As the decadent festivities in the Great Hall of Vannes dragged on deep into the night, the Lord of Wessex found himself increasingly disgusted by the boisterous revelry of his hosts.
King Salomon and King Rudolf were entirely blinded by the superficial trappings of their newfound wealth, gorging themselves on spiced wine and roasted meats while ignoring the precarious tightrope they were walking.
Alfred, however, had delivered Leofric's administrative mandates flawlessly, asserting the Iron Kingdom's dominance over the vassals, and now, he had no desire to waste another moment in this archaic environment.
With a subtle gesture, Alfred summoned his eldest son, Edward, away from the feasting tables.
The young boy, possessing his father's intellect and slate-grey eyes, excused himself from the company of the Breton nobles and fell into step behind his patriarch.
"We are leaving," Alfred stated, not bothering to offer a formal farewell to the drunken monarchs.
