|
"The Joy of Cooking" A very loud little man announced so that everyone within the gates of the city could probably hear him, "Princess Jillia Bright of the Kingdom of Highland!" Rowd, in his head, wondered to himself if this was going to be an extremely boring meeting, or would it be somewhat interesting? Jillia cutsied and said, "President Lepant, it is an honor to meet you at last." "Likewise, Princess. What brings you to the Toran Republic?" President Lepant said. Okay, so it was going to be boring. Rowd's stomach grumbled like a dog who has been starved for days. Looks like it was time to find some munchies. Slowly, Rowd tip-toed away from the throne room, once out, he scurried away quickly. Quite a good walk down the hall, Rowd found a door with a sign above it. The sign had a knife and fork on it. This must be the kitchen. Naturally, being Rowd, he walked straight into the kitchen, and began ravaging the food, without noticing the cook standing right in-front of him. "What're you doing?! This bread is for the banquet tonight! Are you insane?!" yelled a young cook named Antonio. Rowd acted as if the cook wasn't there. He just kept on chowing down on the delicious bread. But there was something missing… "Water!" Rowd shouted at Antonio, who was shocked by this statement. "Highland had an alliance with the previous government in the country, the Scarlet Moon Empire. Due to the esculating war with Jowston, we cannot now spare diplomats to negotiate a renewal of that alliance. However, the King wishes to form a treaty of non-involvement for the remainder of this war," Jillia said. Lepant nodded thoughtfully. "I see. We in Toran have heard only rumors as to the cause and current state of this war. Perhaps you could fill in a few of the facts?" "Of course," Jillia began to describe the official situation. "Aproximatly one week after the signing of a peace treaty,a youth camp along the southern border of Highland was slaughtered. The one survivor of the camp, Sir Rowd here, pointed Jowston to be the guilty party." "Speaking of Sir Rowd, where is he?" Jillia looked around the room, turning around twice, sure that he wouldn't have been stupid enough to wonder off. "Where's that useless fool disappeared to?" Looks like she gave him more credit than he deserved. Lepant quickly motioned to the guards on duty, "Search the castle for him." He then turned to Jillia with narrowed eyes, "I sincerily hope that he is not found in the viscinity of more sensitive information, Princess, or your coming here may have the exact opposite effect you were hoping for." Jillia's eyes widened. That idiot was going to get Highland into another war! And with a country too far away to attack, and they'd have at least one perfectly good hostage. Jillia was going to kill that fool personally if something like that happened. One of the guards came back, slightly out of breath from running. "We found him in the kitchen. President Lepant, sir, perhaps you should come and see for youself." Both followed the guard quickly to see what happened. When they got to the kitchen they found Rowd, lying on the floor with a dazed expression, and one of the cooks, Antonio, standing close by with a pan in his hand. Antonio was shouting something that sounded very insulting in French at the Highlander. Jillia pushed past the guards between her and Rowd. She pulled him by his hair so she could see him better. "Lovely. Just wonderful. Not only this, but he'll be out of it for at least a day." Under her breath she added, "Even though that might be an improvement." Lepant sighed. All that fuss and it was only this? "Guards, take him to a spare room for the time being. And lock the door, I don't want any more trouble today." "A prison cell would be better," Jillia muttered. "Shall we return to the nagotiations?" Lepant suggested. Well, at least he didn't manage to ruin everything.
| ||||
