Chapter 3

                                        

                                              
The Xutian King had aspirations of Imperiality and was using Father's skills as a General to drive their border to the far end of the Traimorian States if possible. To achieve that, all Noble Houses had to send a tenth of their forces to assist the Army. Knights, conscripts, and all prisoners were to head to the training camps under watched guard if needed. Yet in and amongst all that madness, the Royal Court was still holding the Blessings for the Nobly born.
Aubin would be presented to the Royal family and would receive a Godly Blessing. But a part of Emberlee worried that maybe this generation would see a terrible fate befall her adorable little brother, the first Ortaga to be given to the Vapours. She'd read her Uncle's information on them and still wasn't certain if the infants selected were sacrificed to the Vapours, or if they somehow became the Vapours, but she certainly didn't want to find out by watching it happen to someone she loved. She let none of the unease show as they once again rode a carriage into the Capital, and she didn't gape out at the splendour of the city or Royal Hill this time. Father should have been with them, but the General of the Army remained near the shifting front lines. Emberlee had seen the map of the successful expansion, and the next phase that intended to claim the center States of Traimore, so she understood the need for him to push the Army onwards. Victory would bolster the morale of all these conscripts and soldiers, and the faster Father won the sooner he could come home permanently.
Emberlee was watching all the Nobles presenting their children for Blessings. Neither Grand Duke nor Archduke families had children for this year, though the Manske Dukedom was also presenting a second-born son. Aubin could grow up with a friend rear his age, but Robert Manske's older sister was far too young to be Emberlee's companion; Giselle was only four years old. And both Aubin and Emberlee were distant cousins to Madeline Mihal who was also presented at this Blessing. Unlike the Higher Noble families, the Count, Viscount, and even Baron families had a lot of children to present. Countess Poinsett had given birth to twins, Count Fedde had a legitimate daughter and an illegitimate son, and the Bocks had their sixth child. Viscount Lieske's three sons had all fathered daughters this year, Baroness Bogin had her Heir, and Baron Devore claimed the son he presented was his legitimate child but his wife's absence was telling.
Every Noble family had dressed to be seen as the event took place in the Royal Castle, with the Royal family in full attendance. King Andrion looked unbothered by his ongoing war, Queen Oriel looked calmly regal, and Crown Prince Damien was about to come of age and looked bored by all the pomp and circumstance. The Crown Prince certainly took after his Mother, both with dark brown hair and eyes compared to the King's ashier brown and hazel. All three of the Royals were resplendent in royal purple, a colour only the Landquist family was allowed, and Emberlee watched the trio glitter in the limelight. The children being presented for their Blessings were collected one at a time with their parents and led to the Crystal Grotto at the heart of the castle. Emberlee and her Mother followed the Royal family in silence after the Higher ranked families had already been Blessed; the first of the Marches to be seen this year. Of the seven God types that watched over the Xutian Kingdom, this year saw a predominant number of Blessings from the God of War; as if to lend credence to the King's dream of expansion. Emberlee was prepared to learn that these 'Blessings' were a sham to ensure loyalty and political support, except that she witnessed Aubin's Blessing.
The Crystal Grotto was exactly what it sounded like, a cavern etched entirely out of crystals. The King led the Ortaga's down a flight of wide, sweeping stairs that demarcated the barrier between the castle and Grotto. Emberlee was surprised to feel the chill seep through her shoes, the Grotto seemed to glow with an inner light and she'd expected an accompanying warmth. And yet, despite feeling the cold through her feet, Emberlee's breath caused no corresponding fogging in cold air. The Crystal Grotto wasn't cold; the crystals themselves seemed to pull the warmth out of her instead.