Skippy stepped back a half pace as if he had been physically slapped, “No, of course not. I would never question the wishes of Sir Jones.” The obvious falseness of the words was plain to hear.
“Then if you will excuse us sir, I must fulfill my duties,” Berk gave a very slight bow of his chest to Skippy.
“Before you go,” Skippy interjected as Berk took a single step, halting him again. “It would be remiss of me not to get the names of the two people you are escorting.”
Berk paused for a long moment, just long enough to make it seem like an insult. “Of course, sir. These are Sir Jones’s guests for the evening. Alburet the two-souled and his companion Stacia Crowley. Alburet and Miss Crowley, this is Sir Skippy Gilden of House Gilden.”
Alburet did his best to keep himself in check. He wanted to lash out at the man in front of him. “A pleasure to put a face to a name finally, Sir Gilden. I have only ever met your brother before, a fine upstanding man. He must be a bright light that shines promise upon your House.” His voice was laced with anger that he mostly kept from his face.
Skippy’s face went tight as Alburet spoke, “My brother is a disgrace to my House. It isn’t shocking to see why a two-souled wouldn’t understand that a noble lowering himself, to the station of a mere guard, would be such a disgrace. Much like a commoner putting on a dress and thinking she would belong in these halls.” His eyes rested on Stacia when he said the last few words, his lips twisting into a pronounced sneer.
As Stacia blushed deeply, Alburet's smile became sharp and pointed while his voice was flat and cold. “Sir Gilden, we were invited by Sir Jones. As such, it was felt we should dress at least the best we could to honor his request. Or are you suggesting that we should not put our best effort forward for our host?”
Berk gave a cough, “Well said Alburet, but time waits for no one. Now, if you will excuse us Sir Gilden, you have already delayed us quite long enough.” Berk resumed walking with Alburet and Stacia trailing after him. He led them down another hallway, slowing his steps. “You have made no friend in House Gilden and he is not one to let any slight go by. If you do well by Sir Jones though, I am sure Gilden House will hesitate to provoke you.” He came to a stop beside a door, “We are here.”
Berk took a moment to look them over critically before nodding. Turning, he opened the door and announced them, “Sir Jones, your guests have arrived. I present Alburet the two-souled and his companion, Stacia Crowley.” He stepped aside, bowing them into the room then followed them in and shutting the door.
The “small dining room” was anything but small to Alburet. The silver inlaid dark oak table could easily seat twenty people. The chairs, of course, matched the table. The room was illuminated by a silver chandelier suspended above the table. The table was set for three at the far end, with crystal glasses and silverware all laid out.
A hansom looking gentleman with a cleft chin and charming smile stood up as they were announced. “Greetings, my guests. I hope you have found the castle pleasant?”
Alburet gave a deep formal bow as Stacia gave a deep curtsy, “It is our pleasure to come upon your request, Sir Jones.” Alburet looked over their host again. Something about the man was nagging at him, like he should know the person on sight but by a different name.
Ioaniss’s eyes lit up at the sight of Stacia curtsying, “I do say, I didn’t know that the Crowley line had such beauties amongst them. Please, come and have a seat, Miss Crowley,” Ioaniss pulled out a chair for her with a smile.
Stacia gave him a brilliant smile in return as she took the seat, “Thank ya, sir.”
Ioaniss gestured to the seat across from Stacia on his other side, “Please, Alburet, have a seat as well. We shall have dinner first then we shall adjourn to the smaller library to discuss the real reason I summoned you here.”
Alburet took the seat indicated, “Thank you, Sir Jones. I admit I didn’t know the items I recovered would be so noteworthy.”
A warm chuckle was Ioaniss’s first reply, before he went on in a friendly voice. “I am not surprised that you don’t understand the full depth of what you found. Needless to say, it belongs in a museum. The king has done just that, given a prime spot in the Royal Museum, run by my good friend Marcus Elliott.”
“I didn’t know the city had a Royal Museum. I should go check that out tomorrow since I’m going to have some free time.”
“I can arrange for Marcus to show you and Miss Crowley around tomorrow.”
“Afraid it would be just me, Sir Jones. Stacia is going to be busy tomorrow getting things ready for our pending nuptials the day after,” Alburet replied, his smile broad as he met Stacia’s smiling eyes with his own.
“Now this is news,” Ioaniss sat forward. “A two-souled settling down with a regular person. I would love to hear this story.”
The door behind Ioaniss opened and three servants in livery came in carrying plates. Before each was placed a plate with shrimp arranged artfully to look like a blooming flower. A fourth person, following the servers, spoke in a soft polished tone. “The first course is shrimp with a sauce favored by Sir Jones. We hope you enjoy.” She poured each of them a glass of some beverage before stepping back. As quickly as they had arrived, the four servants vanished back through the door.
Alburet looked down at the silverware next to his plate where a variety of forks lay along the left side, while a couple knives and a soup spoon lay to the right side. Not positive, he decided to opt for the easiest idea and picked up the fork on the far left. He glanced up to find Ioaniss watching him covertly.
“Sorry. I rather wondered if two-souled knew the etiquette of tableware. You do seem to have it down, though,” Ioaniss said as he used the smallest fork and the outside knife to cut the shrimp into pieces. “Please try it, I do so love this dish.”
Stacia had paused longer than Alburet, allowing her to pick up the right cutlery as well. The duo each selected a shrimp, cutting a piece from it and raising the fork in their left hand to take the bite. Alburet closed his eyes as the flavor hit him. A simple spicy mango flavor permeated his mouth as he chewed. Opening his eyes, he found Ioaniss watching them both with interest.
“What do you think?”
“Sweet and spicy, a very good combination,” Alburet replied. Stacia nodded her agreement as she cut another bite.
They paused between shrimp to sip at the beverage that came with the course. It was a fruit juice comprised mostly of mango that complimented the dish wonderfully. In between bites of shrimp Alburet took his cue from Ioaniss, resting the knife on the top of the plate with the fork resting tines down on the left side. As each of them finished the course the servers reappeared, taking the dishes away and vanishing silently.
“I can honestly say I haven’t had that combination in my life time,” Alburet said as they waited for the next course.
“It really is my favorite here at the castle,” Ioaniss replied just as the servers came back out with the next course.
“This course features a potato cream soup infused with hard cheese,” The head server told them as she poured them a different beverage this time. “We hope you enjoy.”
Taking up the soup spoons, they sampled the soup, Alburet grinned as he tasted it. “Potato cheese soup, my mother made something very similar to this. She would add bacon to hers to add a touch more body to it.”
Ioaniss considered, “I will recommend that to the chef when I speak with him next. I am interested in how that changes the flavor profile.”
Alburet nodded as he sampled the drink, discovering an alcoholic drink reminiscent of vodka in the small glass. He coughed once before clearing his throat, much to Ioaniss’s amusement. “I was not expecting a hard liquor.”