Chapter 14. Belle of The Room
An eery silence set upon the room at Lady Nox's tense words.
That the Raven Queen would have to ask where her daughter is; more so, her least favourite between the two Raven Harpy Princesses. Despite the fact she was smiling, there was a tension in her jaw which made it a lopsided smile – more befitting an esteemed general than a Queen.
It was while Lord Fielder, Lord Easton and Lady Cassandra were looking over at her, at this point, where they all simultaneously recalled her position and holding in Raven Harpy society before she had been mated to the Raven King.
She had been his most esteemed and decorated war general. They had fought side by side on the battlefield with each other, which is the only reason that she was allowed as a commoner to be considered eligible to as a mate for the Raven King. This is something that most seemed to forget.
Lady Nox herself.
Having always come across with an aura of splendid imperial prowess, it certainly now appeared to the Lords and Ladies among them, that the Raven Queen had forgotten her roots and just where she came from; where she rose up from.
Unlike Lady Cassandra, who was born into the Peacock royal lineage as the Peacock Queen – despite the female peacock harpy's bland, beige disinteresting looks with a gaze that seemed as uninterested in the rest of the world, as it was in her – Lady Nox had been a true commoner, that got lucky.
The younger suitors at the table, contending for the twin princesses may not have known this. Their chaperones whom accompanied them here, certainly were aware, had all attended the grand wedding that had been thrown for the rare occasion.
"Mother, she stormed out of the palace hours ago after a fight. I hadn't thought it was anything too significant… anyway, those who tried to talk to her with me were ignored all the same." Seraphina glanced at the empty chair beside one of the younger owl harpies; a smaller one with gorgeous dark black eyes. Blushing a little at him as he smiled, she couldn't help but feel that Sephora had truly shown herself up and already had made a negative impression of herself, mother and their household as a whole by just… not attending?
As children they had talked about the gathering of suitors. Where they would meet all those being considered and then after some months of negotiations between the families be married for the betterment of the position of the Raven Kingdom… and for the betterment of the Royal Raven family.
With an exasperated sigh, the Raven Queen pinched the bridge of her nose as closed her eyes and sat back.
"Ah, Lady Nox." It was the Peacock Queen, Lady Cassandra who spoke so non-casually this time. A strange flicker of animation and fascination in the situation appeared to colour her beige eyes, "Having six daughter myself, I can sympathise that getting any of them in the same place at anything formal can be akin to attempting to heard wild bats… it just never seems to go the way you want it to." The liquid in the goblet Lady Cassandra was drinking sloshed around as she moved her hand that held it as she spoke.
It wasn't blood wine that the Peacock Clan were drinking. They were vegetarian and had requested something far lighter, a type of fermented honey wine. It was an expensive purchase in the Raven Kingdom but it was something that the Peacock's were famous among all Harpy for making.
All that were gathering were harpies… but all of the customs were so different, to the extent they all regarded themselves as sub-species of harpy.
SIX DAUGHTERS? Thought Seraphina. As she cast a empathetic glance towards the dull beige woman who seemed so tired. No wonder she looks so haggered the way she does. As many children… including two sons, one of whom wants to try woo a Raven Harpy?
"Yes, Lady Cassandra." It was Lord Fielder. He was notably more quiet than the chaperoning Lord from the Eurasian Eagle Owl Harpy's. Instead, he had been watching and listening to everyone's conversations and examining every reaction, "How is your nest doing? It has been some time since the Tawny Royal's visited the Peacock's Valley. Since we are both here, we should use this opportunity to formalise the negotiations regarding Fenn's older brother." Despite that Lord Fielder was talking to Lady Cassandra, his attention was focused on Lady Nox in his periphery vision
As expected, the Raven Queen had to act quickly to mask a gawking and disgusted looking face. Lady Cassandra never caught this but Lord Easton and Lord Fielder (as well as the young owlets) did. Feigning politeness she recovered, "Marrying into the Peacocks?" Attempting to hide her tone as playful curiosity. The incredulous tone prevailed.
The Eurasian Owlet suitors looked shocked and looked to Lord Easton – who had the best poker face of the room and held it well. He just nodded to them slowly. Pursing his lips. He seemed to be deep in consideration of something.
The Peacock Queen decidedly ignored Lady Nox entirely. Retaining her topic and focus on Lord Fielder pointed notation. This did concern a marriage and mating between the Tawny Harpy and the Peacock Harpy – it was of political necessity to both.
A hint of kindness seemed to set into her eyes and she seemed to come a little more alive and interested in the conversation with the Tawny Harpy's King, "We have had another two matches, to be mated. My youngest son will be marrying a peacock noble, while another daughter has been agreed as a mate for a noble of the Flamingo Harpy. She seems happy about the match… they both do and, I have so many daughters anyway. Does it matter who all of them are mated with? I think not."
With this it also became clear that young Fenn wasn't as pressing a match as had previously been thought. Given his brother was already marrying to another clan. At least… that is what Seraphina thought as she sipped lightly at the deliciously rich blood wine.
After realising this she relaxed.
The adults became enveloped in the discussion between them all. Over mating discussions and wedding ceremonies that would be for attending in the future.
"I'm Fenn of the Tawny Harpy's…" While his posture and tone were sheepish, Seraphina thought it was sincere and came across sweetly, "…you, eh… you're eyes really are as stunning as is rumoured. You… are as st-"
Before the young Tawny Harpy could finish, young Master Lucas butt in to introduce himself and his brother, Loris.
It seemed the two brothers hadn't enjoyed this younger harpy to gain, what they perceived as, any slight advantage or favour. Especially given that one of the sisters wasn't there.
All of the limelight and pressure, was currently focused on Seraphina and she felt it deeply but steeled herself. Bearing with it.
The Eurasian Harpy's hadn't set themselves up to have good favour. From this, she now perceived them as rude.
The food arrived from the kitchen, smelling delightful!
Our amazing chef out does himself again! Seraphina though as her plate was put down in front of her.
The room fell into split of discussions. One of the clan elders, on proper marriage procedure and terms. The other was the younger ones getting to know each other and chatting away. Among the clinks and clanks of cutlery.
It wouldn't wrong to think of the distinction between the different Harpy clans as sub-species of harpy. Their cultures had branched off in vastly different ways and trajectories. That there were obvious distinctions and characteristics.
Couples mated between Clans could still have fertile children, they would just have an unusual combination of features and skillsets for either clan.
It was this subtle differences between each and skill sets that others would certainly be better or worse at. Like… Owls having precision night vision, where most are blinded by the bright and harsh light of the sun. Which is where the likes of hawks and eagles take over their superiority.