Chapter 139: Drinking in Solidarity

Chapter 139: Drinking in Solidarity

Stryg walked around the secret wine cellar, eyeing each bottle with interest. Will you get in trouble for showing me any of this?

Not if you dont say anything. I know the wine is not much, but I really am grateful, Maeve said.

Grateful?

You saved my life from that seregulus that day in Mellow Bloom. You were seriously injured and you almost died, because of me I never thanked you for what you did. Im so sorry.

Maeve

She bowed very low, Thank you for saving my life, I hope to one day have the chance to repay my debt.

Stryg scratched the tip of his nose and looked away, Theres no need to thank me. I was bleeding out on the field and you patched me up. I would have died had it not been for you. Consider us even.

Maeve raised her head slowly, Really?

Yeah. But, I wonder, why would you patch me up, bring me to this cellar, or talk to me at all, if you see me as an eyesore, Stryg stared into her eyes.

She broke away from his gaze, I You wouldnt understand.

There are a lot of things I dont understand, but Im a quick study.

Maeve sighed and pulled out a bottle from one of the cupboards. She grabbed two silver chalices from a nearby glass casket and poured them both drinks.

Do you really want to know? Maeve handed him one of the cups.

What else do I have to do down here but drink and listen? Stryg sipped the wine.

Maeve swished the chalice in her hand and stared into her murky reflection. My father isnt just a history buff. He follows many of the old traditions of an ancient vampire clan from the Northern Lands. The clan is long dead, but he still adheres to their beliefs.

What beliefs?

Maeve took a deep breath, Vampire supremacy. He believes that since vampires tend to have greater physical capabilities than some of the other chromatic species, that vampires are somehow better than the rest, then vampires deserve to rule. Of the three native Ebon species, he thinks vampires are the only ones truly worthy of leading the Ebon Realm.

So, he doesnt care too much for goblins or dark elves, then?

Yup, but oh, will he hide his feelings on the matter if it suits him, like in business trades. He messed up when it came to you though, he didnt realize your master was Loh Noir, nor how she would behave. Neither did I, but my gods, did it feel good to see Loh embarrass him at the docks like that.

Yeah, I guess it did. But from the way you talk it seems you dont agree with his traditions?The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Of course not. My father is a horrible old man with stupid beliefs, clinging to a glorious past that never existed. Vampires were never the apex species of the Realm, nor do they deserve to rule more than anyone else.

Stryg finished his wine and served himself more, I understand why your father would hate goblins, but what about you? Im having a difficult time reconciling the Maeve I see in front of me with the one from yesterday at the docks.

She sighed, My father doesnt just hate goblins and dark elves. He sees the non-native species, such as orcs and dwarves, as an affront to his own existence as a vampire. Hybrids are worse, since they represent people of different species getting along.

Maeve drank down her wine, My best friend is Nora Azol, you know her of course. Shes a human, but I never cared about anything like that. Weve been friends since we were children and thats all that mattered. But, my father hated the fact that I was friends with a human. He found it embarrassing and a shame to his honor.

Maeve took a shaky breath, ...He beat me for it. Broke several of my bones. I eventually stopped hanging out with Nora, but he didnt stop beating me. My father has tried to hide my scars by ordering his white magi to heal me, but I still have scars, I just hide them well.

Maeve twisted her arm behind her and dusted away the makeup on her shoulder blade, revealing a faint silvery scar.

Stryg traced his finger over the old wound, He cut you?

Sometimes. He would beat me with whatever he could find at hand. He thought the pain would teach me, make me a better daughter. I was never good enough for him, no matter what I did. But, I learned that he would beat me less if I acted like him. You see, he expected me to adhere to his stupid beliefs. He even placed spies to work as my maids to always make sure that I did.

Then at the docks yesterday?

Stryg put the bottle down and looked at her, I dont know what the right answer is, Maeve. But, Im glad you survived your fathers wrath.

She smiled weakly, A fitting response from a Sylvan goblin.

How would you know? He raised an eyebrow.

I guess I dont, she shrugged. Is it true that your people eat others?

Like I said, there wasnt enough food. Sometimes it was necessary, but we only ever ate the enemies of our tribe.

That doesnt make it better.

I dont know why everyone finds it so strange. Were all animals and we eat other animals all the time.

Even if that were true, we dont eat other sapient animals.

Dont you vampires drink peoples blood? I could have sworn I saw some of those human women drop dead in the ballroom.

Maeve shuffled awkwardly, I admit it happens sometimes. Some vampires end up drinking too much. But, its not the same as huh. She blinked, Well, fuck me.

If it makes you feel any better I was never very fond of eating goblin flesh, Stryg grabbed another bottle.

It doesnt.

He filled her cup and his own, then raised his cup in a toast, To surviving.

She raised her own cup, To different ways of life.

They clinked their cups in a metallic ring, then drank down the dwarven brew in one go. Maeve winced, she could still taste the faint flavor of wild blackberries over the burning sensation. It reminded her of her mother.

My mom and I used to collect berries in our garden, Maeve whispered quietly.

Strygs sensitive ears picked up her voice with no problem.

My mom was always sick and most of the time she was bedridden. I was the youngest of my siblings and I didnt understand why, not really. I just thought it was unfair that I couldnt play with her more. So, my mom would always make time for me, even when it was difficult for her. She was amazing like that.

She sounds like a strong person, Stryg nodded.

She was, even when her body was failing her, she fought on till the very end.

You said you were the youngest?

Yes, she nodded.

Do you have any younger cousins or something in the castle?

Besides Callum? No. I dont have any paternal cousins either. My father was an only child. Why?

I was curious, is all. I saw this little girl stalking my door last night. She looked a lot like you, but smaller.

Wha? Her vision was getting blurred, she definitely had too much to drink.

She was wearing this white dress with this flower pattern and a green bracelet made of some kind of vine or stems I think?

Maeve rested her shoulder on the wall to steady herself. It couldnt be. Strygs description. It was the same. It was the clothes she wore every night in her dreams.

Are you alright?

...Im fine, she forced a smile. So, what about your parents? What were they like?