<span style="font-family:Josefin Sans">A smile managed to find its way onto Ariah’s face when he mentioned that she wasn’t the only one who was nervous about their situation. It was nice to know she wasn’t alone in that regard. However, she had thought that he would be of higher standing when the situation had been explained to her. After all, Ariah was the highest lady in their village who was unmarried and there were many in their tribe who would’ve sought her hand had it not been promised in this arrangement. Surely, though, there was some explanation for that detail. <br/>
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She was more busy at the moment being absorbed in the “gift” she’d been given. He certainly wasn’t wrong in what it was as he said it. The stones were real dragon fire meaning that the fire breath of a dragon had been stolen away to get them. It was clear that he hadn’t done it, though, or he would’ve known better than to give such a thing to her and Ariah understood that. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rebeccapurple"><b>“It is dragon fire,”</b></span> she said to him. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rebeccapurple"><b>“The very breath of a dragon was stolen to get stones such as these because they exist in the throat of every dragon, giving them the power to exhale fire.”</b></span> <br/>
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Her palm closed around the stones and she could feel the heat of them radiating against her skin because it recognized her power; it knew it was with the dragons again. <br/>
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Unsure of what more there was to say about it, Ariah was about to start leading him towards the village only to be met by the scene of her father and brother when she turned around and started her gesture to follow. Chief Allin was the first to remark. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:dodgerblue"><b>“Ariah!? What in the world led you to bring yourself here before we were ready and before you were ready? You’re hardly presentable at all, my daughter.”</b></span> Although his tone wasn’t awful, his words were clearly those of a father scolding his daughter. <br/>
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Despite the fact that she’d been engaged in conversation with Tychus, the entourage that had come with her father and brother was still quick to swallow her up and remove her completely from site as though their warrior guest could forget what he’d seen until she was properly prepared for him. Watching her to make sure she made it to where she was supposed to be, Allin let his son step forward for now to formally greet their guest. <br/>
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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:navy"><b>“Apologies for our tardiness and for my sister’s… uhm… lacking formalities. I’m Aaron, son of Chief Allin and your soon to be brother.”</b></span> Aaron approached him with a smile on his face and an air of honesty about every bit of him. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:navy"><b>“My sister will rejoin us tonight. There’s a feast being prepared to welcome you and to celebrate the arrangement between my people and your leaders. It’s been so long that our lands have craved such a pleasant peace.”</b></span> <br/>
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Finally, Chief Allin himself stepped forward. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:dodgerblue"><b>“It is a wonder to finally meet you. As my son has said, we have many honors prepared to welcome you and would be delighted to lead you to the village. My warriors will take your horse to join our steeds, and you can follow us. I’m sure the night will have much you will enjoy.”</b></span> Every welcome they gave him was full of truth and honesty. This was an exciting day for them.</span>