Drakonis

Nymara

"Okay kids, today you all represent your mother and me. The king has been nice enough to invite us to breakfast, so please act well," Father pleaded, a note of desperation in his voice.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Dad, you're acting like we don't know how to act in public."

"Yeah, Dad," Uhroh smirked, currently half-naked and lounging around like a lazy cat. "We'll be on our best behavior." He struck a mockingly dignified pose, which only made the rest of us snicker.

My father sighed, rubbing his temples. "The point is, this is important for your father, so let's, as a family, support this."

"Maybe you should start by wearing a shirt," Ashely suggested, raising an eyebrow at Uhroh.

"Good point," Uhroh said, grabbing a shirt from a nearby chair and pulling it on. "Better?"

"Much," Mother said, rolling her eyes but smiling. "Now, let's get ready. We don't want to keep the king waiting."

As we prepared for the breakfast, the mood lightened with our playful banter. Olympia was busy trying to fix her hair, which seemed to have a mind of its own, while Ashely helped her, muttering about the importance of first impressions.

"Dad, do you think they'll have dragon eggs for breakfast?" Olympia asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Who knows," Father replied, chuckling. 

We made our way to the grand hall, the aroma of food wafting through the air as we approached. The long tables were laden with an impressive array of dishes, from fresh fruits and pastries to exotic meats and, yes, dragon eggs. The sight was both intimidating and mouth-watering.

King Draven greeted us warmly, his smile genuine as his family stood beside. "Welcome, Vorian, and family. Please, join us."

We took our seats, trying to emulate the grace and poise of our hosts. The Drakonis around us seemed to take note of our effort, nodding approvingly.

My eyes caught with a younger girl who sat beside King Draven, she was beautiful. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail but her hair was wild and hung around she wore tribal markings and held much grace

"Warrior Vorian, I want you to meet my family," King Draven boasted with pride, as we all turned our attention to the people beside him.

"This is my wife, Velara," he said, gesturing to a striking woman with flowing auburn hair and eyes as vibrant as emeralds. "And these are my two children, Nymara and Nestor! I believe they are the same age as your oldest boys." He smiled warmly, and we all nodded respectfully. Nymara stayed on my mind; her name was as beautiful as she was, with a grace and presence that was hard to ignore.

"Yes, our boys Loran and Uhroh are their age," Father responded, his smile matching the king's.

The queen, Velara, spoke with a soft but commanding voice, "Introduce us, please."

Mother nudged us gently, and we all stood up, each taking turns to introduce ourselves.

"I'm Loran," I said, trying to sound confident and failing to keep my eyes from straying to Nymara. She smiled politely, her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before I quickly looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"I'm Uhroh, and this is my younger brother Elia" my brother said, his usual swagger replaced with a hint of nervousness. "Nice to meet you all."

Ashely stepped forward next, offering a shy smile. "I'm Ashely, and this is Olympia," she said, indicating our youngest sister, who was peeking out from behind Mother's skirts.

Olympia stepped forward, her curiosity overcoming her shyness. "Hi," she said in a small voice, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of the royal family.

Nymara and Nestor both smiled at us. Nestor, who looked a bit younger than Nymara, stepped forward. "It's a pleasure to meet you all," he said, his voice friendly and warm. "Welcome to our home."

Nymara's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, and I felt my cheeks flush. "Yes, welcome," she said, her voice like a melody. "I hope you find our city as wonderful as we do."

"Thank you," Mother said, her voice filled with genuine warmth. "It's an honor to be here."

King Draven clapped his hands together. "Excellent! Now that introductions are out of the way, please eat more!" 

As the meal progressed, the conversation flowed easily. My siblings and I managed to avoid any major faux pas, though there were a few close calls. At one point, Uhroh nearly knocked over a pitcher of juice while reaching for a particularly large dragon egg.

"Easy, Uhroh," Ashely whispered, stifling a giggle.

"So, what do you think of our home?" King Draven asked, directing his attention to us.

"It's incredible," my mother said, trying to find the right words. "The way you've integrated with the mountains and the dragons...it's unlike anything we've ever seen."

King Draven nodded, a proud smile on his face. "It has been our way for generations. The bond between the Drakonis and the dragons is sacred."

"Do you all get to ride dragons?" Olympia asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Yes," the king replied, his eyes twinkling. "Every Drakonis learns to ride a dragon around your age actucally. Perhaps, if you stay long enough, you might get a chance to experience it yourselves."

Olympia's mouth dropped open in amazement, and even Uhroh looked intrigued. "Really?" he asked, a bit of his usual bravado slipping away.

"Really," King Draven confirmed, chuckling. "But first, let's finish our breakfast."

The meal continued with lively conversation and laughter. My father seemed more relaxed, his earlier anxiety dissipating. It was clear that King Draven's hospitality was genuine, and we felt a growing sense of ease among the Drakonis.

After breakfast, as we prepared to leave the hall, King Draven pulled my father aside. "Vorian, I appreciate your family's effort to fit in. It's not easy being outsiders here, but my family will help you. Let's continue our discussions later today."

My father nodded, gratitude evident in his eyes. "Thank you, Your Majesty. We look forward to it."

As we walked back to our quarters, the tension had lifted, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and optimism. The journey was far from over, but with the support of the Drakonis, we felt ready to face whatever lay ahead.

"Well, that went better than expected," Father said, smiling at us. "Thank you for behaving."

"We're not complete savages, Dad," Elia replied, grinning. "Just partial ones."

"And remember," I added, teasing, "act your best."

We all laughed, the sound echoing through the corridors as we made our way back. Despite the challenges, we were together, and that was all that mattered.