[h1][center][b][i][color=FFEF94]Arsenio Graves[/color] & [color=Olive]Ravyn Ghosteye[/color] & [color=Magenta]Queen Heketah[/color] & [color=Gold]Dujae[/color][/i][/b][/center][/h1]
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Dujae raised a brow and crossed his arms. [color=gold]”That is unfortunate for you, but I must insist”[/color] His hand then went out as he waited to be handed the sword, his expression unrelenting. A “walking stick” was one thing, but an actual sword...no. Topaz eyes were as cold as the frost coming off of him. [color=gold]”I require you to hand over the sword.”[/color]

Arsenio’s gaze didn’t drop as he kept a hand on his weapon, squaring his stance to Dujae.  Following a tense silence, his left hand left the hilt and dexterously undid the buckles that kept the scabbard attached to his belt and caught it with the same hand before it hit the ground.  His arm came out with the beautiful sword held level, waiting to hand it off to the man that would keep it for the duration of the party.

Dujae took the weapon and in moment it floated next to the chest where it stayed upright. He proceeded to nod and moved out of the way once more wishing that he did not have to deal with these things.

Heketah meanwhile spotted the Glacian and made her way over with her soft smile firmly in place. Once fairly close she clasped her hands in front of her and like always looked expectant. [color=magenta]”I am pleased that you could arrive.”[/color]

Ravyn’s eyes had not been idle while Arsenio and the Black Jeweled man had argued over the sword. Spotting a woman dressed like living gold- a rather foolish thing to do, she was a beacon to thieves and the like- the streetwise girl had slipped away. Between two closely knitted groups to be precise. Her gown was a pesky thing, but she moved through the crowd, hoping to avoid the woman that left a bad feeling in her gut. Her knife wasn’t on her, which was bad enough. This woman? Screamed troubled. After a bit of idle wandering, and polite listening- ahem, eavesdropping- she eyed the two tigers behind the throne. Curious they were like that. Curious there were tigers at all. Ravyn only knew what they were as they were valuable. And values- were something best known.

Arsenio watched his sword float to the chest with a stone-cold expression.  This was like losing an arm to him, that weapon was a part of who he was, but he at least knew he would be getting in back within a couple hours.  He then noticed two things, one being that Ravyn was missing, and the other being that Heketah herself was coming to greet him.  Unfortunately, that meant he wouldn’t be able to find the scamp before they met.

As she approached and greeted him, Arsenio bowed at the waist to the Queen, then stood erect and clasped his hands behind his back.  [color=FFEF94]”I’m honored to be here, Your Majesty.  Might I ask why you’re hosting a ball on such short notice?”[/color]  His gaze softened to a practiced politeness, gazing straight across at Heketah.  In his peripheral vision, he caught sight of Ravyn eyeing the tigers by the throne.  His heart skipped a beat as he realized what a recipe for disaster this was.

Heketah smiled brighter with the elaborate bow and the title.  [color=magenta]”Your majesty? I am honored to be called such”[/color] She gave a deeper head nod than normal in response. [color=magenta]”As for why a ball, well it felt like the correct thing to do given so many new arrivals”[/color] She gave a small shoulder shrug. [color=magenta]”But that is not as important as what I wished to discuss with you. I would like to propose to you an offering of joining my court”[/color] She gave no hint to any evil will, just clasped her hands and looked patient.

The gears in Arsenio’s head were turning rapidly, his eyes scanning over the woman almost like a thief would for any valuables.  While he couldn’t detect any ill will, he still had to shake his head.  [color=FFEF94]”I am truly sorry, but I would leave Glacia without any proper ambassadors if I were to join your court.  I’m sure can understand how disastrous that would be, Your Majesty.  As such, I must respectfully decline your offer.”[/color]  His tone was official, that of a man used to navigating the often rough and hostile waters of politics.  His gaze looked past the Queen again towards Ravyn, pale eyes watching her every move.

Turning away from the tigers, the ’urchin’ doubted her ability to steal any tigers. They were large, growling creatures which would probably bite her. The servants circling about with small bites of food, however was her next target as she sought one out through the crush of people. Asking- and politely too!- for several of the entrees, Ravyn wandered about the room. Politely and quietly avoiding people. Acting as though she was indeed a student and following another’s lead. Which she was suppose to be doing, she reminded herself. It would be best if she returned to Arsenio.  But there's so much, and she was rather curious about getting out of the party entirely. Arsenio surely would make an excuse for her absence? As she had arrived after all? She wasn’t sure, but she had come and shown her face. So surely leaving was viable now. Noting the guard at the back of the large Throne Room, she decided on a side door. One without a guard. No guard meant it was innocence. Thus it probably led to the kitchen or some servant quarters. At least that was the general gist she understood. But if it was a kitchen… A kitchen had more than one door and would offer a exit. Thusly Ravyn made her way through that portal.

Arsenio watched as Ravyn made her way from the tigers, keeping track of her with the edges of his vision as he drummed up an excuse to go get her.  [color=FFEF94]”You’ll have to excuse me, I sent my apprentice to acquire some drinks when we entered and she isn’t back yet.  I should go find her.”[/color]  He turned to leave, laying a roundabout route to the young girl’s location in his head.

Heketah sighed, but nodded. [color=magenta]”Of course, I understand. The needs of Glacia are greater than my own.”[/color] She gave a gentle smile and then tilted her head at the mention of an apprentice and raised a brow before nodding once more. [color=magenta]”I hope she is not finding any trouble”[/color] With that she turned and walked away. 

Dujae meanwhile saw this and sighed before following her with his eyes. At seeing where she was going he soon found himself rubbing his face and debating how he should go about this. Hopefully she would not see anything too traumatizing. Hopefully.

Ravyn took a casual glance about and fled down the corridor. Hoping to escape the fiasco of a banquet. This entire thing was not to her tastes. Thus her kitchen escape plan was being enacted. Polishing off the tidbit of a food. She slipped down the hall, though the lack of servants was unnerving for her. Shouldn’t they be more? Rushing to and from the party? Or was that a different hall? Ravyn frowned slightly. She didn’t know much of noble houses. Preferring to rob the merchants and stores. The nobles had guard and powerful protects. Her Rose jewel would do little against such things.

Instead of seeing the escape she so wanted, the hall seemed to start to slowly creep lower as the light got dimmer. Small oil lamps lit the way down before her and a sense of foreboding washed over her.  A cold much different from the one produced by Dujae swept an odd metallic smell to her nose. Blood, and a lot of it. Wherever she was headed, it was not a good place to be.
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