The long road made the Noble Bloods not refuse Elion's invitation, so they moved towards the main hall where the maids had already laid out the table, horizontally this time, so that the host and the guests could be face to face.
As the nobles sat at the table, a form of hierarchy was created between them, with the weakest Bloods of the five at the corners of the table, furthest away from Elion, who sat in the middle of the opposite side.
It wasn't anything too burdensome, as a few feet of distance did not make it hard for them to hear each other.
Blood An and Alvein took the side seats, while Blood Tarba and Seraph occupied the neighboring seats of the Blood who sat in the middle, Blood Maroux.
As it was customary, nobody talked while the food was eaten, but the game had already begun.
Glances were thrown around, smirks shown, and quickly wiped off. These were the politics of the Bloods.
They hoped to be allies, but allies do not mean friends, after all.
But the meal soon ended, and the spoken politics began as the wine and tea began being poured in silver cups.
"Once again," started Elion, "I thank you all for coming. I do hope that tomorrow's talks will be a productive day for all involved."
"Tomorrow?" asked Renn Alvein, "But I thought we would be having the talks now."
"It would've been so if it were at an earlier hour, but I assume you are all tired," replied Auren.
"Oh dear, you don't even know," giggled Fiamma Seraph, "I feel like sleeping for days, but there is business to be made and discussions to be had. While we can keep the talks of defense against the Iron Line for tomorrow, the marriage prospect of my son needs to be discussed tonight."
"Fair enough," Elion nodded, "Lord Maroux, what about you and Lady Celine?"
"I find myself in agreement with Lady Fiamma, the marriage prospect takes precedence for us."
"Lord An, Lord Alvein, is it fine with you two to talk tomorrow?"
"It is most ideal for me, my old bones do not hold the same vigor they once did," laughed Erol An.
"If Lady Fiamma and Lord Lucien have such important matters to discuss, we will, of course, postpone it for tomorrow." nodded Renn Alvein, his cold voice, sending shivers to Kael and Lune who tried to make themselves small since earlier. Their anxiety increased by the minute in Blanc's absence.
"And what about you," said Elion as he looked up to the giant man in front of him, "my good friend, Lord Tarba?"
"Mmm," nodded Tarba, not muttering a single word.
"So it is," nodded Elion, "but now, please, enjoy yourselves with our local wines, one of our proudest products."
"Truly delicious," smiled Lucien, taking the goblet from his lips, "Will you sell me a few barrels? I find it quite pleasant."
"Nonsense, my Lord Lucien, they are yours to take. As many as you please," smiled Valar.
"Is it really? My utmost appreciation."
"My Lords, Lady," spoke Mera, "forgive my question, but I found it odd to see you all arriving at such a late hour as well as together. Has something happened on the road? Were there any issues?"
"Mmm," nodded Tarba to her question, while still drinking the wine from his cup.
"Indeed, as you say, Lady Mera," replied Erol An.
Renn Alvein spoke next, "There has been an outbreak in a city bordering my domain from Lord An's domain. At least ten Moroi appeared."
"By the Vita," muttered Elion.
"Yes," sighed An, "We were not able to contain them inside the city, so they escaped, towards other domains, spreading their filth like a sickness."
"We were attacked on the road," said Tarba for the first time since arriving, his voice echoing like thunder in the main hall, "But we killed them."
"So it happened that we were passing that same road as the attack happened, and we offered our aid," giggled Fiamma, looking at the tall man.
"But out of concern, we took a more visibly advantageous road towards here, which made us arrive at a later hour," concluded Lucien, "we apologize."
"Please, no need for apologies, your safe arrival here is the most important of things." smiled Elion, easing the tension.
Lune and Kael watched this interaction with boring expressions, not understanding the game behind the words of the adults, but a word caught Lune's attention. "What is a Moroi?"
"Lune dear," spoke Auren, "later."
"No, Lady Auren, I would be happy to explain," giggled Lucien as he faced Lune, "What is your name, little flower?"
"Lune Denegis, My, uh, My Lord," said Lune, getting up and doing a fast curtsy.
"Ah, I remember now, and you must be Kael, right?" asked Lucien.
"Ah, yes, Lord Lucien. But how do you know?" replied Kael, panicked by the sudden mention of his name.
Lucien giggled, a warm smile on his face, "I was there when the High Monarch gave his blessings to you as babies."
"Wow…" muttered Lune, amazed and not remembering a single thing of what Lucien had spoken.
"But now, back to your question. A Moroi is a crazed creature who harvested too much Raw Vita from a single specific source, ugly stuff indeed," he explained, his language a little simpler as he addressed Lune.
"So a Moroi is an animal who ate too much and now he is angry?" asked Lune.
Hearing her An and Fianna broke into laughter, and Lucien into a giggle as he replied, "Not just any beast, little flower, men."
"Men?" asked Kael, not remembering reading about such a creature.
"Men who killed too many men, absorbing all of their Raw Vita, beyond limits. Making them disfigured, mutilated creatures that spread sickness and rampage around, their single purpose being to kill whatever moves."
"And did you defeat them all?" asked Lune, her eyes glittering with excitement.
"We did," Lucien nodded with a smile, "At least all that were there. Who knows how many there are now?"
Lune stood silent, hearing his words, but her excitement was visible enough. "Lord Elion, it seems like your daughter has been blessed to be a warrior in the future."
Elion giggled, "She troubles me to no end, but perhaps."
After more idle conversation, Lord Erol, Renn, and Dalv-Varran retreated to their prepared chambers, escorted by Drew and his sons.
"Well then, shall we begin?" asked Fiamma, "Let me present to you, my son -" she started, but soon got interrupted.
"Apologies, Lady Fiamma, Lord Elion, may I ask a question?" asked Celine.
"No need to apologize," said Fiamma, her smile not reaching her eyes.
"What is it, Lady Celine?" asked Elion, already fearing the words she would utter. Not only he, but all of Blood Denegis knew what she was about to ask.
"Who is the man I'm to be married with?" started Celine, "From my understanding is not Lord Valar and neither Lord Kael over there."
"You would be correct," replied Elion, "my son, Blanc, who is not present is the one who is to be married into your family."
"I understand that," Lucien started, "but why isn't he here?"
"Well," began Elion, but a knock came at the door. "You may enter," ordered Elion, before one of the guards opened the door to finally reveal Blanc dirty, wounded, and with ripped clothes on his back.
"I deeply apologize for my late arrival, Lords and Ladies, I wished to prepare a gift fit for the Lady of Blood Maroux," said Blanc, entering the main hall with a slight limp.