Luncheon
"Yes, whilst I am entirely sure your dearest Deru desires your company in a room other than our kitchen; I shall offer the invitation regardless," said Paitur as he contemplated the wrath of his daughter had he turned Deru away.
"I am entirely unwilling to trouble you for this," Deru said as his eyes turned pleadingly to Okita's broad smile, where he found no salvation. Sighing he continued, "Though if you insist it is no inconvenience, I shall join you for luncheon." Okita released her father's arm and took her lover's hand, as she led him into the building. Turning to see the look of annoyance on her father's face, she mocked him with a frown before ushering Deru forward.
'If only Lerin were here to wait upon that damnable boy,' thought Paitur longingly; but he knew his wife wouldn't be home for another day. Resigned, he strode through the side entrance of the house, and into the kitchen.
He paused briefly to consider the calibre of meal he was to prepare. As much as he disliked Deru, he didn't desire to insult the boy; nor was he willing to waste his finest ingredients. After a moment of contemplation, he concluded that as his daughter and he were going to be consuming the same meal, he might as well opt for an inoffensive salad.
"Will he want wine with it?" he shouted to Okita, and was surprised to see her observing him from the kitchen door. She looked back to the dining room where Deru was seated and nodded to her father, before joining Deru at the table. On the choice of wine, Paitur was in no dilemma. He'd be sunbathing on Comporelleon before he'd open the blue '34 for Deru. No, the red '56 would do nicely, though he doubted the boy would even notice with Okita beside him.
He served the salad, and opened the wine before seating himself. An uneasy silence was punctuated sporadically by brief comments of approval, before Paitur decided to take the initiative.
"I wonder, Deru; do you know the rationale behind the Duchess' request of my presence?" he asked politely. Deru shrugged as he finished sipping from his glass.
"I do not know the particular... details of the situation in which Duchess Armandai has want of your audience," Deru admitted somewhat reservedly. Paitur's interest was piqued.
"Then you know at least the vague reasoning, the outline of the cause?" he queried again. Deru was shifting in his seat uncomfortably; he didn't like to gossip.
"She seems to want your services for an expedition," Deru admitted.
"An expedition? To where?"
"I didn't hear the conversation between her and my father too well sir... Though I am sure a planet named Ilesara, or possibly Iletala, was mentioned. Do you know it?" said Deru. Paitur thought upon the name for a moment, thinking of the possible world's Armandai could have meant.
"No, I don't think I do," Paitur said shaking his head. "I don't think I do..."
"Yes, whilst I am entirely sure your dearest Deru desires your company in a room other than our kitchen; I shall offer the invitation regardless," said Paitur as he contemplated the wrath of his daughter had he turned Deru away.
"I am entirely unwilling to trouble you for this," Deru said as his eyes turned pleadingly to Okita's broad smile, where he found no salvation. Sighing he continued, "Though if you insist it is no inconvenience, I shall join you for luncheon." Okita released her father's arm and took her lover's hand, as she led him into the building. Turning to see the look of annoyance on her father's face, she mocked him with a frown before ushering Deru forward.
'If only Lerin were here to wait upon that damnable boy,' thought Paitur longingly; but he knew his wife wouldn't be home for another day. Resigned, he strode through the side entrance of the house, and into the kitchen.
He paused briefly to consider the calibre of meal he was to prepare. As much as he disliked Deru, he didn't desire to insult the boy; nor was he willing to waste his finest ingredients. After a moment of contemplation, he concluded that as his daughter and he were going to be consuming the same meal, he might as well opt for an inoffensive salad.
"Will he want wine with it?" he shouted to Okita, and was surprised to see her observing him from the kitchen door. She looked back to the dining room where Deru was seated and nodded to her father, before joining Deru at the table. On the choice of wine, Paitur was in no dilemma. He'd be sunbathing on Comporelleon before he'd open the blue '34 for Deru. No, the red '56 would do nicely, though he doubted the boy would even notice with Okita beside him.
He served the salad, and opened the wine before seating himself. An uneasy silence was punctuated sporadically by brief comments of approval, before Paitur decided to take the initiative.
"I wonder, Deru; do you know the rationale behind the Duchess' request of my presence?" he asked politely. Deru shrugged as he finished sipping from his glass.
"I do not know the particular... details of the situation in which Duchess Armandai has want of your audience," Deru admitted somewhat reservedly. Paitur's interest was piqued.
"Then you know at least the vague reasoning, the outline of the cause?" he queried again. Deru was shifting in his seat uncomfortably; he didn't like to gossip.
"She seems to want your services for an expedition," Deru admitted.
"An expedition? To where?"
"I didn't hear the conversation between her and my father too well sir... Though I am sure a planet named Ilesara, or possibly Iletala, was mentioned. Do you know it?" said Deru. Paitur thought upon the name for a moment, thinking of the possible world's Armandai could have meant.
"No, I don't think I do," Paitur said shaking his head. "I don't think I do..."