Chapter 8
Light filling the room pulled Evangeline from the deepest sleep of her life, a soft groan as her arm moved to cover her eyes, “Marxius, ten more minutes..” “Rise and shine, Lady!” That was not Marxius. Arm moved and eyes opened, head turning to see Tallon standing with his hands on his hips in front of the now uncovered window. The events of the night before were hazy, sitting up in the bed and glancing down at herself. A nightgown made of a fabric so light and soft, it scarcely felt as though she was wearing anything and the idea of it made her blush and pull the blankets up to cover herself, “What happened last night..?” An unsure smile touched over his lips, scratching the back of his head, “Why don’t we talk about that at breakfast? I’m starving, and Vince wouldn’t let us eat without you. Now up!” He’d cross to the bed and pulled the blankets away from her, a squeal from Evangeline as she got up and whapped him firmly on the chest, “You get out! OUT!” With a laugh of victory, Tallon fled the room with the blankets in his hands, turning once he was out the door and grinning. Eva slammed the door in his face and then kicked it for good measure, a secondary squeal coming at the self-inflicted pain on her on foot, and another bark of laughter from outside.
Opening the wardrobe, Evangeline found that it had been stocked with more clothes than she could possibly know what to do with. Browsing through them, she picked out a simple pink dress with a thick sash at the waist. Once it was on, she moved to the mirror and ran a brush through her hair, pulling it back and pausing as a faint memory came her; a pain? On her neck, Vince being so close. Turning her head side to side and examining her neck, Eva saw no marks and smiled, “Too much to drink last night, I think.” Hair pulled back into a pretty ponytail, she excited the room.
Tallon stood out in the hall waiting for her, the blankets folded up and placed on the ground beside him. Looking her over quietly, he’d take her hand gently in his own, “C’mon, he’s waiting.” Her second blush of the morning at his tender gesture, squeezing his hand and walking beside him down the long hallway.
Servants were running around in somewhat of a panic, chatter about preparing for ‘another last minute ball’ filling the air. The doors to the dining room were opened before they could even reach them, Vince already sitting at the head of the table in what Evangeline could only guess was some sort of morning robe. Gold in color with wine red accents, it was certainly an interesting piece. The Lord rose when they entered, moving to pull out a chair with a warm smile to Evangeline, “Good morning, M’Lady. I assume you slept well?” “Deeper than I have in a long time, you will have to share what kind of wine you served.” When her response was not to pick up a plate and throw it, both men breathed an internal sigh of relief.
“Lord Vince, I could not help but overhear talk of ball..?” The idea of it was not one that excited her, Balls in Ferrum were hopelessly stuffy occasions that she had been forced to go to. Grinning, he took his seat and plucked a vibrantly colored piece of fruit from his plate, “Oh yes. There will be a Masquerade Ball this evening, how could I not?” Tallon smirked, “Vince will take any excuse to throw a party, he once had a festival to celebrate a haircut he liked.” It was a wonderful day.” Vince agreed, seeming lost now in some dreamy memory as he chewed thoughtfully on the fruit.
“I would like Marxius and Pip to be there, it doesn’t seem right leaving them on the ship while we sleep in comfortable beds.” One of those names pulled Vince from his thoughts, placing his arms on the table and leaning in, “Marxius? He wouldn’t happen to be a cat, would he?” Now it was Tallons turn to react, rolling his eyes, “Cat with a serious attitude problem, you’d think someone who licks his own ass would be more humble.” “Tallon!” He ended up being pelted with a grape from across the table, an annoyed Evangeline on the other end of it.
Once she felt he had been thoroughly glared at, she turned her attention back to Vince, “Yes, he is my cat. How did you know?” “Marxius was born here, in Crestal. I knew his father, though..I believe those are all things he can tell you himself. Hm?”
“Yes. It is.” That voice! Evangeline was up on her feet in a second, hunting now for the familiar white feline to no avail, he was nowhere to be seen. Standing in the doorway was a man however, short white hair that spiked a bit and bright blue eyes. He wore a deep blue vest with a white undershirt and black pants tucked into calf-high boots. Appearing in his late twenties, there was something eerily familiar about him.
From behind his legs, Pip poked out her head and squealed, “Lord Vince!” Past the man and across the room, the little ball of curly headed energy tossed herself onto the Lord. He embraced her with a soft ‘oof’ and a laugh, kissing the top of her head, “You have grown so much! Before I know it, you will be a grown woman with suitors!” “Eeeew!” The idea of it! She buried her head in his shoulder, not intent on letting go of the man for now.
“..Who’s yer friend, Pip?” Tallon was sitting still, arms crossed, gaze set firmly on the white-haired fellow in the doorway. Pip raised her head and looked at Tallon as though he had just asked her what color the sky was, “Uh, Marxius?” Duh. Rolling her eyes at her brothers’ stupidity, she went back to clinging happily to Vince. It was difficult to figure out which of the two went redder; Tallon, or Evangeline. Each looked as though they were about to explode, but for two completely different reasons.
Silently, Marxius stepped further into the room and Evangeline approached him. Stopping a few feet away, she searched his eyes as everyone else in the room watched, the tension in the air thick enough to cut. Taking in a deep breath, she slowly let it out and smiled, “I want to be angry with you. I want to scream at you, and stomp my feet, but I understand. You could never have told me in Ferrum, because if anyone saw..” “I would have been killed.” He closed the distance between them and pulled Eva into a firm hug, resting his chin atop her head, much taller than the Lady who had once been able to carry him around.
“You still get hairballs like that, cat?” Tallon was glaring from his seat, none too happy about the new appearance Marxius had taken on, or the way he was holding Evangeline. Pip came to his defense by flinging herself from Vince to Tallon, tiny fists flying while Evangeline started asking a quick series of questions that left Marxius looking frazzled and frustrated, the room quickly filling with the sounds of bickering.
Vince cleared his throat to bring everyone back to one level, his warm smile radiating around the room, “Today is a day of celebration! There will be no fighting in these halls. Now, we will all sit and enjoy breakfast, and tonight..we dance!”
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