The time had come for them to attend the feast that had been spoken of when they completed the forging and Xander was excited, his body shivered with anticipation to see the final outcome of the his and everyone elses efforts. He hoped that the fruits of their labour would be satisfactory for them and that they would find themselves to have been successful. A lot had changed for Xander after that day although he only now seemed to remember it, he had learned a truth he would never have imagined and he now felt he once again would have to relearn and re-evaluate who he was at his core. Nontheless, Gennadiya had agreed to accompany him to the feast and her father had been kind enough as to agree to watch over the girls for them too.
Xander nodded and smiled appreciatively to Genna's father. "Thank you Master Lyosha, I hope they do not cause you too much difficulty." He knew more than anyone what a handful his daughters could be. Xander knelt and kissed each of his daughters on the head while Gennadiya was with her father and said his good byes making sure he was ready to leave when she returned to his side. He stepped back from the girls and Genna took his arm, with his spare hand Xander reaching into his pocket and took hold of the Getaway Stone and in a flash they were suddenly somewhere else.
It took the Shieldbearer a moment to get his bearings but once he was situated he realised he was stood at a pair of gates through which he could see firstly two things. There was a turtle and a racoon who started to speak to them, Xander had only met one other being similar to this one and it had been Bao Bao but Xander listened and nodded to what Horatio had to say. "I have no need of refreshment at this time but thank you." Xander stated in ageement with Gennadiya as they turned to face the turtle. The creature wwas not like any turtle he had seen before, was it even a turtle? He wasn't sure, wherever they were was not like any place he had been before. They must have been somewwhere special for that he was sure.
The turtle lowered itself for them to board and take their seats in the saddle for them and once they were secured the creature began to move towards the castle that stood in the distance. Xander smiled and squeezed Gennadiya's hand as he watched the world pass them by. It was a fantastical place filled with unusual and beautiful phenomenon. While they travelled Xander saw waterfalls flowing upwards and birds flying backwards, he saw golden fish swimming down the waterfalls and finally as Gennadiya and her Dirri played and sang a sweet tune their were shooting stars that seemeed to join in on the chorus with a stunning display. "It certainly is beautiful." He agreed with the healer as he watched.
As they travelled it occurred to Xander the similarities this bore to his old life. "This reminds me a lot of my life in Rynmere, albeit there were less elemental turtles back then." Xander said with a chuckle. "But travelling long distances to go to feasts and celebrations, I think the last such celebration I attended would have been theMidwinter Masquerade, that was an event to remember, in fact I actually met the king that day although very unexpectedly I will admit, I still need to tell you the story of when a werebear through a door at the king." Xander leaned back in the saddle and watched the shooting stars above. "We had been invited to private rooms for an activity where a masked man told us of our challenge, we were to take on roles from within the Rynmerian government and discuss a matter of importance. However, it seemed that one of the guests, a hulking bearlike man who I later learned could actually turn into a bear wasn't too fond of games of intellect and after I would say he lost he decided to throw a door at our host who once removed his mask turned out to be King Cassander himself." Xander gave a half smile in memory of how odd his life useed to be in comparison to the simplicity of his life now.
Xander shook his head and returned to the present, pushing memories from the forefront of his mind and patting the side of the turtle. "I'm sorry I must be boring you Harmony." He said acknowledging the name that Genna had suggested for the creature. "What would you like to talk about?" He asked their steed expectedly receiving no reply. Xander smirked and looked down at the turtle once again. "Quiet one huh?" The nobleman said with a smirk. "Well, my grandmother warned me that it was the quiet ones you always had to watch out for, they were always the ones scheming and plotting while the loud ones were giving awway all their secrets." Xander said, although he wasn't completely certain whether it was his grandmother that had told him that or someone else.
They eventually arrived in their destination where Xander alighted first from the turtle and offered a hand to assist his partner down from the saddle. "Funny we should see you again Sir." Xander said with a friendly smile as he allowwed himself to be guided to the rooms where he could get ready for the feast.
Upon arriving at his room Xander found his outfit. He inspected it and began to dress himself starting with the white shirt and then tieing the blue and gold cravat over the top before pulling on a pair of highwaisted dark blue woolen trousers adn buttoning them up. Next was a golden waistcoat which he pullled on and buttoned up, tucking in his cravat before finally finishing up the outfit with a pair of black leather knee boots and a matching dark blue tailcoat. Quickly running a comb through his hair Xander then made his move down to meet with Gennadiya. "You look beautiful my Lady." He said offering his arm again for them to enter and find their seats together. "Shall we?" He said once she had taken his arm he would allow them to be guided to their seats at the horseshoe shaped tables.
