As they made their way around the outside of the castle TK pointed out a few things and nodded that it was very easily defended. As they rounded the southeast corner TK pointed to a far off puff of smoke rising through the air.
"That is the mine between Fenia and Imperius. With a looking glass you can see if there be a group on the road there. Of course, one cannot make out who exactly, but the colors of another place should easily show up as opposed to our own black and silver flag. And in a hurry I could intercept any before they got to Fenia City."
The wine cellar was well stocked, but he felt that his words may fall short of simply describing it.
"Well, let's go have a drink and see about the condition of the cellar." As they neared the walkway down to the cellar he snapped his fingers at one of the servants
"Go ahead of us to the tasting room and prepare a sample of the ten and twenty and have ready a glass of the 25, and have a few bottle of wine for me to choose from for this evening's meal." He turned and smiled as the woman went ahead of them.
"She has very good wine knowledge, but I have yet to learn her name."
The stairs into the cellar where they were going was the oldest part of the cellars. He thought it would be nice to work from the oldest part to the newest part. The first
view wasn't all that impressive in his opinion, but it would soon change. As they entered the cellar the oldest bottles of wine were still covered in webs and still in
racks where they'd been for who knows how long.
"These were left here by the previous occupants. Obviously a give for the lucky one that was given the castle" They rounded the next corner and another wall of bottles caught their eyes.
Brandy left by the previous tenants.
"I haven't bothered to clean these off just yet. But I'm willing to bet they're older than most of what I have brought in from traders and caravans." They venture on into the parts that have been cleaned and the rows of
casks,
barrels give way to along hallway lined with
brandy barrels.
"These are some of the newer ones I've had brought in since I've been here." As they pass a door TK stops and smiles..
"Ooohh.. you must see this room!" Opening the door they see
more wine with a door leading through. As they admire the room a moment TK opens the other door to show
another more simple room.
"This is where I keep some of my favorites in the wine category. I can see a few bottles have been taken so I think we'll have a fine choice for the evening feast." TK finds a half empty bottle of some red and pulls the cork with his teeth.
"This is a very sweet one that I just like to drink. I don't know that it would pair well with anything except a tongue." TK takes a drink and kisses her with some wine still in his mouth. He pulls her close and closes the door behind them in that little room with low lighting.
Once the bottle has been finished and almost an hour has passed they re-emerge and continue on their walk hand in hand. As they round a corner they are greeted with a view of a
side hall before they get to the tasting room.
"That" he says pointing to the large one at the very end of the side hall
"is one that is full of old brandy. I found that one in the oldest part but liked the looks of it so much I had it brought here to be more easily viewed by all my guests that come down here. Of course, you are the first." He held out an arm leading them on to the
tasting room where there were, as he requested, a couple samples for each of them and a glass of amber brandy along with the bottle from which it came.
"Ah, at last." he picks up one of the samplings and offers it to Nikola as he takes the other one for himself. Once they finish the first one they enjoy the second one before finally picking up the 25 yr old brandy and settling down to talk and enjoy each others company in the more comfortable private
tasting room that's connected to the other by way of a hidden latch door.
"This is a place I like to come and have solitude away from all of the servants and others bustling about. I can just relax here and be alone with my thoughts for those times when I need to get away from people." TK smiled and offered a glass of brandy to her.
"So, how would you compare this to the one beneath the tavern?"