Banquet

JP with Lorem, Cindy, Alexis, Jaxx and Winteroak

Timestamp: Stoneshade Keep

The banquet was going well. If it was a pictorial puzzle asking what one thing looked out of place, it was either the merriment after such recent horrors, or Gonyaul. Everything about him seemed out of place among these people. Currently he was off to the side like a wallflower content with people watching and taking in the experience.

Some of the attendants to the event made some jokes about him as they went to and fro the kitchen. The fact he smelled, dressed, and had his hair braided in such a way that he looked more desirably feminine than the women of Ostiarium. These jokes were quickly nipped in the bud though, as the kitchen staff defended the young man.

Gonyaul had been frequenting the banquet table since the start. He would grab just a little of a few things that intrigued his senses and then move off to the side and enjoy them. He continued to repeat this, with the plan to sample everything at some point during the rest of the afternoon.

Hunter had seen a few banquets in his time, but it was the first time he was invited to one. He looked out of place in his simple clothes and was not social like the others so he filled up his plate and stood in a corner as he slowly ate and watched the crowd. As he ate he wondered why all this was necessary when the people were starving from lack of food. Since he nothing else to do he slowly ate.

Islana was not, exactly, in a festive mood and, while grateful, for her rescue felt it odd standing in a banquet celebrating what had happened considering the people who had died in the process. It just felt strange and a little surreal.

Alexis had been the first called to meet with the Duke and Islana couldn't help but wonder what was going on behind that closed door.

Green eyes glanced around the room taking everyone in. Gonyaul was eating but seemed to be keeping to himself. Wim had brought a lady companion with her. She apparently had significance because Islana knew the woman wouldn't be invited to the banquet otherwise. The redhead did learn a few things about how these things go when she had been with Lord Vasant. So, fiance? Maybe.

Then came the others in the room. The large man, the ones she had seen dragging the bodies around. He was called Hunter, the redhead knew that now. She did not really know him though.

The Arbiter, the woman was deadly and Islana knew scary when she wanted to be but apparently some of the stories about her had been exaggerated. Very much so. Not that Islana had believed some of them, as they were just too far fetched. Still, the redhead didn't want to be particularly seen by the Arbiter at least not in a way that the other woman would notice Islana was, well, different.

Sir Zane returned to the Great Hall with Alexis Greyriver. She had a relived look in her face but the Knight although grinning didn't looked too pleased. Once he left Alexis to mingle among the other guests he walked towards Islana and Gonyaul.
"Your turn." He said and walked them out of the Great Hall.

‘That went better than expected.’

Alexis had honestly at the most hoped for avoiding the mess breaking her contract with the military would have inevitably brought.
Getting that plot of land on top had come as a surprise.

And it seemed she might have spoiled the esteemed Duke’s afternoon a bit. Bonus!

Alexis felt lighter now. She had not even realised how severely the prospect of continued service had weighed on her.

She would choose an uncertain future over one she just knew she would have hated anytime.