Dinner that evening was an elaborate affair with all the staying noble families invited to join. The grand dining hall had been set up to accommodate nearly forty people, with House Cross at the head and the various visiting families arranged by political importance.
William found himself seated between Elara Vexmore and the middle child of the Aldric, whose name he had already forgotten. Seraphine was further down the table, looking distinctly unhappy about the seating arrangements.
The meal progressed with the usual noble family small talk. Trade discussions, political observations about the capital, carefully neutral comments about various military campaigns. William ate and participated minimally, letting the adults dominate the conversation.
