The Heated Welcoming

As their unison feet steps into the vast dining hall, brightness of uncountable candles lights everywhere, strong yet not straining for the eye. On the north side of the hall, a large hearth beams its warmth, shielding from the night air which circulates outside yet squeezes inside. Tables by the walls which hasn’t been used for a long time; trophies mounted, paintings hanging, and torches erected, but what the most spectacular sight in this dining hall is the portrait of the current Tertin family that stares out at the whole room with gazing eyes of tint.

A portrait of a mother holding her precious newborn daughter in her arms. A father whose hands touch a child’s shoulders beneath him while having the most gladdened smile on his bearded face. And a young man who stands with a posture of proudness as he’s right beside his mother, father, and his two baby sisters.

One daughter older than the other by a couple of years.

Xe’Reth has never seen such a perfect picture of a family before. He’s truly awed by the painter who made it. But he turns his head towards the south side of the dining hall where people sit while waiting for them to come closer, for the distance to the end of the table from the double doors is somewhat far.

As Malinda stares towards the head of the table, her brother is currently speaking to a servant who’s taking orders from his waving calm flowing arms. She treads forward with Xe’Reth’s arm locked together with hers. She’s ready. The whisper from Xe’Reth has given her all the courage she needs right now. She can’t mess up his introduction to her family, she just can’t.

An atmosphere grows inside Malinda, her eyes become serene, her mouth sprout a gentle smile, and her movements, smooth yet flowing as she catwalks with a swaying arm, back and forth, while her other arm holds onto Xe’Reth’s, coiling it so her hand reaches his shoulder. A tightly secure lock which won’t let go for anything.

Her brother, Maldoran Tertin, finally catches his sister and the unknown man next to her, coming towards them. Celyssa sits also patiently for the incoming meeting with the young man who can doom her peaceful life. For she has failed her real family so dearly. This man will not be an existence her family will allow to be alive. Yet, she can’t do anything about it, since it’s either her and her daughter who’ll pay the price or this young man that she’s gazing at with an act of motherly ambiance on her expression.

Merissa, Celyssa’s fourteen-year-old daughter, too, sits beside her mother as she frowningly yet calmly waits for her dinner which has been pushed up. She doesn’t like unexpected happenings, so this event has her in a brooding mood, but she tries earnestly to keep herself levelheaded as her nails claw under the table, rather relentlessly too.

Dozens of servants are positioned by the wall beside the opened door on either side that leads to the tremendous kitchen where the aroma of various delicacies escapes from. Their postures as they remain by the wall, quiet and frozen while watching with their judgmental eyes at the incoming couple whose expressions of gentleness shows on both of them. Moving in unison with masculine steps and feminine steps.

The handmaidens of Merissa have positioned themselves behind their little Mistress a couple of meters away, staring at Xe’Reth as he comes closer and closer, yet their various colored eyes widen as they see the shadow of a man whose hair is pitch black, but his piercing eyes turns the handmaidens slightly afraid since they’re young, ranging from fifteen to sixteen-year-old girls, and one older who’s a thirty-year-old.

Yet, none else resides in this dining hall, no Madelyn, no head-handmaiden, and no other person than these gathered individuals who gawks at the couple as they come to the end of the table. Malinda, smiles brightly and courageously with her locked arm, holding Xe’Reth closely to give her immense support of both body and soul.

Celyssa raises from her throne-like seat, as does Maldoran, too. And as Celyssa straightens herself to have the gentlest expression, she says while eyeing at her daughter who stares at the empty void in front of her, “Honey, you need to stand up because we have a visitor coming with your aunt now.”

Merissa’s hidden hands under the table reveal themselves as she pushes her large yet light chair out to stand up, but the oldest handmaiden goes up to help her while Merissa listens to the steps that are closing in on the other side of the lengthy table.

Though, Merissa grimaces as she listens to her Aunt’s regular paces, which she has memorized numerous times… but no one else’s steps.

Silence is what follows Malinda.

With a turn of Merissa’s dressed body, her hand searches for her mother’s shoulder, then as she finds it, she taps it, “But mama, it is only Aunty that’s coming. Why are you saying that there is another person with her?”

Maldoran especially raises an eyebrow in absolute amaze as he heard her daughter’s words, but his wife’s eyes flicker in surprise as she responds sharply, “Merissa, watch what you say, do not embarrass me. When I introduce you, you’ll show your best appearance, now be ready, here they come.”

Merissa tries to listen again, but nothing, nothing at all. No sound escapes from Xe’Reth’s noiseless feet, not even a breath. An invisible entity who Merissa neither sees nor hears. It chills her bones greatly, but as she listens to Malinda’s steps, they’re rather clumsy, as if she’s holding something tightly while walking.

‘So… That’s the daughter of Celyssa, huh? She has her mother’s features, pity,’ Xe’Reth thought as he switches from person to person while Celyssa nods gently with a smile as their eyes connect. Then as his eyes finally travel to Maldoran, the General widely smiles at Xe’Reth, surprisingly. No, more of an amused smile than a friendly one, yet still generous nonetheless.

“Dear Brother. Sister-in-law. Niece,” Malinda gleefully opened with a smile while letting go of Xe’Reth to curtsy, but just a slight bow as she spins to place a hand on Xe’Reth’s shoulder. “I would like to introduce you to, Xe’Reth Quinery, as you know, he’s my lover.”

As Malinda does her introduction, Merissa switches her head side to side in quick succession, trying to catch some kind of noise from the unknown man who stand beside her young aunt. Which Malinda sees with a surprisingly pleased curve on her mouth, while Celyssa frowningly whips her head to her daughter for being tremendously ill-mannered for it looks like she’s shaking her head.

“Stop it—You’re embarrassing me,” Celyssa muttered harshly to her daughter as she leans in, which lowers Merissa’s head and arms in shame, bending forward for being scolded. But as Celyssa catches Xe’Reth’s eyes staring at her with his gentle smiling mask, she forces a smile, too, as she chuckles. “Do forgive my daughter. But her ears are sensitive to the unfamiliar. So would you greet her, to relieve her uneasiness?”

“It would be my utmost pleasure, Honored Madam Celyssa,” Xe’Reth answered with respect on his tongue and a hand on his chest as he bobs the head while bending his upper body slightly. “Honored Lady Merissa, forgive my light-footedness, but it’s sadly a habit I haven’t been able to get rid of.”

“Ah...! So there was someone there...!” Merissa exclaimed in wide-eyed darkness to herself while sitting down sloppily, having a pleased smile of relief as the man had worded out his presence to her. But her head droops again. “I’m sorry, Aunty… for interrupting…”

“Don’t mention it, Merissa honey,” Malinda said smilingly, yet unseen by Merissa’s blind eyes. “And now back to the introduction—Wait, where is Madelyn?”

‘Indeed… Where is that tyrant?’ Xe’Reth questionably thought, gazing at the people in front of him. But only three noteworthy people he needs to be aware of. Well, at least, two.

“Malinda dear, it’s because you hit your sister when you had that quarrel… about that man you defended,” Celyssa answered as if a shock strikes her, but she’s trying to stir up the room to see if this black-haired creature might act. “It was as if you knew the man himself since you did give your sister a rather swollen cheek.”

“Sister-in-law!” Malinda shouted, her eyes wide in utter surprise. Why would she mention that? Madelyn and her has already made up, yet Celyssa has brought it up, right here and now? “Why do you bring up a matter that’s already taken care of? Baby sister has forgiven me and I’ve forgiven her, so why?”

Her gaze travels to Xe’Reth. She bites her lower lip, and he raises a scarred eyebrow as he sees her mouth open once more, “And the man you mentioned, was Xe’Reth. He was the one who was being bullied by Madelyn. But through her, I met him, and he met me. So I can only be thankful for what Madelyn did, no matter now unfair treatment she gave him.”

“Hahaha, did you hear that my love?! I knew she would change the moment her heart became true!” Maldoran finally burst out laughing joyfully as he sees his sister being so defensive over her object of affection. As a matter of fact, it’s the first time he has seen her in such beautiful clothes, revealing her womanly charms to the fullest. But the most important part he sees, her eyes, full of love towards this young man with black hair and eyes. Black hair and eyes? Maldoran frowns wonderingly as he recognizes the young lad standing there with an air of civility about him.

‘Where’ve I seen this lad before…? Ah! Yesterday after the battle by Madelyn’s payment stall!’ Maldoran thought as his eyes widen but they relax into a narrow suspicion. ‘Isn’t he supposed to be a mere commoner? He has a posture of a noble, and the air about him isn’t that of a commoner. Is he perhaps taking advantage of my sister’s inexperienced mind of romance?’

“Xe’Reth, was it? I heard from my sister that you’re a commoner, how was your living standards before being moved? Since I’ve been informed that…” Maldoran glanced at Malinda and sighs as he walks to the side, then moves towards the couple, “that you’ve moved into the citadel already. I find it a tad worrying that my sister has moved and fallen for you so quickly… Maybe there is something you’re hiding from us? Because it is suspicious to—.”

“Brother…! How can you ask—!!” Xe’Reth’s hand raises to stop Malinda from shouting, which the people see in astonishment as Malinda does stop her words mid-sentence. Her eyes stare at Xe’Reth anxiously, but nothing, only her fear of saying something that might make Xe’Reth think differently about her, she glances back at her brother to wait for Xe’Reth’s words instead.

“You’re right, it is extremely suspicious, Honored Lord,” Xe’Reth said with a bow as his eyes don't remove themselves from Maldoran’s blue orbs of overprotectiveness. “But, how about I tell you over dinner? Since it’ll be such a long story for sure.”

Maldoran’s large build of muscles appears through his well-tailored clothes of wealth; a full length dark brown cloak covers his back, running down to his feet. While the embellished tabard tunic with dark patterned colors shows on his chest, stopping at the knees. His one shoulder has a fastened plate pauldron in a silver alloy that has five small blade-like spikes pointing backward, then curving down. And his legs have also silver plate covering them, starting from his waist, down to his plated boots. But neither his arms nor hands are plated, only his sleeves from the tunic, which reaches to his wrists so he can display his big hands with a pair of rings fastened around his fingers.

His rugged but caring expression relaxes as he closes his eyes while being crossed armed, his head bobbing as he agrees with a chuckle, “That’s good enough, lad. I’ve always enjoyed an excellent story. Come, and let’s sit down by the table.”

He forwards his hand as he begins to move towards his seat of power while Malinda places her hand on Xe’Reth’s back to gesture to follow. And as he stares at her, he nods with such a confident smile on his lips.

The couple then moves closer to the end of the table as they follow Maldoran, but the distance, short. Though when they come upon the very end, Malinda sees only her chair, yet her sister’s seat has been removed to be replaced by a regular seat instead. Which lowers her eyebrows and narrows her eyes in scorching anger.

“What is this for kind of welcome?!” Malinda shouted as she points at the chair that’s next to hers, turning everyone’s eyes wide in surprise with the sudden high voice resounding. The servants, too, startlingly jumps. Though as Xe’Reth sees the chair, his dark globes travel to Celyssa whose expression appears perfectly calm, no surprise on her normal eyes, only an expected event. “Who changed out Madelyn’s seat?! Only to be replaced by something this cheap?! It’s humiliating! Answer me! Who?!”

“Malinda, calm yourself!” Maldoran shouted as he has turned around to gaze wide-eyed at his sister’s unrecognizable expression which shows on her face of rage. But as he looks at the chair, he frowns, also understanding her sudden burst of fury. Though, his wife had already told him why the chair was removed. He sighs as he opens his mouth, “It was removed because the leg of the chair had broken. I understand your anger, but calm yourself sister, it isn’t such a bad chair, and he—.”

“—shouldn’t mind sitting on it since he hasn’t sat on anything better?! Is that it?!” Malinda screamed with an even higher voice which makes her brother recoil slightly but frowns deeper upon hearing her accusation. “Brother, I didn’t think that you would judge him by how he has lived…”

“Hehehe,” Xe’Reth begins to chuckle as he listened to them, but he can’t stay silent over the cause of a simple chair. “F-Forgive me, but I can’t help myself. You’re arguing about a chair, right? It’s just a chair, isn’t it? I can sit on the floor for all I care. So, Malinda, it’s okay, like he said, the chair is broken, and I don’t really mind sitting on that chair since I don’t need anything but your company. So calm down, your brother didn’t try to insult me or anything.”

“*Cough, cough* H-He’s right, sister, I didn’t mean anything by it… It’s just a chair after all…” Maldoran coughed as he tries to ease the situation because he has never been yelled at by his sister before. So it almost gave him a heart attack. His lovely sister changed so quickly. No longer a girl but a woman. It crushes his heart, though, she hasn’t been a normal girl ever since she joined his squad by the middle gate. The people she has killed, the blood she has seen, and the horrors that come as an aftermath on the mind. “Baby sister, if it would make you gladder, he could sit on my chair—.”

“Don’t baby me, brother…” Malinda snarled as she turns her head in another direction with crossed arms, which stabs Maldoran’s caring heart with a grimace of furrowing brows. But she sighs out as she did overdo the situation gravely. “Come, Xe’Reth, sit on my chair instead, next to my brother.”

“Ah, yes indeed! What better way to hear a story than to be right next to the teller! Yes, yes, come and sit, the dinner will soon be brought out,” Maldoran smilingly urged as he waves his thick hand rather excitedly for Xe’Reth to sit.

“Malinda… Aren’t you going a bit too far? It’s like HE said… it’s merely a seat. No need to lower your standards only because the seat isn’t adequate for him,” Celyssa responded smilingly too, but her voice tones her disappointment in Malinda’s ridiculous suggestion. “It’s your seat, after all. Don’t act childish with your tantrums, now sit down and calm yourself, for we don’t want… Xe’Reth… to think we aren’t well-mannered, right, Malinda dear?”

Xe’Reth stand silent as a ghost behind Malinda, but he places his hand on her shoulder while he walks as if he didn’t hear Celyssa’s voice, “Well, either way, let’s sit down. Your brother offered me to sit beside him so I can’t really decline. Come, let’s sit. I’ll be beside your brother and you sit on the lesser chair, okay?”

“A-All right… I’m starving,” Malinda said but with a flicker of her eyes, she adds, “I mean, I can probably eat because it has been awhile since I ate.”

“Great!” Maldoran exclaimed with a raised finger, then moves to sit on his grand seat while he pulls it forward, resounding the dragging of wood against granite. And as he’s seated, he places his arms on the seat’s armrests while forwarding his hand to the seat on his right side. “Now then! Let’s wait for the dinner to be served! I am completely starved from all the political blabber I had heard at the Ebon Wall! Hahaha! They truly know how to make one bored of listening, so I could use a good story to ease my mind.”

“With pleasure, Honored Lord,” Xe’Reth said with a bow while having closed eyes, then sits down on the cushioned seat.

“Please, please, call me Maldoran. No need for formalities because, well, sooner or later, I’ll become your brother-in-law. Hahaha. A brother so young! That’s a new experience for me!” Maldoran laughed as he scratches his newly shaved beard. “I’m sorry for my obvious suspicion of you, but hopefully, you will not take offense.”

With a hand asking for it to be taken, Xe’Reth with a beaming smile says while moving to shake hands with the Lord of Tertinum, “Neither offence nor forgiveness is needed, Maldoran, and I wouldn’t really be a courteous guest if I don’t urge you to call me, Xe’Reth, too.”

‘Checkmate.’

As the two of them squeezes their hands together, Maldoran presses a little harder to test this lad’s strength. Because the build of Xe’Reth’s body shows that he isn’t a mere young man that has lived a life of peace. A body of an incessant survivor who knows strife is what he’s got. But as he squeezes Xe’Reth’s hand, the lad falters gravely as he grimaces in utter pain upon feeling the pressure of Maldoran’s grip power.

Xe’Reth grits his teeth in agony as Maldoran gawks with wide eyes and mouth ajar at the sudden unhealthy lad sitting next to him. Which make him release his clasping grip, to move his hands to support his shoulders so he doesn’t fall forward, hitting the wooden surface where tableware lies, as his strength has drained completely out of his body, but an act is always an act, though, with Xe’Reth’s constant headache, he’s able to make it terrifyingly believable.

“Brother! What did you do to him?!” Malinda shrieked upon witnessing Xe’Reth’s painful expression with shaking hands trying to hold the edge of the table.

“I… I didn’t do…—I only squeezed his hand a little to test the lad’s strength…” Maldoran nervously responded as his hands are still placed on Xe’Reth’s shoulders, but he lets go as Malinda stands up to hold him herself. Embracing him as her breasts squeezes his upper head while arms encircle him.

“You have no idea what he has been through today! He is injured immensely from the torture inflicted onto him by some disgusting people who doesn’t have a heart! Yet you dare try to injure him even more?!” Malinda screamed at the top of her lungs, not giving any quarter to her loving brother who only tried to play a strength test with him. “He is extremely weak at this moment yet we came to dinner because you invited us—No, Xe’Reth is the one who didn’t want to decline the invitation. I wanted him to rest and not to be weakened any further!”

“Tortured?!” Maldoran shouted out in complete surprise, his eyes stare at Xe’Reth in horror.

“Yes, brother! Tortured! By a member of our own organization, the city guard! It’s disgusting knowing that such members are nesting in Tertinum! And Celyssa, I’ll be talking to you soon in the way you have dealt with the city guards’ recruiting… To have… corrupt members... it’s disgusting. Are all the members of the city guard as corrupt behind the scenes? Another thing before I finish, my mother’s aid, you said that it was like throwing money into the lake. It just shows your real personality.”

Everyone, baffled, to the point that their mouths stand widely ajar, even Celyssa’s, because Malinda just insulted her. It’s as Celyssa fears, but so soon, has she fallen so soon?! Though torture? She hasn’t heard of him being tortured. It puzzles her greatly as she gets bewildered with flickering eyes while staring at her sister-in-law. She’s like a daughter to her, yet why is she acting as if everything is her fault?

“Malinda, how have I earned this hostility towards me? You know that you’re like a daughter to me, your sister also. I’ve watched you two grow up to be the women you’re today, so really, it’s enough,” Celyssa strictly said with a whipping finger flinging in every direction. But that boils Malinda’s emotions even more.

“Yes, my sister… My dear cruel sister…” Malinda muttered coldly as her eyebrows furrows and teeth clench. The event that Xe’Reth told, about what the young girl had been punished for by her sister’s hand, she can’t bear it any longer. The rotten core of this citadel, the pure disregard for a human life, no more. “Yes, let’s talk about my sister. But first things first…”

Malinda leans Xe’Reth backward so he rests against the chair as she crouches slightly to be in eye contact with him. She touches his cheek as strokes after strokes flow with her hand. He’s breathing heavily but she mustn’t do something that can reveal his secrets. She knows he’s weak from all that has happened today, but not this dire would she have ever thought. Her hand remains, looking with squinting eyes, trying not to become too emotional.

As she directs his vision to look into hers, she says while smiling worriedly, “Xe’Reth. Shall we return to our quarters instead? Because we can eat with the family some other time if you want.”

“Ah… No, I’ll be fine. I… I just wasn’t expecting the handshake… Surprise got the better of me since it has been a rough day. But either way, let’s stay for dinner, though, maybe we can take my story some other time, Maldoran?” Xe’Reth asked with a forced smile as he chuckles jokingly.

“Why of course, Xe’Reth. And I apologize, I didn’t know your current condition. But to be actually tortured, preposterous! The villains must be found!” Maldoran shouted as his own eyebrows descend into fury while fists form.

“I’ve already dealt with the ones who’ll search for them because I won’t trust this matter to the city guard since they might be in league with the perpetrators…” Malinda suspiciously said as her eyes glance to Celyssa who gains a scowl for the accusation.

“Malinda! You’re going to far! The city guard is handled with complete and utter order!” Celyssa yelled as she raises herself from her chair, to point at Malinda severely, but she grimaces with eyes flickering as she sits back down.

“Then how is it possible that the city guard has a rapist among its members?” Malinda asked glaringly with extremely narrowed eyes. Not giving any mercy for Celyssa’s ways of running the city.

Malinda has been blind, her brother has been blind, everyone in this entire family has been blind ever since their parents died. Now she knows why the former head-handmaiden fought so eagerly to keep the reign of the Tertin family as traditional as possible. Because Honored men usually deal with the war on the Ebon Wall, while the Honored women deal with the political aspects of their ruling city, in the process, they have all control of the ins and outs of their domain. But Malinda, she has no control over anything anymore, only Celyssa who has her grasp on the Tertin domain, though, is she as corrupt as Xe’Reth pointed out?

“What do you mean, rapist? Don’t utter such a filthy word in front of Merissa,” Celyssa scolded as her hand touches her silent daughter who’s sitting there beside her, being extremely quiet, because she has never heard her aunt and mother argue so violently before. Sure, Merissa likes quarrels and discussions, but these kinds? She hates them because they’re something entirely new to her. It makes her anxious since she can’t see their various expressions that they direct at each other, making her claw with her nails beneath the table. “And what has gotten over you to act with such shamelessness? This isn’t your normal behavior. Have you been blinded by what happened to him so much you throw the entire blame on the city guard, onto me, your own Sister-In-Law? It’s ridiculous, but either way, I don’t like the tone you’re having with me. So sit down and control yourself before I get angry.”

“Malinda and honey, please, calm down. We’ve company… But, about what Malinda said, is it true?” Maldoran asked as he gazes intently at his wife. She, however, just brushes it off with a whip of her head in another direction.

“Do you think that I’ve time to inspect every member that joins the city guards? Well, I don’t. That job falls to the City-Commander and his subordinates. But I’ll have you know that I’ve contact with him every day through reports that are sent every morning, noon, and evening. So don’t think that I don’t know more than you, sister-in-law,” Celyssa said glaringly to Malinda while she now too stares with narrowed eyes.

As Xe’Reth straightens to sit normally, he touches his forehead to play sick as he shakes the head, only to grimace from the pulsating ache. But he sighs out tiredly with a hand being placed on Malinda’s shoulder, since she has played her part excellent, yet a little less than he expected, though good enough.

Emotions stirred, doubts settled, and the start has begun.

Malinda turns to support Xe’Reth. His expression strain to not show his suffering act as he forces a smile to calm Malinda down, which she does as her own body leans back against the lesser chair while holding his hand, giving her comfort.

“Do forgive Malinda, Honored Madam. But I’m the one who has filled her mind with these thoughts,” Xe’Reth said, rubbing his forehead, then with a shake, he grimaces again to display his current weak self. But he exerts himself to continue on as his eyes glare, “As I’ve lived in the slums of the city, I know how the city guard handles their duties even more than you, Honored Madam. And I can say that their effort in keeping the city safe is a complete and utterly ridiculous joke. It’s embarrassing that only four years have gone by, yet under these four years, this city has suffered immensely from the shift of rule.”

“Lord Maldoran, please forgive my rash words, but what your parents and your ancestors have built is on the verge of disaster. Have you looked outside your window to see how your people suffer? I think not, because not even Malinda batted an eye until I told her. She has been in mourning over the loss of your parents, her parents. But that sorrow shouldn’t be placed upon your citizens.”

Xe’Reth shakes his head in shame while all of the people inside this dining hall gazes at this noble-clad man who speaks preposterous sentences. Even Maldoran display interest in what Xe’Reth says because he has positioned himself in a slumping way on his large chair while one hand supports his chin which slightly tilts to one side as the elbow relaxes on the armrest.

His other hand drums on the table as he listens to Malinda’s lover, since Xe’Reth speaks of serious matters, so he simply doesn’t want to interrupt. But as his eyes travel to his wife, he sees her fury beginning to rise to a dangerous level, though, he stays silent because he has indeed not heard or done anything for the city in a long time. Only letting Celyssa handle everything while he’s away to handle the city’s army that needs constant supervision, and the meetings at the Ebon Wall which take up most of his time.

“The slums are run by extortionists, Lord. The city guards that rapes, robs and beats the poor folk of everything they own. And the property-owners who pays this city for their purchased estates, takes what they want by putting such a high payment on the people who rents the houses to stay alive. It’s truly disgusting that it has gotten this far… Yet, Lord Maldoran, do you even know these things? Probably not, or maybe you do, but simply avert your eyes from the problem at hand.”

“Enough, you heathen! Do not utter any more words of deceit!” Celyssa yelled furiously as she rises from her chair yet again, to point at him with a finger of utter nobility. “You’re but a mere commoner! How dare you speak of this city as if you know everything! You might come from the slums but I won’t hear such filth in the presence of my daughter! I wanted to show a good first impression, but now, not so much! It doesn’t matter how the city is run because it has nothing to do with you! You’re just a spur of the moment which will be thrown out as Malinda tire of a dog that comes from the SLUMS!”

“HOLD YOU TONGUE!” Maldoran roared as his fist smash on the table at what his wife told Xe’Reth. He has never seen such a personality from her before. She can be extremely strict, but outright insult someone? Never has he heard her say such words. Though what Xe’Reth said, too, has him up in arms about this current situation which has befallen the dining hall. Servants fiddles with their hands in anxiety, handmaidens with closed eyes while covering their ears, and Merissa, the blind teenager sits frightened dearly by the yelling voices around her, making her grimace as her lips shake in distress. “Love, you shall not use such words again.”

Maldoran sighs deeply, mostly out of exhaustion. The battle yesterday was rough enough for him to use his all. To shield his soldiers from a certain doom that ran towards them in great speed and in total madness. The faces of the enemy were much different, more desperate as if they were running away from something, to escape their previous lives of torment. He’s indeed tired, but he has still much to do before he can slumber away into the dreamland.

“My love, I heard what they said, and you have every right to be angry. But, I’ll have to look into it myself to know if what they say is true—.”

“But honey, it is pure lies what they say! The city is in its best condition ever—!”

“Silence I said!” Maldoran slams his fist onto his armrest this time while Celyssa scowls with flinch flickering eyes from the loud thud. She too isn’t used to him being angry, rather, he has never been angry at her before, but all kinds of various emotions do come forth when they’re stirred with unknown thoughts and ideas. Maldoran adjusts his sitting position to have a straightened back and head holding high, then calmly speaks out his thoughts on the matters, “The dining hall has become fierce with burning discussions which need to be put aside for now. This is a family dinner to welcome Xe’Reth as a member of this household no matter where he’s from. I might not know what you’re trying to do by gaining my sister as your lover—”

Maldoran fiercely raises his hand to stop Malinda from speaking out her raging thoughts while Xe’Reth leans in his grand chair in a somewhat relaxed manner, feeling the cushions as his weight presses it down. ‘It’ll do for now. I just need to push him a little bit more, so he’ll act upon my words. To see what has been going on in his city… Well, his… for now.’

“I might sound harsh, but I’m just looking out for you. Because you’re my younger sister, and will stay as my sister for as long as you live. So of course, I’m troubled by what you said and what Xe’Reth said. I’ll look into it; you know I have my own people in the army that can see to these kinds of missions. And Xe’Reth,” Maldoran said switching his gaze to the much healthier lad who still breathes slightly uneven, “You may have my sister’s love for what it’s worth, but don’t forget, I’m the one at the ruler’s seat of the table. What I say goes, but, you’re certainly right about what you said. I haven’t taken care of my people as I should have, that, I can say is what brings me shame upon my family name.”

He sighs with closed eyes, then as he opens them, they travel to his wife, his dear faithful wife who’s so hardworking. But she has done unforgivable acts. Maldoran knows that she tried to forcibly put her nephews together with his sisters, but ultimately failed because they’re too hardheaded to ease their guard against men. Though he does wonder as he raises an eyebrow to glance over to Xe’Reth again, the silence, unbearable while the Lord doesn’t speak. Xe’Reth though, he holds Malinda’s hand while coiling his fingers around hers.

Malinda too coils, beginning to cool down her temper from the rudeness her sister-in-law blurted out.

“The city guard, huh,” Maldoran muttered, eyes fixated on Xe’Reth. He slumps in his throne yet again as he shakes his head in shame, then direct his attention to his wife. “My love, tomorrow morning I’ll summon the city’s commander and all of its members. Send an envoy to the DLO, to ask them to watch over the city while I conduct a query on how it has been run these past four years. And you won’t need to worry of the procedures because I’ll have my own people taking care of the investigation, so after dinner, do as I say. Understand?”

“No! I don’t understand! Why do you take the words of someone you haven’t met, over your own wife, the mother of your child?!” Celyssa rejected as she slams her palms onto the table’s surface. “For the Divine Queens’ sake, listen to yourself! It is as if you’ve been charmed by magic! And Malinda, she too has been charmed by this snake of a man! Just look at him! He’s a villain in disguise, trying to tear this city down by bringing us apart—!!”

“MAMAAAAAA! ENOUGH!! ENOUGH!! ENOOOOUUUGH!!!”

Thanks for reading!

Anyway, the storm hasn't hit yet, soon, soon enough it'll boil over the edge.

What might have Celyssa's family done to make her so worried? What has she

Oh, don't forget the couple's first night together. Will it be steamy or just... a regular night? *Blink*

Until... Next Time...

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