Etiquette, as Kala had been instructed, was not intended to be a strict set of rules maintained merely to make one worry at any moment they might misstep and cause a scene. In fact, it was intended to be a social lubricant, to make interactions pleasant and positive, whether one was at a party or negotiating in earnest. The young lady was not upset that she couldn't champion the Kathar cause at a Hytori prince's nameday party; rather, she was glad that the issue had been brought up obliquely and she had been given a sort of permission to pursue the matter in a more appropriate place and time.
This was a small victory, and the festivities wouldn't be ruined by atrocities on the other side of the continent. After all, no matter what she did, said, or how she comported herself here and now was going to be the deciding factor in the independence of her enslaved cousins.
She smiled and told Salmakis briefly about the genius runeforger of Starfall, a dwarven woman, as well as the young man who had come up quickly. For such a small settlement, they were spoiled for choice insofar as enchanted equipment was concerned. Of course, there was quite a bit going on where outsiders couldn't see, but that was a secret even from their Briathos liege lords.
The time was coming for epiphany, perhaps. Her brother Aquilios was not pressuring her to make her wings and divinity common knowledge any time soon, but he calculated, and she was rather certain that he would leverage those things when they were common knowledge to secede from Kalzasern oversight.
Kala laughed, not unkindly, at the princess' question.
"Goddess, no. If you had told me as a child that I would become a trade minister, I would have impolitely inquired about your mental faculties. I was always good at maths, I suppose. They are a sort of universal language, and I enjoy puzzling things out with those tools, but now I have people doing those calculations for me most of the time. I grew up with an elder brother and my twin brother. I was... well... I suppose exactly how elves might expect a human child to be... all dirt-smudged face and skinned knees. But I grew up... much as your little bears, I think." She had done her homework with regard to Hytori culture, it seemed, even though she had missed the Vrauronia this year.
"My brother the heir spent a handful of years in the capital before returning home to learn under my mother's supervision. Kaus and I went to the capital once we were declared adults, both to further our educations and to be of service to the family. I started working with our factor, helping to oversee our financial affairs, while Kaus pursued his martial training and showing up to parties to charm people." She smiled, affection unfeigned. It wasn't that Kaus couldn't do the maths or focus upon the sort of work she was doing; he just didn't have the temperament to enjoy it. Everyone loved ebullient Kaus. Kala was the quiet, strange one. She wasn't unpopular, but certainly more introverted.
"In any case, I serve at the will of my lady mother and when the former Queen-Regent offered me the position in her government, I accepted. Kalzasi has needed its people to shine of late. We are cursed to live in interesting times."
.This was a small victory, and the festivities wouldn't be ruined by atrocities on the other side of the continent. After all, no matter what she did, said, or how she comported herself here and now was going to be the deciding factor in the independence of her enslaved cousins.
She smiled and told Salmakis briefly about the genius runeforger of Starfall, a dwarven woman, as well as the young man who had come up quickly. For such a small settlement, they were spoiled for choice insofar as enchanted equipment was concerned. Of course, there was quite a bit going on where outsiders couldn't see, but that was a secret even from their Briathos liege lords.
The time was coming for epiphany, perhaps. Her brother Aquilios was not pressuring her to make her wings and divinity common knowledge any time soon, but he calculated, and she was rather certain that he would leverage those things when they were common knowledge to secede from Kalzasern oversight.
Kala laughed, not unkindly, at the princess' question.
"Goddess, no. If you had told me as a child that I would become a trade minister, I would have impolitely inquired about your mental faculties. I was always good at maths, I suppose. They are a sort of universal language, and I enjoy puzzling things out with those tools, but now I have people doing those calculations for me most of the time. I grew up with an elder brother and my twin brother. I was... well... I suppose exactly how elves might expect a human child to be... all dirt-smudged face and skinned knees. But I grew up... much as your little bears, I think." She had done her homework with regard to Hytori culture, it seemed, even though she had missed the Vrauronia this year.
"My brother the heir spent a handful of years in the capital before returning home to learn under my mother's supervision. Kaus and I went to the capital once we were declared adults, both to further our educations and to be of service to the family. I started working with our factor, helping to oversee our financial affairs, while Kaus pursued his martial training and showing up to parties to charm people." She smiled, affection unfeigned. It wasn't that Kaus couldn't do the maths or focus upon the sort of work she was doing; he just didn't have the temperament to enjoy it. Everyone loved ebullient Kaus. Kala was the quiet, strange one. She wasn't unpopular, but certainly more introverted.
"In any case, I serve at the will of my lady mother and when the former Queen-Regent offered me the position in her government, I accepted. Kalzasi has needed its people to shine of late. We are cursed to live in interesting times."
