Graceful Descent

[Victor Steiner]

He set his own glass down and wandered over to a small cabinet behind the piano where he rummaged through for a few moments. I am not the 'majority of individuals' my dear. I am something else entirely. I am the eyes and ears of the the Queen. The government knows what it knows because I possess some level of competence in keeping my people safe. He produced a pair of crystal wine glasses before walking toward her.

Standing in front of her, her looked down toward her eyes and drank in their mystifying beauty for a moment , his expression changed to one of seriousness but also one that was deliberate and calm. He was aware of what he was saying, even if it made no sense to him either. Today, sweet Sapphire, you are anything but my enemy. And while you mightn't understand my attraction, know that it is there regardless. I am an honest fool if nothing else. He stepped around her, motioning for her to follow as he led her through the house.

Eventually they reached the great hall. A large room with a second story added above which ringed the bottom was connected to the floor via duel stairway which joined at the second floor as a balcony. The seal of House Steiner at the center of the back wall loomed over the whole room. Flanked by an Old Imperial Rheinland banner and a Bretonian one the setup displayed both the origins of the family as well as their allegiance. Below the pair, just under the seal was a recent addition, the coat of arms of Lord Edmund Steiner. The rest of the room was largely empty, a space designed to be filled when the need arose, but as of late there had been few things to cause such a celebration. Their footsteps echoed throughout the hall as Victor led his guest up the stairway and then on to an outside balcony overlooking the landscape. A small glass table and two chairs inhabited their viewing place and Victor placed the two glasses he was holding on the table, before pulling out a chair for her. I thought you might prefer the view. He said, obviously a great admirer of the landscape.

Before them lay the vast and open estate green, the village of Warwick and it's surrounding fields could be seen some distance away off to the left while the great alpine Forrest which bordered the estate grounds turned into a dark green cloak as it opened up as the country expanded. Beyond, in the background, an imposing mountain range erupted from the landscape and screeched on for miles in either direction. Telltale snow falls on the peaks indicated which was the wind was blowing.