金瓶梅第2部

Coraline needed to eat.

Often when she was working, she'd forget and end up passing out while reviewing documents or checking inventory. She always wondered if she'd overwork herself one sun and wake up dead.

That's how poor Roland died. Poor, sweet Roland...

"Beighhhh..."

She planted her face onto her pillow, searching desperately for the motivation to change out of her traveling outfit...

...which was a pain, because she also had absolutely no one to impress.

Also, she didn't own anything that even closely resembled a dinner gown. Everything nice she had, she'd sold off to reduce her carry weight and to help fund her travel.

She'd change her tunic and put on a skirt, at least. She owed it to herself to eat a decent meal in clean clothing.

...

Stepping out into the hallway, Captain Nikandros was making his way back towards both her and the dining hall.

The Captain of the Golden Eagle was a tall and slightly plump older man with a rough shave. His ears were slightly pointed, suggesting Elven blood. As the Windwright's Guild ran primarily on nepotism, a half-elf was nothing to be surprised about.

Tottering behind him was the Popoto couple she'd seen earlier, dressed in proper dinner attire, if very slightly worn and old-fashioned.

Coraline was slightly shorter than an average elf-- just shy of five fulms, but the elderly couple stood a little over three. Popotoes were a unique people, small and naturally cute, with bronze skin and button noses. They also tended to produce scholars and master Magicians... though for the latter, Coraline didn't sense any hint of Circle-Mastery from either.

"Ah, Miss Coraline, I presume," Nikandros waved casually. "I'd like to introduce you to Master Giorgio Castiglioni and his wife, Mistress Lucrezia."

"Oh, hello," Coraline did her best to grab onto her skirt and curtsy, trying not to look like an uncultured commoner.

"Ah! Thank you, thank you, young lady!" The gentleman Popoto smiled, his tiny cheeks puffed out like a frog's.

"I'm so terribly sorry, Miss Coraline. You'll have to excuse my dear husband."

Lady Lucrezia returned the curtsy-- far more gracefully than Coraline thought she had, herself. She then stood on the tips of her toes, a hand cupped over her mouth, "He can't handle his wine like he used to."

Her gown was gorgeous, with tiny roses folded into the dark, lustrous fabric... and she had the cutest pair of matching gloves. Designer clothing, for sure... Alizeaun, with a Tyrion flair.

"You must BOTH forgive me!" Giorgio chuckled, stroking his neatly trimmed silver beard, "This is our second honeymoon, you see. And wine is a MUST for a celeBRATION and MERRI-ment!!"

"Giorgio!" Lucrezia clicked her tongue and placed her hands on her hips, "You're embarrassing yourself."

Judging by the woman's subtle smirk, she wasn't actually all that angry.

"But... but you still love me, all the same. Don't you, Lucrezia?" The older man pouted.

"Oh, Giorgio, what am I going to do with you?" Lucrezia shot Coraline a look of helplessness, "Come now, Miss Coraline. I might need your help if Giorgio can't make it up the steps."

The short-statured woman reached her gloved hand up, reminiscent of how a human child would seek to grab an adult's hand before crossing a heavy-trafficked road.

Against Coraline's better judgment, she took the Popoto's hand and allowed herself to be guided. Giorgio doddered 'merrily' on Lucrezia's opposite side, and swinging his wife's arm back and forth.

It had been years since Coraline felt anything that resembled the warmth of a family. She'd gone through a string of boyfriends while adventuring in Tyrion and Alizeau-- though none of them seemed to be able to stand her for long.

Maybe this was the trouble she had been fearing? That she'd be taught to love again by an affectionate elderly couple celebrating their second honeymoon.

She sensed movement behind her... unheard and unseen, but felt.

Turning back, she saw the Ancient appear at the end of the hallway, silent as a ghost. There was magic in that man... though not a Circle-Caster. He almost certainly belonged to the Ranger class-- or a martial class with similar deadly potential.

He inclined his head towards her almost imperceptibly in acknowledgment.

According to the boarding list, the Ancient's name was Arod of House Selavel... or in the common tongue, House Highblade. It was a well known High Elven House in Alizeau, full of politicians, high-rank military officers, and even a member of the Council. Lord Arod wore an ornately patterned cloak over pristine leather armor, his wealth and status obvious even to commoners like herself.

Curiously, jutting out from behind his cloak... were the hilts of two swords.

But weapons weren't allowed on-board the Golden Eagle?

"Lord Highblade, just in time," Nikandros waved. "The kitchens are preparing a special vegetarian meal, as you've requested."

"(You have my thanks, Nikandros,)" Arod replied in Elven.

" I just pray that our meager services do not insult you."

"(A simple meal is all I require, Sky-Captain. If my priority was luxury, I would not board a ship that deigned to carry commonfolk.)"

"Ahaha..." Nikandros laughed politely, though his expression had grown somewhat strained. "Of course, Sir. I will do what I can to ensure a safe and pleasant passage."

...

Guided by Lucrezia's hand, Coraline entered the dining hall... at which time, she hastily memorized its layout. It was a simple room with a large receiving entrance, a hallway exit with arrows directing towards the chamber pots, and what was likely the door to the kitchens.

She was no longer an adventurer... and it was incredibly unlikely that she would need to escape in haste... but she always mapped out a room's dynamics in her head.

If she didn't, she'd be overwhelmed by paranoid delusions until she did.

The dining hall was populated by nearly everyone on the Golden Eagle... and they occupied less than a third of the space allotted.

The green-haired young master was seated beside his cheek-scarred companion. Coraline didn't want to sit anywhere near the argumentative noble... There were too few passengers for it to be helped.

Still... Coraline was determined to enjoy herself at any cost.