Cloak and Scalpel

ABERLEEN ARC: The Seven Paxleys

It felt as though my stomach was filled with butterflies.

I stared at the small army of servants standing at attention.  As one, they all bowed to Aamon, and, as one, they all straightened up.  Aamon tilted his slightly in acknowledgement as we walked past them.  You gotta hand it to him.  The man could command an entire crowd with just a look. 

"Brother Vas!"

Sitri was waving eagerly towards the back of the line.  There, standing just in front of the grand entrance to the castle, were five people, all of varying height, their expressions ranging from haughty to bored to excited.  At the end of the line, I could make out Eren's mop of brown hair as he waved at me.

I gulped, suddenly more nervous. 

They were Aamon's other brothers and sister.  The remaining siblings of the Paxley family.

Aamon and I made our way towards them, and they offered their brother a brief bow before straightening.

"You couldn't have come any time sooner, brother," a young man said.  "I was starting to miss you."  He was the very spitting image of Aamon, but instead of his silver locks, this man had midnight dark hair tied up in a high ponytail.  His sapphire blue eyes were both mischievous and sharp.  In the pocket of his green suit, he wore a single red rose.

"Simpering does not suit you, Vassago," Aamon said calmly. 

Vassago let out a loud laugh, before his eyes found mine.  "My, oh, my, brother," he said.  "Wherever did you pluck such a delectable flower from?"  Without missing a beat, he pulled out the rose he wore from his pocket and handed it to me, clicking his heels in a deep bow as he did so.

"The most beautiful flower, for a most beautiful lady," he said, looking up at me with smoldering eyes.

It was so silly, I laughed.   I hadn't dated much, but that was honestly the cheesiest pick-up line I had ever heard.

Vassago looked taken aback, and the corners of Aamon's mouth tilted upwards in amusement.  Vassago stared at the rose he offered, as though to check it for any flaws.  "I-I'm sorry," I said, covering my mouth with the back of my hand.  "I was just very...surprised."

Vassago steeled himself.  "Vassago Paxley, my beautiful lady, at your service.  Should you tire of my brother, I would be more than happy to excite you."

Aamon glared at his brother, and I refrained my rolling my eyes.  Really.  I smiled at Vassago, then wrapped my hand around Aamon's arm almost possessively.  I leaned my head against his shoulder and smirked at Vassago.

"Oh, His Grace has been nothing if not exciting," I said, thinking of all the mishaps it took to get to Castle Aberleen.

"How surprising," Vassago said, rather sourly.

Sitri laughed at him.  "You find that funny, don't you?" Vassago asked her as he bowed and offered her the rose instead. 

Sitri immediately launched herself into Vassago's arms and he grinned as he spun her around.  "I've missed you, brother!" she said.

"And we've missed you as well, little bud," Vassago said, carrying her in his arms.

Aamon placed a hand on top of mine as a nervous young man approached us.  He had shaggy brown hair in a rattail and clear blue eyes the color of a summer sky.  He was lean, and dressed in a dull brown coat and breeches. 

"I-I'm Berith," he said, holding a hand out to me.  "It's—it's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Diana.  We've-we've heard a great deal about you.  A-amon's been writing letters to us."