Marvelous!|Obsidian, Mount Humontis

[Kender Bard]

One of the guards stationed near Obsidian scrambled quickly to get ahead of the procession that was marching its way steadily closer. Panting, he knocked at the door in front of him. Not pounding, but an urgent rapping. "Milady!" he called out. "Milady, important news!"

[Deleted]

Layla looked up from her usual mountain of papers. "You may enter." She called to the insistent rapping on her large oak door.

As always she was seated behind the large wooden desk, papers to one side, books tot he other. Some times she felt more like a mail clerk than a political leader.

[Kender Bard]

The guard stepped in and sketched a hasty salute as he caught his breath. "Milady the foreigners from Firegem have arrived. They're, um, rather insistent on exploring already but their leader said that you'd requested to meet with them first so she bid me to fetch you with all haste. Her words." He added the last bit hastily as he realized how rude it sounded coming from a subordinate.

[Deleted]

Layla raised a brow at him. "They bid, you to fetch me?" She questioned her tone slightly irritated. Well that was rather rude considering they were visitors in another country, hell a whole new LAND.

She stood looking rather annoyed. She took a breath and let it out slowly. "Forgive me, it's not your fault." She said to the messenger realizing her tone.

She took a moment to re-stack her papers and put a book back on the shelf in the hole where it belonged, before she picked up her nice leather cut off cloves, and replaced them back on her hands.

Her clothes were simple yet elegant. A simple green dress, with a brown front lacing bodice and short sleeves as it was summer.

"Please take me to them." She asked the guard.

[Kender Bard]

"Of course," the guard murmured, bowing, and leading her down and out to where people were already starting to mass to gawk at the strangers. Queen Delilah stood at the forefront of her rather large escort, glancing all around as her fellows gawked right back at the Narutans. She didn't seem to really notice Layla's approach as her eyes skipped right over the woman and kept roaming.

The guard cleared his throat. "Milady-"

"Hello!" Delilah burst in, snapping her gaze back to Layla and smiling widely.

[Deleted]

Layla found that for the first time in a long time, she had to clamp down on her will power not to make a face at the woman.

"Good day to you Queen Delilah." She said pleasantly as she could make her voice seeing as this woman, so far at least, hadn't made the best of impressions. "I am glad to see you made it here safely. I trust getting here wasn't that difficult?" She asked being as professional as she could. Her face relaxed and pleasant despite her feelings.

[Kender Bard]

"Oh yes, yes, about what one expected," Delilah remarked, waving her hand as she spoke so her little hand fan snapped open. She wasn't flushed or hot, but she fanned herself simply out of habit. "It was such a long trip, and there was the odd storm and whatnot but we're here and we're in one piece! Soahc watched over us on our journey, I'm sure. Now we simply cannot wait to begin exploring this fascinating land. People living in a fireless volcano! My word. What a crazy place." She tittered with obvious pleasure, and several of her entourage did the same, with the men chuckling in the forced manner of any good courtier.

[Deleted]

"Well I can say with some degree of joy I have never had to venture such a ride. I am not sure it would sit well with me." She looked at the large group of people.

" I am willing to arrange accommodations for you and yours at a local Inn. How many are in your group?" She asked finding that a head count wasn't working well.

[Kender Bard]

"Counting the crew?" Delilah inquired. She glanced back, although she wouldn't be able to count them all either. "Oh. I'd say about fifty in all. I might be off by a tad, seeing as I didn't precisely count the crew."

[Deleted]

Layla took a moment to not say the first thing that came to her mind.
"It matters not, I just wish to be sure that any who needs a room gets a room. " She concluded. She wasn't going to get into a debate on the social stands of the crew that got them here safely.

[Kender Bard]

"Staying in an inn sounds deliciously rustic," Delilah giggled. "Don't you agree my dear fellows?" She glanced back and there was much nodding and murmurs of agreement. "It's like camping but with the pretense of being civilized! I greatly look forward to it. So do tell me how far we may wander in our curious questing, if you would be so kind. We will be sure to honor any limitations you place upon us, as any good Soahcian would."

"Not ALL of us follow His Madness," a cultured voice injected peevishly.

Delilah didn't even bother looking back at him as she said in a soothing voice, "Yes, we know, Ragnar."

[Deleted]

Layla couldn't help the frown that came to her face. The PRETENSE of civilization?!

"Queen Dehilah, with all do respect, please try to remember that you are a guest here, and as such though you may not be use to the situation in which our people live and the manner in which they choose to live, to them this is still their home. And this IS OUR civilization. I am sure it is a great deal different from yours, but please try to respect our way of living, and not say such things to the citizens here." Layla's tone clearly indicated that she was indeed a bit put off by the womans mannerisms, but was doing her best to be as polite as possible in telling her to curb her tongue.

She was after all, a politician and learned the art of telling people to shut up, without actually telling them to can it.

[Kender Bard]

Delilah just smiled as she brought up a hand and tapped her fingertip lightly against her lips. "Oh my I hadn't realized that people on this land lived in similar conditions to, as we were discussing, an inn stay. Where I live, there's quite a chasm of difference in ammenities and suchnot. Well! This will prove even more delightfully interesting than I expected."

The man who had piped up before, Ragnar, wriggled to the forefront of the group to stand next to Delilah. He wore the robes of Etaf, cut and styled differently than those of priests of Naruta wore, but with the same colors and emblems so as to still be recognizable. "Delilah, the woman is telling you to shut your mouth and nod pleasantly like the visitor you are."

"This would be easier if we merely didn't understand each other," Delilah sighed dramatically. "Oh Ragnar, but you are such a useful man. Whatever would I do without your steady, sensible guidance?"

"Whatever you please, like you do now," he snapped.

Delilah tittered at that and kissed his cheek before addressing Layla again. "I will endeavor to keep my observational remarks to myself and my comrades, rest assured."

[Deleted]

Layla wanted so badly to thank Ragnar, shake his hand and dance with him for saying that. She only wished that Delialah had actually UNDERSTOOD him and not just heard the words. She couldn't help but notice and even stare a little bit at the man's robes. By the Forces this one might actually have some sense! And quite possibly the ONLY one.

Layla did her best to put on her professional smile. "Thank you. We do live simple lives here in Humontis, but we prefer it that way. The mountain provides us with shelter in the winter, and our population are primarily Earths, so we cultivate the land for our food and herbs." She said simply.

After taking a deep breath and a moment to re-compose herself, though one hand continued to fuss with gloves, straightening and pulling it into place. She kept glancing over at Ragnar She wondered if she might have a chance to speak with him in private, she had many question and she was starting to sense he'd be the only one she'd get a rational answer from.

"Is there any particular activity or area that you will to visit first or shall I escort you to the Inn where you can settle before heading out again?" She asked her tone as neutral as she could make it.

[Kender Bard]

"Oh I want to see it all," Delilah remarked breathily. She turned to her gathered group and asked them, "What of you? Does anyone here have a preference?"

There was a lot of talking, then, but nothing conclusive and Delilah acted as though she expected this or her question had been rhetorical anyway. She faced Layla again. "You decide for us," she declared. "I'm sure you know best."