Play@YSDC

Duc's Palace, Hallway - Vyones, Auvergne, France
5:35 PM - Monday, April 20, 1517

Jacques strode purposefully towards Elizabeth and Diego. "Miss Elizabeth, Don Diego, I'm so pleased to have found you both. There are some, ah, matters I wanted to explore with you both. And your other friends if you can find them." He says this in a slightly over-loud voice, hoping the unknowing will just assume he is slightly drunk. Jacques gives the guard a polite nod.

"It is good to see you, Chevalier," said the guard. "We were just talking about horses."

"Indeed," said Diego.

Despite himself, Jacques laughs easily. "There's much I could say about that for the rest of the day with ease, and bore you all besides! But I fear my horse is the one who rules me, not I him, so perhaps I am no expert at all. Have you both met him? He is down in the Duc's stables terrifying the stable lads."

"I have not, Chevalier," said the guard. "I have been at my post all day, but I have heard people talking about him."

"I did see him earlier," said Diego. "Truly a fearsome mount! I ride an Arabian horse myself."

“Oh, an Arabian, how beautiful!” Elizabeth‘a eyes light up. I would love to see the horses at some point- Chevalier, you said you needed a word with us. Is it a secret?” She laughs somewhat theatrically

"Arabian horses are the best," said Diego. "One good thing about the Moorish invasion of Spain and Portugal is that they brought plenty of Arabians with them, and they left without many of them."

Jacques nods agreeably. "I have seen many beautiful Arabians. A most excellent breed."

He looks over at the guard. "Ah, sergeant, I had returned briefly to my rooms then I just discovered the staircase that led me back here. The chateaux is truly magnificent and vast." Jacques indicates the direction he has just come from. "I notice that staircase goes up as well as down, pray tell, what lies at the very top of the stairs?"

Elizabeth turns to look at the guard, awaiting his answer and wondering what Jaques has discovered.

"That stairway leads to another tower with a suite of rooms," said the guard. "It's like the one up the stairway that I'm guarding, but it is for guests, not for prisoners. Currently the Comte d'Erlette and his wife and daughter are staying there."

This is France and over a thousand years later, but we can go with that.

“And what’s up your staircase, Sergeant? Something exciting? Do you have to stop people going up- or coming down?” Elizabeth asks.

"As I said, the tower up these stairs is for prisoners, those of noble birth, Below are the dungeons, for those...less noble. Nobody is in either at the moment. I really don't know why they have me guarding them, seeing as they're empty. Could be they're afraid a certain miscreant will secrete something in the dungeon in the event he ends up there later, or that he'll steal some of the decorations in the tower."

“Oh really?” Elizabeth raises her eyebrows at Jaques.

Jacques gives a grunt of amusement. "You have a good sense of humour, Sergeant. I think you would be an easy companion to while away hours on the battlements with." He continues as though this is all just a light-hearted conversation. "But tell me, besides us, have you actually seen any strange people wandering about this corridor today?"

"Only some of the guests," said the guard. "Nobody who didn't belong here."

“What about that person in the hooded black cloak who just sneaked past while we were chatting?” Elizabeth asks.
“I’ve never seen anyone walk so stealthily.”

"What?!" said the guard, looking around. "Where?!"

Jacques keeps a straight face but his eyebrows go to slightly as he listens to Elizabeth.

“Well he’s gone now. He ran up the steps.” Elizabeth says, also with a straight face.

"How could he have?" said the guard, frowning. "I've been standing in front of them the whole time. I would have seen him."

Anyone may roll Fast Talk.

Jacques grins at the man and gives him a good natured clap on the shoulder. "These ladies from foreign parts have a wicked sense of humour themselves. I believe Miss Elizabeth may be pulling your leg, Sergeant."

Jacques looks back at Elizabeth, eyebrows raised.

The guard relaxed and laughed heartily. "A good jest, Mademoiselle," he said. "You had me going there for a minute."

From the direction of the armory, a servant raced down the hall and approached. "We need some chains from the dungeon," he said, out of breath.

“You are a credit to your duty, Sergeant. I wish the guards home in Narnia were as diligent”-

Elizabeth breaks off as the servant runs up.
“Chains in the dungeon, that sounds ominous!”

Jacques looks back towards the armoury. "What's amiss?"

"The strangers, they want the chains to bind up a suit of armor!" said the servant incredulously. "Perhaps they are mad, in which case we'll still need the chains for them."

"D'accord, go get them," said the guard, stepping aside. "I shall accompany you to the armory when you return." The servant hurried past him and down the stairs.

"Miss Elisabeth, Don Diego, perhaps we might head to the armoury, and make sure no one is doing anything that might cause the Duc annoyance? We don't want the celebrations to be ruined, if we can help it." Jacques starts leading the way back to the armoury.

“Absolutely, Chevalier. Whatever we can do to help. Le Duc has enough on his plate as it is!” Elizabeth exclaims.

Elizabeth follows Jaques to the armoury.
“Are you coming, Diego?” She asks.

"But of course," said Diego, bringing up the rear.

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