Post by Angelia Sandoval on Nov 28, 2014 0:36:56 GMT -5
The city gates stood open to welcome those who arrived for the Midsummer Festival, the streets full of residents, merchants and minstrels, each intent on celebrating the arrival of the warmer months. For the Sandoval family, the Festival was a precious few days of freedom from training, planning, scheming and preparing to reclaim their legacy by mutual agreement. Already, the air was full of music and the scent of roasting meats as the feast hosted by the Sandoval duke was about to begin.
Angelia came down to the heart of the city with her twin, siblings and parents to enjoy the evening's festivities, looking forward to the array of entertainers and the chance to enjoy a few dances. Not too many, of course, knowing that her partners were likely solely to be her brothers, who knew to tread gently with her. Maricela and Isabella were nearly bouncing with excitement, Cela's more restrained than Bella's now that Cela had reached the sweet age of sixteen and considered herself a woman grown. Her sister's early promise of beauty had indeed blossomed fully, drawing more than a few admiring eyes and warning scowls from Rafael.
Amused, she nudged Dante and tilted her head to indicate the black cloud hovering over their protective warrior's face. "If I was the wagering sort, I believe our brother will find his way into a fight before the night is over, hm?" Laughing quietly as he helped her onto the dais, Angelia settled into her chair, glad for a chance to sit and catch her breath while taking everything in. The square was alight with colored lanterns, festive with garlands and ribbons and the tables threatened to groan with the weight of the feast's menu.
As she felt her siblings take their seats and the first of the entertainers prepared to begin, her eyes wandered the crowd critically. If ever there was an opportunity for disaster to strike, surely it was now. The open gates, the festive atmosphere and the loosened security were tailor made for an enterprising Deveraux supporter to strike. As she skimmed the myriad faces, blue eyes intent, her gaze fell on a form that held her eye and compelled her scrutiny. Angelia did not know what it was that arrested her gaze, yet she conceded a strange sensation when looking upon the man.
Excusing herself softly, she stepped down from the dais that hosted the Duke and his family, slipping through the throng to better gain a view of the man and any identifying symbols on him. Dante would surely scold her when she returned, but Angelia trusted her instincts when they twanged... and something about this man demanded she take a closer look.
Who was he, and more importantly, why was he here?
@stephane