Chpt. 52) Nectar

As Granny Sheji led me back to the party, I began to get my thoughts and heart rate under control and organized as well as I could be under the circumstances. I started with my more mundane thoughts and asked, “Granny Sheji, when did you get here? And why are you here?”

“Hmmm, why here am I? Here to congratulate you, I am. More training for you, I am also here. Yesterday, I arrived. Wanted more rest I did. Guru Shi’enn felt concerned about tonight, he did. Here now, I am,” Granny Sheji answered.

“And I’m glad you are here,” I said, genuinely meaning it, “But how did you know where to find me?”

Granny Sheji looked at me quizzically before answering, “Hmmm, handsome prince asked me to look. So look, I did. Found you in the storage room for Hollow Throne.”

I blinked at that, “Wait, that wooden throne was THE Hollow Throne?!”

Granny Sheji nodded, “Yes. Many years ago, my hands carved and constructed it from all trees. Many centuries, it took. Every moment I struggled, every moment was worth my time.”

For the first time since seeing Granny Sheji, I smiled a little. “I’ll admit I didn’t get a good look at the throne. But what I did see was beautiful, Granny Sheji,” I said, genuinely impressed.

With a chuckle, the little old lady waved a handoff and pointed at the door to the main hall a few meters ahead of us, “Enjoy party, you will. Handsome prince, you will talk to and thank. Yes? Hmmm?”

I scowled a little at that. After all, it was Orrin who brought me before Zise and left. Although she does have some sort of suggestive power over people, maybe she used it on him, and that’s why that happened. I’ll have to talk to him either way, I guess. I jogged forward a few steps and opened the door for Granny Sheji before saying, “I will talk to him as soon as I can.” Granny Sheji nodded and walked past me without so much as another word as she disappeared into the crowd … except for her overly long bamboo staff that I could see over almost everyone’s heads, which brought a small smile back to my face.

I quickly schooled my expression as I said, “Yuki, Riko, find Orrin. Now.” My tail went up and over my left shoulder as it opened its mouth, and its long, barbed tongue shot out, tasting and sniffing the air. On the other shoulder, Yuki stood a little and swiveled her ears, listening to everything around her. I did the same as both of them, replacing my tongue and nose with a snake’s and tasting the air as my ears swiveled from side to side, listening for him.

The sound of the party was deafening now that I paid attention to it, and the multitudes of different smells almost overwhelmed my nose. Still, I soon caught the faintest whisper of a familiar scent I couldn’t quite place, along with the sound of a cane tapping on the marble floor. Yuki and Riko clearly caught the same trails I did and they both pointed to my right. I turned and returned my nose and tongue to what they used to look like and followed my tail and Yuki’s noses.

Following the wall, they led me down a few dozen meters and then had me turn left into the throng of people. I weaved my way through everyone for a few meters before I saw Orrin's white fedora and suit as he discussed something with someone. I glared daggers at him and began my approach.

Once I got within a few meters of him, he visibly sighed and turned around to face me. “Hello, Zeana. I’m glad you decided to track me down,” Orrin said, a kind smile plastered on his face, and for some reason, the statement felt disingenuous.

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“Why did you do that?!” I snarled, refusing to be tactful about it.

Orrin’s smile faded, and he looked at me with concern in his eyes as he knelt and said, “I don’t know.”

“YOU— You what?” I began to yell but caught myself as his words registered with me, “You don’t know.”

Orrin shook his head, “Goddess Zise spoke to me for a few minutes at the beginning of the party, and I felt this compulsion to track you down for her. Once I led you to her and rejoined the party, I knew something was up, so I tracked down Lady Sheji to retrieve you. I truly am sorry for whatever may have happened in your meeting. I can see you are distressed, and I couldn’t see into the room due to certain wards around it. So again, I must apologize for my mistake.”

I pursed my lips and sighed, “It’s not your fault. Zise apparently has the ability to compel people to do things. So keep your guard up around her.”

Orrin nodded and stood, “I appreciate the warning. I—”

“And Orrin,” I said, interrupting him, “Thank you for sending Granny Sheji after me.”

Orrin smiled and said, “It is of no concern. Now, I must introduce you to someone. Someone that won’t distress you,” Orrin quickly added as I took a half step back and tensed.

“Oh … uh … well,” I began, unsure what to say after my most recent experience meeting someone.

“The person in question is currently relaxing with the elf twins Leila and Shersha,” Orrin added, helping me make up my mind.

“Lead the way,” I said, and Orrin nodded.

He led me through the crowd toward the table I left the twins at, and we arrived there before long. A young, beautiful woman sat at the table between the two twins as they played a game together that I couldn’t place. She had long, silky black hair with a small golden tiara on her head. She wore a violet strapless dress with a long silk skirt that I could partially see her legs through if I looked hard enough.

Once we got close enough, Orrin cleared his throat politely to get the woman’s attention. The woman immediately groaned and turned with a glare leveled at Orrin with rubellite eyes similar to Yuki’s, except they shimmered and sparkled like gems in the night. “What is it now?” she said coldly, not paying attention to me.

Orrin did not respond to her rude words as he said, “As requested, I am introducing you to the one you have accredited with saving you and the twins.” Orrin then turned to me and said, “Zeana Si’enn, may I introduce to you my elder sister, Lily Wong Shi Tong, First princess of the Wong empire and next in line to inherit the throne. Elder sister Lily, this is Zeana Si’enn, the young lady who saved you.”

Lily smiled brightly as a vein bulged on her temple with Orrin’s emphasized use of the word ‘elder’ as she looked at me, extending a hand, “Well, hello, Zeana. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

I took her hand and shook it, “The pleasure is mine. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

“Why thank you,” Lily said, the bulging vein shrinking a little, “I must thank you for saving me from those awful men and ensuring these two were unharmed,” she gestured to the twins, “If there is anything you need I, or my kid brother Orrin will be more than happy to provide it for you.”

Looking up at Orrin, I saw a vein bulge on his head for a second at Lily’s emphasis on the word ‘kid’ and nervously said, “Uhh, will do.”

“Excuse me,” someone said from behind me, and I turned to see two servants, a maid and a butler, holding two trays of drinks each, “We’ve been tasked with giving these drinks to the people of importance at the party,” the maid said.

“And to inform everyone that the speech is about to begin,” the butler added.

“Ah, yes, thank you very much,” Orrin said as he took two drinks from the servants before handing them out to the twins, myself, and one for himself. Lily huffed and rose from the chair she sat in, taking a drink for herself.

I looked down into the wine glass that Orrin handed me and cocked my head at the liquid inside. It was an emerald green liquid with little bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. “What is this?” I asked, no one in particular as the servants split off to pass out more of their drinks.

“This is the Nectar of Yggdrasil,” Orrin answered, “it is a mead made from Yggdrasil’s sap and honey. We only ever open up a barrel of this for special occasions such as this. We won’t drink it until we are told to after the speech given by father.”

I nodded, turned to the twins, and said, “You are not allowed to drink this.”

“Why not?” the twins whined in unison.

“Because you’re not old enough,” I said and pulled out a chair to sit next to Leila as we waited for the speech to begin.

***