break of dawn [c]

[Maeve]

"A noble guest? A noble guest from Ylisse?" she asked, momentarily stunned. She regained her composure. "Fascinating! Reschedule my appointments, I'll see him now. In the parlor, I think. Yes, that sounds good. Deliver us tea, if that can be arranged--thank you." Servants scurried, and surely some Plegian noble set to meet her at this time would be upset. No matter. It wasn't like she'd been set to meet with one of her commanders. The royal castle wasn't well fortified. Instead, it was a show of splendor, encased in glittering gold and ominous dragon motifs. Paintings of old Plegian heroes lined the walls, and intricately woven carpets hushed the sound of footsteps. The parlor was where the royals entertained visitors. There was ample seating space, soft cushions in an array on the floor. In the corner, a harpist played an old song. On a low table, there was tea as well as an assortment of fluffy pastries. Maeve entered, a servant opening the doors for her. She swept in, her face blank as she searched for the proper expression. She settled on a serene smile. "Greetings and pleasant tidings, traveler. I hope Plegia has found you well?" 'Well' was relative. As long as he wasn't waylaid by Grimleals, Maeve would count that as alright, all things considered. She approached and sat down on her favorite purple pillow, one significantly older than the others. It had been her favorite for a decade now. "I believe introductions are in order. I am Maeve," she said, not bothering with her titles. "Might I ask your name?" Eric