Chapter 205: Tea and Crumpets (1/2)

”Your Highness,” Janus pleaded desperately. ”Caesar has prepared a welcoming ceremony and State dinner in your honor.” He had tried everything he could to get me to follow him, even the idiot that had been watching from outside the room had become concerned and made an effort to apologize and entice me to leave.

I refused. I refused to be swayed by the growing fear that Janus was radiating. He was a pawn in a game of thrones, and if history was anything to go on, this encounter would spell his doom. The Olympians did not deal well when their plans were stymied.

I had made myself clear, I would only leave the Portal Authority and allow myself to be escorted to Caesar's Palace when I had a detail of guards, led by someone of significant rank or position. I was a visiting Ranked: Princess, and Caesar's obvious insult by sending a messenger as an escort would be answered. I made that obvious when I had Lord Aesin remove a table, chair, dining plates, and utensils from his spatial storage so that those that had accompanied me could sit.

I made a show of being solicitous and concerned with the care of Grandmaster Elba, a Goblin woman as old as time. She maintained the youthful appearance of all Sidhe, but her aura and presence gave those near her the same feeling of awe and wonderment that canyons formed by erosion might cause. Simply being in her presence, one could tell that she had seen much and lived her life fully.

She refused to become obsolete, or fade away, dealing with Seelie and Unseelie bigotries with equal aplomb. She spent the millions of years that she had lived enjoying the joy in creation. Hers was the needle that clothed Monarchs, set fashion trends, and guaranteed a young debutante making her debut in Court would find success.

She was always searching, learning, and creating new techniques and methods that elevated the skills of a simple seamstress to a Masterclass craftsman. Gifted with needle-work, her ability to embroider enchantments into clothing elevated the garments she created from simply clothing to legendary artifacts. She was known as the pre-eminent tailor on Talahm. A designation that she had earned and deserved.

Her artistry with cross-stitch tapestry or embroidered banners was vivid, lifelike, and could stimulate an emotional response from those that had the privilege of owning or seeing a piece publicly displayed. Some of her works were so powerful they had to be displayed beyond an array the protected the audience, an array that shaped and confined the emotions the images evoked.

It took her decades to complete a piece of work. But when you considered she spun, corded, dyed, and imbued the tread she used, as well as the fabric that served as a backdrop, you understood the methodical nature and care she demanded when creating each piece.

Her most famous canvas was entitled 'Sleep'. A piece that depicted the fate of the Tuatha de Danaan as they agreed to be silenced, to enter Sleep so that those Pantheons jealous and fearful of Ragnarok would be satisfied.

Elba was old enough, that she had met and walked with the Gods and Goddesses of the Sidhe. Her brilliance was evident even so long ago. The scene she had created encompassed and radiated with the Divine benevolence that the Pantheon felt as they made the sacrifice to protect those children, flawed that they may be, that comprised the people of Sidhe.

Once I saw her seated, I made a production out of removing a porcelain cup set and a carafe for brewing Unrey. King Teigh had managed to corner the market on this wondrous drink, while there were connoisseurs that treated it with the same respect as tea, rating it by the underlying notes and fragrance that could be detected, roasting and grinding the seed pods in ever-increasing variations, I just enjoyed the taste.

Lord Heph, a world-renown chef shooed me aside to take over the preparation of the beverage. I watched in delight as the table Lord Aesin had placed was loaded down with plates and platters of food, food that he had stored at the exact moment he considered the dish perfected.

Along with the Unrey that he brewed, a brew I had to admit was legions better than anything I might come up with, we dined. Those gathered sat and together we enjoyed a repast fit for the Gods, ignoring the consternation and entreaties from a growing crowd, a crowd that Lord Aesin signaled to our guards to restrain, to keep from entering the room.

Janus had no choice in the face of my intransigence but to contact his superiors, those people had no choice but to contact their superiors, until finally a counselor for Caesar, someone with enough influence and authority to make a decision, was able to act. He sent a phalanx of legionaries to the Portal Authority building, as well as a minor General to act as escort.

I knew I had forced their hand, that an escort was a concession they had not planned for. The presence of the General changed the narrative they had been planning. It was obvious they intended to host a banquet, as a method to humiliate Talahm.

A Ranked: Princess without the wherewithal or knowledge to know enough to understand that her presentation to Caesar was a grand event, and that there were protocols involved that must be followed. Protocols that included escorts, clothing, jewelry, even hairstyle, and makeup should conform to Rome standards. Combined the presentation would set the tone for how the elite would view me, and by extension Talahm.

We would be judged based on the idea of perfection and expectation we had no knowledge of.

And if we failed? If any of those variables were found lacking, it was considered a slight and insult towards Caesar. The poor unfortunate person who had erred, who had not met expectations was considered persona non gratis, beneath contempt, none willing to show pity. They were ostracized by society, their careers ruined.