Kenneth
As the Findaran Princess stepped through the portal, she smoothed the front plait of her gown to remove phantom creases. In her 45 years of life she had yet to step foot within the walls of the Alynthi Castle. In fact, until recently the expectation was that unless circumstances required she might never. She recalled, quickly, the advice of those past, politicians and scholars who had committed their own skills to paper in the hopes that unfortunate novices such as herself might be able to learn a mimicry of their art. Alithia hoped even a mimicry was feasible. 

There was nothing especially unique or embellished about the entry of the delegation from Findara. The Princess accompanied by her Royal Guard and Commander Halmorn Baughn waited for a few moments as the previous delegation made their way towards the meeting chamber. Her eyes surveyed the room passively in an attempt to put names to faces. Scrolls and novels had been filled with details relating to the occupants of this room, however, in this moment the emphasis needed to remain on the acquisition of new information. Well, acting in accordance with known truths would be a good way to start. 

Finally once the path ahead had cleared, the Findarans filled the empty space, the Princess turning to face the King before dipping into a brief, respectful curtsey before resuming her full height. "Your Majesty," She began, voice unwavering despite the roar of blood echoing through the chasms of her head. "Thank you for inviting us all here today and for hosting this meeting." Her eyes remained fixed on the face of the King, unsure if they would be able to return from wandering if she allowed them.
Isabel
*Though regrettably, he had never met the princess of Findara, he had definitely spoken with her father - and her brother's death he had felt almost as if it had been his own. Prince Temperance had been his companion on the battlefield - one of the mentors who had been most instructive in teaching him not only how to war, but how to behave as a warrior. There was some resemblance within her now that stirred his memory here and there - the sunlight glinting off those horns of hers, the way her jaw was shaped. Though softer around the edges, it was her brother he saw for a moment. 

The eyes, the hair. Further and further, as he looked upon the princess that dipped into a curtsey before him, he was reminded of the first day he arrived in Dazvaz on his father's orders, and was received by a man as old as he was now. Prince Temperance had aged on the battlefield, and then ceased to age forevermore. Pangs of guilt lanced through the king as surely as if a sword had been slammed into his flesh, and he bent his head, the stern expression softening into something a bit more melancholy.

It would not do to mention her brother, he reminded himself - he had to stop. No more thoughts of any far-off places or far-off times. Only the here and now was real. He inhaled, exhaled, drew himself together, and prepared himself to formally receive her.*

"Your Highness." *He spoke quietly, respectfully.* "Welcome to Alynthi. I am honored to receive you. My best wishes to His Majesty your father." *If the rumors were true, her father too was ailing, and the loss of a father was an experience he did not wish on anyone.* "My guards will collect any weapons brought. If you would, lease step into the Circle of Truth, and state your name and full intention in attending this meeting, beginning with the phrase 'My full intentions at this meeting are'. Once that is accomplished, the chamber is along the path lined with guardsmen, who will see you safely to it."
Kenneth
When the King's tone matched her own, Alithia felt the squeezing feeling within her chest lift slightly. It was done, she knew him and he knew her and neither of them were in tears or trailing off script. A small win. There was still actual business to attend to. The zone of truth was a nice touch, she thought, searching the floor for signs of magical boundaries extending beyond the appearance of the circle. These kinds of magic always intrigued the Princess who had invested so much of her time into the study of other magical schools. 

Regardless of the magical intrigue, the Princess and her party did as instructed, handing over the few weapons they had brought and stepping forward. They were in the home of a friend, and Alithia truly believed in the strength of the alliance between their two kingdoms. The blood of Findarans was shed beside that of Alynthi warriors on the battle field until only a few years ago. Even she had lost blood to the conflict. 

The King knew this too. Until the letters stopped coming, her brother had always written of the Alynthi Princes' nobility and honor. The stories and anecdotes revealed in those letters were reason enough to trust the man before her. If Temperance would follow him into battle then she would not hesitate to do the same. Luckily they were not at the point of discussing battle yet. Either way, the Princess knew it was time to state her piece. 

"I am Princess Alithia Deianeira Erato Zahavi, Crown Princess of Findara," The word *Crown* Still threatened to catch in her throat every time it was said, "And my full intentions at this meeting are to understand and learn the nature of the discussed recent events and the ways in which we can all guarantee the wellbeing of our people."