The Fall of House Pancrazio Chapter One

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Miss Phebe," Harold says with a stiff bow of the head when his employer's daughter comes out of her room. "Shall we go downstairs now? Your family's guests have arrived, and there is probably some food being served." Again, he offers the young woman his arm, and tries to smile. It's not easy; Harold doesn't smile so well these days.

[JMaytr]

Harold does a double take, looking at the opening dressing room door. It was closed now, as if it hadn't opened at all.

A few moments later Phebe exits her room changed for the party. Phebe gives Harold a down turned glance but does take his arm, her other arm clutched tightly to her bear.

In the Kitchen-

Tristan and Tuke share a steel flask between them. Mariabella is taking the meal out of the oven. As Agna enters it is obvious the girl appears anxious. She seems to relax being in the company of the other servants.

Mariabella takes the empty coffee pot from Agna and gives her a new, freshly brewed one.

"Good child. Now go inform Emilio that the main course is ready."

The cook hands Agna a small plump tangerine, a delicacy in Borca. She then hands Tuke and Tristan their plates of food; their own private rebelion against the nobles-eating first.

"May Ezra bless this meal and may no poisons remain." Mariabella says the traditional Borcan dinner prayer.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Well, miss Phebe," Harold says as he guides his employer's daughter downstairs. "Shall we go and present you to the family and guests first, or would you like to go to the kitchen and find something nice to eat? Which would you like best? Talking to the pretty people, or getting some food?"

[JMaytr]

Phebe grunts a few monotoned words of gibberish. She follows Harold as always, walking to wherever he leads her.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"The kitchen it is, then, miss Phebe," Harold says, gently patting Phebe's hand. "It's been a long day, and breakfast was quite a while ago. Maybe you'll feel better with some food in you. Madame Luisa's was such a shock to everyone, wasn't it...? I could use a drink myself."

[JMaytr]

As Harold and Miss Phebe enter the kitchen Mariabella stiffens and moves away from the pair. She has however, left a plate of food for Harold, something she didn't often do.

[ewancummins]

Tristan accepts the plate with a smile.
''Thank you, Mirabella, it smells delicious!''

Seeing Harold and Phebe enter, he says,

''Hello Miss Phebe. Harold, would you like a nip of this?''

He offers the flask to the older man.

[Griselda]

At the mention of returning to the dining room she just escaped, Agna becomes clearly rattled again. She says, "I don't think Master Roderigo wishes me out in the dining room right now."

Ramping the volume just a bit to get Mariabella's attention, but not enough to go beyond the stove: "Not with Master Lothario there at the moment."

[Irving the Meek]

Tuke looks over at Agna with an appalled look on his face. "Lothario took notice of you?" The little fool swallows hard as Tristan's glorious liquor sticks in his throat. Those exotic eyes and dark skin of hers.... oh, Ezra save the child. She's just the sort of plaything Lothario would love to break.

[JMaytr]

Mariabella almost looks angry for a moment. "Fine, I will go tell Emilio. Begin preparing the dishes." The woman leaves but not before shooting Phebe a glance.

Miss Phebe looks at the food Agna prepares with an almost fearful look in her eyes.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Wait a moment, miss Mariabella," Harold says, holding up a hand to hopefully make the woman wait. "Please sit down, miss Phebe," the older man urges his charge, setting her down on his spot at the table. "Take the weight off of your feet, do. Tristan, would you please keep an eye on the lady for me? I will go in and tell the young master Pancrazio that the main course is waiting on his guests. I trust no one expects me to be bothered as the young lady might be."

Provided Mariabella allows herself to be delayed, Harold limps into the dining room and seeks out Roderigo to announce the readiness of the main course.

[ewancummins]

Tristan nods in assent to Harold's request. He then joins Phebe at the table.

''Miss Phebe, I've brought you a little present. I made it myself. It's not as pretty as some of your other things, but maybe you'll like it, just the same.''

He reaches into his coat and retrieves a rectangular object about the size of his hand. He sets it down on the table in front of Phebe.

The object is a book. It appears quite crudely made, and certainly wouldn't sell for much. Its covers are thin slabs of slightly warped wood, and the pages are made from scraps of old parchment. The binding is made with heavy loops of rawhide. Inside the book, Tristan has glued several pressed and dried flowers, a different one on each page. Below the flowers, he's written their names in ink: V-I-O-L-E-T, R-O-S-E, etc.

While Phebe looks at her present, Tristan turns to address his fellow servants.

''Is there some trouble?''

[RocEter]

As the heavy rain subsides, Jullian sighs a breath of relief and looks down at his warhorse, patting him gently on the neck he says "We almost there, old friend." He continues to ride to the manor being ever watchful of his surroundings with his one good eye. As he approaches the manor gates, he pauses for a moment, taking in the view of the manor and the grounds.
He thinks to himself " It has been a long time." As he approaches the gate he dismounts and walks his horse to the stables. He takes the time to remove the saddles and barding from his horse and begins brushing its hair with set combs given to him by his father. After he prepares a feed bag and again pats his horse gently.

"Nothing but the finest." He says with a smile.

Jullian gathers his belongings, making adjustments to his cloak, and frees his sword arm. He makes his way to front doors of the manor and knocks on the door.

[JMaytr]

The front door to Casa Pancrazio opens and a man of about 80 stands in the door way

It is Emilio Silverworth

"Ah Master Jullian! It was been such a long time! It is a shame you missed the services, Your Grand Aunt would have approved. Come in, come in! Your Uncle Roderigo is having a business reception. His guests are in the dining hall. I shall make your grandfathers room available for you."

Emilio stands aside and lets Jullian enter the mansion.

[Irving the Meek]

"Lothario is going to be... an issue. He's the sort of man who like to play with girls - and he breaks his playthings." He sighs deeply. "Master Roderigo's in a bind. We can all see it - the family's running out of money, and fast. I know Roderigo wants to do the right thing - he's a good man - but he's going to be in a blind alley soon."

He looks at Tristan grimly.

"We need to keep Agna safe until this party is over. And do it in a way that doesn't anger Lothario." The little fool sighs deeply. "I'm not sure what's going to become of this family. We can only hope that opportunity knocks for the Pancazio family."

At that precise moment, the sound of Jullian's heavy knock on the front door booms through the hallways.

Tuke bows his head and smiles ruefully. As ever, the bard finds himself haunted by dramatic timing.