Cassiopa was nothing to bark at. She was pretty, yes, but was not considered a gem nor a beauty. It was her bloodlines and her relationship to the Lily that instead made her a desired lady. Her education was extensive so that she would be a good mate to her future laird. She was taught about politics, negotiating, sexual procedures, whelping, healing, and manners from an early age, along with lore, as already stated. Nothing was hidden, nor was she coddled in any way. The ways of life needed to be laid out clearly so that she could learn as much about the ways of the world as was possible. Unbeknownst to the pups born later in life, or much of the kingdom for that fact, the prince and princess both were sent out into the world to explore different kingdoms to see how they were run, moreso to ensure that their kingdom would never change by seeing their consequences than to come up with ideas as to how to make their own better. From her first day of birth, Cygnus and Orion had started to search out which pack they wanted to be allied to, and which packs would be suitable for their daughter. Mainly, which packs were large, powerful, and had first born sons who were not yet betrothed, or had sons who were betrothed but had not yet gone through with consummation. Orion’s search for increasing power pushed him into gambling on the death of a Queen already established. The second largest pack, after his own, had a newly crowned King who had been mated to an older lady. Orion’s hope was that she would die a natural birth before Cassiopa came into her own maturity.

Lestram’s own education was similar to his sister’s, but instead of learning about whelping, he learned about fighting and war tactics. The Queen’s role was to support the King, but the King’s main role was inter-pack relationships. Lestram was the spitting image of his father, and took to the teat and to the role quickly. It was rare that he left his father’s side, as he was both impressed by and jealous of his father’s status. In the years to come, Orion’s fall from the throne would not be a natural nor optional one…


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He thanked her when she gave out her name. Princess no need, it seems you’ve been out of contact for a bit of time and I have no need to be aggravated. I’ve had worse attempts at introductions or the lack thereof. Though Ameira was indeed considered a sort of royalty, more than that her home land had rules that everyone followed and no one was allowed to disobey without consequence. Aside from the laws of the gods when it came to the Lily, there were rules of conduct. The lairds were the only ones who could rule a pack, and their lands were passed from father to son, with no lassies having right to property. Though ladies were respected and often consulted by their mates, they were not considered to be fit to rule the lands. Ladies were to be quiet until they were introduced into the conversation. Ladies were expected to be able to bear bairns, and if they were not, the laird could break off his engagement and find himself someone more suitable, to ensure that his line would be secured. No betrothal was considered solidified until the lass became pregnant. It was odd, and different from many other lands, true, but their ‘marriages’ did not occur until after the consummation.

The laddie went on to describe his own history. I am a bastard born to the Alpha from a lowly maiden. Cast away in disgrace and sworn to secrecy and should I break my vow, my mother—the only woman I have ever loved, would be dead before the next dawn. And so you see m’lady my irises are what led to the discovery of my connection and eventually my humiliation. Thus, I seek to protect what little pride I have left and keep very little company with those of mine own breed. The very idea of a bastard child confused the ess, as it conflicted with another law. For a laird to sleep with a femme other than his mate or vice versa was practically unheard of. For, if the lady did not give herself to him whenever he demanded, he had the right to strip her of her rank and take another wife. However, if he sought out other lassies without just cause or reason, the King’s rank would be stripped just as quickly. From time to time, especially when the queen was with child, the King would be allowed to seek out other lassies, but only with the consent of the Kingdom’s court and of his own Queen. A prostitute was then assigned to him and she was monitored to ensure that she did not come to carry a bairn. The royal lines had to stay clean, with a single, easily tracked line of blood.

As their conversation continued, the brute responded with his own name and promised to answer nearly any question that she asked of him. Horizon, if it pleases you Princess Ameira. Please do not feel threatened by my presence I merely ask question thought to be in the heart of pleasantry conversation, but I do forget my manners at times. Seeing as I haven’t been in the presence of royalty since my younger adolescent years. Miss Ameira if there is anything you question about me, should it not strike a nerve, I will be free to share. I hold very few reserves on my past and ongoing life. I just hope you will that there is good in this, there are wolves you can trust. You must allow yourself to trust Princess or life will be a much more difficult path than intended. Ameira laughed, and then stopped suddenly, the feeling odd, but she realized that for the first time in a long while she was relaxing. “There is nothing to forgive, Horizon, for it is relieving to not have to put on aires around another. But I must confess, I find your mannerisms and this land itself odd. I find myself ignorant, it would seem, to the ways of the world or at least to the ways of this land and fear that this may be to my detriment should I choose to stay within these lands. If you know more than I of the ways of this place, please share them with me. Always I thought that there was one way to life…” Her teeth bit down on her bottom lip, trying to prevent her mind from reverting back to the past few months of her life with her mate. With her betrothed.

OOC – so she is totally writing out differently from how I wanted her to be. She will eventually be strong but now she is like a young, innocent, naïve fool. But I still like her!!!