Chapter 15 #3
She smiles shyly back at me and continues.
“Cess can live much longer than humans but have shorter lifespans than vampyr, but both fall to old age if they make it that far. Cedric is just over two hundred years old and you are right behind him. Sawyer is younger than the both of you and I was born almost a century ago. Our aging, physically speaking, is pretty matched now, but I’ll eventually start getting small wrinkles in the next century. ”
Shock is not the correct description for how I feel. I force my mouth to close.
“I—” I stop and decide I don’t have a good response. “I’m sorry I forgot you,” I say as I stack the towels and adjust my hair in the vanity near the door. The gold in the room catches some of the sun from the windows outside, nearly blinding me.
“No apologies necessary. Ever.” Avonde reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “I’m just so glad you’re here and awake. The rest will fall into order, I promise.” I squeeze back before releasing and smoothing my skirts.
“Before we go back…” I pause at the door.
She understands my meaning. “He shouldn’t have brought that up but have faith in us.” Avonde lifts her hand. “Shall we? Rolan can’t be kept waiting for long.”
Avonde leads me back to the main hall and I straighten my skirts before entering. No humans can be scented here but the blood is flowing. My mouth aches for a taste.
I can’t hide my hesitation when I approach my seat, eyes glancing to Cedric, who stands. Proper court and all, I offer him my gloved hand and it takes him a moment to grab it gently and bring his lips to it. Does he notice the tremble?
The rest of the banquet feels staged. Very well staged. All the court members stick to their own groups, only a few approach to give well wishes for Cedric and me. It is as much as I can do to accept their words, nodding and smiling.
I observe the respectful revelry in the room as lords and ladies converse with one another.
Such differences between Lux and Duresden.
Avonde moved seats to be closer to Garreth some time ago and I grew tired of conversing with a courtier.
I’m not sure why, but my heart warms for them, Avonde and Garreth.
He seems to be light-hearted and more approachable than Cedric which, to be fair, isn’t that much of a feat to overcome.
I even opted for a dance midway through with Garreth, which took all of us by surprise.
Avonde was in good spirits all evening and was able to dive heavily into the barrels of aged wine since Rolan neglected to provide any normal food.
My body can finally relax knowing that some good has come out of this trip.
“Come, let us move to my study.” Rolan stands and the entire room rises with him. A chill runs down my spine. “Join us, Elivienne?”
This once, I look to Cedric for guidance. His mask is clever and well-guarded, but I can read the worry on his face. “Of course. But you must promise her to try your prized casks, Rol.”
Rolan winks. “Anything you request.”
Holding back my groan, I rise and let Cedric lead me from the dais. The crowd pauses for us, bowing as we pass through. Avonde and Garreth stay behind entertaining some courtiers seated up front.
King’s duties call now.
“Do you ever get tired of it?” Cedric asks casually as we travel to the left staircase and up the velvet stairs. A pair of guards follow behind very loosely.
“Tired of what?” Rolan looks over his shoulder, the gold clasps holding his cape shining in the fading sunlight.
“The constant quest to succeed as a king. I must admit, I am still unsure of how effective I am,” Cedric confesses as we carry on down the hall to the king’s quarters.
His relaxed tone feels different to me and I try to find a calmer breath.
If he feels safe then so do I. A close relationship, I gather.
Rolan raises his hand to a set of guards, as if he were a friend waving. They don’t return the gesture as we enter two large oak doors into a grand room. I might have suspected this was his war room, but there are no paper trails, pawns, maps. Everything is clean and untouched.
“Well, we were chosen by Erees himself to be on the throne. Generations of people have fought and fallen to keep our lineage in power,” Rolan says as he seats himself behind a large bureau, kicking his legs upon it.
Cedric pulls out a leather chair for me and takes the other. He folds his arms and observes the king before him with a predator’s gaze.
“You have a point. Our creator seldom makes mistakes, Gods bless him. I suppose I am still adjusting to the position,” he finishes with a chuckle.
“How is it going for you otherwise? Things holding up well in the land of the cold? I have to admit, seeing Elivienne today was a surprise. I didn’t think you would deliver on your word of her health,” Rolan chides, pouring himself a tall glass of wine and gesturing to me.
I wave my hand to decline and he shrugs, pouring more for himself.
“Elivienne is quite healthy,” I reply for myself, some venom laced in my tone.
“She is indeed.”
Cedric crosses his ankle over his knee. “Was this necessary? I could very well think of a few reasons the High Council would be called to Duresden.”
“It’s not often the highest-ranking daughter of one of the strongest families goes missing, Cedric.” Rolan is not here to play friend, it appears. He is quite young and familiar with Lux’s court, from what I have gathered, so his paranoia does feel misplaced, even to a stranger.
“Is ‘missing’ the correct term? She was convalescing. We’re more private in this age,” Cedric replies cooly, taking a sip of his wine.
“Well, I am glad to see you well nonetheless, Elivienne. My friends mean a lot to me.” Rolan places a hand on his heart. “So, Lux, all well on your front?”
I clock the change in conversation. “Very well, as can be expected at the end of our summer. Our lords have been successful in land management and harvesting, which has been inspiring for the peasants.”
“Land management…” Rolan drawls.
“I don’t follow,” Cedric murmurs into his glass, eyeing the king in front of us. He looks over at a map on the wall. Duresden is painted in gold, completely standing out of the rest of the continent.
“By land management, you mean Krue,” Rolan replies, moving his attention to some blank papers on the desk.
“Yes, Krue and the Rhydian Range have done well for Lux. Strengthening our land and fortifications has always been important to my family. You know that. But they deserve an autonomous future.”
“You reference the land that you stole, no?”
Rolan meets Cedric’s eyes again and the two stare at one another for a few seconds. My back straightens at the tension hanging between us, awaiting movement. A corner of his mouth tilts upwards. Rolan bursts out in laughter.
“Cheer up, Cedric! By Gods, you’re hostile nowadays.
The land issue was a concern on my father’s end, and I am by no means my father.
Scornful bastard. All is well between us.
With these ongoing discussions regarding the alliances, nothing could sever our friendship.
” Rolan was still reeling from his laughter when I blew out my breath, loosening my jaw.
This trip is meant for cordial relations, not outright starting a war.
Cedric grabs the bottle of wine and raises it to toast with Rolan, unsure of exactly what to say. Seemingly, he understands and together, they indulge in silence.
We return to the banquet and find Avonde and Garreth seated quietly. Their eyes locked on couples dancing to the final stringed song. It appears most of my interactions will be limited moving forward.
The music slows to a light melody played by a hidden quartet.
The rest of the room, finished with their meal, discard their cups and trickle out to call it a night.
I, too, yawn from exhaustion. The carriage ride did not provide me with much comfort.
Knowing what life, what squalor, sits just at the bottom of the drive to the castle will make it near impossible to find rest on the way back.
Avonde didn’t eat due to the lack of human food and my glass has been half-filled with wine, which means I have gone without blood for almost a day now and at this rate I wouldn’t be surprised if my body succumbs again.
There is the other option, I suppose.
Not here. Not with their blood supply.
After our meeting, Cedric disappeared into the crowd to speak with some courtiers.
I curiously observe them from the dais and take note of their movements, their laughter, the way they always seem one step ahead of one another.
Is this the life of a vampyr? To be cunning in all things?
Cedric is quite popular here being the king of what is arguably the strongest country on the continent.
A blushed woman in a light pink dress approaches him seemingly from nowhere.
Her walnut hair rests on top of her head in various braids and coils.
He bids farewell to a pair of merchants and bows to her.
She hides a smile behind a blue floral fan and curtsies in return.
My neck cranes but I can’t hear their words from this far away, but I can see their body language.
Her hand reaches for his, causing him to pause and turn.
From my position, I can only get a glimpse of the conversation that is semi-hidden by the pillars in the room.
She laughs, grazing his jacket with her fingers, and conceals her giddiness with the fan once more.
Her hand travels down to his and their fingers hold one another for a moment before Cedric eventually nods in departure.
Interesting.
I turn my attention to Garreth, tapping him on the shoulder once.
“How long have you been in court?”
Garreth turns to completely face me. “Well, let’s see, I was born into it.”
“Ah.”
“In a way, I was bred to be Cedric’s third.”
“But you’re his second?”