Tarot Campaign

Interlude          Escort

[S: I noticed that Alexis was offering to set up a dinner invitation for next Sevenday for Paris with the delaPontes. ]

[GM: Um. Well, that generates two more problems. One, is your brother or some other guard coming? A bit of an oddity, (silly in this case) but you are supposed to be protected. Two, the horse...I was going to have Ewen gallantly bring a second horse for you, but if you have a family escort that will leave him horseless. Bleah. And Paris will be wearing a dress. Can two people ride one horse if one of them is sidesaddle? ]

[S: Riding sidesaddle is using a particularly designed saddle that takes the place of a regular saddle. It is for a woman alone on a horse, not a way of sharing the horse with two riders. In period, it was more often than not the case that the woman rode "pillion", that is on a cushion that was somehow attached behind the man's regular saddle. Basically many women did not ride by themselves. Those who hunted and hawked, of course, did ride by themselves. But, *sigh*, yes, if Ewen brings a horse with a saddle and pillion, it would be quite appropriate. This was true even in Elizabethan times. Now... the interesting thing would be, would Ewen ride with Paris pillion, or would he let the guard take Paris. Actually either is proper. And, yes, the woman's arms go around the man's waist. It's not so different from having a passenger on back of a motorcycle -- though not as comfortable for the woman. Sidesaddle is ok, because the saddle provides a certain amount of stability; but pillion is not comfortable. And Paris has been used to riding astride. Still, riding pillion does allow for cozy conversation albeit, if Paris' brother provides escort, it would be more important to include him in most of the conversation -- than it would a 'mere' guard. A guard is responsible for the lady's virtue; he doesn't have to guard her conversation. This was one of the rare opportunities to have cozy conversation 'in public.']

[GM: Another possibility....]

Paris & Lorraine
"Lorraine?" Paris' head emerged from the top of her midnight blue bodice and she gave a grateful smile to the servant girl helping to tug the skirt into place. "I need your advice. About clothes."

"Well," Lorraine said, straightening an errant lock of hair. "You've come to the right place."

Paris smiled ruefully but her face softened into the next sentence. "Ewen has invited me to go picnicking at his home next Sevenday. I've seen the boys ride out on Sevenday."

Paris could see one eyebrow raise on her friend's face, in a gesture oh so reminiscent of her mother, and a smile spread across it.

The taller girl's face lost focus; she seemed to be calling up the memory and her expression was wistfully appreciative. "They looked grand. But --" she looked into Lorraine's face, "what does a girl -- what should I wear for such a thing?" She looked down at her silk and velvet ball gown. "Not this, I'm sure."

"No no no, of course not, that won't do." Lorraine was smiling excitedly. "Not for a picnic. I suppose his mother will be there as well? Lady deLacey is very knowledgeable about growing things, grapes, and she used to have some roses as well. You would find it very interesting to ask her about the different varieties of grapes. Hint. And, of course, ask her about Ewen's younger siblings. Now, as for the dress..." Paris felt swept up in Lorraine's enthusiasm at selecting the proper outfit, taking into consideration the picnic, the ride there, the walk through the arbor, greeting the mother...many details, all wound up into a single outfit. It reminded her of the courses on logistics, but it seemed that moving an army might be simpler than selecting the proper outfit. She also realized that Lady duGryphon had told Lorraine about the Princess' offer, as Lorraine had already factored that in.

After the Fire

[S: Was there a particular reason why Paris' Firstday after the fire will be bad? Or is it just because she will have gotten even less sleep than usual?]
[GM: Yes, that's the only reason. You are pretty much always running at a sleep deficit, so getting only 3 hours in the night will be rough.]

She turned her head and smiled at the servant girl who was holding a towel. Better not get any more relaxed. She reached for the towel with a quiet 'thank you', wrapped herself in it and turned towards Lorraine.

"Lorraine, again and again I seek your advice. Next Sevenday's looking rather full. The Lady Alexis has invited me to take dinner with her parents, Baron and Baroness de la Ponte. I think it's all right to accept that, after my picnic with Ewen and his family, isn't it?"

"De La Ponte?" Lorraine mused. "Their son is only twelve or so. No, at least thirteen. He's a little young for you, isn't he?" She smiled as one of the other servants wrapped a towel around Paris' hair. "I know, I know, you're going for Lady Alexis, not for her brother. Don't be so serious all the time."

Slowly Paris started to grin.

"Now. Properly done, letting Baroness deLacey know that her invitation is first and foremost, etc., etc., yes, she'd probably be relieved to know that Ewen isn't going to be able to keep you around until dinner. I know he's done that to her with Rodric a couple of times."

"I did tell Ewen that I didn't want to put his mother to any trouble...."

Lorraine raised one eyebrow and smiled. "And you expect he passed that on to his mother? You do have a lot to learn about boys. I suppose Calais told his mother everything he was supposed to?"

Paris gave a whoop of laughter. "You really know boys very well, Lorraine!" She continued, "Lady Alexis did remind me -- that is, she also invited my brother to come too -- as escort. I -- am -- supposed to -- take an escort -- to Ewen's picnic too, aren't I? Would it be possible to get proper clothes for Calais too? We're about the same size -- well, I'm - a bit more - up top," she grinned, "but I've no nice boy clothes really. Just what I travel and fight in. And Calais' are not much better. He doesn't get torn up as much fighting though." She grinned again.

"Oh Lord!" Lorraine was laughing so hard it was a few moments before she could answer. "Half the boys in the class, and a third of the castle guards, are afraid of crossing swords with you. But, yes, I suppose officially you need an escort." She shrugged and handed some clothes to the now dry Paris.

Paris couldn't help but give an answering grin. "I didn't know that many were afraid of me. I didn't think I went around growling at people."

"If you don't want to put out your brother, I can probably go along with you. Dad will provide an escort. Otherwise, yes, we can find something for your brother. Something other than Cordelia's dress, I imagine," and she grinned again.

Paris smiled. "Not a dress. I told you, he's prettier than I am. I'd really like these ladies to like me. I'd like to do your mother's training proud."

Lorraine continued. "The tough part will be the colors. None of the heraldic colors will be quite right, will they?"

Paris nodded agreement. "I don't have a right to any heraldry so I shouldn't be presumptuous." She fastened her badge in its place. "This is the only thing I have a right to."

Lorraine was quiet for a bit. "Paris? Did you really kill six people who attacked you at once?"

"Wh-at?" Paris was taken off guard. "No. Yes. Um - ah, well, I think Rhori's lion actually took care of some of them. But --" Paris sighed heavily, bit her lip and then looked toward Lorraine but not really seeing her. "Yes, I am responsible for their deaths." She blinked and focused on Lorraine. Softly, "I was hoping that not too many people knew of that attack. But, of course your father knows...." There flashed through Paris' inner vision the glimpse of men jumping out of the wagon as the net fell, then her first sight of Mia lying with feathered bolts protruding from her mangled face and belly, then Rhori - tearstained - looking up from Hobbes' bloodied body. She swallowed. Very quietly she said, "Lorraine, I am almost afraid to keep these Sevenday invitations, to take my brother as escort, to even consider taking you. If someone wants me so much to send six after me, I can't help but fear for my friends." She tried to smile. "I think my guardian angel had to work overtime to save me before; I can't trust to such luck all the time."

[S: Wicked, wicked Pat. I never expect Lorraine to be the one to catch Paris.]
[GM: Moi? :) She has the best intelligence network in the palace of any of the girls, just by virtue of continuous eavesdropping on her parents. And, she doesn't think she's "catching" Paris; she is one of the few who _could_ ask such a question.]

She found herself swept up in a hug as Lorraine grabbed her. "Paris. Dear Paris. You remember I told you if I were you I'd be scared of everything but Ewen?" She pulled away slightly to look at her friend. "Well, I might be scared, but I'd still go with you. If whoever arranged this scares you away from living a life, from showing you can be as noble as everyone else here ... well, they'd win. If I go with you, then Dad can send as many men as he wants. I heard Mom suggesting he send some guards with you each night, but Evan had told him not to because the Prince was taking care of it." She had an earnest look on her face. "I'm not just pretty dresses and dancing and boys, you know," she said softly. "I'd be glad to help out your guardian angel. Or even your guardian lion."

Paris pulled back to where she could hold Lorraine at arms' length -- but still holding her. "You are beauty and splendor and bravery all wrapped in one -- and very dear to me. And I have no intention of letting 'them' win. But..." Paris' mouth twisted, unable to smile, "if anything happened to you because of me, I - I - I honestly don't know what I'd do. You, Ewen, your parents, my classmates, my comrades from Jouet -- just knowing me may put any of you in danger. If it were just me -- it wouldn't be so bad. If I knew how to stop this without giving up -- it wouldn't be so bad. But, ah, Lorraine I love you all too much to want to risk any of you! However, He -- Prince William wants me to succeed. You all do. So I can't give in. I can't even let myself remember how much I am afraid for you all. And that may be the hardest test of all."

Paris swallowed. Quietly, "I want to live. I want to be all I can be. I want to make you and Prince William and the rest proud of me. But I don't want to do anything stupid, to trust to luck and my own skills such that I don't take proper precautions. My Jouet friends have tried to make arrangements never to travel alone -- and Rhori, Calais and Hobbes have been walking me home every night. But -- for other things -- I'm not sure what the 'proper precautions' should be because I've no idea how 'they' will strike next. I have no doubt of your bravery, my dear friend." A genuine smile touched Paris' lips, "but you should ask your father if it is wise to accompany me. Truly ask his advice."

Lorraine smiled, a dimple forming in her cheek. "Oh, Paris, what can he say? If he says for me not to go, it means your danger is real, and he will have to send you aid, in defiance of the Duke. So, he won't have any choice but to advise me to go, whether the danger is there or not. And, I assure you, it won't take much bravery on my part. At the festival, he and the other Arms Masters put on demonstration bouts. He may look a little old," and there is a shimmer in her eyes, tears of pride, "but it'd take a lot more than a band of ragtag thieves and ruffians to get past him." She let go of Paris to reach for her embroidered handkerchief. "Oh, phooey," she said, dabbing at her eyes. "So, anyway, it's up to you. Who would you like to go along with you?"

Paris' lowered jaw moved back into place. "How stupid of me. Of course, you are right." She smiled. "I don't think your father looks all that old, Lorraine. I've been convinced for as long as I've been here that he could 'pound me into a wet spot' on the floor if he thought it necessary to do so. Even if I'd had uppity thoughts, Sir Givance proved to me that I'd a long way yet to go before I could match the real prowess of an experienced knight. I've come back every time, eager for training in your father's classes." Paris expression turned serious. "And I've no intention of letting your befriending me cause him any hurt."

Paris stepped back, arms wrapped around herself, thinking hard. She looked up, decision in her faces but she said, "What will it mean to Baroness deLacey if I bring you and your guards?"

[ GM: Anyway, it is up to Paris. There are advantages and disadvantages each way between being escorted by Calais or Lorraine. You don't think Calais will say anything embarrassing to the Baron and Baroness, probably. You don't think Ewen will find Lorraine more attractive... :) ]

[S: Well, I think Calais/Don will enjoy the de la Ponte dinner more, to which he will be going. There will be more players involved. Though, if Baron Justin is at home, Don might get an introduction to some of what Paris has felt. :-) And while Calais doesn't have high society, he seemed to get along just fine with Baron de la Ponte -- so, no, Paris probably _is_ reassured that he's not likely to embarrass her. He's not that much different than she was when she came to court -- and her gaffs were things she couldn't have known about, not true bad manners.
With Lorraine, it's you and me off-camera -- which has its own points. :-) And, yes, Paris _does_ think Ewen should find Lorraine attractive. You've made the point that she is one of the beauties of the senior class. Part of Paris has always wondered why intelligent guys like Rodric and Ewen aren't giving Jules more competition in that line. (She too wants Lorraine to have a choice!] They are fun to _talk_ to even if he is more classically handsome. Of course, she has to admit to herself, if they're not competition, it's likely because they tried in the pre-Paris time and Lorraine decided that they wouldn't suit.....
At any rate, this picnic's intent was to show Paris what vines look like and let her meet Ewen's family. I don't _think_ he intended it to be an idyllic tête-à-tête for only two. Well.. maybe the thought flashed through his mind :-) -- but Ewen would know that's not what Propriety would let him have. At best he might be able to take her on a walk, but -- on a plantation with servants and farm workers all about, he's likely to get no more privacy than 'stepping out for fresh air' after a dance. (And, yes, the servants are undoubtedly as interested in seeing who 'the young master' chooses as friends as his parents are. Jimmy had the right of it when he said it was good to be able to talk to the servants if you really wanted to know what was going on. :-)]

Lorraine: "Oh, she has to be expecting an escort for you. Ewen won't have thought of it, of course, you'll have to tell him, then he'll realize he should have asked. If it's the two of us, she'll know she has to feed two guards, if Dad sends any more they'll take their own lunch. If it's you and your brother, she'll make a place for him."

Paris had considered. Two trusted guards plus herself and Ewen would be a reasonable insurance for Lorraine and an added deterrent against such fool-hardiness as an attack on a barony. Whereas Calais and Ewen and herself, while skilled in their own ways, might simply be a tempting target, being a small party every one of whom represented a piece in the whole that was her heart. If such an intrusion was acceptable, her mind was made up. "Lorraine, I would love to have you join me for the picnic Ewen's planning."

Lorraine happily clapped her hands. "Wonderful! I have just the dress, and I hardly ever get to wear it!"

"Escort" copyright 1999 P.Shea & S.Knowles. The contents of this site are copyright 2004 Sheryl A. Knowles unless otherwise specified. All rights reserved.