9. The Great Birthday Feast #2
The matron of the Gryphonheart family was an epitome of poise. Her crimson dress was elegant but not too overbearing, and dark hair peppered with grey were styled in an immaculate crown. When her sharp dark eyes rested on Skylar, she had to force herself not to cower.
"Mother, you look radiant today," Gawyn said, leaning toward her and kissing her cheek gently. The greeting seemed too stiff and formal to Skylar. She couldn't imagine herself acting with such reservation around her closest family.
"You look well too, my son," the woman said, and her eyes turned to Skylar, who stood a step behind Gawyn. The matron looked her up and down with a frown, her sight lingering on her bare shoulders. "And you brought your wife. How... lovely."
"My lady,"Skylar said, curtseying.
"Your dress is rather peculiar, my dear."
"It's the latest creation of Master Bailey,"Gawyn said smoothly, taking a step back and offering Sky his elbow again. "Was my present to your satisfaction, Mother?"
"Oh, yes. The stallion was indeed a beautiful specimen. It's a nice addition to my collection."
"I'm glad. I let you greet other guests now." Gawyn bowed his head lightly.
When they walked away, Skylar murmured, "I don't think your mother likes me very much."
"I don't think she likes me very much either." The General shrugged. "She is a very traditional and stubborn woman."
They moved through the room, greeting so many people that Skylar quickly lost the ability to connect the family names with the faces.
She kept a smile on her face even though her muscles started to ache.
But when Sky was sure the stream of people would never end, the trumpets sounded, and everyone moved towards the tables.
Gawyn led her to the biggest one, where the King and Queen were already sitting at the top. The matron Gryphonheart ruled over the opposite side of the table, surrounded by elegant ladies who seemed to be her entourage.
Skylar sat down on the chair Gawyn pulled back for her at the King's right hand. She looked around and noticed the most influential people from the most prominent noble families across Lamyria. Her tutors made sure she knew at least the most noteworthy members of nobility before this party.
The starters were served, and the conversation was flowing all around them. Skylar felt someone's intense gaze at her, and she looked up. A few seats down the table sat Lucinda, looking stunning in an elegant pink dress. She had a saccharine smile plastered to her face.
"Lady Skylar, good to see you! You look so incredible today. I hardly recognised you. I was just telling Axel about our first meeting!" she said and patted the hand of the man sitting next to her.
He was handsome in a way. His blonde hair was just long enough to fall unruly over his eyes but in a styled way. The golden rings with huge jewels adored his fingers, and he smiled at her, showing perfectly white teeth.
"Lady Skylar, I admit that after everything I've heard about you, I couldn't wait to meet you."
Sky raised her chin. "Axel Ironhand, the pleasure is all mine."
"Oh, you know my name. I'm honoured." He bowed his head, but just barely. "I must say, your dress is spectacular, my lady. So... bold. Would you honour me with a dance later?"
"I suggest you dance with your own partner," Gawyn said coldly, putting his hand on Skylar's.
"Oh, my. I didn't know Lord General is a possessive kind of man."Axel whistled with a smirk. "You'd better not take your eyes off her, dear General, as with that dress, I bet plenty of men would try to steal her away."
"And I suggest again you'd better focus on your partner. Otherwise, poor Lucinda will get bored with you."
"Fair advice, I'll drink to that." Axel tipped his glass towards them and winked at Skylar, making her skin crawl.
More food was served, and all the conversations died down a bit. Skylar couldn't even count how many different delicious dishes she tried, and she was proud that she remembered which cutlery to use for each one.
When most of the guests were satisfied, the discussions began anew. This time the topic was more serious.
"All Lamyria must unite in the face of the threat from the east," the King said. "While we are divided, and each of us cares for our land, we are easy prey for what is rising in the Blighted Lands."
"What threat?" Axel scoffed. "I apologise, Your Highness, but you keep telling us about this unknown threat, "he made quotation marks with his fingers, "while nobody seems to see any signs of it!
Why would we give command of our armies and resources over to you if you haven't shown us any evidence so far?"
"What threat?" Skylar repeated with disbelief. "Excuse me, Lord Axel, but have you ever been to the east border?"
The silence fell around the table. Axel raised his brow and looked at her. "I did not, Lady Skylar. As you should be aware, my lands are in the western part of Lamyria. If you wish to get to know me better, I'm sure we can talk later privately," he added with a smirk.
"Then how can you say there is no threat from the east if you never stepped further than the capital?"
Skylar continued, ignoring his obscene comment.
"Shawcross' forces are constantly patrolling the border with the Blighted Lands, and in the last three years, there hasn't been a week without an attempt of hostile intrusions into our kingdom."
"And what are those hostile intrusions exactly, Lady Skylar?" Axel asked, swirling the wine in his glass.
Sky felt Gawyn's hand squeezing her knee under the table, but she ignored him. "Different kinds of cursed creatures that are currently prowling the Blighted Lands."
"What kind of creatures?" asked someone else down the table.
Gawyn squeezed her knee harder, his face tense, but she swatted his hand away.
"Shadow Shifters, Dark Crawlers, Blood Vultures..." Skylar started, but she stopped when laughs erupted around the table.
"My dear Lord General, I'm afraid your wife drank too much wine already," Axel chided. "Shadow Shifters? Blood Vultures? Those are fairy tales, my lady. You gave us all a laugh, I give you that, but please, let the men discuss important matters."
"Those are not─" Skylar started, her flushed with anger, but Gawyn got up and grabbed her elbow.
"How about a dance?" he asked and pulled her away from the table.
"I'm not finished here," she protested, trying to shake him off, but his grip was like iron.
"Oh yes, you are," he hissed. "I won't let you embarrass yourself anymore. Let them think it was a drunk talk."
"Absolutely not! You know I haven't drunk a drop of alcohol! Why would you pretend otherwise?"
"Because you are ruining negotiations, that's why! Now stop squirming. We are going to dance."