Directly across from Bael'reth, a tall blonde had seated herself.  Her waist-length hair was bound in a loose-ended braid she called a "lion's tail"; wiry muscles were detectable in the shoulders and upper arms visible in her clearly self-made "dress" of leather and furs.  That dress was obviously patterned after those of the nobility, though of course not of the royal court itself, which tended toward skirtlessness.  The materials - though fine and resistant - failed to give the same effect that was normally achieved with silk and taffeta; the effect was also marred by several dark stains in the fur, almost certainly bloodstains.  Other contrasts included the pair of throwing daggers in sewn-on sheaths, a spiked gauntlet covering her right hand, and the enormous axe she had rested against the sloped wall of the carriage, the shaft pressing against her leg.<br/><br/>She hadn't smiled in the throne room - if she was proud of being summoned, she certainly hid that emotion behind a nearly-disrespectful scowl.  She had dreamed of attending court - but not with weapons, not to be called on to use her old skills.  Still, it might work out.  She just had to keep her options open.<br/><br/>The sight of the pumpkin carriage, on the other hand, had opened her face right up into a girlish grin.  Sure it was cramped, and smelled strongly of squash, but she sat still smiling, until Bale'reth's introduction reminded her to show some decorum.<br/><br/><strong>"Eleeza"</strong>, she drawled out, extending her armoured hand, then registering confusion a moment and pulling it back, extending her bare left, palm down.  She arranged her face into a polite smile.<strong>"I so happen to have some skill with the axe, which apparently qualified me for this adventure."</strong>Her speech was a jumble of half-accents, none consistent, but clearly aiming for the flavour of distant high society, as understood by someone who had only heard classy speech in passing on the streets of various cities.