191 Golden Ballroom.
Thud! Arad walked out of the carriage, glaring at the large mansion facing them. The crescent moon sent a ray of light down across the iron bares of the out walls.
Jack helped Lydia down and looked toward the mansion. “Look! People are gathering at the door.”
Past the iron gate and the garden laid the mansion’s front gate where a butler stood, the faint light coming from the door illuminating the entrance. People gave him their invitations, and he called a maid to guide them inside.
Arad approached the iron gate with everyone remaining a fair distance behind him. Opening his palm, he slowly pushed it open. ^Loci, keep the whole place under your eyes and ears. Inform me of everything.^
The butler saw them from the door and bowed. “Please approach. This is the way,” He pointed with his arm at the door, keeping his other arm tucked to his chest.
Arad approached the bulter, walking through the garden with a smile. He reached into his pocket to pull the letter of invitation.
“No need for that, sir Arad.” The butler smiled, “And that’s Lady Mira behind you. I won’t miss the honor guests.”
“Honor guests?” Arad looked at the butler, confused. Thud! Mira patted his shoulder. “We’re the ones who found the elder tree. It was written on the letter that they are honored to have us attend.”
“So that’s what it meant.” Arad stared back at Mira with a smile.
The moment they stepped inside the mansion, they felt a warm gust of air as they stared down the golden hallway. Several guests were standing at the side and chatting.
“I hate the air around here,” Lydia looked around. She wasn’t feeling at ease. “You aren’t used to it.” Jack smiled, patting her back.
“I indeed feel more at ease staying out in crusades and quests,” Lydia replied with a smile.
Aella looked at their side, and the butler is guiding them. “Shouldn’t you be standing at the door?”
“Guiding the honor guests takes priority. Another person will greet the guests.” The butler replied, and Lyla stared at him with a confused face. “Stop joking. There are more important people than us in the mansion, aren’t they?”
The butler smiled. “Of course, but it isn’t my job to tend to them. I was ordered to await you at the gate.”
Thud! CLACK! The butler stooped by a large double-sided door. “This is the ballroom. Please stay close to me. It isn’t that large, but you could get lost.” He pushed the door open, and everyone was greeted with a four by four rooms wide area filled with tables, food, and people talking.
For a moment, everyone stopped talking and looked at the door. Their eyes stopped at the large man standing in the front. Since the butler stood by his side, it was clear he was an important person.
“Who is that man?”
“Which family he comes from?”
“I never heard of someone like him, is he a knight of some sort?”
“No, look at everyone behind him. He can’t be a normal knight.”
“It’s rare to see a man with only women behind him.”
^What?^ Arad got confused listening to their words, ^Jack is here beside me…^ Jack had disappeared and Lydia is leaning on Aella. ^Don’t tell me, he’s trapping the whole place.^
Arad’s eyes darted across the room, searching for Jack but couldn’t find him. ^Mom, can you see him?^
[He’s in the back at the drinks.]
Arad looked to see Jack weave between the talking guests, starting and ending conversations in a smooth way to blend in as he approached the drink table. DRIP! He pulled a small bottle from his wrist and put a single drop in half of the glasses.
He then took two glasses, one poisoned and one not, and snuck into a conversation. Offering the poisoned drinks to the guests white drinking safe ones.
^Is he poisoning them?^ Arad gasped, but Jack soon approached him with a drink as well. “Want a drink?”
“What did you put in it?” Arad took the poisoned glass and glared at it.
Jack smiled, “Concentrated holy water made by Lydia. It will burn like acid in their throat. The mosquitos I mean. Normal people will find the drink easier to swallow.”
Arad took a sip, feeling his throat burn and causing him to cough. Jack started laughing, “You aren’t used to heavy drinks, are you? Did it go down the wrong pipe?” He started smacking Arad’s back.
“Don’t hit him. Give him some water.” An old man with fancy red and golden clothes, gray hair, and a short beard poured Arad a glass of water.
“Thanks,” Arad took the glass and drank it to wash the holy water down. Jack glared at the man, “I feel like I saw you somewhere.”
The man giggled, “No, I’m just a small noble from the West.”
Jack scratched his head. “I traveled a lot. I might have seen you there. What do you do?”
“I work in transporting goods. I was the one moving the wood to the city.” The old man smiled, lifting his head up. “Nice to meet you,” Arad extended his hand, and the man shook it firmly.
“I’m honored to meet you.” The old man smiled, clenching his fist harder on Arad’s palm, “Dragon slayer Arad.”
“You know me?” Arad glared at the man.
~This man is lying. Esmeray’s men transported the wood and I never saw him enter the city.~
Arad looked at Jack, “You stay with the girls and make sure no idiot approaches them.” He then looked at the old man, “Let’s talk over there.”
***
“My lady, care to have a drink?” A young nobleman approached Aella, “I never seen you around. Are you an ambassador of the elvish kingdom?” He bowed gently, extending his hand and offering her a drink.
“AH! Thank you!” Jack clenched his fist on the man’s palm with a smile, pulling his hand up and gulping the glass down without allowing him to let go.
“GAH! Oh, man!” Jack glared at the confused nobleman’s face, “You know elves can’t eat meat or drink some drinks.” He pulled the man away, “Excuse us, miss.”
“What are you doing?” The nobleman glared at Jack with a furious face.
“Listen, friends, you almost fucked up.” Jack looked at the nobleman with a relieved face. “Please don’t offer her any more drinks without knowing what she can and cannot drink. You will end up causing us another skirmish with the elves.” He then whispered in the nobleman’s ear, “It’s between us, but you could lose your head.”
The noble took a deep breath, “And you are?”
“An agent trying to make sure what happened a month earlier doesn’t happen again. Or I might lose my head as well.” Jack made a stern face.
The nobleman remembered the last conflict with elves, he didn’t want himself or his family mixed in any of that. “Thanks, and sorry for the trouble.” He turned around and went away.