~THE ROYAL BALL II~ (The Sun and The Moon)

THE UPROAR FROM THE GATHERED CROWD was loud enough to make the very halls ring. It echoed round the entire rotund square and ascended high up the baroque archs of the Castle. There was nothing Cervantes could do to control the rumpus of drunken syverians.

It was nigh the time of vespers and the Cardinal wanted but to return to his parsonage at the temple so he could conduct the devout to the evening meditations.

If only the commotion would cease, he mused, more in prayer than in will. The noises of screams and chanting continued, charging across the area like songs of a war band on march.

The distressed Cardinal reckoned that such happened when happy folk had had more than a good sip of the summerland ale. They weren't called liqueurs for nothing. And on this event marking the very last day of the Season, men were set to fill up emerging bellies with the good wine of the King.