Tales of Kephaream - Scales and Petals

2 Toast at a Banquet

Keris adjusted the collar of his robes and looked around the room to find where Daliah was seated. He didn't mind these types of social gatherings, in fact, he quite enjoyed banquets, but today was a little different.

Jeltea took a seat beside him at the large table with other court officials.

"I don't think I've ever seen you so agitated at a banquet before." She remarked

He'd found Daliah seated on the other side of the room next to some Ne'pharii Lord and he was already displeased simply with the fact Ne'pharii were known to be charmers and Daliah couldn't resist a good flirt.

He rested his head on his hand and tapped the table irritatedly as he watched them talk.

When he saw the lord whisper something to him he gritted his teeth so hard that Jeltea looked up at him.

"That's it..." He murmured as he wanted to get up but Jeltea stopped him.

"You can't leave until after the toast, you know that."

He grumbled something in agreement and sat back down keeping an eye on Daliah. The lord was getting a little bit too comfortable around him he thought and as the man brought a piece of bread to his mouth Keris got an idea.

"Furzah..." He whispered as he lifted a finger from the table for a second.

The piece of bread caught on fire for a split second burning the lord's fingers but disappeared before he actually realised what just happened. He cried out in surprise and looked around. He may not have known what just happened, but Daliah did, and he glanced across the room to find Keris sitting at the table in his luxurious court robes with an especially irritated expression on his face. He grinned at the sight.

Someone is jealous.

Jeltea looked at Keris and moved in to say something to him, gently touching his thigh under the table.

"You need to calm down a little, you look like a child throwing a tantrum right now." She chuckled.

Keris angrily moved her hand away, not noticing the trickling flames sparking from his hand, and shook his head before composing himself.

"I'm not interested... Let's hope they get this over with quickly, I have work to do..."

He glanced back at Daliah and saw him slowly getting up with a serious look on his face.

He knew that look, and it rarely meant someone would get out unharmed.

He sighed and motioned a circle in front of his mouth with his finger.

"Sit your ass back down, now. I'll collect you as soon they get this toast over with." He spoke quietly to not draw attention.

"You shouldn't just throw magic around like that. Dragon or not, it makes us look cheap." Jeltea looked sour and he wasn't sure if she meant it or was just offended he rejected her.

"You should thank me, I think I just saved your life." He leaned back in his seat watching Daliah sit down, ignoring Jeltea for the rest of the event.

--

After the toast, when everyone started the feast and move about the room to great each other, Keris thought it time to get up. He made his way through the crowd, greeting a couple of nobles or other important people. He slowly made his way over to Daliah, who was still being showered with flirtatious behaviour from the Lord. As he approached them he held out his hand to greet the man but as they shook hands Daliah could hear the soft sizzling of burning flesh.