"Word travels, Lord Draken, and your reputation reached us some time ago," the man says stiffly.  "However, it would be remiss of me not to admit honest admiration of your skills in battle, and I would not shame my family by refusing hospitality.  Especially not under the circumstances."<br/><br/>Servants, mostly walking wounded with no other duties, start clearing an area and setting up low tables.  Apparently your host is in earnest about that banquet idea!  Surely a light snack before you proceed with other duties is not an impossible indulgence?<br/><br/>Fox, you notice (as you are waiting for your opportunity to speak to Rat without disrupting the harmony of this pleasant occasion) that there is one fellow standing off to the side who is not quite as incognito as he wishes to be.  Several of the higher ranking people in the room are glancing his way  now and then as if waiting for some signal or other before responding.  If you didn't know any better, you'd say that guy is probably the highest ranking person in the room who doesn't work for the Ministry.  Oldest trick in the book, that.