Away from the manor, into the night, and in the market square, men, women, and children too flooded each corner and space, immersing themselves in the moment of bliss.
The women flaunted their bodies, swirling and twirling to the high-spirited music played with ebullient pitches and tones alongside banging drum beats and ecstatic chants.
The men sat in groups, drinking from goblets of red wine. The children— a few watched, some danced with the women, and others took the pleasure to play and make new friends. The rich with the rich. The poor with the poor, beggars with their stuffed animals. It was the festival of many but the few rich ones made sure to mingle with those only of their status.
Lord Elvin and his Lady were not isolated from the condescending attitude of the rich as they were seen in a clique of men and women with exuberant dressings of fine textiles and expensive stones. The few beggars that came around were shooed away.
" I wouldn't say ". A woman in royal purple by Lady Elvin's side giggled over something someone said. Her hand gracefully covered her mouth.
" Well, if it isn't Malia, it's Bianca and if it isn't Bianca, then it would be Primrose. Those girls gave us hard times while growing especially with Malia dreaming of marrying the Prince and the others looking charming for the nobles. Oil make-ups were never lacking ". A burst of loud laughter resounded after the woman's words as the men joined in, patting each other at the joke.
Lady Elvin had her laughter held in her teeth. Though Malia's mother and she were very good friends who had husbands working in the courts of the King, she had hoped her daughter be the one to enthrall the Prince.
Her daughter would be the Queen when the Prince takes over the throne from his father. She had gone the extra mile of getting a tutor from the Castle for her Primrose. The tutor to teach her the ways of the royals. To make her fit for the role of the Queen.
She strengthened her friendship with Malia's mother, giving her every reason to mutually trust and respect her while pushing Primrose to stick close to Malia. If the Prince looks farther away from Malia, he would see Primrose. Besides her Primrose was more beautiful than that ugly daughter of hers.
" By the way, Gwen, what of Primrose? ". Hearing Malia's mother calling her by her real name disgusted her. She was never called by her birth name but her husband's since she said the vows. Malia's mother would take such liberty to call her not minding if their servants were close by.
" Oh that girl. She said she needed to apply some more make-up. I had the footman and the driver carry her ". Gwen replied.
When the group continued with their conversation, she turned to her husband. " It's almost time for the offerings ".
The Prince was attending the festival. They allowed their daughter the permission so as to woo the Prince. But it was almost midnight, the time of the offerings and yet Primrose was not back.
" She would be back in due time ". It was not her plan only, her husband was the activator of what they brood and called the family business. To get a place in the palace, not only in the court but by marriage into the private chambers of the King where family matters were discussed. With Primrose's marriage to the Prince, their position, and status in the society would be elevated. And that was why Lord Elvin had not hesitated when his daughter distressingly said her makeup was worn out.
Gwen Elvin could only offer a silent prayer on her daughter's behalf and intertwine her fingers with her husband's as she rested her head on his shoulders. The other couples in the clique found this romantic and as the friends they were, Gwen and Elvin's position became a challenge to them and so they snuggled and smooched.
•
Away from the festival grounds, up the hill, seven men stood at the edge of a cliff, hovering and monitoring the festivity that went on in the district. Their black cloaks with hoods that blended with the darkness surrounding them left to the moonlight shimmering through the tall trees that camped around the hill.
And while they stood with hawk eyes watching, one sat on a rock. His legs crossed with a lit pipe sticking out of his mouth. On his left eye, he wore a patch, black to match his cloak, hood, trousers, and the pupil of his right eye. And with the pipe, he sucked, puffing out smoke whilst holding his unbreaking gaze at the darkness beyond the seven men he would call Comrades if he were to be their leader.
" What are we to do sir? ". One of them asked, the rest turning to him for an answer.
He looked absentmindedly at them, as their words like floaters, floated through his hearing. Looking not seeing, he puffed out more smoke. They knew at this point that though it seemed like they were glass he looked through, every word spoken, he had heard. No one dared to question him but to wait, they did, on him.
" Nothing ". He puffed. " Do nothing. The time is yet to come ".
•
With the striking of a bell, they all assembled, boys and girls, men and women from the corners, they stayed to while away their time. It was the time for the evening offerings and as the gods would want it, the fullness of the moon in the dead of the night, would the people burn the incense.
On a stage, a man in his early fifties stood ready to master the ceremony as the crowd drew near to him, He greeted the people when he was sure they were all assembled below the stage.
" Greetings of the last hour. Welcome, all and sundry for you know what time it is. Yes, you do. It is the time of the evening offerings, of the sweet fragrance of your genuine love and passion to see that this ceremony is well attended. ". He paused for their loud cheers and continued only after they had quietened.
" And to open the ceremony properly, let's welcome to the stage a man so dear to and loved by all. A man of his word. Every promise he makes, he meets them. Ladies and gentlemen, Lord Elvin ". An applause erupted alongside the joyful screams.
Lord Elvin nodded to his wife and made his way to the stage. Gwen could only blow a kiss to him, but he was already walking to the stage. She was in an elated mood as she heard the way the people accepted her husband and so she turned to look at the quantity of people gathered.
Her eyes skimmed through the crowd just when a shadow flew past. A frown settled on her face as she looked intently. And when she did look, she saw him, red eyes staring at her with fangs long.