Anarlina the Paragon

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal couldn't help but feel nervous as he walked through Anarlina and sought out the palace. He managed to not shake (though he felt his stomach fluttering quite enough on its own) but he was pale and sweating, his hair grown damp against his skin as he struggled with every bit of his self control to exert an outward composure. Fausta didn't bother to hide her fright and quietly cried every step of the way. Shyamal's frayed nerves caused him to snap at her several times, but he apologized afterwards each time and wished she would simply stop crying.

When he at last found the palace he found his feet rooted to the ground and he reached for Altra's sleeve to grasp. ~I'm scared~ he admitted to his friend and guardian.

[tuo]

Altra looks down at both Shyamal and Fausta before taking Shyamal's hand and offers one to Fausta as well. "Take my hands you two." Mentally he speaks to them to reassure them. ~If we stay calm and don't give them reason to fear us, we will remain safe.~ Deep inside he manages to contain his own measure of worry and concern though he keeps it from showing.

[Kender Bard]

"I'm a prince, I can't walk in holding another's hand like a little child," Shyamal muttered, but regardless took Altra's hand.

Fausta did as well, trembling still.

Taking a deep breath, Shyamal led his friend and sister into the court of Anarlina... and stood in confusion of what to do next. He lingered near the back and watched as two proceedings went through - evidently there was a line, you came forward, and you spoke to... a ring of men?

~Where's the King and Queen?~ Shyamal thought and murmured to Altra. He worried his lower lip a bit. Well, perhaps one had to speak with this.. council first before they got to see the royals, though that sounded nothing like the Anarlina he knew of. What little he knew. Not trusting his own shaky knowledge, Shyamal took a place in line. Most people glanced at Altra, ignoring the children.

It took quite a while before they were at the head of the line. Shyamal worried they would be dismissed for the sun was beginning to set. Fausta had stopped shaking, at least, and his own fear dimished somewhat to mere uneasiness. Both had let go of Altra's hand.

The herald glanced at the two when they were coming up and asked for their names.

Shyamal, shaking, whispered to the herald his name and heritage. The man, mouth agape, looked to Altra. "Sir, your son should not say such things. Now, please, what is your name and the nature of your business with the noble council?"

[tuo]

Altra looked the herald in the eye calmly. "He does not lie about our purpose. Please announce us."

[Kender Bard]

The herald stared at Altra, shook his head, and rather than prepare for the announcement, headed over to the council to whisper in Lord Lancer's ear. The man blinked and sat up straighter, looking straight at Altra, Shyamal, and Fausta and frowned. He held up a hand to forestall the current petitioner, who scowled in annoyance.

Leaning forward, he said softly to the other councilmen, "That boy with the man next in line claims to be a noble of Morilanta. The prince in fact, though Morilanta doesn't have a prince to my recollection. What should we do?"

"It's just a joke," Lord Diokles protested. "Send them away."

Sain shook his head. "Everyone has the right to speak."

"That's Anarlinan law."

Lord Lancer smirked slightly. "So you're saying you believe he's from Morilanta now, Peter?"

Lord Diokles spluttered and hissed, "No!"

"Then he has a right to speak."

"But-"

"And if he IS from Morilanta," Sain stated lightly, "Then this is something we'll certainly wish to hear."

"Agreed," Lord Barrera murmured.

"This is poppycock," Lord Worthington scowled. "I agree with Peter, send them away. Court's a farce enough without this sort of flippantry."

[Darastrix]

Zira resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Sain and Lord Lancer made Audience somewhat bearable, but the other nobles at times...well. "If Court is a farce," he murmured, "it's because some misplace priorities and dismiss weightier issues out of hand and build up minor ones." He glanced at Lord Diokles for a moment.

"If he is who he says, we need to listen. If not, such a deception may be of equal note. Either way, this may not be a matter for the whole Court to hear until we better know what the matter IS."

[Kender Bard]

On that, they all agreed. Lord Lancer bid the herald to pull the man and the children aside for speaking with later.

Shyamal gave a small bow and went to where directed, though this prompted some whispering amongst Court on what matter could be so great that it 'warranted hiding'.

Before letting things resume, Lord Lancer stood up and with a resonating voice replied to the entire court, "Not everyone wishes to have their news aired before all of New Anarlina."

Chastised, the court quited and things went on as normal. Once the council had dismissed the audience, Sain beckoned to the trio to come closer. The council waited until the courtiers had been shooed out of the audience hall and then gave a small nod.

"So," Sain began. "You are... who again?"

Shyamal said nothing. He was only just now getting a good loook at the nobles, and had gone ashen white as he stared at Zira. Fausta, catching on to what her brother was seeing, gave a small cry of distress and tried to run off.

Shyamal blinked and caught her, holding her still, still pale but having come out of his daze. "I'm s-sorry. He just... resembles my father uncannily. Shh, Fausta, it's not him."

[Darastrix]

~I'm inclined to believe their claim now,~ he "murmured" to Sain. ~That seemed a true reaction, and Schuldig noted my resemblance to Nissar when he and Prince Nagi were here.~

"Any resemblance is purely superficial, I assure you," Zira said gently as he shifted in his seat to fan his wings slightly. That was one feature he was sure Morilanta's leader didn't have. "I am Zira Wintersong, originally of Talen'sul."

He doubted he and their father would have the same voice, and he spoke hoping that the difference in tone and accent (he still had a slight breathy quality in his voice not heard from Contrastans) would better put their minds at ease.

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal swallowed, nodding, and went into another bow before the nobles. Fausta, flushed and flustered, shuffled behind Altra and there hid.

Sain noted the information and gave a small nod to Zira.

"I am Shyamal Negri, son of Nissar Negri, the Imperator of Morilanta," Shyamal stated. "Prince to Morilanta by his decree."

"Morilanta has no prince," Lord Diokles reaffirmed.

"Not traditionally," Shyamal agreed. "And so my title may only be an empty one, though I do bear the signet ring of my House as well as a crown that my father had fashioned for me." Reaching into his pack, he pulled out the items and displayed them.

The circlet provoked surprised - and angry from Lord Diokles and Lord Barrera - reactions; it resembled the circlet traditionally given to the crown prince, very much so, but was darker; almost black. It seemed almost a mockery of the Anarlinan counterpart.

"Get out of our land, you blackhearted little bastard," Lord Diokles snarled as he stood. "We've no dealings with Morilanta!"

[Darastrix]

"We don't yet know what 'dealings' they may want," Zira said calmly. "I would like to hear the young man out."

~And considering on Contrasta, Morilantans could cross the desert to begin anew in Anarlina and be welcomed with open arms, I don't believe it can be said anyone is "blackhearted" simply due to his place of birth, his ranking in it, or the actions of his father.~ This he said to the council at large.

[Kender Bard]

Diokles looked a bit chastised, but the rest were nodding in agreeance. They stared at Shyamal, silent and waiting.

Shyamal swallowed and tried to keep his voice and body from shaking as he began. "My father is a monster, on this I'm sure many of you are ready to agree. It pains me to say this, but I cannot forsake the truth for believing otherwise. Likewise, the high priest Bastion is as bad, if not worse, than my father. Between the two of them, Morilanta continues to flounder and choke on its own corruption. I seek a means to end that. I think the only way to do so would be to swiftly remove both Father and Bastion from their position of authority. In the remaining void, I would step up to claim the 'meaningless' title that my father bestowed upon me. With no high priest to countermand me, and having been the instrument of removing the prior leader, I should be able to assume control of Morilanta. From there, I wish to drive out the evil and give everyone the opportunity to start anew, under a reign of peace and Love. I wish to make Morilanta the sister, not enemy, of your wonderous nation."

The other nobles sat, stunned, momentarily struck speechless at this proposition.

"To this end," Shyamal went on, "I come before you Anarlinans, requesting aid to bring my vision to reality. I do not ask for arms or an army; merely a few very capable men. I want as little bloodshed as possible; just enough people to sneak into Morilanta and remove Bastion and Nissar."

[Darastrix]

"It cannot be so simple," Zira murmured thoughtfully. "It sounds a worthy cause, but from what I've heard of your land, regardless of whether Anarlina becomes involved, you should likely prepare for more than a little bloodshed if you succeed in this coup. I'm not trying to be pessimistic or contrary, but we have a recent example here on Naruta. Of what can happen when a ruler makes a drastic, sudden change," he elaborated.

"When King Shadow put an end to Maelstrom's practice of enslaving Winds and Waters, the people complied for the most part, but there was resentment from those who considered it their right. He was taking away a way of life that they had always known. Most of those Storms live in Ekaitz now, but before they were 'driven out' as you say you wish to do to the evil of your land, there was a massive coup and those Storms took control of Maelstrom for a time. King Shadow was thought dead and we in Talen'sul braced for war. And this was even after the Elemental dragons came and bade Talen'sul to reclaim her enslaved people, and I've heard Maelstrom's own dragon condemned the practice of slavery."

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal shook his head slightly. "I misspoke," he reiterated. "I actually do not plan to force the unrepentant Evil-practioneers from Morilanta, for that would do little than infect the whole of this land with their foulness. While I don't like it, it's been suggested to me that I imprison them instead. Or at least keep them contained in some manner under my eye, to watch and monitor them."

"Your plan is idealistic and silly," Lord Worthington replied with a snort. "How old are you? Ten or so years? If we take Nissar and Bastion out, you'll be next and then Morilanta falls in the hands of whomever seeks to grab it next."

"That's why I need men to help protect me," Shyamal sighed, exasperated. "I am very young, but I am the only one trying to do something."

[Darastrix]

"Idealistic in the plan of execution, perhaps," Zira said, "but I can't consider working for the betterment of a nation 'silly.'" Addressing Shyamal again, he asked, "When are you planning to put this plan in effect? How much time would there be for those involved to prepare?"

~An international matter with such far-reaching consequences should be put before the queen and regent as well,~ he told the council. ~If time permits, can we not have them remain until everyone has returned from Khelek?~

[Kender Bard]

"I'm not going to run off and do it now," Shyamal stated. "My petitions with the other nations have all been brief, save for one, however." Rejection, rejection, rejection... and a surprising acceptance. "If you are to deny me, I'll be on my way. However, I still have some time before I feel time becomes critical. So, I can't give a sure number but I can say that there's time at this moment."

"We'll need further deliberations," Sain told Shyamal. "You will be welcome here as a guest... with limited freedoms however. Though you come before us with good intentions, we cannot be too safe."

"I understand," Shyamal murmured. "Truth be told, I expected to be shown the door - or dungeons - immediately. This comes as a pleasant surprise."