[color=darkorange]"Ah, so the stewards [i]do[/i] know I exist. How nice of them to remember me,"[/color] the Archmage muttered under her breath. 

	She was surveying the feast table with a look of absolute dread. She was the first one into the room, of course, of the inner circle of Her Highness High Queen Gisela. She took it upon herself to ensure the entire room was secure, even despite the Royal Guardsmen stationed along the walls. She eyed those men cautiously as well, and caught their flinty, suspicious stares meeting her own eyes, a challenge there. [i]Daft fools think I'm some sort of trespasser, trying to corrupt their queen or fancy fake religion. I know her better than they know their own families, I'd bet.[/i] She held a fair bit of disregard for those Royal Guardsmen. They hadn't proved themselves to be much other than decoration props with swords and halberds.

	Still, it was all to be expected. She marched herself around the table, eyeing the places and committing the name plates to memory. Later, she'd be able to match names to faces. Easy way to know who everyone is, without a single bit of effort. 

	She heard footsteps. Spinning dramatically enough for her Archmage Robes to flare out behind her, in all their yellow-clothed, gold-lined, black-stitch brilliance, sparkling with runic magic stitched with glittering purple thread, she caught the entrance of the Royal Guardsmen that preceded Her Highness. 

	Lady Valericka Luxta doubted the High Queen noticed she was in the room, since she was somewhat hidden in one corner, as she padded her way throughout the room, and so made herself known for the queen.

	Already dipping into a bow- courtesies were for Ladies, and not for Archmages, in this Archmage's opinion- the Grand Scholar greeted the young Queen. [color=darkorange]"My lady Queen Gisela, a pleasure it is to this one to see you. The room is secure from both mundane and magical threats. This one is sure you'll be happy to know this one is sitting to your right. Wouldn't do for those pesky stuffy men to leave out dear old Luxta from the graces of High Court, now would it?"[/color] There was a grin in her words, as there often were when she spoke to the girl, though she kept her face straight and earnest, her voice nearly toneless outside that hint of amusement.

	Sweeping around the Guards around their Queen- all of whom tightened the grips of their weapons, of course, at the proximity to a foreign agent- she moved towards her seat. Luxta may or may not have changed the places so that herself and that pesky little man-child who had served as Gisela's night-and-day bodyguard sat to the High Queen's left and right sides. She was actually fond of that 'Aldrich,' but she'd never let him know it.

	[color=darkorange]"This one recommends addressing the scone placement, however, Your Highness. There's not nearly enough torches to keep some assassin or the other from lurking about."[/color] She glanced to the corners she meant- the scones were placed entirely too far apart, in her opinion. Blotches of darkness hid between those beacons of light, of which there was usually a Royal Guardsman standing other. She made a face at the nearest one the moment the aged soldier caught her eye. She could feel the heat of his anger roll off of him, but that might've been her imagination. 

	[color=darkorange]"The other councilmen should be arriving shortly, my Queen. This one asks if there is anything you need of me before then?"[/color]