A few people had begun to fraternise with one another. Serena kept to Silas’ word and stuck close to Livia. The other woman did not seem the least bit bothered about it. They must have discussed it. The blonde woman kept her hand tied close to her back.
Serena had expected a small group of people to arrive from Dawnbreak, a meagre number of eight, but instead she was about to count about twelve people. She bit her lip in a nervous gesture. She, on the other hand, was a representative as the story went on, and she should have at least four people by her side, even if there was some sort of emergency.
It was the story she would tell if she was asked why she only had her right-hand woman, Charlotte, with her. But it was already too late to opt out of this little game.
She could hear a few clicks of glassware, and then she came to the awkward realisation that she had lost sight of Livia. She spun out discreetly, and her eyes swept over the living room for that auburn hair and scowl on her face. Serena cursed within herself and sidestepped a few people.
She nodded every now and then to the wolves of Ironshade that had taken to her being the Ambassador from Crimsonclaw. She tried her best to hide her worry.
The room had filled out some more since their entrance. The hearth at the far end crackled to life, casting flickering light against dark wood and stone. The Ironshade wolves lingered in corners and along walls, watching and side eyeing the visitors. Serena passed a tall soldier in uniform, his expression unreadable, but his gaze lingering a second too long.
She dipped her chin politely, and he gave a faint nod in return. But her feet paused a second longer than expected.
"You’re not from here," a voice said beside her.
She turned slightly to see the man who had nodded now fully facing her. He wasn’t large, but there was a bit of muscle to him. His beard was trimmed but unkempt around the edges, his dark hair streaked with faint hints of grey though his face still carried youth. Ironshade. Certainly not someone from Dawnbreak.
"No," Serena said, keeping her voice calm. "Is it that obvious?"
"Only to those who pay attention," he replied. His tone was mild, almost lazy, but his eyes were sharp.
She tucked her hands behind her back. "And do you make a habit of paying attention?"
"To the wrong things? Sometimes," he said, then offered a crooked grin. "I’m Orren. One of the keep wardens."
"I know." His gaze didn’t waver, but there was no bite to it. "You looked like you were searching for someone. Livia?"
"She was just here..." Serena hesitated, glancing past him again.
"She has a habit of disappearing when it suits her." He paused, then added, "You don’t have to stand in here with the rest of us, if it’s the air you need."
Serena blinked. "Excuse me?"
Orren nodded toward the heavy front doors. "You’re pacing in place. Doesn’t take a wolf’s nose to notice tension. There’s a bench outside. Sometimes it helps."
Serena studied him a moment longer, but she could sense no malice, no hidden play in his words. She gave a small nod in thanks and excused herself, moving toward the doors.
The cool air met her with a quiet hush, as though the trees themselves were holding their breath. The noise inside dimmed to a murmur once the doors shut behind her. For a moment, Serena simply stood there, letting the tension bleed from her shoulders.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone sitting on the manor’s stone steps.
A young woman. Her shoulders were hunched, her posture withdrawn. She wore a muted travel cloak over a sleeveless tunic, arms folded tight across her chest like she was trying to disappear. Her dark brown hair was pulled loosely back, but strands had fallen around her face.
Serena recognized the style of the cloak, Dawnbreak. This woman was one of theirs.
She paused, unsure if she should go back inside. It wasn’t her place to speak to their wolves without cause. But then the woman turned her head slightly, and Serena caught the look on her face.
Sadness. Not the loud, wailing kind. The quiet kind. Something in her steered, she understood that look on a person’s face.
She could go back in. No one would question her. She had done enough, stayed quiet, smiled when needed, didn’t start trouble. But the woman’s expression tugged at something.
She stepped forward quietly, approaching with enough caution not to startle.
The woman turned, a little startled, then quickly looked down. "It’s your Keep."
"Not really," Serena said lightly, easing onto the stone a few feet away. "Just borrowing it, like the rest of us."
The woman gave a faint, small smile but said nothing.
They sat in silence for a while. Serena watched the trees stir in the wind. From this distance, the manor looked softer, the lights within glowing through thick glass panes.
"I’m Serena," she offered gently.
"I know who you are." The woman’s voice was low but not unkind.
Serena glanced sideways. She raised a brow to her words, had she assumed she was part of the council or did she know she was an ambassador? "You don’t look like you’re enjoying the celebration," Serena said.
The woman huffed softly. "Oh no I am."
A beat of silence passed between the both of them. Then, unexpectedly, the woman spoke.
"My name’s Elen. I wasn’t meant to come. They brought me last minute something about how they needed eyes. Said I blend in."
Serena frowned. "You don’t want to be here?"
Elen shook her head. "Doesn’t matter what I want. I follow orders."
Serena looked out into the distance and nodded. "I know the feeling."
Elen turned, genuinely surprised. "Do you?"
Serena’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. "More than you’d think."
There was another pause then Elen asked, quieter, "Do you think it’ll go badly?"
Serena was quiet for a moment. The cold wind tugged at her sleeves. For original chapters go to novᴇlfire.net
"I think... things will be said. Not all of them kind. But I also think... everyone will go as planned, in a good way. Neither side wants to anger the other. ."
Elen nodded slowly, pulling her cloak tighter around her. "That’s what I’m afraid of."
Serena turned her face back toward the trees. She was afraid as well but she had already come this far.