"Well…"
What was I supposed to say? Panic was setting in and my hands were becoming increasingly clammy. I swallowed again and I glanced up at the man who was still staring down at me with that freaky smile.
My smile held although it was becoming less confident by the second. I wracked my brain trying to find something to say.
I flashed back to the night where we first met and to when he'd told me I was to be his queen and winced slightly, hopefully not noticeably. Neither of the instances were pleasant.
"I guess… a woman has her ways." I said slowly and haltingly, hoping that it was the right thing to say.
Laughter. I looked up and saw the man laughing heartily, I let out a breathy laugh that revealed how nervous I was.
I hated the Sovereign. How could he do this? It was so cruel. My nerves were shot and I just wanted to go back to my room.
I wondered how much longer I would have to sit at this table.
The two hands appeared in front of me again and my plate was retrieved and a new one placed.
The new one was a plate with a bed of rice and a chicken breast with lemon slices on top.
"Wanington Chicken, in honour of our guests from Wanington this evening." The Sovereign stood and announced, a pleasant smile on his face. He sat back down and his passive expression painted over it.
Again, I waited to eat mine and watched the others. The man next to me used a knife and fork I looked down and saw my knife and fork. I raised my hands as quickly as possible and grabbed them, attempting to hide the shaking. I slowly and methodically cut a slice of the seasoned chicken and picked up some rice then dipped it in the white sauce accompaniment.
It tasted so good! Not at all like Crescent's or the Sovereign's island's food. The chicken had a delicious lemon tang and the white sauce was cool on my tongue and had a tang of its own.
Back home I had been raised with porridge, meat pies, potatoes, and on special occasions, a small bird, usually a quail.
Here on the Sovereign's island everything was spicy and made my tongue burn and eyes water.
But this, this was delicious. What did he say? Wanington? Whoever it was I liked their food.
I smiled as I cut another slice.
"Do you enjoy our chicken, your highness." The man asked.
I glanced up, 'Our…? So he was from Wanington.'
I looked at the Sovereign to see him staring intently at me and the man.
I swallowed, "Yes. It is very good, my lord." I said, remembering formalities.
I looked back at the Sovereign who had a smirk on his face and I twisted my lips in annoyance but quickly regained my composure.
I took another bite of the mouthwatering chicken.
"And what of the samosa?" The Sovereign asked.
I pressed my lips together, 'Samosa… what's samosa?'
"The pastry you had such trouble eating." He said.
I felt my ears burn. I cleared my throat and forced a smile, knowing that my eyes were still hostile, "It was delicious. My Sovereign."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to finish the delicious chicken and rice but soon my stomach was complaining of being too full. I was about to put my knife and fork down when I remembered there was a certain way to do it so that it would explain that I was full and didn't want more but not that I was displeased with the food.
I stared at my plate, my fork and knife poised at the sides. I watched as the woman to the left of the strange Wanington man rested her knife and fork in the centre of her plate, vertically.
The others were doing the same so I did too.
Conversations continued around me and I felt my head spinning. I straightened my neck once again and darted my eyes around quickly while reaching for my water.
I reached my fingers around the spine and took a sip and nearly dropped it. It hit my throat with a sickly sweet flavour then burning. I sputtered a bit and quickly reached for the clear liquid that I knew was water.
I had accidentally drunk from the glass filled with a milky liquid. My head felt a little foggy so I finished my water hoping it would help to clear my head.
I heard quiet laughter to my right and turned my eyes, not my head, to look in the direction of that despicable man. He was covering his mouth but his shoulders were shaking from laughter.
I huffed through my nose and felt my ears burning again.
He then rose and so did everyone else, along with me a few seconds behind. I swallowed my pride and focused on his words.
"Those who wish to may join us in the seating area, but for those of you who do not, you may return to your chambers or residence."
A glimmer of hope appeared but just as quickly vanished. I could not retreat to the safety of my room yet.
I was about to turn to the seating area when I saw he had his arm held out for me to hold. I sighed internally and reached my hand through and we linked our elbows. He was much taller than me so it felt a little awkward.
He led me to one of the low couches.
The seating area was surrounded by various potted plants and on the low table in front of me I saw a few candles. I inhaled and caught the fragrance of lavender and vanilla.
My nerves immediately relaxed and I could feel my eyelids getting heavy.
I snapped them open. No! I will not fall asleep here. And definitely not in front of him, or any of these other people.
I fixed my posture and saw that across from me sat the strange Wanington man and next to him a man maybe slightly younger sitting next to him. If I had to guess, they looked like brothers. Both held themselves the same way and had similar facial features.
The rush and clamour of noise was still surrounding me and I had trouble hearing them. Next to me sat the Sovereign with his back straight and hand resting on his knee.
I began to tap my fingers absentmindedly.