Blood Ties

Chapter 2: Feasting with the Fabulous

The feast progressed; diplomats and guests began to arrive. Following custom, though it irked Trisa, she waited patiently for each of the kingdoms diplomats to acknowledge her presence as they arrived. Aliyus of the Fifth Kingdom had been the first diplomat. Trisa was nibbling on a biscuit as a Shifter came into the hall. She recognized him immediately by the tribal tattoo on his left cheek. It was how the Shifters showed their true face. Decreed by the Kingdom of the Sixth no shifter shall impersonate another. The mark enabled for correct identification. Its ink was bound to the shifter's soul, so when they changed faces even to another Shifter's face the other Shifter's tattoo wouldn't appear.

The Soul Shifter was a leaner man almost lanky, but his bearing held none of the awkwardness of youth. He strutted down that long carpet placed in the center of the Great Hall. His skin was a deeply tanned, his head shaved, with dark brown eyes. His tunic was simple, plain, something that could cross different social classes without being suspicious. Clever, Trisa mused to herself, as she examined the man closely. It was apparent to her that the only thing distinguishable was the claw-marked tattoo.

He smirked at her and nodded his head, in an instant Trisa was staring at herself. It wasn't a mirror she was looking into, but a 3D representation of her body. She couldn't help but gasp with shock, while the smirk on the shifter's face became her own grin. Trisa circled the man, as she took in her appearance. He went from one moment a man in a tunic, to the next it was her in his tunic! After she had stopped gawking at the man, still in her form, the Shifter said, in her own feminine voice, " Hello, you must be Trisa."

"At this moment I'm not so sure." Trisa stammered back with just a hint of amusement. The man laughed an in a deep baritone; that couldn't have been manufactured in Trisa's own vocal chords. In another instant, in a swirl of wind about him, the Soul Shifter showed his true face. Trisa realized her facial expression must be akin to awe.

Gingerly grabbing her hand in his own, he replied, "My dear you most certainly are yourself, for no one has your spirit." His words caught her attention; had he truly seen inside her soul? Or was it just a clever manipulation to make her swoon before him? Trisa decided she didn't care, recomposing herself after so much gawking.

"Oh come now Frenzick stop trying to steal the girl, with exclamations that you have seen inside her soul!" said Aliyus.

"I wasn't aware that she belonged to anyone Aliyus," Frenzick said pointedly. At which Aliyus's cheeks turned beet red. Trisa was too busy to take notice, having already transferred her attention to a sudden disturbance in the Great Hall. The men stopped their bantering in a minute when they realized the next guest had arrived for the feast. Frenzick moved to place himself by Aliyus, so nothing stood between Trisa and the light.

The entire hall filled with light. A woman encased in a beautiful radiant orb. Light streamed from what Trisa was sure must have been the woman's heart. The diplomatic representative of the Light Holders was Princess Sapphire. Her dress was floor length and fluorescent. Mixed with what looked like the shimmery iridescence of twilight. Trisa could have sworn that it was a garment sewn from the stars. As for Sapphire herself, her eyes were just that. Her hair looked like it shimmered with golden light. Wow, classic tall blue eye blond if Trisa had ever seen one. Oh, and let's not forget the four-inch height difference between them, she had to be about 5'8".

"Greetings, my you look dark. Hmmmmm, it seems someone's played a nasty trick on you of late." She spoke in a very dignified manner, very matter of fact. This girl appeared to radiate positivity of a genuine kind. You know the kind of people that are all butterflies and sunshine, the kind that you can't help but love and envy at the same time wondering how in the gods' names did they become so happy? Yeah well, this was their poster girl. Trisa grimaced at how easily the girl saw through her. "Not to worry little dove. I'll help you fly again."