Chapter 778: Not Content To Wait (Part One)
It had only been a handful of days since the great hall in the ancient fortress had been decorated for a feast and played host to Ashlynn and Nyrielle’s joyous betrothal celebration. Since then, the vast chamber continued to change, transforming from a place of joy and celebration into the true heart of the Vale’s war effort.
Beneath the dias, a large, square table sat prominently, ringed with enough seats to accommodate Ashlynn’s coven, Nyrielle’s progeny, and the generals of the four armies. Around the table, large cork boards had been fixed to wooden frames before they were covered with slips of parchment noting everything from the number of injured soldiers to the amount of grain pillaged in the first set of raids.
Most striking of all, however, were the two thrones sitting atop the dais. Both were simple compared to the grand works of craftsmanship that the Eldritch clans were capable of, but even in their simplicity, they radiated a sense of power and prestige. More importantly, at least to Ashlynn and Nyrielle, while their styling was unique and suitable to the woman who would sit on each of them, neither was positioned as superior to the other. Now, everyone gathered in the great hall sat at the table, waiting for the women who would occupy those thrones to join them.
"Dame Sybyll," Heila asked hesitantly from the side of the table where the members of Ashlynn’s coven sat. "How, how was Lady Ashlynn this morning when your training ended? Is she doing better than she was a few days ago?"
The gathered generals like Savis and Tausau might be more concerned with the next phase of the war than the woman leading it, but Ashlynn’s coven barely cared about the war. For Heila, Ollie, Virve and Hauke, Ashlynn’s well being was much more important than the war.
"Yer lady is fine," Sybyll said after a brief glance at Thane. "She don’ break easy, an’ she gets up quick when anythin’ knocks her down. She’s stronger ’an before too. Ye’ll see. So long as the Black Could o’ Bad News didn’a bring any fresh disasters wit ’im, that is," she added, giving a look to Marcel that was equal parts teasing and genuine curiosity.
"You call me a black cloud like I don’t bring you Keating Honey Ginger Drops every summer, and fig jelly by the winter," the youthful-looking vampire said with a teasing smile. "I have two jars for you this year, you know, just waiting for you to come claim them."
"Thievin’ cur," Sybyll said in mock indignation. "Shameless cad, too. Tellin’ a lass’s secret weaknesses like they’re common gossip. Ye brought news didn’a ye? So what word?"
Around the table, many people unconsciously leaned forward, especially the younger members of Ashlynn’s coven. Only the oldest vampires in the room, Savis and Tausau, seemed immune to curiosity, while Thane looked on with the quiet confidence of someone who had already heard the news.