Squadron Leader Kohut had to smile, "Emperor Orion, I'm no Lord as such, I'm a minor noble by birth which essentially means I'm a Sheriff but my military rank puts me above that I suppose, we're just fortunate that Tat....I mean Klara's elevation has taken us far above the station we could ever have hoped to achieve." He hoped he hadn't embarassed the Emperor, "I'm thankful that you've attended today and I'm certain we can get you into the warm pretty quickly Your Imperial Majesty" he said as the Emperor and his entourage were escorted to a waiting car.
The Squadron Leader had to smile, it seemed this "Lord" stuff was spreading, "Emperor" he bowed as he address Peter, "I'm a mere Air Force officer and Sheriff, my dear daughter hasn't even seen fit to give her dear old father a Lordship yet." he feigned an insult. He greeted all the others in the Achkaerin entourage, he knew their ambassador on the island was rather active there and as such knew her a little, "I trust you'll have an enjoyable stay, I believe your Ambassador has been very busy." He added as like everyone else Peter was ushered into a car, one of the more larger ones considering the group size. "I look forward to speaking again later Your Imperial Majesty."
Lord Pajari was sat with the delegation from Xaeth, "My apologise Empress" he said to Ælirn as he offered her some water instead of the Brandy. "I had assumed the Squadron Leader would have done that." he shrugged as though it was no big deal. "My name is Silvan, I'm fortunate enough to be the father of the Lady in Waiting, Roksana, soon to be Crown Princess......at least I think that's the title she'll be getting. We hold the seat of Noginsk, the most Western city in Lodja. I like to think of it as also the hub of Lodja's artistic community, it was during one of her many visits that Queen Sonya, the former Guardian of Sessifet, meet my daughter as she played cello in our cities orchestra. She was impressed with her and a fan of classical music and so my daughter at the age of 18 was whisked away to the Isle. Myself I manage our families interests best I can but I suspect things may soon be passing to my eldest daughter Katya as I'll be expected to undertake more official business once Roksana is royalty. Its rather exciting." he said more to himself than anyone else. "How fares royal marriage in Xaeth Your Majesty?" he asked as the vehicles began to move off
"Well Your Highness" Jana began, "I'm merely Jana, my brother got all the family titles I just got a few nice houses" she wasn't angry at all. Her brother was one who made sure he took good care of his family and he and Jana got on well, he'd given her a few houses and part of the family business interests and so she wasn't politically well connected just yet but she was comfortably well off. "In terms of knowing me there isn't much to know really. I look after Leo's property while he travels on business and make sure that he's financially prosperous but other than that I simply try and bring up my two children, one son, one daughter. Both in their early teens and rather excited to think they could be royalty, although I suspected Queen Klara will not be extending royal titles to nephews and neices as traditionally its just immediate family, although she has shown herself in many ways to not be traditional." Seeing the car in front head off their own car soon followed suit.
Squadron Leader Kohut watched the first of the cars head off as the Seaforthian group arrived. "Your Majesty" he bowed to Andrew, "Ma'am" he nodded respectfully to Camryn. "I believe sir this is your first visit to Lodja" he said warmly, " I hope you enjoy your stay and should you need anything during your time here please don't hesitate to ask." He knew the Seaforthians had a fine military heritage and wished his own nation could have such a thing one day but his aircraft where barely airworthy these days and that was in his eyes an improvement. The pair where escorted by a military officer to the waiting car where he furnished each of them with a nice warming Brandy as their own car hurried away to catch up with the slower moving convoy ahead.
The next introduction Varlaam Kohut wished he didn't have to make. He had little issue with the Grand Preacher, he was a man he knew very little about beyond what he'd read in the media about some kind of deal between TUNA and his rather undeveloped nation. It was Alys, a woman that their nation didn't recognise with her former glory, "Your Majesty" he said to Brassicus, "Ma'am" he said as politely as he could manage. "I hope the second day will be even fuller" Varlaam said, "A father has a responsibility in Lodja to ensure his daughters wedding reflects her status in society, as such with her being a Queen......well it has got to be rather huge. I suggest you perhaps drink lots of water tonight, hydrate to avoid a hangover." He gave his advise with a grin. "I look forward to seeing you on the Isle." he added with another handshake as the drivers sought to quickly catch up with the convoy.
King Lapu looked like he'd started the celebration early, "Thank you for the kind gift Your Majesty" Varlaam handed the bottle off to a waiting aide, "I hope that we can perhaps enjoy a glass of it later tonight." He let go the fact that only the immediate family used Tatiana as the form of address for the Queen, and then only when she was in private. He imagined the High Priestess would make a correction should it happen later on in the ceremony. "For now I hope we can quickly get out this cold and onto the island." He watched as yet another in the waiting line of officers escorted the King to a waiting car, hesitating slightly as to whether to offer Brandy or water.
Hot on the heels of Lapu was Colbert. "Mr.President the greatest gift is your prescence at the marriage of my daughter" he said not letting slip that he thought the President a bit of a cheap skate. " The only requirement is the purification ceremony" he said looking at his watch, "Perhaps we should get going." Soon after the cars where all in one long line winding along the coastal road heading towards the causeway.
The High Priestess was waiting for the cars, it had took slightly longer to get everyone through the greetings and now the causeway was beginning to be licked by the ocean. She waited for everyone to get out of their cars, a vast array of the high and mighty of Mundus, "I am affraid we can not use the causeway." she apologised, " If those of you who have visited the island before wish to make the crossing we've one of the two royal
barges waiting. "Of course anyone who wishes to stay and witness it or be repurified is welcome to stay here" she waited for those making the crossing to get into the barge and watched as the boys of the local rowing club began heaving on the oars taking them across the small straits on what would be a ten minute journey. The crew sang traditional songs as they heaved on the oars helping them keep in time.
"Very well we should begin" Alla said as she waited for the two young Priestesses who were now her eyes and ears full time on the island moved into position. "I would ask that you each keep your eyes rather tightly shut once I begin the main part." She began reciting from memory a prayer asking Sessifet to watch over and bless the Island, the people of Lodja and those about to cross into the realm of Sessifet. "Salt, it is the symbol of purity. Take away the water that surrounds the home of the Goddess and it is the crystals of salt that remain. Salt halts the ravages of decay on our food, it can clean wounds. It is a blessing from the Goddess." She approached the first in the group and motioned for them to close their eyes, she began walking around the group in a circle praying as she sprinkled salt on each of those present the two young Priestesses following to keep her supplied with the white crystals. When the process was finished the High Priestess handed each a small leather bag, embossed with the Queens coat of arms and the date of the wedding. It was full of salt that she had scooped from her own large bag and had been made by herself just for the ceremony today.
"The second barge awaits" Varlaam explained as he began helping load it with those now pure souls. The youngest Priestess would wait for any straglers who would be brought along by waiting members of the Air Force High Command. Just as the first one had crossed so did the second with the air full of song and a fine spray from the ocean. Once at the other side Lord Besarian Ivanov was waiting along with the others, a large crowd had gathered to greet them, the streets already had large tables stretching down the middle of the road that wound round the island taking people by foot up to the summit where the Palace stood.
"The locals will be having a street party once the ceremony is done." Besarian explained as he greeted each of the newer arrivals. Children kept running up to the women in the group handing them small daisy chains. Leopolds sister thanked one of the girls and slipped the chain onto her wrist. The children were keen to meet the foreigners as despite getting lots of well known members of nobility they tended to be just Lodjian. "Today we'll be using the railway, I don't think fighting our way through bunting and tressle tables is why we're here" Besarian added as they made their way into the railway carriage, it went almost vertcally up the Islands Cliff face and was a rather short journey, perhaps one of the shortest railway journeys in Mundus, but it saved a good fifteen minute walk that could really burn the calf muscle.
At the top there was a scene of organised chaos, lines of people being patient to get into the Palace, several had sneaked across and were truned away having no invitation for the Palace, no doubt they'd just mingle with those at the foot of the island. The VIP's were meanwhile were simply waved inside. The main ball room was decorated with Queen Klara's coat of arms on one side while Duke Leopolds was on the other, during the ceremony they'd be alternated showing a coming together. "Hello" a non-Lodjain voice greeted them, King David of East Moreland looking smart in his Alpine Cadre Black Uniform. He exchanged hand shakes with those he knew as serving girls brought around various wines for the guests. The Morelander monarch would be one of the Queen's escorts, the other being Tikhon Savva, someone who at one point people believed would marry the Queen himself. He still held out hopes of being a later addition to her family. They'd accompany the Ladies in Waiting who would be part of the ceremony, Lady Stasya and Lady Roksana who were busy helping the Queen finish getting ready.
"We've only got ten minutes" Stasya said nervously as she watched Lady Anna's nimble fingers working a sewing needle on the Queen's wedding dress, a dark blue and gold affair as was regulation, the gold thread showing the Hamrik family crest but one of the threads had come loose.
"Plenty of time" Anna said as she worked away with experienced hands, she was a rather skilled seamstress something she suspected Stasya couldn't do despite having her own fashion line. She held the dress up and declared her work done, they quickly zipped Queen Klara into it before Stasya set about redoing her hair. " Make sure Jasmina is in the hall" Anna instructed the stand in Lady in Waiting Tonya who bowed and hurried off to find Jasmina who was busy flirting with Besarian outside the Ball Room.
"Lady Jasmina" the nervous young lady in waiting bowed to the Lord of the Conclave. "Lady Anna says you need to be in the Ball Room." Jasmina rolled her eyes, gave Besarian a kiss on the cheek and then motioned Tonya to follow her inside. "Honoured Guests" Jasmina said loudly, "Soon we shall head down into the Temple of the Goddess, the heart of the Island, it is very small so hence why only two people per party are allowed, the rest of you can watch there." She pointed to a large screen at one end of the Ball room, "Following that the Throne Room next door will be opened to allow the Lodjain nobility to pay their respects should you wish to do likewise you're more than welcome but it is not required." She looked around trying to gauge who would. "This is Tonya, she shall be a temporary Lady in Waiting, please give her your name if you wish to meet the newlyweds in the Throne Room and she'll arrange it. Meanwhile I'm happy to answer any questions anyone has." Jasmina stood waiting to offer help where needed.
