"Where have you been?" Dorin asked Johan when he finally found his companions. They have eaten lunch separately and the sun was already starting to go down.
"I ran into the third prince and his friends," replied Johan.
It took him quite some time to find his companions. Dorin had already bought a bedroll and Vincent's bags seem to have tripled.
"Really?" Dorin asked. "I haven't seen them lately."
[Did they try to do something?] wrote Sebastian.
"Seems to me this prince keeps trying to get close to you guys," said Margarette who was carrying two bags of her own. "What did they want?"
"Nothing much, said they came back from the capital, something `bout a funeral and..." he suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked at Sebastian. "Oh... Oh I get it..."
"Get what?" Dorin asked.
"They were asking me if I knew the head Register," Johan told him, his eyes still at Sebastian.
"What did you tell them?" asked Margarette.
"That I didn't know who that Ravante was... only now I remember," Johan grinned and scratched his head. "I really am not good with names."
[Good thing too] wrote Sebastian. [They were probably fishing for information]
"Fishing?" Johan asked questioningly.
"What would they want about Sebastian's sponsor?" asked Margarette. "Anyway, did you get all the stuff you needed?" Margarette changed the subject.
"Yeah, I'm good," Johan replied, lifting the 2 bags he was carrying.
"Okay, what do you guys want for dinner?" Dorin asked his companions. "I just saw this store selling burgers..."
"Oh, I know a good restaurant we can go to!" volunteered Vincent. "We often dine there when I come here with my family."
"A restaurant?" Johan asked, "Won't that be too expensive?"
"Don't worry! I'll take care of everything!" he said proudly, "Think of it as our acquaintance party."
It took them about an hour to get to the said restaurant, partly because Vincent kept looking for landmarks that does not seem to exist. Or not anymore. They were about to give up when Dorin, already very hungry at that time, decided to ask a roaming police officer for directions.
The restaurant was called Nightingale. A long line was waiting outside when they arrived, and the people in line were all dressed formally.
[I don't think we can enter that place, Vincent.] wrote Sebastian.
"Oh, don't worry!" Vincent replied, "My father's friend owns the place, there's nothing to be worried about."
He went all the way to the front where two tall guards in tightly fitting tuxedos were checking the guests. One of the guards looked at him from head to toe, noticed the signet ring on his finger and stepped aside to let him in.
"Come on, guys, let's go," he called to Sebastian and the rest.
They passed the doorway, went along a spacious entryway, rode a large elevator, and ended up in a different hall. Dorin noticed the tall guards look down on them through their flared nostrils. He only reached below their chest, after all. They were about to enter another doorway leading to the main dining area, when a gentleman in a grander looking suit suddenly showed up in front of them.
"Good evening gentlemen," the man greeted them. "I don't believe we've met?" He addressed Vincent.
"I am Charles Vincent Morel, of the Morel family, seventh son and heir to the house of Morel," Vincent introduced himself quite haughtily. Sebastian and the rest were surprised to hear his title. "I would like to dine with my friends," he continued, "in the usual table, if possible, for five."
"Six." Johan corrected, pulling a red faced Bennette along.
The man looked at him, a bit puzzled, when realization slowly crossed his face.
He suddenly turned pale.
"Yes, of course, master Vincent!" he answered with unbelievable poise even as his hands began to shake. "But... But I would have to ask you and your friends to suit up for the occasion..." he said, "After all, we have a reputation to uphold..."
"Ah, yes, do you have spare suits for my friends and myself?" Vincent asked nonchalantly. "And a dress for the lady, of course."
"Excuse me, Vincent," Margarette called his attention, "but we don't need to go through all that trouble..."
"I'm hungry," Johan said irritably. "When do we eat?"
"Don't worry, this won't take too long," Vincent looked at the attendant, "right monsieur?" the man in front of them visibly jumped.
"Yes, yes of course!" he replied. "I will be your host for today, you may call me Benson..."
"Ah yes, Monsieur Benson!" Vincent smiles, "I knew you looked familiar! You've gotten old!"
"Yes, master Vincent," the man said with a little smile, "Yet, you still look the same." Before any of the companions could say more, Benson turned on his heal and faced a passageway to the left. "This way please," he called to the group.
They were led into separate rooms where young lads helped them into suits and took their stuff for safe keeping – in which Johan was reluctant to do so. After about 15 minutes, they were back in front of the main doorway to the dining hall, all dressed prim and proper, and looking like nobles themselves.
"They took my jacket," Johan complained as he pulled on his bow tie. The dark red accent on the gray suit he wore complimented his sharp eyes and cropped red hair. He looked taller in the attire, but kept slouching as they entered the hall.
"Woah, you look great in that, Johan!" Dorin told him with a grin.
"So do you," Johan said back, looking at Dorin whose usually wild hair was kept tamed with a blue bow that matched his blue accented white tux.
They both looked eagerly as Sebastian arrived and was a bit disappointed at the usual plain looking mage. Even the exquisite black tux looked mediocre on him.
[What?] he wrote on his slate.
"Nothing," the two answered in unison.
Bennette arrived later in a white tux with gold trimmings. He looked much more conspicuous than usual, while Margarette wore a red dress that complimented her long wavy red hair.
"You look lovely, Margarette!" Dorin said with a smile while Johan took short glances.
"Thank you," Margarette replied with a blush. "It's been so long since I last wore a dress, I don't quite feel comfortable in it anymore..."
"Are you guys ready?" Vincent asked them. His tux was all black, except for a pair of golden cuffs with the Morel seal.
"This way, please." Monsieur Benson opened the door to the main dining hall.
The room was as bright as daytime. The domed ceiling was painted with a mosaic depicting the 3 main families – the Alcions with their bright sun, the Heiligs with their lightning bolts, and the Ravantes with their twin moons. In the middle was the image of a vast tree which symbolizes the earth from which all creatures are created.
Johan and Dorin were still gazing at the ceiling when Benson cleared his throat to call their attention.
"Your table is ready."
He led them to the right side of the room, next to a grand veranda that looked over the city.
Johan and Dorin couldn't help but run outside and look at the city lights that glowed like a thousand stars in the night sky.
"It's like the heavens is mirrored in the city below!" Johan gasped.
"Yes, but which is the reflection?" Dorin said. "For the lights in the city are brighter than the ones in the heavens..."
[Hey, get back to your seats.] Wrote Sebastian who impatiently tapped Dorin with his slate. [The other diners are staring at us.]
"Oh, sorry," Dorin said with a silly grin.
"That's right, I'm hungry..." said Johan as they sat on their table. "I hope this won't take any longer."
"Don't worry," Vincent reassured them, "I've already ordered the food before hand."
As he said this, six waiters came forward and placed a tray in front of each of them. "For our hours devours, we have oysters ala russe." They revealed a plate with a garnished oyster placed in the middle with the top shell off.
"That's it?" Johan asked as he eyed the plate.
"That's just the appetizer," Bennette whispered beside him.
"I asked for a full course," said Vincent from the head of the table.
"So, there's more?" Dorin asked from his right, an empty oyster on his plate.
"Just wait and see," Vincent smiled.
Thus came the parade of food; from a consommé, to a poached salmon, fillet mignon, and ducklings in apple sauce. Each dish a masterpiece and a delight to both Dorin and Johan who cleaned every plate at record time. They were on their 6th course – a light salad with champagne vinaigrette, when Sebastian decided that he cannot and could not eat another bite.
"Can I have your salad then?" Dorin asked just as he reached for Sebastian's plate.
"That's why I always tell you to keep some space for the rest of the food," said Margarette as she patted her mouth with a napkin.
"Are you sure you're already full?" Vincent asked, "The next course is dessert – chocolate éclairs filled with french vanilla cream."
"I'm finish, can I have my éclair now?" Asked Dorin who hurriedly swallowed the food in his mouth.
[Sorry, I have reached my limit] wrote Sebastian as he showed one of the servers his slate. [Can you direct me to the wash rooms, please?]