In the Blade's Hilt |A tale from Triterra|

Chapter 28 - Royal Hospitality

Blue awoke to something leathery rubbing his face.  He opened his eyes slowly to see Bahg repeatedly licking his face.  Bahg gave a happy yelp and hopped down onto the floor.  Blue looked around.  He was lying in an ornate four poster bed filled with cushions.  There were fancy paintings on the walls and a fire crackled in a  finely carved marble fireplace.  Blue pushed aside the soft covers and got out of the bed.  He looked into a wall mounted mirror.  A boy wearing nothing but a fraying grey shirt and brown trousers stared back.  He glanced over at the opposite wall. His coat was hung on a fancy coat rack, along with his sword and its scabbard.  His boots sat on the floor.  He smiled as he put them on.

There was a knock on the door.

"Wh... Who is it?" he answered weakly.  His mouth was dry.

The door opened and a servant stepped through.  She was dressed in a grey and white dress.  In her hand she held a jug of water.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, "Master Blue is awake!"

"Um, I guess?" replied a hesitant Blue.

"Would you like some water, kind sir?"

"Definitely"

She poured some water into a silver goblet that was sitting on a hardwood dresser.  She the set the jug down and presented Blue with his drink.  He accepted it and drank it all in one gulp.

"I imagine you would like to reunite with your companions?" asked the serving girl.  He nodded.

"Right this way"

The hallway was buzzing with activity.  Servants, guards, butlers and footmen darted from room to room, walk along the hallways and gossiped in small groups.  Blue managed to hear snippets of information from some of the groups.

"...Giant skeleton...."

"....floor is destroyed...."

"....he just passed out...."

"Please don't get distracted, Master Blue.  We are nearly there" spoke the servant girl.

They journeyed on through seemingly endless corridors and hallways until at last, they came to a large door flanked by two members of the Royal Guard.  Their finely crafted royal-blue armor shimmered in the light.  The servant pushed through the door and ushered Blue through.  Beyond the doorway was a large dining room.  Grand tapestries decorated the walls.  Golden chandeliers cast a warm light upon the beautiful room.  Sitting at a large hardwood table were several people Blue could just about remember, eating dinner.  Jenna was sawing at her steak with a knife and fork, Ty picked at his food, the king was in deep conversation with another woman (Blue assumed she was his wife) and Marianna was looking straight at him. 

"Blue!" she cried, "You're back!"  Blue smiled sheepishly.

"Ah, Blue.  You are awake!  Come, I imagine you have much to tell us."