OOC: Sorry no post until now. It's been a hectic day.
Several hours pass, and no matter how hard you try, the afternoon heat finally gets the best of you and you doze off, having read and re-read the same page a half dozen times. You sleep dreamlessly, and awake to the sound of soft knocking at your door. Sumutra calls, "Father Grimwald, dinner is ready and I am here to take you to the banquet hall."
Moments later, Sumutra opens the great, ornate doors to the banquet hall that Kija showed you earlier. Inside, Shivethi, two other Ransoori men, and a young woman you've not met sit at the table, which is heavily laden with many wonderful smelling dishes. Shivethi stands, extending a hand in greeting. "Father Grimwald! Please, come in and join us. I trust you have rested after your journey?"
Sumutra pulls your chair out for you, and once you are seated, retreats back to a small alcove near the main doors. Shivethi, still standing, says, "Please, allow me to introduce you to some friends." Pointing to the man nearest you, Shivethi says, "This is Qasood, First Minister of Trade." Qasood stands, and bows in the Ransoori manner. "And this, " he indicates the other man, "Is Pajanti, my Captain of the Guard here at the enclave." Pajanti stands and bows, then sits again.
Finally, he turns to look at the young human woman. "This is Aya, first mate on the Crimson Wind, the ship we use to ferry cargo and passengers between here and our homeland. We felt it best to include someone from Farszya in the crew as a gesture of good will." He smiles, "But do not try to extract that secret from her. She has sworn an oath to keep that a secret for now. And now, let's eat! Father Grimwald, as is the custom of our people, as the guest in our house, you must select the first dish to be sampled. Maybe we'll get lucky and you'll choose dessert first!" Shivethi and the others laugh as he sits down in his chair.
