Wilderness Cartography
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The Queen of the Divinus kingdom is inviting members of nobility and royalty to the Divinus mansion tonight, and so the hall has been prepared accordingly, with the fine marble floor around the fountain cleared far enough to offer space for the dancing. A group of people to the side are providing the musical backdrop, playing their instruments, and a few singers are adding their voices to give emphasis to the melodies. A fiddle, a cello and a pair of lutes build the foundation for those, and so the music mingles with the chatter of those already in attendance - members of the noble houses, some of them are standing at the sides, watching, commenting, while others are right in the middle of the dancing, in pairings that might inspire gossip for those that are attentive for such things.
Queen Elena sits on a seat on a dais set right between the pair of curved stairs, where she enjoys a good view of what is going on in the hall. She is surrounded by courtiers and members of her family - that is those that are not currently engaged in the proceedings.
Aeryn is not quite nobility, but as a higher-ranking Sage of the Divinus kingdom he manage to nonetheless wrangle an invitation. A bit of a loner, events like these don't really suit his individual taste. His posture is a little too stiff, like his formal wear restricts him, somehow, even though it's immaculately tailored and really ought to be comfortable. Standing with a wine glass, he studies the proceedings from what is, perhaps, a bit of a safe distance. Queen Elena, as a woman of significant and highest status, draws his gaze more than once--perhaps leading to accidental mutual eye contact.
The Sage who seeks eye contact will eventually succeed in drawing it. The dark eyes of Queen Elena Divinus meet his gaze, and with a minimal upward tick of her chin she signals to Aeryn that he may approach, should that be his wish. A few words are exchanged with a lady standing beside her seat, and that lady moves off to fetch the queen a goblet of red wine - quickly returning, of course!
Aeryn works the tension out of his jaw for a moment, navigating the proceedings and narrowly avoiding the elbow of some lord who's in the middle of a stirring anecdote. Inevitably, he comes to stand before the queen, to whom he bows with an impeccable, formally-trained courtly grace. "Your Majesty," he greets her. "Thank you for giving me the honor of your invitation. I am Aeryn Caldain, the sage to the Steelsnow family. I simply wished to express my gratitude, and state if there is ever any way I might be of service, please do not hesitate to call upon me."
The flow of dancing lords and ladies forms a circle around the fountain, and with them being so very much accomplished in the courtly dances, it is indeed a pleasure to the eye to watch them as the musicians continue playing their merry gigue. Skirts swish and twirl as the dancers turn, those wearing breeches having far less trouble perhaps - unless they are already in trouble of another sort.
"Matches are made at balls like this," Queen Elena remarks casually towards the man that approached her, tilting her head in the direction of the dancers. "If you, Sage Caldain, are in search for one... this may be your chance to court and inspire." There is a bit of dryness to her tone, and she smiles a temperate smile as she turns her attention now fully towards the sage. "Our kingdom is in need of sages, now more than ever. I am sure that I am in need of your service, therefore."
Aeryn certainly did not expect /that/ as a greeting from his liege. The aura that suffuses him as a member of the Divinian people flickers for a moment, as he is momentarily thrown off his courtly game. "I suppose it is well-known that I remain a bachelor," he allows, with a very slightly strained smile. "Although I cannot say every noble lady would be keen to consider a man of common blood who cannot even remember his past lives. Nonetheless, if you were to, ah...recommend someone...I would be remiss not to give her my earnest attention." He tilts his head slightly, before declaring: "I am as comfortable with field work as I am poring through archives, Your Majesty. You need but say the word. Lately I find I have been mostly busy with wilderness cartography."
"Very well," Queen Elena allows, inclining her head to Aeryn. "It is not like you are in a hurry," she considers him for a moment, narrowing her eyes just so. "And you are of more worth to me as you are, without these petty distractions of courtship. Be it as it may. I will consider if there is someone - lord or lady - that I would recommend to your attention." She hmms, turning her gaze for a moment towards the goblet of wine in her hand. "Wilderness cartography, yes? Which wilderness, if I may ask? Somewhere around here, at the Seat of the Gods, or somewhere at home, in our fine mountain kingdom?"
Aeryn adjusts his cuffs for a moment, a fine excuse to delay his answer. "A little bit of everywhere, if truth be told, but what interests me most of all are the regions as yet charted by no kingdom. What interests me is not so much the construction of maps, but the act of discovering that which no man has yet laid eyes upon." Apropos of nothing, he declares: "More than once I've done this thing or that for her highness Taya. I hope you might consult her if you need a reference as to my abilities." Thankfully, he does not do anything like suggest /she/ might be an object of courtship.
Queen Elena nods slowly to what he says, even as she lets her gaze drift, taking in the spectacle of those dancing and others conversing. "Discovering that which is unknown is an important task, Sage Caldain. It might grant answers to questions and riddles that are yet to be solved." A fine smile curves her lips as she gives Aeryn a sideways glance. "Perhaps it was my daughter who mentioned your name to me. No. I don't believe I need to consult with her to assure myself of your abilities."
Aeryn once again bows formally to Elena. Perhaps the pressure of casually chatting with royalty is a bit too much. "Then I shall hope someday to receive your invitation," he tells her earnestly, features brightening into an earnest smile. "Meanwhile, I suppose I should...go do my level best not to step on some poor woman's foot."