Chapter 645: Beginning to Grow
"Of course, I will treat Lady Heila with the greatest respect," Ignatious said, nodding briefly at Lady Nyrielle before he seemed to vanish from the spot where he stood, appearing in the blink of an eye at the table for the guests of honor where Helga and Kaisen had made their stand.
"That includes caring for Madame Helga," Ignatious said, smiling as he extended a hand to the diminutive horned woman whose cheeks had begun to show a hint of pink that suggested even she could be embarrassed by her own actions. "Please, let me help you back to your seat," Ignatious said smoothly, as though there was nothing out of the ordinary about an honored guest standing on a table at the front of the banquet.
"You see?" Helga said lightly as Ignatious helped her down. "I told you that he’s a good man who cares for our little Heila."
"I’ll be the judge of that," Kaisen said as he hopped off the table, giving Ignatious a pointed look. "If you break her heart..." he said with the same level of menace he’d used when his oldest daughter came home with a man who had captured her heart. The next instant, however, his mind seemed to catch up to his mouth as he realized exactly who he was attempting to intimidate. Instantly, his face drained of color, and he wobbled slightly as if the world had tipped under his feet.
"I’m sure that Sir Ignatious will treat her well," Achim said as he caught his son and helped him back into his chair. "Lady Nyrielle’s progeny may have bellies full of hatred for their enemies, but they’ve never once turned on any of our own. Whatever happened in the past, I’m sure that it’s all over now, or he wouldn’t have returned."
"It’s fine," Helga insisted, gently patting Ignatious on the arm as though he were already her son-in-law. "Don’t fuss over us old things, go be with her now," she insisted.
At the high table, Zedya and Lennart had already moved to their own positions, leaving a space between Zedya and Thane for Ignatious, but when Ignatious moved to take his own place after escorting Heila to her seat, Ollie stood up to stop him.
"Take mine," Ollie said with a gentle smile. "I don’t mind sitting with Sir Thane for the evening," he said, giving Ashlynn a brief look, though he was certain she wouldn’t mind the shuffle in seating arrangements.
"He’s learning from you, my darling," Nyrielle teased quietly. "Cutting in line, trading seats, doing as he pleases. He compliments your coven well."
"He knows what really matters," Ashlynn countered softly before she stepped forward to address the audience once again. Soon, they would be able to relax and enjoy the banquet and the celebration together, but there were still a few important announcements to make that would ripple across the Vale of Mists while they began their attacks against the Dunns and the Hanrahans.
"Tonight, we have much to celebrate," Ashlynn said, pitching her voice to be heard over the murmurs of the crowd. "Sir Thane has ascended to the position of Lord General, and his student, Sir Ollie Heartwood has formally become a knight. Sir Lennart has become the first of Madame Zedya’s progeny, and we have all borne witness to the love that binds them. Sir Ignatious has returned from exil,e and Lady Heila can stand proudly before her family as the Willow Witch," Ashlynn said, acknowledging each person in turn.