Tyaethe continued her statue impersonation as the messenger handed over her missive, already racing for ways to get out of the worst part of this engagement. Since the ball was a prime target for assassination or nobility interfering with the knights' operation, she had to be there for Fanilly's own safety. Except poison, there was nothing that was going to get past the paladin—poison and delicious, delicious food. Especially the pastries; it would be far too easy to ply Fanilly with the royal chef's concoctions and lead her in untoward directions... or if Fanilly wasn't into cakes, the last balls had countless arrays of cheeses, crackers, bread in amazing designs from coarse to the whitest and fluffiest that had ever been made. The drink would only make it harder, especially if they brought out any of the wine from Ithillin, though their own beer could be just as much of a problem. Or if someone thought to give her one of the many juniper-based spirits her home region was known for...

But in order to prevent Fanilly from being seduced by richly flavoured puddings, Tyaethe would have to attend. Attending meant showing up in her best attire this time and [i]that[/i] would mean removing her armour. Removing the armour was an absolutely terrible idea, even to protect the captain from juicy, honey-glazed Toban hams, and it would take some wrangling to work out how to do it. Maybe she could claim it [i]was[/i] her finest attire and get in that way? Technically, it was when it was clean but so far as arguments went, showing up in tarnished and musty armour whilst claiming she owned nothing better would be hard to get through the doors.

Perhaps she could sneak in through the kitchen, finding a way to excuse herself as simply checking no-one poisoned the new captain? It would be a valid excuse and it would also give her an idea of what this summer's produce was like before it was brought out. If there was a particularly vibrant and rosy crop of strawberries brought in for the ball, or some ripe grapes harvested early. It had been a while since the undead had needed to look around anywhere belonging to the royal family as it was generally perfectly safe and that plan was scuppered simply by not knowing where the entrance was.

There could be a few foods being brought in late; round, meaty sausages that had just finished smoking. If she set out now, it might be possible to hide herself in the shipment somehow and get in without being seen, then continue with the kitchen plan as if nothing was wrong. If she arrived early, there might even be chance to find someone there who could polish her armour up a bit in time for the ball itself. That was one plan... though intercepting a delivery seemed harder than making one and finding out where the kitchens were and entering via the back entrance when the ball started.

That was it! If she went out now, she could gather fruit and make a most magnificent marmalade, able to stand alongside the greatest of relishes at the feast! That way, she could attend [i]without[/i] having to remove her armour. Though the volume she needed to make in order to have it function as a proper delivery...

The statue-like knight suddenly pivoted on one foot, turning to face Tiral and Julianna. "Knights! I need your assistance in preparing something for the ball! I intend to purchase as many limes as possible and cannot carry them all myself."

She always did prefer lime to orange...