A steward dressed in a gold vest stepped up to the front of the stage. Looking past him, a young man somewhere between his late twenties and early thirties took a seat at the wide table, flanked by a pair of hooded figures. By the atmosphere of the room, the young man was evidently the fabled Emperor, wearing an equally flamboyant Victorian coat like the nobles Val had seen.
The Emperor wore his blonde hair slicked back, but in place of a crown or other head adornment, a golden periapt inlaid with gems on a thick golden chain hung loosely in the middle of his chest.
More curious to Val was the pair of cloaked and hooded figures standing behind the Emperor, attentive but aloof. With the lighting of the room casting a shadow on their faces, it was not very easy to discern details. Val realized they were wearing masks, reminiscent of opera masks, but they covered the whole of their faces. They did not appear armed, but they were clearly armored in meticulously burnished plates. With their heights being equal and a lack of identifiable features, they were entirely identical from head to toe.
The steward began to speak in a volume that carried clearly across the hall. "Presenting his royal Majesty, Emperor Aurulius XI, imperator of the Armies of the Golden Expanse, and supreme ruler of our vast empire!"
The hall erupted into applause as the steward left the stage, and everyone quieted immediately again upon seeing the Emperor rise from his seat.
The young Emperor was rather soft-spoken, but his words carried clearly in spite of this. "I bid a good evening to you all and a warm welcome to our Dwarven guests from the West. It has been too long since we have enjoyed the opportunity to host our industrious allies. Many of you have heard of the seeming war on our horizon. I ask that all of you rest assured, I have received the missive from the Elven Queen, and we are reviewing the established facts. But tonight is for all of you to enjoy. Without your ceaseless efforts, we would not be the grand power that beckons such calls for help. Now, let us dispense with the sermons and return to this joyous occasion!"
No sooner than the Emperor had sat down, dozens of stewards and staff entered the hall carrying trays and pushing carts laden with food and wine. In moments, the room returned to its clamorous air that threatened to drown out the musicians' efforts.
Val remained where he stood, mulling about his first time witnessing royalty or executive government in person. "Just Aurulius? How come the Emperor has a shorter name than most of the nobles here?"
Asha scoffed. "Of all the details for you to fixate on... All Aurulian emperors shed their names and take the name 'Aurulius.' It's actually somewhat annoying if you ask me, resembles the tenth when he was young, but has none of his backbone."
A gruff voice sounded as a heavy hand clapped Val on the back of his shoulder. "Aye, but maybe reserve your opinions for when we're not standing in earshot of his most loyal subjects."
Val turned his head slightly, spying the grizzled Dwarven guard captain in a shirt and vest for a change. "Durnham? Hey."
Durnham nodded to Harken as he chuckled. "Haven't gotten into any trouble already, have you? Harken lead you by the nose around the city?"
"Ugh, no, and yes, respectively. Actually, I'm bored out of my mind. How did the discussions go?" Val looked to Durnham and Asha, who had been cooped up most of the day with the Emperor's advisors.
Durnham sighed. "Long story short, it's a mixed bag. Half of his Majesty's circle believe the Draug threat is real, the other half is not convinced. Worse yet, they are confident that even if it is real, they can defend their own territories, and the Emperor himself is sitting on his hands."
Val frowned. "Why not just send a scouting force to verify? Isn't that what Kar Lodihr is doing?"
"Ha, that's the best part. Since overall they're dismissive of the Draug, but they are convinced that whatever it is can make entire caravans disappear, and they don't want to risk their own men. Knowing the Emperor, this is probably going to come down to a consensus by the High Houses. Most serious decisions in this empire do these days."
"Explains Asha's sour mood." Val remarked offhandedly, earning him a sharp stomp on his foot before Asha swiftly turned and stormed off towards an array of wine glasses.
Durnham scratched at his neck, eying Harken sheepishly. "Err... Most of this was to be expected. Actually, a mild hiccup occurred earlier. Some handsy noble thought to 'purchase' rights to the miss, would have lost his hands too if we had not stopped her."
Val's eyes suddenly flared with a subtle orange glow before Harken quickly stepped in front of him, placing a hand on his left shoulder. "As interesting as it is for you to react so strongly to slights against the miss..." Harken's eyes shifted towards the cloaked figures in the distance, impassively observing the hall.
"Huh? Shit, sorry." Val closed his eyes for a moment, massaging them with a hand.
Durnham smirked for a moment before returning to a serious expression. "The lass might be flattered, actually. The problem is this particular noble was young Aurmayne, one of the Duke's sons... His eldest. Miss Alevriasha earned an earful from Hreidarr for her 'rash behavior,' and she's been in a right fury ever since. We're actually a bit concerned. Much of these rests on maintaining House Aurmayne's support."
Val looked to Harken briefly before they both took on amused expressions. The mercenary lord spoke in a mirthful tone. "You can relay to the Council that you have little to fear if it concerns Aurmayne. We spent the greater part of our afternoon with the Duke himself. Regardless of his reasons, we have his full support. Might even be able to swing a beating for his son."
"Oh? That's great news. The Duke holds a lot of authority if it comes down to a consensus."
Durnham and Harken continued on in conversation about the recent political events and further elaboration on the meeting with the Emperor's circle. Val had heard enough to have a general understanding of where the situation stood and was uninterested in the details. He was not fond of crowds, but with the situation being what it was, Val forced his gaze away from the tempting and vacated hallways just outside.
Val weaved his way through groupings of nobles in discussions about a range of topics. He worked his way toward the refreshments that were clear of people save for one particularly irate elf downing a second glass of wine.
"If it makes you feel any better, I've bounced between resignation to this stuffy affair and killing someone for the better part of today."
Asha scowled, slightly pink around her neck. "It doesn't make me feel better. I'm not upset because some slobbering excuse of a man tried to place his grubby paws on me. The price he offered might even be flattering, had it been his own money. I'm angry because I didn't kill him on the spot. I am here as an extension of the Queen's will. Such blatant disrespect from the 'esteemed' nobles of Aurulia, and I'm supposed to let it slide?"
Val raised a brow as he studied Asha's rising inebriation. "Well, as unlikely as it'll be that he will even appear in this war, it's generally bad manners to kill your allies."
Asha's eyes narrowed almost to slits as she turned to regard Val cooly. The elf leaned in close enough that Val could smell the wine as she spoke, just above a whisper. "I'm in no mood for your jokes tonight, but I'll humor you with only one. You are not wearing armor. You can heal simple flesh wounds in a matter of minutes. In the brief time that I have traveled with you, every significant conflict has led to you being grievously injured. You're still alive, so you seem sturdy enough. I sat through an hour of torturous hairdressing this morning, and the only silver lining is the sharp six-inch-long metal hairpin keeping it up. I have not decided where I'm going to bury it next."
Asha stormed off again, taking a glass of white wine with her as Val stood there with prickly skin. Val racked his brain for a time he had seen her this furious but came up short. Sighing, Val picked up a glass of red wine and downed it immediately. As he turned around, a woman dressed in dark blue, almost black colors stood before him.
"Uh, excuse me." Val bowed his head slightly as he turned to walk past her.
A musical voice caught his feet before Val could leave. "You cannot seriously be that bad with women? Let me be the one to tell you that jests in poor taste rarely nurse an injured pride."
Val let out a slight, awkward laugh. "You heard that? Not my best moment, no."
Upon looking up at the only woman in attendance to wear such dark clothes, Val froze. He recognized her face, having seen it once in what he had almost rationalized to be a dream. The woman's hair was dressed up in a large bun with a few pristine raven's feathers.
Val was almost at a loss for words, speaking off the top of his head. "I know you... You helped me once before, how...?"
The woman's serious expression suddenly gave way to a small fit of suppressed giggles. "Forgive me, it is far too amusing. I am Myne, but you could say we are indeed acquainted. It has been too long since I could take this form so freely, but ironically there is very little freeing about it. I much prefer the freedom of wings and flight."
Several pieces fell into place as Val put everything together. The voice was different, lacking the slight rasp, sounding with more clarity but still maintaining that musical rhythm he knew. The familiarity all but screamed at him as he figured out what was going on.
"Muninn?"
The woman smiled. "Not a name I hold as familiar around *here*, no."
"This entire time, you neglected to mention, 'Oh, hey, you are welcome by the way.' You can do... this?"
"You have seen it another time more recently, though you were under an illusion. My brother has his tricks, this one happens to be mine. It is terribly difficult to invoke magic with only wings and talons, you know."
"Uh... Which one is... Real? This or the other...?"
Muninn looked offended, almost pouting as she spoke in a very audible tone. "You are suggesting I am not a proper lady?"
A passing steward failed to preserve his indifferent professionalism as he cast Val a dirty glance that he did not miss. "No — I... Ugh, I'm done with everyone today."
Muninn returned to her pleasant smile. "They are both real, but this one takes considerably more power to achieve and maintain. It was only recently that I recovered enough to use it so liberally as to join this excursion. Would you like to get some fresh air with me? We are free to walk around the castle grounds."
"Sure, we'll just say Harken had me accompany you."
"Oh? I am to receive the protection of the esteemed dog of Harken's kennel?"
Val turned towards the doors, heading outside. "You could enjoy it less."
Muninn happily followed, appearing perfectly comfortable in human form as she matched his stride in heels. She looked thoroughly amused with herself as she bent his elbow to take his arm, attracting looks as they left.
"So, what are you doing here, anyway?" Val asked as soon as they were several dozen paces from the banquet.
Muninn returned to a serious tone. "Assisting Hreidarr, mostly, and also catching up with human politics. It has been a very long time since we shared their world. We spent most of it in yours, after all. So far, it seems not much has changed. They may even have regressed in magical power compared to the height of the ancient empires. Their technology has compensated for this it seems, though what they could do with your world's is concerning. Have you found anything, or are you spending it playing around with Harken?"
Val rolled his eyes. "We're not playing around — Mostly. Harken is wining and dining particular nobles he has connections with, one of which is Duke Aurmayne. So long as you're up to your usual business, there's one nobleman I'm concerned about. Know anything about Kaltwazer's house?"
"Minor noble, why?"
"He smells like a port, and there is none anywhere within several days' travel. Is it possible for the Draug to move this far inland?"
Muninn stopped, looking up at Val with concern. "It is very possible. Sowing confusion and causing internal conflict was a favorite strategy of theirs. They are not all bound by the mists. If they have already made their move, rooting them out will be difficult. I'll see what I can find on Kaltwazer."
"Thanks."
"No need for thanks. Now then, are you planning on enjoying tonight at all, or would you rather wait it out in a sour mood?"
Val thought for a moment, realizing a way he might mend Asha's mood. "Actually, I think I can make it up to Asha and create some entertainment for myself too."
Muninn cast him a knowing smile as the pair turned back to the banquet. It only took Val a moment to spot the Duke roaring with laughter, making grand gestures as he nearly spilled a drink on Harken.
"Valtyr! Come! Come! I was just regaling these fine gentlemen with one of your boss's more embarrassing tales."
"Oh? I'd love to hear it, but I have a favor to ask."
The Duke beamed at Val, though he clearly had a few drinks already. "This afternoon was the youngest I have felt in a couple of decades, ask away!"