Lorian and Azal'Gul chatted late into the night. It had been such a long time since Lorian felt he could talk with someone in such a friendly, open manner. They spoke about many things- mostly the pop culture of Lorian's past life. Though the demon found it fascinating, he couldn't quite connect with the references properly. And Lorian came to him as his guide and mentor.
It was the moment, when Lorian finally realized that not everything about his past life had been bad. There were incredible things he hadn't truly appreciated at the time, missing out on those small but vital sparks of joy. He didn't know when he finally fell asleep, but when he woke, it was late morning. A mild but persistent knock sounded at his door.
Lorian opened it to find Eldred Alsnow. The steward informed him that the guests were scheduled to depart today and that Lorian was expected to see them off personally. Lorian thought for a moment and requested ten servants be sent to his room immediately.
Within ten minutes, Eldred returned with six butlers and four maids. Lorian presented the herbs and spices he had obtained the night before, instructing them to allocate portions to each departing guest. He placed Eldred in charge of the operation. The servants were surprised by this new display of patronage, but they were pleased nonetheless. Eldred supervised with great excitement; it was a perfect opportunity for the staff to prove their worth to a new Lord who was already becoming famous for his generosity.
*****
At the breakfast table, all the guests were present, including Azgar Zorat. While there was joking and laughter, the tension hanging over the room was palpable. A 'cold war' seemed to be playing out between the Stormhold mother-daughter duo, but Lorian wasn't in the mood to check on Selena or her deal with her mother.
His main goal was to finish the meal without incident. He had a hunch that Azgar was looking for any excuse to spark a diplomatic crisis. To counter this, Lorian took his time before replying to any topic, choosing his words after great thought to avoid any misinterpretation. The process was tedious and boring, but necessary.
In the middle of the feast, Jarl Borin Stoneheart suddenly called out to First Trader Zaira Zohanar, "You know, my lady, rumors are running wild nowadays, aren't they?"
Zaira gave him a wide, knowing smile, "Oh, indeed. So many come my way! However, Jarl, which rumor has caught your interest most?"
"Oh, it's a crazy one! Truly outlandish!" Borin raised his hands, laughing as if it were a grand joke. Lorian simply smiled, curiously observing their drama and trying to anticipate the climax.
"Please tell us, we are friends!" Zaira insisted.
"A fair lady is asking; you wouldn't dare deny her, Jarl!" General Marcus Ironclad joined the fray.
"Okay, hear me out!" Borin gulped down a piece of chicken and washed it down with ale, "There's a story that four Dwarves,….yes, Dwarves,- are currently in this very city! What a ridiculous rumor, huh?"
"Of course it is," Zaira laughed, "I mean, our new Lord clearly enjoys his demi-human pets, but Dwarves? What's next? Elves?"
Azgar chimed in with his slippery voice, "Actually, keeping a few Elven beauties as pets is quite common. Some men might even have two, right?"
Suddenly, Borin looked Lorian straight in the eye, "It's a weird rumor, right, Lord Throne? Surely you wouldn't have a Dwarf in your custody. We are the direct descendants of the Dwarves, after all; it is our duty to take care of our kin in this part of the world."
Lorian realized he was in a corner. If he admitted to holding them, Glimmerfall would put immense diplomatic pressure on him to hand them over. If he denied it and their presence was later revealed, it would be a scandal. But ignoring Borin's direct challenge wasn't an option either.
He scanned the faces at the table. They were all turning toward him, and the pressure on him was mounting. Azgar Zorat was sitting with his face partially hidden by his hands, but his eyes gave in his mood as they seemed to be dancing with predatory joy.
That's the way out, Lorian realized. He raised his glass toward Borin.
"Oh, you don't say, Jarl! Rumors really are getting out of hand lately. Can you believe I heard one just a few days ago claiming some of us are planning to interfere in the Empire's upcoming succession clash? The story goes that a secret deal has already been made. I thought to myself- 'For real?' As if anyone here would strike such a deal without informing the rest of us! Can you imagine? The rumors people come up with!"
Azgar started laughing like a hyena, "Right, Lord! Who trusts a rumor? They're all baseless! Am I right, Borin?"
"Oh... yes, indeed," Borin muttered, gulping a whole mug of ale to hide his discomfort. Zaira quickly changed the topic.
*****
The rest of the morning passed uneventfully. As the guests lined up for departure, Alsnow's team presented the gifts Lorian had prepared. The guests were moved by this grand gesture of their generous host. The Gifts were precious and exotic, and they all left feeling satisfied. Lorian knew that soon, stories of Veridia's wealth and generosity would spread to every city, once again.
Every guest left, except for Serana Stormholds. Lorian found it odd that the Lady of Valoria was staying behind. He was later told that Selena had acted like a child, pleading with her mother not to leave "so soon". While most found the display 'cute', Lorian felt something else was at play. However, he had to push it aside; he had a meeting with Anya to discuss her meeting with the Grisel Gabon.
Later that night, while Lorian was strolling through the garden, he noticed Selena sitting alone by the fountain. He approached her quietly, "May I sit beside you?"
Selena gave him a faint smile, "Of course. Think of this as your own home."
"Wow. Is this the start of a 'hostile takeover'?" Lorian feigned fear.
"Oh, don't be afraid, my Lord," she shifted her gaze to the pink moon, "I will be leaving Veridia tomorrow."
The news hit Lorian like a thunderclap. Honestly, he had barely interacted with her at first, and her presence had often bothered him, but the sudden thought of her departure made him feel a strange, hollow ache.
Lorian turned to her, grabbing her arms in a firm grip, "What happened? Tell me. You're hiding something! Tell me!"
"I have full trust in you, Lorian," she whispered, leaning in, "So why don't... why don't you put some trust in me, too?"
She stood on her tiptoes, kissed him lightly on the cheek, and walked back inside. Lorian stayed behind in the garden, completely stupefied.