[PRP]A Fool's Fool

[Dragonrider Flar]

Kester awoke to someone pounding on his head. He opened his eyes to chastise the culprit, only to find that he was alone. However, the pounding did not cease, and he became aware that it was emanating from inside his head and not outside. He closed his eyes again and tried to recall what had happened the night before. A vague memory of wine, women and song was slowing resurfacing in his mind. He tried to sit up, but that only made him dizzy, so he laid back down. He'd had mornings like this before, but this one was a doozy. He decided to just lie there for a while longer and hope that his head would stop spinning.

 

[Dragonrider Flar]

When he woke again, darkness surrounded him. No light shone through the window of his room, and the castle was quiet. Unable to determine the time, or the day for that matter, he swung his legs off the side of the bed and immediately regretted it. The dizziness which took him by surprise, threatened to bring him to the floor. He would have laid back down, but the need to relieve himself overpowered that desire. He rose slowly, holding onto the bed pole, and inched his way to the water closet. When he came back out, he saw that someone had been kind enough to fill his pitcher with water, and he lifted it over his head, pouring the cold water over his head and into the basin on the table. Toweling the water from his head and face, he made his way back to the bed. His stomach rumbled, but he had no desire to even contemplate putting food into it. All he could smell in the room was the reek of liquor, and when he looked down at what he was wearing, realized he was still in the same clothes he had been in the night he had performed for the emissaries and the King and Queen. Thinking about that night brought back some rather unwelcome memories, and he decided it would probably be best to steer clear of the King for a couple of weeks at least. He would search out the Queen first, and see if he could determine how upset the King might be with his primary jester. For now, he would just hide out in his chambers, and have the servants bring his food to him. No reason to risk meeting either of the royals in the hallways or dining hall of the castle before he was ready to face the music.  

[Dragonrider Flar]

He wasn't entirely sure just when he had fallen asleep again, or if he had simply passed out, but when he woke up again, the sun was shining through the window, and he could hear the sounds of daily life outside. Remembering the dizziness from the last time he had tried to get out of bed, he chose to move more slowly this time. He managed to rise to his feet without upsetting either his head or his stomach. Though this time, he felt an overwhelming desire to eat. His water pitcher had mysteriously been refilled at some point, and he noticed his dirty clothes had been washed, dried, folded and laid neatly on the chair. He changed into clean clothes and made his way down to the kitchen, careful to use the back passageways, so as not to run into the king or queen by chance.

The smells coming from the kitchen told him he was still in time for breakfast. He entered and picking up a plate, he made his way around the counters, surreptitiously snatching the tasty buns and pastries that were still warm to the touch. He managed to evade the angry clutches of the kitchen mistress, and escaped with his bounty back to the safety of his room. After finishing his breakfast, he made his way to the bathing room and washed away the stink of the party from his hide. Sitting in the bathing tub, he allowed himself to relax and almost found himself falling asleep in the warm water. He was roused from his slumber when the door opened, and servants came in to prepare a bath for the king. He wasted no time climbing out of his warm sanctuary, toweling himself off, and rushing back to his room. He would have to try and find a way to speak with the queen, before much more time passed. He could be called upon at any time by the king, to entertain the court at dinner, or some function he had no knowledge of.