Chapter Three Hundred and Six - Dine Hard with a Vengeance

Chapter Three Hundred and Six - Dine Hard with a Vengeance

Chapter Three Hundred and Six - Dine Hard with a Vengeance

Anyone in particular we should get to know? I asked Caprica.

I suppose my older sister. Shes... well, youll meet her in a moment, Caprica said. She was looking towards the small library-like section of the dining hall, specifically at a young sylph woman in a dark dress standing next to two older gentlesylph.

That had to be her sister. There was a clear resemblance between the two of them. The same brow and nose, though Capricas hair was a dark shade of brown, and her elder sister had pure black hair. Whats her name? I asked as we started to cross the room.

Steph, Caprica said. Though she prefers Stephania with strangers. Her middle name is Rubbottom. My parents gave her the name after a Paladin that worked for father and served with mother for a few decades before retiring with honours. She hates the name.

Rubbottom, Awen repeated. She brought her hands up to cover her mouth and hide a smile. I think I can guess why she doesnt like it.

Too bad, Uncle Rubrub is really nice. He gave me my first sword, Caprica said.

Stephania turned as we approached, her gaze lingering on Caprica for a moment without a change in her expression before she scanned the rest of us. A moment, gentlemen, I imagine my sister wishes to introduce her friends.

The two sylph bowed curtly and nodded our way before walking off while chatting to each other. I wouldnt have minded them staying. More company was always the best kind of company.

Hello, Caprica, Stephania said.

Steph, Caprica said. You guessed already, but I wanted to present my friends to you. She gestured to the side where Amaryllis, Awen and I stood. This is Lady... This is Amaryllis, Awen, and Broccoli.

I grinned. Shed made an effort to drop all of the titles. That was actually genuinely nice. We were more than just a collection of neat titles and family names.

A pleasure, Stephania said.

Hi! I said. Do you do hugs?

Pardon?

Like this, I said before stepping up and wrapping Stephania up in a quick hug. It was the rather boring, prompt kind of hug that didnt give you much time to really enjoy the contact.

Stephania blinked at me as I broke away, then glanced at Caprica. These are the heroes of the day?

They are, Caprica said gravely. Broccoli and Awen here discovered the plot to blow up the old palace and everyone in it. Awen disarmed the explosives while Broccoli valiantly fought the bomber until a brave Paladin showed up to assist her.

Youre skipping a few details, I said.

Awa, I only disarmed two bombs, Awen said. The guards took care of the rest.

Yeah, and I barely fought Rainnewt. Hes way stronger than I am, so most of my fighting didnt end up doing much more than slow him down. Bastion did most of the work.

Stephania sighed. Of course Bastion was involved somehow. I should have guessed, with how excited you are about all of this, Caprica.

Dont be that way, Steph, Caprica said. She crossed her arms. Im hardly excited by all of this either. I could have died today. Father too, for that matter, and dozens of distant cousins and people we know as well. It most certainly would have sparked a war.

Yes, I suppose so, Stephania said. Why did you bring them to me, Caprica?

Youre being rude, Steph, Caprica said.

I cant find it in me to care, Stephania dismissed. No side-stepping the question. Were sisters arent we? Answer me honestly.

The seats were comfy, but just a bit short. I was sitting with my feet planted on the ground and my knees up a bit. The table and chairs were a bit sylph-sized, even if they were grandiose and pretty.

The king walked in without ceremony or fanfare next to someone I assumed was a paladin until a maid rushed out and placed a second seat next to the kings, then another came with plates and cutlery for the new place-setting. The queen?

Everyone but Caprica and Stephania stood, so my friends and I did the same after a moment of confused hesitation.

Oh, dont bother, please, the maybe-queen said.

She was tiny, one of the smallest adult sylph Id seen, with short-cropped hair that was an exact match of Capricas and a scowl fit for an angry schoolteacher. Her armour was definitely a paladins, if a bit lighter than what Id seen Bastion wear normally.

The king pulled out his wifes chair, and she rolled her eyes before sitting down.

Good evening, everyone, the king said as he sat down in turn. The last few people still standing dropped back into their seats. The king clapped his hands in eager glee. I heard that we have scallops from Quickwood, and this very nice apple brandy from Mattergrove. And Captain Bunch?

Huh? Oh, yes? I asked.

I made sure the chefs prepared a more vegetarian meal for you, he said. No need to worry.

Oh, thank you! I think I can eat most things though. I wasnt born a bun, so meats and stuff only give me a bit of a tummy ache.

The king chuckled. Well, we wouldnt want that.

The same servants that had set the table were suddenly placing appetisers down before us, and I had to wonder if their sneakiness was some sort of cool skill.

The smells from the food around me hit, and I suddenly realized that I was starving. It was an effort not to drool like a baby bun as I picked a fork at random and started gobbling up my meal.

I noticed Amaryllis rolling her eyes, and some of the nobles further down were trying hard to look composed and proper as they ate, but I didnt see the point in that.

Whenever a course was finished, the servants returned--from where?! I was paying attention and I never caught them entering the room--and placed the next meal down in front of whomever had finished.

There was a bit of small-talk all across the table. The king asked Caprica and Stephania about their days, the queen said that Gabrielle was feeling better after a long days rest, but that she wanted to take an evening nap so she had an early dinner. Mostly though, everyone was too busy eating to talk.

And then, before I knew it a butler set before me a small slice of cake that I wasnt sure would fit in my tummy. I wasnt sure I could eat it, but I was certain Id give it a try. It was vanilla with some sort of strawberry jam on it and it looked like something from the good kind of dream.

I know its something of a faux-pas, the king said.

I glanced up. He was talking to me and my friends.

But I wanted to ask a few questions, if you dont mind. Mostly about the dungeons youve managed to clear on the way here.

I opened my mouth to speak, but a talon poking my leg from under the table shut me up. What do you want to know? Amaryllis asked as she dabbed her lips with a serviette.

The Captain was able to repair a dungeon, correct? he asked.

Less repair, and more rid it of a pest, Amaryllis said. Twice, in fact, once in the wilderness to the south of the Crying Mountains, and once again in the tiny port of Innsmouth.

We have a piece of root from that dungeon! I remembered. Its in the Beaver.

I see, the king said. Would you be willing to demonstrate, Captain Bunch? he asked. We have something of an issue at a local dungeon, and there are quite a few people who would like to see your abilities first-hand.

Oh, sure, I said. But after dessert.

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