“Beverages will be restricted to non-alcoholic and no blood. I want clear minds for our first gathering as the leaders of Ardens. And you are again?” Selene replied. Her tone was clipped.
“Albert of ElderPeak,” he answered gruffly, clearly upset. “How are we meant to build unity and friendship without a drink?” He laughed.
“Please have Albert of ElderPeak removed,” Selene said, addressing the manservant who stood at the door.
“Right away.” He bowed lowly before turning to the door and clapping.
“What!” Albert shouted, pushing himself from the table. There was disquiet whispering among the other more than dozen guests.
“This is ridiculous, all I asked for was a drink!” he continued shouting, his face turning red as two Ardens guards entered the room and gripped him by the upper arms.
He tried to shake them off. “I can show myself out!” he said.
“I insist you spend the night,” Selene said and nodded to one of the guards.
I wasn’t sure what she meant, but the guard seemed to understand.
“Yes, Ma’am,” the guard who had acknowledged Selene’s nod replied.
Albert kicked over his chair as he was dragged away, shouting that it was false imprisonment, that he had done nothing wrong.
“Does anyone else wish to insult my hospitality?” Selene asked the councillors. There was a nervous quietness, a shuffling of seats, glances to one another that expressed the tone of themeeting had changed, and yet no one responded to question Selene’s actions in removing the man.
“Good. There will be ground rules for this meeting; it will not descend into chaos. Firstly, there will be no talking over others, no insults, and no threats. All will have a chance to speak. If we must, we will resort to raising hands like children. Secondly, grievances will be aired calmly and concerns will be heard by all—no scheming. Thirdly, we will work as a group to find solutions to the problems facing House Ardens currently and in the future. Is that clear?” There was silence.
“Speak,” Selene commanded, and a chorus of agreement rang around the room.
“Good, lunch will be served in a few hours. For those with long travels, you are welcome to spend the evening in one of the many guest rooms and dine with myself and my family tonight. Let us begin.”
Selene pulled a seat out from the table and sat, before turning towards me and patting her thigh in invitation. I blushed furiously as I walked towards her at the silent command, aware that every eye in the room was on me. When I reached her, she pulled me into her lap, much like she was accustomed to doing during lunches at Sanguis—but here, in front of strangers, I felt exposed.
“Yes,” Selene said, and I tucked my head into the crook of her neck and shut my eyes to avoid making eye contact with any of the councillors in the room.
“I am Alice of Steepeak. I don’t mean to be rude, but, well…” the woman trailed off.
“This is my pet, Percy of House Flores,” Selene answered.
“A flower girl,” someone said excitedly. “Not seen one of those around here for a while. We could use a flower girl in Cliffwind. Our harvest wasn’t so good, and it’s lookin’ like a harsh winter. If it’s possible, that is. I don’t know how the whole pet thing works—I’m new to the role—and Cliffwind is a small place. Used to be House Vouna, you know,” the man speaking rambled. But the idea excited me. It was what Flores did—or used to do—help people.
“Can I?” I whispered to Selene, but I knew there would be those in the room who could hear me clearly. Selene was very still before she relaxed under me.
“Cliffwind is a long journey. I have a tour planned for two weeks’ time. We will make a stop at your village, Fotis. My pet, will offer her Flores services at that time,” Selene replied.
“Thank you, thank you. This is amazing. Everyone will be so happy,” he thanked Selene enthusiastically. I pressed my lips discreetly against her neck showing my own thanks.
The meeting was long. For a while I listened to the conversation, to concerns about job security, mine closures, lack of education and enterprise, to upset among some of those who were formerly House Vouna. The only time my interest was piqued was when one councillor brought up an attack on his village’s armoury by rebels. Selene assured that extra men would be sent for his guard but requested that no further talk concerning rebellion take place publicly, that such concerns should be brought to her privately, and promised that she would make time to address any concerns and keep the source of any information anonymous.
I began to think back to what Adamantia had said, about making a martyr of Valen. Martyrs were people who died for a cause. King Nicodemos Auster was assassinated and that startedthe civil war that created the Borealis kingdom. Father called him a martyr once. When I asked what it meant, he said it meant someone who died for something greater than themselves.
Valen didn’t die for anything great. He wasn’t the type of man to stand for anything other than his own selfishness. But with the talk of rebels, with what Selene said about some of her cousins not liking that she took the title and role of Marchioness of Ardens, did it matter if the person who died stood for anything personally? Or was it what other people thought they represented that mattered?
The thought made my head hurt, and the more I thought about it, the more tired I became. I had slept well our first night in Ardens, but I still wasn’t back to my full strength. Selene was warm and comfortable, and after some time, I felt myself drift.
I tried to fight it. But I was unsuccessful, as the next moment I was being gently shaken awake by Selene.
“Pet,” she whispered. “Are you hungry?” she asked when I opened my eyes and lifted my head to look at her.
“No,” I said, “but I do need the bathroom.”
