Dark Armor: Making An Entrance

Pallian set his empty glass on one of the side tables and stepped away to circle through the room. He received and returned a few greetings, caught several people looking at him with expressions of curiosity or surprise, and was pointedly ignored by several others. News of his return had yet to circulate widely, it seemed; that would change after tonight. He'd have to get caught up on the gossip, and avoid getting caught up in the scheming. 

He'd just passed his father, deep in conversation with Master Paledes, when one of the living servants stepped into the far doorway and rang a bell. The deep tolling sound was loud enough to cut through the hum and buzz of conversation. The servant then bowed deeply to the crowd and stepped aside. 

"The meal is ready," announced Kareth Teres, Wizard-King of Teregor, stepping away from the tall, trim form of Master Paledes. "Would the High Magister of Edrias do me the honor of accompanying me to the table?"

There was a momentary stirring as Tamirya Edrias made her way through the crowd to stand beside him. "The honor is mine," she said. Ravaj was already moving to join them, offering his arm to second-princess Arwidden, who accepted it without hesitation. Oh, hell, thought Pallian, and headed for the procession. They could have thought to warn me. Then the third-princess appeared beside him, tucked her arm neatly into his, and offered him a smile. Pallian smiled back, relieved, and they made their way to join the others. "Thank you," he said. 

"There you go whispering again," she said. "Is that any way for a prince to conduct himself in Teregor?"

"A Prince of Teregor," he said, no longer whispering but still keeping his voice low enough not to carry, "should be ready at all times to shout orders across the field of battle or call to the forces beyond the stars, but also to speak quietly so as not to disturb the riding-bats in the northern tower." 

"You have riding-bats?" asked Ashmiren, tilting her head in sudden interest.

"No," Pallian admitted, "but it sounds like the sort of thing that we really should." 

She laughed softly and squeezed his arm. "It does, and you should. Flying through the night air on shoulders of a giant bat..." She shook her head. "That would be amazing."

They stepped into place behind Ravaj and Arwidden, and the Wizard-King led them through the high doorway and into the great northern dining hall.