. The visceral reaction she had experienced at the Senate meet was merely the beginning. She had become so fear-stricken, so terrified of Irakles finally achieving his goals that she had become physically ill and confined to her chambers by order of the royal healer.
Despite her fierce desire to visit Stephanos in his isolation, frequent bouts of emesis had greatly weakened the youngest princess and she had found herself bedridden. With the impending court session, the royal healer had offered Gianna a brew containing chicory extract hoping to stem her illness. She had sipped the bitter concoction with the fear it may be poison sent by Irakles to continue his usurpation of power unsettling her stomach once again, much to the healer’s chagrin.
Waving the man off, Gianna pulled herself out of her bed, refusing to be held captive by her thoughts while the rest of the gentry welcomed the Egyptian emissary. With their brother confined within the palati, she knew Xene would need her presence. Even if the youngest princess would provide little support, she was at the very least determined to be there for her sister as she led the court. A momentary glance in her looking glass was enough to tell Gianna she desperately needed assistance if she wished to be presentable.
She summoned her handmaid who was quick to draw a bath and kind not to mention the princess’s pallor. Elpis washed Gianna’s hair as she attended to her body, carefully washing away the days she had spent in her bed. The hot bath had been long overdue and Gianna could feel some of the color returning to her cheeks even without Elpis’s comment. A deep crimson chiton with gold embroidery had been laid out.
Once dressed, Elpis plaited her hair into a series of braids, twisting them until they encircled her head and were amassed at the nape of her neck. With careful consideration, Gianna chose a necklace of gold that bore the Mikaelidas crest and a pair of simple gold bangles. Sticking to the house colors, she forwent her favored silver diadem for one of gold with rubies inlaid in its rounded peaks. Elpis settled the crown on Gianna’s head and helped her into a pair of leather sandals.
With strengthened resolve and one last sip of her chicory tea, Gianna made her way to court. She was not early, of course, but she was not late by any standard. A few nobles had already arrived, but she noticed there were quite a few who had yet to make their appearance as she took in the familiar faces. While the youngest princess had a small number of friends within the noble ranks, she had never felt truly comfortable at court, far preferring the markets of the city to the rigid social expectations of the other nobles.
Another sweep of the crowd revealed her sister in conversation with Lord Gavriil of Dimitrou and Lord Nikos of Condos. Having come exclusively to support Xene, at least in her mind, Gianna strode to her sister’s side with a deceptive grace. For a fleeting moment, she herself had forgotten she had been ailing only hours before and with a slight inclination of her head, the princess greeted her sister and the lords.
To say that Nana was excited about tonight would be an understatement. Nana usually enjoyed her time at court, even more so with her sister as the queen, although she surely wasn't a fan of the gossip of lesser women who were obviously jealous of her beauty and prestige. It wasn't Nana's fault that she'd turned out so gorgeous. They needed to take up their complaints with the gods.
As the carriage rolled along, Nana found herself more quiet than usual. Pensive was not a word that anyone had ever used to describe Nana, but tonight, she was wrapped up in her thoughts. What would the Egyptians look like? She'd only seen a few in her time, and in general, she considered them to be quite handsome, so she could only hope that the incoming envoy would not betray the image she had conjured in her head.
The ride to the palace was short, just the way that Nana would have it. Though she loved travel, she hated sitting in a carriage for too long. It felt like a cage, almost. An uncomfortable one, at that.
When the carriage stopped, Nana was quick to break out of it, almost dramatic in her display of relief upon exiting. But, her excitement upon reaching the palace was quickly dampened by her mother's commands. What was Mother at, trying to shackle her to Selene? Obviously she was trying to test her patience. Nana was quick to voice her opinion on the matter. "Really, Mother? You want this frump to be my babysitter?" Nana's gaze flicked over to her eldest sister with a look of annoyance, before turning back to her mother. "I won't have it. I'd rather have Charon row me across the River Styx. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go inside and find Basilides."
Nana was quick to excuse herself from the group, not only because she was eager to see her beloved friend, but also to avoid any sort of inspection by her parents. Sure, her outfit wasn't out of the ordinary for her, but it was a bit more...racy than usual. The young Leventi was dressed in a vivid purple silk, her neckline still low, but a bit more conservative than usual, made up for with her shoulders and back being left on display, the fabric revealing most of it above the small of her waist. At the shoulders, she'd fastened her outfit with two golden pins, embedded with amethysts. On her neck she wore a thick gold choker, almost like a collar, paired with a dainty chain that dripped amethysts down her back. On her wrists, a simple pair of matching gold cuffs. Though purple wasn't her color, Nana thought she'd managed to work with it quite well.
As the young noble neared the palati, she kept her eyes peeled for her date. Sure, she only invited Basilides as a friend, but that didn't mean she couldn't imagine him as more than. If only he was a noble, Nana would have jumped on a marriage agreement faster than a hound on a rabbit. But, that didn't mean she couldn't have fun with him, and he seemed to feel the same way, considering how much they laughed together.
Soon after she entered the grand building, Nana spotted Basilides' heap of dark curls and immediately made a beeline for him, her face lighting up instantly. Upon reaching the man, the Leventi quickly grabbed onto one arm with both of hers and gave it a light squeeze, smiling up at him sweetly.
"I'm so happy to see you've come, my dear Basilides. It gets so dull around these parts without your company, you know. I've had barely any opportunities to wear anything you've sent me." The blonde turned her gaze from the man to look out at the crowd.
The entourage drew plenty of attention as they went along the main pathway of Vasiliadon to head to the royal palati where the party was hosted. The people of the capitol whispered and called out to one another to see the mysterious arrival of the Egyptian entourage, fascinated as they were to see men of bronzer skin, darker hair and different looks then the ones they were used to. Not used at all to people of different coloration being atop horses in regal attire, as compared to slaves that served them, whispers were abound, but Irakles tried to calm as much of them as he could with his signature easy-going smile, greeting a few merchants he knew by name as they rode past.
Hearing the general's response in Greek surprised Irakles, and it showed on the prince's face for the briefest of moments. It may be unpolished and accented, but it was understandable. Irakles paused as he considered his answer - it would be a farce to try and pretend the relationship between Egypt and Taengea had been anything but fraught and strained with tension. The two kingdoms had never been the best of friends, but a truce had been called. While it had not been a truce that Irakles had been happy with back when Zenon had called off his forces from finalizing their attack with a killing blow, there was no sense in bringing it up now.
Therefore, instead of falling for the intended jab, as Irakles assumed, he swallowed his anger and exchanged a look with Fotios, before an uneasy smile appeared on his face. "The countryside is indeed beautiful, when one visits for a holiday." he murmured, intentionally avoiding the previous comment whilst slipping in one of his own. Pulling on the reins of Aeneaus to take a right path that eventually revealed the looming, grand structure of the Mikaelidas palati, Irakles finished his words. "If you have a chance, Acharist would be perfect to visit. The lands house the best of horseflesh by the House of Leventi themselves," at that, he nodded at Fotios. "Otherwise, Macendia is but a few hours boat ride away, with snow capped mountains... and the most beautiful ladies Taengea can offer."
By then, he they had entered the royal gates that signified the first entrance to the palace, and from there, it was simply a short ride away to the main entry. Nodding with respectful decorum to the general, a pointed look to Fotios was enough for the prince to tell his friend to entertain the Egyptian general, as he kicked his heels into the sides of his gelding, heading towards where he quickly dismounted at the steps of the palace. Handing off the reins to a waiting stableboy, Irakles straightened his royal chiton as he ascended the steps, smiling as Ujarak nodded stating that all had to be present was at the hall. He had expressly announced for his two sons to be present, or face the consequences, and had told Ujarak much of the same, for he couldn't be on hand himself to ensure that happened whilst he was waiting to receive the entourage at the docks.
Spying the Lady Evelli at the entrance, as with Lord Gavriil and his daughter together with Lord Nikos and Princess Xene, he smiled at both them from afar, but flagged down Ujarak to convey the message that the entourage was to arrive soon, and it would do best for them to wait inside. The servants were quick to do as they were told, and soon all of the nobility loitering at the top of the steps were ushered in, and the golden gilded doors that was the entrance to the Grand Hall was sealed shut, just in time for Irakles to turn and affix his usual, political ease of a smile as the entourage rode up to the steps.
Descending the steps, he gave another bow at the General once he had dismounted, and waved a hand at the door. "The nobles and royal families of Taengea are anxious to welcome you to our kingdom, General. Please, if you would allow me." Taking the lead, he led the way to the sealed doors, and with a nod of his head, the two guards standing on either side of the doors swung the doors opened. As if one cue that was carefully instructed by Irakles, who had conveyed the instructions to Meena for the evening to go off without a hitch, a dozen of tibia players started up a gentle music as Irakles stepped in to the crowd awaiting. Smiling at them first whilst Ujarak announced his arrival, he lifted a hand once the applause died, and addressed the hall in a booming voice he reserved for such functions.
"It pleases me greatly, to welcome to our beautiful Taengean soil, Sirdar Moghadam, General to the royal Egyptian Pharoah. He is here as a guest in our lands and will be residing within the Palati during such time. I wish we will all give him and his entourage a warm welcome, and make sure his stay here will be a memorable one."
Stepping to a side, he motioned at the general to come forward, before joining in the rest of the applause given by the Taengean nobility in attendance. Leading the Egyptian down the short steps to the main hall, a young lady's maid was quick to step forward and offer Osorsen the finest of Condos wines produced in the lands, as Irakles gestured for his two sons to step forward. "Sirdar, I present to you my two sons, General Achilleas of the Taengean Lions, and Lord Emilios, who is currently acting Head of the Mikaelidas Dynasteia as I assist my nephew in the running of the kingdom." The man's eyes swivelled again, and then smiled when he noticed Nikos nearby. Gesturing at him to step closer, Irakles all but stepped to the side as he presented Nikos. "And this is Lord Nikos of Condos, heir to his father, and a man who is industrious as he is ambitious, and would achieve greatness one day, I am sure of it."
Magnus had been in Taengea for a scarce few days, but he has seen more night then he has day. Spending much of his days late awake, the reason for that was due to Magnus's need to first seek out as many of his informants as he could, collecting the information before the arrival of the Egyptian entourage today. Having been summoned to Taengea on short notice, the man had been working many hours and resting little, if only so they could be prepared for the day today. A man of his word, he had been ready long before Vangelis made his appearance, a red chiton layered by a black, thinner one beneath, held up by silver belts and plain circular fibulae's over each shoulder.
Despite the waiting foyer being silent, the Order House was not exactly the most private place for discussions of matters, and as such, he did not converse with Imeeya as they both awaited the arrival of the Crown Prince before they could make their way to the royal palati. No doubt, Prince Vangelis was eager to go, if only to see the Egyptian entourage. Magnus knew that, while the Egyptians and Greecians have not had good relationships over the past few decades, an uneasy truce meant bloodshed would not be on the agenda.
At least not for the evening.
Yet, his knowledge meant that he knew all was not peaceful in Egypt, and as far as he remembered, the General in attendance today was not far different from the Prince Irakles himself, something which Magnus had mentioned to Vangelis in passing, just the night before. Hoping the prince would take the tidbit of information to heart, the fact that they had to remove weapons at the entrance to the hall made the spymaster uneasy.
Falling in step in front of the prince in order to cut a path for him and Imeeya, by the time Vangelis decided upon an open space which they were to stand and hover, Magnus's eyes had already picked out as many faces as he could, and pulled up the information needed from his memory to convey to Vangelis.
Standing on the other side of the prince, his hair was combed up straight to prevent it from disturbing his vision, and that proved useful as he leaned in to murmur to Vangelis, out of Imeeya's earshot. "Lord Achilleas did not make a motion within the Senate meet, and after that, has been rumored to have returned from a visit to his father in less then a stellar mood." While it may sound like gossip to some, Magnus hoped Vangelis would be able to see the link between the two, as he returned to his own spot, and continued surveying the area, eyes catching upon the baron of Meganea, and briefly, Magnus frowned. He had caught wind of Lord Gavriil housing a guest of mysterious background in Meganea, but who it was, Magnus would have to travel there to find out further himself.
That was not his main goal on this visit, however. This visit, was to assist in all that his crown prince needed, and that involved seeking for information regarding what had happened during the Senate meet, and how had that led to the house arrest of the young Taengean King.
The faster he did that, the faster he could return to Arcanaes.
Selene had always been the daughter that gave her the least problems, and the girl soothed Evelli's heart as she dutifully nodded in accordance to what the matriarch instructed. While she may not be entirely approving of the dress Selene had donned, she simply gave it a once over and mildly frowned at her eldest, but allowed the father to fully disapprove as she instead turned to Achilleas as he joined the group. Evelli bestowed him a smile, but said nothing as Theodora moved off to join him - as she should. Her second-born would be getting married to the man soon, and Evelli did not see a reason she should keep a tight rein, as all that was left of the union was a formal ceremony.
With a final warning look to Theodora to behave as she allowed her to move away with her betrothed, Nana's words had sharp eyes immediately swivelling to her second youngest, a glare fierce enough to make anyone shiver and shrivel.
Anyone but the headstrong Nana of Leventi, it seems.
"Don't you speak of your sister that way, Nana of Leventi." Evelli scolded in a tone she rarely used with any of her daughters, yet it seemed to fall on deaf ears. Squeezing her eyes shut, she heaved a heavy sigh and rubbed her temples. Georgios would go after the younger one, but Evelli held a hand out for her husband, and shook her head. "Selene, go and look for Nana, and keep an eye on her, would you. Just... make sure she doesn't get herself in trouble. She's not been the easiest, of late. Imma, come with me." Evelli murmured, ignoring the low pound at the back of her head. Unsure if it had been the stress of Taengean turmoil of late, or she was still recovering from caring for her sick husband, but whichever it was, Evelli found her temper short and her patience thin with Nana of late, and Georgios was not exactly in the best of healths to deal with a headstrong child as Nana, especially not when he too had health issues.
As if on cue, the servants sent by Prince Irakles appeared, and Evelli nodded to the instructions, giving a small, respectful curtsy to the prince, before calling out to Theodora, and waving at her to enter.
Descending the short steps to the hall on her husband's arms, her hazel irises was quick to sweep the area for anyone she would know. With the tips of her purple chiton in her grip to ensure she did not trip over her own outfit, Evelli smiled as she greeted a few who came to her, even the barons of the lands owned and controlled by her brother in law. Ensuring she kept Imma by her side as she introduced her youngest to a few, it did not take long before the soft music from the pipes had everyone in attendance turning around to focus on the entrance, the door swinging open to admit the current functioning king regeant.
But the main course, was to come later, of course.
When the general eventually stepped through the doors, Evelli's eyes widened. She had assumed that whichever delegate would be sent by Egypt would be an old crone, derelict and wise perhaps. But the general as introduced by Prince Irakles was... one she would consider for her own daughters. Did she like the idea of marrying one of her own across the oceans, so far away she wasn't even sure if she would ever see them again? No, of course she wasn't. But did she have much choice? If she wanted glory, security and prestige for her girls, no, she had little choice.
"Georgios..." she started, but only received a warning glance from her husband, which quickly quelled Evelli's words. But only her words. It did not stop ideas from brewing in her head, even as Evelli's eyes roamed to look for Selene. If she had made no progress with her Colchian prince... well, Evelli was waiting no longer.
Once inside the Palati, Basilides found himself still fixated on the approaching crowd through a window, which seemed to swell like a tidal wave slowly approaching the gates. Above the crowd appeared figures on horseback, features not quite distinct enough - nor Bas familiar enough - to be recognizable. Noting that they would soon be entering the building, he set himself towards the main room, lurking enough along the edges for the time being to try to find his companion.
In doing so, he took a rather sharp turn around a column to quickly find himself colliding with a shorter figure with a quiet oof and trying not to make too noticeable of a pained sound as the offender's sandal clipped his toe just right. Immediately holding his breath to keep from releasing a curse amongst such refined company, he bent down slightly to check his toe. This set him just about eye-to-eye with a young woman whose eyes looked just about ready to take a stab at his other toes while she was there. Clearly a noble by her dress - Dimitrou, if his memory of house heraldry was correct - her words were framed politely as court dictated, but her eyes - quite honestly - frightened Basilides. By the gods, he hoped he was not about to be swarmed by guards for accidental assault...
"The fault is all mine, My Lady," the merchant replied through a held breath and gritted teeth, using the pressure he placed between them to provide an appropriate smile. Taking the moment to turn his pain into a bow to distinguish the difference between their social positions, he could not help but add a small flourish of his chamlys at the same time. Once theatrical, always theatrical he supposed. Standing to his full height, with his weight shifted to his uninjured foot, he finally released the breath he was holding to take in the sight of the young woman. If he were to fulfill his new role within his family's luxury business, garnering more favor than pain would be preferable.
Basilides offered a small laugh at her jest regarding being stepped on again...at least, he thought it was a jest. To keep it light, he would take it that way.
"I would be forever in your debt," Basilides replied, turning his attention to his usual charms rather than the throbbing in his foot, "I am Basilides, a friend of the Dynastia Leventi and here at the invitation of Lady Nana. Have you seen her?"
Basilides doubted the young woman would take it, but offered the crook of his arm as a peace offering to see if the young woman would accompany him on his search for his patron and friend. He offered a congenial smile and a softer expression, hopefully as not to get himself slapped for being forward, as he knew many men his age could be seen as overly forward around women, particularly noble women.
No sooner had he offered one arm to the young noblewoman did he feel a set of hands envelop his other arm. For the briefest of moments he thought he was, in fact, being arrested by a Palace guard for having his toe stepped on by a noble woman, but much to his relief found Nana of Leventi dangling off his arm, much like the jewelry that adorned hers - many items which he recognized as gifts from him. Unable to stop the smile that spread across his features as she complimented the jewelry, he replied, "I am glad you have found the opportunity, my Lady. You are the epitome of radiance."
After giving his companion's hand a squeeze as it nestled into the crook of his arm, he nodded at her curiosity, sharing some of it himself. Still, he was not in the business of offending the dark-haired young woman in front of them, and still extended his arm to her as well.
"Perhaps, we could all take a closer look? If you wish," stated, directing it more towards the Lady Dimitrou than the Lady Leventi - he knew for a fact she would be interested.
Together, they all shifted closer to the excitement, garnering a better view as some moved clear of Lady Nana's path. It was not long before the retinue made their entrance to much applause and an announcement from the Prince Irakles. Basilides could not stop his eyes from making repeated glances up and down the image of the Egyptian General, eyebrows expressing interest on various levels, from simple curiosity and beyond...
"By the gods, will you look at that..." he murmured under his breath, half-smiling as he watched the entrance.
Achilleas had smiled at Selene’s words, sure that many of those gathered would share in her sentiments.This Egyptian contingent were fascinating , a novelty to those of the Court that had not been privy to those of their culture before now. He did not share such excitement however, unsure as to what would have motivated his cousin to have invited them here as guests, those with whom such an uneasy peace was held. He for one was not relaxed about this embassy, and he wished he’d had opportunity to speak to Stephanos, to understand what he sought out of calling them here.
But the opportunity for that had passed, and the General had been forced to leave his weapons at the door, so he set his shoulders and reminded himself that he was not a soldier, not here, now.
He turned to Theodora then, and it was a similarly forced smile that he directed to her as he offered his arm. He had no idea what to expect after the manner in which she had left him yesterday, and he was praying that she knew better than to cause any such scene in their current locale. “Are you feeling better” he asked quietly, as the two of them moved a little way from her family. She certainly looked well, he could not help but notice. In fact, all of the Leventi girls made quite the picture, though it was Theodora that held his eye, as it had long been.
Achilleas wanted to address the awkwardness of their parting the day before but also did not. His nerves already felt stretched thin after his disastrous meeting that morning, and he wasn’t sure he had the patience to navigate the mystery that was Theodora’s emotional state, or his admittedly lacklustre attempts in dealing with it. He still had not decided if he would tell her of his attempt to speak with his father. On one hand, his sense of pride wished him to keep it to himself. It had not gone as he had hoped, and he knew in part that was because he had lost his hold on his own temper, and he did not much like acknowledging his own faults. But then, he also wanted Theodora to know that he had tried, that he had not ignored her request. It seemed important to show her that he was not the kind of man that would do that. He wanted her to trust him, wanted her to feel like she could come to him with such things if she needed, and Achilleas had the nagging feeling that his initial reaction the day before had done no such thing.
It was not the easiest subject to broach though, not in this setting, and he began a little uncertainly. “ Listen, Theodora, I wanted to...”
Before he could finish though, the sudden presence of a man at his elbow had Achilleas stop short, and he glanced at the servant in irritation. “What?” "The Prince requests your presence to receive the Egyptian Emissary, Lord"
Brows lifted in surprise, Achilleas had then turned an apologetic look upon his betrothed. “ I..forgive me. I will find you". He did not dare risk provoking his father anymore than he had already managed to that day, and was surprised almost by the request for him to be there, half expecting to be ignored. Extracting himself from Theodora’s grasp, he nodded at the servant, and made his way back to the bottom of the steps, at the head of which the great gold doors had been sealed in anticipation of the grand entrance of their guests. There was a glance at his brother who had clearly been similarly summoned, and then Achilleas straightened, smoothed his expression into one of neutrality as an expectant sort of hush fell over the grand hall, softened only by the music that had begun playing without him noticing.
The doors were opened, and then all at once it was his father’s voice introducing ….a general. A curious ambassador to send, the Lord observed, and his attention focused on the man being led forwards. Achilleas was altogether unimpressed by the ostentatious - and insubstantial- attire that the General wore, but his face remained impassive until his father beckoned him forward, and then he pasted on a welcoming smile.
Of course, he should not have been surprised that Irakles made a point of introducing Emilios as the acting Head of House, and should not have found it such an irritant that the man proceeded to positively gush about his cousin Nikos who had appeared from..somewhere. But Achilleas was only human, and perhaps his smile had grown a little strained by the end of it. Nevertheless, the oldest son of Irakles did not let it throw him.
“Welcome, Sirdar” He gave a nod to the Egyptian man, somewhere between a bow and not, and then straightened, hands clasped behind his back as he wondered if this man had led attacks against his own men. And whilst his expression remained pleasant, his tone cordial,there was a sense of appraisal in the gaze that rested upon their esteemed guest. It could never be an entirely comfortable meeting, the instinctive urge to take a measure of one’s counterpart akin to the stand off between two cats coming across each other for the first time. Achilleas could almost feel his hackles rise.
Since the meeting of the Senate, Taengea had been in an uproar. With the king and queen confined to house arrest, all of Taengea seemed to be walking around stunned at what had happened, at least amongst those in the upper classes with whom Imeeya associated. In spite of that, life continued on. Even in the midst of the turmoil, an embassy was arriving from Egypt to visit the Taengean court, and everyone would be coming out to the greet the Egyptian party, even Vangelis, who Imeeya had had to convince to attend.
Eager to make a good impression on the visiting dignitaries, Imeeya dressed very carefully. She chose one of her favorite chitons. A sleek sky blue silk frock, with embroidery on the neckline and hems in spun gold thread, an export of her own province. Likewise, her jewelry also came from the mines and craftsmen of Dolomesa, a careful display of her province’s wealth. She wore several thin gold bracelets around each wrist that jingled faintly as she moved. Her gold necklace was elaborately wrought, with many small handcrafted gold flowers dangling from the thick gold chain. Imeeya’s hair was elaborately twisted up to crown her head, held up with ribbon the same shade blue as her chiton. A few tendrils of hair escaped to frame her face.
Imeeya was prepared to visit the court before Vangelis. At first, she was worried that Vangelis might have decided not to attend after all until Magnus appeared to wait with her as well. While she had been cordial with Magnus since he had arrived, Imeeya had not gone out of her way to speak with the man. She had not been too fond of the implications he had made last time they had met, and she had no desire to revisit that conversation. Fortunately, Magnus also showed no inclination to conversation, and they waited in silence for Vangelis to appear. They did not have to wait for long, as the prince soon appeared, dressed with a formality that Imeeya was not accustomed to seeing in Vangelis, yet it did very much convey his position of Crown Prince of Colchis.
Their carriage quickly made its way to the palati, the journey made in silence. Imeeya herself was unsure what to expect, never having met anyone from outside Greece. While she had read about Egypt, much of the written accounts were focused on battles or histories, not on what to expect from a visiting delegation of Egyptians. She supposed the only thing to do was to treat them as one might treat any Greek visitors, assuming they even spoke the language. There were too many unknowns to know what to expect. Imeeya did not like it, she always preferred to be able to prepare a plan.
They arrived at the Palati and were greeted and escorted into the room where it seemed all of the Taengean nobility had gathered, although the lack of the King and Queen was conspicuous. While the decorations and the dress reflected that of a festive occasion, there still ran an undercurrent of tension throughout the whole event. Imeeya followed Vangelis until he selected a vantage spot for them within the large room. Imeeya spotted a few familiar faces within the crowd but stayed near to Vangelis and Magnus. The volume of chatter in the group rose as the Taengean nobility awaited the arrival of the embassy. A hush fell over the crowd as music started up and the doors opened to reveal Prince Irakles and the delegation of Egyptians.
At Irakles’s announcement, Imeeya strained to look over the crowds of people to see the visiting Egyptian general. She was lucky to have inherited some height from her mother’s side of the family, which meant that she had a better chance of a view over the heads of the other women. Imeeya was shocked to discover that this General Osorsen was nothing like she expected. Darker, yes, that she knew of Egyptians. Yet his clothing, well it would be generous to even call it that. He wore so little clothing, that somehow it seemed more scandalous than if he had worn nothing at all. As she tried to comprehend what she was seeing Imeeya realized that she had been staring in his direction for longer than would be considered appropriate, especially considering the man was half-naked. She quickly looked away, hoping that no one else had noticed. Yet she couldn’t help but glance back from time to time, not wanting to miss what was going on with the foreign visitors.
To be quite honest, Nana’s outburst had been expected. Since returning home from Colchis, there seemed to be more and more animosity from the younger girl. And Selene couldn’t figure out exactly why. She thought it was jealousy at first, but wasn’t in the mood to try and figure out exactly what was on her mind. Instead, she focused on the sisters with the true issues that she could attend-- Theo and her wedding and Pia and the baby. There was just not enough time in the day to try and appease everyone.
”Mama, it’s not important.” She whispered gently, glad that they were at least relatively alone and that few had witnessed the outburst. The last thing that they needed was for someone to think there was discontent in the house. And if the visiting Egyptians saw it, they would certainly have an opinion about it. It would not look well.
She gently patted her mother’s free arm, ”I shall do my best to make sure she does not embarrass.” It would be interesting, keeping her distance but also a watchful eye. And as much as she didn’t wish to do it, she agreed. There was no reason to cause her mother more stress. Her father’s nod of appreciation was the only thanks she needed as she turned to go inside, unescorted.
Her entrance didn’t go unnoticed, but then again, it rarely did. But instead of greeting those who were drawn to her side, she tried to vanish in the crowd. The dress would make it difficult to avoid all notice, but she was good at walking through the crowd, appearing as if she didn’t wish to be bothered. And, for the most part, she was left alone.
Plucking a cup of wine from a passing tray, Selene found a corner within the room to stand, far enough from Nana that she could keep an eye without seeming overbearing but close enough that she was in direct view of the entering party. For all her concern over her relationship with Vangelis, she failed to notice that he and his party was so close. As they entered, she clapped with the rest of them, eyes still scanning the room to make sure Nana was in sight.
When she finally focused on the Egyptian and his company, her cheeks flushed. If she learned nothing else about them that night, she was now fully aware of how the culture viewed formal situations. His outfit left very little to the imagination, and even from this distance, she was sure she had never seen so much of a man in all her life. She tried to look away, but it was hard not to stare for just a moment, to take in as the regent pulled his children closer to introduce them to the man. Shaking her curls, she dragged her eyes from the crown’s guests to the crowd.
Hesiodos knew the Egyptians well – after all, he had been to Egypt on many occasions. He knew the clothes, languages, and customs, so he seemed unbothered by the revealing outfit of the Egyptian delegation. He also knew the songs, so he gestured the rest of the musicians behind him for the piece they rehearsed after a lot of effort in the previous days.
Strumming his lyre, followed by the pipes, sounded a song that was clearly Egyptian – he picked songs popular by the nobility – but played in Greek style, with Greek instruments. At first, it sounded quite odd, like seeing a yellow tree, but the more one listened to it, the more it had appeal. It was a masterful piece of music that suggested peace between two cultures.
The fact that Basilides was nearby by, watching, didn’t go past Hesiodos. He never stopped playing, and singing in Kemetic – the sound was pure gibberish in Greek – but he dedicated him a fiery look with his green-grey eyes. One that said that he would meet him soon. After all, the day was young.
As the delegation moved, so did the musicians, offering delightful background music for their talk. Hesiodos was proud of himself in that regard – the musicians were good, but not to his standards, much less for royal standards. He had to find different ways to accommodate the music during rehearsals, all while making it sound good. There even was one that insulted him and not so kindly criticized his style. That piper was now limping as he moved and played the pipes, after the bard cut him in a duel, followed by him telling him to shut up and do this his way, after he healed.
Hesiodos thought music was meant to be enjoyed, and it wasn’t necessary to be perfect. But he didn’t tolerate others telling him how to play his music. Much less non creative insults.
The decision was made. It was time to return. As of lately, she’d been the invisible Leventi girl. She’d begged out of as many of the social engagements as she could, and what social engagements she’d attended she’d stayed within the shadows of the activity. It wasn’t a broken heart that was ailing her. Or maybe it was, but she preferred the sound of ‘failed expectations’. The life and love that she wanted had been an almost, but he’d not been the man she’d thought he was. Or maybe, his feelings weren’t what she’d thought they were. Either way, it’d left her shattered with too many ‘what if’s’ to count. She thought she’d have seen her first heartbreak coming but… it had snuck up on her, and taken her unexpectedly. For all she knew, that was why it hurt so badly.
It hadn’t been hard to be a shadow has of late. Taengea had been a hub of activity it seemed. The crown prince of Colchis visiting. The raid upon the Creed’s den. All of this nonsense regarding Stephanos and Pia. Never had she missed the simplicity of Acharist as much as she did now. She wouldn’t be going home, at least not right now. She refused to go home with her tail between her legs, a failure. No. That simply would not do at all. Evie would do what she had to do to rise again. It was then that the decision was made.
She’d turned down her Aunt Evelli’s offer to join the other girls as they ventured out to greet the visiting Egyptians. Blame it on her mercurial disposition but they’d no sooner left then she’d changed her mind. Today was the day that she picked herself back up and carried forth. With a bustling sort of hurry, Byrony readied her and called a litter. She might miss them at the docks but she could still make the celebrations at the Royal Palati.
At the Palati, she exited out of the liter, sticking to the outskirts of those congregating. Better late then never. Her dark eyes instantly falling on the new faces, her family, and then anyone else who was of interest. It was evident she’d made an effort for this occasion. The green of her silk chiton the color of a lush forest. It was simply but elegantly cut, remaining modest and yet giving the imagination just enough to be curious. This was a new leaf for her to turn over, it deserved to be marked, it was time to come out of the shadows. Her dark chestnut hair was usually a disheveled mane with likeliness to that of the Leventi horses. Today, it was pulled into a low, loose chignon at the nape of her neck, draping over her shoulder. A golden silk, brocaded ribbon snood laced through her chignon extending across her forehead.
Her gaze slipped back and forth from the various Leventi crowd, she could almost guess what the proceedings were. Was she ready for that… Nope. Nope. Nope. Tilting her head, she looked anywhere but her family. Maybe she could pretend she hadn’t seen them… Fotios was occupied and her aunt had five daughters to keep an eye on, and no one was expecting her appearance. Carefully, she chose her path to remain out of the direct line of eyesight of her family. Using every opportunity to shield herself by a larger body. It was cowardly… she knew that, but the other outcome was one that simply didn’t appeal to her. She’d find her family… eventually… maybe.
Theodora couldn't help but to feel a little bad for Nana — and although her clear disrespect for their mother was in no way acceptable, Theodora could still guess where the behavior came from. All of her older sisters had in some way or another moved on. One was married, another was on her way there, and Selene had her own life going on, too. Nana was still young, and Theodora wouldn't blame her for wanting to start her own life too.
Naturally, this would make Nana feel restless, and perhaps even jealous. Perhaps all of them had ought to pay Nana more attention. Perhaps they needed to allow herself a chance to indulge.
And perhaps they all had to put in a little work. It hardly seemed fair that the responsibility always fell upon Selene. She had her own life as much as the rest of them, after all.
There was tension between her and Achilleas. That much was clear. They regarded each other with some awkwardness — a kind of awkwardness Theodora was more than eager to ignore as she took his arm. Tossing a glance behind her at her siblings, and then her mother, she couldn't help but to feel a little... strange. Snapping her attention back to Achilleas, Theodora's brows furrowed in confusion. "What?" It took her a moment then, to remember: She had feigned feeling ill the day before. "Oh." She quickly added, shrugging. "Yeah, I'm feeling better." She offered, a smile touching her lips.
Her gaze swept over the crowd then. It wasn't surprising how many had decided to show up. The room was bustling with chatter and energy. People seemed excited, almost unaware of everything else that was happening outside these walls. Perhaps it was for the best. Perhaps everyone simply needed a moment to just... Be.
When Achilleas spoke again, Theodora looked up at him. She wanted to tell him not to worry about. To simply forget their previous conversation had ever happened. It was easier that way. But before he was allowed a chance to continue saying whatever he was about to, his presence was required, and a smile was offered as he left her presence.
A little unsure of what to do then, Theodora scanned the crowd for the rest of her family, who had all seemingly spread across the room. With a sigh, Theodora slipped into the crowd, taking a cup of wine as she passed one of the servers.
The crowd exploded in claps and hushed whispers, and Theodora's attention snapped towards what, or rather, who's attention was drawn towards. The very same reason they had all gathered here tonight for. As Irakles announced and presented his two sons, Theodora was quick to raise the cup to her lips and take a deep swig of the red liquid.
By the gods, this was going to be a dreadfully long day.
The Greek citizens had clearly not been informed of the new arrivals if their shock and awe was any kind of indication. Osorsen was not unaccustomed to being the center of attention when he rode through the streets, especially in a foreign land, but it was interesting to see how they reacted to him and their prince. Keeping apace with the leader, he was pleased that his response in the man’s tongue had thrown him off a bit, always glad to find some small victory. A grin that was very nearly akin to a snarl crossed his face as the general spoke of a holiday.
”I’m sure it must be lovely to see on any occasion. This time though, I intend only to speak with your king, not to see the sights. Though I look forward to seeing it again on a return trip.”
It was as thinly veiled as a threat could be without giving provocation to begin a war here and there. When it began, if it began, it could not be on his fault. He could give Iahotep no reason to punish him further than he already had. Indeed, it could not be on the head of any Egyptian. This would be instigated by the Greeks, one way or another. He knew his marching orders.
The royal palace was swarming with activity as they arrived, the prince having gone ahead to prepare in some additional manner. Perhaps dragging the king out of his seclusion to be a man and meet him face to face. His arrival was clearly quite the event, and as he dismounted and walked with his entourage to meet Irakles, he took note of everyone watching and their expressions as they caught sight of him. With his politician’s expression fixed firmly in place, Oso gave a slight bow of his head to the other man before Rafa expressed in Greek the standard thanks of welcome and appreciation of hospitality.
Stepping into the hall was different than an Egyptian room of this magnitude, for one the people were all wearing significantly more in terms of clothing. Except for one, a stunning blonde woman in a purple gown showed skin that would still be demure for the terms of his own country but bordered on shocking compared to the other Greek women. His eyes locked on her for a long moment until they passed by and he was presented to family members. The sons of Irakles were close to his height, both handsome and seemingly loyal boys, though he saw the smallest flash of annoyance from the one. At least the wine was a welcome addition to his hand.
”Thank you, my lords for your welcome. We look forward to your hospitality.”
With wine in hand, and Rafa by his side, Osorsen turned his attention from the men before him, since they seemed to have little else to say but echoing the welcome of the old man. Keeping one ear open in case anything of import was said, his eyes once again found the woman in purple. Asha would have slapped the thought out of his head, but the general was very much interested in getting to know more of her during his stay.
”Perhaps, I could mingle with some of your nobles. If the formalities are complete for the moment?”
Much had changed in the past year. Albeit through his own doing, Alkaios had found his brother dead, and himself elevated to the new position of baron, one which he supposed he was not quite as adept at just yet as he wished he might have been. Equally, it appeared there was a similar shift in power in the Taengean royal family, as the current King had been accused of performing the same act (although given the involvement of both his father and brother, one might argue it was twice as severe). The parallel seemed ironic, no less because the King had been forced into house arrest and yet his own consequences had seemed significantly less dire. Perhaps the hierarchical differences in the crimes were what mattered over the crimes themselves.
Still, despite the King's current position, things had far from ground to a halt. There had been news of the Egyptian envoy's arrival, a court session held in their honour. Due to unfortunate circumstance - a somewhat concerning bout of fever which had had him out of commission for far too long - it had been a while since Alkaios had attended any court event, some other delegate of their house having been sent in his place. He might have sent his younger brother in his place had he not had excessively little faith in Lysandros, the younger man's propensity for childish jokes and games making him a less than ideal representative. As such, this was his first court appearance in a while, and he had to set a more positive precedent for his future.
That was precisely why he was so intensely embarrassed by his own late arrival.
There were plenty of excuses that could be made, a thousand explanations for the delay. The truth was that the carriage the Skleros family had travelled in from their distant home to the Palati was not of the most exceptional quality, and one of the wheels had gotten awkwardly cemented into a patch of wet, marshy ground. The attempt to force it out had caused one of the felloes to snap. It had been a significant hassle to undo the damage, and by the time the matter had been fixed, and he had arrived at the court, it had been horrendously late. The Egyptians were already present, although he was pleased to see the event did not appear to have progressed too far.
Alkaios slipped into the crowd, glad that so many were there that day so that he might hide himself amongst them somewhat. He did not approach anybody just yet, the tactlessness of his arrival preventing him from such an impulsive move, even if he did usually appear to prefer hasty decisions. It would do better to observe simply and silently and gather what stage of the court gathering they were at just then. One did not want to humiliate oneself further with a misplaced comment.
The daggers Dorothea had been shooting slowly disappeared as she realized that she had done rather more harm to the man than he to her. She had turned her annoyance at the thought of marrying men to the first man that she stumbled across. Wasn’t he just the unlucky one? Dorothea looked down at his foot, pleased not to see any blood spurting from it; at least she hadn’t maimed him completely. Though apparently enough for him to grit his teeth quite spectacularly.
Dorothea wasn’t familiar with this man, but she spent much less time in the city than other noble ladies of her age. She preferred to spend time at home, where the woods and her horse were in easier reach. The royal palati had never been much to her liking; another trait she had inherited from her father. She knew this man was not noble, though truthfully that didn’t bother her in the slightest. He came dressed for the occasion and clearly had some connections to be invited to such an event. To his credit, he even managed to display some manners despite her rudeness.
She didn’t contradict him, though the fault was equally her own. She had been the one moving with such purpose. Any thought of admitting her own blame in the matter disappeared when he gave an elaborate, theatrical bow. Dorothea was not impressed. However, she felt a slight twinge of regret that she had managed to injure him. Only slightly. But enough for her manners to dictate an apology.
“I’m sorry about your foot,” she said, nodding towards it. “I hope it won’t cause you much pain for long.” She almost regretted the apology as he attempted a charming quip in her direction. This was why she found men incredibly boring. However, the moment he introduced himself as a friend of the Levantis, Dorothea could see that he must have attracted the attention of one of the ladies of the house. A moment later, he indicated which one.
“Dorothea of Dimitrou,” she returned the introduction. “I have not, but no doubt she will find you soon if she invited you.” Dorothea was not exactly inclined to take his arm and go off in search of another woman. Though he was clearly making an effort to be friendly with her despite having come at the bequest of another. This was why Dorothea cared little for courtly games. It was far more simple to spend her days with the horses rather than play these games that would either lead nowhere or to her entrapment. Neither were particularly appealing.
Luckily, she was saved from having to grab his arm by the arrival of the lady in question. She watched as Basilides’ face lit up at the sight of Nana and her own enthusiasm at greeting him. The exchange gave her a sense of relief. Perhaps she might have a chance to escape sooner if these two were overly preoccupied with each other.
Yet, he had not seemed to have forgotten about her just yet. He extended his arm to her again and an invitation. The desire to view the incoming party was stronger than her desire to offend the couple by simply walking away. However, she would not accept holding on to him. Dorothea was perfectly capable of walking alongside them.
“Yes, that would be fine,” she responded cordially, making no move to take hold of him. “Hello, Lady Nana,” she greeted, now that it seemed that they would be spending some time in each other’s company for the time being. At least long enough to view the entering party and then make her escape.
The three of them made their way to catch a better view of the Egyptian General and his party. Dorothea’s sharp eyes watched with interest. Like the others, she wondered at their intentions were for visiting and was watching them carefully. Though many in the crowd gasped in excitement and were clapping at Prince Irakles’ announcement, Dorothea remained quiet, focusing on the general. There was just something about him that she wasn’t sure she liked the look of. There would be trouble, she would almost bet.
"Do you travel much, Basilides?" she asked, making an educated guess. "Have you ever met the General before?"
Eirini had integrated herself among the courtiers for much of the morning as they awaited the arrival of the Egyptian General, of whom they only seemed to be able to utter words about – naturally the conversation dulled quickly. It wasn't that Eirini didn't share in their excitement, it certainly wasn't every day an emissary from such exotic lands came to Taengea, yet for it to be the sole topic of conversation was remarkably tedious.
She had mostly kept to the company of Lethe after that, a cup of wine pressed to her lips as she awaited the arrival of her husband, Prince Irakles and the General.
Yet Eirini's gaze did not fixate with impatience upon the door, instead her honeyed hues roamed the great hall settling briefly upon the scene her niece, Nana seemed to create; the amusement difficult to suppress as Evelli struggled with one of her perfect daughters and Eirini may have confessed to a small chuckled echoed into her cup.
The scene made her think of her own daughters mind you and her brow furrowed slightly as she glanced around, searching for the three girls and unsurprisingly, she spotted them huddled together, nervously eyeing the crowds as though they were all useless mutes – how many times did she have to tell them?
"Lethe, instruct my daughters that their father shall not be pleased to find them idly tucked into a corner when he arrives." Too irked to deal with them herself, Eirini sent her lady and with an elegant incline of her head, Lethe navigated the crowd to approach the three girls. Eirini didn't bother to watch, she knew she could trust Lethe to carry out her command effectively.
Fortunately, she hadn't much longer to wait. The room quickly filled with the melodic tibia and as the entourage stepped into the hall, the announcement of their arrival resulted in a applause, one that Eirini lightly mimicked. They were soon silenced by Irakles, whose thunderous tone echoed around the hall, conveying his well rehearsed introduction and welcome – yet Eirini heard little of it. Her gaze sought out her husband, a small twitch of her lips the only expression of her contentment upon seeing him again, even if it had only been a few hours at most.
The General's entrance brought another round of applause and Eirini couldn't resist the urge to glance his way, a brow arching slightly as she took in his appearance – he certainly was a handsome man, and a confident one at that.
She finished her drink quietly, allowing for introductions to be made between Irakles sons and the General before making her move, adamant on becoming the first woman to greet him – well, with the queen otherwise indisposed and Meena a mere mistress, who else should get the honour.
Setting aside her cup, Eirini moved through the throngs of people with a purposeful but elegant step, bodies parting for her, creating a direct path towards the small entourage. A smile brightened her countenance as she approached, offering a respectful curtsey to Irakles and his sons, and then to the General "Highnesses." She turned then to Fotios, moving to stand by his side and greeted him with a gentle kiss to the cheek and a quick whisper in his ear. "Introduce me, husband."
The conversational time he had anticipated to have with Lord Gavriil and Princess Xene was short (and Gianna, by extent; he greeted her with a cordial nod but had the opportunity to do no further), but Nikos did not anticipate his audience with the trio to be immediately interrupted by the sudden arrival of the Egyptian convoy. Or rather a retinue of servant boys, more specifically, for Nikos suddenly found himself being ushered inside amid a tide of crimson and gold, just in time to spot Irakles dismounting at the base of the stairs before the golden doors were pulled shut behind him.
Without so much as a glance at the Egyptian convoy, Nikos now found himself loitering at the edge of a loosely packed hall, resounding with the soothing melodies of strings and winds and a low chatter from the crowd talking over the musical backdrop. Wanting to escape from the entryway, Nikos descended the stairs and had just begun to weave his way through the attendants when he heard the great doors unbolt behind him. He turned with the crowd, and amid a burst of applause and a swell from the strings appeared Irakles, with the Egyptians close behind. Nikos' slow claps joined the acclamation before Irakles raised his hand to address the crowd before inviting the Egpytian general to stand beside him.
The second round of thunderous applause soon ceased, and Nikos studied the general, introduced as Sidar, as he climbed down the steps. Dark and tattooed, the man had a savage appearance, with the muscle and breadth to justify his warlike appearance. The man is certainly a fighter, Nikos thought to himself as Irakles brought Achilleas and Emilios forward in presentation to the general. His eyes swept over Irakles and Achielleas, respectively an ambitious man and a warrior in his own right, before coming to rest back on the warlord that stood before them. So much for any talks of peace...
Nikos was jolted from his thoughts at the sound of his own name, and he stepped forward as he, too, was presented to Sidar. "My Prince, you are too kind," he purred, giving a flourish of his arm as he dipped his head in a shallow bow towards Sidar. "The pleasure is all mine, General. Please, enjoy the wine."
The man turned from them soon after, and Nikos could practically feel Achilleas bristle beside him. Of course, the man would be jealous; Irakles had not been covert in his praise and closeness with Nikos over the past few weeks. The thought so greatly pleased him it brought a smirk to his face, to see a Mikaelidas spurned such as he by his own kin. With the initial introductions concluded and Sidar's request to "mingle with some of your nobles" up in the air, the young lord wanted for nothing further than a glass of wine for himself now as he awaited Irakles' answer to the Egyptian's request.
Achilleas and Emilios's reaction to the Egyptian general were... lacklustre, at least in Irakles's eyes. This was a well decorated war general who, not too long ago, they were at odds with as their kingdoms fought. Nevertheless, he did note, with a sideways look that his eldest turned strained as Irakles turned his attention to Nikos, but did not allow himself to further react upon it - his son needed to learn his place, and if Achilleas refused to do so on private grounds, and indeed tried to go against him in private, well Irakles had no qualms in bringing the discussion to a public floor.
Smiling as Nikos arrived as well, he matched his smile with the young Condos lord's, and gestured at the wine offered. "The wines are a product of the Condos vineyards themselves, produce of Lord Nikos's family, and a pride of Taengea." Irakles introduced smoothly, only to be caught by surprise when the General asked to mingle. It was a rare request to be sure, for Irakles was trained to accompany guests as they were hosted by the royal family in Taengea, introducing them to as many nobles as he could manage without being overly rude.
Yet, who was he to deny a request?
Nodding with a pleasant smile still intact, he took a step back as if allowing the Egyptian his space. "Of course, Sirdar. Please do not hesitate to call on me if you need any assistance, I will not be far away." Allowing the man to leave, Irakles motioned at Ujarak, hissing at his scribe to keep an eye on the general to ensure that he stayed in the hall, and that he had no want for anything nor any lack in hospitality, before allowing the crowd to swallow the man's large, tall figure up. Turning to younger men who now stood next to him, Irakles first turned to Achilleas, his eyes briefly flitting over to the remaining people, before back to his first born. "If you and Lady Theodora are not prepared for your wedding, I suggest you discuss any remaining details left with her with immediacy, Achilleas. The ceremony won't be long now." It was an order, not a suggestion, that he go look for his fiance, and make it look to all that the marriage was underway.
With a flick of his head, it was a silent command for Emilios to go and mingle as he would, before a pleasant smile graced his lips as he turned to Nikos, raising his own wine chalice at the man. "The finest of qualities tonight, Lord Nikos. I thank you for your vineyard's contributions to making our night wonderful. Is your father in attendance tonight?" he asked, looking over his shoulder. While Nikolias would most likely be around, it was hard to locate a specific person with the crush of humans in the hall. Noting the attendances of the Leventi and Skleros family, along with many of the other noble and royal families, it was obvious that the Taengean nobility had turned up in full force for this event.