The group chuckled at Cyne’s expression of spilling a glass of milk; the visual image of a prince and a fire mage to boot doing something as mundane as knocking over a glass of milk made him just a little more attainable in their eyes. Soon, they were giving their attention to their instructor once more at the fire mage’s encouragement and explanation of what made Caldwyn just so unusual in his opinion. Caldwyn cleared his throat and gave his students a steady look as he folded his arms. “Thank-you, Cyne... although my students don’t seem to have a problem understanding that while I have mastery of all the elements, they seem to be amused by the fact everything I say is what they consider to be... old world.” The mage replied, giving his students a half smile to show them that he was indeed teasing them.<br/><br/>However, when Cyne’s voice turned to the differences between humans and vampires, the students became attentive and quiet, their eyes avidly devouring the prince’s movements when he gestured with his hands and seeming to absorb every word he said. At his emphasis that he had intended to learn alongside them today, rather than give a lecture himself, the pre-adolescents looked at one another in confusion. Anyone who looked Cyne’s age in their realm, even a mortal person, a human with the gift of magic, was accomplished enough to be an instructor in their eyes.<br/><br/>As one, small, secretive grins broke out and were exchanged between students at his reference to the queen’s ‘courteous’ nature toward him. The rumors had flown the minute Elara had brought the mortal prince through the portal, alive, after having relinquished the land conquered in the mortal realm. But they silenced the chuckles at one sharp look from Caldwyn and scooted a little to make room for Cyne to sit with them. “Now, you have all visited the ruins that Queen Elara took our guest to visit. You have all met the creature that seems encased in stone... but have you all been able to feel the power that writhes beneath the stone? How would you sink your magic beneath that barrier and possibly communicate with her? Or even free her? Do any of you have theories for me?”<br/><br/>The lesson continued in a different tack now, Caldwyn giving the students (and Cyne) a project to think about, to plan about, to consider how to awaken something that was turned into stone, or if his theory was just something so fantastical that it was an impossibility. The half-human, half-vampire mage instructor seemed to expect a challenger, or at least an explanation as to why his proposition wouldn’t work at all, but it seemed his students knew their teacher well-enough to pause and give the matter some heavy thought before they denied it entirely.<br/><br/>*********<br/><br/>Slowly, all the members of her Council nodded, for once giving the impression that they were indeed all aligned with one another’s plans and schemes. Elara stared from one to the next, dark blue eyes sharp and evaluating as she locked gazes with each member momentarily, her mere presence swelling as she tried to discern what exactly the Council gained from agreeing with her plan. But she couldn’t see or hear any duplicity in their words or intent so the vampire queen slowly lowered her lean form back into her chair almost lazily as she propped one long, lean leg up on the table, then the other, crossing them at the ankles, purposely trying to draw a comment about impropriety from her Council. But they simply sat silent, staring at her as if intimidated by the former Queen’s general settled in the throne like she owned it, which she did, by all rights.<br/><br/>“What a historical event... you self-centered pricks have actually put the good of our realm first before yourselves, your lands, your influence and all that...” She purred, looking pleased and even playing with her dark hair, pulling her braid over her shoulder and stroking it slowly between clever, long fingers. The sounds of them swallowing was almost audible before Councilman Kelton cleared his throat, drawing the flat stare of the Queen once again, as she snapped out, “What is it now?”<br/><br/>“Your Highness, we would prefer this to be handled quickly... if the mortal King sent troops through to reclaim his son and take him back, thus violating our treaty, would it not be wise to eliminate the threat as soon as possible? So they cannot send reports back before the portal is sealed forever?” The Councilman suggested, looking annoyed at having to be the mouthpiece for the others.<br/><br/>Her well-groomed eyebrows arched upward in thought, like two bird-wings lifting for flight before a lazy and indolent smile crossed Elara’s face again, easing her expression into one of confidence. “Indeed. Very well, I will set out as soon as possible to seal the portal... and send some of<i>my</i>guards to go search for whoever or whatever came through the portal.” She put her feet down in one smooth movement and rose from her chair in the next heartbeat, the fluid grace belonging to a cat as she glanced at them all. “Can I assume that the council meeting is over then? I really should be on my way if you’re going to make the situation sound oh-so-urgent.”<br/><br/>The council glanced at one another, as if they had other things they wanted to discuss but they didn’t dare push one cranky queen any farther toward the point where she was snap and disembowel them all possibly. Elara had a reputation for a hair-trigger temper when it came to the messy politics, and was one of the few people Ava would send when she felt the council was dragging their feet on an issue, so they didn’t dare argue with her as their new Queen left the council chamber.