Penthesilea
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 Warrior Queen, DarkLady, Phoenix, Ghostbuster
Posts: 47422
Location: The Castle.....
Joined: Jun 21 st, 2006
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Re: Penthesilea's Castle... posts 5283 to 5408
Reply #86 - Sep 28th, 2006 at 12:00am
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#5376 Penthesilea
*Penthesilea spent the afternoon holding Court, specifically observing the formalities of receiving foreign delegations from existing states that wished to establish diplomatic relations with the new state of Valcaria. Her fledging diplomatic corps had managed to convey that the Lady Keyholder’s habit of wearing formal suits with pants at these functions in no way was intended to offend. Thus, Penthesilea was spared having to wear the functional equivalent of a ballgown every time she exited her tower -- a situation for which she was pathetically grateful. While the swish of a long skirt was very romantic on the dance floor, it left a great deal to be desired when practical work had to be done! And the Lady Keyholder had plenty of practical work to do. If the business of running a country was exhausting and time consuming, starting one was a hundred times moreso. Things were beginning to take shape -- the people of Castletown were taking the preliminary steps necessary to form a town government and, once Hypatia had requested assistance from her friends in Chandara’s legal community, Valcaria’s fledgling court system was also beginning to take shape. The monetary system was finally settled to everyone’s satisfaction. The coinage followed the international standards for precious metal content and the names of the various coins and their designs had been decided on. The new national Mint, under the supervision of a Dwarven master engraver, was running day and night stamping out the new currency. The Valcarian Knights, under Sir Michael’s command were becoming an elite force whose sole duty was to protect the person of the Keyholder, her family and her Castle and numbered nearly a hundred. Penthesilea was thinking that the knights were going to need more room -- and soon! And then, there were the petty annoyances that came with being a single woman in charge of a country......
Penthesilea was in the Great Hall, mingling with her people and the new foreign envoys that she would be working with when a disturbance in the Entry Hall drew her attention -- and everyone else's. A loud male voice, bellowing crudely, preceded the appearance of its owner. He stopped at the top of the steps to survey the Great Hall, spotted Penthesilea and descended the steps making a beeline for her position. Sir Michael and Cujon, who were both escorting her through her diplomatic rounds, immediately moved closer to her. In response to her discreet signal, they stood ready but did nothing. She wanted to see what the stranger intended first. He was a bit shorter than Kodiak but heavier and not with muscle. He had the noticeable beginnings of a paunch and his dark hair was beginning to recede a bit. His body language was that of an arrogant bully and when he was close enough for her to read his face, the traces of that and gluttonous self-indulgence were apparent. Penthesilea could feel her hackles rise in pure disgust. Michael and Cujon exchanged looks over her head and their course of action was decided. The stranger stopped a few feet in front of Penthesilea and looked her up and down as if she were a naked slave being offered for his use. His eyes almost glowed with ill concealed lust.
Stranger: So. You are Penthesilea. I was expecting someone more impressive. No matter. You will do for the breeding of children. *Penthesilea kept her voice mild even as she seethed. Who did this clown think he was?*
Penthesilea: And you are?
Stranger: Aramac the Mighty, Lord of Zarthana and your future Lord and Master. *A ripple of laughter went through the crowd drawing his irate glare.*
Penthesilea: Never heard of it... or you. And I have a Consort. Your questionable services as a stud are not required.
Aramac: Ignorant cow! Your so called “consort” is an effeminate coward who has failed to teach you your proper place but you will know your place -- and be happy to stay in it -- when I am done with you! *He stepped forward, intending to lay hands on Penthesilea and force her to his will, only to find himself facing the stormy visage of the Lord Marshall. Penthesilea found herself looking at Michael’s impressive back as he smoothly put himself in front of her while Cujon had stepped forward to confront the stranger who had to be a complete idiot.
Cujon: My brother is not here to answer you, so I shall. Turn around and leave. While you can. *Aramac’s honorific really should have been “the Stupid”. His response to Cujon’s command was to take a swing at the Lord Marshall. Cujon caught his fist in midair, stopping it cold. Cujon glared at him with grim amusement in his eyes.* I was hoping you would do that.
*What followed was a very instructive lesson in manners for the unfortunate Aramac as Cujon proceeded to wipe the Great Hall’s stone floor with him. The lesson continued for quite a while since Cujon had been particularly offended on Penthesilea’s behalf. He loved her like a little sister and would tolerate no insult to her. Finally, when Aramac was reduced to a whimpering, bloody wreck on the floor, Cujon stopped the lesson and ordered that the man be taken by air beyond the lands that had declared for Penthesilea and dumped. As guardsmen came to take Aramac away, Cujon crouched beside him.*
Cujon: Don’t come back. If you do, I or my brother will kill you. *Then he stood and stepped back as the guardsmen took Aramac away. Once he had been removed, the Housekeeper ordered the floor cleaned and Penthesilea suggested that they all move out into the Main Courtyard to continue their socializing. As she proceeded out of the Great Hall with her escort, Penthesilea reflected that even an arrogant, self important fool could serve a purpose. Those who had witnessed his lessoning would tell others and those harboring similar ideas would possibly be dissuaded.*
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Penthesilea's Castle... posts 5283 to 5408 (Read 6952 times)
