Thread: The Weight of the Crown (JellyFish & Greeneyed23)

Aretha played with the food on her plate, a haze of immersed tact keeping her from eating. She was hungry now, more than before but she could only think in numbers instead of her appetite. She found it interesting that the metal was so invulnerable yet she worried. She looked at Kurtis, seeing him also play with his food. More as trying to make the peas on his plate disappear. Amused, she poked his arm to get his attention. Hey, I don't think your mother would appreciate you trying make the peas vanish into oblivion. Kurtis looked up, eyes wide. Don't tell. Pwease? Aretha pretended to mull over the thought, sometimes reaching out to tap her sister just to give him a fright. Only if you teach me the trick. The boy seemed more than happy to do so. He held the coin up high for her to see and reached over with his empty hand, taking the coin between his thumb and forefinger. Turning his hand over, her rubbed his fingers together and slowing opened his palm. She blinked and took his hand, the coin was gone. She looked to the floor trying to make a logical explanation on why the coin had disappeared. Show me again. Kurtis went over the trick over and over again, sometimes the coin appearing in the most queer of places. And she too had tried herself, only with no luck. Biting the inside of her cheek, she tried once more only for the silver metal to fall into her lap. Growling in frustration, she gave up and handed over the metal piece to her nephew who had been laughing at her pathetic attempts. Yew c-can't do it! He continued to tease her and was actually quote proud he could do something his aunt couldn't. Oh shh. It's a simple trick, I'm just...tired. That's all. Kurtis frowned and glared at Aretha, until she glanced away, humming. Honestly she just didn't know how he did it and admitting to a 2 year old that he had something over her was shameful. However when Kurtis had forgotten about his aunt she thought over the presentation. Hama showed excellent strength and ability that none of the warriors could equal. And while the armor and weapons were what would be their greatest attribute in the battles to come, she still just thought something could go wrong. Siddel is busy speaking to another, maybe he won't notice..., she pondered. How many soldiers from each nation would be needed so that all of them are protected by the armor? We are estimating thousands if not millions of the enemy attacking the men all at once. Not only would they have to be skilled in have a precise killing blow the first time but they would need to be swift enough to dodge more than one attack at once. Aretha kept her voice to a minimum only so that the people closest to her would be able to hear and Siddel had not noticed in the slightest. But as she thought more questions bubbled and she continued on. And what about choosing warriors? They would have to be tested before going into training. Many elite don't deserve the right to the title and only think of themselves. A fluke is what carried them to being the best and if face in a real battle would risk others by simple mistakes. So not only would an assessment of dexterity is needed but also something that can bring out their best and worst qualities. No one needs a coward to keep them strong in battle, so how would this go about? She quieted when more than the group she thought was in ear view turned to her. Her family included. The King and Queen didn't seem bother but some of the officials showed no acceptance of her thoughts. She nearly had brought some accursed fate on all of them and they most likely wished her to be quiet. Aretha squirmed and looked down at her hands, nerves taking her to hold her tongue.