[sr.14]
Narrator:
It's quite a gathering of people that head out from Jhereg's camp to Brandon's. The Duchess of Devonshire seems to be in a much improved mood, but those closest to her just aren't sure. Tabytha seems to be just a little bit preoccupied.
Sir Hesketh is having second thoughts as he tries to explain to Elisabeth how Blackbird nearly got killed. His innate self confidence shines through; he will do the best that he knows in the ways he has been taught. It lends a bit of honesty to his and Elisabeth's conversations, dealing in matters both personal and unclear. She is greatly comforted by the fact that Hesketh doesn't try to force her opinions but instead asks her of them.
Baron d'Arundel, Knight commander of the order of the Helm, Richard is trying hard to make sure that in his distracted hurry to get ready he has not forgotten anything important. His natural organizational skill shines through, all is as it should be with his appearance and apparel. His mind though, is far away. Thoughts of home. Trying to remember what on earth he could have said recently to insult an entire duchy. Unease at the future his sister keeps getting glimpses of.
She (Gloriana) seems to be the only one who is really excited about the evening. One thing has been clear in her glimpses of the evening - it's going to be *fun*. She hasn't had fun in too long.
Jhereg is busy plotting and scheming. Evaluating one thing after another, trying to figure out how to best play this evening to his advantage. Hoping that these powerful strangers to McMannon will be an asset to his plans and not an unsolvable problem. It's not "nothing ventured, nothing gained" to Jhereg, but "Too little bet means too little won."
Gallilei is visibly distracted -- visible even to people who know him no well than this. On the one hand, he is uncomfortable around this many armed men. The assumptions that go into the need for tight security for the Duchess and other nobles makes him distinctly uneasy. The long shadows from the setting sun don't help his mood a bit. The memory of a steel crossbow bolt resting gently in his left ear is all too recent. But supposedly this dinner will be a safe place for people to talk. On the other hand, the opportunity to observe, for the first time, the customs of a new species -- essentially the meeting of a half dozen men who in their own contexts would require the label "Alpha Male" is one that comes but seldom. His fascination at the prospect is almost too much for even him to contain.
Sister Anne, along at Glorianna's insistance, seems to be the most relaxed person of the lot. Anne is pretty sure that the strange conversation between the two of them must have something to do with Glorianna trying to fill in gaps in her knowledge, or is it gaps in the future that she sees? For now she has successfully made Jhereg "not there." A technique she developed while in training to deal with a priest who wanted to be "too friendly."
The necessary retainers have mostly been banished to the limits of visibility and audibility. One of Tabytha's ladies in waiting has the look of one who has seen the dead. Normally giddy to the point of irritation, she was reminded by the Duchess that it used to be legal to sell people into slavery in McMannon (pretty girls bring the best prices). Sir Raymond dutifully guards his Duchess while staying out of her sight. Hesketh knows that Bill is out there somewhere, as always. James Ridenour's men and the Royals are providing security - a lot of it.
Narrator:
It's a cheery scene at Brandon's camp. Hunting dogs and camp cats wander around underfoot hoping for table scraps or a scratch behind the ears. One small tortiseshell cat is extremely persistent, rubbing against Tabytha's legs until she finally picks it up and allows it to curl, purring, in her lap. Friedrich makes them welcome, and cool drinks are available to combat the last heat of the day. Warmed drinks are alraedy being prepared for the cool of the evening. It's unclear just who is in charge here - Bradon or Friedrich. The folks who note such things note that Freidrich outranks Brandon slightly. Friedrich is a reasonable candidate for next duke of Tudor. Brandon, unless his father disowns him, will be the next Marquis d' Harrogate, the highest of Waltham nobility *other* than the duke. In any case, the two seem to be old friends.
Brandon has changed a great deal since last he was seen by this crowd. His rakish good looks have been altered a great deal. For starters, he is missing an ear. It looks like someone tried to bury an axe in his face and missed - barely. That and a few pock marks make his appearance both disturbing and at the same time exotic and charming.
Sir Richard & Hesketh: [unspoken]
What a serpent! Evil, but hard to tear your gaze away from.
Glorianna: [unspoken]
Oh, my!
Tabytha:
Hello!
Elisabeth: [very quietly]
Ugh.
Sister Anne: [unspoken]
A skilled healer could fix that.
Narrator:
It seems to be a tiny competition between Brandon and Freidrich as to who can be the most charming, gracious host. The seating places Tabytha at the head of the table, since she is of Duchal rank. Brandon and Friedrich sit at either side. Gloriana is next to Brandon. Richard winds up next to Lady Katherine Stanton (who is known as Ruth). Lurking near her is her bodygaurd, Wolf, the tallest man visible. Jhereg winds up across from Anne near the lower half of the table. The seating arrangement and the implied insult do not go unnoticed. Elisabeth and Hesketh sit together. Gallieli sits near to Richard and Jhereg. James Ridenour is seated even farther down the table than Jhereg . It looks like there will be enjoyable conversation for all.
Gallilei takes careful note of the seating arrangements, mentally filing them for future analysis.
Narrator:
The retainers, when they aren't serving, have to eat from a buffet. There just isn't table space for them. There are sounds of mingling going on from that quarter as well.
Music is being provided by a skilled Anchor. An olive skinned man dressed in red, with coal black hair and mustache. His music is so unobtrusive that you have to look at him to realize that it's there.
The food is pretty good, exceptional for camp fare. The wine is of the highest quality.
As the meal starts, Richard nearly swallows his fork when his glance reaches the head of the table. Tabytha and Gloriana are merrily engaged in conversation with Brandon and Friedrich. Too engaged for his tastes. With two of the more noted womanizers of the realm. And they appear to be loving every minute of it.
Tabytha hasn't been this bubbly since - since she's been married to Reg! And Gloriana looks like she's having trouble keeping herself from crawling into one of those two's laps. Provided Taby doesn't beat her to it.
The byplay is not lost on Gallilei either. He has neither Tabytha's history nor the men's reputations to work from. At this point, he considers he may be witnessing business-as-usual among the humans.
Ed.K:
Once upon a time, we played a ballroom scene that looked and felt a little like this -- lots of conversations all intersprinkled between each other. A real blast to play out. Forgive me if I besprinkle liberally....
Gallilei: [elven, unspoken]
Fascinating.
Maia: [also unspoken - obviously - she's currently the calico cat mentioned above]
I'll *never* understand Others. If they want to have sex, why don't they just ask each other? All this wasted energy and time. And if they don't want to have sex, why don't they pay attention to the food? It smells as if it is quite adequately prepared.
Sir Richard: [unspoken]
I'd of thought that Gloriana had more sense then that, and Taby is about to cause a scene that might result in serious trouble. Reg is definitely the dueling kind.
Gallilei: [unspoken]
Mating rituals. The utter lack of such interactions distinct from feeding times suggests the two are linked. Or at least, well correlated.