A week passes, a week you spend mostly making preparations and gearing up for diplomatic contact with the nobles of another nation. You see little of anyone but your various attendants and cohorts, sending them on errands and having them fetch documents or information for you. You send word to Sekhon that you've probably secured entrance into nobility for him and your mutual allies, in thanks he sends a letter along with a generous sum of gold, and assures you that the crown will be similarly reimbursed.
You spare some time to see the metalworker you contracted, and give him some pointers and suggestions on how some of the pieces should be depicted. You are pleased to learn that the metalworker has decided to put several other less pressing projects on hold to ensure the completion of your gift on time, freeing you of the obligation to work out contingencies.
Penrod arrives a day early, with nearly a hundred people in tow. Two dozen Knights and their squires make about half of the party, while the other half consists of courtiers, pages, and men at arms. The prince is met with fanfare at the city and the entire royal family -not to mention half the court- meet his entourage at the palace.The first thing you notice as he marches up the steps to meet you is that he's acquired a gem studded eyepatch, he's also dressed in some of the finest armor you have ever seen and has made the effort to remain clean shaven and well groomed, hardly the barbarian you might have thought him only a few years ago. Up the steps with him come three of his Knights, and a young man in fine clothing who you are not familiar with, the rest of the party stand at attention just barely outside the palace gates, and will soon be brought to food and lodging.
Penrod and your father grasp wrists in a firm handshake, and exchange some brief words. Penrod asks where Ritalia is, and the king replies that he won't see her until the wedding. He winces slightly at this, but says nothing more on the matter. During this exchange you find one of the Knights is staring at you- no he's staring at Barick. The man's visor is clamped shut, so you cannot tell what might be on his mind, and that is enough to make you uneasy.
Penrod turns his attention on you, and his face and tone lighten. "Ah, Raynor, good to see you boy. I've been practicing chess lately, hopefully now i'll have an edge on you and your sister eh?" He chuckles and claps you on the shoulder good naturedly, and you welcome him with equal cheer.
With that the festivities of the lowborn kick into full swing, and the majority of the day is spent merely getting the Adalbert Knights and Courtiers settled in. You do what you can to take advantage of your honing of the Adalbert language with Barick and engage some of the nobles in conversation. Everyone Penrod has brought is a direct vassal or member of Penrod's court, and you learn he's only brought a third of his Knights, a dizzying prospect. A few you've already met and call by name, but most of your time with the nobles is spent merely in introduction. It annoys you a little, but most don't seem very interested in speaking with you. You're used to being treated essentially as an adult, and many of the Adalbert nobles are almost casually dismissive of you. It's jarring to be treated as a child, even if you are indeed still shy of adulthood.
Ritalia is sequestered away, as is tradition. Only handmaidens and her mother and father are allowed to visit her for the time being, a tradition with roots beyond memory. You wouldn't mind seeing her yourself, but while you acted as her father once you certainly don't count as one here in Analysse.
Your uncle Robilard arrives sometime in the confusion with a few of his own knights and courtiers, he spares a moment to say hello to you, and mentions that he was dissapointed you didn't come to see him, but that he understands there are other things that need attending to.
The wedding between Penrod and your sister is arriving closer every hour, within only a few days the ceremonies will be upon you, and a few days after that you will be joining Penrod and Ritalia upon the road.
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Topic: Prince: of Lords and Sorcerers (Read 63675 times)