"And that's how the owl almost took my right eye," concluded Blanc.
"Wow…" muttered both twins in unison.
"Can you tell the story about that secret Mark of yours?" asked Kael.
"Is there such a thing?" questioned Lune, "I want to know! I want to know!"
Blanc giggled, hearing them, "Ok, so if I tell you the story and then show you the Mark, will you let me be?"
"If it's as special as you make it to be, then yes," said Kael, "but if not, you have to tell us more stories."
"Very well. So, last summer," Blanc began, but a knock at the door cut his story short, "Who is it?"
"Young Blanc," said Drew as he entered the door and made a quick bow. You are expected in the Main Hall."
"What for?" he asked.
"The meeting is over. Dinner is to be served, then the Patriarch and the Matriarchs wish to have a word with you."
"Is it evening already?" muttered Kael, "How long have we been in this room for?"
"About four hours, as per Beyanna's estimate," replied Drew.
"By the Vita…" muttered Blanc, "Let us go then. Kael, Lune, come, it's time to eat."
"Yes!" they both replied with an energetic nod.
The main hall of the mansion was well-lit by crystal artifacts that casted a warm white glow over the hall.
In the middle of the hall sat a long wooden table that held the slit-throated crow, the symbol of the Blood, in the middle of the table.
The rest of it was covered with white silks, atop which foods and drinks were laid.
Their meals lacked nothing one could desire.
Meat from at least three different animals, vegetables prepared in every way conceivable, drawn from more plant varieties, Blanc once mused, than most people would encounter in a lifetime.
All those, and many more, were prepared by cooks employed by the Blood through the Commercial Guilds, where the cooks are handpicked by the Bloods themselves and are usually employed for a lifetime contract.
"Evening, father, mothers." bowed the late-arrived siblings.
"Come, eat," smiled Mera, "the food is getting colder."
As they sat at the table and began to eat, everyone stood in silence.
Whenever a type of food ended, the maids brought another plate until everyone was full.
Blanc, during this time, as he ate, watched the faces of everyone present, as he tried to guess what was about to be talked about.
His father, as always, maintained a stoic facade, even though Blanc could have guessed the one most worried would have been him, yet he didn't want to show it.
Blanc didn't fault him for it. After all, he understood what was required of his father. The pressure on his shoulders couldn't be anything else than gut-wrenching for the common man.
His mothers, well… they didn't hide their worries as well. After all, they were mothers.
What mother could not be worried when the lives of their children might be in danger? Not for their own. No… Blanc knew that as well.
They did not worry about their own lives, but of the children, the three of them brought into this world together. Raised together.
But they still tried to handle the food as elegantly as possible. After all, nobles don't forget their manners under stress.
His older brother, Valar, looked composed, a confident look on his face. From that, Blanc deduced that the situation perhaps has changed.
The threat of the Iron Line decreases in his eyes. That, or he finally went mad.
As for Sera, well… she seemed calm in his eyes. She will soon get married, and she most likely heard with whom. Most likely a good response for her ears.
As the meal was over, the maids soon began cleaning the long wooden table they stood at.
"I heard you wanted to talk," Blanc began, cutting the silence.
"Yes," Elion spoke, "but before that, Beyanna."
"My Lord," replied Beyanna as she took a step forward.
"Take Kael and Lune to their rooms so that they can rest for the night."
"As you wish," she replied the next instant.
"Good night, children!" smiled Auren, waving towards them to get closer.
"Can't we sit and watch?" asked Kael as they got closer to their mother. "I promise we will stay quiet."
Mera giggled, hearing his plea, "Perhaps when your little ones get older, but not now. Go get some sleep."
"Very well…" muttered Lune.
So, starting with the Matriarchs, they walked around the table, kissing the cheek or being kissed on the cheek by their mothers, fathers, and siblings.
"Good night, little ones," said Blanc, as he gave each of them a small kiss on each of their foreheads.
"Good night," they replied in unison before they were taken out of the hall by Beyanna.
"Wine?" asked Elion, looking at Blanc.
"Sure, why not?" he replied, before being offered a cup by one of the maids.
"Clear the room," ordered Elion to Drew. And without another word, all the guards that remained in the corners of the hall, as well as all the maids, left the room, leaving only the six of them seated at the table.
Elion stood at the head of the table. Mera and Auren were on either side of him. On Auren's side stood Valar, and next to him stood, before they left, Kael and Lune.
And on Mera's side stood Sera and Blanc. They always stood like this, each child standing on the side of their Birth Mother.
"Well then," started Blanc, "let's hear it."
"Were your words earlier today honest?" asked Elion. "Answer truthfully."
"Of course," Blanc nodded.
Auren spoke next, her voice cold, "Can you swear on it?"
"If that would give you all peace of mind, yes," Blanc replied.
"Very well," replied Elion, unsheathing a knife he had at his side and throwing it on the table near Blanc and Sera.
The sudden clank scared Sera, who didn't expect it. "It almost fell on my hand!" she spoke, raising her voice.
"But it didn't," retorted Elion, "Now, get to it, Blanc, and don't miss a single word."
Blanc nodded, taking the knife to his right, and placing the blade on the palm of his left, before he spoke, "Upon my name, Denegis Blanc, son of Elion and Mera, son of Noble Blood, son of the beginning and the end. Swear upon the Vita watching us all, that mine words bear the truth. If these words of mine bear any lie, may the Vita desert me, shun me, hate me." As the first part of the promise was over, Blanc pressed the Blade deeper in the palm of his hand, before, with a quick slash, cutting his hand open.
Next, he took the bleeding palm over the symbol of the Blood and, facing the pouring blood down, painted the crow with a palm full of blood as he began speaking again, "With this offering of blood, I summon the Law to witness my words. If they prove to be true, may they grant me life evermore? Let us live since all must die."
"Vivamus, moriendum est," spoke the rest of the family as Blanc ended.
"Are my words worthy enough now?" asked Blanc.
"They are," nodded Elion, "tell me, son, have you heard what has happened?"
Blanc wasn't sure about his father's question, "I was there when you spoke of the Iron Line."
"Yes, but do you know the reason?"
"I heard some things," added Blanc, "about the High Monarch."
"From where?" asked Auren.
Blanc offered a smile to her, "I heard it by mistake a few days ago."
After all, he swore to tell the truth. But he hoped that the wrong questions would not be asked.
Hearing his answer, Elion sighed, leaning his head over the chair he stood on, "Do you understand why they are coming towards us? What are they looking for?"
"I assume it is the Golden Forest," answered Blanc.
Elion and Valar nodded hearing his answer, "Your assumption is correct," Elion replied raising from his seat, "And we are not the only ones. The Iron Line has an extraordinary number of soldiers and a well-developed military hierarchy, meaning, they could stretch their range of attack on a large scale, covering not only our, but two more domains."
"But why so suddenly?" Blanc asked, "I understand the wish for riches, but this feels too sudden. With the death of the High Monarch, the Empire will fall into chaos with such actions, with civil war."
"That is the exact reason why they are doing it," giggled Elion, turning around from the table and walking towards a window, "When the one holding everything together is gone, without an heir alive to take over, chaos takes over as the heir. And when chaos rules, there is nothing the Empire can do to stop everything from happening. Especially when parts of that Empire rebel against it. And neither I nor Bezel have any idea if they are backed by someone."
"A Noble Blood would not give the commoners the chance to gain power," said Mera.
"I agree," nodded Auren, "It just doesn't make any sense for one to do that."
"We will find out, sooner or later," replied Elion, "But, that is not the reason why you are here, Blanc," he added, turning back towards him as the moon shined her light on Elion's left eye, making it appear like a crystal in the moonlight.
"And what is it?" inquired Blanc.
"We considered your proposition, and a Noble Blood will be coming in the following days, either tomorrow or the day after, to have a chat with us about the prospect of you marrying into their family. If they see fit, that is," ended Elion.
"Very well." Blanc nodded, "And what of Lune and Sera's?"
"Sera's will arrive by tomorrow," began Valar, "And Lune's… is on hold for now."
Blanc was taken aback by the sudden, unknown word, "On hold? What does that mean?"
"It means that, as long as you don't fail, it will not happen," muttered Sera.
Blanc was shocked hearing his sister's words. They listened, thought Blanc. An indescribable happiness swelled in his chest.
"But, as Sera said, only if you succeed," added Elion, "either way, with two Noble Bloods through marriage, and about another three Bloods who we reached out to join us in our struggles, we should be fine.
"Why have you reached them?" asked Blanc.
"It's in their interest after all," started Elion, "If we are to fall, they will be next."