The Jewel of the Desert Festival was King Heydar's favourite time of year. The entire Soter family decamped from Ipsus and headed into the desert. There around an oasis had been constructed a Palace that sat partly underground and partly like a tent. It was a reminder of the days long consigned to the past when people had roamed the land rather than lived in cities. It was a time that was, at least to Heydar, more romantic to the nations heritage. For a week each year the oasis and sands around it bustled with activity. Hundreds of tented stores had been set up ranging from great marquees to tiny little fabric shacks. Each of them had flags fluttering in the gentle breeze, each store with at least two, one showing the makers mark, the other showing what exactly they sold. Some had just one flag, that of a diamond, other several, a watch, a ring to symbolise jewellry. While the festival organisers did their best to organise the grounds into groups it was never possible, thanks in part to the diversity of the festival and because some people just turned up. Members of the Kings household dressed in pale green robes tied with a golden belt wandered the grounds carrying out checks at random stalls, was their produce legit, were they measuring and weighing correctly and most importantly checking those with the Soter's coat of arms flying. These were merchants who had supplied the royal family in the past and been given a seal of approval. Already today one stall had been flying one when they shouldn't and now its properter was sat in a truck waiting to be driven to a jail in Ipsus.
Next to the stalls selling all manner of jewels and jewellrey, some even custom making commissions for people who had the money, was food stalls, stalls selling rugs, even one with birds of prey sat on little stands outside watching the world walk by. It was in front of this that Prince Aali Akakois was mesmerised. "Its pretty bird" a young Saker Falcon sat looking back at the young Prince. "Is it that one you like?" his father, King Heydar bent down next to him. He remembered his own father, King Akakois, bringing him to the stalls at a similar age to pick out his first Falconry bird. He had gone for a shaheen falcon, it had been with him 25 years and even now he smiled when he remembered learning the skills with the bird.
"Yes Daddy" the young Prince said turning his head this way and that mimicing the movements of the birds head. Heydar stood and looked at the stall owner who had been standing by.
"We'll take him, also a full set of harness, gloves, hoods, you know all the things. I also want that desert owl." He pointed where in the tent a small owl sat munching on what was probably once a mouse. Heydar liked owls and this particular one had seemed rather inquisitive when they'd explored the tent before Heydar had determined this dealer was acceptable to provide his son with his first bird.
"As Your Majesty requests" The man turned and softly ordered his own son, his assistant to make the birds ready and then turned back to haggle on the price. Clearly the King could afford the animals at the price advertised but that was beside the point, it was rude not to haggle and so the King began at a price that was insanely low, borderline insulting. The merchant made a play of being appalled and even yelled at his son to wait as they might not be selling, the King of course increased his offering and then man lowered his. This back and forth went on until the King threatened to walk away and then the man, as was always going to happen accepted and shook the Kings hand on the deal. Heydar though stopped and knelt to his son, "Aali, the bird is yours because me and the kind man here have done a deal, when men makes deals it does not matter if your a Prince or the poorest man on Mundus, you make a deal you shake hands." he gently took hold of the Princes tiny hand and extended it towards the man and with his eyes indicated that the man should shake the young Princes hand. With a little hesitation he did and the man thanked the Prince for the purchase and wished him a good day. The first deal of the Princes life complete the King was happy.
Over the far side of the grounds Queen Haniyah, the Kings 2nd and youngest wife, sat on a pile of cushions as two young girls ground petals and spices occasionally offering the evolving mixture to her to smell. She was constructing a new perfume and on her knee was two year old Princess Katayun whose face said a thousand words at the smells they tried. Seemingly pleased with the results the Princess smiled and giggled indicating that she was satisfied, or at least that was Haniyahs interpretation. More gentle haggling than with the men and 20 litres of the stuff was ordered.
Hameed Karimi sat on the top of the five row temporary grandstand. It only seated a few hundred people but that was more than enough. As Finance Minister he was expected to be prudent with money but so far his fortunes on the betting was lacking. He watched as his best camel rounded the final bend into the home straight. It was neck and neck with the one in first and perhaps this would be his first win of the Festival. It wasn't to be though as with just thirty meters to go the other jockey opened up a lead and powered through the line. Hameed threw his hands up in despair. It just wasn't his lucky day.
Katerina might have been a Wilhom Queen, a wife of the deceased King Akakois, but she was still active in the family and its diplomacy. With Wilhom Queen Samira now getting on in years she hadn't travelled to the Desert Palace, she didn't handle the heat too well, and meanwhile Akakois 2nd wife, Yanna, had become a political marriage having married Tamoran business magnate and nobleman Thanasis Polakis. That left Katerina as in some ways a matriach of the Soters. It was therefore her turn to man the Palace lounge, a sprawling mass of cushions, low couches and tables with musicians playing merrily away. It would be here that the various VIP's would gather if they wished to pay their respects to the family. Katerina sat chatting with her ten year old son Prince Shahin.
OOC - Feel free to rock up as a member of your government, a tourist or anything else.
