Welcome to Chateau Valade

-Dalen Capital, Around Noon, 2 DSTR-

"Kalena, is the apparel I am currently wearing suitable for your party or will I be in need of a change?" Lafayette questioned her.

“We all going to a fancy dinner then, Captain?” Van asked after Lafayette mentioned his clothing. “I left my dress uniform at home.”

A mildly disapproving frown flit across Kalena's features as she took in their dirty travel-stained garb. Her house slaves could sew up a new outfit for Lafayette in a few hours, but there would be no time to measure, cut and fashion new garments for every single one of Kline's men by this evening. However, what she could do easily enough was dispatch a messenger to Lars Saiki to secure some ready-made gentleman's wear from his vast inventory. The haute couture garments would make for excellent party favours and mementos for the men to take home with them.

“Don't concern yourselves about your dinner attire, leave everything to me,” Kalena said with a mischievous glint as she pictured the men clad in the pink silks and shimmering fabrics that were all the rage among the capital's peacock gentry.

It was not even mid-day when the train could see the walls of the Queen’s City. Her seat, her throne, all the glory and power of Dalen was held there. The walls lifted and shaped with magic, as if raised out of the earth. Towers that floated in the sky to offer advantage of the fields around the city. High towers that would offer the mages and magic users sight over anyplace around the city and give an enemy no cover.

War had made the use of magic practical and weaponized it, all of it one might think. Why spend time building a fort when you can use earth magic and raise it out of the ground? Why even have your arches in a tower when they can be on a floating platform and move anyplace on the field? Magic was powerful, and in Dalen they knew that, the Queen knew it, and she employed some of the most powerful and best.

Kline did not pause like Van, but kept riding. They passed through the gates and locks with ease, a display of his seal was all that was needed, no tariff or tax, he was not a common merchant.

Once inside, Laffy rode up to Kline. “Sir, you go with the Lady and we will see these delivered.” He made a motion with his chin to the wine. “I am sure we are safe in the city. We will meet up with you when it is done.”

“At her place,” Kline added, they were guests after all. “Very well. The prices are all agreed. See it is done.”
The men then took the wagons and departed, leaving the three there in the city’s lower quarter. “You wish to lead us to your home, my Lady?”

“Yes, it shall be my pleasure,” Kalena said, spurring her mount on slightly ahead of them.

In ten minutes, to the clattering sound of iron-shod hooves on cobbles, they arrived in the royal quarter of the city where the most important Dalen nobles lived in great villas and palaces. An army of chained slaves kept the wide boulevards and stately avenues in a constant state of cleanliness, and a heavy presence of city guardsmen ensured that beggars, suspected thieves, and other unwanted individuals were warned away on pain of death from the exclusive district. Recognizing Kalena, a few guards brought their swords up as they rode past, and she returned their salutes with a smile and friendly wave of her hand.

“That's the Queen's palace over there,” she indicated to Lafayette like a proper tour guide, gesturing toward a sprawling building in the distance surrounded by a great wall. She glanced over at Kline riding on the other side of her. “I imagine you've been there at least once before, on the occasion when Her Majesty made you a baron.”

Kalena led them on a little ways further up the exquisitely paved street until they reached the walled gates of her own home, a four-story white marble dwelling with bright glass windows and green-tiled terraces arranged around a central courtyard. The palatial villa had been hers for over a year now, ever since the death of its previous nobleman owner who'd fallen down a flight of stairs and broken his neck. Kalena, who personally arranged the 'tragic accident' on the Queen's secret orders, had at the time taken a liking to the place, and the very next week bought it at a steal from the deceased's heirs.

She turned to watch Kline and Lafayette's reactions to the sight of her grandiose home that in most lands would have been fit for a king. Kline no doubt gleaned she had money, but likely never suspected she was quite this wealthy. She hoped it would not change the way he saw her. Her personal hired guards upon sighting Kalena immediately unlocked and swung open the high iron gates for the trio, and happy to be home, she led the way up the long entryway that was shaded by leafy overhanging trees in whose thick branches a couple of guards were stationed as vigilant lookouts.

Once inside the granite and marble walls of the opulent and landscaped compound, there was the heady scent of the immaculately tended flowerbeds that served to mask the odours from the large stable complex that dominated one side of the courtyard; Kalena rode straight into the elegant building and gracefully dismounted, handing Enyo's reigns over to her faithful stablehand, Grunar.

“Good to see you back, mistress,” the burly slave said as he began to unsaddle and unbridle the great mare with brisk efficiency. “No one knew where you'd gone off to.”

“I had a little jaunt into the countryside where I met these fine people,” Kalena replied, nodding to Kline and Lafayette. “See to their horses, and feed and curry them.”

“Aye, mistress,” Grunar responded, glancing at both free men respectfully before motioning his assistants forward to help him take charge of the steeds.

Kalena turned to Kline and Lafayette with a warm smile. “Welcome to Chateau Valade, gentlemen. Come along inside and we'll have a little bite to eat. You'll want to bathe after your journey. I'll have a bath prepared straight away. The garments you're wearing can be washed and mended by my slaves in the meantime. I also plan to have someone take your measurements if you would not mind.”

She led them from the stable yard through lush fountained gardens and into a high-ceilinged hall of marble columns in the palace. The gilded walls were decorated with beautifully-crafted tapestries, marble carvings and bass-relief sculptures consisting of patriotic imagery of Queen Thalia and historical scenes from past wars with Verden, as well as vividly rendered scenes from the Kelmoran Uprising of nearly half a century ago in which some Dalen soldiers fought alongside Verden troops against a zombie horde that had threatened the security of both kingdoms.

In the middle of the hall, Kalena was met by her majordomo, Perun, who with professional aplomb received her flurry of orders that included having the pool in the guest bathhouse filled and the fire lit to heat the water, as well as dispatches sent to Lars, her favourite atelier who made garments for the Queen, and invitations speedily hand-delivered for her impromptu dinner party. She also had someone sent down to guide Van and the others when they had concluded their transactions and clear them through the checkpoints. Perun nodded to Lafayette, and deeply bowed to Kline upon learning he was a baron.

As the head of her household hurriedly withdrew to see that all was done as required, Kalena conducted Kline and Lafayette up a broad marble staircase to a sumptuous sitting room on the third floor. The chamber was richly carpeted and furnished and full of light from the tall arched windows that overlooked one of the capital's most affluent streets. Whitewashed walls were painted with murals of horses and lions. She removed her shoes, crossed to a velvet-covered divan, and sat languidly, curling her feet beneath her.

“Please make yourselves comfortable. Don't worry about dirtying the furniture. It can easily be cleaned,” she said dismissively, as though it were a trifle. She reached over and rang a small golden bell. Almost instantly a serving girl in a white shift appeared, a tray in her hands, laden with delicious cheeses, dried fruits, sweet meats and pastries, and a carafe of Kalena's favourite wine, along with three crystal goblets. Kalena poured the wine herself and then quickly sent the slave off to fetch some ale for Kline, the best they had in stock.

On the grounds outside, nearly a dozen slaves laboured vigorously to prepare the bathhouse for the honoured guests. Luxurious towels, robes, soaps, dainty shampoo bottles, and brushes and combs made of solid ivory were laid out on the mahogany wood benches for the men, and perfumed oils were poured into the huge sunken marble bath that was spacious enough to accommodate thirty people. Upstairs in Kalena's own suite, another bath was being drawn by her handmaidens with pink rose petals floating on the surface of the water, even as a selection of custom-tailored gowns were arranged for her to choose from, most of which she had never worn before. Elsewhere the kitchen was beginning to bustle as the aproned cook set to whipping up a magnificent feast for the evening.

<Tag – Kline, Lafayette, and optionally, Lars, Eliza, Isai, Chiren, and Gularzob>

(OOC – In case I forget to mention it, I'll be visiting family for the holidays and may not be able to post much until after Christmas, but Kalena's servants and slaves are all NPCs so feel free to have fun with them and write them as you like.)