Chapter Eleven: The Nine at Table

Rylla was the last to arrive at the western dining hall. She was starving from a long day of formal gown alterations, but even if the smell of food was intoxicating, she paused in the doorway and looked around the table. Already the hall was alive with more conversation than normally was. She realized quickly that for once in a long time, all her siblings were accounted for. She wasn’t nervous, but more in awe that it happened at all. It had been a long time since she had the opportunity to commune with all of them at once without other nobles or dignitaries in the room as well. She stood there rather speechless, it felt oddly unreal, as if it was almost a gift to see all of them like they once were. 

There had been years when gathering everyone in one room would have required no effort at all. Now with all their schedules, duties, rivalries, travel and distance it kept them scattered. But unlike any other day, there was no one to miss. Wrena was speaking calmly with a servant about the injustice of thenew rule of heels for those who served royals their meals, while Walric stole the last hard boiled egg off of her plate. Orther wasn’t near his seat, instead he was arguing with Elmara about a cheeky comment he made to her handmaiden Seris, and though she looked annoyed she was also glancing back at Elora, who sat quietly by her as if she was making sure she wouldn’t upset her. Leonah and Nokon sat by one another, but both were quiet, observing the group around them and as Rylla walked into the room she was gestured to sit next to Cedoric, who looked happier than he had been in a few weeks. 

As the bell rang for dinner to begin, the siblings found their seats slowly. Wrena took a plate from a servant who stumbled  in her new shoes and passed it to Cedoric, Walric swiped Orther’s bread, and then Orther jumped over to his seat and shoved the bread into Walric’s mouth. Leonah rolled her eyes and placed her napkin in her lap while Nokon did the same, except with a smirk on his lips. Elora was quiet, staring at the plate that had been delivered to her. As Rylla sat reading the room, she felt the need to tip toe, to be very careful, as if this event was fragile. She knew better than to trust fragile things, but she allowed herself to appreciate the rarity. Nine siblings, one table, one evening. 

As the meal was presented and the heirs ate, there was a silent appreciation for the delicious food. It seemed like the servants also knew how special it was to have everyone there and had butchered the best lamb and used the sweetest honey and vegetables and bread they could for them to enjoy. After the initial silence of everyone beginning their meal, side conversations began to happen around the table. 

“If I become king, I am outlawing early mornings.” Walric said with a mouth full of lamb, chomping away like he had no lips. 

“You’d be assassinated by breakfast.” Orther mused and a few others chuckled. 

“Or perhaps they would all cheer when their lords have more time to do the things that they are actually supposed to do.” Walric took a sip of wine. “The Governor of Ashvale has delayed his taxes again. This is the third year in a row.” 

“Four.” Leonah corrected. 

“At that point it’s less a delay and more a tradition.” Orther considered. 

“Careful. Traditions start rebellions.” Wrena warned. 

“There wasn’t a lot of talk about it at the council session today. Father ended it after only an hour, its the reason I was able to be here.” Walric stated. The table was quiet for some time. 

“I heard mention of a delegation put together by the nine provinces that arrived at the castle.” Elmara tried to start up a new conversation. 

“I’m confused why the delegation even exists. If they wanted trade, they would have brought merchants.” Orther explained. 

“If they wanted peace, they would’ve brought priests.” Nokon added. 

“Then why are they here?” Orther asked. 

Elmara gave a loud sigh. “That’s what worries me.”

“Leonah, I hear that another ambassador has arrived from Valedour.” Wrena moved the conversation along. “Have they found your husband yet?” 

Leonah smiled stiffly. “Several. They keep replacing one another.” The heirs all laughed, but it moved into silence quickly. 

“Wrena, I heard that you received another proposal. Was it the duke with the poetry or the duke with the goats.” Orther asked. 

“The goats.” Wrena said after swallowing her bite of food. 

“My condolences.” Orther said with a smile on his face. 

“Has Veeque sent any word for you, Elora?” Cedoric’s small voice brought a hush to the table. Even the air stopped in the room. As much as everyone’s ears were open, their eyes refused to look Elora’s way. And as much, Elora quietly kept staring at her plate full of food. 

“I heard a rumor that there is a noble from Merrowyn that is thinking about asking for your hand Elmara.” Walric teased, trying to find a breath of ease in the conversation.  

Elmara blushed and poked at her green beans. 

“At least she’s being asked.” Nokon shook his head, his dark eyes daring Walric to say more. The room fell quiet again, as the obvious history of Elora being sent away with little more than a day to react when Veeque summoned. 

“It would be nice to have you close to home.” Wrena picked up the conversation. “Its a beautiful land, Merrowyn, lots of hills and perfect weather,” 

“And crime.” Nokon popped in. Wrena glared at her brother. “Have you not read the reports?” 

“Three patrols vanished near the western pass.” Walric confirmed. 

“Bandits?” Orther asked. 

“Bandits usually leave bodies.” Walric stated. 

“Perhaps we can talk about reports that don’t mention death?” Leonah piped in. “I heard Qarthos is shipping their first package of grain next month. That will be exciting to try.” 

“Yes, I have also heard that they are doubling their army on those merchant ships. They must feel right at home in Korvethis.” Nokon told them. 

“Nobody doubles their army because they feel secure.” Leonah remarked. 

“Perhaps they’re preparing for winter.” Wrena chimed in. “They wouldn’t be used to how cold it gets here. More security means more hands to work.” 

“Perhaps they’re preparing for us.” Nokon said matter-of-factly. Wrena took a deep breath in. 

“I’ve heard that Orvenhal has requested additional ships from the capital.” Elmara told them. Orther and Walric looked at each other, Rylla nodded silently. 

As the servants came and took plates away, and placed small bowls of custard in front of each heir, the room seemed to lose some of its tension. As the servants left, there was opening for a conversation again. 

“So…which of us do you think is going to leave first?” Cedoric asked. No one responded quickly. Cedoric looked around at his older siblings before he went back to looking at his custard. 

“My money is on Leonah.” Orther finally spoke up. 

Leonah sighed. “Your money should remain your money.” 

“Fine. Wrena then.” Orther said. 

“No.” Wrena shook her head. 

“Elmara?” Orther asked 

“Nope.” Elmara said quickly. 

“Elora then?” Orther asked. Then there was silence. No one answered, no one gave answers, nobody even looked at Elora. 

“Wherever they find themselves, I know that you all will give this country great honor in your duties.” Walric told them. 

“Funny how everyone calls it honor when daughters are traded.” Nokon spat. He did not look away from his older brother’s sour face. 

“At least Elora came back, we won’t know the next time we’ll see the others when they leave.” Orther mentioned. 

Elmara looked to her twin who had leaned farther back in her chair, still looking at the plate in front of her. Leonah had changed the subject again, but Elmara watched her sister as she started mumbling under her breath, as if she was having a conversation no one else could hear. 

“Did anyone else ever wonder why Leonah was picked for a foreign land but none of us were?” Orther asked. 

“Probably because I’m the one they can trust to not make a fool out of Korvethis.” Leonah said with an eyebrow raised. 

Elamara looked back slightly hearing the mumbling get louder. For a moment the air around ELora looked wrong, as if she sat behind a thin sheet of violet glass. 

“Maybe not all of us, I’m sure I would’ve made a good diplomat in another life.” Walric joked. 

“Sorry, brother, you’re stuck here to rule.” Wrena joked. 

Elmara smirked and looked back at Elora, hoping to see a smile on her face as well, but it wasn’t there. The smile, or Elora. Elmara froze and looked around the room with her eyes, trying to see if her twin had gotten up out of her chair and her disappearance could be explained, but there was no sign. 

Elmara looked back at her plate and felt numb in her indecision of what to do. She could still hear her siblings' conversation, but it was muffled by her increasing heartbeat. She kept looking back, hoping she was back, like the last time. Last time she left, but she was not gone for long. But a minute passed, and then another. Elmara looked to see if anyone else saw, but they were still so occupied with their silly conversations. She caught eyes with Nokon, and saw what he already knew as he gave her a small nod. 

She started scanning the room, obviously looking for something. Rylla finally saw Elmara looking, and then saw Elora’s absent chair. Rylla ducked under the table to see only legs from her seven siblings still at the table. Leonah noticed the empty chair and looked right at Elmara, fear racing through her veins. 

“Where is Elora?” Orther finally asked. 

Almost as quickly as Elora vanished the room exploded. Walric stopped being their playful older brother and became a commander. He ordered servants to stand back against the walls as guards ran in to check every nook and cranny. He ordered a few guards to stand watch over all his siblings while the search went out. 

Orther didn’t look like himself, Rylla had never seen him so serious. Cedoric was pacing, but Nokon was calm, almost looking annoyed at Walric as he ordered people around. 

“What do you mean this has happened before?” Wrena asked Elmara just a level lower than shouting. 

“She’s vanished before like this! Obviously not as long, but yes, I saw her do this before.” Elmara admitted. 

Walric stepped in front of Wrena. “You knew about this and didn’t say anything?” 

“What would you want me to say? That my sister disappeared right in front of me? I’m sure that wouldn’t make me look like I belong in an infirmary!” Elmara started to get mad. 

“This is a security risk Elmara! You put us all in danger by not telling anyone!” Walric shouted. 

Suddenly Nokon was in front of Elmara, face to face with his brother. For a moment he just glared at him, but after a few breaths he said very quietly, “Screaming at our sister for her not saying something isn’t going to do anything for finding Elora.” Nokon told him. Walric let out his breath. “And it will not change the fact that you didn’t notice our sister disappeared until everyone else did.” He hissed and walked away with Elmara. 

Cedoric hear a slight scrape of a spoon and looked back at the table. “W-Walric!” he yelled. 

The group turned to see Elora, sitting in her seat. She had scooted her own chair in and grabbed her custard, she had the largest spoon in her hand and was inhaling the food. Everyone stood, unsure of what to do or say, or think. The absent girl was right where she left. 

Elmara was the first to rush towards her. She knelt by her, put a hand on her shoulder just to make sure she was real. “Where were you?” 

Elora froze and for the first time she stopped and looked around at everyone in the room. They stared at each other. For the first time in a long time, Elora felt present, and every awkward feeling pulsed through her. 

The guards were relieved by Walric and the servants began to clean the room, all but Elora’s place, which they all kept a safe distance around. One by one the siblings left slowly, sworn to Walric to not say anything to anyone until he could talk to their father. Elora’s handmaiden had been called and would arrive at any moment, but Elmara still sat by her sister, seeing her finish the dinner she had refused before. Again she asked, “Where did you go?” 

Elora didn’t answer at first. Elmara didn’t know if she actually expected an answer, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say. Even she, who was so close to the doctrine of the Veil, never saw the supernatural as what she just saw. 

Elora grabbed one of the flowers from the centerpiece on the table and twirled it in her hand. Elmara watched her with bated breath. The flower was freshly plucked, cleaned and put in the vase for dinner tonight, but as she waited to hear if there was any reply and realized Elora’s fingernails were caked with dirt. “I don’t think it was where.”