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From: tolsen@apollo11.Stanford.EDU (Tanya Ann Olsen)
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Subject: [CB] Preparing for the Ball
Date: 23 Jun 1995 19:35:45 GMT
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               #16 Preparing for the Ball

Mi'cha and Gyles left the Inn and turned down the street toward the
central market.  The rain was gently falling, but only enough to
moisten the outer side of their cloaks.  Foot traffic was lively for
such a dreary day.

"So, tell me of this ball we will attend.  I am not familiar with your
country's traditions," stated Gyles in matter of fact tone.

"I myself have never been to such an affair, though I have heard
many stories.  They say that the men are dressed in dashing clothes,
trimmed in gold and silver.  And the women wear elegant ball gowns
spun from silk and covered with jewels.  There is more food than can
be imagined and everyone whirls around on the dance floor, singing and
dancing until the early hours of the morning.  But surely you have
something like this where you are from?" replied Mi'cha.

Gyles looked at her for a moment and then said, "I have been to many
feasts back in my home, but never a ball.  In Al Hazzod, the King's
feast is the most extravagant of all banquets.  All of the men are
dressed in the finest of silks and cottons, covered in jewels and hung
with fine gold chains.  Everyone is seated on cushions around a large
U-shaped table which fills the room.  Serving maids bring platters of
food and goblets of wine, never letting your mouth grow empty.  Other
women, dressed in filmy silk clothes and faces covered with veils,
dance to music and entertain the men.  Often there are fire eaters and
sword jugglers, along with some wild beast tamers.  It is a magical
event."  As Gyles finished, Mi'cha could see a distant look on his
face.

"That sounds like it would be wonderful to see. Well, here's the best
tailor I know of," she said, bringing him back to reality.

The pair had reached the market and were standing in front of the
tailor's shop.  They entered and a tiny bell jingled.  All about the
room, bolts of every type of cloth lay on tables, while fine clothes
hung from pegs along the wall.  A short man appeared from a back room
and greeted them, "Good day mi'lord and lady.  What can I do for you
on this dreary day?"

"Good tailor, we need some clothes for a ball this eve.  Can you work
that quickly?" replied Mi'cha.

The tailor eyed first Mi'cha and then Gyles before saying, "Indeed I
can, for a price."

Gyles looked at the man and said, "Money is no object good man.  Now
let's get started.  Do you have some parchment and a writing utensil.
I will draw a rough sketch of what I need while you help the lady."
The tailor nodded as he left the room.  He returned a few moments
later with several sheets of parchment and a stick of charcoal.  Gyles
set about his task while Mi'cha and the tailor selected cloth.  After
some discussion, they settled on a green, shimmering cloth.  The
tailor took some measurements from Mi'cha and then showed her some
other gowns that he had made.  She picked a fancy, full dress with an
intricate bodice.  The tailor made some notes on his pad and then
whistled sharply.  Several men appeared from the back room.  He handed
them the note pad and pointed to the bolt of cloth.  The men exchanged 
glances and then set about the task.

Mi'cha was amazed.  The men seemed to move in bursts that blurred her
eyes.  The tailor turned to her and said, "The gown will be ready in
an hour mi'lady.  You can pay for it then. The cost will be one
hundred gold."  Mi'cha's eyes grew as large as saucers before
she remembered the money that Cernborn had given her.

"Very well.  If you will please, I think mi'lord is ready," she
stammered.

The tailor walked over to Gyles who was standing near the door,
watching the wondrous movements of the helpers.  "Amazing," he stated
as he handed the sheet of parchment to the tailor.  For several
minutes, the tailor stared at the odd clothes that Gyles had drawn on
the sheet.  "I have already picked out some suitable cloth and silk.
Feel free to embellish the design with your own flair, so long as the
basic look remains the same."  The tailor nodded and took Gyles
measurements.

"This will also be ready in an hour mi'lord.  The cost will be
seventy-five gold," said the tailor as he collected the bolts of
cloth and moved toward the back room.

Mi'cha weighed the money pouch in her hand then looked at Gyles and
said, "Shall we walk around the market.  I think some jewelry to
accent the gown is in order."   Gyles nodded and they set out across
the market.  After walking for a few minutes, they came across a
jeweler.  Entering the small shop, they saw a short, gnarled dwarf
seated at a work table.  Glass cases filled with all manner of jewelry
lined the walls.  The dwarf looked up from the table and set down his
tools.  He stood and greeted them: "Good day mi'lord, mi'lady, what
can I do for you?"

"The lady is in need of some jewelry for her ball gown," replied
Gyles.

Mi'cha smiled as she stared at all the precious objects, never before
had she thought of wearing anything so beautiful.  After looking for a
few moments, she found a silver necklace and matching earrings, set
with several green stones.  "I like these, but I'm afraid they'll cost
too much," she said in a disappointed voice.

The dwarf moved over and opened the case, withdrawing the set.  "A
fine choice in deed.  This is pure silver and is set with fine
emeralds from a distant land.  The cost is two hundred pieces of
gold."

"That is much too much. I will find something simpler," said Mi'cha
with much regret.

"Nonsense.  They are beautiful and everyone is allowed to enjoy
beauty.  In my land, even the common women have such beautiful stones
to wear on feast days," said Gyles as he reached into his money
pouch.  "Here good jeweler, perhaps you will take this gold necklace
in trade."  Gyles produced a long gold chain from his pouch.  At the
end dangled a heart shaped pendant, set with diamonds.   The dwarf
took the necklace and looked at it with his jeweler's eye.

"This is not a fair trade, mi'lord," began the dwarf. "It would harm
my reputation to trade just the necklace and earrings for this work of
art," he continued, turning the necklace over in his hand. He reached
into the case and removed a silver ring with a green stone and a
single twisted, gold earring crusted with red stone chips.  "Now the
deal is fair."

Gyles shook the dwarf's hand and handed the jewelry to Mi'cha.  She
placed the jewelry in her belt pouch, except for the single gold
earring.  "I have no need of this earring, you take it," she said
handing it back to Gyles.  He accepted it from her and dropped it into
his pouch.

 "I think it would look better adorning mi'lord's ear," she said in a
whimsical voice.  Gyles gave her a stern look and then to her surprise
retrieved the earring from his pouch and attached it to his left ear. 
Mi'cha smiled at him and said, "It makes you look quite dashing, if I
do say so."

Gyles face eased into a smile and then he replied, "It has been long
since I have worn such an adornment.  Let us wander the square for a
while and see what we can.  The day is beginning to look up.  As
Jahari says 'In the company of a friend, the soul becomes refreshed.'"
As he spoke, he opened the door to leave the shop and nearly knocked
over a person in the doorway.

"A thousand pardons dear lady," he said with a deep bow to a young
elven girl.

The elf smiled at Gyles and looked Mi'cha directly in the eyes as she
said, "Nonsense.  It was my fault as well.  Please excuse me."  Her
beautiful voice was filled with the song of the elves.  She went to
the dwarf and spoke to him, "Is it ready?"

"Yes, Lady Diana.  It was a simple matter, but the work ended up being
very expensive," replied the dwarf.  The lone diamond earring hanging
from her left ear caught a lone ray of the sun and made a small
rainbow.  "It will be seventeen hundred pieces of gold, mi'lady."

"Very well,"  Diana began as she produced a small bag, which contained
enough gold to buy the store.  "Keep the change.  Consider  the rest a
bonus for your good work and the rapidity with which you got this back
to me."

After seeing the exchange, Gyles and Mi'cha left the shop and wandered
about the square.  Their conversation drifted from one topic to the
next, mostly dealing with balls and other gala events such as Spring
Faire.  The sun was begining to peak through the clouds as they
returned once again to the tailor shop.  The tailor insisted that they
try the clothes on to make sure of a proper fit.  Mi'cha tried on her
ball gown first.  Gyles was amazed at the transformation.  Before his
eyes she went from simple country girl to princess.  It was almost
magical, too magical.  Next,  Gyles changed into his clothes: crisp,
white silk trousers with a deep red tunic accented with a black sash
and a red turban accented with white feathers atop his head.  Mi'cha
was similarly stunned by his appearance.  When a few alterations had 
been made, the pair paid the tailor and left to return to the Inn.

As the pair rounded the last turn before reaching the Inn, they came
across a beggar.  The man was emaciated with thin rags hanging from
his body.  He leaned forward, extending his begging bowl.  Feeling a
deep compassion for the man, Mi'cha reached into her purse and
withdrew a few silver coins to place in his bowl.  That familiar
feeling tickled the back of Gyles mind.

"Wait!" he cried as he reached out to stop Mi'cha, but it was too
late.  With the speed that belied his look, the beggar grabbed
Mi'cha's wrist and exclaimed, "A present for you on your way to Hell!"
With a puff of smoke the man disappeared and the dagger thrown by
Gyles thunked into the street. 

Mi'cha gave Gyles a startled look as he bent down to retrieve his
dagger and examine the beggar's robe and bowl.   Feeling a bit odd,
Mi'cha slowly pulled up her sleeve.  Coiled about the lower portion of
her forearm was a Silver Dragon with an eye made out of a ruby.
Mi'cha attempted to remove the token, but it was securely fastened to
her arm.  "Gyles, can you remove this?" she asked as an uneasy
feeling settled in her stomach.

Gyles looked up from the street to see the token on her arm.  He stood
and tried several times to remove the bracelet, even resorting to to
prying it off with a dagger.  Nothing seemed to work.  "I am afraid
that you have gained a new piece of jewlerly.  Perhaps Lord Cernborn
can do something about it?" said Gyles to calm Mi'cha's nerves.  She
nodded slowly as the pair continued to the Inn.

They entered the Inn and made straight for Cernborn's room.  Knocking
on the door got no response.  "Of course," said Gyles, mentally
kicking himself, "he is probably with Athorbalo."  They hurried over
to Athorbalo's room and got there just as Cernborn and Athorbalo were
about to go down the stairs.

"Lord Cernborn," began Gyles.  

"Ah, you are back at last," he interupted, "I was beginning to worry.
Were you able to get the proper dress?"

"Yes, but we had a most unusual occurence."  Gyles herded the rest of
them back into Athorbalo's room, then recounted the tale of their
encounter with the beggar.  Cernborn listened intently and then
studied the bracelet on Mi'cha's arm.

He thought for a few moments and then spoke, "I will see what I can
do.  Mi'cha please sit down on the bed and lay thy arm in thy lap."
Cernborn stood and started to pray.  A greenish glow surrounded
the bracelet, but nothing else happened.  Cernborn attempted a
different prayer, but the result was similar.  Cernborn shook his head
in disgust and said, "This is quite strange; the bracelet does not
seem to be magical, yet nothing that I do will make it release.  I am
sorry, it appears that there is nothing I can do.  If thou shouldst
notice aught strange, inform me immediately.  I think that thou hast
become a pawn in this power struggle, and I am sorry."

Mi'cha looked at  Cernborn and said, "I freely chose to aid my lord,
and I will accept the consequences of my decision."  With that she
stood and left the room.

Gyles watched her go. "I think that this token of Mi'cha's has
something to do with Azurecon. What do you say?"  he asked after she
had gone.

Cernborn studied Gyles for a moment and then said, "I would agree.  I
do not know enough about this Azurecon, but we shall deal with him
anon.  Athorbalo and I are ready to go.  We will meet thee downstairs
when thou art ready."  Gyles nodded.  He glanced at Athorbalo who had
not even appeared to notice him and the events of the past several
minutes.  She was clinging tightly to Cernborn's arm.  Gyles wondered
what had happened, but said nothing and left the room to finish his own
preparations for the ball.

*****

Meanwhile, Mi'cha had ventured back into the city.  She was curious
about her new trinket and wanted to see if anyone else had a better
idea about removing it.  She found a jewelry shop near the Inn and
walked in.  A young man stood up and greeted her, "Welcome mi'lady and
what can I do for you?"

"I would like to remove this bracelet, but it is stuck.  Can you help
me?" was her response.

The man motioned her over to his work bench and looked the bracelet
over.  With a stunned look he stared at Mi'cha and said, "This is
beautiful, mi'lady.  Where ever did you find it?  If I were you, I
would leave it exactly where it is.  It is the safest place for such a
thing of value."

"What do you mean?  How much is it worth?" asked Mi'cha

"If I could afford it, I would surely give you at least thirty-seven 
hundred pieces of gold,"  responded the jewler.

Mi'cha's mouth opened in pure shock.  At that moment, an elf appeared
behind Mi'cha and placed his hand on her shoulder, "I think that it
looks very respectable.  It brings out your inner beauty. You can
thank me for it later, my name is Azurecon."

Mi'cha gasped in shock and turned quickly to see the man, but he had
already disappeared out into the street.  She dashed out after him,
but found no trace. Even as she looked about the street, the sound of
his voice faded from her memory.  Scared by all of this, Mi'cha ran
back to the Inn and locked herself in her room.  After taking a few
moments to calm down, she finished getting ready for the ball.  She
would discuss these events with the others later.

*********

Down in the commons room, Cernborn had noticed Mi'cha run back into
the inn and disappear up the stairs.  He started to go after her and
then decided it would be best to let her initiate any conversation
about what had obviously frightened her so badly.  Athorbalo was still
lost in her own world.  She spoke and nodded to people who were not
there and occasionally called him Wonko.  He was not sure what to do;
he had seen similar occurences result from battle fatigue, but never
to this extreme.  Perhaps the festivities would bring her back to the
present.
 ----------------------------------------
Gyles Dormani            virtuesr@gps1.laafb.af.mil
Mi'cha Ning'ra           jmc@ataxia.confusion.net
Lord Captain Cernborn    tolsen@leland.stanford.edu
Athorbalo		 hilanse@wkuvx1.wku.edu
Azurecon                 jimmoore@eden.rutgers.edu