Bad Advice (Closed for Mimsy_Borogove and myself)

[BrotherGrimm]

The loss of Saera had been quite a loss to King Toromin. While set in her ways, the old priestess had given him excellent advice over the years. Her ability to see through to the heart of the matter had almost scared him at times, and with the current war against the neighboring country of Calshan, he had sought her wisdom more often than at any other time during his reign. They were winning the war thus far, but not by a large margin.

It was with trepidation that he awaited her replacement. Lyra's Prophet had assured him, however, that the woman they were sending him was just as wise. The morning of her arrival had come, and he waited in the grand hall for her to be announced. He was dressed in black and red silks, with a stylized two-headed dragon on his tunic. Toromin's height was impressive, even sitting on his throne, with long black hair falling down his back. Bright blue eyes surveyed the hall, looking for imperfections even though he'd already been sitting there an hour. By his side was his lovely queen, looking as bored as she normally did during most court functions.

 

[Mimsy_Borogove]

Aurora had not been alone on her journey to meet with the king. She did not travel with an armed temple guard as other higher priestesses did. Instead, she traveled with only two others. Banshee and Otto. They stood with her now outside of the Grand Hall, waiting to be announced to the king.

Banshee was a lovely little girl of no more than ten. She was slender, pretty, and graceful beyond measure for a little girl. With long ashen gray hair and pale skin, it was nigh odd, for little girls generally did not have gray hair. A strip of white cloth was laid over her eyes, and it was clear the girl was blind. She was garbed in a simple white robe and little dainty sandels on her little, dainty feet. Banshee was practically radiant with innocense.

Otto, on the other hand, was a frightful and imposing sight. Otto was a kobold, a vicious ape-like creature with yellow eyes, razor-sharp teeth, and fiery red fur all over his body. He was a highly intelligent animal, almost on par with human intelligence, but kobolds were well known for ferocity and wildness. It was exceedingly rare to see one tamed. Anyone strong enough in will or power to tame a kobold was no one to mess with. The kobold was garbed in nothing but a little strip of loincloth for some measure of modesty, his harsh features seething with glare and hate at those around him. Otto was a lean, muscled figure of seven feet tall, but as he was ape-like and slightly hunched forward, it lowered to six feet. He had a long, thin tail, bristling with that same fiery red fur. No one dared approach the beast.

Oddly enough, however, this rumoredly brutal and vicious kobold was guiding the little blind girl tenderly with one sharp clawed hand, hovering protectively over her. It was clear the beast was attached to the girl.

Aurora herself was quite a sight. She was pale and slender, around thirty years of age. She had long, silken black hair bound by silken cords of green fixed with very small diamonds that almost resembled dew in her hair. Her eyes were harsh and amber in color, piercing into whatever they gazed upon. She was of average height, five feet and seven inches tall, her features strong. She had the look about her of someone you didn't want to cross, yet someone you might be glad to have on your side.

Her garb was strange. Down the front where the robe fastened together, the hems of the sleeves and of the robe altogether and the low collar were all lined in coal black. The rest was a dazzling display of symmetrical blues and greens, with flecks of gold here and there. From the rear, she looked like a beautiful giant butterly. The fabric itself was thin, and even felt like the gossamer wings of a butterly.

Some had tried to tell her not to bring the kobold into the Grand Hall, but she insisted that she not be presented without her two companions.

"High Priestess Aurora, your majesty, and her two companions, Banshee, the young girl, and Otto, the kobold."

Having been announced, she proceeded into the Grand Hall with a confident stride. As she walked her robe billowed, making it seem as though the butterly were flapping its wings. She came somewhat near, while Banshee and Otto stayed a bit farther back from the thrones. Aurora laid spread her arms and fell to both knees humbly before the king, the butterfly humbled.

"Your grace," she said respectfully, then said nothing more.