Lordling Parcel remained in the foyer with the Servant Branch and the Servant of Glasbin origins.

Daniel had discouraged the first opening salvo of civil war from starting in front of his door during an important luncheon. The luncheon was in slightly less danger, but now Daniel was in immediate risk.

Like a duel, Parcel and Daniel eyed each other. Lordling Parcel. Dark hair, piercing blue eyes, bronze skin. If not for the slouch and the way his shoulder's hunched, he looked every inch the once great rising star of the Sky Court.

And the Lordling had the advantage. “What kind of servant runs his mouth like that?” Parcel said, his tone cutting like glass "What should a Lordling do, to one who presumes to know better?"

Daniel found it was getting harder to act out with the binding. He had done wrong, and he knew it. The Law of Fae knew it too. The Game would give him latitude, but the Game was mostly still slumbering, waiting and watching for when to begin. "This Servant's zeal for all guests of the O'Tells overcame him, and he offered unneeded advice for removing mud and plant stains from garments."

"No, you don't get to hide behind being a Servant." Parcel cast muting magic. Nicely done, the runes were sharp and focused. Too focused, in Daniel's opinion, because the harsh lines were almost counterpoint to the intention of the spell, but that was probably a difference in how they were educated than any failing of Parcel. Daniel would memorize this to use later, when he had more magic. If he could get the signature close enough, it should be different enough from Daniel's own style to use as a camouflage. He could still hear the noise of the room around him, but he also felt it, that the sound inside the radius of the magic was being captured. It was not perfect, but it was still preferable than having a conversation in the open.

Suddenly, much of the constrictions lifted. It was a private conversation, and Servants had more freedom there.

"Now, Servant Branch, tell me, how should I handle you? The Law of Fae attends us this hour, and one of us overstepped."

Daniel saw his only hope was to receive a loss in a duel. Something physical. He did not wish to owe a long standing favor, no matter how small, to Lordling Parcel. Depending on whose authority Lordling Parcel came to attend this luncheon, Daniel desired to owe nothing that the Surmount Butler or the Sky Court could receive and manipulate. He would have to antagonize the resulting conversation, pushing to a un-peaceful resolution.

"Why was a Lordling of the Sky Court trying to interfere with the politics of the Mist Court, the Wizards, and the O'Tells?" Daniel asked back. "This Servant humbly counters that he acted in the best interest of his House, no matter how temporarily."

The Glasbin Fae, standing at the other door, mouth hanging open like a fish, face entirely bloodless. Had the tapered eared fae suffered an apoplexy? The other hall attendants leaned toward them, but it was clear that they could not hear anything. The Glasbin fae no doubt wished that he could not hear the conversation unfolding before him.

Lordling Parcel grinned, dangerously. "When did a Servant gain the authority to dare presuppose the machinations of his betters?"

"When did a Lordling seek to initiate a fight between Lords?" Daniel countered again. If he could just have the stone continue to skip long enough....if he could explain to the Law of Fae that the Servant Branch was in the right...

Parcel sighed, like Daniel was a stupid child who argued that Promises could be broken with no repercussions. Ridiculous and foolish.

"All words aside, the Servant Branch overstepped and spoke out of turn. Punishment is in order."

For his part, the Glasbin fae looked anywhere else. It was clear this was his worse case scenario. Of course, Daniel realized. Branch and Glasbin were an Attendant Partners...if Daniel was punished, the punishment may extend to the Glasbin fae as well. Partners' shared rewards and trial. It was almost enough for Daniel to pity him. Almost.

"Furthermore, the Servant Branch strained an already strained relationship between myself and my cadre." Parcel added. "The other members already distance themselves from me, no doubt an attempt to reach greater heights."

"You think your friends dislike you?" Daniel asked.

"My cadre is a far cry from yours. We aren't friends. Friends fail. Friends lie. Friends steal. Lordlings do not enjoy those simple pleasures, they are taken from us. Friends betray each other, use each other, and leave. Look what happened to you. Where are your friends now?"

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Daniel could not counter.

Lordling Parcel continued speaking, “Do you think that you’re the same as you used to be, Elswith? That you dare to speak and act like that? You are a far cry from where you once stood; you have lost everything.”

Breathe, Daniel told himself, the tension tight. Lord Fredar couldn't hit him, the difference in power too great. But a Lordling could more easily go through the protections offered to servants, simply because the power difference was lesser. And Servant Branch had to a certain extent, invited it. Lordling Parcel could in fact provide a vivid education in form of repayment to address the wrong doing. It was still better, it would defang Lordling Parcel, and the Surmount Butler would have to try again another day to start conflict between the courts. Besides, it would still look bad on Lordling Parcel if he beat the Servant Branch.

Daniel just needed to keep up the pressure.

"This humble Servant is grateful to have such fine examples of failure to follow in their footsteps." He said, his words like ice.

Lordling Parcel looked as if he had been slapped.

Lordling Parcel clearly hadn’t anticipated Daniel's retort. What stung worse was that the Law of Fae said truth and seconded Daniel's statement. Even the Law of Fae felt that that Lordling Parcel was in many ways the epitome of failure for Lordlings; from raising star to disappointment and embarrassment of his Court.

Daniel bit his tongue. He had not intended to wade into that.

Even Glasbin looked horrified. "That was a burn." The servant muttered under his breath.

"A Lordling out of favor with his court is a far cry from a Servant abandoned by everyone." Lordling Parcel said, voice low. "No matter how lowly, a Lordling has more significance than a servant."

"Does a Lordling have more significance than a Servant in the middle of the Game. A Capital G game. My actions will determine the outcome directly." Daniel said.

Lordling Parcel touched his side, where his sword no doubt normally rested.

The air of danger swirled around them. The other servants could not hear, but they were adapt at facial cues to know intrinsically that violence may spring forth.

"A Game centered around a Servant who is destined to lose."

"I beg to disagree, sir." Daniel said, feeling determination fill him. It was as if, in that moment, the Red Sword was in his grasps once again. He almost wondered, if he were to look down, would he see the hilt in his hands?

"Your partner clearly fears and despises you; hatred is written in his face. The Surmount Butler acts against you; he will press forward without ceasing until you find yourself with no where to run. The Sky Court seeks to destroy you; Lord Fredar was merely the first wave to reach you."

Daniel straightened his shoulders, and said with the ghost of presence that was heritage of any Heirling. “This Servant beat you before during a duel. One may be tempted to make it a challenge this time." Beatings were no fun, but as long as Daniel managed to keep the violence to Duel style, he would be back up on his feet in time to let out the guests after dessert was served.

Regarding his handling with Lordling Parcel, he would have acted the same regardless of where he encountered the Sky Court’s least motivated Lordling. Perhaps escalating matters into a fight was not wise, but the Game would protect Daniel to a certain extent, and he was desperate to avoid becoming indebted to the Sky Court, while also succeeding in his Hall Attendant duties, and if not succeed, then at least not fail.

This would take care of both factors. A quick duel, lose, then back to work.

The Fae Light danced in Lordling Parcel's eyes, repayment in mind, beginning to speak with poetic rhythmic voice. "Know this and punishment be...the Servant Branch must duel..." But Lordling Parcel stopped and turned to the massive entrance door.

A final guest arrived before the opening hour passed. There was a moment of trouble outside at the entrance door

Daniel heard muffled complaints come from outside. Whoever had arrived had arrived without carriage or mount at all. That limited a very small pool of suspects to very few indeed. The Door Keeper standing watch outside raised his voice. “You can’t come in! You do not have an invitation!”

"Oh no." Daniel found himself muttering.

"It can't be. I thought he was still out in the Rural places." Lordling Parcel said, equally pained.

More muttering, but becoming clearer as if the speaker was drawing nearer to the large, somber heavy stone doors.

The Door Keeper spoke again. "Sir, even then, if your name isn’t on the list you cannot enter."

"Not him." Parcel said, running his hand over his hair with worry. "He has no respect for the Law of Fae, the game, or anything at all."

"Do you remember when he was challenged to a duel for honor, and he just shrugged and walked away. He left the glove on the ground." Daniel conspired, finding himself worried that the situation was spinning out of control. He and Parcel had a good argument going, nearly resolved. But if that person entered...

"Did you hear about the sword festival that went on for three days longer than it should? It was because that lunatic completely disregarded the hunt, ignoring centuries of tradition." Parcel snapped back, with a grimace. "Three days longer. He played cards. For hours. How could the youth find the hidden places when the Mage decides he's done for the day and goes back to camp to take a nap?"

"He played cards with you too?" Daniel asked, surprised.

"All the time. Whenever there is official duty between my Court and the Magic Alliance, it falls on me to be his guide. He never goes without the pack of cards."

"Did you ever play the one where you had the card on your forehead?"

"That is not as bad as 'Go Fish'. There were no fish. What was the point?"

The Lordling and the former Lordling both grimaced when the voice grew loud enough to be heard clearly from inside the foyer. “I’m a flippin’ Mage." the muffled voice yelled. "This is a gathering for the Magic Alliance. Put the pieces together."

"It is him." Parcel said, horrified.

"Esra, the Great Gravity Mage." Daniel said.

Or his other title.

The Game Killer.