The King, exchanged words with a few more courtiers...
(Is that everyone who wanted to make an intro? Now or never, friends
))
And rose from his throne, nodding his head respectfully at the round of toasts to his hopefully long reign and life. Yes, it was time for the feast, wasn't it? The days excitement had made him quite hungry,
As he walked forward, he noticed a drunken seeming man stumble in the crowd. Alberts gimlet eyes-a dark green shade, so like his mothers-spotted the man out. That was...Theor Blackshield. "Bitter Black", was his nickname, if you were feeling mean. They had known each other, in a fashion, since they were children. He remembered the other Noble boys had sometimes made sport of tossing rocks at Theor, when he couldn't defend himself.
Albert had never thrown any rocks...but, he hadn't stood up for him, either.
Albert knew *why* he was bitter. The Blackshield Family had been destroyed in the War of the Hounds-not on paper, like some families-literally. They had held out longer than any of the Southerners, continuing to fight even after the armistice was signed.
For that, Arvin Conricht had slaughtered them. Almost down to the last child.
Ironically, his Godfather untimely death spared the remainder of the Blackshield family. Kathryn Conricht had negotiated and accepted the Blackshields formal surrender, and allowed them to rejoin the nobility-at reduced rank, of course.
So, it was with a certain pity-and desire to make up for the past-he took the man by the shoulder, looking into his eyes. He might have been angered, if it had been anyone else. To Alberts surprise, and the mans credit, seemed to have snapped to a form of sobriety.
"Steady on man. We haven't even begun dinner yet, and you're already a bit deep in the cups, it seems. Usually we get drunk afterwards, there's no shame in it.
If you're not feeling well, talk to my handmaiden, Ria-she'll find you a warm bed, let you sleep it off. Unless you're feeling well enough to attend the feast? If so, I'd like to speak to you.
For, I know you by reputation, Theor Blackshield. If there's anyone who can pay truth to my talk of 'scars of the past', your family is certainly a prime candidate, for having suffered enough."((OOC: @Dragor/I sort of made up some background stuff on the spot about your char and his family, based on your bio. If I go too far, just say so and I'll redact.))