Chapter 1 : The Feast (Part 3)

By now most of the nobles and their parties had finished entering the great hall and were taking their seats around the feast tables. Vasper had decided not to assign seating for the feast; much insight could be gained about the various friendships and alliances between the noble houses by allowing them to make their own decisions about such matters.

There were few surprises; by the time seating had finished many of Vasper’s suspicions about such relationships had been confirmed. He had always had a talent for ferreting out information about people that they might prefer remained hidden.

By the time the festival bell rang to officially commence the Thane’s yearly feast, the leaders of three of the great houses had not yet arrived. Within moments of the bell, all three appeared, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they had not arrived on time. After several minutes of casually sauntering through the hall, stopping at various tables to speak to friends and acquaintances, all three parties took their seats at the heads of the three most prominent tables.

It was a calculated gesture of defiance on the part of the latecomers, meant to demonstrate their disdain for the Thane’s wishes and their refusal to be subject to his will. Vasper was not surprised in the least and had expected something of this sort from them. They were the three most influential nobles of the Thane’s court, and also the three who had first orchestrated his overthrow.

Baron Madray had been the first to enter after the festival bell. He had recently inherited the title from his uncle, the long-standing Baron of House Bertos, who had died under mysterious circumstances. Madray was young, impetuous and rash. He preferred action over diplomacy and once committed to the cause of overthrowing the Thane, had suggested an immediate and pre-emptive attack on the Thane’s estate.

Madray would have loved nothing more than a violent and bloody invasion in which his compatriots might valiantly fall in battle, leaving him to assume the high seat of command after personally taking the Thane’s head for a trophy. Vasper had looked into the young Baron’s heart and knew it was no coincidence that the old Baron had been poisoned soon after his four heirs had met their ends in various but equally suspicious ways. Madray had been the only male left in the line of succession.

The Baron was accompanied by a large entourage of personal friends that consisted mostly of little known lords and ladies from the kind of minor houses that Madray himself had come from before inheriting the barony. They walked with an air of arrogant petulance that reminded Vasper of the sort of schoolyard troublemaker that bullied other children while hiding in the shadow of a larger and meaner sibling. Vasper found it endlessly amusing that Madray still wore that same expression.

Behind Madray came the Lady Vizina, who carried the practiced detachment typical of one of Unver’s most aristocratic families, though she herself was little older than Madray. Vizina had been recently widowed when her significantly older husband, Viscount Gorbadon, had died of lung fever.

It was a curious death for such an affluent individual as Gorbadon; lung fever was rarely so severe and was easily treatable for anyone with enough money to buy the services of a surgeon or mage. There was no question that Gorbadon had had that kind of money.

Vasper knew from experience that a skillful thrust with a small blade of sufficient quality could create the illusion of lung fever. He was also aware that Vizina had secretly trained in the use of such weapons and rarely went anywhere without at least half a dozen tiny daggers hidden somewhere on her person.

Unbeknownst to old Gorbadon, Madray had often shared Vizina’s bed during her marriage. Now that both Madray’s uncle and Vizina’s husband were out of the way, the two had secretly planned to marry, and in doing so unite their two great houses into an even greater house that could rule over all the rest. Vasper had always found noble politics intriguing.

Vizina was accompanied mostly by bodyguards, as was her custom. She had always been somewhat paranoid about her personal safety, but especially now that her numerous male relations were all eager to become the next Viscount. Apart from bodyguards, Vizina brought with her several ladies-in-waiting who doted upon her with the utmost devotion and care (whether real or feigned; an aristocrat cared little so long as the servants did as they were told).

Last to enter the great hall was Count Bey, the oldest and most influential of the three. Apart from the Thane himself, Bey was considered to be the most powerful noble in Serapis. Were the nobles’ plans to succeed, Bey would likely become the next Thane. Vasper had never trusted him.

Bey had been the leader of his house for over 40 years. Indeed, on the surface he appeared to be a wise and venerable leader who exuded morality and noble intent. It was only when one dug deep into the soil of his past that Bey’s dark heart was revealed for what it was. Vasper excelled at such digging.

Vasper had long ago discovered that Bey’s sordid history was no freer of murder and deceit than Madray or Vizina. He had been the firstborn son and heir of Torbal, a cruel and manipulative Count who was much reviled by his contemporaries. At the age of sixteen Bey had decided that he would wait no longer for his inheritance and in one evil night single-handedly murdered his parents, siblings and several of his closer cousins, some of whom were not grown past infancy.

Bey had blamed the entire affair on the faithful manservant who had tended him since infancy. The servant had been publicly tortured to death in front of an audience as part of Bey’s inauguration ceremony and the Count had spent the last four decades burying his past beneath a lifetime of seemingly benevolent rule.

With a minimum of pomp, Bey took his seat, followed by his wife, several close advisors and various soldiers and guards. At the tail end of the group was a darkly robed and hooded individual who acted (unconvincingly) as though he were an indentured servant of some sort. Vasper wasn’t fooled, but he thought it best to play along for the time being.

From the high seat of the great hall, Vasper grinned inwardly.

All the players are set - The game is about to begin.