Angelique's pleasure-filled moans rose high in the night until Tehr retired for the night back in his quarters, though the look on her face was one of a cat that got the cream, just a little bit of smug satisfaction mingled with shameless purring, she was thoroughly happy with the way things had turned out. Her offer to help her master had left at least her body completely relaxed and basking in the afterglow, though she had done her darnest to make sure the feeling would be a mutual one and to put a good smile on his lips for the coming morning as well.<br/><br/>Tehr's night was joined by a familiar half-elven figure soon after, snuggling close to him in a gentle manner in the sheets. She was diligent enough to not seek to draw everything out of him if it was likely he'd have another guest, but in that moment she sought him as a friend and lover for comfort, and offered the same. Just warming the sheets together with him, nothing more to it, her hair scented with the hint of lavender she gained when working at the kitchen, but she had joined him shortly after the bath so the sole reason it remained was to mask, at least partly, the other lingering scent, that of her feminine musk. The scent of her lovejuice after that climax at the end had left a hint on her still even after washing, or perhaps because of watching him after getting out of the water perhaps, but the lavender sought to overpower that with a more innocent scent in that nightly embrace.<br/><br/>Nonetheless, with morning came the chirping sound of birds, which wasn't that common in a city. Outside in the garden area a small flight of birds had seemed to settle down to feast on a handful of seeds that an elven woman was sprinkling around, dressed in nearly sheer thin robes she carried. Smiling surrounded by morning light and the birds, she stood proud. The night's rain had left a damp scent in the air, the window open and Angelique gone, but a note had been left that Angelique would keep tea and some warm fresh bread ready for him in case he woke up before the actual breakfast was ready.<br/><br/>His studies in that morning went uninterrupted, the closed door deterring any wanderers without a pressing business in mind, allowing him to focus. The morning's meal was quickly served on his exit of the study, and Angelique promised to do her part, getting the letter on its way to Tehr's mother. That done, he was soon on the road towards the palace. Things were seemingly sedate in pace, people either still asleep or moving with a purpose, some setting up their stores for the morning business, others cleaning out the storefront. Moving along he found his passage unhindered, though a group of young kids rushed from an alley to another along the way, but since they seemed to not be bothering anyone it hardly mattered.<br/><br/>Still, reaching the palace soon he found the court was gathering, but the Queen seemed to be facing an aggravating man for a change. Cardinal Roqufin was a powerful man of cloth, and his entourage of robed priests and a lone nun struck a powerful image at the morning court as they appeared to be waiting their turn while speaking to one another in lowered voices, and in the old tongues. They seemed to be watched by everyone present, but without real hostility.<br/><br/>The Queen herself seemed pleased to see him but from the looks of the amount of people present she was hard pressed to spend more time than a simple greeting with him right away, though after arriving before her he was greeted by a soft voice she lowered, enough to not reach much beyond him, but not low enough to seem too secretive, spoken from her seat without having him standing practically touching her to hear it.<br/><br/><strong>"I would wish to ask you about a few things today after the morning court, if you are present at noon. The war among the Spaniards, and the One God's church's claim they have unearthed the location of the Lost Chalice."</strong>Her frown was evident, but she smiled to him nonetheless.<strong>"You are welcome to stay here but I expect this will become a shouting match soon with the Cardinal there. Honestly, a Frenchman with no respect for the Queendom as their ambassador speaks ill of their tact."</strong>She muttered a bit more personal in tone.<br/><br/>The Archmage in turn was present, not at the court but at his own quarters, the guards quick to let him pass. The archmage seemed completely focused on what seemed to be a rather<em>ancient</em>manuscript written on darkened leather with crimson letters, but just entering the same room as it was enough to give a sense of foreboding. The smell of blood and dried leather, the smell of ash and smoke, the smell of rotten flesh and the smell of something vile, a scent not unlike damp, moldy walls of a prison cell, a scent of decay and ruin.<br/><br/>"The<em>'entsetzlich geheimnisse.</em>" The masked figure spoke seriously, casting a look at Tehr before gesturing at the tome present at the room. "Collected rantings of a madman. Said to contain glimpses of some primordial truths. Maddening piece of work. Supposedly the source of some powerful spells. Now, evidence from a grizzly murder scene. I wonder whether its authentic, or a well made fake. Given one of the victims is a known peddler of less than legal materials, but also known to deal with fakes, its a mess. Worse, it points a finger towards one of the lesser noble houses, as Lady d'Auri was among the dead." The archmage remained quiet for a moment, before waving a hand, and a magehand spell swiftly brushed each book closed again on their tables, leaving the figure facing Tehr.<br/><br/>"Regardless, I find your company welcome, Master Tehr. One can only puzzle on something insane for so long before needing a break."