I woke up to find two feral cats doing battle in the back yard. They ignored me when I went to water the garden instead of scattering. I used the shower setting on the hose to send a gentle but sudden rainstorm their way. They were shocked and ran separate ways. I’d feel bad but as the fight looked intense I don’t mind breaking it up. And I did use the gentler shower setting on the nozzle rather than the direct spray. So at least if they kill each other they will do it elsewhere. So on with the morning prompt? Good.
While I do wonder what Evan is up to I again like the setting more than anything else. Apparently this is just a settings focused week for my brain.
Wednesday, August 17th: The social position of the diners was clearly evident.
The social position of the diners was clearly evident. Each had their assigned seats and none shifted from them. Those entering the room walked directly to their chair and stood behind it, waiting. Watching from the sidelines Evan reevaluated his position. He hadn’t realized the protocol would be so strict. That hadn’t been part of his briefing.
It was something he would have to correct in the future.
He shifted thoughts to the side as he watched. Once those with a lower status were in place, the second wave of people entered. As one of the musicians hired in for the night’s entertainment he had a clear view from the separate gallery. The second group clearly waited until the first group was settled before entering the room. They walked past those already in place and took their position behinds their chairs. Both their chairs and tables were two inches taller than those of the first group, the demarcation clear even from where he stood.
Once they were settled, those sitting at the high table walked in. Their table was two inches higher than the table before them, making them a full four inches above the first set of tables. As those who would enjoy the high table took their places the Lord of the manner took his seat. Those who sat at the high table with him waited for him to settle. He placed his left hand on the snowy white table cloth beside his plate. Taking it for the sign it was, those at the high table sat. When they were fully seated, there was a pause and then the second set took their places. When they were settled, the final tables waited a moment and then finally settled themselves in their seats.
The lord raised his left hand into the air and servants started to stream in with platters of food. At the same time his attention was called back to their conductor for the evening. He lifted his fingers to the stringed instrument he was to play. He learned the movements and the melodies he would need for the evening, but he wasn’t entirely certain about the name of the instrument. There were several very similar instruments in the lineup, each varying slightly and each having their own name. He wasn’t entirely sure which was which.
His concentration was taken up with playing. While it was similar to instruments he knew the tunes were foreign and he had to work to remember them. In the main dining room, the meal proceeded. There were conversations he couldn’t hear and he wished he could be closer. He didn’t know if their meals were a time for light conversation or if business was conducted. Those notes were also not in the file he was given.
‘A file that was too sparse,’ he thought. The first of the songs came to an end. The conductor motioned them for silence. On the floor below a lone musician entered. He took his place in the center of the hall, bowed once to the lord and began to play. Evan wasn’t sure why there was a separate musician, but he appreciated the break as he could give more of his attention to the floor below.
The first course of food was taken away and a second brought in while he played. The lord did not seem to be terribly pleased. Evan couldn’t tell if it was displeasure with the food, the company at his table or the musician.
‘Perhaps all three,’ Evan thought. He was not the only one to notice that something was wrong. One by one those at the high table seemed to catch on to their lord’s mood and the room slowly grew somber.
Ten til Midnight 