Day 72 to day 73 Campsite

[wolf_kkm]

The Princess had agreed to Yuuri’s request. Just as expected, it would take time to get things sorted and ready for moving and because of that they would have to make camp. The Salamander had remained, surprisingly and looked to the Princess for direction. She spoke with him kindly but firmly and for some strange reason he did as she requested.

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[sardonic_beauty]

Gunter, still only really dressed from the waist down wore a neutral expression and nodded at the guard. He was rather impressed with her appearance as he stepped inside. First of all, it was a rather large tent, but this was her area, and of course they'd be better supplied.

"If I may, I wanted to tell you that you look rather beautiful, despite the situation. I know that the maou is naive, but he means well. Personally, I find it disappointing that he doesn't necessarily favor the mazoku over humans, but he does frown upon violence, so in some respect, I think he just wants a harmonious world. Such naivite, yet, I believe he can succeed." Though the eradication of pure breeds on both sides makes the future rather disappointing. And there isn't anything he should say about that. Not to her, at least.

[wolf_kkm]

Whether or not she was pleased by the compliment was not immediately obvious. She simply nodded. "You may."

"My people cannot afford nativity. This kind of mistake poisons us. There need to be laws and rules to keep humans from destroying our lands if we are to live near or with each other in peace."

She gestured towards a comfortable looking selection of throw pillows. "You seem to understand our cause and do you also understand why we must use shock to get results in such a political climate?"

[sardonic_beauty]

He accepted the pillows with a soft nod. "I understand your cause well. To think of a future where such alliances with humans may endanger the mazoku race as a whole is a terrifying thought, however, I do need to wonder why shock needed to be the first step. Simply asking for an audience would have allowed you an open forum to explain the situation, and he would have lent a sympathetic ear regardless."

Ah, he was being too much like his former self. He really needed to stop that. But it wasn't like he could just waltz in and find her ready and willing. These things took some work! "Our other concern lies with the salamander. That tribe has a rather intense history, but it's one we don't wish to see repeated." Yuuri wouldn't like them eating the humans and as he made clear, anything happening to the salamander. And Gunter thought it was a waste of a nice girl, regardless of race.

[wolf_kkm]

"I do not trust this boy King to be wise enough to listen without his full attention." The Princess stated flatly. "We are well aware of the Salamander's history, that is why we used them. They are dying out, and will do so no matter what happens because of how they must procreate as no females are born to their race. I sympathize in their desire to live on. In the past ages, no one would have cared whether or not they ate a human or what they chose to do to it."

She seemed rather pointedly referring to humans as 'it'.

"They will listen to us." She also used the royal 'we'. "Though I cannot say for certain how long."

She offered him some wine in a generous glass.

[sardonic_beauty]

He accepted the wine graciously and thought to choose his words carefully while he sipped.

"It is an unfortunate system they have. Largely, if there was any problem the humans, it wasn't the fault of women. Though I have to wonder if there isn't another way." That wasn't really his specialty of knowledge.

"How have the river tribe been faring, outside of this incident?" It seemed like the salamanders weren't the best topic of conversation. Though if Gunter had his way, there won't really be much conversing.

[wolf_kkm]

“The River Tribe has always managed to be well, save for the current incident. We are already relocating some of our people farther inland to better protected areas." The Princess sipped her wine, her eyes focused completely on Gunter’s, never wavering. Her expression was sad, however.

What she really meant by that is that like the Salamander tribe, it seemed that the only option to avoid contact and poison of their waters was to hide in the depths of the realm.

"If there is another way, you would have to convince them of it. They may likely accept for they wish to preserve their kind." She watched him. "You didn't just come here to discuss politics at this late hour. Are you not the King's Advisor?"

Her tone of voice suggested she thought he would have been with Yuuri.

[sardonic_beauty]

He nodded. "Though Yuuri is a new king, since there were witnesses to the discussion, there is a greater chance of things continuing and not being forgotten. You of the river tribe are not unlike those of us of the lake shroe tribe."

"Then an honest conversation should be had with them without fear of either side." It was to be a rather unwelcome conversation, and while some aspects interesting, it would likely be most interesting for Anissina.

He shifted in the mass of pillows, but a smile crossed his face. "You're a rather astute as well as beautiful princess. Your people are quite lucky. But Wolfram is with Yuuri and in a dire situation, he has proved himself more often than not to be able to protect himself." He didn't acknowledge that he was the advisor or that he wasn't. "But yes, I'm here selfishly to enjoy the company of the princess, if she were to consent to such company." He smirked and drank most of the wine in his glass while keeping his eyes transfixed upon her.

[wolf_kkm]

"You are wise to listen to them and try to work with them. It will do much to ease the minds of the other tribes. You know we are not the only ones displeased and worried

[sardonic_beauty]

In a way, she was more lucky than he, as though her home was threatened, she actually had one. Though, no matter how much he wanted to share his story, and how much influence Yuuri would ultimately have, he couldn't and had to restrain that part of himself. "And though Wolfram is but one to protect him, would it not stand to be considered that I could easily have the princess taken as a hostage. Though I wouldn't consider such a thing unless there was intent to harm the maou." He accepted her refill and took a sip

[wolf_kkm]

"We hear your words but I feel that one of the Lake would not do such a thing to one of the River and so we choose to accept your company. The Maoh is safe here. My people will protect him and myself with their lives, such is their current orders. They will do their duty."

She drew from a small pouch a little bag of stones and a long board with several holes in it. "Have you ever played this?" she inquired. "We often do so to pass the time in my world. We play for favors. Five wins equals to one favor."

"We seldom have the time for such frivolities, but tonight the only other thing left to do is think and it is much more pleasant to think together."

[sardonic_beauty]

Thinking? Not the most exciting past time, but he'd give her game a try. All he had to do was win five times and he could request some further activities. This could be fun.

"I've not played this, though I've been known to learn quickly. I will see to your challenge." He smiled, hoping the rules were simple. Then it was a matter of the favors. But he did wonder what type of favors she'd ask of him. Maybe he'd lose a few to find out first.

[wolf_kkm]

The long board has 12 small bowls in it, 6 on each players side and one large bowl on the right and left. “This is an old game we play, it is called Awari.” She starts to put 4 stones into each pit. “On your turn, you may select one pit that has stones in it on your side of the board. The stones are removed from the pit and one stone is placed in each pit, like so.” She demonstrates. “You then move counter clockwise until each stone is used. You may not place a stone in your opponents scoring pit

[sardonic_beauty]

(OOC: Mancala!)

He observed her demonstration carefully, taking note of the underlying strategy behind it. It would certainly take a few rounds to be able to think of any sort to use for himself.

On a whole, Gunter wasn't great at games, but he wasn't all that poor at it either. He'd been taught at a young age many of the common strategy games so that he could apply those to life, but he never mastered them the way his mother hoped he would.

"I see. It looks simple enough, though I suspect there is a bit of a challenge along the way." He smiled and picked up one of the stones. "These are remarkably beautiful. As expected as someone as beautiful as yourself."

[wolf_kkm]

"When you have a face that can launch a thousand spears in your defense, you are used to such words." Princess Isamau started to move her stones skillfully. She had long graceful fingers with perfect nails, like some parts of her body, blueish scales artfully decorated her knuckles. She indeed was beautiful in the only way a young, angry Princess could be

[sardonic_beauty]

"I can not help but to extend such flattery. It truly isn't often that I encounter someone of equal calibur to myself. I'm afraid I hear such similar words often myself, but now I can understand the impulse to say them." He moved as it was his turn, his eyes carefully watching the stones drop in each skillfully carved section. He wasn't going to win this round, so he simply kept moving his pieces as best he could.

He did look up with her direct denial of his ulterior purpose. So this princess coudln't be easily swayed. He was finding too many challenges to his skill and wondered if he'd lost something while being transferred here. "Then I must learn to play this game well to steal even just a kiss from you." He never let his smile falter, but he was figuring this game out, and it was time to actually concentrate.

[wolf_kkm]

In spite of her intentions to let him ease into the game and not show off her skill won out and obviously led her to win the first rounds as the night wore on.

“You see the object of the game is simple. It is to pass the time enjoying the company of another.” The Princess smiled mirthfully.

The night stretched forward as the little pebbles clicked into their bowls when dropped and moved. Refreshments were always close at hand and the Princess did not once seem to be tired herself, though she did remark softly. “You seem weary to us. Would you rather rest? You are welcome to remain as we do not mind watching over you.”

She reached over with her long fingers and brushed Gunter's hair back from his eyes. It was a subtle touch, not one born from sensuality. From this woman it was a simple gesture of a kindred spirit.