Crescent (Old Version)

+ Part 36 +

The new arrivals both smiled kindly before bowing their heads at the raging High Lord beside me. Ceth quietly cooled and forced a saccharin smile I knew hid fury.

"She is right," another female spoke at the end of the table. I looked at her and still struggled to remember her name though she was the only other female in the crowd.

Audelia. I couldn't remember her last name. The other ambassador to Lord Carter and Lady Rhiannon.

She wore a gown much simpler than mine and gold in color rather than white. "I do believe being late warrants more wine, Ambassador Astley," she seemed to tease and thankfully, the tension eased as the shorter of the pair bowed again.

Thayer Astley, I knew. Ambassador to Lord Brennan.

His black tunic, with lilac purple embroidered into the sleeves, had a line that bared his chest down the middle. Beneath it, dark tattoos, words and drawings in a language I'd never seen before, scrawled across his tanned skin, and I noted that his ears were covered in dozens of black rings.

But, the man next to him... Flemming Smith. He didn't look the slightest bit familiar, and that alone made my stomach sink.

His gray eyes were vivid, and his dark locks fell in a mess across his forehead. His black tunic, with a ......... stitched in lilac at the heart was equally as rich as his fellow envoy's.

"We bear no gifts, but we'll be sure to include more wine in negotiations," he amended, the smile disappearing, and a frown seeming to take residence it its place. I took the moment to beckon them both forward.

"Come and join us. We wouldn't want the food to get cold."

Not that it would matters anyways. The food would be steaming if Janice had any say in the matter.

Astley and the darker-haired ambassador, who I didn't recognize from any photo Saren had shown me, crossed the room. He took the chair beside me and Astley took the chair beside him. We all took our seats at once as the remainder of the food appeared by the heap full in the middle of the table. The smell of all of it all gathered beneath my nose, and I inhaled, willing my breath to even out. Ceth kissed my hand again, making sure my ring flashed in the firelight before overlooking the group again and gently setting our entangled hands in my lap.

There was music playing again, I realized as we all settled into light chatter as the servants piled our plates. I ate only a third of what I normally would.

All part of the script. I could eat later if I wished, so long as no one saw.

"Lord Shawcross," Audelia spoke again and Ceth looked at her to continue. "I had heard of the new Lady of White Stag at your name day party, but I had no idea you were to be married already."

It wasn't jealousy so much as curiosity, but all the same, I was to look at him, smile at him, blush for him as he brushed a finger down my chin. I was all-too-aware of the eyes of the man sitting next to me... likely smelling the lies rolling off of me.

Imposter.

"I proposed last moon actually. She's quite a catch, this one. She's taken it upon herself to plan the entire gala, start to finish. I really think it will be quite something."

"With such short notice too! When is the wedding?" she asked, and Ceth and I both looked endearingly at each other. He gave me a look that told me I had permission to answer.

"I was thinking next spring?" I glanced at her. "I wouldn't want it to interfere with the solstice though." She nodded, her golden hoops brushing her bare shoulders as she did.

I'd sold her at least.

Those same two eyes bled into me, and I finally turned to meet the dark-haired male to my right. His eyes were the darkest grey, near black, and when our eyes met, my chest tightened with something foreign in feeling.