(Wow, there sure are a lot of food and mudfights in chapter 1, but plenty more ENF, wedgies, hort buns, and spanking is on its way. In this next part, we are introduced to a few other characters. Here we go)
Back in Kerameikos, Maelyrra and Lauranthalasa were celebrating with the duchess the newly-renewed treaty between Alfheim and Kerameikos, hammered out largely in light of the exposure of a Glantrian plot to set the neighbors against one another. There had already been two days of banqueting and celebration, and there were at least two more to come. On the third day, an impressive carriage arrived from Glantri. Resplendent in court finery, Adrienne and Anwen emerged from it, to the shock and bemusement of the revelers.
“Back for more pie? We have plenty!” taunted one of the more inebriated courtiers. “What a surprise to see you in clothes!” another snickered.
Amidst taunts and jeers from the crowd, they approached the duchess. “I must admit that I am surprised to see you in Kerameikos again, considering the state in which you departed,” Chorinna smiled. This remark sparked raucous laughter from the crowd. “As promised, I will consign your companion to your care. You’ll find she has been well-treated, and per her custom, well-fed.” Again, the crowd reeled with laughter. “I suggest you take her and be on your way.”
Anwen started to speak, but Adrienne interrupted, “That is most beneficent your grace, but we intend to tarry longer, with your permission.” The crowd suddenly became quiet, anticipating the answer to this highly unexpected request.
“Surely Archmaga Karana can supply us with a new ambassador—one less, disgraced, to put it gently.”
Adrienne flushed red with anger, and her words came slowly, as if her face was a dam straining to hold back a great flood of rage, “It is the Archmaga’s will that we continue to represent her in Kerameikos.”
“If that is her will, than so be it. Who are we to understand the mysterious ways of the mages?” Again, the crowd burst into laughter. “Please, be seated and feast to the renewed alliance between Kerameikos and Alfheim. A toast to the alliance, and to our newly-returned guests, who made it all possible!” Anwen and Adrienne tried to ignore the taunts and laughter as they found an open pair of seats at a long table at the edge of the courtyard. The seats were unoccupied as both table and chairs wobble unstably in the muddy ground near the drains. The tall guard from the fateful day with the elven delegation appeared, with Emelyn in tow. Joining them at the table, she smiles thankfully at her comrades for subjecting themselves to further humiliation on her behalf. Unable to discuss their situation further, they remain quiet for a time.
Throughout the evening, much drinking and celebration took place. Just as dessert was served, Chorinna’s favorite types of pies, one of the courtiers, Myriah, stood and walked toward the exit, passing behind the duchess as she did. Just as she passed her, she removed a dagger from her corset and lunged toward her. Giuliana, captain of the duchess’ guards, had been alert, and tackled Myriah to the ground. But the would-be assassin’s elbow hit eh back of Chorinna’s head, forcing her face into the pie on her plate. In the ensuing struggle, Giuliana managed to wrest the dagger from Myriah’s hand. But before she could subdue the assassin, she found herself temporarily blinded by a cream pie.
Myriah spun Giuliana and kicks her, sending her falling on top of Sarah, another guard who was arriving to assist. Smashing into a table, the armored guards send wine cups and pies flying everywhere. Myriah put the duchess in a headlock, and dragged her back from the table. Sarah regained her feet and tackled the assassin in a nick of time. As the two of them hit the ground, they fell into a small, closed pavilion tent. Those watching the brawl were surprised to see two courtiers in a compromising state of undress attempting to cover themselves, now that the tent had been knocked away. They clearly had been caught in an amorous act, but all eyes turned back to the assassin. As she recovered her dagger and moved to throw it at the fleeing duchess, Giuliana, a full ten feet away, threw a cream pie which blinded her long enough for Sarah to take her down before she could finish the throw. The dagger dropped harmlessly to the grown and Myriah was led away to the dungeon. Chorinna ordered a servant to inform the party that the duchess would retire to her quarters with some of her guards, in light of recent events.
After ascertaining the good health of the duchess, Decethea the court Cleric turned her attention to the scene behind her. “Dirty wh*r*s, to do this at a state feast! And right behind Her grace, the duchess! You must be punished.” The courtiers, barely free of the collapsed tent, were dumbfounded at their sudden discovery. Many in the crowd disagreed with Decethea, but few would challenge a religious leader of such power.
Few but Rain, the court mage: “These girls are already having a bad evening. Let them leave without further insult or injury.” “It seems they are having too good an evening, and that is at issue,” barked the Cleric in response.
“I warn you,” Rain continued, “Do not further mar this great day of celebration.”
“Morality must be upheld in the cour—“ her sentence stopped short as Rain mashed a cherry pie into her face. “That should shut her up,” Rain mused, waving to the crowd for approval, over the protestations of the head cleric. “Well, you two-bit heathen, I’ll have you removed from the council for this! I’ll--” With a mere gesture, Rain makes Decethea’s mutterings become lost under a punchbowl full of wine. Again, the crowd cheered. At this, Clarion, a more junior cleric approached the dais, and plastered a cherry pie in Rain’s face from behind. “I sometimes think she’s a blowhard, too, but don’t disrespect our religion.” “Well, I never—Clarion!” Decethea protested.
Rain made a small gesture and a salvo of five pies flew off a table toward Clarion. The unusually agile Cleric ducked, and one hit the floor. Two flew past her and made contact with the dancer and serving wench behind her. Smiling with satisfaction at having dodged them, she didn’t notice two of them hovering, then changing direction. She turned in surprise when one hits her backside, only for another to splat her in the face.
The crowd laughed hysterically. “Oh that does it!” Clarion called out. She charged Rain, who retreated to the edge of the courtyard. In her haste, Clarion slipped in the muddy ground, and slid into unstable table occupied by Adrienne, Anwen, and Emelyn, who all landed in a heap of limbs and mud.
“You seem to have found your place, Cleric. Among the swine.” With that, Rain left the courtyard, the raucous crowd, and the cursing cleric. As the spectacle subsided, Decethea turned her attention back to the persecution of the amorous courtiers, only to find that they had left during the commotion. Rain had thoroughly beaten her, and her mind committed itself to finding an opportunity for revenge.
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