Where these diplomats from Ember responsible in some way?
Katryna’s pace was faster than a walk but not quite a jog. She stepped with determination and a fierce anger. There was no time to grieve, no time to collect her thoughts. She needed answers. It could be the difference between life and death, not only for her father, but any other potential targets to come.
She rounded a bend lined with lush hedges, at the end of which she saw the overlook that she was heading for. At the edge of the gardens ahead was a cliff, some one hundred metres high, where the edge of Castle Bower’s outer bailey ended as it met the seaside cliffs.
It was a sheer drop- Katryna remembered when two daring servant boys had jumped from the cliff for fun when she was young, thinking it would be a thrill. One had drowned, and the other had broken both legs on the jagged rocks below.
The tides were still low, as the moons were not expected to arrive until the next day. The stone and sand beaches, as such, were larger than usual, with low waves stirring kelp along the coast.
The overlook Katryna was walking towards, however, was a great place to watch the sunrise. It was a grassy area where the garden opened at the cliff’s edge, covered by a shade structure with climbing vines growing up its height.
At the opening of the grassy outlook stood two Infinity Guardsmen at either side of the path, shields in hand and with gleaming metal suits of armour.
Katryna spotted the two Emberian diplomats resting on some of the stone slabs which sat around the overlook as seats.
The diplomats marvelled at a flock of coastal drakes circling a school of fish in the shallow sea below. The size of large hounds, the drakes flew with four wings extending from their slender bodies- one connecting to each outstretched limb, like a bat. They splashed around with flopping fish in their long beaks as they dove into the water.
Katryna watched the coastal drakes fly up from the waves and then dive back down in a surreal pattern.
“Quite spectacular, aren’t they?” Katryna said aloud in polite a manner as possible.
The two diplomats stood up, turning to face her. They wore ankle-length, tight-fitting robes of expensive orange and brown silks, with bright red trim and exquisite geometric patterns all over.
The taller diplomat spoke, “Indeed they are. You call them ‘coastal drakes’, yes?”
“That’s right. You don’t have any so far south, in Ember?”
“Unfortunately, not. Our cooler, drier climate is not as lush and vibrant as Camridia’s. So, it is always a gift to visit your wonderful kingdom, away from all the sand!”
The diplomat sounded genuinely pleasant, Katryna noticed. That was a relief. Katryna greeted them with a smile and slight bow. The diplomats bowed back silently.
“I have never had the opportunity to go to Ember, but I’ve long been told stories of the beauty of your kingdom,” Katryna said.
“We would be delighted to receive you one day.”
“I plan on heading south with my aunt in the near future, in fact.”
The one thing Katryna had never been comfortable with whenever she was speaking to an Emberian were their masks. All citizens of Ember were required by traditional law to wear an ornate, decorative mask at all times when in public.
It made it difficult to converse with them, as Katryna would not be able to read their faces. Katryna respected their customary law, but was thankful to not have such rules regarding dress in her land.
The Emberian to her left was taller, with a bright yellow, sun-shaped mask, decorated with onyx strips of metal and red gemstones. The other had a grey mask the colour of storm clouds, with angular edges and white lines.
Neither of their faces were visible at all, besides the deep cavities where Katryna could somewhat make out their eyes.
Katryna addressed the diplomat in the bright mask who she had already spoken with- she knew that in Emberian culture, the brighter the mask, the higher social standing that individual had.
“My lords, I am Princess Katryna Bower, first-born daughter of King Giliam. It is a pleasure to meet you.” She spoke gently but directly.
“My Princess, I am pleased to meet you.” His accent was thick, and his voice slightly muffled from the mask; Katryna had to listen closely to make out some of the words. “I am Ambassador J’rillo N’va. I represent the Royal Court of Queen Virala Ex’rama in Aurora. My queen extends her warmest regards to your family, and her deepest sympathies for the death of your mother. My lady was very fond of Queen Mira and was utterly devastated to hear of her passing.”
If she was so devastated, then why did she not attend herself? Katryna wondered. “My family is very grateful for your condolences.”
J’rillo N’va introduced his associate with an open-handed gesture. “This is my colleague, Ambassador Siah R’no, another representative of Aurora.”
“A pleasure,” Katryna said. Siah R’no bowed again, his straight black hair hanging out from behind the cloudy-grey mask down past his shoulders.
“How can we be of service, my lady?” J’rillo N’va asked politely. “I am guessing you did not come here to exchange pleasantries on Camridia’s extensive fauna!” J’rillo N’va chuckled to himself.
Katryna felt obliged to smile back. It was hard for her to judge whether the man seemed pompous or was just overly proper; his accent made it difficult to tell. But there was a tone in his voice which made her question his true feelings towards her the more she spoke.
Perhaps she was being too hasty in her judgements. They’ve been forced to
