Surprised was one word. Shocked was another. The king was upset, and for no small reason.<br/><br/><strong>"Um yes your right it must be <em>Aryia </em>who makes rash decisions due her emotional state and doesn't think of the future." </strong><br/><br/>Lisa said sarcastically, the layout of the palace carried echo's well.  All the witches eye's locked to the shattered vials, seeing the strange new breed of wisps escape from their prisons to re-orientate themselves before seeking some lifeless body to possess.<br/><br/>Then one of the male witches seemed to find some sense.<br/><strong><br/>"Lisa, his own home town is being tainted from within, do not just such an action so ! This would feel like a disease that is unknown which would rock all our senses, will masters or not. Anger and frustration are closely linked you know that, dont provoke him to move his frustration towards anger at us ! Oh and in case you didn't notice, he did mention that he he needed all the help he could get. What he said was about as close to an appreciation and an apology as you can get from a king ! Kings are proud for a reason. They are taught to be by counselors. They hold the pride of their nation, its not like what we know. You should study their ways before speaking ! "</strong><br/><br/>Then one of the other male witches spoke ...<br/><strong><br/>"Aryia and Lisa, provoking men of such power is foolish, right or wrong there is a reason they are in power. I have looked at the kings battle tactics, face to face he may not be the most diplomatic of men, many kings are not this is why they hire ambassadors and diplomats, but he is an exceptional strategist, and I don't say such things flippantly. He may not be the most romantic of types, but if an army is moving towards this city, their populous is in good hands. This outbreak has caught him unawares and his commands, when caught by surprised and shocked were more sensible than what they sound like to our values. To us retreat is the first option we take when surprised, its not one of shame for us. For others it is ! Talking so immediately to them is shameful ! He had no choice. When he has more time to plan he is formidable. Trust me you don't want to make an enemy of the king, even on a good day. <br/><br/>Remember Aryia what we talked of in the carriage ride here. We don't have hierarchies like they do elsewhere, they MUST be respected, our culture serves us, their culture serves them. We are on his land in his palace in his HOUSE. Lesser kings would have had you shot or in prison or worse from saying a lot less than you just did.... and most would have agreed it would be right for them to do so. For him to show such tolerance he does respect you, that is his way of showing you he does... "</strong><br/><br/><strong>"<em>Respect </em>me ? He doesn't respect me, he <span class="bbc_u">hated </span>me the moment I walked into this place, and as for his <em><span class="bbc_u">rights </span></em>? <span class="bbc_u">Right </span>to ...<span class="bbc_u">what </span><span class="bbc_u">exactly </span>?"</strong>Aryia rounded about to create another tirade<br/><br/>"Aryia listen ! Don't make matters worse ! As far as monarchs go he was more than good ! Remember he is dealing with the reaver, this was the last thing he wants ! being in such power without either is harder than you think. He listens to squabbling of others all the time, surely one even of grand statue would be sick of it and loose patience.<br/><br/>If he says anything while passing hold your tongue, for Mistpeak's sake, civil war has occurred over less, and if it does he will win not us, Mistpeak may not have the troubles of other places but we don't match anything they can do when they are prepared even at a fraction of their strength. When he passes, both of curtsy and button your lips tight as worm-wood. All of us must for the sake of our OWN people please I beg you both Lisa, Aryia I have read history books on Kings tolerance ! please !"<br/><br/>Lisa and Aryia exchanged looks but nodded.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I may be an arrogant Monarch but at least I don't endanger the lives of ordinary people because of a 'thank you' or because I think one statement or two statements that you considered rude or threatening, I care little about your feelings during times like this, you can obviously hold your own as the others can...." he said then pointing to the city. "They depend on me and the army to protect them, and if I can have help in doing so all the better, I make no promises or apologies for my behavior. You have all of my support in evacuating the civilians away from the city. For what it is worth I do respect you immensely, but if you don't get a handle on your own emotions they will cause a war that I do not want to happen, to many lives have been killed over such petty squabbles, I will not be involved in such. When this is over I hope we can come together once again as a whole if not, then so be it"</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/>Don't get a handle on ~my~ emotions ? Who was arrogant ? Aryia was about to stand from her curtsy to retort but a stern look from the male witches ensured she didn't. The king left the room and soon the male witches let out a breath of relief they had been holding.<br/><br/>The witches about Aryia knew their presence wasn't welcomed and feared the king may change his mind so quickly they moved faster than they normally would.<br/><br/>One of the male witches that had urged Aryia and lisa to stay silent ran to one of the kings sages.<br/><br/><strong>"Diplomatic relations can repaired when both are less hot tempered believing the other is more so. Unexpected calamities can do so, none are immune to such emotions. Please know don't have hierarchies where we come from, roles perhaps but none are used to taking command of others. We are not familiar with the ways of kings and Aryia easily forgets what what good people have done if they start accusing ... A few of us with her only knew by chance of how kings are by luckily happening upon a book of it.  In Mistpeak, evacuation and retreat isn't deemed bad ... please tell your diplomats this, Aryia didn't know what shame she was implying towards the king saying so as if he thought the same on the matter, both were at fault of not knowing the other values. Mistpeak will send a formal apology soon this I swear it."<br/></strong><br/><br/>After saying so the male witch hurried to catch up with the others...<br/><br/>[... Aryia returns to the outside again .. ]