Torden and Fraymon continued to be dragged around as if being on a leach, from the open second floor to the bottom of the hall, tasting food, sipping from different drinks, Grand lady Rose stared them annoyed, her eyes cold, frustration crossing her facial features
"What are you so angry about my lady?" said Lord Brone, master reader of the Varish
"Lord Brone, I haven't seen you in a while, and after finally visiting you disappear with his highness somewhere?" said Lord Brone
"Well, I had important matters with him about, and his son as well" replied Brone
"Prince Rafam accompanied the both of you? I would like to hear about this, important matters, you are talking about," said Grand Lady Rose
"Well, Let's say, it is something he would like to have fun watching, that is enough info for you," said Brone
"As you know, me being a merchant I have one rule, you never have too much information" replied Grand Lady Rose
"I don't want to spoil it, but it is going to be part of the festival, it is a gift I brought alongside me," said Lord Brone
On the other side, Lord Kailer, Torden's father and the head of the Waster house was standing with King Gerdon until Lord Varyon, head of house Hallow Stones, joined them
"Greeting your majesty" said Lord Varyon, beside him stood his wife carrying a little boy of his
King Gerdon Greeted them back
All of them had black hair, looking at them lord Kailer said
"Greeting my lord, my lady. I noticed that you haven't brought your daughter alongside you"
The cheerful face of Lord Varyon went with the winds, his smile dropped hearing those words before he said
"Lord Torden, I guess info doesn't travel fast enough across the rivers after all, or maybe it is because my people may be incompetent in sending it through our water gates" that reply was strong enough to be considered a nail in the hearth
Taunting him about his lack of power over the running waters coming from his mountains Lord Varyon knew how to defend his honour best, he continued saying
"In the matter of my daughter, I believe it is known enough that she experienced enough injuries to be allowed absent"
"I remember it now; Face injuries I believe right? It will be hard for her to find" said Lord Kailer before King Gerdon cut them saying
"Why don't we go and discuss the important matters my lords, the arranged marriages I asked of both of you, I have enough sons and daughters to connect with your, I believe both me and Lord Kailer agreed upon thus earlier"
"Oh yes we did, both my sons shall marry both your daughter, your highness" said lord Kailer
"If both your daughters shall marry both his sons, what do you have to discuss with me?" said Lord Varyon
"My son, Prince Rafam, shall marry your daughter," said King Gerdon
Lord Varyon looked shocked, but he tried to hide that to the best of his ability and spoke
"Your majesty, I believe you heard best about her situation—" said lord Varyon
"Don't mind it, she is no portrait that he is going to stare at" said King Gerdon "Or do you think he is not good enough for her to accept the proposal?" said King Gerdon
"No, no, I just, don't know if the prince agreed knowing her situation," said Lord Varyon
"Do not worry about it my lord" Said Prince Rafam" I indeed heard of such things, and I hope my future fiancé get her health back as soon as possible"
"I guess there are no problems, right?" said King Gerdon
"I—Uh" Lord Varyon tried finding a way out, but the king looked determined so he gave up any attempt to discuss this out
"I see, no problems as well, your highness," said Lord Varyon
On the other side Torden managed to drag his legs through the crowded floors, escaping lady Rembya's eyes
He stood by the drinks, resting from the people that pulled him from one conversation to the other
"Did you lose her?" said Grand lady Rose who stood beside him, both her hand held the cup she was drinking from
Torden was startled by her as he asked "What do you mean?"
"Don't act dumb, I watched it whole, did, you, lose, her?" said Grand Lady Rose
He took a moment of piece thinking about the answer and the spoke "For the time being"
"And why did you attempt such, you know well that the king is clinging his fangs and claws to both you and your brother trying to tie you to his family" replied Lady Rose
"I just—Sigh… It is nothing special, it is not like I attempt to fight it, I don't care anymore actually" said Torden "But this place, I just don't find my place here, I wanted to collect my thoughts about all these conversations I had"
"So, you are trying to loosen the leech tied on you before it tightens up" replied his grandmother
"What???" said Torden confused
"Son, your mind might not understand it yet, but your body does, you are not stupid, at least not as much as your brother" said Grand lady Rose staring at Lady Rembya who was walking amongst the crowd searching for Torden with worried face
"This, festival, is a cover up, made by the now very old king to tie all families together, a last attempt at keeping the kingdom together"
"What do you mean? Isn't it normal to try and keep piece through blood ties?" replied Torden
"Yes, but having it be this desperate, having someone do it wither they like it or not, is an act of someone who is afraid, for himself more than others"
Torden was still confused
"Why would 'he' " said Torden meaning the king by it "be so worried about the other families"
"Because they started to notice" said grand Lady Rose "They opened their eyes wide enough to see how well the Varish are doing by themselves, how they don't need any outside support"
"But the Varish is a full kingdom, what do we have to do with that" said Torden
Grand Lady Rose sighed, she felt it was unnecessary to go through everything in this situation they are in
"Look, what you need to know" said Grand Lady Rose "Is that you know nothing, you don't know how it works, this, is a lion's den, and you my children are no predators. You need to know who leaches you before trying to cut it off"
Lady Rembya finally found him and said
"Here you are!" pulling him by the hand through the crowds as he looked at his grandmother not braking eye contact
"There are still many ladies and lords we haven't greeted yet"
The part continued, Torden was lost in thought, the moon crept in his light cutting through the crowds and whispering through the glassy windows
The reflected light created a kraken, big enough to swallow the crowd whole, his limbs reached the walls and his head covered the ground of wish the people danced upon