Old Blood and New

It was a dinner party. It would be cozy if the dining room and table weren't so huge, and if there weren't so many guests. Vyn considered himself lucky that the host had enough room to let him sit at the table to eat as if he was like everyone else. Every single seat was full. The candlelight put a warm glow to the multitude of colors everyone had on, and the colors in the food.

The Duke was one of the more popular guests. Vyn couldn't help but notice that. Several people were trying to get him into a conversation, and for the most part the Duke was receptive. All smiles, all good cheer, he responded to just about everyone. Vyn thought he was slowly losing his strength just by watching him socialize. He even laughed at every joke he heard and told a few of his own.

He was already beautiful, but when he laughed it was magnified. His silver eyes brightened, almost looking like fine quartz stones. His straight teeth were like an artist's ideal image of teeth, delightfully straight and clean, like polished little bricks. Over time, as he drank more wine, and he laughed harder, his cheeks and nose gained a mild tint of pink. It was a warm sight.

He looked a little strange, and he drank blood, and he even had freaking bat familiars like a damn sorcerer, but the Duke felt too human to Vyn, even approachable.

Vyn sat at the Duke's right. To the Duke's left there was an intensely beautiful woman with round breasts pressed so high up it seemed like she wanted to sniff them. Her gray eyes were framed by spiky but soft lashes and her lips were plentiful. Her brown hair was up in two buns at her nape with a few forced curls falling down over her shoulder. Formal with a hint of something undone and intimate.

Her face turned much redder than the Duke's. Vyn noticed that she often put her hand under the table and firmly caressed the Duke's thigh. The Duke never gave a visible reaction, but he didn't discourage the behavior.

After a time, Vyn realized that to that brunette woman's left was her damn husband! He might've been completely oblivious to what was happening under the table, but Vyn also noticed he was sending some strongly affectionate looks towards a woman across from him.

When the dinner was over, Vyn and the Duke went off to a hotel, which wasn't really part of their schedule, but they were soon there. Once they were parked, Vyn asked the Duke, "Are you going to meet that brunette?"

"Of course," the Duke answered almost mechanically. He moved and spoke as if he was about to do some serious business. "Her husband gave me permission years ago. Whenever our impulses cross, we're likely to meet."

"Oh."

Vyn's eyes widened a little, and his jaw slackened, but he soon opened his door and escorted the Duke to the hotel's lobby. It turned out that woman was already waiting on him. They found that woman, fully dressed but clearly thrilled, sitting on a bed in a rather expensive room. Vyn gave the room a quick search for anything that could be off, and then he left to wait in the lobby.

He tried not to think very hard about what was likely happening in that hotel room. He told himself it was none of his concern. He took a paperback book from his coat's pocket and read it, but he kept his ears open for any sounds that might give hints of danger.

Perhaps an hour passed, and he heard the Duke's voice suddenly above him. "I'm quite refreshed. We should leave now. We're nearly late for our next appointment."

Vyn looked up at the Duke's placid expression. He as like a statue of a peaceful religious figure that was meant to inspire both discipline and kindness. There was no way he'd been like that in the hotel room, right?

Swallowing down a lump of mucus and saliva, Vyn got up and put his book back into his pocket. "Yeah. Let's go."

***

Vyn had his own room in the Duke's townhouse. It was nowhere near equal to what the Duke had, but it was pretty damn nice. There was pale blue wallpaper, a few plush rugs, a simple but comfortable bed, and a few other things.

The only sad part was that he was starting to think he wasn't getting enough sunshine. His sleeping patterns has been shifted to match the Duke's nocturnal lifestyle.

Vyn quite eagerly fell onto his bed. He didn't kick his shoes away. He only stayed on the mattress, limp yet also unwilling to move. His eyelids moved slowly as he lazily looked out a window. The darkness was slowly creeping away, leaving room for the pinks and oranges that sunrise would bring for a few moments.

His mind was full of images, shifting from one to the next. But at one point, he also wondered how the Duke tended to perform in bed. His reputation was that of a kind man, the ultimate gentleman, a perfectly tamed creature.

So...

He was probably a hungry animal, wild and daring.

Needy and demanding.

Did he tend to moan out demands?

Vyn closed his eyes and struggled with one of his arms. He had to move it, but his exhaustion had it going quite slowly. He slipped his hand under himself to untie his breeches and drawers. Then he adjusted his twitching penis to a more comfortable position.

Did the Duke ever use his smooth teeth? Did he nibble, or even bite down just a little?

How did his lips move? Did they flush into something much more pink?

Vyn groaned and mentally told himself that lusting after a rich man wasn't a wise idea. There was too much of a power imbalance, and Vyn didn't really like that.

***

The Royal Palace was nearly coated in vines and flowers of several varieties.

It was shaped like a U or sorts, but with no curves, more like a square box with a missing line. The walls were a bright white, and the windows and doors were mostly gray. The roof had dark blue tiles shaped like fish scales. The gardens were manicured almost obsessively. The pathways had shiny stones of pale brown and more gray.

Vyn was wearing one of the best outfits he had. A lovely spring coat a pastel green color with sparse but elegant embroidery of golden leaves around the bone buttons. His breeches and waistcoat matched. His stockings were snug and comfortable, and his shoes were black with fun white bowknots that didn't really tie anything in place. They covered the buckles instead. His tricorn hat, which he held in his lap, was also black, but with a little brown and white feather pinned onto one side. He even had lace cuffs pinned to his shirt's sleeves and a lace cravat at his throat, things he'd never had a chance to own, let alone wear before.

He even had his mass of curls set into a single plait that hung down.

But he was nothing compared to his Master. The Duke had a coat made of that lovely red/pink color Vyn had fallen in love with back at the castle. His breeches matched, but the waistcoat was an intense cyan color, another color Vyn wasn't used to seeing every day.

The coat had thick and heavy embroidery, even with some silver spangles. Surrounding the buttons in thick bands, around his deep pockets, and bordering the coat's hem, there was so much embroidery that Vyn couldn't help but think of all the hours one would need to stitch it in place. Wolves and ravens with tree branches were the main images the threads and spangles made, and they weren't stylized at all. Vyn thought those animals almost looked like they were ready to take a breath. As for the lace at his wrists, they had two tiers that covered half the length of his longest finger. His cravat had a golden brooch pinned in; it was in a simple, coin-like shape with geometric engravings.

When they exited the carriage on this afternoon, Vyn noticed that the rather sleepy Duke lowered his adorned head, or basically dropped it. Vyn caught it for him, glad that he didn't bend the bundle of colorful feathers that had been stuck in his Master's hat.

"Are you alright?" he asked the Duke.

The Duke put a fist close to his lips and gave a short yawn. Then he seemed to tremble much like a bird and then he said, "I've suffered through much worse. I'm only tired." He took his cane from the carriage and held it almost carelessly as they moved on towards the palace's main entrance.

Guards opened the doors for them. They walked into a foyer so grand that Vyn found himself looking around like an idiot. The ceilings were amazingly high with painted scenes. The windows were tall with flashy curtains. There was always some expensive or foreign looking vase somewhere, usually empty but sometimes full of flowers.

There were wide and amazingly clean red rugs. There were two grand and curbed staircases leading up to a mezzanine level. Their steps were covered in the same red material the rugs had. Guards were all around, but although they looked like they could be intimidating they also seemed friendly enough.

A very high class servant escorted Vyn and the Duke up the stairs and through many hallways, and then finally to a guest's door. Vyn was certain they were only meant to spend a few nights there. Their temporary accommodations was literally an apartment, an exquisite apartment. But the Duke wasn't comforted. He only watched as people came to put their luggage inside, and he even leaned into Vyn to mutter, "I need a moment in the bedroom." Vyn followed him to the bedroom, made sure everything was as secure as it could be, and then left so the Duke could have his moment, likely to use a chamberpot.

Once they were a bit refreshed, the Duke said it was time to attend court.

Vyn followed the Duke, and another fancy servant, all the way to the Throne Room.

It was another place so lavish that it was surreal. The richest and most important people were gathered there, all wearing the most opulent, the most glittery, the sometimes most ridiculous things in the world. They stood in rows, or mostly rows, on both sides of a massive red rug that led up to the throne.

An old and pale woman was on that throne. She had a huge crown with a red cap. Pearls, diamonds, rubies, and green emeralds were encrusted on that headgear. Her gray hair was in a bun artfully set to one side of her head with a small braid left over her shoulder. A few aigrettes with more gemstones were pinned into that bun.

Her throne either never had armrests, or the armrests had been removed, leaving plenty of room for her wide skirt. Her metal shot silk gown looked like gold flowing over her hidden support garments. Parts of the robe, over the petticoat, were draped up like curtains, and there were plenty of bow knots, spangles, and brooches, even garlands of pearls.

Her neckline was fashionably low; it was clear that this elderly woman had no issue displaying her wrinkled yet proud bosom. Her fingers were loaded with rings both new and old. Her brown eyes were sharp as the Duke slowly walked down the red rug, Vyn a few steps behind. When the Duke stopped, Vyn stopped too, and they both had to bow. They didn't straighten their backs until they heard that woman say a particular something in a very dignified voice.

"Rise and speak."

She meant the Duke, of course. Vyn was just there to be there, no speaking was necessary for him.

The Duke spoke to that woman with the greatest seriousness and deference Vyn had ever witnessed from him, but that was to be expected.

"Your Majesty, I'm grateful to be in your presence. Thank you for wisdom and governance."

The Queen's red painted lips thinned a bit as she smiled. "I'm pleased to see you, Your Grace. I apologize for the inconvenience your attendance has caused you."

With a quick shake of his head, the Duke said, "There's no need, Madam. The world should never bow down to me. I'm only one person."

The Queen's head turned a bit as if she was trying to be coy. She even let her smile shrink into a gentle little expression. "Join the ranks, Your Grace. There are several cases to hear."

Vyn wanted to grab the Duke's sleeve and cling to him. His legs were a little wobbly as he followed the Duke somewhere on the left of the red rug. They became part of the vague lines of nobles and the Favorites of nobles. Vyn had to stand a little bit behind the Duke, as the other Favorites seemed to do. These Favorites varied in appearance, but a good number of them were likely courtesans, which were extremely expensive prostitutes that often catered to nobles and royalty, and were also often see at the Royal Court. Vyn assumed so because they were some of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen, and they were holding onto their current patrons' arms as if they lived off of their scents.

The Queen was handed a short scepter of gold with many stones. Then she was handed a scroll that looked quite ceremonial, but Vyn soon figured out the list of cases to be heard had been written down on that scroll.

Her Majesty read out the first case, and the name of the noble that wanted to discuss it. A baroness walked to the center, right in the middle of the rug, and after curtsying she pleaded her case to the Queen. She was actually pleading on behalf of the mayor of her province's capital. He had some issue that the baroness needed a higher authority to consider.

The Queen listened, asked a few questions, and then she announced her decision. The baroness curtsied and went back to her spot.

The Queen called for the next case. An earl and a count both went to the rug. They had a disagreement about a border between their provinces, specifically about where the border was located at one section. As before, the Queen listened and asked questions. Then she called for a law scholar, because apparently she just had law scholars waiting to be called on. A servant hurried to leave through a side door, and he soon returned with an elderly man holding a book to his chest. He was told about the issue, and then he quickly searched his book for something. He then told the Queen about the information he'd read.

The Queen hesitated, but her wrinkled face was calm as she did it. Then she gave her decision.

As for the next case, the Queen read aloud, "The Third Case, concerning Lunathsell's presence in Thrundlan. Requested by His Grace, the Duke of Vibren, and Lord Alexis Fabronly, Earl of Bethron."

Vyn remained in his place while the Duke and one of the nicely dressed people, a man, immediately went to the rug in the center. They bowed, and the other man spoke first. Vyn assumed he was the Earl of the province called Bethron.

"Your Majesty, my third daughter was kidnapped by werewolves in the night," the Earl said with a tone that seemed business-like at first, but over time became more and more passionate and sad. "We have reason to believe the Lunathsell cult is involved. Concerning your next discussion with Luralf's diplomat, I must request that you press matters, address the distress that foreign cult has caused, and insist that Luralf take steps against that cult."

The Queen's eyes took on a fairly knowing sort of wince, as if there was some secret she wanted to release but was not able to do so. "Sir," she very politely said, "you have my deepest sympathies and condolences. Losing a child is one of the worst traumas one can experience. I must ask you, however, aside from risking a war, what can be done?"

The Earl's chest puffed out a little. "Economic pressure. We could refuse to trade with them, and we could use our influence to pressure other countries to do the same."

A seemingly tired sigh, and the Queen said to the Earl, "Luralf might use that as a reason to start a war, and many countries would side with them."

"And many would side with us," the Earl tried to counter. His face was turning red at this point. Understandable, or Vyn thought so. The poor man was likely out for werewolf blood.

The Duke nodded to him and spoke out, "Your Majesty. I must ask that you remember my centuries," here, his lips flexed as if he'd wanted to smile, "literal centuries, of my well needed service. I've served you, your mother, your great-uncle, your great-great-uncle, his mother, her father, his mother, her brother, his cousin." He was daring to list the entire line of succession right then, and Vyn had no doubt that he was accurate.

Her nose and cheeks seeming to flush, the Queen drew a line in the air with her scepter, and she quietly but sternly said, "Enough. There's no need to continue. I understand."

"Then," the Duke said, "you must also understand that I'm truly horrified, and I demand action. If none is taken then I will have no choice but to assume the government is no longer able, or possibly not willing, to protect its people. If that assumption is made... who can say what I'll do with my province, my people, and even with my neighbors."

Silence.

Vyn didn't fully understand, but once he took in the Queen's complexion, which was turning green instead of pink, he thought he could figure it out. He looked around at the other nobles. Some looked quite terrified. Others were nodding in approval.

If Vyn had this right, then His Grace, Duke Kaspier Aloithio, the ruler of the Vibren province, had just threatened a damn secession, possibly even a civil war.

The Duke confirmed it when he went on metaphorically poking the Queen in her cheek. A hand of his rose in an insistent gesture, and he said, "I don't remember everything in my youth, but the past has been recorded well enough. This nation was founded through rebellion, remade after a pathetic king refused to serve his people. I believe you know who was the most loyal to the rebellion's leader, and who became the new king's most beloved duke."

Right after the word duke, not even giving space for breath, the Queen announced, "I will discuss this troubling matter with Luralf's diplomat as soon as I'm able. A solution to this problem must be found."

Bowing, the Earl said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Duke followed suit. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm eternally grateful."

They both went back to the spots they had before, and the meeting continued until the Queen announced there were no more cases for the day. They were all dismissed.

Vyn followed the Duke out of the throne room. The crowd was doing much of the same. Vyn's mind buzzed around in circles and squares as he continued walking wherever the Duke wanted to go, and apparently he wanted to go to his guest apartment. The Duke went to the rather big bedroom and chose to lie down, fully clothed and with his shoes still on. His eyes soon closed.

Vyn sat down on a stool near him for a moment. He watched his breath slow down into something steady and relaxed. Then Vyn thought that he shouldn't be watching him sleep. It might be a little creepy. So, he left the room and worked on his embroidery a little bit more. Then, when he got bored of that, he practiced some punching and kicks. Why not? A bit after that, he did some push ups and crunches. Then he went back to embroidery.

The sun was starting to set when the Duke emerged, and he was a bit more cheerful. "I'm going to have dinner with that Lord Fabronly."

Ah, that Earl from before. Alright. Vyn had no disagreement.

Vyn decided to help the Duke smooth his outfit out a bit. He even took off the Duke's pretty reddish pink coat to shake it out. "You've made an alliance with him?" he said to the Duke.

Nodding and untying a ribbon from his hair, the Duke confirmed it. "Indeed. I have alliances with many other nobles."

"I don't know much about Thrundlan history." Vyn was looking over the embroidery to make sure nothing had been damaged. "Were you really such a big part of it?"

"I believe so, and so does everyone else." The Duke was combing his hair. "I do have some memories of that time, but the rest has been burned away."

"Would you really start a whole new war over this issue?" Vyn held the coat out for him.

The sudden frown and strictness in his eyes told Vyn a lot more than a simple yes.

The Duke wasn't all talk.

But he did talk. He said, "Of course."