The Banquet, as Saorise had called it, was perhaps not as lavish as Prince Isiah had been expecting. Admittedly, many of the nobles had withdrawn to their own territories temporarily in order to help with the conscription efforts. There were perhaps only thirty individuals in attendance, the Caramorts and the Prince’s party making up a third of the attendees. The Prince, for lack of a better word, looked bored.

Saorise had been under the impression that he was intelligent, but his current demeanour was…well, it was reminiscent of a child. Saorise had to do her best to remind herself that the youngest Westfold was barely an adult, much like Lyle.

Even Lyle had some form of maturity at the dinner table however.

Eventually, Saorise could take the boy’s silence no longer, and aimed to draw him into conversation.

“So, Prince Isiah, I hear tell of many Wendolan traditions, considering our new bonds, I would love to hear of them from one who has experienced them. Do our Banquets meet with Wendolan standards?” asked Saorise. Perhaps too weighted a question, but as conversation dulled around her, it was clear the others in attendance were curious of the answer as well.

The Prince seemed to sense the weight of the question as well, and he shifted to straighten in his seat as he cleared his throat, “Well, your décor is…well, the Wendolan equivalent is much more richly adorned, and the food is usually…hot. Still, I can understand that this event was probably planned quickly. The Court Banquets are usually planned weeks if not months in advance”.

Saorise nodded thoughtfully, “I see, well, allow me to ease your worries by saying that Easterners do not believe in rich adornment. We, and forgive my frankness, your highness, believe in not wasting our coin on decorations when it could be better spent on providing better for our people. As for the food, it is all that of the earth. To thank our great mother what food we can in it’s most natural state so as to thank her for her blessings in returning our loved ones home and providing us with peace once more. I hope our traditions do not offend”.

Isiah shook his head quickly, “No…I admit I never thought of these things. Is everything in the East done with such profound reasoning?”

Saorise, and many of the others at the table, chuckled.

“Forgive us, Prince, we don’t mean to be rude,” Nathan spoke, “It is simply that coming from the mouth of someone who identifies as a people that once treated us as nothing more than savages, such words are, without doubt, amusing”.

The young Prince gave a self-deprecating smile, “Aye, well, I’m sure my brother has learned an awful lot through the encounters we have had. I know I certainly have. I learn more just being here. Though, there is a question I have which I hope will not offend”.

“Please, Prince, we are a united people now, it is only natural to want to learn about one another,” Saorise stated.

“Well, on the night of the Dancing Leaves Festival, the Lady Eloise spoke of the Four Great Festivals of the East. What was of particular interest to me was the Great Hunting Festival that occurs in Spring,” he said, “I admit that I, and many of my countrymen were shocked to hear about such young children being forced to fend for themselves in the wilds. We would not dream of doing such a thing. His Majesty was quite shocked to learn that any children that were produced via his Eastern concubines would likely be subject to these traditions. Out of curiosity, what would happen if one does not participate?”

There was an awkward silence among the Eastern guests before Saorise placed her cutlery down, “Forgive us, your highness, we remain silent simply because such an event has never occurred before. It is tradition. Much like the Dagger Ceremony that your people perform at a male child’s sixteenth birthday”.

“You know of the Dagger Ceremony?” asked Isiah, legitimate surprise in his expression.

“Of course,” said Saorise, “As for your question…it is perhaps best to explain the experiences of the children during the Hunting Festival. Of course it is terrifying and challenging, and meant to make us all too aware of the faces of life and death, but through these experiences, we gradually begin to forge a deep and unbreakable bond with the Great Mother, Leisha. This bond is only ever something that we feel fleetingly or are told about in childhood, the mark of an adult is being able to truly sense and draw upon the Great Mother’s guidance. So, with this understanding, I suppose the answer to your question because simple; a child who does not participate in the Great Hunting Festival forges no deep or lasting bonds with our Patron Goddess. They are, effectively, but a shadow of what they could be”.

“A child without a firm understanding of the world in which it is born will retain the ignorance of childhood,” Nathan agreed.

“Then, what of those people who do not worship Leisha, do you see them as but shadows as well?” asked Isiah. There was no maliciousness or accusation in his tone, only blank curiosity.

“You have your own traditions to your own Patron Gods and Goddesses, do you not?” asked Saorise, “If these ceremonies allow those who undergo them the same fulfilment and insight as ours do, why then would we condemn them for being different to our own?”

Isiah gazed at Saorise a moment before he nodded, “Thank you, for answering”.

Saorise smiled, “Of course, your highness. Besides, perhaps this insight will aid you in the next few weeks”.

“The next few weeks?” asked Isiah, “I…am I to understand it that you are giving me a job, Arch Duchess?”

Saorise chuckled, “Was it not his majesty that sent you here to aid me in preparing the conscripted, your highness?”

The tiniest tint of red painted the young Prince’s cheeks before he cleared his throat, “Right, and what will you be needing, Arch Duchess?”

“Well, for starters, an understanding of any crown appointed weapons and uniform,” stated Saorise, “Our Tailors and Blacksmiths are ready and awaiting orders. Also, an understanding of how the Eastern Conscripted are to be divided among the Wendolan Army would surely help in the selection of officers among the Eastern ranks. I’m sure his majesty would wish the new additions to his army to be put to effective use as soon as is possible given his month of marital bliss will likely end in our arrival”.

Prince Isiah seemed to realise the weight of his role more seriously then, and he was silent for a moment before he met Saorise’s gaze, “I’ll see to it that I make myself available for consultation at your earliest convenience, Arch Duchess”.

“The first shall begin arriving tomorrow afternoon, I believe,” stated Saorise, “The lords will no doubt have their own recommendations for officers, but we will test all of the conscripted two weeks from now so that we may be sure in selecting the best”.

Isiah seemed to light up at this, “A competition”.

Saorise smiled, “Perhaps you could consult on which skills are most valued among the Wendolan Army, your highness?”

“It would be my pleasure, Lady Caramort”.