All the talk of the city was of a white lion with an azure blue mane running through the sky towards the royal palace.

The humans were saying this was an omen of both good and bad. The grey skins were worrying that the Seng had become wild and feral.

Another rumor had also spread. Whispers were heard that a princess of the royal Jacob family was alive. Most of the people did not believe it since they didn't even know there was a princess, but the whispers still persisted.

~~

"This is a bad situation. Luckily none of the nobles have yet heard about Liana," Doreen said to Rufus.

Rufus was sitting on the throne with all of his friends present. Gwon was in the room also with a guilty look on his face, like a kid who was caught stealing from the cookie jar.

"What is done is done," Edward said.

"How can you say, "What is done is done". We may lose the support of the people if they hear we are harboring a child of the old royal family," Doreen countered and looked at everyone.

"Edward is still right. Let the people gossip like old women. We cannot do anything about that," Amala explained.

Doreen went quiet.

Rufus looked at Gwon who still felt guilty.

"How about if you go play with Liana. Don't worry. You haven't done anything wrong," Rufus said.

Gwon left the room with Edward patting him on the top of his head.

"I think this topic has been settled. Let's move on," Rufus said.

"So, are you ready to meet with queen Sasha? She comes here tomorrow," Doreen asked.

"What of this Sasha? We grey skins have fought against the nation of Sparv also and they are in no way different from the humans of this kingdom. How is this Sasha in any way different than from the king who sat on that throne over a year ago?" Amala asked.

"They are not that different, and neither is the queen. She rules her country with her nobles, but unlike in many other countries, only a woman is eligible to be the queen. Many of her advisers and loyal nobles are also women who are the backbone of her nation. Many of them are coming here tomorrow. They wish to show their strength so we must also show our strength," Doreen explained.

"Let them come then. We will show our strength as well. We grey skins will not disappoint Rufus or you humans," Amala said.

"She is right. We need to show force. We must show that we will kill them if they try and invade us," Joan said who was leaning against the wall.

~ ~

The next morning the trumpets were heard in the distance. An entourage of at least a hundred nobles and soldiers with plenty of carriages with horses riding on the sides was entering the capital. One carriage stood out from the rest of them. It was colorful that four horses towed with many soldiers guarding it.

They marched and rode through the gates with the citizens of the city making way for the entourage. The soldiers and nobles of Sparv looked indifferent at the citizens of the capital, but they did stare a lot at the grey skins. The soldiers and nobles especially glared at them with the grey skins staring provocatively back.

"This country has gone to shit," one noble said and glared at the grey skins.

"What. We also have wild animals in our cities. They just are pens as they should be," a noble said back and started to laugh.

~~

They entered the royal palace through the gates that were guarded by two Ghersengs. In front of the doors, Rufus waited with all his friends including Tashi, count Hunyadi and many of the tribal leaders and nobles of the Fairfax kingdom.

The fancy carriage stopped in front of the palace doors. The soldiers formed lines on both sides and one noble went to open the door. A woman with dark hair came out wearing a bright red dress with jewelry around her neck and forehead. She looked smugly around and spotted Rufus who was feeling intimidated by the whole situation. It was Queen Sasha Chezia of the nation of Sparv.

The queen smiled.

"My good king of the new kingdom of Fairfax. It is my pleasure to meet you," the queen said.

"It is our pleasure to have you," Hunyadi said and nodded his head to the queen.

"I am sorry, but are you the king? I heard the king was younger," the queen said and looked at the count.

"I am not the king. I am coun…..."

"Then you should be quiet. I was addressing the king. Let the queen of Sparv speak with the king of Fairfax."

The count looked at Rufus who looked frozen. Edward and Doreen pushed him forward and made Rufus stumble a bit and look unprepared. Rufus looked at the queen that stood in front of him.

"Uhmmm…. hello," Rufus said with an awkward smile.

The queen lifted her eyebrows as the other nobles chuckled behind the queen. Rufus didn't seem in no way kingly or royal.

"Well then my good king, it is my pleasure to meet you and the founder of the Fairfax dynasty," the queen said and showed a smile.

"Ah. Yes. It is also nice to meet you."

All the nation of Sparv's nobles laughed.

"I bring some gifts from our nation. Marching through your kingdom and especially through your capital it seems they will be needed very much."

The nobles from the kingdom of Fairfax all looked displeased. They knew the queen was trying to show off and look down on them.

"Wow. Thank you so much. I mean really. What did you bring? Food, supplies, what, what, what?" Rufus started to ask not realizing the queen was looking down on them.

The nobles of the kingdom of Fairfax started holding in their laughs with count Hunyadi biting his lips. The queen looked irritated as Rufus grabbed her hands.

"Uhmmm, we brought some fine jewels, quality garments and some finest of wine from the city-states of Etna," the queen explained.

"Hmmm….Well, I guess we can use some of those tonight," Rufus said who seemed a bit disappointed.

"Tonight?"

"Yes, for our evening supper," Rufus said and smiled.

The queen and her nobles felt insulted by how Rufus spoke to her.

"You all must be tired. Please get inside. We have prepared quarters for you all inside the royal palace," Count said and gave way to the queen and her entourage to enter the palace.

"Thank you. I am truly tired after the long travel. I will then see you later tonight during...supper," the queen said and entered the palace with most of her nobles.

After that queen had entered the room, count Hunyadi pulled Doreen and Edward away.

"I thought you taught Rufus some etiquette?" Hunyadi asked.

"We tried, but Rufus is from the slums and is unable to even act in no other way," Doreen explained.

"If you think Rufus is bad, wait until you see Haley trying to speak the tongue of the high nobility. That shit is hilarious," Edward said and laughed.