"If it please you." he said, giving a slight nod of his head. Then, shrugging, he added "Old habits." Tevene society might very well fall apart if class and station weren't rigidly maintained and acknowledged. Enzo knew that better than most. Even as a foreigner, her station afforded her the right to decide when formalities might be observed or foregone.
He waited, smiling as she looked over herself one last time and expressed her excitement. As she approached him he held out his arm for her to take and began to steer them toward the door. "Oh, I should hate to wish you bad luck, but I would rather you didn't bankrupt this establishment." he said with a chuckle. "I'm rather fond of it."
They were quickly out the door and into the carriage when Enzo was momentarily surprised at hearing Ophelia's name. Though, the moment passed quickly. They were both at the University of Orlais, after all. That must have been their connection. "And a coward, besides." Enzo nodded, his face darkening somewhat at the memory of the man and the night. "Madam Jolfy was indispensable. We were fortunate to have her help. Did you both meet at the University, then?"
It was not much later when they arrived at the famed Vivazzi Plaza. After they came to a halt, Enzo stepped down, then offered his assistance to Adaria once again. As her feet reached the marbled street, he gestured widely, cane in hand. "Allow me to welcome you to The Blind Eye."
The four story building dominated a respectable portion of the plaza. High at the top, a small dome protected a cracked bell. But the most notable feature of the edifice was the large dragon's head that was carved into the wall above the entrance. As tall as the second floor, the dragon's eyes stood in stark contrast to the stone around them. One was set with black onyx, the other with a gleaming giant pearl. Enzo had never learned how such a large pearl had been acquired. He rather liked not knowing. Such mysteries were part of the charm.
Enzo offered her his arm once again and led her forward. The guards at the door snapped to attention, and an attendant bowed deeply. "Welcome back, Lord Pavus." and without lifting himself back straight, he continued "and Your Highness, it is our greatest honor to welcome Your-" he stopped abruptly as Enzo thumped his cane twice on the ground.
"This fine lady is grateful for The Blind Eye's famed discretion, Almus." He said in a low voice. Almus, bobbed, still bent at the waist and muttered his understanding and apologies as he opened the doors for them. Inside, two more attendants bowed. One offered a tray with two fluted glasses. Enzo handed one to Adaria and then took the other as the second attendant ushered them toward their destination.
"I have a private area reserved. From there, I am happy to show you to whatever form of entertainment might catch your fancy. Anything you wish, you've only to ask."
The private area was walled off on three sides, furnished with plush couches and low tables. The open wall had curtains, currently pulled back, that let through light but obscured forms within. An ornate metal lamp with holes stamped through all around it to allow its light to dapple the space hung above the central table where fruits, cheeses, and other easily picked at foods awaited them. After the attendant bowed again and stepped to a respectful distance, Enzo held his glass out toward Adaria in toast.
"To piercing the veil."
He waited, smiling as she looked over herself one last time and expressed her excitement. As she approached him he held out his arm for her to take and began to steer them toward the door. "Oh, I should hate to wish you bad luck, but I would rather you didn't bankrupt this establishment." he said with a chuckle. "I'm rather fond of it."
They were quickly out the door and into the carriage when Enzo was momentarily surprised at hearing Ophelia's name. Though, the moment passed quickly. They were both at the University of Orlais, after all. That must have been their connection. "And a coward, besides." Enzo nodded, his face darkening somewhat at the memory of the man and the night. "Madam Jolfy was indispensable. We were fortunate to have her help. Did you both meet at the University, then?"
It was not much later when they arrived at the famed Vivazzi Plaza. After they came to a halt, Enzo stepped down, then offered his assistance to Adaria once again. As her feet reached the marbled street, he gestured widely, cane in hand. "Allow me to welcome you to The Blind Eye."
The four story building dominated a respectable portion of the plaza. High at the top, a small dome protected a cracked bell. But the most notable feature of the edifice was the large dragon's head that was carved into the wall above the entrance. As tall as the second floor, the dragon's eyes stood in stark contrast to the stone around them. One was set with black onyx, the other with a gleaming giant pearl. Enzo had never learned how such a large pearl had been acquired. He rather liked not knowing. Such mysteries were part of the charm.
Enzo offered her his arm once again and led her forward. The guards at the door snapped to attention, and an attendant bowed deeply. "Welcome back, Lord Pavus." and without lifting himself back straight, he continued "and Your Highness, it is our greatest honor to welcome Your-" he stopped abruptly as Enzo thumped his cane twice on the ground.
"This fine lady is grateful for The Blind Eye's famed discretion, Almus." He said in a low voice. Almus, bobbed, still bent at the waist and muttered his understanding and apologies as he opened the doors for them. Inside, two more attendants bowed. One offered a tray with two fluted glasses. Enzo handed one to Adaria and then took the other as the second attendant ushered them toward their destination.
"I have a private area reserved. From there, I am happy to show you to whatever form of entertainment might catch your fancy. Anything you wish, you've only to ask."
The private area was walled off on three sides, furnished with plush couches and low tables. The open wall had curtains, currently pulled back, that let through light but obscured forms within. An ornate metal lamp with holes stamped through all around it to allow its light to dapple the space hung above the central table where fruits, cheeses, and other easily picked at foods awaited them. After the attendant bowed again and stepped to a respectful distance, Enzo held his glass out toward Adaria in toast.
"To piercing the veil."
07-26-2024, 04:00 PM
