She had been called worse before - Jaskier wondered why! Yet alas, there was certainly more than good looks to her. Not just a beautiful trinket to sit on a shelf and be admired, as Vidalia thought over herself. For all Jaskier knew, this woman could be as venomous as a snake, using her beauty, power and whatever royal lineage she had to be a vile and cunning thing. Lyra (Myna) had warned him to stay clear of the royal folk! And as the woman stated that ‘Queen’ would have been the proper term, Jaskier is reminded of this. Of course, Jaskier was a bard, an entertainer, a lover (and far from a fighter). Most pirates would stay well clear of such people if it meant keeping their heads, but Jaskier enjoyed to dance with danger. It was why he had left behind the wealth and privilege of his own house to sail the seas a free man.

Besides, there was a subtle warmth there in the proper smile which she wore, Jaskier was certain he had seen it. Challenge accepted!

Jaskier makes his most dramatic of bows, sweeping a foreleg to the side as he dipped his lower half, crown nearly touching the earth. All the while his tail waving in happy glee behind him. If she was Queen of this here crumbled castle, he would treat her as such then. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Queen Vidalia of Eastrenhold. And then he lifts once more to his full height, shorter than the long legs of the willowy winter woman. I am Jaskier Tyrael, of the Highwayman Howff. But a humble bard among its residents. Far from any standing like Queen. Though, for the time it seemed, he would secretly dub her the ‘Queen of Ruins’. In time it would be determined how successful she would become in her desire to revive the castle and its court into livelihood.

Neighbors. Indeed we are.. For although the Eastborne castle nestled against mountains along the open northern coast and his home faced the south sea bay, they would be the next closest settlement near other than Camhanaich, of course.

Some places, He drew nearer to her, yet arcing a bit away as he did so and lifted his head, taking in the full height of the castle. He had never been so near before. Have withstood generations. Longer than our own lives, lives of our children, even grandchildren. So many stories they have, yet never to be spoken. He goes on, in full agreement of her words and it was as though he began to pull away from here. Deep in thought a moment. Thoughts of the Hail Mary. His crew had died that day and while some returned to one another, none quite filled the void of their lost vessel. She who carried them across sea to sea, from port to port, lands and their treasures far and wide… Oh! To stand upon her deck once again! He thought he could almost hear the creaking of her sway…