A week had come and gone with no new activity from the Longcoats or Teagan. Scouts had been posted around the camp, but like Teagan noted, all reports were more about a party, not an army. Most of the Longcoats were drunk and acting more like raging-hormonal teens then grown men.
Though DG was more worried about Teagan. Cain had allowed her to leave to find her brother, alone. She was supposed to find him and make their way to Central City. There had been no word or sighting of Teagan or any description of her whereabouts.
DG was now in her third hour of watching the sky overhead. The clouds raced by, but she was still able to make out shapes or objects before they disbursed. She just wanted to do something other than read. A few of the outer guilds had finally made their way to Finaqua for an audience.
The Vanaspati, Folkvar, and Tethys were rival tribes, but agreed to a peaceful coexistence while under the gaze of the House of Gale. DG had been in the library reading about the tribes, but the overall situation just made it hard for her to concentrate. She had even brought the books to her room, where the furthest she got was to recognize the difference.
"Anything interesting?" A voice asked, causing her to jump, "Sorry."
DG turned to see Cain flipping through one of the books, Silviculture of the Vanaspati. The other two, The Forge of Tethys and Partition of Folkvar were also lying open on her table. She stood and stretched before joining Cain inside.
"How long have you been in my room?" DG asked, picking up The Forge and slipping through it.
"Five minutes. I did knock, but you didn't answer. Figured you were busy so I entered quietly and saw you lying out on your balcony." Cain replied, chuckling at the last part, "So, anything good?"
"Not really, the only thing I found out is that each culture lives in a state the other two hate." DG replied, putting the book down.
"Oh, how so?" Cain asked, deciding to look at Partition, "I rarely heard of these guilds."
"Well, the Vanaspati are forest dwellers. They may use old temples as homes, but don't like or engage in city life. Plus, they really don't have any speaking skills, adding s to a lot of their limited vocabulary. The Tethys are the opposite, choosing to live more like a religious family. Praising their god for whatever comes their way and acting more like medieval times. Using thou art, and tis whatever." DG said, waving her hands around, "The last are the most reclusive, choosing to stay in the shadows. You may think of them more as scholars locked in a college."
"And you got all that from the books?" Cain asked, amazed at DG's quick pick up of the guilds.
"Not really, I compared them to the Other Side. The books were describing their whole history. I though Glitch and Toto wanted me to learn about their culture, not their daily lives." DG sighed, collapsing onto the couch, "What brings you?"
"Scouts report that 'people looking as if they rolled down a mud hill' are coming. From your description, I think the Vanaspati are here. The other two are probably not that far behind, but you didn't answer one thing, DG. Why do they hate one another and what happens?"
"Well, besides the Folkvar, the Vanaspati and Tethys will kill one another on site. The Tethys are builders and use trees to which the Vanaspati live for, do the math. The Folkvar will more or less ignore either side, choosing to watch more than get involved. I think the other two recent being spectacles, but who knows." DG answered, rolling to her side, "Don't worry, each swore peace while they're here. Plus, mother knows that you and the others will jump to crush skulls if need be."
"You're enjoying watching me squirm, aren't you?" Cain huffed, closing and stacking the books.
"Not all that much, Cain. You being nervous makes everyone nervous." DG laughed, "Come on, I need to take the books back and be ready to greet the Vanaspati."
DG grabbed the books and lead the way out of her room and down the stairs. The two talked quietly about the three guilds coming and what signs Cain should look for in case something went sour. They met up with Glitch about half way to the library.
"So Doll, how'd the reading go?"
"I thought you wanted me to read on the culture, not every day in their lives." DG stated, "But it went well. I know the difference between them and what they are like."
"Sorry about that, but those are the only books we have on the guilds. Though, after reading just a few days of their lives, you end up knowing their culture." Glitch admitted, opening the library doors, "Leave the books on the table there. If the guilds see them, then they may incline to read them and update us."
"Before or after trying to kill us?" Cain asked with sarcasm.
"As long as tell them it's not from the Folkvar we should be fine, right Glitch?" DG asked, placing the books on the table.
"Yes, most of our information is from our own observations. Though not from any living person." Glitch added, "All three guilds tend to move north and south with the weather."
"That's nice and all, but can we go to another topic." Cain nearly whined before turning to leave.
Glitch and DG looked to one other, trying to stifle their laughs. They raced to catch up with Cain and Glitch playfully hit Cain's shoulder. Cain tried to ignore the two's muffled snickers as they headed back to the foyer, just off the main lobby. He slumped into one of the chairs and stared out the massive windows.
"Come on, Glitch. Let's go find Az before our visitors show up." DG stated loudly for Cain. Her reply was a snort and she knew he heard her. She and Glitch were arm and arm up the stairs, heading to Azkadellia's room. The two were joking all the way and even when he knocked and Az answered.
"DG! What are you doing? Our guests will be here any minute and you look like you were out running in dirt!" Az grabbed DG and nearly tossed her sister into her room, "Excuse us Glitch."
Glitch just nodded and bowed his head, leaving the Princesses alone and heading back to the foyer. He sat next to Cain, still a smile on his face. Cain gave the advisor a confused look, but was almost afraid to ask.
"Azkadellia is getting ready." Glitch replied to Cain, "And helping DG get ready as well."
Everyone knew how girly DG wasn't and more often than not, would hide at the site of a dress. Cain could only imagine Azkadellia having to tie DG down. The image alone sent both men into a fit of laughter.
OZOS
DG nearly fell to the floor when her sister pulled her into the bedroom. As soon as the door was closed, Az was all over her sister. From shoving her into the bathroom, to dressing and doing her make-up, Azkadellia had herself and DG presentable within twenty minutes. Though DG felt like personal space had been weirdly violated.
At least Azkadellia was kind to her, finding DG a simple rose colored sun-dress. DG loved it, especially the accent veils that draped lower and the dark pink embroidery. Azkadellia even matched the make-up to the dress, to which met all DG's likings.
Az was in a semi-formal dress that hung down to her calves. It was a moss green with black embroidery. Where DG's hair was down, Az allowed DG to braid her hair, interlaced with a black ribbon.
"Alright little sister, time to meet up with mother and father at the Gazebo." Azkadellia said, leaving the room with DG close behind.
The two sisters made their way downstairs to the foyer to get their escorts. Both men were stunned at DG's transformation, but were quick to recover and on their way to the Gazebo.
"So Az, since you know so much about our visitors, how many are coming?' DG asked once they were on the cobble stone pathway.
"I am not sure about that little sister. The Vanaspati are never forthcoming, so to answer you… could be anywhere from five to hundreds. Father thinks that the entire guild could be coming."
"That is not what I wanted to hear." Cain groaned, "You two seriously want a security problem today."
"No Mr. Cain. This is just typical royalty. Even at balls and events, the numbers very, but at least we know the capacity." Az tried to assure, though she winked at her sister.
The little troupe finally arrived at the Gazebo where the Queen, Ahamo, Raw, and Jeb were waiting with other guards. The Queen stood and embraced each daughter before sitting back next to Ahamo.
"The Vanaspati should be here soon, my dears. They should be clearing the maze shortly. We have gotten word that the Folkvar should be here in a few hours and the Tethys should be here in less time." The Queen stated, "Here they come."
Everyone turned to face the hedge maze, seeing scouts leading a group of twenty Vanaspati. Though most were clad in brown robes, except three who had umber and orange robes. The three lead their guild to the Royal family and bowed.
"Wes bes pleased that the Queen bes honoring our tribe. I bes promising that my tribe bes no causing troubles here. I bes Priestess Cyin, leader of Vanaspati." The woman removed her hood to which all, but two removed theirs.
"It is a pleasure to meet you." The Queen said, bowing herself. "We are expecting the others within a few hours. We will make sleeping arrangements then for all your people."
"Bes not necessary. Gueren, my second, bes taking the guild south. Weather gettings cold up northerns way. Mes, our champion, and two others beings stay." The Priestess explained.
Cyin excused herself to talk to Gueren before seeing the fifteen take their leave. The scouts escorted the tribe away and the Priestess and Queen started talking amongst themselves as did everyone else.
DG decided to talk with the Vanaspati and approached the two, "Hello, I am DG. I am pleased you came so that we could fully restore the O.Z."
"Princess DG, wes bes the ones who should bes honored." One of the men said, bowing, "I bes Lykle and this bes mys brother Kavur."
"And your champion?" DG asked, nodded to the still cloaked person.
"Wes calls her Nylan." Kavur answered, "If permitted, wes be battlings other guilds."
"Its way so's no killings amongst guilds." Lykle added, "Priestess bes askings Queen now."
DG looked back to her mother before changing the subject with the Vanaspati brothers. Trying to gain a better understanding on the tribe.