Snippet #1304115

The banquet was pleasant for the first few minutes. Varnh merely sat back, sampling the dishes and watching the conversations. There was a great deal of tension, and more than a few dangerous-looking people. Varnh had the unpleasant feeling that this whole gathering of high nobility was going to end in a great conflagration of blood and death. It was unfortunate, really, and it certainly wasn't his sort of fight. He could only hope to be able to direct the worst of it away from himself.

The princess addressed him partway into the meal. He responded, "You misunderstand. I'm not bored, merely taking in the sights. Thank you for your consideration." He didn't need to address her further, as her attention was split among many sources. She was handling herself rather well, all things included.

Chaos struck as the banquet was wearing on. Poison, or Varnh was an insipid pup. The entire royal family, including the cousin. Varnh took the princess' exit as his own cue to leave, and slipped out amidst the confusion. He walked briskly back to his own room. This trip was going to be far more problematic than he ever would have guessed. He flopped onto the bed and went over what he had seen of the conversations of suitors and royal family members, filing away details and trying to unravel the web of intrigue which was surely backing the more overt actions at the feast tonight.