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The reaction of the prince at his companion’s remark informed Orana that it had not been a polite one, and she was almost disappointed she had not heard it. It was bold to be impolite in the presence of any royalty, let alone foreign hosts, but she supposed that was the upside of being in a place that was literally so different that no one understood their native tongue. It was an interesting look into the relationships of the group and the she-Dwarf had to admit it was far more casual between the men than she would have anticipated. It seemed outside of their own kind that friendships - especially openly candid ones - were forsaken in order to make way for propriety. It did not make sense to Orana or her kin, and the realization that there was perhaps more in common with the Brunlanders than she had anticipated. The thought that perhaps the prince was simply an exception crossed her mind and she found her curiosity further piqued. It was a fleeting one, however, as his attempts at speaking Common and questions drew her attention back to the present. Orana had not been particularly excited that she had been put to babysitting their guests but her manners were significantly more developed than her brothers’. “ It is a combination, and there are specialized craftsman for each skill. One will carve and press the rougher shapes, while another will shave in the finer details, ” the princess explained as she beckoned the party to follow. Gorim would have ruined his pants with astonishment at how polite she was being, and the image brought a rare, genuine smile to her face. “ Just as the craftsmen with the jewelry. Often the one who carves and shines the jewel is not the same who bends and twists the metal to house it. ” With a wave of her emerald adorned hand she beckoned the company to follow, leading them onwards. Orana was not typically her father’s choice for such political niceties but she supposed it had something to do with her upcoming appointment to captain of Aglarond’s armies. Uncommon though it was amongst Dwarves, it was not so strange in Ered Nimrais as many women in the line of Stiffbeard had served on the battlefield and in high positions of command - the armour she was to wear the day of her trial had been her grandmother’s. The title of captain was one that she felt was well earned. There was by far no greater warrior in Aglarond (she consistently bested even Orral in the arena), she had practically raised Orrak after the passing of their mother, and she commanded the respect of their warriors unlike either of her brothers. Of course, none of this was her own opinion but Orana was well aware of her abilities and at times she was perhaps not as humble as she should have been. The stone gardens filled with glowing, glittering fountains through which molten rock instead of water flowed; the shining libraries, the dusty training yards, the bustling market - there had been no instructions for her beyond Gorim warning her to behave, and so she led the Brunlanders through what she assumed most would want to see. The ramparts had crossed her mind but Dwarven suspicion ran deep in all of Stiffbeard’s descendants and even with her desire to show off the magnificence of the Glittering Caves the soldier in her whispered it would be foolish to show even ‘allies’ such important tactical locations. At last they reached the bustling markets and the princess’ footsteps found a new vigour. She had always preferred the streets than the grand halls of the palace and there was another hint of a smile on her face as their presence was met with wondrous stares at her wards and jovial shouts of greeting on her behalf. It was no secret that she was popular with their people and, truthfully, she loved them back. “ As you can see, our economy is flourishing. War or peace beyond the mountains, there is always a need for metals, spices, and jewels, ” said Orana as she sidestepped a cart full of shining copper bars being pulled by an enormous ram with elaborately twisted horns as decorated as his master’s bejewelled garments. “ Our location makes us an invaluable when it comes to trade - with Gondor, Rohan, and even Harad. ”
