Anira smiled, feeling as though a large weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She sat at the end of the long table, three to her left and two to her right. "Thank you so much for your warm and understanding welcome. It has been a rough time, me becoming Queen. I have fought my way to this position and I do not plan to let my people down." She turned to the leader who had spoken of her mother. "Thank you for your kind words of my mother. What is your name, good sir?" The man did a slight head nod, a kind a father like smile on his elderly features.
"My name, your Majesty, is Artisan. I rule over the city of Bellanok just south of your province. I knew your mother when she first became Queen. She was a strong warrior, as well as a fair leader. I say again, you would have made her so proud with all that you have accomplished." He said, placing a gentle hand upon her own. She smiled, fighting back tears. She would talk to Artisan more of her mother very soon. The man beside Artisan who had yet not spoken, cleared his throat.
"Your Majesty, my name is Grimoire. I rule over Radarma, to the north. I fear that you come with a black cloud looming over head. You have killed the former Queen, you have killed many of the city's guards. Surely you must be aware that there could be repercussions to the actions used to achieve your position." Anira stared at Grimoire. He was a frail man, of an older age, not as old as Artisan but he seemed to be around what her father would have been, had he been alive. Grimoire seemed to be very skiddish, afraid of his shadow almost. It did not surprise her that he was scared that something would happen to her.
"You worry too much Grimoire, you old codger. I believe our beautiful new addition to the counsel of leaders, is more than capable to protect herself from your imaginary attackers." Anira turned her attention to the newest speaker. He seemed to be her age in body, but she was much older than him in years. He appeared to be the youngest out of all the leaders, had she not only had eyes for Kresch, Anira would say that he was very attractive, handsome even. He flashed her a charming smile and began to speak again. "I am Luis, your Majesty, the recently appointed leader of the city of Aust. My city lies to the east of your magnificent city. I warmly welcome you, and wish you a long and prosperous reign."
"You have no right to speak, Luis. You were just handed the city after your father's sudden death and your brother's unfortunate banishment. Queen Anira was not so lucky. Though I do not believe she will be a horrendous leader, she has left a very large trail of blood in her wake. Lest we forget, she hasn't been raised into the nobility she should have been. She knows not of any leadership abilities or how the Counsel of the Ebon Hand handles things." Anira frowned upon hearing such things. She let her eyes drop to the table, almost ashamed that she could not be like these men. She could not go back in time to receive the nobility or the etiquette she should had been raised with. She felt Artisan place his hand on her again, patting it in a comforting way. Grimoire realized he had offended her almost instantly. "Your Majesty, I believe you will do great things for the city of Derath. I truly do, I just have a feeling that people would move to take advantage of your naivete."
"Oh please, you old fool, make her feel even worse. Not one of us is innocent in this counsel, why must she suffer under your conspiracies!" Luis said blatantly. Anira was starting realize there were more to these men than she had originally assumed. Her eyes then landed on the one leader who had yet to speak. He stood there, eyes trained upon her with a look of such distaste and annoyance that is made her skin crawl to make eye contact with him. What had she done to cause him to stare at her in such a manner?
