Lxotu

Two hours later, Miashgon was thinking to himself that this was not such a fine idea. He was cold, and he couldn't even take his bow and sword out because he was watching the front gate. Besides, it was a stupid political function. All the guests were stuffy nobles and their boring children. Miashgon was hoping to see someone from Ashgor, but he had yet to see anyone. A peace had recently been established on the Rijero/Ashgor border, and though noone said it, this function was to test the Kingdom of Ashgor to see if they would accept Rijero Hospitality.

Another half an hour passed by. The banquet wwas about to get started, and thankfully, Miashgon only had another half an hour of duty left. Suddenly, a huge mass appeared on the horizon. it moved very quickly, and within five minutes, a humongous group of people had reached the castle doors.

The man in the front wore a silver band on his head. "I am Jarol Lxotu, the king of Ashgor," he boomed, "and this is the court of my capitol. I believe we have a standing invitation?"

Miashgon simply stared at the group for a few moments, then blinked. "Oh! Of course. I am Miashgon Jiponte, Prince of Rijero, and I welcome you on behalf of my father, though I'm sure he'll welcome you as well."

"The Prince? Guarding the castle gates?" The king laughed, "That is truly the oddity of Rijero!"

"Well-" Miashgon began.

"I think its a grand idea," A proud-looking, blonde teenager shouted from the crowd, "Perhaps I should guard the gates at our next banquet, Father."

The king chuckled, "Very well then. Let us go in."

Miashgon signaled the gates to open, and watched the crowd as it walked in. There were perhaps a hundred people here, maybe more. Most of them were older, fifty or sixty years, but near the back there was a group of teenagers, and even some children. Miashgon looked at each youth's face, and none were familiar. It was an odd feeling for Miashgon to be strangers with nobility.

Two faces caught his eye: one was the boy who had shouted out, obviously the Prince, and the other was a girl, absolutely beautiful, and probably about sixteen or seventeen. They made eye contact, but soon the girl was beyond the threshold, and Miashgon was staring after her.

"Yep, my sister has that effect on teenage boys," a voice startled Miashgon from behind, "but really, you shouldn't be distracted like that on guard duty, please."

Miashgon turned to see the Ashgor prince. The boy stood about half an inch shorter than Miashgon, and he wore a thin, gold chain around his neck. He had blonde hair, and grey eyes. He wore a devil-may-care expression, and he had an aura of nobility.

"Well, I know you can speak, I heard you earlier. Perhaps you just don't have a quick enough wit to respond in a timely manner?" The boy said.

"Oh I have the wit, I just don't know if a little princey like you could take the cutting edge of my sarcasm. I wouldn't want to start a war because some little boy went crying to his King father." Miashgon said all this with a smile on his face.

"Ah, so you do speak; and you know humor. I was afraid for a moment. So, I got your name, but I don't believe you caught mine. Xavier Lxotu, Prince of Ashgor. That girl, that was my sister, Zerona."

"Well, it was nice to meet you Xavier, but you shouldn't be late getting into that banquet."

"Ah, forget the banquet, I have a new castle to explore. You wouldn't be up for helping me in that would you?"

"Well... I have to finish this shift. Plus, I do have to be there for the last half of the banquet, because I will be missed, but that leaves about an hour and a half if you're game."

"Oh, I'm game. I'll be at the doors to the banquet."

"Sounds good, see you there."

Xavier walked into the gates, and down the hall. Miashgon turned back to the horizon, and waited for the last fifteen minutes of his watch to be over.

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