5 Chapter 5 ~Duties of the court~

"god, this is boring" Eli thought to himself as he took another sip of his spiced wine, It was a gorgeous concoction, but not gorgeous to stop himself from rolling his eyes at the young woman his mother greeted, the girl was a waif, and stood pallidly in her eastern finery, in stark contrast to his mother, for she placed herself in her tall rosewood throne with a measured grace of which Eli envied, tall and dressed in blue, the queen was an imposing sight, her alabaster crown lay perched on a mane of long slightly curly black hair, it contrasted beautifully with her dark brown skin.

He took another sip, swapping the drink to his other hand to warm it up slightly the mulled wine making his skin turn slightly pink, Eli himself wasn't dressed as fine as his mother, the only finery he wore being a pink silk shirt to represent the peace festival's colours, the rest of him was covered in a black vest and trousers tucked in to a pair of tightly knitted up riding boots.

He'd even had his hair done up, in three rows interweaved together with gold and strands of hair slightly longer than his own, all braided together in a ponytail that lay down about his chest.

His mother finished with the girl sending her shuffling away with a wave of her palm, a worried look on the young girls face. he watched her leave with satisfaction before turning to his mother with a smile "so, any plans for the fest mother?" he said, handing a separate glass of wine to her she stood from the throne to receive it, nodding to a guard who closed the throne rooms door looking approvingly as she took the glass, "I plan on taking a good long bath, and then sleeping" she said sipping the wine, "awh no, come really your not even going to see the play?" Eli said complaining "I'm too tired Eli, and in addition I have seen all of those plays, I won't be missing out don't you worry" she said, taking Eli's arm in her own as she lead him from the throne room to the palace's gardens.

they walked past a few nuns nodding politely as they bowed, as Eli's mother pulled him close a slight tug pulling at her lips,