The Tethys had arrived within half an hour of the Vanaspati and the Folkvar and hour after that. The Tethys came with eight and the Folkvar with nine, though one was actually a prisoner.
As dinner was approaching, the banquet hall was still being prepared while everyone waited in an adjacent ballroom. DG was now able to see each tribe and how they really were. The Vanaspati lived in woods, wore clothing that seemed more like rags cleaned up, but DG thought it was creative. How the clothing resembled plants and earth colors and dyed in such ways.
The Tethys, to DG, reminded her more of the middle ages. Dressing more in robes and 'knightly' outfits. Even speaking seemed knightly with 'thou', 'thee' and so on. It seemed that the Vanaspati and Tethys were trying to get along, keeping subjects neutral. It was the Folkvar who were being quiet and mysterious, very militarized with harsh ranks and harsher discipline.
DG turned to Cain, comparing him to a kid at Christmas being told to wait. Az was sitting next to her and the two shared a laugh before going back to the multiple conversations. DG and Az caught a Tethys and Vanaspati talking nearby about the prisoner in the Folkvar custody. DG nudged Cain and with Azkadellia, made their way over to the conversation.
"Excuse us, but we were also wondering about the Folkvar and the one in chains." Azkadellia stated, standing next to a Tethys. DG and Cain bowed their heads in greeting.
"The prisoners shouldn'ts bes thiers." Kavur said, "Theys bes takers and takers should bes punished."
"Thou knowst of the Guild battles?" The Tethys asked, "Those Folkvar wrongfully took that champion during another battle. Cheaters, plain and simple."
"Wes bes takers that champion backs. Vanaspati or Tethys bes winners this time." Kavur added.
"Well, the battle is going to have to wait until after the banquet." Cain interjected, "Which is being served now. The Queen asked that her guests be served and seated first, so… After you."
The tribes filed into the other ballroom and were greeted with a variety of food selections. The Royal Family had tried their best to cater to their guests' tastes and were greatly rewarded.
Within an hour, everyone was seated, eating and holding conversations. DG, Cain, Glitch and Azkadellia were at one table mixed with a few Tethys and what Vanaspati were there. The Queen, Ahamo, Jeb, and Raw were at another with the Folkvar and a few Tethys.
"Tell us more about the Folkvar." Glitch insisted, "We're not sure about them compared to your tribes."
"Yes, I mean your cultures have been the same for hundreds of annuals." Azkadellia added.
"The Folkvar have not been around our lands long." A Tethys named Randwin answered, "Scouts say that the Folkvar themselves quarrel within their own ranks."
"Wes bes believing no tribe at all. Theys bes cityheads that were chased out of the city." Lykle added.
"So they aren't apart of the Longcoats?" DG asked, looking between her friends and guests.
"No, but we doth believe the Folkvar plan something. They do not seem the fighting type…" Randwin answered, before looking to Lykle.
"The Folkvar bes peaceful until thirty suns ago." Cyin answered, lowering her voice, "Wes bes knowings a change. Yous bes watchings them."
Cain slowly looked around the ballroom, ending at the table where the Folkvar were eating. Though none of them seemed to notice, the captive in chains raised their head and met Cain's eyes. At least he thought their eyes met.
He drew his attention back to the conversation, which had thankfully turned to other maters. Though still not to Cain's liking, the topic now was on the battles the tribes held. Cain listened carefully as each Randwin and Kavur explained how the battles came to be and how they worked now.
The battles came about twenty annuals ago, when peace was needed. The tribes were in a bloody war that was taxing both. So Cyin's mother Henna and the leader of the Tethys, Erasmus, meet on neutral grounds.
Though annuals of mistrust and bloodshed couldn't be forgotten overnight. So the leaders came up with the battles, to which the honored champions would pet their bodies on the line. Neither side was to kill the other unless provoked, which was very rare.
The rules were simple, two champions squared off in a designated area. The battlers used no weapons, fighting barehanded until one was rendered unconscious or gave up. The winner's allowed one demand, as long as wasn't death and the winning tribe was allowed free range on neutral grounds.
After the history lesson, even Cain didn't think the battles were that barbaric. Though he still was waiting for something to go wrong and DG tried her best not to laugh. Cyin smiled to Cain, knowing how the man must feel.
"Tell me something Cyin?" DG asked, "Why do the champions keep their face and body hidden?"
"Sos neither champion can takers advantage." Cyin answered, "Many fights a champion has bes in so no cheapers shots."
"Won't they do that anyways?" Cain asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Tis true, but this way a champion shalt worry more of thy own self." Lykle answered, "Tis like going blindly into battle, one shall prepare for all outcomes."
Cain rolled his eyes before mumbling about checking the grounds. Az, Glitch, and DG shared a laugh while their guests just looked confused.
"Sorry, Mr. Cain used to be a Tin Man and now is in charge of security around here." Azkadellia said, "He's one that hates not knowing what's going on."
"I knowst how he feels, My Lady. Tethys also have deep rooted honor codes." Randwin said, "Vanaspati, too."
"Bes them Folkvar that givers mistrust. Evich bes them leaders and he bes makers troubles." Kavur added.
"So you never really had a problem until Evich?" Glitch asked.
"The problem hath never been so personal." Randwin replied, "The Folkvar were more of watchers. We hath come to believe that Evich is stirring troubles."
"Wes no likers being watched. Wes not animals and no likers outsiders." Lykle added, his face-hardened as he talked.
"So basically, the Folkvar are just a bunch of people that the Longcoats made into refugees, built a 'home' near your tribes and just played the watching game?" DG guessed, "Now they have someone taking charge and it's causing an uproar?"
"Yes, Princess." Randwin nodded, "At first, both our tribes hath believed the Folkvar would join us. Watching more to gain knowledge and to see where thy lives would be played out."
"Well, the solution seemed pretty clear. Evich maybe the one we should watch." Azkadellia said, "The Folkvar can go back to Central City and pick up their lives or start new ones."
"Sounds like a plan to me." DG smiled.
The plan would have taken on more details, but the Queen stood from her seat and called for everyone's attention. Once the room was quiet and everyone looking to the Queen, she smiled back.
"I know that many of you would like to see a Sortie tonight, but I would like to wait until tomorrow. The hour is late, time would be suited for finding sleeping quarters and resting. I promise that tomorrow, your Sortie will be held during the day, after breakfast. Is that adequate to you all?" The Queen asked, looking around the room again.
Everyone nodded and the room was buzzing with noise again. The rooms had been arranged earlier and the Queen and Ahamo were delegating the tasks. A handful of guards escorted each tribe out and to waiting rooms. Leaving the Royal Family and their friends.
"So Mother, what did you find out?" Azkadellia asked innocently.
The Queen rolled her eyes before lightly walking from the room, "Nothing I am sure the group at your table hasn't already told you."
Azkadellia and DG looked to one another, smiling before rushing behind their mother. Jeb, Ahamo, Glitch, and Raw followed the women, talking quietly amongst themselves. The Queen led the little troop to the sanctuary of the library and once everyone found a seat, did she allow the talk on their guests.
"Well my darlings, it seemed you all had a fun talk."
"Tell us, mother. What did you talk about?" Azkadellia asked.
"The Sortie for one, but Evich, the leader of the Folkvar is a very interesting man. He has been the leader for the past couple of annuals and is trying to rival the other two tribes." The Queen replied, though her eyebrow knitted, "Seems a bit too eager and… hostile. I mean really, what is the idea bringing a prisoner here."
"To set a point." Cain said as he walked into the library, "That is the only reason someone would do that. The question is why?"
"Well, the same reason what Randwin and Kavur were saying." DG stated, "The fact that they were thrown out because of the Longcoats so now he is doing the same."
"The whole 'this will never happen again' syndrome." Ahamo nodded, "Other Side lingo, mind you. The idea of something so bad, near traumatizing that the person makes sure that the event will never happen again."
"So, he is going to control everything around him… so that the other tribes don't do the same thing." Jeb sighed, "So this will be his way not only to show his authority, but to gain knowledge of the tribes."
"Yeah so what about the other Folkvar?" Glitch asked.
"Until we know, assume they are loyal." Cain replied, "Forced or not."
"So we wait until tomorrow?" DG asked, looking to Cain.
"Get some sleep everyone. Either way, we're looking at a long day." Ahamo said, getting up and escorting his wife from the library.
The other stayed a little longer and talked about the days ahead. Deciding the fates of the tribes both individually and together as a whole. Things were going well, each person deciding to 'infiltrate' a tribe member and get more information. What and how to act around each to gain trust and who would go where.
Well, they were getting to that until Azkadellia and DG cried out simultaneously and fell into fetal positions. Cain and Jeb ran to DG's side as Raw and Glitch raced to Azkadellia's. Both sisters whimpered and moaned, holding their heads in pain until they finally passed out.
All the men were frozen in shock. Within two minutes, the Princesses of the O.Z. went from completely well to on the floor unconscious. Cain was the first to move, scooping up DG with Glitch following suit.
"Glitch, stay with Azkadellia tonight, I'll stay with DG. Jeb, you prepare the guards, make sure they are ready for anything. Raw, do the same with the other viewers and healers." Cain ordered, watching the others nod before leaving for DG's room.