Having arrived in Galadrona, Arafrantz attained the hotel he and Réginard had reserved. With that impertinence peculiar to the personnel of elvish hotels, a surly sylvan demanded that Arafrantz wait for his mortal permission papers to be examined, while also informing him that the tree-balconies were never let to people of his sort. Arafrantz simply handed the porter his visiting card, complete with title; and the help immediately became more deferential. The hotelier, signor Orlando, ran to meet him, apologizing for the porter's strict enforcement of the law, for how was one so ignorant to know when the host had paid enough to be granted an exception?
The suite was comprised of two chambers and a balcony-cabinet, all perched on one of the smaller branches of a commodious and well-appointed cypress tree. The rest of the tree was rented by a singularly wealthy personage, believed to be a Black Numénorean or possibly even a Balrogue.
"Two things we require," Arafrantz told signor Orlando. "Supper, and an eagle for tomorrow and the rest of Carnival."
"I greatly fear there will be none available, and that, even were there one to be found, all the eagles are already engaged for the season," said Orlando.
"No eagles – diable, c'est incroyable!" cried Réginard, lighting a cigar. "Not even postal eagles?" Orlando shook his head.
