Ajax and Aramil retire soon after dinner, leaving Valentine free to broach a delicate question. “Inglorion, you know Sieia gave me Tereus’s cloak, and I wore it for some time. It had sentimental value, though I’d be hard-pressed to say why. I feel it’s yours by right.” Inglorion laughs and shakes his head. “I remember […]
Inglorion walks back from the Foreign Office slowly, giving himself time to think. As he strolls the wide, green streets and squares of central Liamelia, it occurs to him that perhaps he should have mentioned this scheme to Virginia, Valentine and Ajax before signing papers committing to it. He might have reviewed recent intelligence, consulted with […]
Over the next several hours, Inglorion is interviewed by six different men. Two are openly hostile; one, disarmingly genial. The remaining three are neutral or non-committal. They all inquire into his weapons training and combat experience. One questions him extensively about his language studies, though he doesn’t speak Drow, Romany or French, and can’t give […]
The glorious conviction of triumph fades, as it must. Inglorion soon suffers from the same itching impatience that tormented his father and forefathers, back to some nameless, primal Shelawn who emerged from the Great Divide scheming to abduct an heiress or float bad stock. Just as he finds himself wondering whether he should call on […]
Soon after Aramil and Ajax’s arrival, all five are enjoying breakfast in their various ways. Aramil is eating the last of the ham while explaining to Valentine that his cook has provided the wrong condiments. Ajax is quietly miffed because Aramil has been chewing an African narcotic that dyes his teeth crimson. Lucius is trying […]
When Inglorion and Valentine are eating alone, they lapse into their natural incivility, and use the time to catch up on correspondence and paperwork. The day after the dinner party, Inglorion receives two personal letters at breakfast in addition to the usual courier bag filled with reports and briefings. He recognizes Alexandra’s handwriting on the […]
Penelope and Sieia pay a brief call of ceremony on Virginia the following day, and make arrangements for the proposed dinner party. Sieia says, “Valentine and I will come fetch the three of you. Even if it’s just a family party, somehow it’s more comfortable to arrive together.” That evening, then, the Ceralac family barouche […]
