What A Time You'll Have |Grandisle, Firegem Isles
Jan 27, 2011 4:20:45 GMT -5
Post by Kender Bard on Jan 27, 2011 4:20:45 GMT -5
The morning audience buzzed with talk and Delilah let it wash over her as she stepped into the court from the back room, escorted by Crawford. "It might look like a sea of humanity but there's actually a pattern to it, like all seemingly chaotic things in our culture. The heads of the Houses are all at the very front. Behind them are their heirs. Behind them are their direct family. And then it tapers off into the indirect family. And there is a lot of that."
She took her seat, arranging her black and orange outfit to her liking. To make up for her calm, tame hair from the former day, she had decided to go very eccentric this day. A small portion of her hair was separated from the rest and braided around a slender, thin loop of wire which was then bent into a loop shape. This repeated until her entire hair was nothing but a cascade of overlapping loops interspersed with bits of metallic hair clasps that dangled and sparkled.
A servant came to her side and held a platter containing all of her invitations for the day. The Houses were actually required to have them at her home first thing in the morning. She opened each one and announced the events: a ball, two feasts (those two were almost available somewhere every single night), a 'petal tasting event, a Wind race, a grand picnic on one of Grandisle's tiny islands, a choral event, and a fishing expedition.
As she read the last event and the servant left with the tray of opened scrolls, Delilah rose in front of her throne. "Let it be known as well that my personal guest, Lord Crawford of Naruta, is not to be drawn into any political games or plans. If I hear that my command has been ignored, the individual with whom the complain implicates will be met with my most severe annoyance."
One of the men in front stood, frowning. "You would deny us a valuable chance to make further ties with Naruta? You led an expedition there for that very purpose, woman! Would you dare to choke opportunity as it presents itself as you seem to be oh so fond of doing so this day?"
Delilah narrowed her eyes. "Pardon me, Lord Ravnicka. I'm afraid nobody's told me of the date or the occasion or I would have worn a full black outfit? How rude to not invite me to my own funeral." At his silence, she widened her eyes and gasped, "Oh! What's that? I'm not dead?" And then she dropped the playful act and all but thundered at the man, "Then I see no reason for you to be standing there arguing to my face about what I am or am not doing! This man is to be unharassed during his stay and what I choke is none of your business unless you make me terribly cross. IS THAT CLEAR?"
"Perfectly, Your Highness," Ravnicka muttered and sat back down stiffly.
She smiled a sweet and nasty smile and spread her arms. "Would anyone else like to contest my decision? My dance card is still open, ladies and gentlemen."
"What I'd like to know," one of the heirs standing behind the lords of the Houses called out, "Is why you'll let this man in our home when you have denied the rest of us for nearly two years now?"
Delilah smiled. "He's quite a deal more handsome than you for starters. And secondly, he's even more polite. While I know you yearn to see the inside of my bedchamber, I'm afraid you'll have to be content oscillating between Lord Dmitri's and Lady Herodes's daughters instead."
And with that comment made to tip off the daily's gossip and schemes, Delilah sat down with a small huff and a satisfied smile. "I think that went very well," she told Crawford.
She took her seat, arranging her black and orange outfit to her liking. To make up for her calm, tame hair from the former day, she had decided to go very eccentric this day. A small portion of her hair was separated from the rest and braided around a slender, thin loop of wire which was then bent into a loop shape. This repeated until her entire hair was nothing but a cascade of overlapping loops interspersed with bits of metallic hair clasps that dangled and sparkled.
A servant came to her side and held a platter containing all of her invitations for the day. The Houses were actually required to have them at her home first thing in the morning. She opened each one and announced the events: a ball, two feasts (those two were almost available somewhere every single night), a 'petal tasting event, a Wind race, a grand picnic on one of Grandisle's tiny islands, a choral event, and a fishing expedition.
As she read the last event and the servant left with the tray of opened scrolls, Delilah rose in front of her throne. "Let it be known as well that my personal guest, Lord Crawford of Naruta, is not to be drawn into any political games or plans. If I hear that my command has been ignored, the individual with whom the complain implicates will be met with my most severe annoyance."
One of the men in front stood, frowning. "You would deny us a valuable chance to make further ties with Naruta? You led an expedition there for that very purpose, woman! Would you dare to choke opportunity as it presents itself as you seem to be oh so fond of doing so this day?"
Delilah narrowed her eyes. "Pardon me, Lord Ravnicka. I'm afraid nobody's told me of the date or the occasion or I would have worn a full black outfit? How rude to not invite me to my own funeral." At his silence, she widened her eyes and gasped, "Oh! What's that? I'm not dead?" And then she dropped the playful act and all but thundered at the man, "Then I see no reason for you to be standing there arguing to my face about what I am or am not doing! This man is to be unharassed during his stay and what I choke is none of your business unless you make me terribly cross. IS THAT CLEAR?"
"Perfectly, Your Highness," Ravnicka muttered and sat back down stiffly.
She smiled a sweet and nasty smile and spread her arms. "Would anyone else like to contest my decision? My dance card is still open, ladies and gentlemen."
"What I'd like to know," one of the heirs standing behind the lords of the Houses called out, "Is why you'll let this man in our home when you have denied the rest of us for nearly two years now?"
Delilah smiled. "He's quite a deal more handsome than you for starters. And secondly, he's even more polite. While I know you yearn to see the inside of my bedchamber, I'm afraid you'll have to be content oscillating between Lord Dmitri's and Lady Herodes's daughters instead."
And with that comment made to tip off the daily's gossip and schemes, Delilah sat down with a small huff and a satisfied smile. "I think that went very well," she told Crawford.