[AW] DYNASTY pt. 2

[Eik]

"Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls."

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He is surprised at how many arrive, at how the room seems smaller with each one. He is acutely aware of the four walls around them and how unnatural it all feels. They should be outside, beneath the sky, beneath the sun. He breathes in deeply (sweat and dust and excitement and more sweat and... is that ylang ylang??) and focuses on Maxence's words.

It is not long before there are more in front of him than at his side, most looking quite pleased with themselves (some far more than others). There is something about the whole spectacle that strikes him as funny, although he could not describe it in words. There is a moment of warmth in his eyes but that is the only hint at the thoughts running through his mind.

He has no protest, at least not outwardly, although a few phrases catch him off guard- 'Worship no other god' rankles some deep-seated independence and sense of freedom, although he takes the words as suggestion and not law. What truly throws him off is 'Our court is a family.' It is the opposite of what he experienced in his only Solterran encounter, one which Maxence was also there for... Words are important, and lies are lies, whatever their motives. He glances to Velorca, who is surprisingly silent, then returns his attention to Maxence. Each and every word will be analyzed later, for now he simply needs to soak them all up.

Surprise!-- more rules which chafe his personal values. In his mind, respect is won by force, the idea of saluting a stranger because someone else said so seems bonkers. And how else will children be great warriors if they do not grow up watching fights and sparring with other children? But he is still fresh enough here to feel as though it is not his place to criticize, certainly not publicly, so he simply nods and waits for the prayer (he hasn't prayed before, not like this) and ponders the sheep.

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E I K