Flor had been to enough social events in her time to think this another of the same. Indeed, the entire premise of this location seemed overly built up and unnecessary. Perhaps it was true that she shouldn’t go off the beaten path, but so far she hadn’t seen an armed guard since entering through the gatehouse. What went wrong at this event that the Mayor and his procession did not return to the city without sending even a single runner? They had even shown up without the offering of human child slaves and no one had mentioned otherwise, as if it were normal to show up with or without, the difference being negligible.

  Flor walked to the indicated table the steward and stood behind a chair. A few additional tables were set up across the way, and what looked like a fancy chair on a dais. Of the places she had seen in the game, this was meh, especially compared to the luxuriousness of the facilities at the monument.

  Flor – Sparks: How goes the hunting?

  Sparks tended to appreciate reflecting on the Goddess, so Flor did not expect an immediate answer.

  Several individuals moved into and through the room, and stewards brought what looked like family-style dishes to place on the tables. A few moments passed and a man in brawler gear walked up from the spiral staircase. He made his way to Flor and stood next to her.

  “It appears I’m too late to have the prime seat for escape. That being the one which you have chosen.”

  “My apologies. I didn’t realize it was so desired,” she said.

  “I jest. I have not seen you here before. Have you come from the city?”

  “That’s right. I’m Flor,” she said, offering her hand.

  “Maximin Lluc.”

  “I’m here with Lord Lazare.”

  “Ah, yes, I had heard that his brother and sister-in-law were not in attendance, which seems such a shame. You came with one other scribe, as well?”

  “Yes. Well, cleric aspirant. She will remain in the chapel.”

  “Perhaps I’ll seek her out later. Look, here come the Lords and Ladies.”

  “Do you know them all?”

  “By both name and reputation, as I have grown up among many of them. There is Lady Blaanid, the Lord for the Peoples. As you are a subject from the city, she will probably seek you out to talk later. And Lord Monste, Lord of Messengers, followed by my sister, Lady Lluc, of provisions. I’d hedge my bets that we won’t see the Captain of the Guard or the Lord of the Dungeons tonight.”

  “Why do you think that is the case?”

  “Lord Ona rarely ventures from the dungeons and Captain Iolanda often dines with the guard.”

  Flor said, “Who’s left, then?”

  “The Lord Brothers Neus, of Stewards and Wardrobes, the Marshall, the Lord Meritxell, and the Lady Oriol.”

  “There are certainly several more Lords and Ladies than I expected here.”

  “This keep acts as the final fallback location if the King ever needed to withdraw from the mainland, and therefore is staffed as such. Look, here is the Lord Chamberlain, which means the rest should follow soon.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Several other spots at their table had filled in, and the hall filled with a general cacophony. Flor saw Lord Lazare discussing something with Lord Monste and Lady Lluc at the table. The remaining seats filled in, and a hush fell on the crowd.

  Lord Neus came in and announced, “The Lady Oriol.”

  Flor was surprised at how young the lady seemed. As the only one announced, this must be the Lord Necromancer, as called, but Flor was generally confused. Maybe the Lord Necromancer was an alternative name for the Lord Chamberlain, who looked more skeletal by far than the lady. It would be a good question that she could ask Lazare since she didn’t desire to call attention to her ignorance so blatantly.

  The Lady Oriol took the dais, turned, and sat in the chair, almost looking ill at ease. But the quiet remained in the Hall. A moment passed and she stood again, then said, “Lords and Ladies, guests and servants, welcome to Bacton. I am pleased that you will join me at this feast, and I welcome you to see Lord Francesc with us today. We have received a dispatch from the mainland. A force from Esolia has routed our attacking force on the battlefield and forced them back to the Fragile Gap. As those of you who understand geography know, the gap should be defensible for some time. However, it is with fear that we expect the Esolians to form a treaty with the Ugairovellians, which would devastate us. While I’m certain this will not lead to the activation of Bacton Keep, we must continue to prepare for that eventuality.

  “That said, it is not upon us to postpone this feast in observance of the Remembrance of Saint Valeria. Júlia Maria, the benediction.”

  The Lady Oriol sat on her throne, and the Cleric stood from the Lord and Ladies’ table.

  “The Goddess looks down upon us all and provides her blessings. Saint Valeria displayed a wide pleasure of music, for which we are grateful to the Goddess for providing. At my Lady’s request, however, we will postpone the true observance of the music until the feasting has concluded. Saint Valeria…”

  Flor wasn’t overly interested in what Saint Valeria had done, so she pulled her notifications to see if Sparks had made any progress. Two messages were waiting.

  Sparks – Flor: Three cats so far. At least one of the clerics here is concerned about some grumbling from the servants’ quarter.

  Sparks – Flor: I followed up a bit and it seems that there is often excessive noise from the dungeons, but there aren’t any known prisoners there. That matches our expectations.

  Flor – Sparks: I’m at the feast. The Cleric 4 is discoursing on Saint Valeria. This hall seems busy and I haven’t gotten a good idea how we’ll clear it to access the table.

  Sparks – Flor: I’ll see if I can access the dungeon.

  Flor – Sparks: Be careful. The Lord of the Dungeon has not come down this way so it might be manned.

  Flor came out of her chat and noticed that lids had been removed from the foods. Maximin leaned over and said, “It almost looked like you fell asleep during that benediction.” Flor merely shrugged, then accepted as Maximin handed her a plate loaded with meat and greens. “Stewed mutton. It’s all the rage among the lords these days.” He also passed her a mug of wine. “Prost!”

  She clinked his mug, took a swig, and dug into the mutton.

  “So, Flor, what do you think of the Bacton Keep?”

  “I’m a bit surprised. There are those in the city who, I’m embarrassed to admit, refer to a Lord Necromancer running roughshod over the Keep. But it seems pleasantly lacking in the undead, if you ask me,” she replied between bites.

  “Oh, that name is accurate for the Lady Oriol. I cannot give the story justice, but she was so named for pulling the King from near death during a dungeon encounter when they were younger. It’s fallen out of favor to refer to her as that, but I don’t think she would hold it against someone who called her that with reverence.”

  “I apologize. I didn’t mean to bring that topic up,” said Flor. “I don’t know what’s come across me. I feel unusually tired.”

  “A heavy meal after travel will do that. Take it slow on that wine.”

  Flor noticed several others around the table had slowed their conversations.

  You feel drowsy! You are poisoned!

  Oh, no!

  Flor placed her head on the table and fell thoroughly asleep.

  Flor thought that she was being dragged down a stair hallway. Her eyes resisted opening. She tried to open her chat to warn Sparks.

  Your chat is disabled

  She tried to call out, but no sound came from her lips. She fought her eyes open, but she couldn’t keep them open. She blinked and grunted, trying to fight against being pulled along.