[center]

[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220927/23fb834f443fddf069b302a80ffae13a.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220927/713c9ea7f90a3bccf2680492bc93671a.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220928/bcf4c8fb894d886cf1f86d12d903935e.png[/img]

Mentions: [@Princess] Edin and [s]Albert[/s] [s]Alfred[/s] Alden

[/center]

[i]‘To live humbly is to live harmoniously. To live harmoniously is to live virtuously.’[/i]

A great sage wrote those words a long time ago, with ink scratched upon bamboo strips long-since rotted away, in a kingdom long-since conquered, and for a royal family long-since extinguished. How that couplet survived the centuries was a mystery, but every Viserjantan noble knew it by heart and were expected by both peers and masses to uphold it in every aspect of their lives. As with all ancient wisdoms, every clan and family had their own ways of interpreting it. The Wasun of Jafi espoused the humility proselytised and took it – as some might say – quite far.

It was thus no surprise to Sjan-dehk that, upon stepping into the grandiose ballroom, he felt more than a twinge of discomfort tug at both heart and mind. Cavernous and opulent, it was the furthest thing from the austere and plain halls of his family. Walls and flooring of treated wood were the norm there, and whatever decorations that were allowed were of simple designs. Tried as he might, Sjan-dehk couldn’t help himself from looking at the walls and ceiling like some aimless and confused wayfarer. He kept a hand on the sling of his carbine, if only because he didn’t know what to do with it. 

The moment he laid eyes on the people on the other end of the ballroom, he knew he should have waited outside instead of following the women in. An imposing – almost imperious – man sat on a lavish throne that was about as magnificent as the room itself. That had to be the king, and the elegantly dressed man beside him a likely advisor. Before them were three younger men. All well-groomed and regal as far as Sjan-dehk could tell, and all with the all-too-familiar aura of people far above him in terms of station. Those must be the sons Dev had mentioned earlier.

Women, princes, and a king. Sjan-dehk recognised a matchmaking session when he saw one. He did not belong here. Much as he wanted to resolve the issue of the [i]Celestine[/i] and her former crew, he wasn’t as rash and foolhardy as to interrupt a royal affair. 

Sjan-dehk stepped aside and allowed the women behind him to pass. It was too late to exit the room now; surely everyone present had seen him. Instead, he tried to slowly back his way towards a corner. Slowly and carefully, with no big movements to draw any further attention to himself. With enough luck, he could wait there until all was done. It was anyone’s guess how long that would take, but it was the polite thing to do. Hai-shuun would have to wait a little longer for further orders, but Sjan-dehk would rather try the man’s patience than risk sabotaging trade negotiations before they even began. 

[color=DDB775]“[i]You there![/i]”[/color] The booming shout was accompanied by the slap of palms against wood.

Well, that was likely his shortest-lived idea. Sjan-dehk looking towards the throne. The king stood behind his sons, the combination of his stature and position giving him even more of a domineering presence. His eyes regarded Sjan-dehk with suspicion. Unwilling to show any cowardice, Sjan-dehk pushed up the brim of his hat and looked back. He was about to pay his respects and begin with his introductions when the king spoke once more. 

[color=DDB775]“[i]If you are here to speak to me, you will allow my guards to confiscate your weapons, for the time being, then let them escort you to speak to my advisor and I privately. If you are here to seek out my sons or intend to speak to me while armed, then you must leave.[/i]”[/color] Then, as if it were nothing more than a mere afterthought, he added, [color=DDB775]“[i]And thank you.[/i]”[/color]

As it had been with the harbour master and the labourer, Sjan-dehk either didn’t understand or didn’t catch every one of the king’s words. Still, it was enough to discern two things. One, the two guards at the gate likely had a proper tongue-lashing to look forward to – if they could even keep their jobs – and two, the king seemed a reasonable and well-mannered man. Not many would have reacted as he had to an armed stranger in the presence of his family. He had even thanked him. Sure, it sounded like it had just been an act of courtesy, but that still said something about the man.

Yes, this was turning out better than Sjan-dehk had expected. Even if there was a contingent of armed and very cautious guards approaching him. 

“[i]Slowly, stranger,[/i]” one of them said carefully. Judging by how the other guards seemed to fall in a step or two behind him, Sjan-dehk assumed him to be their commander. “[i]No sudden moves. Put whatever arms you have on your person on the floor. My men will take care of them.[/i]”

Sjan-dehk offered a friendly smile and slowly raised his hands in front of him, palms out. This all felt a little too familiar. He hoped it wouldn’t turn into a habit. [color=1E90FF]“[i]I mean no trouble,[/i]”[/color] he said, keeping his voice calm and level. As smooth as things were going, he wasn’t blind to the possibility of things taking an unpleasant turn simply because someone said or did something wrong. He made sure every guard could see him as he brought a hand to the strap of his carbine. [color=1E90FF]“[i]I am taking this off.[/i]”[/color] Sjan-dehk shifted his gaze between the armed men arrayed in front of him as he passed the thick strip of leather over his head. They bristled and gripped their weapons tightly, none taking a breath until the wooden stock of the carbine rested on the floor with a quiet clack. 

Everything progressed a little quicker after that. Soon enough, Sjan-dehk had all of his weapons laid out on the floor in front of him. Ordered and neat, as if he were presenting them for inspection. “[i]That’s all you have?[/i]” The commander asked. Sjan-dehk nodded and turned in a slow circle to show his empty holsters and scabbard frogs. That seemed to satisfy the man, and he gestured for two of his guards to collect the weapons. 

[color=1E90FF]“[i]Careful,[/i]”[/color] Sjan-dehk said with a little grin that faded as quickly as it appeared. [color=1E90FF]“[i]They are loaded. Do not drop them. Would be dangerous.[/i]”[/color]

It was a half-truth at best. Yes, there was shot in the chamber and powder in the pan, but they were only half-cocked and so even an accidental misfire wouldn’t set them off. Sjan-dehk just wanted the guards to be careful while carrying them. The last thing he needed was a damaged spring or some other intricate part of the mechanism from being dropped. Mursi would never let him hear the end of it for a few days, at least. The two guards carrying his weapons nodded their understanding with nervous looks.

For his part, the guard commander didn’t seem too bothered by it. “[i]Don’t worry, they’ll be stored in our armoury. No one will touch them until you return.[/i]” He nodded to the two guards who quickly scurried out of the ballroom with haste.

Now unburdened by his weapons, Sjan-dehk felt a lot lighter, but also a lot more exposed. He would have liked to keep at least one sword on his person, but arguing now would do little more than to prolong his time here. Besides, it wouldn’t make a lick of difference. Even if he were fully armed, it would take either a lot of luck or divine intervention for him to fight his way back to his ship if things turned ugly. Well, he did still have his fists and legs, even if he hadn’t done much unarmed combat in recent days–

He nipped that thought in the bud. What was he thinking? He was here as a noble, speaking to a king in peace. For now, he was Wasun Sjan-dehk the fourth lesser marquis of Jafi. Not captain Sjan-dehk of the [i]Sada Kurau[/i]. Just thinking of it left a foul taste in his mouth – he far preferred the latter role – but such was the way of things. One either learned to adapt or learned to suffer, as some of the great sages of old would put so eloquently. 

[color=1E90FF]“[i]All okay?[/i]”[/color] He asked.

The commander bit on his lip and looked Sjan-dehk up and down once before nodding. He waved for the guards to stand back before turning and looking to his king, awaiting his next orders.