Chapter 206: The Feast Hall

Chapter 206: The Feast Hall

Tali stopped when her Master did, maintaining precise positioning a step behind and to his left.

The feast hall was as stunning as always, finding a balance between beautiful intricacy and simplicity. The construction was mainly deep black stone with red running through it. There was no roof, after all, there would be no weather in the hold that wasnt wanted, and the false sky overhead was visible even with the bright lights of the feast hall around them.

Tali always felt like she could reach up and touch those stars, even though she knew they werent real. The sensation was amplified by magics around the top of the feasting halls walls. It was an air manipulation script, creating a lensing effect, bringing them closer to those who looked up.

+Intricate simplicity? Those are literally in direct contradiction.+

-But she isnt wrong. This is beautiful. Someone knows how to design the feel of a space.-

The House tables were spread around the room. Each was rectangular, designed so that the head of the small table was oriented towards the main table. The short side at the foot of each, was left empty, so everyone could see those on the slightly raised platform.

Each of these lesser tables was a microcosm of a portion of the local House, each arranged around a higher member of the House of Blood.

Those higher members all held auras in the yellow or green range, with only a single nearing blue. Those with stronger auras usually had one or two sycophants in the yellow range. The table headed by the colorfully feathered beast-woman with an almost-blue aura had two solidly green auraed members of the House.

There were more of the small tables than usual, set up for those who had come from other cities to witness the raising of a new Pillar. The bird-woman was the most notable example, having come from a city across the mountains to the west.

Her city didnt have a Pillar, so she was the highest-ranking member of the House of Blood in residence there. She had, apparently failed in her bid to become a Pillar a thousand years earlier, but after her failure, she had renewed her devotion to the House and made herself so invaluable that she was eventually granted authority over a whole branch. She was a Pillar in all but name.

And direct power. Pillars outrank her, even if they dont generally have a need to interfere.

It made sense that shed be interested in the outcome of this selection. Master hinted that she would find a way to test me this evening.

Tali would be ready, no matter what form that test took.

She finished her quick inspection of the small tables, verifying there were no threats or unexpected surprises. For all previous events held within this hall, her Master had had a table dedicated to him, for his associates, liegemen, and partners to sit with him. There had never been many, but that was their loss. Tonight proved that.

Those who doubted him would be proven as the fools they were.

Servants moved among the seated guests, and only a single figure currently sat at the high table.

The Pillar in residence within this hold: Revered Sanguis.

His aura was just barely stronger than her Masters, with the barest hints of indigo tinting it. His skin was the yellow of a lemon, and his sclera and iris were the green of tree leaves. Though his aura was visible, the specifics of his magic were not.

Tali had seen him crush an enemy with a word and reshape a valley with a gesture. His workings had almost no magic within them, because he didnt need much power to accomplish his goals. He was of a High race, and his family, and those like his, were currently arguing for the addition of a loftier designation. Only time would tell if theyd be successful. They certainly had the power to win though, they simply lacked the numbers.

Though, theyve apparently been striving towards that same goal for more than a millennia. Either way, it wouldnt happen quickly.

Revered Sanguis nodded to Talis Master and gestured for them to sit to his right. There were currently seven unfilled seats. Four on the right side of Revered Sanguis and three on the other.

They were spaced out, with enough room for a person to stand beside each chair without crowding the seats occupant if needed.

In her past contemplations of Revered Sanguis, Tali had noticed an interesting dichotomy in the yellow hue-man. First, as her Master was from this hold, he was proud and honored that her Master was a potential Pillar. At the same time, he seemed to loathe Talis position as candidate.

It makes no sense. He should either trust my Master, or not. A Pillar was the true strength of any House. Either her Master was worthy, or he wasnt. He had chosen her, so his worthiness rested on her.

+does she really not understand that Sanguis dislikes humans?+

-If Im understanding correctly, she thinks that if he truly disliked humans that much, then he should despise Be-thric for the choice and not be happy at all.-

+Soshes even less politically minded than I am.+

-So it would seem. Id not have guessed that was possible.-

+A bit harsh, but fine+

Her Master turned, striding around the rooms perimeter towards the raised table, head held high, back straight with pride.

Tali followed, trying to exude the confidence she felt in her position, in her Master.

As they walked her Master whispered one last time, Remember, everything until the selection is a test. Treat it with the solemnity it deserves.

She knew this already. Even so, she didnt react, just as he had trained her. He should be able to give me instructions quietly without needing to worry about my reactions giving that fact away.

Her Master easily slid into the seat just beside Revered Sanguis. Tali took up her position in the space between the two, standing three steps back from the table.

The Pillar glanced towards Tali before speaking, his voice an oddly easy to understand rumbling, growl. That overtunic is quitedistracting. Could you please go change into something less noticeable? White is much too garish.

Tali stepped forward and bowed. If my Master allows. She watched the men out of the corners of her vision.

Revered Sanguis had an air of condescension in his bearing. Hes trying to get rid of me for a time.

Her Master gave the smallest smile and nodded.

Tali straightened and sent her magic into her garments just so. The white overtunic bled to black in an instant.

Is this acceptable, Revered Pillar? She bowed again. Dont make direct eye contact, dont use his name.

Revered Sanguis had turned fully to the side and was staring at her, mild shock evident across his features. He mastered himself quickly, nodded, then turned to regard her Master. Youve kept her abilities well hidden. I knew she could alter some of her garments, but the extent is beyond what I would have guessed.This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.

Tali straightened and stepped back into her place, falling into a relaxed stance, hands behind her back, feet shoulder-width apart.

After a brief moments silence, the double doors at the far end of the hall opened, the north entrance, and six pairs walked through.

A booming voice announced them as each set stepped into the brilliant light of the feasting hall, Announcing prospective Pillar Derag and his Eskau candidate, Girro. The first pair were a slim red skinned hue-man followed by a massively burley specimen who could have been the firsts brother, if their general features were any indication.

Announcing prospective Pillar Jodup and her Eskau candidate, Alop. The next two were a rabbit beast-woman followed by a fox man.

Tali bowed in return, left hand on her weapon.

It was the only acknowledgement any of the other Eskau candidates, or any of the potential Pillars, gave her.

On her other side, flanking Revered Sanguis on his left, was Alop, and seated on that side of the Pillar was Jodup.

And thus, the feast began.

Servants brought food for the potential Pillars, though only their Eskau candidates approach the head table directly. They intercepted the servants and carried the platters the remainder of the distance.

Such a task would be beneath whichever of them succeeded the following day, and so this last, servile action was meant as a symbolic transition for the seven of them.

Tomorrow, they would no longer be their masters chief servant. They would either be dead or a lesser equal with their master.

Well, the others might be in service to the Eskau of the victor. For Tali, however, it was win or die.

+You know, I could take over, and try to cut a deal with the others.+

-No, you really couldnt here, look at this.-

+OhSo, even if I could make an agreement, it wouldnt matter unless Be-thric certified it, which he wouldnt.+

-Which he wouldnt-

+These rules seem contrived to force a slaughter.+

-Yes. They are. Eskau are meant, first and foremost, to be tools of violence. Even during selections involving games or contests of skill, the winner is still almost always decided by strength of arms. Why surrender to an opponent with more skill in this task or that, when you might beat him in a straight fight.-

Being one of the candidates flanking Revered Sanguis, Tali was expected to serve him both at his request and on her own initiative.

Revered Sanguis, for his part, only gave commands to her, though Alop still occasionally assisted from the other side.

The Pillars request may have been seen as an honor by many, but Tali knew what they were: a promise. Even if she won, When I win, she would still be under the Pillars authority, and he would not be easy on her.

+Ironically, thats exactly what we want.+

-Indeed, him wishing to make Talis life difficult will mean that hes paying too close of attention for Be-thric to secret us away and attempt to rework our mind.-

+On the negative side, if he learns were recovered?+

-Hell kill us without hesitation. Its a shame that he seems to know exactly what Be-thric did to get us here.-

Tali decided to act like the attention and commands were an honor, as most would see it that way. If I handle it properly, this will add to my Masters esteem.

The candidates did not eat.

Tali had been warned. They were expected to fast through the night and next day, until the contest. It would ensure that they didnt eat any magically enhancing meat to give them an unfair advantage.

That was reasonable, even Tali fully incorporated what she ate in less than an hour, giving a marginal lasting improvement to her magics, rather than having a secondary well of power available for only a moment.

I could have held the power, but it probably would have faded by the event, and in that case, it would have just gone to waste.

But she was getting distracted.

For the most part, the feast was a chance for the potential Pillars to jockey for position, but that had little to do with Tali.

Through the eating, she served her Master.

After the food had been consumed, Revered Sanguis stood. My family. He spread his hands, indicating all of them. Let us address the human in the room.

There were scattered chuckles as most eyes flicked to Tali.

The path to become a Pillar of our House is a sacred one. A potential Pillar has one attempt to forge their protian weapon. Once their target is chosen, they must report who it is, so that we can enforce the singular attempt. It must be carried out without House resources, though if proper material presents itself within our holdings, the use of such is allowed. Revered Sanguis gestured to those on either side of himself. Thus, these potential Pillars went forth and claimed their material, most from the barbaric lands to the north. Once the material is forged into a proper protian weapon, an Eskau candidate is chosen. This candidate is raised from early childhood towards the role, and it is upon their shoulders that the power of the Pillar will rest.

Nods filled the hall, along with some murmuring.

However, tradition wasbent by one of our potential Pillars. Revered Sanguis gestured to Talis Master. Honored Be-thric chose his material, and then

Tali felt her attention fade for a moment.

The Pillar continued, Tali not listening, though Tala and Alat were. He failed. He allowed his material to advance past the point of utility. He was disqualified, utterly and completely.

Tali shook her head slightly, her mind coming back to focus on what was being said. Focus, Tali. Now is not the time to get distracted.

But Honored Be-thric chose another path. He chose to forge material that others would have assumed beyond use into both weapon and wielder. He had the courage to take the risk.

Her Master was sitting up a bit straighter now.

Tomorrow will prove if his gamble was wise. Tomorrow will prove his worth to our House.

Silence fell over those in attendance.

+Oh, wow. Hes good.+

-Indeed. He has distanced himself from Be-thric, while also supporting him, in a way. Either result will see Sanguiss position strengthened.-

Now, enjoy yourselves, my family. Talk amongst yourselves and take some time to get to know your potential Pillars.

With that, the House of Blood members stood and moved through the hall. They quickly formed ever-shifting groups, chatting amicably, sipping wine, and nibbling on desserts which were proffered by servants weaving their way amongst the groups.