The Royal Games of Neil Dra have been fun, if exhausting. Ezekiel and Raven went around, trying as much of the street food as they could. Raven said some of the cheese was “fine,” but not “stupendous.”
I got entered into the archery contest somehow, but I didn’t do too badly. His Majesty King Scottie asked for a match with me, and I suppose I was self-conscious, which is why I hit the target but didn’t make the bullseye. So he technically got the best out of three, although the one shot he missed went over the target, over the backstop, and nailed some poor spectator. For once, Ezekiel wasn’t the only cleric on hand with Raise Dead at his fingertips, which certainly comes in handy sometimes.
His Majesty seems like…if Father and Ezekiel were merged, somehow. He’s big, and laughs a lot, and puts his whole heart into everything he does, it seems. I think Keoland is in good hands.
King Thrommel was there for a bit, taking a turn in the jousting tourney – with Queen Jolene cheering him on in the stands, of course. He made any knight of Furiundy and Veluna proud…although I don’t think he sparred with Aliana.
She did not participate as long as I think she would have liked, but even magic armor can’t completely hide that her baby is coming along.
It’s impossible to say what Lydia actually looks like, when she’s always wearing The Hat, but she takes her time sitting down or standing up, and holds Heiron’s arm a lot whenever we’re going somewhere. (Which of course he doesn’t mind; in fact, he seems to strut more when she does. When people walk past – men and women – and take a second look, he looks like a little boy with a lizard…which I just realized is a horrible metaphore, I’m just saying Bartholomew was mighty fond and proud of his lizards, until Mother made him put them back outside).
Andari says his favorite part was watching me shoot against King Scottie. He hasn’t explained why. There’s certainly a lot to see all over…much more than the festivals we used to have back home. We even found a cleric of Ehlonna visiting the temple of Rao, and leading some songs. They kept the singing out in the foyer, of course, so we wouldn’t bother anyone looking for quiet in the sanctuary. (Usin joined us in that part, though he didn’t sing very loud. He had a whole armful of pastries and cheeses to try once he got back to the inn and could take his helmet off.)
Once everyone has seen what they want to see, we’ll head back to the Crystalmysts. I think we’re planning to ride all the way, though we’ll see. If we take it easy, we should be back in a week or so.
****
2 Patchwall
Meeting notes of the Masters of Haven:
Ez High Priest and Head Monk report on meeting they had last night after dinner, at the inn in the village (“Here Be Flagons;” it even has a name!)
Invited by elegant note. Met in private back room, poorly lit by candles, with unknown person in concealing hood and cloak. Although HP was invited alone, he took HM with him. Stranger had two silent attendants also in robes.
Stranger declared himself representative of a faraway kingdom (worshippers of various gods, including Grumpsh, Hextor, and Mgluviat – blah!). He sought an alliance of mutual aid (each party doing “whatever reasonable” to aide the other when under attack). Offered chest of rubies as “gesture of good will.”
Stinks like the ocean. Quite apart from Stranger saying “elves” like Aliana give him hives (is it really her elfness, eh?). HP will consult his “Boss” tomorrow morning just to make sure, but the consensus of the council is “avoid foreign entanglements.”
****
Raven introduced us to his sister Canary today. Apparently he and Lydia found her somewhere in Perrinland, and invited her to visit. She seems nice enough, and very polite while listening to stories (Sirion told me to tell her about fighting the giants, or maybe about the Slave Lords…but fighting the Slave Lords was not the proudest period of my career. So I quickly started the story about the giants, before Agnar could get rolling about his version of events). Mikael seems to like her, but I think he likes any girl that acknowledges his existence (which is funny, because most women seem to like how he carries himself…anyway…)
I’m not sure exactly how long she’ll stay, but it seems she lives a life of travelling and collecting stories wherever they may be. She shared some legends from Perrinland, about the Old One’s mother and how she was driven from power there, and what she may or may not have left behind. She was especially interested to meet Madam Whinney and Master Chestnut, and hear a few of the centaur bedtime stories.
Oh, Raven also brought an update about the mysterious visitors in the village. He and Ezekiel met with them again to politely decline their proposed alliance (Ez says his answer “through channels” said to not make deals with them, but also that they weren’t devils. Plenty of other things they could be, though).
The hooded “ambassador” took it well enough…he even tried to have them keep the giant chest of rubies as “payment for services rendered” but Raven said that felt sketchy, like he didn’t want to get entangled any further. So they sent the stranger and his two silent companions on their way.
I suppose this should be recorded in official Masters notes…but not right now. Glottis is helping Canary to fish, and it makes her laugh. Maybe afterward, we’ll show her the obstacle course the monks and I were working on today. Ragni and Agni say it’s not well suited to people of small stature, but they love keeping score when Andari and I run through it. I think the monks didn’t take into account all the gear that an adventurer requires, so they have an unfair advantage during the segments they designed.
****
7 Patchwall – Lydia and Heiron’s baby has finally been born! Miss Dree says they had a midwife from the village come in and help.
I didn’t know a tiny human could look so cute. She has such tiny fingers and toes, and such big cheeks. Her name is Eleanor, and when Heiron’s not busy on duty, he’s most likely in their chambers rocking her or letting her suck his fingers or something. It is…remarkable to see.
He’s come so far from an accidental prisoner of the Evil Elemental cultists. And Lydia has actually giggled a couple times, really and truly, like any ordinary girl who happens to be happy. They do say Eleanor only sleeps in hour-increments, but they don’t seem to hold it against her.
I must write Mother as soon as possible and tell her, or she’ll hunt me down.
Find the previous entry here.