by Nira Steele
Andie arched one eyebrow. This was a strange turn of events given what had happened the day before.
“Oh come on,” Tessa declared. “I think it’s actually a great idea. Hiding you away just makes you far too intriguing to people. The more they see of you, the less interesting you’ll be.”
“Do I have any choice in this?” Andie asked with a frown.
“Ugh, not really?”
“Oh, that’s just wonderful.”
“Well at least you’ll look dazzling,” Tessa quipped with a smirk.
“That makes it perfectly alright then.”
Grinning happily, Tessa gave her a weak slap on the arm.
“Hey don’t get so pouty about it. The food will be amazing and the music’s always great. Plus, you’ll be sitting with the Horticulture Guild so you’ll have plenty of company for the evening.”
Andie had never been fond of big social events.
“I’m a small party kinda girl. Big gatherings aren’t really my thing,” she admitted.
“That’s okay you can just stay at my parents’ table for the night. No need to get up and dance or anything.”
“What, there’s dancing?”
“Oh yes and if we’re really lucky we might even see one of the royal family. Once in a blue moon they come out and talk to people.”
Relaxing her frown Andie tried to work out what she meant.
“So they don’t sit at a big table at the front or something?”
“For heaven’s sake no, they have their own private room silly!” Tessa exclaimed.
Andie was starting to see the advantages of being royalty. Beaming happily Tessa patted her arm.
“It will be really nice to take you somewhere decent. All I’ve shown you is the Angry Cocks.”
Andie suddenly found herself sniggering.
“What’s wrong?” Tessa asked her with a sudden frown.
“Oh nothing. I’m just so overwhelmed by this.”
“Hey don’t be concerned. I promise it will be wonderful.” Smiling again, Tessa gave Andie another quick pat before bounding towards the coat rack. “I have to go out for a bit now. I promised to visit Ariel and her fiancée in their new home. I’ve told you about her, she’s a member of the Horticulture Guild.”
“Yeah sure,” Andie responded.
“I’ll be back soon,” Tessa said warmly as she grabbed her cloak. Opening the main door she disappeared out into the corridor. Andie watched on as the panel slid closed behind her.
“Why?” she muttered as she turned her attention to the dress. Just the thought of being stuck in a room full of strangers, all of them far too interested in her… it was more than a little bit daunting. Actually it was rather terrifying.
Slowly Andie sank down into a dining chair. Propping her chin up, she began examining the edge of an elaborate sleeve.
This was going to be worse than meeting a dragon.
Chapter 11 - All that Glitters
Squaring her shoulders Andie took a deep breath.
Standing before her was the towering archway into the Banquet Hall. Beyond it was a stretch of corridor, a brief pause before the glare of the interior. A soft melody floated out in the air mixing in with the hum of voices. So very many voices….
Andie had been given barely three hours to prepare for this event. She was now dressed for the occasion but mentally she just wasn’t ready.
Tessa had promised her there would be some privacy at their table. She did not explain exactly how though, so Andie wasn’t feeling reassured.
Well at least she had no concerns about her appearance tonight. Thanks to Willa’s extraordinary efforts, Andie had been transformed into a Draconarid maiden.
Willa had begun helping her from the moment she arrived home. Starting with Andie’s grey dress, she helped her into the intricately beaded gown. Getting her to kneel down on the floor, Willa carefully placed the gown over Andie’s head. Sliding her arms carefully into the sleeves, Andie then rose slowly to her feet. Willa watched as the dress slid into place to ensure it did not snag on anything.
Once the task of clothing Andie was done, Willa began working on her hair. Andie tried not to look too anxious as she sat down at her dressing table.
The regal matriarch glided up behind her. Then she smiled, giving Andie a little wink in the mirror before beginning. Willa divided her hair into sections before folding it back in gentle waves. Fixing it into a neat little she then produced a piece of shimmering fabric. With one smooth movement she had shrouded Andie’s entire head with it.
The silvery cloth draped right down Andie’s back, hiding every trace of her dark red locks.
“Veils are currently the height of evening fashion,” Willa explained with a little smirk. “It is the reason I consented to allowing you to attend tonight.”
“Oh thank goodness!” Andie gasped in relief. “I was really worried about standing out too much.”
Silver clips then secured the veil, sliding into place just above her ears. From their ends hung tiny strands of beads which danced like rivulets of water around her face.
In the end Andie really loved this look. It wasn’t her regular style of course but it was perfect for the banquet tonight. As a final touch she applied some makeup, just enough to brighten her features and improve her complexion. Her footwear was kept very simple - just a pair of grey slippers with a small amount of embroidery.
So this was it. For better or worse it was time for Andie to venture inside the Banquet Hall.
“Are you ready?” Tessa asked her quietly.
“Yes, I think so,” Andie breathed back.
“I’ll head in first,” Tessa said with a warm smile. Smoothly she glided forward into the hallway.
Lifting her chin Andie began following her. Attempting to move like her little friend she traversed the brief length of the corridor.
Then she abruptly pulled up. Stunned, Andie gaped at the sea of colours before her. The entire hall was filled with brightly outfitted people.
The first thing she noticed was the beautiful dresses everywhere. Each was ornate, decorated with beadwork and shining strands of metallic thread. Some women had an extra swathe of rich fabric - just one piece draping down from one shoulder. Their hair was covered with long veils which matched perfectly with their gowns.
A handful of the men were swathed in white robes, each styled in the manner of the ancient Romans. They were obviously the Magisters of guilds as they were the only people dressed this way. The rest of the men wore simpler outfits, although many were still quite elaborate. Their clothes were distinct colours which often matched with the dresses of their partners.
All the people seemed to be grouped into their main guilds. Astounded, Andie saw the shades of almost every colour imaginable.
However the people were only a part of the spectacle tonight. The sheer grandeur of this magnificent building was apparent at every turn. It was a vast oval-shaped edifice, topped by a huge dome which soared high above the crowd. The walls were lined with thick stone pillars which looked so solid they probably supported the lofty cupola.
Off to one side sat a small wooden stage currently occupied by a troupe of musicians. The rest of the space was filled with round tables, each encircled with high-backed chairs. Their surfaces were so well polished they reflected the colours of everything around them.
Gazing around, Andie’s eyes caught the light from something incredible. Floating high above the hall was an enormous cut gem. It sat hovering in place, its faceted surface glinting slowly as it revolved. From its interior came a bright golden light which filled the whole hall with a warm soft glow.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Tessa murmured from beside her.
“It’s unbelievable,” Andie breathed in response.
Tessa herself looked quite extraordinary tonight. Wearing a long lavender gown with a matching veil, she was the epitome of a Draconarid maiden. With a little help from Andie she had applied some makeup tonight. Just a touch of
eye liner, some lip gloss and a soft dusting of pink blush.
“You know this all looks gorgeous but it isn’t a patch on you,” Andie said with a little smirk.
“Oh please,” Tessa gasped with a roll of her eyes.
“No really, why don’t you have a partner? The people around here must be blind.” Andie still wasn’t sure about her friend’s personal tastes. Try as she might, she still had not been able to work her out.
“I’ve already told you I’m not old enough to marry yet. There’s no point in attracting a man then is there? Besides, my mother says I’m not ladylike enough for anyone’s tastes.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Andie stated with a frown.
“And what about you?” Tessa said with a little leer. “You cannot tell me you haven’t garnered some attention.”
“I had a partner briefly, remember?” Andie responded levelly. “Human men don’t always ‘bond’ if you get my meaning.” This was a subject Andie had already glossed over one evening. Well aware of how it might be taken she had kept the details very brief. Lunarian society seemed to have some very set rules about relationships.
“It was an older man, wasn’t it?” Tessa asked with one raised eyebrow.
“Um, yes?” Andie muttered back. “We really shouldn’t be talking about it here though,” she added quickly. Andie was quite surprised she had revealed this information to Tessa. When had she let it slip, when she was drugged by Tessa’s mother? Her ill-fated affair was a secret she never discussed.
“Fair enough,” Tessa said quietly. Giving her head a quick shake she then started gazing around at the crowd. “Let’s get to our table,” she murmured. Moving forward she began shuffling into the sea of people.
Andie fell in behind her, staying close to the back of Tessa’s gown. She was beginning to feel it – the anxiety, the pressure… she could practically feel everybody’s eyes following her.
Eventually they reached their table at the far edge of the hall. Releasing a sigh Andie was relieved to see how much privacy it had. Positioned between two huge stone pillars, it was cordoned off with opaque glass screens. Glancing around the room Andie could see similar arrangements lining the walls.
It seemed every Magister had private seating. As they moved through a gap in the screens they were greeted by Willa and Terenus.
“Good evening ladies. You both look magnificent tonight,” Terenus declared with a broad smile. Dressed in his white Magister’s robes he looked every inch the master of his guild.
“Of course they do,” Willa remarked. “They are easily the most handsome young women here.”
Andie pressed her lips together to supress a smirk. This hall was practically overflowing with beautiful women. Not to mention Willa herself, who could have passed as a Roman goddess in her ornate lavender gown.
Together the young women took their respective seats. Leaning forward over the table, Tessa began grinning at her mother.
“So who’s on serving duty tonight?” she asked with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
“Some of the young gents from the Engineering Guild,” Willa responded with a slight curl of her lips. “Do you remember the unfortunate incident they had?”
“Oh yes, I’d forgotten about it,” Tessa declared with a little gasp. “They blew up something didn’t they?”
Trying not to look too curious, Andie bowed her head as she began toying with her cutlery. Terenus emitted a little chuckle as he leaned forward to touch one finger to her closest implement.
“When one of our people breaches the law they must be punished accordingly,” he said smoothly.
Glancing up at him, Andie withdrew her hands and placed them into her lap.
“So they have to perform some kind of community service?” she asked demurely.
“You could call it that,” he responded with a little nod. “Minor infractions occur all of the time here. Most of them aren’t serious so we try to make the penalties useful.”
Andie’s mind started buzzing with thoughts.
“Wow, I can practically hear the cogs whirring from here,” Tessa commented with a grin.
Blushing, Andie looked down at the table. Terenus smiled at her as he leaned forwards to collect a decanter.
“There’s no need to be ashamed my dear. Inquisitiveness is an admirable trait.”
Willa started sliding a set of fluted glasses towards him across the table.
“Only in measured amounts,” she purred in her subtly admonishing way. Glancing sideways, Terenus smirked at his wife as he poured their drinks.
“I do try to control myself,” Andie murmured.
“Yes, you are very trying!” Tessa joked with a little snigger.
“Not as trying as you, my dear,” Terenus chipped in.
As they continued to banter a stream of extraordinary cuisine began arriving at their table. There were platters of perfectly cooked roasts with baked vegetables, exotic tropical salads, strange and delicious sauces… the tabletop soon overflowed with a cornucopia of food. The meals were delivered by a fleet of young men who squeezed them in wherever they could.
It was the most extraordinary banquet Andie had ever seen. After an hour of constant eating she was stuffed to overflowing.
During the course of this epicurean onslaught Andie discovered something interesting. Apparently Willa had created several of these amazing dishes. It did not come as much of a surprise given the meals Andie had been feasting on over the last week.
It turned out Willa was a member of the very large Cooking Guild. Along with her skills in food preparation, she was also proficient with several musical instruments. Belonging to numerous ‘hobby’ guilds was a common practice for women of her age.
Well with five hundred years to spare, Andie imagined you could learn all sorts of things.
In contrast Tessa had far more restrictions on the number of activities she could undertake. Until she reached the age of one hundred she could only participate in two guilds. This gave her time to be taught all the tenets of their society.
“Both of my girls are so busy,” Terenus remarked over his wine. “I think it suits them well as neither of them have quiet natures. I have yet to recall a single day when I’ve seen either of them reading a book.”
“What nonsense. I read all the time,” Willa declared.
“Not when I’m around,” Terenus responded with a little frown.
“Only because you are never home my dear. You spend most of your evenings with those louts from the Librarians’ Guild. Do any of you lushes actually read anything?”
“Of course!” he grumbled with a furling of his pale brows. “We just like to have the odd tipple while we study the ancient texts.”
“Study indeed.”
“What’s wrong with you two?” Tessa complained with a dramatic eye roll. “You have this quarrel every Saturday and it changes nothing whatsoever.”
Andie sat back in her chair, losing herself in the sounds of domestic disharmony. This reminded her of her own family back in the days when everyone was at home.
She could remember it all so vividly, like it had only happened yesterday. There they were - her four siblings racing around the rooms of their large terrace house. She could recall the sound of every voice as it echoed down the winding staircases. There was never a moment of peace, not even in the middle of the night.
Everything was so much different there now. They were all growing up and going their own separate ways. Her older brother and sister had already left home, moving away to pursue their lives in other places. It seemed Andie had reached the point where she was leaving too….
Abruptly her ruminations were interrupted.
“I don’t have the time to debate this!” Willa snapped back at Terenus. “I am expected on the stage in a minute. It is my turn to play the lute.” Holding her chin up, she rose smoothly from the table.
Huffing loudly Terenus turned his attention to his daughter.
“So how many suitors will you
be dancing with tonight my dear?”
“None. You know full well how much I dislike formal dancing,” Tessa stated levelly. “I’d rather be doing a jig in the Salty Sailor.”
The scowl Terenus gave her could have induced a thunderstorm.
“That tavern is a den of iniquity!” he barked back. “You’ll never meet anyone respectable there!”
His angry response almost got Tessa to her feet.
“Oh please!” she blared with a wave of her glass. “I’m not interested in those nightmares you keep throwing at me. Can you really see me with a librarian? I’d rather be tossed into a raging volcano.”
Andie covered her mouth to muffle a guffaw. At least she knew what Tessa’s favourite tavern was called now.
“How shall you succeed me with this insufferable attitude?” Terenus muttered, shaking his head before downing the contents of his glass.
“Bah! As if those old coots will ever allow me to sit on the Council,” Tessa scoffed back. “They’ve never allowed a woman to even enter the main chamber!”
“Maybe if you behaved properly their minds would change.”
“If I was a man it wouldn’t make an ounce of difference! I’m so tired of being judged by these medieval standards!” Tessa spat back. Clutching her head, she almost yanked off her veil in disgust.
Terenus narrowed his eyes at her.
“Spending your lunchtime in a tradesmen’s tavern isn’t going to win you any favours,” he drawled. “Duos Irascor Gallis (two angry cocks) is hardly suitable for young ladies.”
“You told me to take Andie somewhere safe!” Tessa retorted instantly. “It’s the only place I know of where she doesn’t get harassed. I can’t take her to any of the so-called ladies’ clubs. Those perverts just want to grope her all the time!”
Andie’s eyebrows arched towards the roof. Dropping her chin, she firmly pressed her lips together. Apparently she had been making a few assumptions about things here.
Tessa and her father continued arguing for some time. Eventually their energy did abate but not before a few people had poked their heads between the privacy screens. Fortunately the music was an excellent buffer to their raucous quarrelling. Without it the nearby tables would have heard all the details of their disagreements.