211: Dinner

Entering the dining hall, I found it had completely transformed from the first visit. There were now banners adorning the walls, with several long tables leading towards the head of the room, where there was a clear segregation between the large communal tables and the royal chairs at one end. To either side of them sat two tables, with four others.

I was led through the room by Kathrine, walking alongside the rows of tables, which I assumed were to hold all the lesser nobles, eventually arriving at the table on the left of the royals, where another brazier sat, along with a cushion covered in a black and red blanket.

“Thanks for the cushion,” I whispered.

Kathrine just gave me a smile, and although I didn’t think Lily would show up for this food, it was a thoughtful gesture. Crisplet, however, was quick to get into the brazier. I took my seat at the table that held four chairs with Liane, as Kathrine, Elijah, and Luis all went to the royal table.

It was strange, as right now the room was empty, and it wasn’t until we’d taken our seats before others filed in, escorted by a staff member to their appropriate seats.

I wondered who would join us at this table.

As the dining room filled, I felt the gazes of everyone as they entered, saw the whispers, though I couldn’t hear them, likely all with questions about what had just transpired, not that I could give them any answers anyway.

The other tables were filled at the front by the major houses, including the ones who had just been promoted, yet no one was placed at my table yet.

Looking over, I saw the King and Queen still had not entered yet, either.

Soon two individuals came to my table; only one I had ever seen before, and I hoped he would not be sitting here. The other didn’t even look like a human. Their skin was a blue-grey. They wore a light blue silk suit that had sapphires threaded through it in a shape I didn’t recognise, but when I looked at their face, it wasn’t the long silky black hair or sharp bone structure that caught me. It was the eyes.

They appeared almost as sharp as Lily’s, only they were purple, a deep, dark purple.

The man escorting them; I was hoping I wouldn’t see again today, since it was Gerald. The look he gave was halfway between a sneer and terror. However, it didn’t last long, as he’d only made it close enough to gesture to the guest when a very familiar pressure appeared beside me.

To his credit, the unknown guest only broke out into a giant smile at the sight and continued to sit down at the table, while Gerald faltered before finding somewhere else to be.

“How curious. I expected this dinner to be a dull affair. How incredibly wrong I was,” the person said.

“We’ve not met. My name is Trevor, Liane, Crisplet, and that is Lily,” I said, gesturing.

Liane just nodded, saying nothing.

“Indeed, we have not met. Your outfits are curious. You speak like a native of this land but dress as an ambassador. I am Lestillia Tanal, ambassador to the Rotalin Islands,” they said.

“I’ve never heard of it, but pleasure to meet you.”

“And yourself? Are you an ambassador? Perhaps the children of one, and that’s how you have the accent?” Lestillia asked.

“No, I’m from here. I was an orphan,” I said simply.

Liane let out a small snort of laughter.

Lestillia looked at me strangely, studying me. “How did you come to acquire these pet—”

They never got to finish their sentence before Lily’s head snapped to them, the glare and significant increase in pressure even causing a couple of small shrieks from nearby tables.

I reached down to run my hand down the back of Lily, to try to calm the situation.

“I will warn you now. Lily and Crisplet are not bound to me in any way. They are their own beings and understand you perfectly well. I would advise you against insulting them.”

“Noted,” Lestillia said, looking considerably paler, which was impressive for skin that was already the blue-grey it was.

“Then I will rephrase the question. Who are these two beings to you?” Lestillia asked.

“My friends.”

The conversation subsided for a moment as the King and Queen were announced and made their entry into the dining hall. I nearly forgot to rise, if not for Liane dragging me up with her.

Once they sat, everyone joined in sitting down. The only people who didn’t rise were the person sitting at my table, along with the princes and princess.

“You’re an odd pair,” Lestillia said, still staring at me.

“Why do you say that?” I asked.

Lestillia smiled. “You’re both seated directly next to the royals. Neither of you are wearing kingdom colours, and you’re with two companions who would, under normal circumstances, never be allowed in here, and not only that, but they have made furniture specifically for them. This would be reserved for royalty of other kingdoms, not an orphan. Certainly not an orphan of this one.”

“I can see how that would be odd. Tell me about yourself. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve never seen someone look like you before,” I asked, changing the subject from myself.

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“Don’t suppose you would have. We rarely travel outside of trade. Tell me, what do you know of the world, where the land masses are?” Lestillia asked.

Shrugging, “I know the demons are to the south, and there is another continent to the east, and Alira is somewhere up north in a volcanic region.”

I said it without even thinking, and as the words left my lips, I realised I had given away too much in that moment. It might have been known where Alira lived, but I didn’t know that.

“And you, Miss Liane?” Lestillia asked.

Liane shrugged. “Pretty much the same.”

Lestillia didn’t react to it at the very least. “So, just minimal knowledge right now. Rotalin is far to the east of the demonic isle, though the journey here is not so easy, but we are native to those rocks and call it home, though we mostly live below them.”

I wanted to ask questions about that, if they lived underground, but I was interrupted by dinner starting to arrive. A small bowl of what looked to be a vibrant orange soup was placed in front of me.

“A delicate Kipperworm and Railen seed soup, served with iron grain bread.”

I had no idea what any of it was, besides the bread, which I recognised, but I was more than happy to try something new. The next surprise arrived when two more plates were delivered, but not to the table. The first was a plate of what appeared to be blue wood chips.