"That is more than enough people. I will take John, Hubart, Jason, Vicky, Alexis, Nora, Albert, Tacal, and Norman." She said.
"May I ask why these people?" I asked her.
"Oh yes. See Albert, Tacal, and Norman are the diplomates for the humans, witches, and Werewolves." She tells me. "John, Hubart, and Jason are our best scouts and hunters and along with Alexis and Nora the five of them are the best fighters we have. While I hope I do not need them I cannot take a chance."
"And Vick will be our cook!" John said, taking a bite of food.
"My question is why are you telling us all this?" Rayrach snaps at me.
"I am trying to be civil." I tell him calmly. "When you meet someone new you are going to ask them questions you want answers to find out more about them." I keep a calm tone. "All the information I am giving is basic information that you can get by asking any vampire or information on how my clan is structured." I tell him as he glares at me. "I am trying to keep an open diplomatic line of communication should something be asked that is not something I can share, or I do not wish to share. I will not tell you!"
"Rayrach." Carniola scolded. "Enough."
"Sorry, it took so long." Vicky said coming up to us with a large mug and a plate. "Here you are, Lady Diana!" She said with a smile offering them to me.
"Thank you, Vicky." I take them from her giving her a smile as I set my plate down and sniff the blood. It wasn't anything we have back in the cellar that's for sure. I took a sip and did my best not to moan as the warm blood slid down my throat.
"Vicky I am going to need you to come with us into the forest you want to pack supplies." Carniola started.
"For the trip in. We can provide meat for you to cock." I tell them.
"So, I will pack food for going in and out." She nods as I take a bite of the meat.
"Is that good?" Xavier asked me.
"Well I think it is, but I don't think it's healthy for humans to eat raw meat." I said looking at Carniola who giggled.
"No, it's not."
"Can someone tell me why I was just woken up?" A male asked, walking in looking ready to fall asleep.
"Because we have a guide to take us into the forest, but we are leaving at first light Norman." Carniola tells him.
"Oh, great so eat and pack then meet you at the gate?" He sighed as several other tired-looking people walked in as I ate my meat at a calm pace.
"So, we are taking a small group through the forest?" The one female asked as she sat next to John.
"Yea that's some nasty things in there!" John said.
"Well we have a vampire at the table, so I take it she is our guide?" The tall male asked.
"Indeed, Lord Tacal this is Lady Diana of the Northern Vampire clan."
He raised an eyebrow as he looked at me. "Greeting Lady Diana." He looks me over. "Are you not a little young?" He asked me.
I raised an eyebrow. "I am over 230 years old." That made him blink. "While I am still young in years, I am the one who can resist the sunlight the best."
"Forgive me I much like everyone else only knows the rumors and old case file information on Vampires." He apologized. I simple shrugged.
"You should not judge by appearance alone Lord Tacal." I tell him.
His cheeks went red as he nodded "Very true Lady Diana." He said as he sat next to me. "My apologies." I simply nod.
"May I ask how you are the Lady of the Northern clan?" The female next to John asked.
"Alexis." John hissed.
"No, it's alright." I tell him. "I am a Lady of the Northern clan in three ways first my adopted Father is Lord Arcaria the adviser of the king." I take a sip of blood. "This means when Prince Matthew takes King Logan's spot, I will be his advisor. Second, I am a knight; all-female knights are Lady Knights of the Northern clan. As of recently, I was given the title of First Lady. These places me in the queen spot of the clan as the queen is the leader of the Lady Knights and is the First Lady."
"Why?" I shook my head smiling sadly.
"Queen Amaila may she rest in peace never fully recover after giving birth to Prince Matthew so nearly died giving birth. She got very sick from what I can remember at the time Father told me that it was a vampire illness that will take the strength and power from a vampire leaving them vulnerable she got this while she was pregnant. Sadly, this illness only cure would have terminated her pregnancy, so she chose to no do it."
"Vampires can get sick?"
"I do not mean to be rude but before I answer any more questions may I get your names?" half of them went red in the face.
"Forgive me Lady Diana I am Alexis." The woman sitting next to John said her red hair and emerald eyes seemed to be staring at me.
"I am Jason." The Male next to her yawned. "We met briefly last night." I nod to the man with Black hair and crystal blue eyes.
"I am Nora." The woman with bright purple hair and pink eyes said.
"May I ask about your hair color?" I asked her. That made her laugh.
"I died my hair Purple." She smiled.
"And your eyes?" I asked.
"That I'm not entirely sure on but my Father is Albino so it could stem them that." She said.
"I see."
"I am Lord Albert but please call me Albert I am the human diplomat." The male next to Rayrach said his graying hair and brown eyes give him a very warm feeling.
"And I am Lord Norman the Witch diplomat." The last male all but snaps. I raise my eyebrow.
"We will have to remember to pack coffee." Carniola says off-hand. I simply nod then look up the sound of flapping wings caught my attune. A cawing as the bird flew into the tent and landing on my shoulder made them all look at it then at me.
"What news do you bring me?" I ask it.
The bird opened its beak. "What in the names of the Gods have you found Diana? We will do as asked but truly this is nerve-racking. Be safe my child." Father's voice came out of the bird before the shadows that formed it disappeared.
"That was interesting." Carniola said blinking. "Can the young wolf my son is holding do that too?"
I nod. "She can but she more protector the messenger." I explain.
"She?" Lord Tacal asked looking at the little wolf.
"Yes, she most of the time the creation of light and shadow take on the gender of their creator." I tell them. "Now eat your food we leave soon." I tell them like a bunch of children as I finish up my blood and meat.
"I am going to go pack and check on Hubart." John said as he finished. "Here I'll take your plate." He said taking it and the empty mug.
"Thank you, John." He just smiled at me and went into the kitchen area. "Is it me or is John overly happy?"
"John like meeting new people." Alexis sighed. "He likes getting himself into dangerous situations that he barely makes it out. From what Vicky told me after the death of his wife and child he went on a solo mission after solo mission each on more dangerous than the next." Alexis sighed.
"It sounds to me that he longs for death." I feel my cheeks heat up as they look at me.
"You may be right about that." Nora said. "I have known him for nearly 20 years and after the death of Dora, he was never the same. Even if he's joking and playing on the outside his eyes are normally dead unless he is in a dangerous situation. We have tried to reason with him, but he will not listen. I think the only reason he has not just let himself be killed is Vicky."
I nod. "The loss of one's mate and child is tragic." I thought back to Lord Phillip. "It can cause many strong vampires to insanity."
"And Werewolf." Tacal agreed they finished their meals in silence. Vicky came out looking up as she walked over to Rayrach.
"Lord Rayrach I leave Mariah in charge of the kitchen and be careful that Nicole does not take over." She said before she left the tent. I stand stretching.
"I am going to the gate. I want to make sure nothing is around that could cause an issue." I spoke to Carniola.
"Very well we shall meet you there." She smiles at me.
"Can I come? Xavier asked.
"No." Rayrach snaps at him. My eyes narrowed as I watched.
"But Father I want to help find Elizabeth." He tells them.
"I said NO!" He raised his hand only to find me pinning him to the table, his head in my right hand as I grip his arm in my left.