Chapter 28: Dramatic Entrance
Harrian had kept his gaze fixed on the scenery passing by the coach on the trip to the government district and only tuned into the conversation at random points, not looking at anyone. This was mostly because Jaheira was sitting across from him and he didn't trust himself to meet her eyes without saying something stupid.
He got the gist of the conversations, even though he was only half-listening and didn't join in. Anomen's sister had done them another favour with this coach, taking advantage of their father's frequent states of inebriation. Harrian made a mental note to thank her for everything she'd done.
But before they knew it, then were pulling up the long, gravel pathway leading to Duchinov's expansive estate. Corias picked out a handful of other coaches either there or arriving at the same time they were. It was half seven, but the ball seemed already in full swing. Their dramatic arrival might yet be possible.
The coach came to a halt, and Anomen was the first to leap out the door, ignoring the attempt of the footmen to come and open it for them. He had been most fortunate in procuring the coach, but did not wish to delay them for any longer than possible. The less time they were missing from his estate, the better. The party could walk home, and if the night went successfully, they would be fleeing in any case.
Minsc tumbled out next, and to the cleric's despair, Boo poked his head from out of the ranger's breast pocket. Anomen frowned. "I thought you were instructed to leave the rodent back at the inn?" he demanded irritably.
"Boo is too small to be left on his own for an evening!" Minsc insisted desperately, before turning to face the massive building ahead of them. As Delryn watched, he raised the hamster to head level and murmured something incoherent to him.
Yoshimo sprung sprightly from the carriage, stumbling a little as he landed, then straightened up and grinned broadly at Anomen. There was a slightly conspiratorial look about him which Delryn really didn't like. "This is to be a good night, is it not, my friend?" the bounty hunter declared happily, then headed off to join Minsc without waiting for a reply.
Haer'Dalis was next, looking euphoric at the potential the night had. The only one with any business to attend to was Jaheira, and with his part done for the evening, the tiefling felt he had earned a chance to enjoy the party.
"Squire Anomen, you do not need to hold the door open like some lackey!" the bard assured him, and the cleric pulled away with the tiefling just in time to allow the coach's door to almost slam shut in Harrian's face.
The thief stopped it, then glared at Delryn's apologetic expression. He climbed down, straightened his clothes, then turned just as Jaheira was beginning to emerge. The dress, whilst extravagant, did not permit much freedom of movement, and it was clearly not pleasing the half-elf particularly.
Anomen was already offering her a hand as Harrian glowered at him, and the cleric decided that hurrying off was a better course of action. Corias grinned to himself, then extended his own hand to offer the druid assistance.
Jaheira gave him her own glare, then landed on the ground quite comfortably by herself. "I do not need to be pampered this evening," she hissed between gritted teeth. Harrian smiled a little, sure that the mood had been brought about by the situation they were in and happy in the knowledge that the following morning all should be well.
"I am simply following protocol, my lady," he assured her, stepping into pace with her. "Certain points of etiquette must be observed, lest we draw attention to ourselves." Harrian paused a moment, before extending his arm towards her. "One is that a lady must not come to such events unaccompanied."
Although it went against her better judgement, she accepted it with the first smile since this disastrous evening had started. He was right, after all… it wouldn't do well for her to appear solo at this ball. Decorum had to be observed.
As they all approached the doors, Haer'Dalis came to a halt. "Wait a moment," the tiefling murmured, and the others looked at him questioningly. "We cannot enter like this." He fixed his gaze on Jaheira and Harrian. "It would not do, as you know, for the lady Jaheira here to enter unaccompanied. But as it is, it appears as if she is being escorted by a servant."
Harrian paused, frowning, then gave the bard a blank look as he came up clueless. "What?" he decided with finally.
"Your clothes do you no justice, my raven," the tiefling continued casually, but the furrow of his brow made it clear he was doing some solid thinking. "You look little more than a serf in that attire."
Corias glared at Anomen evilly. "You said that this was perfectly acceptable!" he practically screeched at the cleric angrily.
"It was the best I could manage with your abhorrence of most of the accessories in today's fashions!" Delryn retorted defensively. "That is a perfectly acceptable garb when you are by yourself, but standing next to the lady you appear as nothing more than a dishevelled servant."
Harrian muttered something along the lines of 'bastard' under his breath, then glowered at Haer'Dalis. "Very well, bard, what, pray, do you suggest that we do? How does your expert mind propose we arrive?" he demanded mockingly.
The tiefling shrugged. "On the arm of someone she cannot be mistaken to be attached to, whilst they are not appearing as some lowly lackey," he said quietly, his brow furrowed, then turned towards Minsc.
Anomen caught the glance, and shook his head. "Duchinov will recognise me. He would probably go out of his way to undermine the Delryn's by whisking away the lady his rival's son has appeared at the ball with. It might even be a productive move?" His reward was another glare from Harrian, and the cleric winced. "Lady Jaheira?"
She strode forwards and grabbed his arm. "Anything that shall get this evening finished sooner," she assured him, and they started forwards towards the door, leaving a bewildered Yoshimo, a confident Haer'Dalis, an indifferent Minsc and an angry Harrian in their wake.
Corias, deciding that, if he was going to look like a flunky he'd act like a flunky, hurried to the front as the guard at the entrance stopped them, and pulled the invitation scroll from his inside pocket – the one on the other side from the throwing knives.
The guard read it, and glanced up at Anomen. Deciding all was well, the man – who was wearing a suit of armour far too shiny for such an occasion, with a halberd that looked as if it had never been used before – turned and lead them into the main hallway of the house.
The ballroom was large, and there were over two hundred people, all in garish costumes and extravagant clothing. Harrian considered it a wonder that their arrival was even acknowledged as the guard lead them in, then boomed in an unnecessarily loud and deep voice: "The party of Lord Anomen Delryn!" by way of presentation.
A few heads turned that way, taking in the bizarre sight they had to present, but it was the mark of the oily-good breeding to be unfazed by anything, even a group as atypical as this one, so the glances were short.
Corias paused, taking in a deep breath, then turned to the others. "Well," he said quietly, his brow furrowed. "We're here."