"It's not just for divination you know," Bell commented while shuffling the well worn deck of cards. Their muscle memory conflicted with their gloves, but they figured they'd readjust in time. "It's a full trick-taking card game."

In the opposite corner of the room, Amdusias was curled up in a pile of cushions. He had stolen them from all over the castle in order to make something akin to a bed for himself in the apparent absence of one provided otherwise. His worm-like body weaved through the gaps in the pile, making it impossible for Bell to know how he was contorted. His head was laid upon a cushion low to the floor. He watched Bell with a curious eye but didn't lift his head from its resting spot.

"I know trick-taking games have fallen a bit out of fashion, but my mentor Cicada did teach me how to play. I was never very good," Bell sighed as they finished their shuffling.

The meeting hall was in a discordant uproar, though the tone was definitely more merry than sour. The summer feast was upon the castle. Lords and dignitaries from the land came to share a meal with The King and his family, a rare occasion outside of these solstice events, so everyone in attendance made sure to make it worth their time.

Bell stood off to the side, listening in to the idle chatter of those serving the audacious meal. The two they were tuned into the moment were complaining about Lord Marian and how he had asked for a new cup of wine every time they passed during the serving of the current course. One of them pointed him out at the table and even Bell could see he was in the throes of a drunken rabble with those nearby.

A grand array of garments, bundles of cloth, accessories, gloves, and footwear were all unceremoniously laid out across the room. If there was a surface that something could be draped upon, it was covered by some manner of outerwear. The new jester only hoped that these surfaces were clean so that they didn't have to clean these clothes again later.

A maid rifled on the other side of the room rifled through the cloaks piled on top of one chair, trying to match it up with a brightly patterned top she already held in one hand. The jester watched her as she eagerly pulled cloth from the next pile and the thought crossed their mind that she didn't get to dress for occasion all that often, especially seeing the plain white and red drapes she was dressed in.

"I'm sure your time would be better spent amongst the other humans below, young one," a suave voice emerged from a place unseen.

"Chancellor Bune..." said the meek jester. The lizard like creature stepped out onto the balcony, their talons clicking onto the white stone. They were dressed in wraps resembling the royal regalia, deep purples and the rose red. One of their heads, that of a dog, looked over the balcony. Another one of their heads, that of a griffin, looked over their shoulder behind them. Their third head, a human head, pointed its attention at the white faced jester that called their name.

"You are a performer no? It would be best to spend it amongst your professional peers and revelers," the demon's dog head spoke, staring down at the parade moving through the streets.