Snippet #1303612

"Sir," Melissa said to Gabriel. "I only said something because your wine looks blood red. Unless it is some form of wine I have never seen before, I never thought red wine was that hue of red. I apologize for getting all worked up..." Her words faltered as Gabriel's attention turned to the princess and a blind court official whom Melissa recognized as a bodyguard - probably as capable, if not more so than herself in spite of her obvious affliction. Suddenly one of the nobles began to cough up blood. She was drinking the same type of wine the Royal Family drank.
"Your highness, sir!" Melissa gasped. "Your wine!" Melissa resisted the urge to jump up, knock away the wine from the Royal Family, and shove her fingers down the poisoned noblewoman's throat. That was the blind guard's job. Yet before anyone could react, the noblewoman turned and attacked a servant, appearing to bite her like a feral animal. Melissa could have swore the noblewoman actually bit clean through the servant's throat and tried to suck on it before coughing again and passing out. Melissa's instinct was to leap over the table and assist the noblewoman, but again, the blind lady could do that. Melissa's duty was to her master. Fortunately, hers and Alexis' wine was the normal color. Still, Melissa reached into a fold in her shirt and pulled out a flask containing a special potion made by one of her ancestor's brother-in-laws centuries ago that would render her impervious to any known or unknown poison. She took a drop, then sampled hers and Alexis' wine.

Alexis smiled at the twin who addressed him. "Yes, you were with the princess. I know I should say it to the princess, but I do apologize. A little nervous, that's all. My name is Alexis Soliarous. I come from the nation of Sierria; it's on a continent across the sea. Maybe you've heard of it. Anyway..." He was interupted by a loud noise, and turned around to see what it was. He shook his head a bit to clear his vision: he could have sworn there was an entire chorus line of men apologizing for a late entrance. Perhaps some of the performers made use of a hallucinogenic drug too. When he'd recomposed himself, the twin who responded to him was looking at him again. "Sorry about that. Started to freak out there for a little bit."Gods, that was a dumb thing to say. Hope I'm not turning red. Why should I be, the princess is too busy getting drunk. Her brother's offering her another glass. She probably wouldn't notice. But her friends might bad-mouth me more than they probably already have. Recovering himself again, he continued, "Anyway, I never met your aquantince, Ms..."