"You're not bad for a beginner." I sank back into a chair after finishing winning against Lleu.
Lleu also looked tired. "I'll take that compliment."
We both massaged our wrists as we gave each other a look of respect. Despite outclassing Lleu, he was quick to improve, and by the end of our fourth game, he started to put up a real fight. I felt a strange sense of pride seeing my friend improve so quickly.
"So, when do I get to play?" Davy asked with a less than happy look on his face.
"Sorry, Davy I completely forgot we were meant to be showing you how to play. I'll show you next time, if I swing that bat one more time my wrist is going to snap."
Davy began to pout, and his cheeks became all puffy. He was scowling at both of us, and his glare could have melted ice. Typically, when someone looks at me like that I get agitated, and it usually ends in a brawl. Yet with Davy, his pouty face was too adorable to get me mad.
"We're sorry Davy. I got caught up in the moment and forgot about you." Lleu started trying to make peace with Davy. "I've still got enough energy for a few more games, so why don't I show your ropes."
Lleu's attempts were unsuccessful. Davy turned his head away from us making a *Hmph* sound. From the look on Lleu's face, pouty Davy just scored a critical hit on him with that move.
"I'm so sorry Davy!" Lleu was now bowing in front of Davy. "I've been a terrible friend. What can I do to repay you?"
"Tuna!"
"Yes, right away. I'll go find Alice and ask her to make something tuna based."
As Lleu sprinted away to find Alice. Davy's expression returned to normal and pouty Davy went away. He smiled again and started licking his lips.
'That didn't last long.' I thought as I watched Davy imagine ripping into a fish.
It wasn't long before Lleu returned with Alice in toe. She was once again accompanied by her squadron of fluffy animals.
"I'm not getting you any more tuna." Alice immediately shot down Davy. "Me and Edward have been cooking dinner, so you're not going to spoil it by snacking."
Alice's demeanour and attitude were completely different with Davy than how they were with Lleu. With Lleu she was like a mother who spoiled her child and couldn't say no to him, but with Davy, it was the opposite. She was like a struck parent scolding a misbehaving child.
After Alice scolded Davy, pouty Davy returned with a vengeance. This time there were multiple *Hmphs*, and his eyebrows couldn't be further arched.
"Don't take that attitude with me! After master Lleu graciously let you into his home, you should be worshipping the ground he walks on, not making him fetch food for you."
Alice grabbed the back of Davy's collar and started dragging him away. "If you're so hungry, you can help in the kitchen then."
As Davy was being dragged away, he was still pouty Davy. He didn't make any attempts to break free and just let Alice drag him along the floor. I couldn't help but see the image of a kid being dragged by his parents after throwing a tantrum.
A little while after that fiasco, me and Lleu were called in for the dinner that they had been preparing. The table was adorned with multiple different plates and cutlery, but there were only three seats.
Alice, Edward and Davy were still bringing in the food and setting the table when we arrived. Davy had been forced into an apron, and he had a chef's hat sitting between his ears. His face was still very scowly, and only after he sat at the table did his eyebrows return to normal.
"You can eat with us too?" Lleu said to Alice and Edward as they stood next to the table looking like proper servants. "I told you that Kate is my friend, you don't have to act so formally. I'm sure Kate doesn't care about noble etiquette, right Kate?"
"Yeah, it's more fun when everyone eats together."
Alice and Edward, and after a pleading look from Alice and Lleu, Edward sighed. "You spoil us too much master Lleu."
Both of them sat down reluctantly, and a smile appeared on Lleu's face.
"Wait should we invite all the stuffed animals? I would feel kind of bad leaving the out." I asked whilst I watched all the chef animals leave.
Alice was the one to answer me. "No, it's fine. All my creations are connected to me, so my nutrients are distributed between all of us. Try to think of them as an extension of me."
"Oh ok."
We all began to dig into the food, and the room was filled with the sound of knives and forks scraping across the plate. Alice was eating the most, and she was eating at an alarming rate. The cutlery Alice was using had little hands and was using them to help her shovel food into her mouth. Despite the speed and ferocity, she ate her food with she still looked elegant whilst doing it.
'I guess she has to eat loads to supply all the stuffed animals.' I thought as I ate my own food.
Mid-way through the meal the silence was bothering me a little, so I decided to make conversation. "So Lleu how are you so wealthy? I'm still new to the culture here are you like a noble?"
"He's not like a noble, he is one." Edward began to explain. "Master Lleu is from one of the noble families appointed by Therian's monarch."
"Sorry, I only found out that magic existed over a month ago. I thought the magical council was in charge of things."
"Don't worry madam, allow me to help bring clarity to the matter. Whilst the magic council does control inter-island affairs and all matters pertaining to outside the mystic islands, they do not have control over how the islands govern themselves.
Each of the six islands has a different form of government that works with the magical council to ensure peace. Therian's leader is the monarch, and underneath the monarch are the noble families.
The monarch can make anyone a noble for a varying number of reasons. Someone might own enough land to qualify as a noble, or their military status might be high enough to gain a noble title. The reason master Lleu's father, master Llwyd was chosen to be nobility was because of his business, Taylors and Tailors.
Master Llwyd produces 80% of the world's transforming clothes, and he has stores in all six islands. At master Lleu's age, he united the majority of the sheep hybrid species under one banner, and all of them sell their wool to master Llwyd's company.
After master Llwyd had a steady flow of transforming sheep wool, he partnered with a group of outcast mages to make the transforming clothes, which happened to include me at the time. I've served the Taylor ever since, and with time Master Llwyd was promoted to one of the highest noble ranks, a Duke. And one-day master Lleu will succeed master Llwyd and become the next Duke."
"Ok, Edward you don't have to ramble off my family history." Lleu was blushing slightly from all the stares I was giving him. Throughout Edward's explanation, my eyes got wider and wider from my disbelief.
"Sorry, I got carried away in the memories of the past." Edward poured a bottle into a wine glass and started to take a few sips. "You do mind remind me of him, master Lleu. He wore that same smile of yours when he saved us *hic*."
Edward was now rubbing Lleu's head and patting it ferociously. Lleu began to blush, and he went silent.
Alice looked shocked and turned to us. "Edward has a terrible alcohol tolerance, and he always ends up getting all sappy and sad."
"To think it was nearly 20 years ago now *hic*, it feels like yesterday when… w-when…" Edward fell from his seat and the wine glass he was holding spilt all over him. When Lleu checked if he was alright, he started snoring.
"That annoying old man! Cowdon, do you mind taking him back to his room and looking after him?" Lleu went back to eating his meal as Cowdon hoisted Edward onto his back, and carried him away.