Howl's Moving Castle - State With Kings

Chapter 5: Bejewled Knives and Revelations

Chapter 6: Bejeweled Knives and Revelations

(Immediately following the last sentence of Chapter 5)

"Will you not introduce your guests?" the man at the end of the table asked with only a hint of condescension in his voice.

The Prince uttered a sound like a bit back sigh and slowly rose back to his feet. Then, seemingly composing himself, put on a well-mannered face complete with tranquil smile.

"Of course, sir," he began. "Dearest Sophie, may I present my father, the King of-", but Sophie heard no more of his speech. She let out a long, silent breath as the King's gaze fixed upon her. Her mind fogged over briefly.

The King! Of course, it had been likely that the man sitting at the head of the table in a palace would be the master, but Sophie felt herself paling at the thought of sitting so close to such an important man.

As the Prince droned on introducing the many women around the table, Sophie's consciousness had only room for the shock she had just received. She quickly snuck a glance at the King before returning her gaze to a spot on the wall across from where she sat.

From the quick look Sophie assessed that the King was middle-aged, fit, and not half as frightening as he might have been. While listening to the Prince's eloquent introductions, the King wore a countenance of severity tempered with benevolence.

Sophie relaxed her shoulders and returned her attention to the Prince just in time to be properly introduced to the ethereal lady at her side.

"The last of my fair cousins, Jocelyn," he said and walked to where the fine lady sat and proceeded to kiss her hand in the gentleman's style.

Jocelyn smiled radiantly at her cousin and then turned to look at Sophie.

"I am very pleased to meet you, Miss Hatter," Jocelyn said, and her voice, though lower than Sophie had imagined it to be, was the sweetest Sophie had ever heard. "We have heard so much about you," Jocelyn added.

Sophie puzzled a moment over Jocelyn's last comment. How could a beautiful lady like Jocelyn hear about a plain little mouse like herself? It was probably due to the fact that the Prince and Jocelyn seemed to have a close relationship. Sophie couldn't recall the Prince hopping out of his seat to take the hand of any of his other cousins. Naturally the Prince would have discussed his dinner plans with his favorite cousin. But from the way that Jocelyn had sparkled such familiarity down on her, Sophie suspected that she had been discussed more than she wished to be.

"It-it's a pleasure to meet you too," Sophie answered with a shaky smile.

This seemed very agreeable to Jocelyn, who then turned to the King and said, "Dear Uncle, can we not now start our excellent meal? Our guests are now most properly announced and settled."

This also seemed the right thing to say as the King broke out into a very amiable smile and stood up from his grand seat at the table.

"Of course, dearest niece. Chef," he called and then clapped his hands.

The room was suddenly filled to the brim with servants rushing about with stacks of food on silver trays while a great, stocky man in the middle of the commotion gesticulated widely as if to communicate to the King and his guests the utmost care he had put into the assortment of food they saw before them.