Oohhhh he knew that look in Elanna’s eyes. Usually, it meant that she was about to do something sneaky. Usually. And it was the kind of good sneaky! Not bad sneaky. Because she’d never tried to kill him, murder him for money, or stick a knife between his ribs for fun, you know? Call him crazy, but he was partial to staying stabby hole free. To say nothing of bleeding on the tapestries and the floor… the furniture! The palace staff would never let him go anywhere without them then.
Ugh.
Alastair nodded emphatically. Seneschal. Not feeling well. Retiring to chambers for the day. Nothing to be concerned about. Be firm! Be forceful! Like a King! No disturbances. Need rest. No. Disturbances. He was going to have to repeat himself a lot there, he had a feeling. Stern voice, like when the Knight-Commander came down from on high. Got it. Then secret passage—
Secret passage?!
He clapped a hand over his mouth and barely managed to keep from shouting that out loud.
Alright, alright, this was the plan and he had to focus! He reached out to pull her into another hug, if she was willing. This was going to be great! Wait, don’t get ahead of himself, he had to get out of the palace first. So… it would make sense for them to bid each other farewell and all of that pleasant nonsense, right? He thought so. Keep casual. Speak of meeting her again in the next few days or something if they had time. That was good. Okay, good. He was busy busy busy, and that was… busy. Yes, busy!
The headache wasn’t feigned but he exaggerated it a little, alright a lot, when he went and found his seneschal. Alastair did what Elanna told him, citing that he had a terrible headache and required a damp cloth for his eyes and as little light as possible in his room. The fussing began, and when the staff began tittering and whispering, he hissed at them to stay quiet. Please. He used please because that was polite and he wasn’t really keen on yelling or berating them. That wasn’t nice. He asked them for quiet, then he told his seneschal that he required as much silence as he could. No disturbances. N-O-N-E. No. banging. on. Doors. No asking him through said doors if he was well. His head was hurting and he just wanted quiet and rest. Oh and something to drink.
And cheese.
He laid down with the wet cloth over his head and waited for them to all leave. And they did! Alastair even overheard the Seneschal telling the guards and such that he was not to be disturbed. He was going to have to get Elanna another castle or another herd of horses or something. When he reached the count of five hundred (having almost fallen asleep just waiting), he got up as quietly as he could and changed out of his clothes. He… arranged them and the blankets so that anyone that decided to not listen and peek in would see something there still that resembled him… if he fluffed up the pillow there and bunched up the blankets there, there, and there…? Good enough. He left his shoes next to the bed, going to put on plainer clothes of browns and greys. Travel clothes ought to work…?
He drank his drink. He scarfed down the cheese.
It took some searching, and then he had to not make any noise himself, which made figuring out how to open the secret passage even more difficult. In the end, it wound up being a recessed piece of the wall near the bottom of the painting of Calenhad he simply had to push. A ‘click’ sounded and he made a furtive look at the door. No one came bursting in accusing him of being sneaky so he breathed out in relief. The passage way was musty and it smelled kind of damp in places, but it wasn't like there were people moving up and down here to keep it obsessively clean.
He made it out with absolutely no fanfare. Alastair grinned after poking his head out to make sure that the way was clear. It was! Behind him too. No shouts or alarm or clanging metal of weapons and armour. Now, where was Elanna…??
Ugh.
Alastair nodded emphatically. Seneschal. Not feeling well. Retiring to chambers for the day. Nothing to be concerned about. Be firm! Be forceful! Like a King! No disturbances. Need rest. No. Disturbances. He was going to have to repeat himself a lot there, he had a feeling. Stern voice, like when the Knight-Commander came down from on high. Got it. Then secret passage—
Secret passage?!
He clapped a hand over his mouth and barely managed to keep from shouting that out loud.
Secret passage?!he whispered, very very deliberately not looking around even though every instinct he had screamed at him to march to the nearest staff member and give them a good talking to. He grumbled, eyeing the tapestries around them suspiciously.
You mean all this time I could’ve gotten out on my own? I owe you a castle or a herd of horses or something.Yes. Something!
I’ll check as soon as I’m back.He’d tear apart the whole damn room if he had to! Secret passage!! The nerve of keeping that from him! It wasn’t like he’d use it to get very far, just outside for some fresh air! Maker’s breath!
Alright, alright, this was the plan and he had to focus! He reached out to pull her into another hug, if she was willing. This was going to be great! Wait, don’t get ahead of himself, he had to get out of the palace first. So… it would make sense for them to bid each other farewell and all of that pleasant nonsense, right? He thought so. Keep casual. Speak of meeting her again in the next few days or something if they had time. That was good. Okay, good. He was busy busy busy, and that was… busy. Yes, busy!
The headache wasn’t feigned but he exaggerated it a little, alright a lot, when he went and found his seneschal. Alastair did what Elanna told him, citing that he had a terrible headache and required a damp cloth for his eyes and as little light as possible in his room. The fussing began, and when the staff began tittering and whispering, he hissed at them to stay quiet. Please. He used please because that was polite and he wasn’t really keen on yelling or berating them. That wasn’t nice. He asked them for quiet, then he told his seneschal that he required as much silence as he could. No disturbances. N-O-N-E. No. banging. on. Doors. No asking him through said doors if he was well. His head was hurting and he just wanted quiet and rest. Oh and something to drink.
And cheese.
He laid down with the wet cloth over his head and waited for them to all leave. And they did! Alastair even overheard the Seneschal telling the guards and such that he was not to be disturbed. He was going to have to get Elanna another castle or another herd of horses or something. When he reached the count of five hundred (having almost fallen asleep just waiting), he got up as quietly as he could and changed out of his clothes. He… arranged them and the blankets so that anyone that decided to not listen and peek in would see something there still that resembled him… if he fluffed up the pillow there and bunched up the blankets there, there, and there…? Good enough. He left his shoes next to the bed, going to put on plainer clothes of browns and greys. Travel clothes ought to work…?
He drank his drink. He scarfed down the cheese.
It took some searching, and then he had to not make any noise himself, which made figuring out how to open the secret passage even more difficult. In the end, it wound up being a recessed piece of the wall near the bottom of the painting of Calenhad he simply had to push. A ‘click’ sounded and he made a furtive look at the door. No one came bursting in accusing him of being sneaky so he breathed out in relief. The passage way was musty and it smelled kind of damp in places, but it wasn't like there were people moving up and down here to keep it obsessively clean.
He made it out with absolutely no fanfare. Alastair grinned after poking his head out to make sure that the way was clear. It was! Behind him too. No shouts or alarm or clanging metal of weapons and armour. Now, where was Elanna…??
03-21-2024, 11:23 AM
