Mermaids are Menacing (Book 2) Complete

69.) Head to Tail

I slowed to listen when I walked past Vees door but didn't hear anything inside. I found myself walking comfortably but the man infront of me was speed walking in an elegant way. He stood up straight as he walked, he took long strides but did it relatively quietly as he walked close to the wall. I walked in the middle of the hall way, a quiet act of rebellion and I knew it wouldn't escape his notice. These people were all about rules.

I waited for the blond man in his dower robes to get mad at my breach of etiquette. Yet, despite my actions he didnt try to scold me as the head maid had previously. I was almost disappointed. I looked down at the top off his head trying to figure out what was going on in there. We left the high lords wing and continued down to the dinning room. A place that i had been before. I walked in and admired the room. The long table with many center pieces down the length. The ceiling glittered with the light of a thousand crystals. The carpet was a different color than i remembered but still very detailed in design. Vee probably still had a shiney piece of the chandelier tucked away in his room somewhere.

"The high lord will be with you soon." The man said before seperating us by the closing of the door. I was along in the dinning room. The men always stood with a certain pose when the high lord entered the room last. I waited by the door, standing still getting lost in thought. Five minutes became ten minutes. Ten mknutes became half an hour but i didnt see horn or tail of the high lord. 

Did he forget he wanted to have a meal together? Or rid he get caught up with some project and is running late. There was no one in the room to ask and I started thinking about my kids. Yea they were probably fine but any amount of time away from them put my feelings on edge. I sat at a random chair at the table, and began fiddling with the decorations that sat on it. There had been a time where getting into this chair was a hassle and now I just sit down without even trying. I had really grown this year.

I rapped my claws agains the table, clicking loudly. Impatiently. After awhile i began to hear the scurrying of humans in a kitchen nearby. Originally i felt relieved to hear the movement, thinking the waiting would be over soon but that was not right. Nearly a full hour passed since I began to wait. Hunger groaned in my stomache and I wanted to leave but if i disregarded a direct summons and left, theres no knowing what the high lord might do.

I've seen how he treats his son. Its not difficult to imagine how he would treat me who isn't even the same species. Being away from the kids made me anxious. More anxious than when we were out in the wild. I told the girls to bite the maids if they act up but how long would it be before the maids realized that the girls didnt actually have teeth yet?

In the wild the dangerous things were predictable. Most animals would give you a wide birth, Defend their territory if threatened, and hunt at specific times. Here was competly different. It was always close quarters, the danger was always significantly higher, and the times that were the most dangerous were completly unpredictable. The thought of it made me itch all over again.

I felt an ache in my bones. The constant waiting, the not knowing what would happen next, but what bothered me most of all how incredibly weak i felt during all of this. Steady foot steps. Approached down the hall. A draging sound of fabric on stone. The occasional jingle of jewelry clattering against itself. He must have changed again since this morning.

The chair made a grating sound as i pushed it back. I stood up from the table to wait for his arrival. Legs apart looking forward. The High Lord Kavern was as opulent as usual. His long dark hair was slicked back into a long braid. Shiny pieces of gold and gem beads were clamped or strung in for decorations. He tended to wear long flowing ornate robes, like he did today. The colors were a purple with gold designs up the sleaves. It seemed familiar. With stitching that depicted complex design or brightly colored fabrics overlaying itself. The men here reminded me of preening birds more often than not.

He looked between me and the chair with distaste before he sat down.

"Living in the wilderness didnt seem to teach you proper decorm."

I continued to look at the wall saying nothing. He sat at the head of the long table and I stod next to a chair near the door. Servants quietly shuffled in and took their places along the walls. They were standing as quiet and still as I was, just in a different place.

"Sit down." He ordered. I began to return to the place i had occupied before he came in.

"Here." He said tapping the place next to him with one black clawed nail. I pursed my lips with displeasure but begrudgingly took the steps forward to sit at the place next to him.
"You seem to comprehend the language well." He muttered. " That should make this less daunting."

A goblet was brought out and placed on the table. The top of the head who brought it could just barely be seen. The strength it must take to lift a drink that heavy over head and place it without spilling must be a difficult mannuever only mastered with lots of  practice. The high lord didnt seem to notice or care about this small effort because he continued on. Other items came out from the kitchen carried by humans. His plate was placed infront of him. The meat barely cooked. With a large bone sitting on top of the meat and covering most of the plate.

"You didn't seem to enjoy your wait. Of course you kept all of us waiting with your little antics." He said. "Keeping our clans offspring from us is a high offense." He continued to speak while he glared at me with black eyes.