Jamilla looked pleasently surprised. "Perhaps you would like to talk to al-Saffah, to confirm we are all on the same page. And I can tell my husband of our plans." Salamah was in charge, but at the moment she was calling the shots by default. "If you would follow me?" she asked, hoping Selina would agree.
ser Noche
Nora stood by the tables of food, occasionally picking up small snacks as she watched the young nobles mingle with each other. It was livelier than most of the recent announced parties and festivities, and she was glad for it. She smiled, and let the proceedings unfold.
However, after a little time, a servant quietly slipped in through the door from the hallway, and walked up to her with some urgency in his stride. He whispered something in her ear, and for a moment a paleness came over her face. She nodded, and whispered something back. The man walked out of the room again, off to Gods knew where, and Nora resumed her friendly smile. She calmly walked over to one of the lush seats and sat down, arranging her skirts slightly to fall neatly alongside her legs.
Sternseher
Selina would only nod and follow along, pursing her lips as she considered the third party in their group. She'd not had much of a chance to interact with al-Saffah, but hopefully she could get a good impression of him shortly.
As she made her way by, she smiled politely over to Nora, nodding to her once more. It was a lovely function after all, even if it wasn't the sort of thing she typically indulged in.
Laurent
alamah was about to reply to Bundar when he saw his wife approach, followed by the Sternsehers. Confused, he pulled his wife aside and they talked. At first, for all that they were far enough from the others that words couldn't make out, he seemed angry and incredulous that she had usurped his authority. Slowly, though, this transformed into curiosity, and then interest and finally he nodded and said, "Your Highness, may I introduce you to her Grace, Selina Sternseher? Perhaps you two might get acquainted, and talk over an idea that they have hatched.
Introductions done, he left--not even realizing the absence of Marcus--and went over to the food table. There were several reasons for this. First, that he was hungry and the food looked good. Second, that he was polite, and just as importantly, really, it would give him cause to compliment Lady ser Noche. He ate in a well-mannered way, savoring the food and then, when done, he made his way to Nora ser Noche.
He gave another one of his flawless bows and said, "I thank you for your hospitality and food. It was simply exquisite. I myself wish to give you a gift myself, one less solid than that from Sternseher, but quite important, I would think. It is something of a delicate gift, and it might be preferrable for me to confer it in private."
"Although," he added, "I can present it here should you wish so."
ser Noche
| "Thank you, I do hope everybody is enjoying themselves. We don't get a lot of visitors here," she said with a small curtsy in return. As he spoke about a gift, Nora nodded. "If you would prefer a private conversation, might I suggest we retreat to the annex room? We can talk privately there, the walls are sound-proofed." She gestured to the far wall, where a door stood slightly open towards another room in similar decoration, with a slightly thicker carpet in dark red plush. | ||||
Laurent
"That sounds like an excellent idea," he said, and with a bow he led the way. Now, he would have been more careful around a rival, would have at least had said rival lead the way in first, but, really, if ser Noche wanted him dead, it didn't have to lure him into a backroom. It could, just as easily, infuse the air with neurotoxins whose cures everyone who Nora ser Noche desired to live could be discreetly slipped, and then it would be a simple and tragic illness.
In other words, the ser Noches were rich and powerful enough that worrying about stepping into a room first was the least of his worries.
And, of course, a distant second in his reasoning was the fact that he thought he had reason to trust Lady Nora ser Noche.
A very distant third as he walked--he glanced back to see that she was following--was that he trusted her.
Once they were in the room, he turned, closed the door, and waited for Lady Nora to get settled.
In other words, the ser Noches were rich and powerful enough that worrying about stepping into a room first was the least of his worries.
And, of course, a distant second in his reasoning was the fact that he thought he had reason to trust Lady Nora ser Noche.
A very distant third as he walked--he glanced back to see that she was following--was that he trusted her.
Once they were in the room, he turned, closed the door, and waited for Lady Nora to get settled.
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