"Ho, ladies," the leader said as he reined in his horse, stopping before a pale woman with white tresses astride a huge black beast. "Lord Venger has sent us to extend an invitation of welcome. We shall escort you to meet him."
Rose halted her high-stepping horse and regarded the men before her with distaste. She had met their kind before and sighed, knowing that they had best play along.
She smiled charmingly at them and nodded her head.
"We're honored that Lord Venger would send out such an obviously esteemed troop as yerselves ta guide us ta the Castle. P'raps ye gents will be so kind as ta show us where we may set up camp? We have had a long journey, ye see, and it seems the night may prove ta be just as long." Rose waved her hand gracefully to include her band.
She turned in the saddle and blinked once, seeing EO's new form. She said, "Fay, EO and myself will go forth with ye to meet his Lordship. The others will stay behind and set up, if that's alright?"
The leader of the guards seemed about to object, but his eye fell upon the women who were staying. Especially one clad in the sheer bits of nothing of a dancing girl.
"That won't be a problem as I see it," he said, not taking his eyes off Bubbles. He called four of his men forward to escort the Storyteller and friends to see Venger while he and the rest of his men got to know the others a bit better.
Rose slid off her mount, firmly telling Kimmy to stay on and stay with the others. She mounted up behind EO while Fay and an invisible Sheila followed the guards into the castle.
Rose took another deep breath and hoped the meeting with Venger went well....
