However, it is something I can't avoid so I gather my courage and make myself get up and head out of the inn. The location for the party is not surprisingly near the center of town, at a very posh looking building that reminds me of a fancy hotel. I found out it is actually owned by the city and only used for these kinds of gatherings.

The rest of the time it sits empty which seems like a waste to me, but the kind of thing I would expect from nobles. I'm sure there are any number of uses the building could be put to in the time between events. As I come within sight of the building I stop in an alley that lets me see the front of the building so I can watch people arrive.

What I see are staff members waiting around, but it isn't until about fifteen minutes past the start time that I see guests start arriving. The first few people to arrive do so on foot, around thirty or so arrive that way before the first carriage arrives. The first carriage that shows up is fairly plain, but the people on foot make way for the occupant.

From this I can gather that the least important nobles and guests arrive first. That must be why Borrik told me to be late, if I was on time then I would have been telling everyone at the party that I wasn't important. Which means I am going to have to stand here until everyone else has arrived to show them I am important.

This kind of posturing is exactly why I didn't want to get involved with all the noble's stupidity. All most nobles ever really do is waste time and cause problems for other people. Now here I am wasting my time watching them arrive at a party I have to attend to show that I am one of them.

The worst part is I could be on my way to the wind temple right now if it wasn't for this party, Lizzy could have me miles away from Illium by now. Instead I am watching increasingly ornate carriages deliver nobles in fancy dresses and posh suits to the party. Although, I am fairly sure that worse is to come when I actually go in and have to meet all these nobles face to face.

A flash of light draws my attention in time to see Roddick and Ambrose appear out of thin air. They are dressed normally but simply by arriving through magic they can show that they are powerful. I also see Borrik wander up the street dressed exactly as he was earlier today but no one even thinks about trying to stop him from entering.

Apparently the guildmasters don't follow the same rules as the nobles, they just show up whenever they want and don't bother dressing up. Maybe I should also start a guild, then I can act like a guildmaster instead of a half-baked noble. The only problem is I have no idea what kind of guild I could start or how I would go about creating a guild.

Forty-five minutes or so after people first start arriving, the carriage I have been waiting for arrives. I recognize it because it has the merchant's guild crest on the side in gold, and it is by far the most ornate carriage I have seen. That should be Guildmaster Pine, the one who is going to be the biggest opponent to my plans.

When I see him exit the carriage I am surprised that he isn't as fat as I expected. He is overweight but not hugely so like I was expecting, if he has control of his vices he will be even more of a problem. I was hoping that he was an idiot who inherited his position and just wastes all his time eating and partying.

He is wearing a plain brown robe so he looks like a guildmaster but he is wearing more jewelry than any woman who has entered. He has rings on every finger, multiple bracelets on each arm, and several necklaces. The only thing missing is a crown, which is probably his goal, to become king of Illium.

Once he enters I leave the alley and walk across the street towards the doors. The staff members move to block my path, and they look nervous doing so. I take my signet ring out of my pouch and show it to them, they quickly scurry out of my way.

It's been in my pouch because it doesn't fit any of my fingers and I haven't had time to get it altered. As I walk up the steps towards the door a well dressed man with a staff is waiting for me, he should be the herald to announce me. Since Ambrose wanted me to make an entrance I lean over and whisper instructions to the herald, his face lights up and his eyes twinkle with mischief.

Herald yells "Lords and ladies, it is my honor to present Count Ash, The Drake Slayer!!!"

The entire room goes silent and all eyes turn to me as I walk in and down the stairs. The room is brightly lit and highly polished, it is a grand ballroom as far as I can tell, and all the lights reflecting off of jewels makes my eyes twitch. As I scan the faces in the room many are staring at me with a poleaxed expression, guess they didn't believe the rumors about a beastman becoming a noble.

The ones that are staring at me with disgust I mark in my mind, they are most likely the anti-summoned faction. In all those faces I only see three smiles, Roddick, Ambrose, and Borrik, they are grinning like mad. Of course they aren't grinning at me so much as at the nobles, most of which look like they ate something sour.

When I reach the ballroom floor I turn to move towards Ambrose and the nobles part before me without even realizing they are doing it. When they do realize they moved for me their faces sour even more, by yielding to me they are admitting I am more powerful.

By walking straight up to Ambrose and giving him a small bow I am letting all the nobles know where I stand. Conversations start back up but with my hearing I can catch most of them, and the ones I can hear are all about me. It's really not surprising considering the entrance I just made, Ambrose is still grinning ear to ear.

"Is this kind of what you had in mind, Ambrose?"