Darwin gestured for Cameron to follow as he lead them off the dance floor, ending up at a corner by the refreshments table. It was then he turned and opened his mouth to speak, beginning with a heavy sigh.

“I just wanted to see how you were doing after your… ordeal, a few days ago.” He said, looking at Cameron sympathetically.

Cameron blinked, a look of surprise flashing across his face. This was the first time he’d said more than two words to the man, as Darwin was usually riding along Lendrick’s coattails. To hear the man was concerned about his safety came as a shock, which he voiced as he stuttered out his response.

“Oh.. erm, thanks for your concern. Yeah, I’m doing alright I suppose. A few bruises and cracks but I think I’ll be okay.” He finished, laughing nervously as he did so.

“I’m glad,” Darwin said, his smile growing slightly more wolfish as he lowered his voice. “For the new queen’s sake.”

Cameron’s laughter came to an immediate halt. He looked at Darwin with a raised eyebrow, his tone returning to a neutral, if slightly concerned state.

“What do you mean?” He asked, his voice dropping to the same octave as the diplomats.

Darwin shrugged, a glint in his eye giving away the underlying implication in his response, “Nothing! I’m just say that it would be worrisome for a woman in her position if her military general were to be wounded and out of action for a time.

Cameron felt his body beginning to heat up from the inside out, causing a fresh wave of pain to ripple through his chest as he looked around, eyes wide in shock like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He stepped into Darwin’s space, leaning down to get to eye level with the man.

“That’s not funny Darwin… Keep those thoughts out of your mind and off your tongue.”

Darwin shrugged, holding his hands up in slight surrender, but Cameron’s change of demeanor did nothing to help him hold his tongue.

“I agree Lord Pellyn. You and you alone are the shield protecting not just your planet, but your sisters safety as well. Should you falter in your duties, Lady Miranda would likely be killed, and if not-,”

“Shut your fucking mouth!” Cameron’s voice cut out across the ballroom, accompanied by the sounds of instruments coming to an abrupt halt, a large thud, and the audible straining of man fighting for air. He had pinned Darwin to the wall by his neck, growling and baring his teeth, completely overtaken by anger. The man flailed in the princes grip, trying to grasp the fingers clamped around his throat.

“M-Master… Pellyn!!” Darwin shouted as best as he could with the Princes massive hand squeezing his larynx, “P-Please! Let me go!”

“Let you go?!” Cameron shot back, spittle flying from his lips, “I ought to beat you to within an inch of your life for those not so subtle threats!”

“Th-They Weren’t..”

“Let me make this very clear for you Darwin,” Cameron said, leaning in close to the diplomats ear speaking in a low, yet dangerous tone, “If I even get a single iota of a thought you’d think about harming my family, I will fucking kill you.”

“What’s going on over here?” Lendrick’s throaty shout rang out directly behind Cameron. He turned back over his shoulder to see the Amreith dignitary’s face beet red, as he stood never to a very shocked Miranda, and a furious-looking Augustus. It was at this point, Cameron had realized. that all was quiet, save for Darwin's inept struggling, as all eyes were on him. He closed his eyes, taking a breath trying to gather his calm.

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“Well?!” Lendrick bellowed again, “Explain yourself?”

Cameron didn’t answer. Instead, he turned, tossing Darwin at the two men’s feet, sneering as he the frail man bounced off the floor.

“Ask him,” He said coldly, walking away from the scene he had inadvertently created in his fury.

“Cameron Pellyn you will get back here this instant and explain yourself!” Augustus bellowed, causing Cameron to flinch, grinding his teeth. He turned and was getting ready to open his mouth to respond when he saw Lendrick pat the King’s shoulder, looking at Cameron rather… sympathetically.

“It’s alright your majesty.” Lendrick said, looking from him to Cameron. “I can imagine what was said, as I believe I’d heard a rather… uncensored version from Wervil all day today, and as much as I hesitate to say this, I believe your son was in the right for his emotions to flare, though perhaps not the actions he took.

Augustus’s eyes went wide as he looked from Cameron to Lendrick and back to Cameron again, struggling to think of a response, as was the prince himself. Lendrick on the other hand, took charge of the situation, approaching Cameron in front of everyone, holding up his hands and speaking loudly to be heard by all.

“Please don’t concern yourself with this my good people! Go on and have a good time, enjoy the Queen’s party! These little shindigs don’t come around every day, you know?”

Cameron looked around as Lendrick spoke, watching as peoples looks of worry and concern change into that of passive acceptance, as the band picked back up again, filling the air with melody as the partying continued. Lendrick waited another moment to make sure everything was returning to normal before approaching Cameron.

“I deeply apologize young Master Pellyn. Darwin is a bit inconsolable on my behalf after the assessment. Please, allow me to make it up to you what are you drinking?”

Cameron raised an eyebrow, still on his guard, “A Malkavian whiskey.” He said, watching as Lendrick made a whinnying noise, flapping his lips.

“On a day like today? Why my boy, you deserve the finest spirits money can by.”

“I like the whiskey.” Cameron said with a huff. “I’m not much for the finer things anyways.”

Lendrick had a glint in his eyes as Cameron spoke. “Ah but that’s simply because you haven’t had the chance to enjoy them. I happen to have some alcohol in my quarters that would make that lovely whiskey taste like sheep’s piss.”

Cameron raised an eyebrow in confusion, looking around to make certain that the dignitary was talking to him. “Are… are you inviting me to your quarters to drink?”

Lendrick smiled and gave a nod. “If that would help smooth over tensions between us, I’d be honored if you would come.”

Cameron felt something in his stomach stir, twisting in pain, like his senses were telling him to avoid this at all costs. But then his thoughts went to his father, then his sister. How hard the former had worked to keep up good relations with the other two empires of the system, how hard the latter would have to work to keep up those appearances. If he could make a good impression now, he was sure it would make things so much easier for Miranda in the future. So with a shrug and a nod he looked at Lendrick, speaking with a genuine kindness.

“What the hell, lead the way Lendrick. Let’s have that drink.”

Lendrick smiled softly, his eyes glaring intently, like they were trying to discern the contents of his very soul. “Excellent.”