Alcingeria Chapter Thirty Nine: Reaquainting

Realizing that he hasn't talked to his friends much since they arrived at Queen Yuka's castle, Redmond reacquaints himself with them.

Chapter Thirty Nine Reacquainting: Feeling thirsty, I walked over to the bar. Almost instantly, a young man walked over to me dressed in a black and white tuxedo with a black bowtie.

            “Hello, what would you like?” He asked in a friendly tone.

            “Water would be great, thanks.” I replied.

            “Coming right up.” He replied, grabbing a glass from beneath the counter and filling it up with a basin that was also beneath the counter.

He handed it to me.

            “Thanks.” I said, taking the glass from him.

I took a few swigs of it and eventually finished it. I set the empty mug on the counter. I looked around the room. There were people all over the place. Some were dancing to the band’s music, some were at the bar with me, others played darts and there were people who sat at the tables and played cards. I saw Robert talking to Macalister across the room. I got up and went over to them.

            “Hey Redmond. Enjoying yourself?” Robert asked with a grin.

            “The place is pretty great! It’s got a lot of things to do here.” Macalister said.

            “I know, the place is a lot of fun!” I said enthusiastically.

Robert put a hand on my shoulder and turned me towards the table that Don and Tabatha sat at. The young man Don was playing cards with was gone. Only Tabatha and Don sat at the table now. They sat across from each other. They were about fifteen feet away from us.

            “See that?” Robert asked.

            “What, Don and Tabatha?” I asked.

            “Yes.” Robert replied.

            “What about them?” I asked.

            “I bet Robert that Don would strike out with Tabatha.” Macalister said, holding up his one remaining gold piece.

I laughed at him. After all this time he still had it.

            “You made two mistakes here, Macalister.” I pointed out.

            “What mistakes did I make, Redmond?” Macalister asked.

I chuckled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

            “You underestimated Don, and you underestimated Tabatha.” I told him.

Macalister pondered this for a moment. I turned away from him and faced Tabatha and Don. We were too far away to hear what they were saying. I could see that Tabatha had a playful grin on and that Don was laughing. I grinned. I was happy for both of them. They made a good couple… In an odd way.

            “Redmond!” Stella called from across the room.

I walked over to her.

            “Hey Stella.” I greeted her.

            “Look! Don’t you see that? Don and Tabatha are right over there, and they’re flirting!” Stella said with girlish enthusiasm.

            “Flirting? Really?” I asked, casting a glance at Don and Tabatha.

Stella nodded eagerly.

            “Yes! Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Stella asked.

            “I know. Remember a few weeks ago when they couldn’t even be in the same room as each other?” I asked with a chuckle.

            “They really have come a long way. Any idea who had feelings for who first?” Stella asked.

            “Nope.” I lied.

            “Okay then. Anyway, I think that they’re cute together.” Stella said with more girlish enthusiasm.

I saw Erin walk over to us. She was carrying three drinks.

            “They certainly are an odd couple, aren’t they?” She asked, looking at Don and Tabatha and setting the drinks on a nearby, vacant table and sitting down at it.

            “Come on, let’s sit down.” Stella said, taking a seat at the vacant table.

I shrugged and sat down with them.

            “So Redmond, how’ve you been doing lately?” Erin asked.

            “I’ve been pretty well. Lawrence is tending to my every need, so I can just relax.” I said.

Erin laughed with joy.

            “I know, I barely have to do anything! It’s great.” She said.

            “You said it.” Stella added.

I heard footsteps approaching us. I looked up to see Martha, Ceberus and William.

            “Hey guys, mind if we join you?” Martha asked.

            “Not at all, Martha.” Erin said sweetly.

Martha, Ceberus and William all pulled up empty chairs and slid them to our table and sat down.

            “How great is this?” William asked, gesturing to the room.

            “It’s amazing.” Erin remarked.

Martha looked over at Tabatha and Don.

            “We take our eyes off them for a few days and now look at them. When they first met they couldn’t even be in the same vicinity. Now look at them.” Martha said happily.

            “It reminds me of us when we were young.” Ceberus told Martha.

Martha laughed and hugged Ceberus, kissing his cheek.

            “Yes, yes it does.” She said.

            “I hope things work out for them.” Erin said.

            “Alright, enough spying on them, they deserve some privacy.” I said with a chuckle.

            “Well, there’s nothing else to do!” Stella objected.

            “It is getting a little late. We should go to bed soon.” Erin said.

            “Plus, we have Princess Estaire’s ball to look forward to. It’s in two days!” Stella said while clapping her hands in joy.

            “Yes, Jane told me that she’d get me a nice dress for the occasion!” Erin said happily.

I reached forward and took one of the drinks that Erin brought over and took a swig from it. Stella yawned.

            “I’m going to go to bed. See you all in the morning.” She said, getting up and leaving the table and walking out the door.

Martha looked to me.

            “So Redmond, how have you been entertaining yourself?” She asked.

            “Well, Lawrence has shown me around the castle and he’s kept me busy doing this and that. How about you and Ceberus?” I asked.

            “Ceberus, William and I have been admiring the sights of Valgate. Of course we have been checking in with the rest of the group. They’re all doing fine.” She replied.

            “Especially Raymond and Francella. They are really enjoying this.” William chuckled.

            “Who wouldn’t be?” Ceberus added.

Erin grinned, looking at Martha.

            “Yes, the art in the castle is very old. I love the culture that it represents. The language is quite fascinating as well.” She said enthusiastically.

            “You and your love of foreign languages and cultures.” William laughed.

            “Hey! They intrigue me!” Erin protested, sitting up in her seat.

She reached forward and took a swig from her drink. I took a sip of my drink as well. The mug was almost empty. I noticed that the band had changed from their music with high pitched, sweet notes. They were now playing up beat, and the notes were long and droning, but were very diverse in pitch. The tune was light and melodic.

            “Want to dance?” Ceberus asked Martha.

I looked around to see that other people had gotten up and started dancing.

            “Certainly.” Martha replied with a wink.

Ceberus and Martha both got up and walked hand in hand off to the dance floor. Erin and I sat alone at the table. She scratched her head, running a hand through her black hair.

            “The music is great here!” She said.

I grinned and nodded.

            “Yes, I like it.” I said.

Erin had her lips pressed together in a hard line. She looked around the room. I saw Tabatha and Don walk over to us along with Francella and Raymond.

            “Hey guys! How are you all doing?” Raymond asked cheerily.

            “Great! How have you been?” I replied.

            “Oh you know, this and that. Nothing big.” He casually replied.

            “I’ve been going for runs in the garden recently.” Francella added.

            “You certainly love running, don’t you Francella?” Erin asked.

            “Only about as much as you love your foreign languages.” He shot back.

Erin sighed but said nothing in return.

            “So, are you all going to Princess Estaire’s ball?” Raymond asked.

            “What kind of question is that? Of course we’re all going!” Erin said with a grin.

            “I am reluctant to wear a dress. I would much rather wear my witch clothes…” Tabatha muttered.

            “Oh, be quiet Tabatha! Why are girls so worried about what they’re going to wear?” Don teased.

            “Why are boys always so worried about how tough they are?” Tabatha shot right back.

Don had nothing to say to that. We all laughed at them. They were always going at each other, even now. From the looks of it, Don doesn’t know how Tabatha feels about him just yet.

            “Alright, enough with the gender defender you two!” Francella joked.

            “He started it.” Tabatha muttered under her breath.

            “Are you guys excited for the ball?” Francella asked.

            “Of course!” Erin replied.

            “I’m excited.” I told him with a grin.

            “So am I.” Don said.

            “Me too!” Tabatha said.

            “I’ve never actually been to a formal party, so this should be interesting.” Raymond said with a furrowed brow.

I yawned. The musicians had changed to a very slow song with lots of long low pitched notes. The song made me think of an elegant ballroom. I sat back in my chair, finishing my drink.

            “I’m getting tired.” Francella said with a yawn.

            “Me too.” I replied.

            “You know, I might have a spell to fix that.” Tabatha said with an adventurous smirk.

Francella shook his head.

            “No thanks Tabatha. I don’t like the idea of you altering the way my mind works.” He said.

Tabatha chuckled.

            “Okay, I get it.” She said.

            “I’m going to bed. Good night everyone.” He said.

            “Good night Francella.” I said.

He walked out of the lounge.

            “I’m going to turn in too. See you all in the morning.” Raymond said.

            “Alright, see you later Raymond.” Don said.

Raymond walked out after Francella.

            “I think I’m going to hit the sack too.” I said.

            “Okay then. Good night Redmond. See you in the morning.” Tabatha said.

            “Good night.” I said to everyone.

I walked out of the lounge and came into the familiar corridor that housed the many rooms. I walked out the door and came into the grand entryway. I walked up the stairs leading to the wing that my friends and I were staying in. I walked up to my room and opened the door. I saw a pile of neatly folded black and white clothes as well as a pair of black shoes on my bed. Upon closer examination I found the clothes to be nice black pants and a black and white tuxedo complete with a bowtie. There was a note attached to the tuxedo;

 

For Princess Estaire’s ball.

 

~Lawrence

 

I grinned as I put the clothes and shoes on the bedside table. I layed down on the bed and crawled beneath the blankets. I closed my eyes and sleep eventually found me.

 

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Author's Note

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