Thirteen.
Some would say it was an unlucky number. The half-beast was certainly not oblivious to the hushed murmurs and startled whispers uttered by some of the commonfolk as the small procession made their way towards the palace. Upon seeing Lunaris, some recoiled and pulled their children protectively behind themselves, while others stared openly, either unable or uninterested in restraining their curiosity at the unusual sight. Perhaps it came as a surprise that a unguligrade biped could ride a horse. Lunaris himself had been reluctant, preferring the feel of the earth beneath his own cloven hooves, but even he had to admit that riding was faster.
The procession was all for show, a display of the opulence and strength of Serenian people. There was no one of any real significance amongst the party. One representative from each of the twelve provinces was present, and Lunaris, each astride a fine palfrey with colorful fabric and leather barding. From a distance, an unsuspecting onlooker might not notice anything odd about the mysterious rider at the center of the procession, as a hooded cloak concealed him and the hindquarters of his black mount. From afar, rider, horse and cloak almost seemed to be one fluid entity. Up close, however, the cloak did nothing to disguise the horn that arched from his forehead. Half beast and half human, Lunaris might have actually been considered attractive, if not for the fact he possessed hooves, horn and a tail.
Reaching the palace gates, one rider called out boldly to the unamused palace guards. "We come from Serendipity, seeking audience with the Shah. She should be expecting us." They had indeed sent ravens ahead to announce their intention of bestowing a gift upon the Shah, so the guards ushered them through expectantly. Stable lads approached to take their mounts, and Lunaris dismounted as gracefully as he could with shackled wrists. A heavy chain ran from a ring affixed to the collar around his neck, through the rings on each shackle, and to the thick belt at his waist. Slave or prisoner, it was up for debate which one he was, despite his extensive military training and his status as a talented mage.
The party was instructed to retire to chambers that had been prepared for them within the palace, to freshen up before meeting with the Shah. Undoubtedly there would be some sort of banquet awaiting them as it was customary here to offer a meal to important trade partners, and Lunaris was helpless to stifle the rumbling of his stomach. The half-beast felt a bit road-weary after the long ride and welcomed the bath that had been drawn for him. The bath oils left his skin shimmering ever so slightly, accentuating the swell of muscle on his arms and chest. When he emerged from the bath, he found one of his companions waiting for him. His clothes had been replaced with garb more suitable for the hot Essyrn weather. His companion approached and released the lock that bound his shackles, their heavy chain clattering to the floor.
His hands freed, Lunaris quickly donned the new garb. He wasn't remotely bashful, but the clothes did feel foreign to him, essentially little more than a silk loincloth held in place by thick, ornate black leather belts and smooth silver chains. Some of the ornamentation did at least hint at armor, perhaps a nod to the getup worn by the gladiators he heard were popular in Essyrn. His companion draped a cloak around his shoulders, made of a material so fine and thin he could nearly see through it when he held it up to his face. It was jet black but seemed to sparkle, reflecting the light in a sort of exotic way he could not quite describe. The Serenian captor tugged the hood of the cloak up to the base of Lunaris' horn, the fabric falling to either side, sufficiently obscuring his face. Last but not least, a new chain was wound through the four rings and padlocked, lighter than the last but made of the same magic-dimming metal.
It was time to be presented to the Shah.
