Eventually the time came for Analin’s audience. The portly earl in front of him finished getting the answer to his question about how many male children in particular they were going to have and wondered off. Analin had been zoned out throughout the entire process and only noticed it was his turn when he could sense no one else’s back in front of him.
Snapping back into reality Analin smiled wide as he looked into Becky and Farkek’s marginally less joyful gazes. ‘Cousins’ he cried out as he waved exuberantly. Usually Analin would of been greeting them with the rituals reserved for family, but until the carpet was finished rolling/growing no one but the lucky couple could stand on it(lucky as in quite literally as the first two days after a wedding the two individuals had strangely good luck) and so he settled for the exuberant waving instead.
’Analin it is great to see you’ Becky smiled back - albeit strained. Farkek had no such reservations and boomed out with the timbre of a much fatter man ‘It is great to meet you auspicious cousin. It is nice for our too great families to join’.
’Indeed’ Analin replied back simply, a bit surprised by how thick the foreign prince was laying it on. ‘I’m just here to ask my three question and I’ll be away’. Analin decided to keep his eyes locked on Farkek’s cheerful own to avoid the glare his cousin Becky was giving him.
’Of course of course’ Farkek answered while subtly bumping his displeased wife. Analin couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in response, the man displaying himself to be more aware then Analin had first thought.
’My first question of course is-if you were to have a son- are you planning to name it after me’ Farkek smile widened until it was far open in shock. His eyes were wide and his eyebrows comically raised as he started down at me, surprised and confused at the ridiculous question I had asked him. Becky jabbed him viciously with her elbow causing him to start coughing aggressively in the direction of Analin’s blank face.
Becky smiled back cordially at Analin before answering ‘We do not currently have any names in mind for a baby although we will keep Analin in mind. Right Farkek’ Becky elbowed her still coughing husband in his side and he shook his head in affirmation. Analin waited for the coughing to taper off before continuing ‘what is the meaning of life?’ Analin asked again fighting down the turning corners of his mouth. He gazed off into the distance in speculation, doing his best to impersonate a scholar.
This time it was Farkek who answered-clearing his throat before he did so ‘I suppose it would be to find fulfilment in whichever way pleases you’ Analin nodded in response once again smilling. ‘And finally, Becky, if you would be so willing, could I perhaps borrow your husband for a game of cards some day after this has all finished’ Analin said gesturing to the ballrooms interior. ‘Of course cousin. I’m sure you will have a good time getting to know one another’ This time Becky’s smile was less strained. Analin cast a large shadow in the royal court and if he approved on something, it was usually an indication that many others caught in it would do the same.
Analin moved away graciously to let the perplexed lord and lady behind him ask their three. Most people asked questions relating to their livelihoods. For example Duke Silas may ask if Silk exports to the distant kingdom would increase as the two royalties grew closer. For those of less social standing there was the almost predetermined questions to ask: Would you like any kids, wheres the honeymoon and how did you meet-although the answer to the last question was bound to be the same as every other noble marriage in date, they met when they were forced to.
Those of a higher station however, were allowed to be much more ignorant of the rules. The rich duke could politely ask about business and the irresponsible prince could ask anything he pleased-although the smarter ones didn’t. That’s why Analin felt comfortable wasting his three questions as he pleased and why he walked away from the couple, content with his results.
The young prince eyed the seven people in the crowd he still needed to talk to and slid away to meet them. One was at the very end of the line so he went there first to see a large man with a very large cloak. He walked to the burly noble and shook his callused hand swiftly. ‘Barnabaeus it’s good to see you out and about old friend. Analin pulled away his hand not slowly but before he did so sent the eight coins hidden all around his sleeve flowing down his arm and into the hidden pocket of the nobles cloak. There were was a brief flash of greed from the otherwise dull mans that lit his face with a vigorous glimmer. ‘I hope to hear more about your recent finds whenever you can spare me the time, they always say a beast is not a beast unless it’s been slain by a master hunter’. The old master grunted and Analin grinned devilishly as he spun away. The woman in front of the hunter turned inquisitively before calling on Analin’s name. ‘But prince Analin’ she called curiously ‘what do they call a beast the great master hunters can’t kill?’ Analin stopped still and started ahead motionless. ‘Well that’s simple’ he replied before turning to look at the unexpected interruption. ‘They call it myth.’ Analin strolled away unbothered by the sinister smile on Barnabeaus’ face. The woman he left behind smiled back at him much less readily then before.
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The next six targets weren’t of the most importance and Analin found himself glossing by with a simple smile and a handshake. A reminder of which member of the royal family they interacted with the most and who were the more friendly. They weren’t the most interesting men. But between them they were responsible for the continuation of the kingdom.
Analin shook the last hand he needed to and stayed for a brief conversation about the tide of late with the adventures lord. He was captain of few ships and yet as long as Analin had been following had been pressuring some Lords to build up there own larger voyagers to push him out of business. There were often people like these in a kingdom. The recent Lords and Ladies to the industries and the poor family houses that had suddenly gained much improved management. In a large empire like Shanlax these people were less rarer then anywhere else on perhaps the planet. These were the people Analin like to keep an eye on. It was mush easier to gain loyalty from those who you had helped thrive and befriend simply put of your own good will then those who had already been thriving in the power of those who came before you.
Analin swerved his way through the thin crowd with ease and engaged in simple conversation whenever he felt searching eyes come to rest on him. A life in court had prepared him to know when someone was sizing him up for conversation, the same life showing him the easiest way to avoid it was to start fleeting conversation with someone unprepared for it. Analin finally weaved his way to the outskirts of the crowd and created a quick kneading of a not small group of virtrusion royals once he was there. He slipped into the illusory ground as they walked toward one of the secondary exits of the ballroom. He opened the doors with a split kneading of magic and ran out ahead of the fake group of masked Lorda and Ladies in a crouch. He darted into the first servants passageway he saw and released the hold he had on his kneading when he was through. Virtrusion nobles were always masked in official court meetings and even in weddings stuck to this practise. They were often the easiest way to walk straight out the doors of formal engagements as the few people who saw the crowd exit had no idea who the members of that supposed coded where, or even why they were leaving. As the construct drifted apart around the corner out of noble view the two guards Analin had ran passed closed the doors wordlessly-the two sliver the prince had tossed either of them weighing light in their pockets.
Analin loosened his top button as he stole through the servants passageways of the place. He followed the grey sigil on the walls at each turn as he made his way to his required destination. There was one more person on the list Analin was seeing tonight, and he couldn’t be found in a ballroom. Analin finally reached his destination and pressed his ear up against the thick door of the guards common room once he had arrived. With a little sift of his hearing Analin could hear the murmuring voices of a game play up on his earlobe. Analin face sprung back into his easy smile like elastic and he swung open the door with the hint of mischief on his features. Slithering through the gap once it was wide enough. Before the caption and his men could even blink Analin was sat amongst them, hands out in mock surprise as his money clattered into the substantial pile. ‘Aren’t you going to deal me in?’
The captain stiffened up, a statue, his lips struggling to grind open from their chilled posts. ‘Now, look Pr-’
Analin simply laughed in reply to the captains startled mutterings. ‘I’m not going to tell on you just because it’s a royal wedding ‘O good captain. Otherwise I’d loose the option of stealing money from the only bums in the palace stupid enough to play with me’.
Shicks shuddered to the left of me remembering the last game we’d all played together. The other two mens grim expressions reflecting the last pot of taken home before. ‘I’ll deal him in captain, but only if he promises not to leave us destitute’. ‘But my dear Shicks’ Analin replied playfully. ‘If I don’t take your money from you some woman down at the docks will, and I feel the bond we have together is so much more special’. The men laughed and their game do ruined on with Analin as an added member. Analin’s father would of never of tolerated the men slacking off at an event like this, but that’s why Analin’s father wasn’t friends with the captain of his city guard.