I gazed out at the banquet hall in some astonishment. Just whose captive was I?
I knew little of Cronian government structure, but Artaxis must be extremely high up in it. The unwanted thought came to me that I should probably kill him. The loss of such an important official, if not royalty, would deal the Cronian war effort a savage blow, but it wasn't within me to be a murderer. I had done so once in anger, but never again.
Besides all that, I liked the man and found him very easy to get along with. He was talking, "So you are not a Philanthian by birth?"
"I shook my head, "No, I'm from Smirnaz."
"And there you come from a family of high standing?" he asked probingly.
The man liked directness so, looking him straight in the eye, I said, "I'm the bastard offspring of a Rollanic raider and a Smirnaz woman, lower than the dirt in terms of importance."
Instead of being put off, Artaxis leaned closer and said, "Fascinating! Such a humble beginning and yet look at you now, one of the highest knights of the realm and a personal friend to the strongest of the seven Kingdomer Nations."
Smoothly I interjected, "Odd how you picked the strongest of the seven Kingdomer Nations to go to war with. The odds are far from being in your favor. Philanthia's army must be twice the size of Crona's. I can only wonder why you have gone to war with them in such an unprovoked fashion?"
Artaxis shook his head good-naturedly and said, "You don't give up, do you my friend."
I smiled and then began sampling the excellent food that was arrayed out before me in an endless buffet. Leaning forward from my seated back rest of pillows I claimed a tray of food that had the best tasting creations of meat combined with other delicacies that I had ever sampled in my life.
The culture of these people was far different than any I had ever encountered before. It was far more relaxed and it displayed opulence in almost everything.
I had never tasted better food, seen such bright hues of silk, or seen so many beautiful women arrayed in practically nothing. I really tried to not let my eyes wander, but it was impossible not to notice the exotic beauty of the women.
Within this lavish banquet hall there was anywhere from 2 to 7 or more women in attendance at every head of state's side. I took most of the women to be slaves, but I wasn't entirely sure. Perhaps they were wives. The Nicationers did such things.