The Actor-who was going to play the part of the White Rider later-was getting desperate for her attention. 'Tala' was getting bored.
"As you surely must know, I am not so much a fortress to be conquered as a puzzle to be deciphered...oh Dear-perhaps you should get in costume? I believe you are on stage soon."
She watched with amusement as the Actor slumped away-an oddly childish gesture. Behind here, she heard the tone between Will and Hugo turn a bit sour. She lingered for a moment, waiting for the moment to interrupt their spat.
-------------
Later...
For Tala's part, she was happy with how the play went. She had hoped they might all find a bit of relief in the over dramatic mockery of court intrigue...
She had noticed how the other nobles reacted. With the exception of Hugo, most of them seemed to be stolid as statues, clearly enjoying nothing. Well, that was to be expected. Gods, the nobility here was so dull! She was almost missing the Dragon Empire. At least there they enjoyed themselves between stabbing and poisoning each other. in a country where it was mere decorum to send a bouquet of flowers to the person you intended to have killed, how could you not have fun?
Later, in an effort to one up herself, she organized her own present for the Queen with the rest. Knowing everyone would inevitably give her Majesty the usual array of fancy weapons and armor, 'Tala' had sprang for something different-a mated pair of Giant White Tigers. They would be wheeled in their cage and presented to the Queen after all her mundane gifts-with a compliment of animal handlers and guards of course. In truth, she didn't like the caging of wild beasts, and had already begun construction on a sizable living habitat for them near the arena. Not that she would let anyone know she had a soft spot for them.
These sorts of beasts didn't live in Ligoria, so it was sure to be a hit with the Queen, who was pretty much a beast herself. Right?