Stryg walked around the secret wine cellar, eyeing each bottle with interest. Will you get in trouble for showing 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 llow Bloom. You were seriously injured and you almost died, because of 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 . I was bleeding out on the field and you patched 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 up, bring to this cellar, or talk to at all, if you see 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 so of the other chromatic species, that vampires are sohow 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 ssed up when it ca 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?
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 ti reconciling the Maeve I see in front of 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 sha to his honor.
Maeve took a shaky breath, ...He beat for it. Broke several of my bones. I eventually stopped hanging out with Nora, but he didnt stop beating . My father has tried to hide my scars by ordering his white magi to heal , 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?
Sotis. He would beat with whatever he could find at hand. He thought the pain would teach , make a better daughter. I was never good enough for him, no matter what I did. But, I learned that he would beat less if I acted like him. You see, he expected 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?
Maeve nodded reluctantly, I never stopped hanging out with Nora. We just got better at hiding it. But, in the public eye, I acted like my fathers perfect daughter. A vampire who hates commoners, hybrids, and anyone who is not a vampire themselves. It was the only way to avoid the beatings.
...I see. Then at the restaurant when we first t, Stryg took a step back.
I was having dinner with a few classmates, daughters of wealthy rchants who work with my father. When I saw Callum that night, I got up to leave, but one of the girls recognized him and pointed my cousin out. I had to go over and say hello. When I noticed you and that dwarf girl were there I had no choice but to act in a displeasing manner. Otherwise, the little posse of vampires would have told their rchant parents and it would have eventually gotten back to my father.
So, instead you humiliated Kithina and dumped wine on , Stryg said quietly.
Maeve bit her lip, I know what Ive done is wrong. You dont think I regret it? I havent had a single good night of sleep in years. I may not have my fathers beliefs, but I have acted the sa as he would have Ive hurt people, I am just as guilty.
Maeves eyes welled up with tears.
I am just like him, a monster, her voice cracked.
She rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath.
I just want it all to end, she muttered softly.
Stryg perused through the shelves, Whats the strongest thing youve got here?
...What?
Im trying to get drunk for once and none of this stuff is doing it for , he said.
Why do you wanna get drunk? Is my past too uncomfortable? She chuckled bitterly.
I was trying to get drunk with you, actually. My people call it solidarity. Judging on your size and the number of cups you had, youll probably be drunk soon enough.
You should be drunker than , youre smaller, Maeve sniffed.
Yes, but my constitution is far greater. I need sothing a lot stronger than this wine to get drunk.
Maeve wasnt sure what to say, so instead, she pointed to a cabinet at the bottom shelf, The strongest dwarven brews are in there. Careful, a single cup can make people woozy.
Perfect, I like the dwarven brews, Stryg pulled out a bottle. He uncorked the cap with his claw and brought the bottle to his lips.
Wait, what are you doing? Maeve ran to stop him, but he downed the entire bottle before she could grab the bottle.
He hiccuped once and patted his chest, Better.
What have you done? Do you have any idea how much alcohol you just drank? You need to throw up, now. Youll get alcohol poisoning if you dont, Maeve said in a panicked voice.
You arent a monster like your father, Maeve. The fact that you regret what you did is proof of that.
...What? Maeve furrowed her brow.
Sotis we have to do things we are not proud of in order to survive. Maybe its wrong, but I rather live and be wrong than be right and dead.
What exactly are you saying?
Vulture Woods is a very dangerous place. There isnt much food and dangerous predators lurk everywhere. Only the most skilled goblins with expert teamwork can survive the harsh conditions. But goblins get old and they beco less effective, they cant do their jobs and they beco a liability... There isnt enough food to go around. Most tribes cant support the old folk and the younglings as well.
No Maeve covered her mouth in dawning realization.
It was a difficult decision. One we had to make. Most of the ti the older goblins understand and choose to leave willingly. But, that doesnt make it any better. Everyone knows that when those goblins walk out into the woods alone, we are sending them to their deaths. We send our own loyal tribesman to die. Its wrong, but we do it to survive.
Maeve swallowed, Thats
Shitty circumstances. Either we send them out or our people would starve. Soone has to die either way. Our leaders had to make the difficult choice in order to keep the tribe alive. No one is proud of it. We shouldnt be. But, Im still happy to be alive.
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. Sotis 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 ti.
Even if that were true, we dont eat other sapient animals.
Dont you vampires drink peoples blood? I could have sworn I saw so of those human won drop dead in the ballroom.
Maeve shuffled awkwardly, I admit it happens sotis. So vampires end up drinking too much. But, its not the sa as huh. She blinked, Well, fuck .
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 tallic 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 ti 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 ti for , 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 sothing 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 so 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 sa. 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?
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