Shadows Bleed

XV

XV

Once his father left the room, Shimei scampered out from beneath the bed, stopping by the door and casting his gaze surreptitiously over my half naked form.

"Are you okay?" he asked, keeping his eyes on mine.

"I'm fine," I said, still digesting what Lord Vaskarth had proposed. I lifted my head and gave him a stern look, warning him. "Don't say a word of this to anyone, got it?"

"My lips are sealed," he said, flashing the same warm smile he inherited from his father and exiting.

***

Before he left, Vaskarth made sure to free me of my bonds. I gratefully stood up, stretching my sore legs and aching arms. An invitation to join both him and his family for dinner that evening had also been extended. My initial inclination was to refuse but, in the end, hunger won out over my dislike of the societal upper-class.

A dress of Vaskarth's eldest daughter's, Yennyfer, was delivered for me to wear on the 'occasion'. It was a soft blue colour that contrasted too sharply with my hair. I was, however, lacking better attire, and so donned it anyway.

I attributed fault to my innate femininity as I twirled in front of the mirror, fully taking in the dress and realising I quite liked it. I'd never before worn anything but trews and trousers, making this a new and, might I say, delightful experience for me.

I was led once more through the home by one of House Kenwall's maids, a young blonde woman with a shy demeanour that was reflected in both her gait and inability to make eye contact.

My mouth hung open upon arriving in the dining room. I believed the lounge to be cavernous but the dining room easily put it to shame. There must have been over a hundred seats at the fine table running the length of the room. Only the head and a few places either side of it were set, however. Mounted on the wall were the trophies of various animals which, amusingly, I found somewhat fitting for a place of dining.

A series of small chandeliers hung at regular intervals above the dining table, each different from the last and reflecting the light in various patterns on the walls, creating an abstractly calm atmosphere. Servants bustled to and fro with trolleys and trays, placing covered silver platters on the table.

They eyes of all present shifted to the door as I entered. Lady Marion's stare was, of them all, rather hateful. The children, with the exception of Shimei and his older sister, Yennyfer, looked at me in awe.

Yennyfer glared at me with distaste, cementing the notion that she had not been party to my use of her dress. I could see now, as I examined her ever so briefly, that she shared no resemblance to her 'mother'.

Vaskarth's bastard child, I remembered. Every Lord has one or two.

Shimei, on the other hand, seemed fixated on me and unable to move his eyes elsewhere. His father nodded once when I made eye contact with him, seemingly appreciative of my accepting his offer and gesture.

"Well," he said as I took a seat on the ladies side of the table between his two youngest daughters. "Now that our guest of honour has arrived, we can begin!"

The servants and waiters, all as one, reached in and lifted the reflective lids from the trays. Pleasing aromas and steam mingled, wafting towards the ceiling together. The sight of so much food left me in a stupor; there was more to eat here than I had ever seen in my entire life. I piled my plate high, much to the distaste of Lady Marion and the hushed giggles of the children. I didn't want any to go to waste.

Dinner was not so terrible an experience as I formerly presumed it would be. I passed most of the time, in between mouthfuls, exchanging light and lively conversation with Vaskarth's youngest daughters.