30. Supper

"Owww!" Angelica spun to her left, right hand instinctively going to her arm to rub where some oaf in a black robe had barged into her on the way past. She opened her mouth to protest behind her mask, only to have a soldier in lacquered black and silver armour step between her and the offender.

“Make way, scum!” he began to lift his gauntleted fist, but there was no need.

Stupid stupid stupid! Angelica admonished herself as she darted aside, head low in respect as she fled the noble’s guards. I am meant to be no-one … and no-one gets out of the way of everyone. She turned, spinning and stepping quickly aside as she picked her way through the swirling tide of figures.

“Come come!” a Minstrel was calling from along the near side of the grand pavilion. “A tune I’ll play, of break of day, come watch Cheshire sway!”

A Lord with Lady in arm walked past as Angelica bowed aside stealing their words with her ears. “Cecilia is a fine minstrel” the Lady offered pleasantly. “But fine enough to match the best necrodancer? Really, you ought to have let me choose the music …” the Lord replied, their conversation soon lost in the eddying voices then melody from the minstrel’s lute and sweet clear voice.

Spinning and weaving as discretely as she could through the crowd, her mind raced with all she saw. The nobles have few guards, and some have none at all. Those ones everyone keeps clear of, why? She looked back to the direction Liva had gone, but could see nothing but a milieux of masked figures standing, chatting, and watching performers who moved though the audience. This is chaos. Wait … no. The main event has not begun, this is just mingling until then? She glanced to the entrance they had come in. Yes, people are still being announced, there are many here, but yet more to arrive. I have time.

Suddenly there was no-one in front of her, empty flagstones smooth from time to the gently curving wall of the grand old amphitheater. Lifting her head, shoulders straight she stepped out and curved to her right, resuming her journey to the faded blue.

A stout Mann was leaning against the wall, head low. He had no mask … none of the servants have masks.

“Oi!” another Mann behind the tables picked up a large fresh fish and casually slapped the first with it

“Stop dreamin o’ mermaids!”

With a start the first stood, turned to Angelica and bowed low. “Great Lady, welcome! Please let us offer you refreshments!”

Angelica stepped close to him and whispered “Thorstein? What in Karcion are you doing here?”

The Mann’s face lost all colour, as he bought up his hand to hide his face from whom she could not tell.

“M’Lady … I …”

“Welcome!” a confident female voice sliced through the conversation.

Angelica turned and fell immediately into a curtsy to the lady dressed in a rich blue gown tastefully decorated with pearls and silver. The noble wore a simple white and blue mask over her eyes, which were pointedly locked on Angelica. After pausing to contemplate, the noble nodded her head and smiled.

“I am Brizanda. Please take your ease and enjoy these humble delights” she waved her hand across the laden tables “and when you have had your fill, we shall talk more, yes?”

“You are too kind, My Lady.” Angelica held her curtsy until a gesture permitted her to rise, greeted by a genuinely bright smile.

“Intriguing. You are Northern Court Trained, no?”

Damn it, I am so bad at this! “Quite so M’Lady.”

“We shall definitely speak more. Until then?” She gestured towards the tables, and as quickly and silently as she had appeared, she lightly danced into the swirling crowd.

Angelica looked about her, but Thorstein was gone. This is bad. What happened? She drew a long breath, and resumed her poise. I still have a part to play, the dance is only just begun. She looked at the table, allowing the rich aromas to waft past her.

“Welcome!” a short Mann had come to her side of the table, his baker’s apron showing his part in the bounty. “I am called Keeby. Allow me to present the finest Kypiq baking you could wish to find, anywhere in Elyria!” he gestured towards platters of fudge, muffins, and dainty pies with small leaves atop.

A gentle tug on the side of her dress, exactly as a lady in waiting would do at Court, made Angelica look down without concern to discover a petite Kypiq looking up at her, wide eyes laden with worry. In a soft whisper the Kypiq ventured “You know the new guy … don’t… ” her face lost all colour as a tear began to escape her eye.

“What Kitty is trying to say” Keeby also whispered “is that the meat pies over there … well … you didn’t see any farms or wild deer or other game out there, right?” the look in his eyes said it all.

Kypiq pies. They smell amazing though … soft pastry with almond flakes on top. Angelica picked up a small cake instead, lifting the bottom of her mask to eat. Orange … spices, oh my word that is amazing!

“I’m not very keen on more fish” Angelica offered after she rejoined the world from the delight of cake after so long at sea.

“I recommend these” Keeby gestured eagerly to the pies with leaves on top “they have mushroom and herbs.”

Without hesitation she tried one of the small pies, and three pies later she paused accept a goblet of mead Kitty offered her. “Oh my.” Angelica replied with genuine appreciation “however did you become so skilled with spices and herbs?”

Kitty blushed “well, meat upsets my tummy terribly so Keeby has spent a long time cooking without that.”

“You’re not from here, are you.” Angelica stated simply.

“No, M’Lady. We was passengers on a trader, she run aground a decade ago.” Keeby shivered after the words left his lips. “This is us until the end I guess” he added flatly.

“We’ll see.” Angelica replied softly, still savouring the flavours lingering in her mouth.

Kitty’s eyes were impossibly wide, her fear and apprehension writ large. “My Lady, do you not know what this night is? What is going to happen?”

“Of course” the clipped formal tone that did not match Angelica’s concern behind her mask. Without hesitating Angelica turned and curtsied smoothly to Brizanda, who had joined them not as silently as she might have intended. “How was your supper?” she nodded for Angelica to rise.

“Delicious” Angelica replied “I have never had such fine baking. Never.” she reiterated.

“Do keep eating if you are hungry” Brizanda offered congenitally, gesturing again to the buffet. “You must try the roast” her lips curled into a smile as a haunch of meat on a spit was carried from beyond the arch and set upon a platter on the next table.

Angelica glanced at the faces of Keeby and Kitty, but they were carefully neutral smiles.

Brizanda drew a long dagger and effortlessly cut thick slices from the steaming meat, setting the portions on two platters then offering one to Angelica.

Lifting the platter close to her mask she inhaled deeply, the sweetness of the honey mingling with the richness of the cut. “It smells amazing” she replied, her mouth watering involuntarily. Picking up a two pronged fork from those on the table, she flipped her mask forward and took a bite. It’s really good. Really delicious … maybe it’s horse. Maybe.

Brizanda wasted no time devouring her portion with obvious delight, tossing her plate towards Kitty who, after a flash of fear in her eyes that she might not, deftly plucked it from its descent then wiped it clean.

Angelica finished her portion slowly, being careful not to allow any of the priceless honey drip on her borrowed dress. Nice try, but no, you don’t get to see behind my mask simply by giving me something hard to eat. And eat I shall, because I’m not meant to know anything more than what I see. Besides, it’s really good. Maybe I should feel guilty, but … A curious look from the noble in blue drew her from her reverie. Handing her plate to Kitty without turning to look, Angelica dipped her head in appreciation and respect “Thank you … that was delicious.”

With a smile, Brizanda replied sweetly “to die for, no?” then offered her arm. “Come, there is someone I wish you to meet.”

Angelica knew she had no choice, and without looking back placed her hand upon Brizanda’s arm and follower her back into the whirlpool of masked figures.

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“Now remember when you meet him, answer all his questions as fully and truthfully as you can.” Brizanda offered encouragingly in a sweet voice that jarred with the threats beneath her words. “If you do, then you might even be offered service then a good death; it is the best you can hope for I am sorry.”

Angelica looked about in frustration, hoping for a way to slip from Brizanda’s gentle but unmistakably firm grip on her arm without giving away her precious few steps in this deadly dance.

“It’s all right dear” Brizanda offered in a gentle tone “Your fate was sealed when you stepped ashore on this land, there is nothing wrong with trying to make the best of it.” She gestured towards a cluster of rich green banners, bright smile below her mask. “Lord Serpentius.”

Her eyes behind her mask betrayed Angelica as curiosity fell to shock and fear. She began to pull more firmly away from her captor to flee into the crowd.

“Now now dear, none of that.” her hostess scolded her with an amused chuckle at her quarry’s obvious distress. “Time to make a good impression if you wish to see dawn.”

No! It can’t be! Angelica’s stomach twisted into knots, her mind seeking to flee to the sky. Anywhere but here. No! She blinked, hoping her eyes were wrong, only to see the same horror as moments before. It’s the monster that killed my brother! It can’t be!

Above another line of guards between them, waiting patiently, the huge scaled armoured head dipped back out of view. Only a glimpse, but she could never not recognize it … but it can’t be! There is no such thing! Armoured guards in green had fallen in close about her, leaving her no option but to continue moving forwards as her mind recoiled.

“Behave” Brizanda hissed sharply, her claws digging into Angelica’s arm as she pulled her forward and shoved her towards a gap opening in the line of guards. “You are about to have the honour of meeting a dragon.”