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Its sharp teeth and claws could do some serious damage if it wanted to. “But the stories also say that they are very perceptive and intelligent. I can see that in this one.”
He smiled. “Yes, they are. And they are also very loyal. Their loyalty is often unrivaled.”
Their loyalties often were the same as their owners.
That was a slick move. I would give him that.
The hare laid its head down on Prince Maedras’s foot and closed its eyes. It seemed to listen to his words.
“Can I touch it?” I asked, holding out my hand.
He nodded. “Yes, but be careful. She can be skittish.”
I slowly reached out and stroked the hare’s fur. Her fur was softer than I expected. The hare closed her eyes and seemed to enjoy the petting. It leaned into my hand and I felt a surge of affection for this creature.
“Thank you for introducing me to Bancos,” I said, getting to my feet. “I should go now.”
“Of course, princess. If you have any further questions, please ask.”
“Thank you, my prince. I’ll keep that in mind.” I bid him farewell and left the room, with Bancos following close behind me.
I laughed as the hare ran ahead of me, its floppy ears bouncing with each step. It was good to know that there were still some things in this world that could bring a smile to my face. Even if her owner was a bit… intense.
∞∞∞
“And therefore, I believe festivals held in every village and town are important,” I explained as I pressed my finger on the key document. “It not only helps bring people together, but it also allows for the exchange of goods and ideas.”
The rune on my page turned blue and text appeared, summarizing my argument on all the representatives’ pages. The shimmering light of the runes always made me feel better, even if it was just an illusion.
“Do you have questions so far?” I looked around the room. The representatives from the four Elvish regions and the capital city Rossertham, two of the Naga strongholds, three Halfling communes, the one Dryad representative of the nomadic clans, and ambassador Bennani looked back at me with rapt attention. It was interesting to see the differences in their reactions.
The Elvish representatives, all dressed in Finardsil blue, looked thoughtful with the occasional nod, while the Halflings were outright beaming with pride. But their reaction could be misleading. A polite façade could hide many things.
The Nagas, who were more serious, looked pleased. They hissed softly to each other, their forked tongues flicking in and out of their mouths. The Dryad turned her head to the side as if she was listening to something only she heard. While ambassador Benanni scribbled something down on a piece of paper, her expression unreadable.
The Elvish representatives were the first to break the silence. “Thank you, Your Highness, for your explanation.” one of them said politely as he read through my pages. “We will take your suggestions into consideration.”
“Thank you.” I nodded. I looked around the room again. “Are there questions?”
“Yes,” lady Arzaka, one of the Halfling representatives, said, looking up from her paper. “I wondered if you could elaborate on the idea of cultural exchange.”
“Of course,” I said. I hoped she would ask that. “Cultural exchange is more than just exchanging goods and ideas. It’s about understanding and accepting that people can be different and that those differences can be a source of strength, not weakness.”
“That makes sense.” She nodded her head. “In Gobir, we’ve always been open to different cultures and ways of life. I think that makes our community so strong.”
Trade made them strong. It led to more wealth and, therefore, more power. But I didn’t want to get into a debate about the politics of the Halflings. If only Midar was as open-minded.
I nodded in agreement. “I agree. Differences should be celebrated, not feared. Our communities have grown isolated. I hope we can help change that.”
Her green eyes brightened. “I think we all hope that, princess.”
The representatives from Rossertham and the Naga strongholds also had questions, but they were more about the logistics of the proposed festival than anything else. I was happy that they seemed in favor of the idea.
“The seven clans of Darhan would be honored to participate,” one of the Naga representatives said, his silk robe rippling as he spoke. “But how would you propose to exchange goods and ideas? There are weeks of travel between our strongholds.”
“That’s a valid concern.” I pressed on the rune and it showed a map of Manzimor with blinking dots on all the major towns and cities on all documents. “And that’s something we’ve thought about. Portals.”
“Portals?” the Dryad representative said, her head snapping up. “Are you suggesting that we open portals between our communities?”
