Big City Darkened Nights
#27 - hanging with Royalty

As the last of the common folk leave the merchants are allowed to speak. Carr tires of listening them drone on about taxes and fees; Pirates on shipping routes bandits on the roads; All expecting the King to do something about it and compensate them. Carr begins to see them more as overgrown spoiled children.

Just when Carr thought he’d heard the worst of it, three wealthy men get into a debate over a land claim. One man puts Carr to sleep going on about the history of the land in question.

“Hey you can’t sleep here.” Utters a hall guard, shaking Carr awake.

“Ah, what?” Snapping to, Carr wipes drool from his lips, “Sorry.” Noticing the merchants and the King himself are watching he stands and bows, “Sorry your majesty.” Pointing to one of the landowners, “His voice and subject acted like a sleeping spell on me.”

Smiling for the first time that afternoon King Halford states, “Yes. I feel the same way when he speaks.” He speaks to the merchants, “This young man is Carr. He’s the rogue who returned the Kingdom’s wealth back to its’ vault. Why without his skills I wouldn’t be granting so many favors today.”

Amazing Carr the merchants stand and applaud his forced actions.

Feeling the need to speak Carr compliments, “King Halford is the fairest of all the rulers I’ve ever met. I am truly proud to have helped your Kingdom. I think your King is true nobleman willing to use his wealth to better his people.”

The hall applauds their King and Carr. Even Halford claps a little.

King Halford waves him forward, “Come up here.”

The guard that woke Carr escorts him around the back and up the wide central aisle.

The King asks the merchants. “Does anyone have any further business?” He surveys the quiet merchants, “Well before you leave you may want to hear this young man’s tale. What he had to do to retain his life after being cursed, if you will, in returning the treasure. Go ahead Carr tell us about what happened with you and this Hag. The good Captain has filled me in on the basics. But you’re a better storyteller. So please if you would.”

“Okay your Majesty.” Carr clears his throat. Always happy to tell tales to anyone who’ll listen, starts the tale from ambushing the bandits. Informing them of how the Hag came to haunt him in his dreams.

The merchants seem amused, so Carr vividly recounts the battle with the Night-hag and her Larvae. Avilo fills in his black out moments. Ending the tale with dividing up the chest while being healed. All are definitely entertained by the tale.

King Halford humorously queries, “So, it’s true. You even kissed her. I just have one question. “How was it?”

Blushing Carr decides to answer the King with humor, “Despite the death breath and forked tongue my most memorable kiss yet.”

Pausing to look over Carr, the King busts out laughing encouraging the people in the hall to join in.

Shaking his head in disbelief at Carr’s bold comments Avilo too is amused.

Chuckling King Halford states. “I wish we could end more of these meetings with a laugh.” He speaks to the remaining merchants, “Anyway, I’ll look into your concerns and we’ll meet again in two weeks.”

Each merchant bows and thanks the King for his time before leaving. A few stops to shake Carr’s hand and introduce themselves.

As the hall empties Halford speaks to Avilo, “Bring Carr back to the Dining hall.” He chuckles to himself exiting the room.

“Yes sir.” Captain Avilo watches the King leave.

A great venture to be remembered, Carr can’t believe despite losing a fortune the good fortune he’s having, “Dinner with the King two nights in a row. I feel privileged.”

“You should.” Captain Avilo points out, “It’s not in a row. We missed a couple days.” He looks over Carr’s attire, “We’ll have to replace you something more suitable for dinner.”

Glancing down Carr points out, “This is still clean.”

“Not appropriate.” Avilo leads Carr into the castle completing his tour of the main floor.

Turning the corner to the bathhouse Carr comments, “I’ve never changed my clothes so much. And two baths in a week.”

Avilo opens a door to a storage room. Carr enters to see the walls are lined with hanging garments.

Closing the door Avilo informs him. “This is where the clothes they get tired of end up. Go ahead pick yourself out something. All the men’s stuff is on the big wall. The ladies’ discards take up the remaining three.

Sifting through the clothing Carr inquires, “Is Paul going to make it?”

“Yes.” Avilo tells him, “I stopped in a few hours ago he was momentarily conscious. I could understand him and he made sense. I’ve seen men recover from worse.”

“That’s good to know,” Carr replaces simpler red shirt and pantaloons that seem to be his size, “This okay?”

“Yes.” Avilo asks, “Are you aiming to be the center of attention? Or resemblance of last night?”

Carr queries, “How long do you want to be here?”

“Noted.” Avilo would rather be somewhere else, “You’ll be free to travel home in the morning. Is your armor ready for you?”

Getting changed Carr answers, “Tomorrow afternoon. Will I be getting my gear back?”

“Yes.” The Captain lets him know, “All the supplies have been arranged for you and you’ll get the weapons and armor you collected plus one empty magical bag. Was there anything else?”

“Kinda,” Carr buttons up the shirt. “There’s a family in the old section of the city. The Basteals.”

The Captain doesn’t know the name, “What about them?”

“Their father Leopold, hasn’t returned from your raid on Kapigorn. They just want him home and I was hoping you could send the word to your patrols. You never know he could be alive, not knowing who he was or captured.”

“No one was left in their dungeons when we left.” Avilo can see other possibilities than death, “He could have run away from life too. But I’ll ask the other officers to look into it. He could show up one day too.”

“Yeah, that’s what his wife is hoping for.” Carr displays his new outfit, “Am I ready?”

“That’ll do.” Avilo takes Carr back to the dining hall.

The dining hall is noisy as wealthy merchants and their wives mingle with a few of Halford’s higher ranked officers. Keeping interests up, two servants refill glasses of emptying wine. Several other servants are still setting the tables.

Avilo advises Carr, “Be on your best behavior. Try not to offend the merchants. Don’t be eyeing up the ladies’ jewelry either. And most of all stay awake.”

“Sorry again for nodding off earlier.” Carr assures the man, “And I’m not going to steal anything.”

“Good.” Avilo lets Carr know, “The same merchant is here. And it’s a good thing the King favors you because of your father.” He spots a comrade in need of rescue from dull communication.

“Why’s that?”

“Several people have been whipped for sleeping on the King.” Avilo excuses himself, “I’m leaving you to your own. A fellow Captain is in need of assistance.”

Obtaining a glass of wine Carr attempts to converse with different people in the hall. Apologizing to the merchant he doubly insulted. Creating some dull small talk with others.

Feeling out of place and thinking it’d be nicer to hang out in the Slaughtered Lamb Inn, Carr sits where he was the other night.

Gaylord and Cornelious enter chatting with each other.

Picking up a drink each they sit down beside Carr. Providing three social misfits with some entertaining banter. Carr tells them where he’d rather be. Cornelious, feeling energized from the trip to Hell, agrees to go with Carr after dinner. Gaylord lets the old mage know he’ll have to replace his own cure for a hangover.

As the tables fill with food King Halford and his family enter. Exchanging pleasantries with the merchants and wives. Halford’s daughter looks over to see Carr in the same place. Waiting for Carr to glance over she smiles and waves at him. Of course, he waves back which the Queen and Avilo catch.

As the Halfords take their seats the rest of the people in the hall do as well. The guests take the table across from Carr. All the officers fill up the remaining seats.

Captain Avilo sits on the other side of Carr, “I caught that little wave to King Halford’s daughter. You would be best to leave her alone.”

Not sure what Avilo saw, Carr defends himself, “She waved, I was just returning the sentiment. Besides the girl is too young for me.”

Overhearing Cornelious chuckles, “That’s what you say now. How about in ten years.”

“Cornelious,” Avilo firmly states, “Don’t encourage him. You know King Halford would want better for his daughter.”

King Halford sees Captain Avilo’s serious facial expression speaking to Cornelious, “Is there a matter that requires my attention?”

Quickly raising the glass of wine pretending to drink Cornelious hides a grin. Carr shakes his head no.

Captain Avilo speaks directly to King Halford, “No your Majesty.”

Figuring Avilo didn’t like something insignificant that was uttered by Cornelious. As it usually happens with the old mage when he drinks. Halford gives a little evil eye of his own to the wizard. The glance unnerves Carr more.

Gaylord speaks telepathically to Cornelious, “How old are you? And you still like to cause shit.”

Getting past the unknown issue Halford addresses the guests, “As you found out earlier. It’s been a long few days for these men.” He motions the servants to refill glasses.

After a quick toast the eating begins.

During the meal Gaylord and Cornelious notice their young princess constantly glancing at Carr. The old men replace it cute however Avilo doesn’t keeping an eye on Carr. Noticing all Carr restrains himself only returning a quick smile to the princess.

As plates are taken away and after dinner drinks are served the conversations to the King begin. To the table Carr sits at the conversation is dull; the topics being of trade and routes, business proposals and land ownership. Respectfully listening the officers only speak when called upon.

The mage and cleric stare at merchants looking interested. Mentally they converse between each other. Able to pick up on the old men Carr strains to hear their thoughts but becomes lost in his own.

Four glasses of wine, long days with little sleep, the conversations blend together. Fear of being whipped keeps Carr’s eyes open. Lost in his thoughts he puts the body to sleep.