average height by federation standards, but he was still taller than the male servants present. The natives had olive-brown skin, their hair colour was typically dark and their eyes were brown. It was said there were green and grey eyed humans around. Grey eyed humans were thought to be decedents from the first wizard, Ta’hylan, they believe them to be lucky and were often employed when discovered, but there were very few of them in those parts, most resided in Kérith-Árim and in the western deserts.
The lionman duke watched them dismount before he disappeared into the building with his two personal guards to greet them. Only a handful of the party had gone through the second gates to the castle; all of the Earthmen, the original party of lionmen and some other soldiers. Pan’arden who was stationed in the city and worked under the Dídrand led the way up the steps, her tiger walking by her side. The guards moved to the side allowing them access to the hall, a ring could be heard within the building and the doors opened, allowing them in.
The hall seemed immense, with a wooden arched roof that was bound by a balcony. Carvings made their way along the beams and walls. Pillars stretched along the length of the building holding up the upper level. At the base of the columns were winged lions looking into the central area. On the back wall behind the Dídrand’s table were three great banners. The largest hanging in the middle showed the national Bohaníde Fire-Lion, which draped to the ground. Flanked on either side were the province banners with their unique design of the fire-lion mirror imaged so they faced the central flag.
The Dídrand made his way into the hall from a side door and sat in his seat, both his guards standing just behind. A native bird that looked similar to a parrot was perched on his shoulder. It was a flamboyant creature just like its master, with bright colouring upon its chest and wings and a small crest that fanned out when happy. It had four sets of wings and no tail; the back pair of wings swept back in flight guiding its movements. This bird was an example of unique Iraquis wildlife, where there was divergent evolution with creatures with four limbs and those with six. Four limbed creatures were the dominant mammalian species; lizards and birds were almost equal in range and number along with the hexapedal species. The parrot had its second set of wings folded up along its back, it did not appear out of place while grounded, with the exception that it held no obvious tail and the long feathers of its tail wings protruded out well passed its length, occasionally unfolding them to stretch or to regain balance on its perch.
The lionman duke was eager to meet Shayne and signalled for him and Pan’arden to come forward. The others were motioned to sit at the nearest table and to eat what they wished. Shayne and Pan’arden sat down on either side of the Dídrand. After introductions Pan’arden and Hanniver excused themselves to visit the treasurer where the Earthman negotiated an exchange of gold for local currency. The Bohanese coin was good tender in all the middle kingdoms and what they traded would be suitable for their travels between major cities.
The lionman ruler tried to converse with Shayne but it proved awkward with Shayne providing only simply single sentence replies that did not satisfy the Dídrand. His frustration was relieved once Pan’arden returned to the tables where she provided a detailed account about their trip and what Madan’rah had reported. Shayne instantly lost interested in Pan’arden’s already second-hand monologue. He allowed his mind to drift as they droned on.
***
‘Come on Forrester, do you have to do this again?’ Desmond complained, his face overcome with weariness. Shayne glared at the Astronaut, causing the poor man to falter in his anxious way. Desmond had taught many Astronauts over the years, but this was the first time he had been
The lionman duke watched them dismount before he disappeared into the building with his two personal guards to greet them. Only a handful of the party had gone through the second gates to the castle; all of the Earthmen, the original party of lionmen and some other soldiers. Pan’arden who was stationed in the city and worked under the Dídrand led the way up the steps, her tiger walking by her side. The guards moved to the side allowing them access to the hall, a ring could be heard within the building and the doors opened, allowing them in.
The hall seemed immense, with a wooden arched roof that was bound by a balcony. Carvings made their way along the beams and walls. Pillars stretched along the length of the building holding up the upper level. At the base of the columns were winged lions looking into the central area. On the back wall behind the Dídrand’s table were three great banners. The largest hanging in the middle showed the national Bohaníde Fire-Lion, which draped to the ground. Flanked on either side were the province banners with their unique design of the fire-lion mirror imaged so they faced the central flag.
The Dídrand made his way into the hall from a side door and sat in his seat, both his guards standing just behind. A native bird that looked similar to a parrot was perched on his shoulder. It was a flamboyant creature just like its master, with bright colouring upon its chest and wings and a small crest that fanned out when happy. It had four sets of wings and no tail; the back pair of wings swept back in flight guiding its movements. This bird was an example of unique Iraquis wildlife, where there was divergent evolution with creatures with four limbs and those with six. Four limbed creatures were the dominant mammalian species; lizards and birds were almost equal in range and number along with the hexapedal species. The parrot had its second set of wings folded up along its back, it did not appear out of place while grounded, with the exception that it held no obvious tail and the long feathers of its tail wings protruded out well passed its length, occasionally unfolding them to stretch or to regain balance on its perch.
The lionman duke was eager to meet Shayne and signalled for him and Pan’arden to come forward. The others were motioned to sit at the nearest table and to eat what they wished. Shayne and Pan’arden sat down on either side of the Dídrand. After introductions Pan’arden and Hanniver excused themselves to visit the treasurer where the Earthman negotiated an exchange of gold for local currency. The Bohanese coin was good tender in all the middle kingdoms and what they traded would be suitable for their travels between major cities.
The lionman ruler tried to converse with Shayne but it proved awkward with Shayne providing only simply single sentence replies that did not satisfy the Dídrand. His frustration was relieved once Pan’arden returned to the tables where she provided a detailed account about their trip and what Madan’rah had reported. Shayne instantly lost interested in Pan’arden’s already second-hand monologue. He allowed his mind to drift as they droned on.
***
‘Come on Forrester, do you have to do this again?’ Desmond complained, his face overcome with weariness. Shayne glared at the Astronaut, causing the poor man to falter in his anxious way. Desmond had taught many Astronauts over the years, but this was the first time he had been
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