Andor.
After the full moon came time for the meeting with the werewolf council, we were all travelling to the East, where King Bjorn would be our host. The news of the meeting came two days after the full moon, and we were to meet in two weeks.
Iris and I spent the next two days after the full moon in bed. Half of the time was spent snuggling, and the others were spent exchanging body fluids. I only left the room when it was time to attend to pack matters, like settling disputes and making sure the proper defences were set.
Vampires were not our only enemies. Rouge werewolves could also attack if they felt like our defences were weak, and even humans who did not know better could decide to raid our village. We always had to be prepared.
On the third day, I did not get enough snuggling time as there were a lot of disputes to resolve. The sun shone brightly as I sat in the great hall and listened to the complaints as they came one at a time.
The first one was about a farmer and his wife. She was crying on her way to meet me, her eyes were red, and tears were still on her cheeks
"Did you beat her?" I asked.
"No, my lord. We just argued; I did not lay a finger on her." He replied.
"Then your words must have stung," I replied. "Console her before you come before me. Her tears distress me."
He hesitantly walked toward her and tried to wipe her tears with the helm of her dress, but she refused to let him. While they settled their differences, I gestured for the following individuals to come forward, and they did.
The two men looked identical, concluding that they were siblings. I always dreaded resolving issues that involved family, as it was a sensitive topic for me.
"My lord." The bearded one said with a low bow. His sibling responded by also bowing slightly.
The bearded sibling walked forward slightly and began explaining himself with his hands and mouth.
"Our late father left his Land for me. And after his death, my younger brother came to me and said that he wanted to farm on the land, and I agreed. I told him that at the end of the harvest, I would get a share of the profits, and now he is refusing." After he explained himself, he stepped back for his brother to speak.
"My lord. Everything he said is true. But I can't give him fifty per cent of the proceeds when he did not do any work. All he did was sit down and wait for me to work."
"He asked for fifty per cent of the proceeds?" I asked.
"Yes." He replied.
"Why was this not agreed on before work started on the farm? You could have known if the terms were beneficial to you." I said.
"I assumed that since we were family, there would be no issues." The older brother said.
I sighed.
"Why did you not work with your brother if you felt like you deserved half of the proceeds?" I asked the elder one.
"I have other farms, my lord. I was busy there." He replied.
"And you. Don't you have your lands?" I asked.
"No, my lord. My brother inherited all my father's lands and property. He did not like me very much."
The other people in the hall numbered amongst themselves for the same reason that was going through my mind. It was not my job to judge the older brother's apparent selfishness. I was to make a fair judgment based on the proceeds they were dragging over.
"I will decide by morning," I said. "I do not want to make a hasty decision."
They bowed slightly and left my presence. I raised my head slightly for the already consoled woman to come back with her husband.
She crept towards me and began speaking first."I am a fisherwoman, and I am the sole provider of my family." She paused to point her finger at the husband. "All this mad Man did was spent all his time at the tavern. He spent my money on cheap whores, and one of them has fallen for him, so he wants to leave me." She explained.
"I don't care if he leaves. He is worthless. But, he is threatening to take control of all the lands I bought so we can get both farms. He did not contribute a nickel, and as a result, I do not want him to take anything from me. He should leave the same way he came, with nothing."
I turned to the man, and he started to explain himself. "She is my wife, and the properties belong to me. She got them when we were married, and I am the head, so they are mine."
I laughed softly. "You just said she bought them. Why are you trying to take what does not belong to you?"
"Anything that belongs to her while she is in the marriage belongs to me." He replied—his breath smelt of alcohol. I could smell it where I was seated.
"There is no place in our laws where it says this. Leave the woman alone and go and meet your mistress."
"There are amongst the law of your father." He replied.
I stood up from my chair and walked to him.
"Am I my father?"
"No." He whimpered.
I wouldn't say I liked his breath, so I went back to my seat.
"That law no longer stands. It is unfair, and it has died with my father. Leave the woman alone and go to your mistress."
"Yes, Lord." He replied under his breath as he walked away.
The woman grinned excitedly. "Thank you, my lord." I looked up to see that Iris was standing at the back of the conclave. She smiled at me, and I winked back.
Princess Jennifer and Edmund walked in after that; they walked straight toward me.