When Peter and his Wendolan party re-emerged, weaponless and with clothing more appropriate to the occasion, one could still clearly distinguish his party from the Easterners. The Easterners avoided them, like they were diseased and extremely contagious. But the main reason one could tell that the Wendolan party didn't belong was that they clearly did not feel the same about the occasion as the Easterners did.

Saorise, still entirely angry and disappointed in the Wendolan King, was reluctant to play hostess. She may have sent the invitation, but it had been on good terms. Disrespecting some of the most sacred laws and practices of her people in return had severely pissed her off. Though, she was doing a right lot better than Jenny who had had to move to the other side of the field just to cool off and prevent herself from strangling them with her bare hands.

And so, thanks to the pride and anger of her people, Eloise had volunteered to play hostess in Saorise's place. Saorise had clearly felt guilty about it, but Eloise assured her that this was an opportunity that she needed. She needed to know if the Wendolan King's blunder was redeemable.

So, moving with far more confidence than she felt towards the awkwardly standing party, Eloise received the Wendolan King and his party with a small nod of acknowledgement. She may have curtsied on the outside, but she was not Wendolan to being with, and such practices were not done in the East. They did not believe in bowing to another party purely based on their bloodline.

"Eloise, yes?" Peter asked, cutting off a ready-to-protest attendant who was about to correct Eloise's greeting. Eloise could tell by the look in his eyes.

Eloise nodded, "And just for this evening, I will call you Peter".

The party around Peter completely froze, but Peter simply nodded, "Fair enough. I think I have observed enough to know that status means little at this gathering".

Eloise gave a small twitch of her lips. It seemed he wasn't completely blind.

"So, you are one of the volunteers for me to take as my consort?" asked Peter, clearly attempting to strike up conversation.

"Well, I haven't decided you're completely irredeemable so I suppose you could say that," said Eloise.

Peter winced, "Was showing up as I did really so awful?"

Eloise raised an eyebrow at him, then turned to stand beside him, sweeping a head out at the dancers and other mingling parties around them, "What do you observe, Peter?"

Peter, though reluctant to be lectured, realised that this was an opportunity for him to learn and not make a similar mistake again. He looked out at the Easterners in the field as Eloise intended.

"Joy, equality, a spiritual connection to...well to something," Peter said.

"To life," Eloise informed him, "Life is not just a Goddess to us. A being of sacred and unreachable power that watches over but never intervenes. No, to us, Leisha is mother to all and so she rests in all of us. We feel her in the earth as much as we feel her in our own hearts, minds and flesh. She is with us always. To have such faith and respect for her is a great joy and pride for us Easterners. It is a great part of who we are as a people and how we choose to live our own lives".

Peter observed it all as she talked about it, could see the truth in her words and in her expression. It was the expression of someone who truly believed and was truly passionate about what they spoke of.

"And the equality? Admittedly I have realised your social status does not work the same as in other Kingdoms, but I have not seen you readily interact between ranks as you do tonight," Peter spoke.

"No?" asked Eloise, "Perhaps you were not looking hard enough then".

Peter turned a questioning gaze her way.

"General Lowan is Saorise's foremost adviser in these negotiations," she said, "He is also of common birth. We respect those of higher social status, but more often than not we do not respect them just because of their birth right. They have proven their worth to be able to stand where they do, and part of proving that is acknowledging the importance of those below them".

"So, any family can become noble in the East so long as they make enough contributions?" asked Peter.

Eloise tilted her head as if thinking over her answer so as not to confuse him, "In a manner of speaking. For an individual to be acknowledged is one thing, for an entire family to earn that same acknowledgement is another".

"What have the Caramorts done to earn such respect?" asked Isiah. Peter turned to look at his younger brother with a raised eyebrow, but decided not to reprimand him as he too was curious.

Eloise just smiled, "The Caramorts have been the defenders of the East for so long that the reason they are to begin with is but a legend now...Have you heard tales of the Ancient Ones before?"

"In passing," Peter said, "Most royal families claim their thrones because some part of their blood, though tainted from intermingling, can be traced back to them".

Eloise nodded, "A sure enough way to claim status. Except in the East of course. The East's way of life strictly forbids such things as thrones and crowns. Such symbolism and power separates those who are deemed 'royal' from those who are not. Once there is a lesser and a better, there is room for other concepts that go hand in hand with power, some of which are detrimental to the unity of a people".

She paused for a moment, her eyes drawn to where Saorise danced with her brother. Those around them watched and clapped joyfully along with the music. But it was different to before, their presence, the way they moved, especially Saorise, it was so much more graceful and powerful.

"The Caramorts are said to descend from the Goddess of Life herself, not just the Ancient Bloodlines of the East. As the legend goes, the man who became to first Caramort had the opportunity to ascend into Godhood alongside his mother, but instead decided to watch over the people he had grown up with and who had cared for him. He taught them the ways of his mother, and protected them from outside influences. It has been the duty of the Caramorts ever since," Eloise said, "And they have done their duty marvellously".

"Until now," Lucas spoke, clearly still annoyed at the lake of propriety and adherence to status.

Eloise barely flinched, "Do you know what the Festival of Dancing Leaves symbolises?"

"I admit I am ignorant of Eastern customs," Peter said, giving Lucas a meaningful glance.

"Yes, that is painfully obvious," Eloise scoffed. The Party around Peter again glared at her, as if trying to force her to comply with their rules with their presence alone, but Eloise simply ignored them as she began her lecture.