The party was in full swing: colourful costumes and jewelled masks glittered in the light shed from the huge crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling of the hall. A soft buzz of conversation permeated the atmosphere, along with the soft strains of the string quartet which was playing a pavane to which many couples were dancing along with, for some unknown reason, a Chinese dragon. A figure in a silver-chased heron mask strode into the hall, closely followed by a second man dressed in a black uniform trimmed with gold, his features concealed by a slightly sinister crow mask. As the heron paused to speak with the party host, a quiet ripple of exclamation began to spread out around him and several people closer in sketched hasty bows to the man. "His Majesty is here!" was the whisper, eventually reaching the musicians who immediately struck up the national anthem. The King accompanied Baron d'Eau towards the long table down one side of the room which was groaning beneath the weight of the food and drink supplied for the guests. Deep in conversation, no one noticed the scowl on the face of the servant behind the table until, with a sudden shout which drew the attention of all the people within earshot, the man threw an egg directly at Le Roi! The first missile was off-target, striking the Baron in the chest instead, but the second egg splattered against the King's shoulder, covering the expensive cloth with sticky yellow goo. A third egg was aimed even better and would have hit the heron mask full on had it not been for a gauntleted hand which, almost casually, batted it from the air as the crow-masked man threw himself between the King and his assailant. Three missiles was all that the servitor had time to throw before he was buried under a pair of men in black uniforms similar to that of the crow. Punches and kicks were thrown with abandon before the soldiers were called off by a stern command from the man protecting the King. "Subaltern! Take him away to the Bastille for questioning. And leave him in one piece! I want him able to answer some questions tomorrow!" Turning back to the King, the crow whisked his cloak around His Majesty's shoulders to hide the damage caused by the egg, then hustled him off towards a side room followed by a white-faced host stuttering apologies. The music faltered and stopped, leaving a stunned hush before a loud roar of questions and answers filled the room. In the middle of the dance floor, abandoned, the folds of an elaborate Chinese dragon settled softly to the ground...
