Aedrick Carter was nervous as a great many people were gathered at the Kings summons. People of influence and power. People who would recognize a slave's demeanor if he showed even a trace of weakness. He silently thanked whatever gods were out there that he could lie to anyone and get away with it... well, almost anyone. If he had been a slave at the moment, lying would have earned a quick yet painful death. But then, that was why he escaped in the first place. to avoid death. he looked over the drunken folly of the men with less than tolerable alcohol tolerance and sighed.<br/><br/>"Can I get you anything to drink, sir?" a servant of the King asked, bringing Aedrick out of his thoughts. "I'll just have water." he mumbled. he had bad memories of his own masters coming home in a drunken stupor, so he steered clear of things like rum and mead unless they were absolutely necessary. The servant was a bit surprised, as were the women who had brought him here after his recovery. One of them decided to speak up. "It won't look good to the King if his subjects aren't being merry."<br/><br/>Aedrick calmly thought up a lie on the spot. "My alcohol tolerance is very low. one glass, and we'd all be on the gallows for something I said that wasn't to his majesty's liking."<br/><br/>The lie was actually a truth from a certain point of view. although ONE glass wouldn't kill him, around three mugs of ale would cause him to react just as violently as a Dark Elf during a temper tantrum, which meant he had another good reason to not be drinking wine, despite the occasion. He received the water shortly after this exchange and like Voll, waited for the king in silence. He was more secluded than most, leaning against a stone column as opposed to sitting at the table. He felt more protected that way. he wouldn't need to stand in order to defend himself if someone recognized him.