Dinner Preamble

That evening he decided to enter the feasting hall early to check the seating and stole a quick look around the room. He saw the table for he and his wife quite easily. He looked about the room and saw that AndreaLyn and her consort were seated at a table shared by Sir Hillier and Georgal of Entraglia. That left Cobina and he found her chair at the same table as her sister. At his table he noticed the flag of Estalia next to the crest of the d’Ascoynes and to the other side the crest of Lady Caroline du Bonaparte.

Now Lady Bonaparte had never forgiven the slight caused by a very young Hercule d’Ascoyne to her grandmother 40 long years in the past. Ironically, she was not present at the offence. In truth she was born 15 years after the fact. But her grandmother told the story so many times, and her mother told variations on the same theme, it was as if she had been present.

Grandmama had inquired of the young Knight Errant what orcs did with the ir prisoners and he had responded it was not for the delicate ears of a Lady of the Court to hear such things. Grandmother had pressed the issue by following the Young Errant Knight around the Great hall at Parravon until finally his resistance crumbled and he told her. Bluntly. With Description. Dear Grandmama turned white as a sheet, fainted and made rude noises for a few moments before regaining her composure. When they tried to pick her off the floor she slipped and down she went, twisting her ankle. For all the calumnitous actions she carried the scars “burned deep across my heart.”

He went to the table and sat down and made himself comfortable. Fortunately his wife’s place separated him from the young Bonaparte and that was good. He reflected on being sixty He was past his prime. He was resigned to old age and the infirmities of same. He was now a dottering, palsy laden, desolute figure of a grand warrior gone to seed and probably ready for composting. As he swam in this pool of doubt, the Estalian ambassador arrived with his companion. The Estalian ambassador waved graciously to the Marquis and the old warrior returned the gesture. He had opened the choklat market in Estalia and the trade was good. Aaaah, he sighed, a fitting end for so fine a warrior as myself-. The two shook hands and sat down at their table as the Lady d’Ascoyne entered the room. Seeing her husband next to the Ambassador, she came quickly to the table and welcome the newcomer in his native tongue. It took both men by surprise. They conversed a bit in Estalian before Lady d’Ascoyne was introduced to the Estalians companion.

The Estalian Ambassador’s companion removed her cloak which was taken by servants and the first thing the Marquis noticed was the beautiful choker necklace around her neck fashioned from Emeralds and Rubies From the cleft of her collar bone down some 7 inches or so, a semi rigid chain ending in the finest example of Lustrian Bluestone he had ever seen! The fact that this wonderful jewel was flanked by a magnificent heaving bosom only made the viewing more enjoyable. She looked so biblical, so lo and behold.

He rallied! Out of the compost pit my spirit! Egad my desolute figure becomes firm once again!! The palsy leaves my hands and I no longer dotter for my spirit is revived!! He tore his gaze from the bejeweled display and saw his wife engaged in conversation with Lady Bonaparte..

Egad, she hath not found me out. She will not quickly transform into the serpent coiffed monster known as Medusa, the Gorgon!