Chapter 8: Thrown Into the Midst

“Well, you came out of there relatively unscathed,” Elric said to her as they walked down yet another unfamiliar hall.
“I suppose so,” she replied, her mind drifting back to the unsettlingly way the King had been staring at her. “Where are we off to now?” she asked, looking around. They were deep in the castle now, farther in than she had been before.
“We are headed to the dining hall. Usually, I prefer to eat my meals in my rooms or outside, but since you have arrived, I have been instructed to eat with the family,” he replied with a scowl.
“Will the King be there?” she asked, dreading the response. Elric shook his head.
“No, he and the Queen eat in their private dining chamber unless it is an occasion,” he replied. Saffron felt relief surge through her.
“Unfortunately, you’ll have to meet my brothers and their insipid wives. Imagine you are standing amongst a pit of vipers. They are dangerous and cruel, but so dimwitted that they only bite each other,” he said darkly.
“So, you are close then,” she said with a small laugh which drew a smile from him.
“We can eat quickly, and I’ll escort you back to your rooms,” he said and pushed open a rather ordinary-looking wooden door. Saffron could hear the sound of voices coming from the other side. The room plunged into silence as the two of them strode into the large dining hall. Compared to the rest of the ostentatious castle, this was practically modest. Two large rough-hewn tables stretched the length of the hall. A hearth burned along the far wall and windows that stretched from the floor to the ceiling spread along the other wall. Candelabras burned on each table, giving the large room the illusion of a cozier room.
Seven people were clustered around one of the tables, the table laden with platters of food. Saffron’s stomach rumbled at the scent of roasted meat and honeyed bread. She realized that it had been ages since she had last eaten.
“Brother! You’ve come back from your travels and with a wife no less!” A large man stood, his voice booming across the room. In two strides he reached them and pulled Elric into a hug, thumping his back with his giant fist.
“August, good to see you,” Elric said formally to the man, who was now smiling down at Saffron. He was taller than Elric and looked nearly identical to their father, except his eyes were a warm brown. His face was open and friendly. Unlike Elric, his hair was kept shorter, the curls more intentionally arranged around his handsome visage.
“This is my fiancée, Saffron,” Elric said. Saffron dipped into a small curtsy. August grabbed her hand and kissed it. She noticed he lacked the roughness of Elric, his hands and face smooth.
“Wonderful to meet you! We have been trying to get this one settled down for years!” he ribbed and jostled Elric’s shoulder. Elric rolled his eyes but smiled. “You must be one special girl to get this one to agree to marriage,” his brown eyes did a quick assessment over her as if trying to puzzle out what exactly trapped his brother’s wandering eye.
“Well, it was he who asked me,” she replied, smoothly. August’s eyes widened before he broke into laughter.
“Very well! Come meet the rest of the family! This is my wife, Gwendolyn!” A tiny blonde woman dipped her head, a smile on her beautiful face.
“Lovely to meet you,” she said and went back to drinking her wine.
“This is Darby and his wife Rosalind,” August introduced the couple sitting next to them. Darby looked like a slightly younger version of August. It seemed like King Orion produced exact specimens. They both nodded their heads to her but didn’t speak. Rosalind had deep brown, nearly black eyes and raven hair that tumbled down her back, nearly brushing the floor. She was breathtaking and Saffron found it hard not to stare. Had she not been wed to Elric’s brother, Saffron might have felt the pangs of jealousy. The woman’s blue eyes were coolly appraising her.
“The youngest of my mother’s sons, Royce. This is his wife Violet,” Another copy of King Orion sat at the table however he wore his hair longer, more similar to Elric. Saffron guessed that not having to worry about taking the throne someday lent to a more relaxed demeanor. He smiled at her while his wife gave her a fleeting look. She had wild curls of a deep red that hung to just below her shoulders. Her face was young, and she looked suspicious of Saffron, her brown eyes watching her every step.
“Finally, the youngest of the Princes, our dear Kingsley,” August boomed gesturing towards the young man who sat slightly away from the rest of the family. His hair was a deep, inky black. It nestled in the collar of his shirt, pulled into a small braid. His face was incredibly young, yet his eyes held something older within their blue depths. Saffron nearly gasped aloud when his eyes met hers. They were so icy blue they appeared transparent. His face was fine-boned, and he was stunningly beautiful. He had full lips and a delicate nose. He appeared as if a strong wind would break him.
He stood and offered his hand to her. She took it gently, but his grip was strong. “Lovely to meet you,” his voice was deeper than she would have imagined, and his eyes were friendly. She liked him immediately.
“You as well,” she replied and sat down across from him, Elric on her left. A servant appeared and placed a large plate topped with food in front of her. She said thank you and the lady looked as if Saffron had spit at her. She turned her confused eyes onto Elric as the lady hurried away.
“You’re supposed to pretend they aren’t here,” he whispered to her.
“So, we are served by ghosts then?” she replied, angrily.
“They are not my rules,” he reminded her, and she sobered slightly. “Now eat. I can hear your stomach grumbling from here,” he said with a smile.
####
Saffron sat back sated. She had eaten nearly two full plates of food and her corset felt even more snug than earlier. She ached to return upstairs and rip it off. Perhaps with help from the handsome man, she was currently engaged to. She glanced down at the ruby upon her finger and felt a small thrill shoot through her. Her life had certainly taken an interesting turn.
A servant leaned down near Elric and whispered something in his ear. “Right. Tell them I’m on my way.” He turned to Saffron. “I have to stop into the soldiers’ quarters before I retire for the evening. Will you be alright here? I promise to return shortly to escort you to your rooms.”
She nodded. “I shall manage,” she replied with a smile and took a small sip of her wine. He placed a kiss on her hand and swept from the room.
“Going to check on the soldiers?” Kingsley asked her, watching his brother’s retreating back.
“Yes,” she said with a smile.
“Of course. He is rather devoted to them,” he replied with a matching smile. He yawned widely. “I look forward to speaking with you more, however I must retire for the evening. I have an early day tomorrow,” he stood and bowed. She felt her spirits fall slightly. Kingsley was the only person in the room who didn’t set her teeth on edge.
She glanced around the large hall. The men were standing around the hearth, drinking and laughing. Their wives were perched at the top of the table, occasionally throwing glances in her direction but none deigning to speak to her. How she wished Elric would hurry.
August walked over and said something to his wife. The women exchanged a few words and then took their leave without saying a word. Saffron felt that the room had tilted slightly. She was very aware that she was alone with the three princes. She gripped the edge of the table, wishing she had stashed her dagger beneath her stays.
“Saffron! Come join us by the fire! We would like to get to know our new sister,” August called. She took a deep breath before standing and joining them. They made room for her on the bench. He offered her wine, but she declined.
“Very well. So Saffron, how did you come to meet our dear Elric?” August asked. She felt that there was something deadly that lay just beneath his friendly demeanor. His eyes were a little too calculating for the relaxed manner he was donning.
“I am a Mender in Gilramore. He was injured and sought my services,” she replied simply, sticking to the story that Elric had given her in the carriage.
“How was he injured exactly?” Darby asked. She studied him for a moment before replying.
“I am not sure how he sustained the wound. It appeared to be nothing too terribly serious,” she said carefully.
“Hmm,” he said and leaned back, his arms crossed over his chest. Royce said nothing but just watched her. She felt the moment stretch between them. She suddenly felt too hot. This damn corset and she was too close to the fire. Sweat began to drip down her back.
“Could you do us a favor, dear sister? If he sustains any more of these…injuries, would you let us know? We just want to make sure he isn’t engaging in any dangerous behavior that could threaten the throne. He is known to be a bit impulsive,” August said. “And as a token of our appreciation, we would like you to have this,” he pushed a large velvet sack into her hand. It was heavy and judged from the clinking sound, it was gold. She looked down at the bag for a long moment before sliding it into the pocket of her dress. She said nothing.
“Saffron, are you ready to retire?” Elric called from the doorway. She jumped and hurried to his side.
“Have a goodnight, sister. It was lovely getting to know you,” August called.