Moira let out a shaky exhale, crumpling backward onto her bed. "I know I shouldn't have, but if I am going to travel one hundred miles out of the Domelands and another three hundred miles across the country and up a treacherous mountain to get to Odiovitae I would much rather be uncomfortable in a carriage with you."
"Still..." Jalla looked askance, but the wide smile across her face said otherwise, starting to clean the rest of Moira's room because Tsina and Greyse left early. "It's unwise to talk down to your handmaids. They serve you, clothe you, feed you, they-"
"-don't know what they are talking about when they call high-born handmaids servants?" Moira added, throwing her hands up in frustration and letting them fall onto the bed. "It really frustrates me sometimes. I don't see you that way."
Jalla halted her work, setting down the vanity accessories where they belong before walking over to the other side of Moira's bed and laying down, almost cheek to cheek with her.
"It's a wonderful sentiment, sweet Moi-fish," Jalla said in a doleful melodic tone, "but my family- Well, you know..." Jalla trailed off, and Moira looked away, ashamed of Jalla's fate, a life of servitude because of her fathers doing. Everyone knew of the Themeuron Trials, it was a huge scandal throughout the human kingdoms. Jahn was known for his proclivity, his tendencies to abuse his wealth and causing harm to the women in various human households, which was punishable by death, as it was a Matriarchal society in many kingdoms.
Though the King was not prejudice toward same sex marriage, he did have a problem with adultery and bearing children with multiple quarter bred women. Adultery itself would have your name and title taken away, but trading blood with a quarter-breed was dishonorable and even punished by banishment and brandished an exile of the Domes. King Rejan was merciful then, casting out Jahn and the children born to him, Willemina had the quarter-breed women excommunicated from the dome.
Later that season, Willemina abdicated the Themeuron responsibilities, leaving the dome and Jalla and her four younger siblings behind. Jalla was only eight years old. The Representative of the House of Themeuron went to Willemina's younger, spiteful sister, Corrina, who was already married and had a child on the way. So Corrina disowned Jalla and her siblings, struck them out of the Themeuron mansion, destined to a life of servitude, pure-blood humans raised as servants, as slaves. It made Moira sick thinking about it, she was only 3 years old when it all happened otherwise she would've done something about it. Jalla threw away her name, shortening it to just Jalla. When Moira was named heir at eleven, the King assigned Jalla as her handmaid, and ever since shed been in her service.
Moira walked alone in the corridor while thinking of Jalla's fate. It had been a while since she walked alone, it allowed her to think and reflect on past conversations, worrying if she sounded too brash or too timid. Descending the stairs, she curved the corner and saw the blonde hair of Vyvian at the bottom step. She stood rigidly, elegantly, dressed in teal trousers with a matching teal blazer and a white and black pinstriped ruffled blouse.
Moira approached Vyvian and went to apologize, but before she could, the King threw open the throne room doors, his voice pitchy as hers did when irritated. "Moira! Get your gods damned ass in here at once." He took a hold of Moira's arm, crushing it with his fat hand, dragging her to her spot at the breakfast table. Vyvian continued appearance behind the King and Moira eyeing the King suspiciously.
The throne room had a very tense feeling, there were many members of council at the smaller of the mahogany tables, which was at Ceremony. The Auxilitor, Master of Remedies and Maladies, Chief Medic in the Domeland, Lord Merwyn Whytt, sat opposite Moira, right side of the King, as every Auxilitor did, where the rest of the council: Lady Eyor Endratta, Leader of the Northern Dome, Kentheon Sobex, stand-in for the Lady Maranda Sobex of the Eastern Dome, and the twin rulers, leaders of the Western Dome, Lady Ceres Dona and Lord Ceran Dona. They were all made to sit a chair away from the Auxilitor and Moira, to give room to any guests that may join them, and in this case, were Olvina and Vyvian. Olvina sat next to the Auxilitor, and Vyvian beside Moira as usual, drinking from metal goblets and pouring red liquid from metal pitchers.
Moira suddenly felt very nervous. Had Vyvian told Olvina already? Would Olvina react harshly? Moira didn't know, so she was trapped in her head, not realizing she was being spoken too.
"Moira?" Olvina asked softly with her very unique, though pronunciated accent, apparently expecting Moira to answer something. Moira looked at her uncle and smiled bashfully as his face twitched.
"I apologize, I didn't hear you, a bit frazzled this morning, you see."
Olvina smiled back, perfect symmetrical teeth glaring back at her. "I asked if you received my son's letter? He seems to be rushing the date of departure because of the length of the trip. He has told me that a great blizzard has hit the valley, the sooner we leave, the sooner we'll be able to get through when the storm passes."
Lady Endratta, a gaunt young woman with similar hair to Moira's, with chestnut skin, high cheekbones, wide amber eyes. Moira enjoyed looking at her clavicles, her bony wrists and feet. Eyor laughs girlishly at Olvina's comment of a storm before Autumn. "A blizzard, now? It's the end of summer, its the hottest time of year for-"
"Us, Eyor, and the domes." Lady Ceres interrupted plainly. Ceres was a black haired, thin eyed, soft faced woman with olive skin. She was later in her years but still kept her youth. Lord Ceran had the same eyes, same hair, same youth but with a curly brown beard that Moira swore he straightened with miniature irons.
Lady Ceres was astounded by Lady Eyor's ignorance. "Everyone that was taught proper geography was taught that the path to the summit of Odiovitae has summer snowfalls regularly." Olvina bowed her head to Ceres for the explanation. It was not often you find humans and vampires working together. Ceres and Ceran were open minded humans, never minded the mix of blood, Unhumans, or their offspring.
The King coughed loudly, food flew out of his mouth onto his plate as he spoke, "So what if the King of Odiovitae wants to send off sooner, Moira is still in my care and the date remains the same, the First of Autumn, specifically at the time of the Equinox, we must not break tradition."
Olvina grinned skeptically, her face showed her annoyance. "'We must not break tradition?'" she mocked King Rejan, the other council members all suddenly looking at Olvina in awe. "Didn't we already pass that point Rejannos?" but before he could answer, she turned to Moira and spoke softly. "So, what do you say?"
Moira was speechless. She had never heard anyone speak to her uncle like that, let alone refuse his right to speak and ask for Moira's opinion. She closed her eyes, wishing for a moment she could disappear, to not be looked at, "I did receive King Soren's letter, he is very kind for the gifts and supplies, though the pass is dangerous and the blizzard makes it worse, I must agree with my uncle, The King, broken traditions cannot be fixed with more broken traditions. If we travel in the midst of a storm then so be it."
The King ate his meal with pride, Olvina went silent, sipping occasionally out of her goblet every now and then till her cup was empty, then after a while she rose from the table, bowed to the King, bowed to the Ladies of Council, then to Moira, striding around the table to kiss her hand.
"I presume to see you at dinner, Moira?" Olvina asks, bent low that only The King and Moira heard.
"Yes, of course, Olvina, I will be there." Moira answered gracefully, bowing her head a bit.
"Remember..." She said looking at Vyvian as she stood from her seat, "...to bring your handmaiden, Jallamina."