never second best

[Winters-Feather]

After a long session of studying history and languages in the library, Sha-Razi left the library and proceeded to stroll down toward's the temple's gardens. She loved her books, but the woman was in desperate need of air. Not that she would get much here...The woman signed and fanned her self; it was a hot summer's evening. It was always so humid. She wiped the sweat off of her brow with a handkerchief and turned to one of the garden's servants. She asked him for some juice, which he immanently ran off to the kitchen's to prepare. The man seemed kind of relieved; she didn't know if it was because it would give him an opportunity to step inside  where it was cooler or because he was bored, or both.

As Razi waited, she strolled to the gates of the garden. They were high and strong, to protect them from the outside city. The woman gave a small smile as she watched the still busy streets. It was, at least, a nice city; it didn't remind her terribly much of Essyrn. Gods, how she despised that city, even though most of the ports to the other kingdoms were through there. Observant passer bys would greet her, which she  always responded with a nod or a wave.She stretched her arms out as she glazed at the setting sun, feeling her stomach rumbling. Razi blushed at the obscure noise, though she was grateful nobody was really around to hear it. The woman touched the iron gate lightly, her imagination running away with her, far from the place. She must have been there for a while, because she could hear a gentle cough from behind her.
"Oh," she said, gratefully accepting the cup in her hands.  "Thank you."
The guard bowed and turned on his heel to leave.
Razi was tempted to join him; it really was quite scorching.

[Anonymous]

(OOC: The temple is part of a large city, so it's not like, in the middle of the jungle all alone. Just wanted to make sure we're on the same page ^__^))

Isi liked the garden. It was beautiful and calm. Ziya's pool wasn't so bad, but he wasn't sure he was up to dealing with his whining just then and Charik was off on some hunt to keep him busy while Isi took care of the kingdom.

But he needed a break, time to collect his thoughts and get outside. The air in the garden was heavy with the perfumed scents of the flowers and Isi absently stroked a hand along the petal of a large blossom.

It was then he noticed the guard heading back inside and Razi standing around holding a cup. Seems he wasn't the only one enjoying the flowers. Heading over, Isi smiled at the woman, "How was your trip?"

[Winters-Feather]

ooc: WHOOPS. >< edited it lol also, the 'others' are the npcs, whoever they may be. (There was an Npc member, wasn't there?)
IC:
Huh?
Razi turned around to find Isi approaching her. The woman gave a quick curtsy as a greeting, a bit alarmed; she hadn't expected him to wonder his way out here. She liked her solitude, but the woman supposed a friendly face wasn't quite unwelcomed. After all, she liked Isi...when he wasn't trying to seek his revenge every time someone so much as spoke to their king or about him. Where was he, anyway? She had heard trumpets and fanfare announcing a hunt before, but the woman had dismissed that. Was he out there?

The woman, however, was glad Isi had asked and couldn't help but to give a small, proud smirk. She had came back just the night before from a heavenly ocean trip. It was a short one, only for a few days, with some of the other harem girls. The only thing that had really off settled her was how loud and shallow some of them were.
"It was fun," she honestly replied, "I'm sorry for avoiding everyone, today..I was catching up with my studies. Oh..."
The woman looked down at her drink and cursed her bad manners.  
"Would you like some, too?" Razi politely asked.

[Anonymous]

"Ah, no, thank you." Isi smiled, waving the offer away, "You can avoid all you want. Look at Ziya." Isi gave a small laugh, "I apologize. I'm intruding, aren't I? I can leave you to your thoughts."

[Winters-Feather]

"Come, now," she politely teased, "Ziya isn't that all bad.
In small doses, Razi thought, keeping this bit to herself. It was rather terrifying how narcissistic the creature was. Oh, he liked him well enough...He just alarmed her. The woman shook her head at Isi's question.
"No, it's okay," she said, giving an embarresed smile, "In truth, I've been alone all day. It gets a bit boring after a while...Anyway, thank you for reminding me about Ziya; I ought to go visit his pool sometime again."
Razi paused, looking outside the gate towards the city.
It would be nice to go out and explore, she thought, Get to know the people better.
This idea sparked an impulse in her that the woman didn't want to resist.
"Hmm," she pondered, tapping a finger against her glass as she bit her lip.
Would now be a good idea...

[Anonymous]

"No, he is much worse." Isi's mouth curled up in a smile, "He'll love the company, but make sure you are up to it. He's been pissy because I haven't been having as many slaves visit him. He keeps drowning them or hurting them."

The water sprite was such a brat sometimes. But he had a special place in Isi's heart. Isi noticed Razi's expression, "Was there something you needed?"

[Winters-Feather]

Razi couldn't help but to hide her disgust as Isi described Ziya tormenting the poor souls.
"He ought to know better," she scowled, making note to go have a word with him. The woman gave a sly smile at Isi's question.
"I'm in the mood for a little adventure," she admitted, "Sometimes being stuck in a library learning about other places does that to you."
The woman paused. She was side tracking.
"Anyway," she continued, hesistant as she did not know how the head of the harem would respond, "Just for an hour or so, I was thinking...Maybe go out into the city?"
She looked at her clothes and frowned.
"This won't do," she muttered.
No good for blending in, anyway.

[Scythe-Nova]

-"Hunters? Why are there so many hunters here? i have not even done anything near the city..."

Sajira peered out from under a bush as several hunters had passed by her position under the vegetation in the jungle, She slithered out once the hunters had passed, It was not the first batch of hunters she had avoided and now it was finally quiet and She could not hear any more hunters coming her way. Her Hood folded down again and she turned around and started to slither away not really knowing where she would end up.

-"Hmmm?"

She then ended up at a Small river, the water was dark and was generaly hard to see into, A small noise startled Sajira and she looked over her shoulder and she heard the sound of more hunters coming her way, She thought for a moment before she slithered down into the river and swam under water along the stream hoping to avoid the hunters. She also turned the scales on her back Black so she would not be seen under water because of her normally white scales.

"I wonder if they were after me.."

She thought to herself as she swam in the river that was soon joined by small creeks making the river larger and deep. She soon feelt the need for air and swam for the surface noticing a smaller stream going off from the large river, she followed the smaller stream a bit before finaly popping out of the water drawing a deep breath of sweet sweet air. After her long breaths she looked around noticing some large buildings around her and that the stream she had come up from was edged with low stone fences that could act as benches if one was sized as a normal human.

-"This must be inside the city..Hmmm?"

She did not notice until now but there were two humans standing near the small stream she had come up from, She imediatly thought she had made a huge mistake by raising most of her upper body from the water to breathe, Sajira was only halfway up from the water so all one could see was her human part of the body, Her scales had allready before she surfaced changed back to the milk white colour.

((Could be you two if you like :3))

[Anonymous]

Isi had been about to respond when the small stream that wove through the garden exploded. He reacted before he could think, tackling Razi to the ground and shielding her with his body. It took a moment to realize it was only the sudden arrival of a...white snake woman.

Isi blinked, staring at the naga, his brain trying to process it all. Guards were already arriving, spears drawn and surrounding the naga. Getting to his feet, he kept himself between Razi and the figure, "Who are you? You dare to enter the private gardens of the Exalted God Charik?"

[Winters-Feather]

Just then, the peaceful waters of the garden's stream erupted into the air.
"Huh?"
Before Razi had time to comprehend the situation, Isi had tackled her to the ground, his body pressed against hers. Her breathing quickened in fright and surprise as she tried to catch a glimpse of what had emerged from the water. However, it was hard to in this position. All she could see was...white. Thankfully, as the guards surrounded whatever it was, Isi had gotten to his feet, which allowed the lady time to rouse from the ground.  As she did so, adjusting her clothes and tucking back her bangs, she gasped. A beautiful, pearly white naga was before them.

"How'd she get in here?" she quietly asked, lightly touching Isi's arm. Her body was now sore, thanks to his quick actions, but she was grateful for his chivalry. Who knew what this creature wanted or was capable of? After all, she managed to get into the temple's walls, and that was a difficult feat to accomplish. At least, that was what Razi had thought; she was now beginning to doubt the security if a naga could easily slip in.  The shrewd woman observed that the creature was lost. She looked around a bit confused, entirely sure of where she was.
What's her business?
Sha-Razi was quietly conjuring theories about the naga, from an escaping criminal to the absurd idea that she was perhaps an eccentric relative of Charik.  In any case, the woman kept her guard up as well; Razi didn't know much about fighting, but it would do her well to at least stay out of harm's way.

[Scythe-Nova]

Sajira instinctly flared her hood when the guards showed up pointing spears at her and she gazed over the guards finaly locking eyes with the man speaking to her demanding to know her identity, her gaze hardened at his tone and narrowed her own eyes glaring at the man as some of her scales on her back started to turn black but they were out of sight of the man talking to her.

-"You ask my name without giving me yours first? Have you no manners?"

As she spoke she rose from the water slowly rising higer so that she "stood" above everyone, her tail slowly curled up beneath her so that she was not in the water anymore. Her gaze went over the man that had talked to her and she now saw the woman next to him and inspected her quickly before she shifted her gaze back to the man talking to her.

[Anonymous]

"My name?!" Isi's jaw dropped, "You barge into the private, holy gardens and you dare to demand my name? Guards, remove her." Isi waved his hand and the guards stepped forward, spears at the ready to escort her out. No one wanted any trouble and the naga was very lucky Isi wasn't screaming for her head.

[Winters-Feather]

Razi lost any fear of the creature as she rose to full height and acted rather...haughty. Actually, in truth, it bored her, all these royal airs. Whoever this naga was, it was clear it wasn't her intention to make the stupid mistake of ending up in the middle of the temple's garden. Further, it was their luck that she was also stubborn and of high birth. The woman shook her head impatiently as Isi reacted with a rather hot head. She might get in trouble for doing the following, but she would just have to pay the consequences if that be it.
"No, Isi," she said, stepping forward, "If I may..."
The woman turned towards the guards.
"Just one moment," she asked the head of the guards, who gave Isi a somewhat conflicted stare, still at ready to escort their indignant guest away.

Satisfied, the woman turned towards the naga. She dropped down a quick curtsy before rising up to her own full height as she calmly stared her in the eye. It was Razi's duty, after all, to do things in a more diplomatic way.
"My name, Madam, is Sha-Razi," she smoothly said. "Now, forgive us of our ignorance of your name and status, but Isi here is the 'Exalted God's' right hand man, and you will do well to pay him your respect. Now that you know our names, may you kindly give us yours and tell us of your plight?"

[Scythe-Nova]

Oh Sajira just wanted to reach out and rip the little man's head off, and she was about to begin moving to do that but decided not to when the woman started to talk and looked at her somewhat supprised and tilted her head. She then took a deep breath and swallowed her anger and looked at the woman that had introduced herself as Sha-Razi.

-"...My name is Sajira Asonaka Warrior and princess of Cabal Houkae the Kingdom of Naga, and i got here while trying to avoid contact with all of the hunters in the djungles around here."

She relaxed somewhat as she gazed out over her surroundings before looking back at Razi with a smile and crossed her arms under her chest.

-"So why is there so many hunters around the jungle? Is there something special they're hunting?"

[Anonymous]

"Regardless of your royal status, this is a Gods garden and you have no right to be here. How dare you trespass like this!" Isi glared at the woman, arms crossed and irritated. How dare Razi act like this was anything but the sacrilegious affront that it was!

[Winters-Feather]

Razi sighed and bit her lip at Isi's clearly disappointed glare. She was going to have to answer for that later, she knew. Still, this was a princess they had in their  hands and if they didn't act appropriately, this could very well mean sour politics that could be wisely avoided.
"If I may be frank, Princess Sajira, that is none of your concern," Razi replied to the naga as she gave Isi a frustrated side ways glance. Actually, she didn't know what Charik was chasing out there, but it certainly was not Sajira.

 "However," she continued, holding up her hand in a peaceful gesture, "You have nothing to fear; they weren't trying to hunt you down. That said..."
The woman paused. She needed to talk to Isi. Now.
Razi gave a short bow of apology towards the naga.
"Please excuse me for one moment," she said as she turned to face her superior.
"Isi, what are you doing? Look," she pleaded firmly in a whisper, "I know she's a trespasser, but it's our duty as those who live at this temple to help those in need. Not to mention she is  princess, if you haven't heard, of Cabal Houkae. Sajira might not be... as esteemed as our Charik, but if we don't treat her with proper hospitality, we could make enemies with the Naga Kingdom! Do you understand that?"
Razi paused to glance at the naga once more before continuing.
"I can keep an eye on her in my quarters," she suggested, "Just one night. Then we can send her off properly. Properly, Isi."

[Anonymous]

"Are you insane? She thinks she can come into our temple and disrespect us? Charik is a God! Not some lowly Princess. Would you have us bow and accept every insult thrown our way? If she had come here and asked to stay, we would have welcomed her with all the respect she deserves. But to act this way, to insult us and our God this way and you would have us kiss the ground before her? I think not."

His eyes narrowed again, clearly angry, "You may have no respect or pride, but I will not see Charik or this Kingdom demeaned by anyone, let alone some spoiled Princess."

[Winters-Feather]

Razi bowed her head and folded her arms across her chest as Isi spoke. Though she wanted to interject so badly, she knew it would be foolish to interrupt. So, instead, she bit her tongue, though she flinched when he insulted her sense of pride and respect. The woman gave him a glare as if she was about to snap him in half. Razi pulled herself up to full height.
"Do you think I enjoy this? You really do think I enjoy this, do you," she replied, " 'Bow and accept every insult'... She has no idea where she is. Yes, I know, I know... She should know and not be so ignorant, but she is, and we have to correct that. Did you see her expression? She is clueless about her surroundings and scared. You, Isi, treated her as a vile intruder. Rightfully so, at first, but now that we know the truth, it is not necessary. Of course she acted the way she did!"
She shook her head, careful not to raise her voice too much or act too harshly.
"It is our duty as those in service of our God to help those in need," she repeated.
"And I will not be talked down upon."

[Scythe-Nova]

-"Well then let me say Sorry for trespassing into this garden, it was not something i meant to do."

She said and made a formal bow towards Isi and then listened to Razi when she spoke and nodded sligthly when Razi excused herself to talk to Isi. Her Hood slowly folded back and she tried to eavesdrop on them with her accute sense of hearing. "... Both of them need to chill out, though it's always like this when religion is involved" She thought as she listened to their conversation, and she raised an eyebrow in a slightly annoyed fashion when she overheard Isi's insult towards Razi.

-"..."

Her tail swayed impatiently as she took off her bag from her back and opened it looking around inside it before sighing some and putting the bag back over her shoulder and waiting for Razi and Isi to talk to her again.

[Rhindeer]

It had been a long, fruitless hunt with no sign of the snake-beast. While Charik had vowed to never stop hunting it until he had its hide, for it had threatened too many of his harem (and only recently Sha-Razi!), he had to admit defeat for the day and attend to matters back at the temple.

He dismissed the servants he'd had accompany him and headed inside, ready to change out of his hunting gear and spend the rest of the day pampered and loved--but a commotion in the garden beyond caught his attention first and a harried servant boy informed him that there was...trouble outside.

More specifically, a snake creature.

The snake-beast!

Charik didn't bother to change. Still dressed in the spotted cat skins he wore on these hunts and wielding an obsidian-tipped spear, he made his way into the garden, surprisingly fast, and his eyes narrowed when he saw it, the snake-beast confronting Sha-Razi and Isi! So it had come back to finish the job...and had gotten far more bold to come onto sacred ground!

"So we finally meet!" he announced, spear pointed at the creature's torso. "First you torment our harem and steal our servants and now you dare to enter our garden! We shall end this once and for all. Isi! Sha-Razi! Leave now. You needn't witness this." The last thing he wanted was for them to see him slay the creature; it was his job to protect them and Sha-Razi had already suffered enough.