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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Plane Sailing" data-source="post: 546488" data-attributes="member: 114">The Grand Ball (at last)That evening, Jordan picks up Anne-Marie and takes her by carriage to the ball. Trajan, Dala and Arilyn make their own way there. Trajan had been planning to remove his Jazumai headband for the occasion, but he has a clear sense of divine displeasure when he does so, so he ties it back in place and proceeds proudly to the Ball. Most of their special belongings are left locked in the safe at the inn, and when they arrive at the grand hall they check their weapons with the guards at the entrance and are hardly held up at all while their invitations are inspected. Trajan’s invite is from Countess Naomi as a result of his performance in the tournament, Arilyn has an invite from Grandmaster Ravi from the Guild of Four. Dala is pencilled in as Arilyns escort (much to her disgust, but it is the only way he can be brought into the ball).The main hall is vast, and lit with huge candelabras whose light reflects from thousands of mirrors and golden ornaments. High on the wall portraits of statesmen and nobles from earlier ages look down on them. A butler hands Arilyn a card, and Anne-Marie hurries across to her friend. “These are dance cards… there will be ten dances before the entertainments, and then the final masked ball. This is a chance to mingle with guests and get attractive and influential people to sign up on your dance card - I’m off to start talking with the courtiers across the way there”. She moves off to start speaking to the well dressed men in the noble retinues.“Ain’t gonna be dancin’” Arilyn grumbles to herself.Dala looks on as he sees a number of beautiful young women arrange themselves around Trajan, hanging on his every word and complimenting him on his heroism, his looks, his sense of humour. Dala is feeling a bit annoyed - as one of the most charismatic men in the city who happens to be hanging around with the only person more charismatic than himself. Trajan is trying to extricate himself from the attention of the ladies, recognising the steely glint in the eyes of men who were quite obviously their dates for the evening who keep staring over in his direction.Meanwhile, Dala starts attracting quite a different kind of problem. Several times young men approach him, and after a little conversation “remind” him that the normal meeting place is at the bottom of the west kitchen stairs (with a knowing wink). After a while even the slightly befuddled Dala recognises that these men are attempting to arrange an assignation with him, attracted by his personal magnetism - although why they should be identifying him as a potential date is a mystery...</blockquote>

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