Riven chuckled and set his plate aside, Cedar gave a small nod to one of the attendants, and within moments, a young wolf with neatly-combed hair stepped forward to clear the plate. Darius squared his shoulders and looked at the men. The meal had gone without a hitch but it seemed everyone knew where they stood.
This man sent as a representative of Alpha Thalia was no stupid man, why would he be? Darius held himself back from reaching any damning conclusions, he would wait till he had more information to work with and when the terms of their negotiations were spelt out in ink. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn noⅴelfire.net
"It seems that they have already started the music without us," Andrew murmured.
"Not to worry, brothers from the North. This is only the first number," Cedar said with a smile.
Darius wiped his lip on the napkin and eyed Cedar. An older man that he had respected greatly, his charisma was so infectious and he always lit up a room. It made it easy to trust him and spill your secrets to him on a lonely night. It would have been a dangerous combination in someone else’s hands but another one of the gifts the man possessed was his empathetic spirit.
It was why he was the Elder in charge of the welfare of the people of Ironshade, while he did overlook many things he was the best there was. Most if not all the wolves of Ironshade loved him. It was the reason why Cedar was seated in this room, in contrast to him and Silas, Cedar was the image of a jolly and laid-back man.
"I heard the music from Ironshade was one that would soothe away your sorrows," the second man that Riven brought finally spoke.
The man had been silent throughout the meal and throughout the short conversation that Darius had had with Riven. He studied his face closer and the man looked to be someone around Herbie’s age, with a long scar running from the corner of his eye to the side of his lips.
"It sounds like that to me," Riven said mildly, sipping his wine.
"You will come to enjoy it, who knows maybe love it more than North’s," Silas said in an amusing tone.
Riven merely huffed and waited till his men had finished their meals. Darius folded his arms and waited for Cedar’s cue. Tonight was the man’s night and he would follow his direction, it was what they had already agreed on the day before.
"You did mention someone called Iris... was it that blonde woman that greeted us with another?" Riven asked out of the blue.
Darius raised a brow and tilted his head. "No, Elder Iris is away from here but be rest assured you will meet everyone from the council in due time."
The other man crossed his hands over his chest. "Very well then."
Darius held his tongue and rose from the chair slowly, he nodded towards Cedar and the older man rose up and so did Silas and soon everyone was up on their feet.
"Thank you for joining us in today’s meal," Cedar began. "It will be the first of many, I can feel it in my old bones."
Riven chuckled and then made his way downstairs. Darius walked over to Silas and leaned over. "Make sure Serena is out of view," Darius whispered.
Darius nodded and followed the other men onto the stairs. He wondered where Riven had seen her and why he had already committed her to memory. Darius knew Serena did look a bit different but her clothes and everything would not give her away, not even her scent. She had been in Ironshade for some time.
He looked at Riven glance back at him and giving him a soft smile, almost teasing. Darius merely narrowed his eye and continued his descent.
Downstairs, the musicians had slipped into a lighter number, something with a lilt to it. Darius caught her scent before he saw her. There she was conversing with one of the Dawnbreak wolves, a shorter woman stood so close to her that if a gust of wind entered she would have toppled over Serena.
And then she turned, those green eyes held so much worry. He clicked his tongue and turned away, it pained him but it had to be done. He would seek her forgiveness another time.
"Darius," Livia whispered.
His eyes found the brown-haired woman walking briskly to him, he offered her a smile and then leaned over.
"Is anything the matter," he said.
"No," she said, a little too quickly. "Have faith in my hands down here."
Darius chuckled. "I do but you seem like you are in a hurry."
Livia cleared her throat and glanced at Serena who was still speaking with that woman from Dawnbreak.
"She’s made a friend," Livia said, lips pursed. "That wolf from Dawnbreak. I suppose your little rogue doesn’t know how to stay unnoticed."
"I saw," he replied. "But you say they’re friends already?"
Livia gave a shrug that was more exhausted than dismissive. "You know her better than I do. She..." She threw her head back and exhaled sharply through her nose. "She wanted to see you today. I refused."
A beat of silence passed between them and then finally he spoke. "I see, you did well."
"You do not seem happy about that," Livia muttered.
"That can wait, this delegate is quite the fox even with his words. But be rest assured all is going smoothly upstairs," Darius said.
Livia nodded and she accompanied him by his side for a few conversations and soon drifted off. Darius soon stepped outside for a breath of fresh air, he looked up at the moon and sighed.
Light spilled out from the open door and the man turned. He turned to see her crestfallen expression and her hands tightly gripping her skirt.
"What is the matter?" Serena asked. "Why have you been avoiding me?"
Darius cursed inwardly and turned to the moon again. He closed his eyes briefly and then spoke. "I have not, my hands have been rather full these days."
"You could have said something to me," Serena said dejectedly.
He heard her boots tap softly against the stone floor as she closed the distance between the two of them. "You know I could not help but feel like I had committed a grave sin."
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