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Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject:

Ariana opens the door and outside are four well polished and presentable Royal Guards. They bow low to April.

They accompany her to the dining hall's entrance while Ariana follows behind. There, a thin, balding, dark haired majordomo looks at her closely and smiles. He turns to the assembled many from his one-step pedestal and announces clearly, "LADY APRIL, OF THE REBMAN COURT!"

April can hear people shifting in their seat and she sees all heads turn to her. The music immediately turns into a lovely, rapid melody to accompany her arrival. As April recognizes many of the noblemen and women, courtiers and courtesans, as well as rude political advisors, she also sees Eric, crowned and jeweled, turned to look at her while exchanging words with an older but very attractive noblewoman.

Ariana continues to follow, off to the side, and for a second April fears there is no room left for her to sit! When she arrives at the Royal table, behind Lord Caine himself, she sees an empty seat, to the left of the King. It is hers: servants help her sit.

Eric smiles at her and says, "Lady April! It is a pleasure to see you this evening. May I say that you look lovely tonight?"
Once she is seated, people resume eating and shifts back in their seats. The music shifts back to an appropriate melodic background.

...

"May I introduce, Lord Caine, Lady Feldane (to Eric's right), Generals Rashik and Mwwr (pronounced Moor), Lady Efrain and Lady Lancaster, and I believe you were briefly acquainted with Lord Feldane and Lord Arsini (also one of the King's councils)."
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 288

April smiles and nods at the cascade of introductions. "Thank you, Your Majesty," she says. Turning to the various nobility (and perhaps the slightest touch away from Lord Caine as she does so) she says "I look forward to getting to know each of you better. I hope that we'll have a lot to learn from each other."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject:

April is shown many smiles, some are very convincing, others, less so.

Caine says, almost to himself, "I'm sure."
Ariana reaches politely and places a silver goblet of red wine. Food is brought out for her and once a new plate is brought to her, the remainder of the table begins eating anew.

Between bites, Lady Feldane says very politely, "You have a very lovely dress. I have not seen this style since Lady Catherine passed, but it is a delight to see it again. Who is the couturier?"
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 288

April smiles widely. "I haven't the faintest idea," she admits. "There was such a ... cloud of folks wanting to help me out. It was very gratifying. I'll be sure to find out who made the dress, though, and get you the name. I know they'd be very happy to come to your attention."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject:

"How delightful! Thank you, I would love that!" Lady Feldane answers.

Eric observes the exchange quietly, eating and looking at faces around the table from time to time.

General Rashik, a handsome young dark skinned man, asks, "Lady April, King Eric tells me you are leaving us much too soon. Please tell me you will stay long enough for a dance or two after dinner." He smiles and says, "None of the other ladies will dance with me... I'm a told I'm rather dreadful." The ladies at the table laugh playfully.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 288

"Oh," April says, laughing a little herself. "You put me in an awkward position, General! I can't quite believe you're as unskilled as you claim, but I certainly wouldn't want to question the judgment of the other ladies of the court. I suppose we simply will have to plan on a little dancing, if only so that I can demurely answer 'We shall see.' "

"Lady Lancaster," April says at a lull in the conversation, "I hope you will forgive a curiosity which may seem frivolous, but I already feel so at home here ... I've begun wondering what manner of entertainments people find here. I've always been fond of sports, for instance, but in the castle itself one sees mostly the armaments of war, which is a wholly different manner of contest. What games do people play?"

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject:

"Excellent! I look forward to it!" General Rashik answers.

...

Lady Lancaster looks young and vibrant, wearing a pale orange creme silk dress with large white pearl jewelry. She smiles at April and says, "It is true that most of our entertainment has been contained indoors lately, largely due to the incessant annoyances from this road business. But still, croquet and tennis are as popular as ever. I wish the court would get to know you better. You will visit us again, will you not?" She seems genuine enough.

...

Small conversation is exchanged for the better part of an hour, Lord Feldane largely ignoring April throughout dinner. Eric seems very indifferent at the table and avoids small talk, while Caine observes April and her mannerisms rather closely. Dessert is brought in the form of cheese and fruit platters. April can see that pastries are next.

Ariana for her part, is approached by noblemen several times and exchanges words, one of them is the young courtier in the yellow jacket. Ariana takes notes in a small gray booklet.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 288

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:41 am Post subject:

TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 288

April flushes. "I've got a dance card," she says, nodding her head slightly. "Of course."

She flicks a discreet glance over at Eric, only with her eyes. "So did ..." she begins, looking back at Ariana. She bites her lower lip, winces slightly. "No," she finishes, "never mind. Uh ... thanks for keeping track of this for me."

....

"So, Lord Feldane," April says with a smile that shows an expanse of her glitteringly white teeth, "What with one thing and another, our conversation earlier was cut short. I never did get to ask you in what capacity you advise His Majesty." She turns and nods respectfully to King Eric at mentioning him, before turning her eyes back to focus intently upon Feldane.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:42 pm Post subject:

TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 288

April shrugs. "It's probably easier to list the things they asked me not to commit to than what they gave me authority over," she says easily. "After all, it's a strange situation, diplomat-wise. With most diplomats, you can give them a set of authority and if they exceed it then you have the option of slapping them on the wrist and disavowing their promises. But if they were to go and make me foresworn, then it's a matter of pride and then ..."

Her eyes drift up to focus on some far-away internal vision. She laughs lightly.

"Well," she continues, her focus returning to the table, "let's just say that the Rebman court isn't interested in making me foresworn. They wouldn't have sent me if they thought that was a serious possibility."

"You know," April says, cocking her head and nodding, "I'm beginning to realize how much that sort of consideration must disrupt court proceedings. Small wonder that you were so touchy on the question of proper titles, earlier. I mean, you've got to deal with this thing day in and day out. Like, you're a Lord, and Lord Caine is a Lord, which sounds all equal and peer-like ..."

She stares intently into Lord Feldane's eyes, and smiles, and asks "... but does that really reflect the reality on the ground?"

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject:

Lord Feldane is looking a bit flustered but quickly regains his composure and he says, "The only man I dare call superior is my King. Lord Caine happens to be our beloved Liege's brother and, with all due respect, " he says turning to Caine, "nothing more." Lord Feldane clears his throat and says, "I recognize that Oberon's descendants are privileged in a mystical sense, but the Pattern locked deep below the castle is hardly a political symbol. In the world I live in, political status and titles and granted authority, foresworn or not, hold their importance. Lady April, I would hate for you to imagine I am a stuffy bureaucrat sitting behind a title. Just like in the field of battle, a man's actions will tend to speak greater than his status, however inherited. In this, we are blessed to see King Eric make use of both his status and his adroit political prowess among the nobility and the royal family. As soon as the enemy of Amber is dealt with, Amber will prosper anew and our King will likely surpass his father in many ways." With that he smiles at Eric, satisfied. Caine is giving April a very subtle smile.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 288

"Thank you, Lord Feldane," April replies. "That is a fair and an honest answer. I daresay I understand your position, and the concerns that go with it, much better now. I hope that this will help us both, going forward as we must, to work together each in our own style."

....

As the end of the dinner approaches, eyes naturally drift toward the King. April takes this opportunity to steal a few open glances as well, an ambiguous smile on her face.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject: