Caius didn't sleep a wink the entire night, yet nothing happened. The human Neolani was growing increasingly agitated, but Caius hadn't noticed anything. Clearly whatever was coming was hiding from him. Even after breakfast, nothing but the humans had grown uneasy, many irritable.
Talvi watched the groups, "Father Caius, the more mana inclined are the most affected. Do you think…?" She let her question trail off. There weren't many beasts that could deliberately hide from Father Caius, but… she could think of a few.
Caius swished his tails irritated, "Keep everyone close. No doubt that bitch is up to something." Caius growled as he watched the Adarian's. They had slipped away earlier but Caius kept everyone close, especially Littlest. He wouldn't lose anyone else to that bitch. Not without a fight.
Talvi nodded, staying in her fox form. Her human form might be more versatile, but raw power was often the deciding factor in a quick, unexpected attack. Surprisingly, the naga had draped itself along the small male's shoulders, also on edge. She wasn't sure if it was because the humans were wary, or if the snake felt something. She nodded to Rahm to watch the naga for any signals.
Neolani jolted a moment before a powerful gust of wind heralded the arrival of… a Pegasus. The horse whinny drew everyone's attention as all the beasts immediately started to bare fangs and growl in challenge.
Ashton tilted his head as Alaina's messenger arrived with great fanfare. Truth be told, he was a beautiful specimen, he was almost as large as Agapi. His shimmering white wings tipped with an iridescent blue like his mane.
Sebastian had been expecting something to show up, at this point, the day wouldn't be complete if some beast of legend didn't visit. Still, he wasn't oblivious to the radiating hostility the foxes or snake had for the newcomer. "Stay close, make sure the princes and princesses are safe."
"You should have stayed hidden, like the cowardly fool you are. Hiding in dragon territory, plotting with ungrateful wretches, ever the same," Bradan snorted looking down on the flightless bird.
Ashton raised a brow, "Have the young ones not learned rules? Temperance known now only to fools? Gather your wits, or be beaten, be whipped." Ashton knew this wasn't just one of Alaina's lackies, but one of her children.
Sebastian blinked at the oddly… sing song tone of Lord Reece's voice. It was like when they left the capital… penetrating the soul…
Bradan snorted angrily as he looked down on the only half hatched bird. "You've grown too bold by half, one would think after a thousand years you'd learn to keep your head down."
"You speak only in riddles, only strong are your words, come down from on high, let us settle the score, but we both know the truth, we both know my ruth. You've come only to posture, only to prance, make known your existence, hope continue the past. So speak your false words, half-truths at best, I will just watch, watch your sad, desperate dance."
Bradan stared down at the not even hatched bird, "If you were capable enough, you wouldn't have been killed every couple of years." Bradan then glanced over the crowd as he raised his head up, "It's your cowardly nature that causes them to betray you, lifetime after lifetime, human after human. In the end, you give them your heart, and they crush it to pieces."
Ashton shrugged, "My nature unchanged, my goals all the same, some might see flaws, weaknesses called, but still here I stand, still do I roam, flying on far, for the place I call home."
"Fly? You're bound to the ground because they keep breaking you. What good is a bird that can't fly, won't fight, doesn't defend, and only hides from the world?" Bradan knew he couldn't be the first to attack. Besides, the bird was still too injured to put up any real fight. Its only chance was a sneak attack. So long as he stayed out of range, the best it could do was taunt him.
Ashton laced his fingers behind his head with a half-smile, "Big talk, yet you have never accomplished your walk. Half baked, half made, completely inane. Not born for the sky, forsaken by sea, the best you can hope for, is the lesser of free." Ashton hopped off the tails as he waved to the crowd. Ashton didn't miss the marking of allegiance. Not even her own offspring were exempt it would seem.
"You're only as free as the cage and chains allow." Bradan snorted, at least his only chain was his loyalty to his mother. No human could crush his heart with a few mean words. At least he could resist.
"The groups who have come, the humans can see, your best is to taunt, your sad rehearsed speech. You won't take any action, you won't lay a hoof. Too trained by your mother, a hyped-up goof." Ashton teased dismissing the Pegasus. Not even a legendary class beast yet. Unlike a dragon with heavy mana resistance, Pegasi were squishy at best. Often used as mounts by humans. For Alaina to send such a… disposable offspring proved she thought he would continue to endure.
Bradan flapped his wings, sending several gusts into the clearing they dispersed before affecting anyone. "You know the consequences of conspiring against Alaina." He threatened turning his head to stare down the foxes and snake. "Caius, beast of lust, you dare bite the hand that feeds? Turning your back on your benefactors. Running to Alaina when you're in need, begging, then as soon as you're done complaining she didn't do more." Bradan sneered.
Ashton shrugged, "So long as you cower behind words, justified slurs, your life I will spare, we both know you won't dare." Ashton deliberately turned away, waving the Pegasus off with no more regard than a buzzing fly. Ashton didn't want the Pegasus to provoke the easily agitated fox. As childish as the taunts were, the big fox was still literally set ablaze with anger.
Caius's claws dug into the earth, he couldn't attack. Not yet. Unlike when he greeted his Little Snack, Bradan would not pull punches or care for the humans. If Caius attacked first, he wasn't sure his Little Snack would be on his side… Bradan's element might be wind, but that bitch augmented all his water spells. The bastard might as well be a dual elemental beast.
Bradan pranced in agitation, remaining high in the sky. His orders were to send reminders to the half hatched bird and warn off Caius. If it weren't for Grelck paying a visit mother wouldn't have been so worried. But it wasn't just Grelck, now an aspiring sin beast had submitted to it. Sin beasts were a copper a couple, but…
Hazel flinched as she clutched her dress. The Pegasus had turned to face her menacingly. Mage Payton and Priest Howe tensed as they tried to remain innocuously among the crowd.
"Those wretched sin beasts, a menagerie of ungrateful heathens we might overlook… desperately loving that abomination, disgusting but understandable given how far you've fallen, even raising up pathetic mongrels who would never survive alone… but for a virtue to turn its back… that I will not overlook!" Bradan snorted eyeing the girl. For another beast of virtue to exist, yet not swear allegiance was sacrilegious. Every single beast of virtue had sworn their fealty to Alaina, it was the only way they could ensure they weren't picked off by those wretched sins. Believing in their false gods.
Ashton shrugged, "The flower untouched, the flower to bloom, hinder that flower, court peril, court doom." Ashton leaned against the large, agitated fox, patting his nose. "Don't worry, don't fret, that horse is just a bluffing threat. It won't dare to attack, it can barely defend. What use is a mount, that cannot protect?" Ashton didn't comment on his Beloved, the foolish Pegasus had not even been born yet.
Caius remained ready to move, but visibly relaxed. The last time that bitch sent one of her minions, it attacked first, then simply fled before he could return… all who had been present had perished in horrific fashion. Not a single body intact… many of the young half eaten… while they had still been alive.
Talvi watched the Pegasus, ready for anything. Still, something was off. There weren't any other beasts… all the foxes, papa bird, and the naga were all far from where the Pegasus was looking… Talvi scanned the area to see the Gippsi princess cowering behind the mage. Without so much as a warning the Pegasus cast three rapid wind spears at the mage.
Hazel tore off her necklace, releasing an enchanted barrier. Unfortunately, it was better against water attacks, it wouldn't last long against wind. Still it was enough to give Payton room to send off his own earth spears. Howe was trembling but was chanting support spells.
Ashton watched as the mage expertly fended off three out of every four attacks. The priest was no slouch either, replenishing the barrier's mana while also creating stone golems resistant to water. Ashton tilted his head, it appeared the Gippsi delegation were prepared for Alaina to attack them… how curious.
Sebastian and the rest of the imperials had been furthest away from the Gippsi delegation, but the resulting shock waves sent debris hurtling in all directions. Devlin quickly cast wind currents to help catch the debris rather than blunt deflection. This way the smaller groups mages could spend significantly less effort for greater results.
Neolani ordered similar spells to the empire's Devlin, but the mages of the Pride worked in groups so the currents alone kept them protected. Still, Neolani wasn't sure what set the beast off. It remained high in the sky, sending only continuous spells of wind.
Alexei frowned, "It's remaining just above our wards. It's not entering Ash's warded territory. Should we help them out?" Alexei gripped his spear, more than half the warriors had their own weapons in hand. They were simply awaiting orders.
Neolani hesitated, "It's not aiming for the princess… I mean, it is, but something is off." Each attack was aimed at the skirt of her oversized dress. It didn't look like any would actually hit her body…
Melia frowned, "Is there… a beast hiding in her skirt?"