[h3]Lucien Delorano[/h3][hr]
If anyone could crack the harsh facade that Lucien had constructed for himself since learning of his father's death it was Pieter. The troubadors smile yearned for others to join it, and Lucien could not help but smirk slightly as he remembered stealing basket-loads of those very same buns from the kitchen as a boy. Pieter and he had ruined many a dinner gorging themselves on the savory treats. 

[color=dimgray]"Lucien, try these cheese buns, they're just like when we were kids."[/color]

"Well they are, Pieter,"said Lucien half-heartedly. His anger was subsiding and the shock of the past few days events was fading, replaced by a dismal certainty that nothing would ever be the same in House Delorano. "I would speak to you in private when we have the chance, Pieter," whispered Lucien to his friend. He was about to attempt a lame joke-something about buns-when Lucien noticed the extra guards enter the room and take up position on either wall of the dining hall. Captain Meldyr was strolling along the table, heavy hand on the pommel of his sword.  

The casual manner in which the guard captain had spoken to Lucien earlier left a bitter taste in his mouth; and it was on Meldyrs watch that his father had been killed after all. As Meldyr took a position beside his sister, Lucien could not help but feel that the guard captains loyalty would be unwavering to Nalia-something about the way he looked at her unnerved the young lord. 

And then their was Luciens sister, unnoticed until now , such was the fury that had engulfed Lucien. Sweet Juniper, [i]Junebug[/i], their mother had called her. Puffy eyed and looking like a wilted flower. A soft spot in Luciens heart opened at the sight of his forlorn sister. The girl was clearly shaken. [i]She must have been up all night in tears,[/i] he thought. But their was suddenly a look of contempt on Junipers face and Lucien followed her gaze to Aunt Fiona and Lorenzo. The girl flailed, emotion spilling out and her heavy wooden chair upended, filling the room with a deafening crack. Lucien shifted uncomfortably in his chair, not helped by his rapier digging into his side. He shifted his blade awkwardly to rest on his lap instead.

Juniper had always been an awkward girl, Lucien remembered, but spirited. Some of the choice words his little sister seemed to conjur from the mouths of sailors had been supplied by Lucien whether by slip of the tongue or her inquiring mind. And it was Lucien who had first shown the girl how to fire a pistol with proper accuracy. The force of it had shot her arms into the air, but the clay pot they had swiped from Anathagos' chambers had been obliterated. "A natural, dear sister!" Lucien had shouted. 
 

[color=dimgray][i]"My lady, I could have a few of my men escort the Lady Juniper to her chambers..."[/i][/color], said Meldyr. 

"I would take her," said Lucien, surprising even himself. "With your leave of course, M'lady?" Lucien asked Nalia, perhaps a bit too sweetly. Whether or not Nalia consented was irrelevant, at least Juniper would know she still had an ally in her brother.