3
Samh 9.04.1342 18:38
Upon the day of the Antiby IV's arrival in La Soutain, there was at the docking station a plain, dark landcraft, rich in all its appearances and a second one only slightly less opulent awaiting the landing of her passengers.
Standing beside the first landcraft, was a man of some thirty-five years, of moderate stature, well-dressed, and whose only remarkable feature was an impenetrable countenance. Next to this man was a slightly more relaxed man, newly employed and in all probability not long for the job.
As the Viscount of La Soutain came down the docking ramp with Lira and several other minor servants, he saw his faithful attendant raising his hand with a peculiar sign. Then, the man darted forward, an action that parted the crowd without difficulty. When he reached the Viscount, he removed his cap and bowed low.
“Ah, Lobo! All is well?" asked Geodor.
“Doubtless, my lord," replied the dependable servant with his usual, unruffled reply as he made a path to the landcraft.
Lord Elwynalam helped Lira into the vehicle with gentleness before entering himself. He was soon followed by her duenna, who was assisted into the landcraft by Lobo.
After passing through many streets, they stopped before a stately mansion. The second landcraft arrived at almost the same moment with the remainder of the servants who had accompanied them to Thelxinoe V-1398.
Three, white flattened obround levels of the house rose above the inner courtyard. Windows banded the middle of each layer. On the left side of the house was a stairway leading up to an elevated garden and greenhouse on the third floor. On the other side of the stair was an organic, three-story annex that looked almost like a rounded triangle when viewed from the other side of the house. This annex was the suite where Lira lived.
“You did very well tending to the place,” Geodor said after surveying the whole.
Again, a momentary gleam of pl easure lit up Lobo’s impassable countenance for a brief moment. Clasping Lira’s hand in the crook of his arm, Geodor passed under the arched gateway, up the broad steps, through the garden and entered the ample hall, where he kindly greeted, with a look of profound interest and satisfaction, those of his household who were gathered there.
After greeting them, they descended the stair to the second floor, passing to the left wing, and throwing open the doors to the annex suite. The first room upon entering was a closet that extended both on both sides and had chairs and mirrors throughout in addition to the traditional clothing storage arrangement. Continuing through it, they stepped into the principal room, which was long and wide. The floor was covered with the richest of Dathuanian hand-woven rugs in cinnamon red, apricot, and bronze, and the walls were hung with silk of delicate, rose-ground and orange flowers, and in the very center was suspended a magnificent bronze candelabra, upon whose tiny fingers burned a hundred pea-sized lights, among which were scattered numberless crystals, reflecting and varying the soft lights in a thousand different forms. Raised mats, more beautiful than the others, and piles of cushions continuing the color scheme were sufficient places for repose.
On one side was a stairway covered by an archway leading down to an elegant bedroom. Above its picture window was a relief in geometric designs. The curtains were pulled back and allowing the sun to coat the pillows in the window seat beneath it. Similar geometric designs went up the wall behind the bed, forming a sort of unattached headboard. A few ferns and palm trees lined the walls in large bronze pots. Three area rugs adorned the wooden floors.
At the other extremity of the principal room, another stairway led up to folding doors of glass that opened into a rich conservatory, from which Lira seemed to inhale the fragrant odors of jasmine, orchids, and bougainvillea. A fountain and pool in the center of the room contained her two pet goldfish and several varieties of water lily and lotus.
After uttering an exclamation of delight, she released herself from Lord Elwynalam, darted into the conservatory and greeted her pets who made bubbles at the top of the water to her.
“I’ll give you my leave, dear, and see you at dinner,” Geodor said before bowing and exiting the girl’s room. Preceded by Lobo, he crossed into his abode and traversed the halls, saloons, private parlors, and at length reached his own rooms in the opposite wing. Here in his bedroom suite, he had everything that bespoke he was a man of wealth, genius, and intellect.
He had an elegant, well-used library, sitting-room, sleeping, dressing, and bathing rooms that was a perfect combination of useful, refined, and luxurious,
“Have you made the other arrangements? The cottage—the—”
“Your commands are obeyed—when would your lordship like to see them?”
“Tomorrow,” replied Geodor carelessly and then added, “you are prince of valets, Lobo.”
“And your lordship the king of masters," respectfully returned the man.
Most of Geodor’s household consisted of foreign servants who had been with him sufficiently long to learn quiet, complete, implicit obedience. He guarded his past and current actions well and rarely let anything about his future plans slip unless it was absolutely necessary so some arrangements could be made to facilitate those plans. Being private meant that even his servants had little to gossip about because he was just as much a mystery to them. He kept them well-paid and they had a certain degree of luxury that gave them satisfaction with their occupations. That satisfaction was enough to stifle any curiosity that might have proved disastrous or even fatal to all involved.
Lobo, however, went beyond that. It was never Lobo's custom to ask a reason: He always obeyed punctually, faithfully, the very message and spirit of the command, without demanding why. He neither thought, felt, or lived for himself, but was like an extension of Geodor’s being. Because of this, he had made himself invaluable to the Viscount.
Dinner was soon announced, at which Geodor sat alone because Lira, tired from their travels, requested to have hers in her own apartment.
No comments:
Post a Comment