Chapter 4. King Easton: Eurasian Eagle Owl Harpy

Chapter 4. King Easton: Eurasian Eagle Owl 

   Queen Nox smiled politely and courteously. She tilted her glass towards the young servant girl, whose name she made a noted point of never learning, as the Queen's gaze shifted to this younger and less perfect Raven Harpy something dark and ominous flickered and flittered across her black beady eyes.

   This sent a chill up the spine of the servant girl. 

   Neither the dark glint skirting across the Queen's eyes nor the quivering - even as brief and momentary as it was - escaped from the wise and sharp eyesight of King Easton. The eyesight and accuracy of it... of a Eurasian Eagle-owl Harpy, was on par with that of a Raven or an Eagle. The only difference was that owls could see in the dark and eagles and ravens could not distinguish things at night as accurately. Then there is also the sharp and cutting intelligence of the owls.

   "Raven Queen," Boomed Lord Easton, waving his hand and bowing slightly at Queen Nox, before turning slightly to do exactly the same towards the servant girl. In his peripheral vision, he noticed a slight tension in the side of the Queen's jaw visibly. Confirming his thoughts, "We are humbled by your hostess skills and your welcome. Your staff is also a delight. While serving us well, this one, in particular, is a treat to the eye," Waving toward the servant, he continued, "What is this one's name?" Daring not to narrow his eyes, instead, the Eurasian King smiled.

   His son's uncertain what was going on so simply stood partially behind him bored, pawing through more of the books and analysing the room bored, awaiting their bloodline being poured.

   Having made a point to never learn any servant's name, the Queen was both irritated by this King and furious that he bowed to both her and a servant. Treating them the very same, where she was a Queen and this girl... a mere servant! One who should think herself favoured for being allowed such a position. Yet, her notion was that learning any name meant that whichever servant may work longer for the Royal family than most servants had ever. The old and trusted head of housekeeping was the exception to this rule - Maven. She was one, whom Queen Nox quite enjoyed as a servant. That raven was becoming elderly but she was very efficient. 

The turnover of staff was high, perhaps notably more than most expected. Due to the harsh and cruel treatment that most staff received from the Raven Queen. "This is-"

    "Queen Nox, please save your voice for more important issues." The servant interjects quickly. Saving the Queen from any humiliation, and also reasserting her lesser status as a servant and the lesser importance again of a servant's name. "King Easton, I am Lyla of the Raven Harpy Clan. For the duration of your stay, I believe it is myself that will be assigned to you." Lyla made a point of looking around the room at the other heads of houses, or those accompanying the young noblemen present as their chaperones. 

    "Queen Cassandra." The servant girl turned to look at the female Peacock Harpy, before turning to the other older owl who was slightly smaller, with ruddy hair, "King Rouault. I believe it is the same for you, in that it is I who will be in charge of attending to all of your needs. Please allow this to be my formal introduction to yourselves, and do not hesitate if you would require anything of us, for the duration of your stays."

    At this, a very small smile appeared on Queen Cassandra's thin lips. If Lyla had not been a Raven Harpy, she may not have even detected such a meek smile. "Thank you Layla. Are our rooms ready?"

    "Yes..." King Rouault chimed in, "What of our luggage also?" Prince Kavan n looked at the older male accompanying him at this, placing the ornately gold embossed navy book back onto the shelf and sliding it neatly back into a uniformed space.

    From the corner of her eye, Lyla could see that the Raven Queen was grateful to have been freed from a question by King Easton which any staff member would know that she could not answer. 

   There may be consequences later for interrupting her... but they would never be anywhere near as bad, as consequences for allowing, and knowingly so, any type of humiliation to befall her. Particularly when it was so easily solved.

   The last servant to allow such to occur left the Raven Clan territory entirely, and has never been heard of since! Even Sephora and Seraphina had said that they hadn't heard from her and that this had not been one of the servants which they'd known about, to have been able to help. Of course, this had raised staff suspicions of the Raven Queen tremendously.

   Yet, gossip in both noble and royal households from staff is common.

   This is just one house that the staff members definitely did not want to get caught, due to notable repercussions. 

   While all of this was going on, King Easton had been surveying the interplay of the room. Analysing both Queen Nox and Lyla's reactions. As well as the other older members of other clans who accompanied differing suitors for the princesses. 

   At this point the servant girl met the Queen's eyes again, nervously curtsying with an, “of course, your Majesty.”

    The servant dashed out of the room, a slight breeze followed her trail. 

    

    Between the time she had left the room, and returned, the three young owl suitors had shuffled together. A light intellectual and eloquent discussion could be heard among them. Their adult elders had also shuffled closer, but remained distant and only eavesdropping on the conversation. 

    For Owl Harpy - eavesdropping on any discussion was not considered rude, but a courteous mark of respect for what the other individuals had to say. An outsider to the conversation who butted in, should either have authority on the subject or have some extremely relevant information. Otherwise, it would be considered extremely rude. Most often, one was invited into conversation with an Owl Harpy. This was completely contrary among, Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons. 

    Eagle Owl Harpy seemed to be the only one who bridge these strange cultural gaps when they met. Raven Harpy could surf this, and gauge socially without the awareness of the familiarity. Really, the latter clan was the so-called, "dark horse socialites," of the harpy clans. More often considered, among all Corvid Harpy, to be the most manipulative and deceptive. 

    After returning with another servant, this girl had a navy blue-green sheen to her nails and hair, whereas the first servant girl, Lyla, had a mahogany-ruddy hue. She had been helping to carry two pitchers and half pre-poured tasters goblets of dark red wine, it wobbled in the glass as the two girls entered the room.

   The Raven Queen seemed pleased on seeing their return, almost... an uncharacter relief. Chatter had built up during the servant's absence, and once again returned to the room. Queen Nox was chatting with the dull-looking woman from the peacock clan. Though, it was not as boisterous as it had been before when the first servant girl had entered the room.

   

    Most notably, that loud and particularly, booming voice was nowhere to be heard this time. Lyla wondered who this had been, as she entered the room with the other servant. Allowing the guests full view of the glass silverware goblets, and the pre-poured sloshing red liquid. 

    At this, the guests flocked over one by one to collect their drinks and take their first few taster sips. Sampling the delightful flavour. The only ones in the room who refused were those from the Peacock Harpy Clan; Queen Cassandra, who was still talking to the Raven Queen. Her face contorted in a very obvious fashion.

   Of both the servants in the room, only Lyla could compare the lack of animation in her complexion prior. It was a strange change but it spoke a lot about her character. She would not be a guest who would smile easily and any complaint would be made painfully obvious.

   Lyla knew that she would have to pay a particular eye to detail around Queen Cassandra with this. She would make a point to tell the other house servants of this revelation later, so as not to have any complaints... and the dismissals, disappearances, deaths, or varying injuries resulting from them having been brought to the Raven Queens' attention. 

    The large, older man, with red eyes and lighter hair, finally broke away from listening to the young owletts' conversation, between themselves, and took a cup as the dark chestnut, servant girl poured a top-up into another's glass from the silver pitcher. Looking at the wine he lifted his hand to motion her to end the pouring.

   Taking the cup to his lips to take a sip, he glanced over to Queen Nox with a small, yet sly, smile apparent in his eyes; despite not actually being smiling, “Blood wine!” The man boomed.

   Hmm, Lyla, the ruddy-dark complexion Raven Harpy Servant, thought to herself, This is our guest with that deep and booming voice... I wonder if the two owls with him are similar. It is strangely smoother than a raven's voice but just a deep one. Less raspy. The servant girl tried to shift her thoughts, as she realized that she found the deep booming voice attractively exotic. This was a King; King Easton, of the Eurasian Eagle Owls, and she... she was a servant. Hammering that home like Queen Nox had dug her nails into her co-worker's face earlier.

   With that image and the distinct pang of fear that accompanied it, the blush which had risen to her cheeks subsided momentarily. 

    Fortunately, everyone in the room seemed to have been busy and it appeared that no one had taken any notice. King Easton was focused fully on Queen Nox and nothing else. His coy and collected expression never wavered, and neither did the intensity of his clearly piqued interest. It seemed random to Lyla... but perhaps this had been something the young Owlets had been discussing amongst themselves.    

“Queen Nox, you are spoiling us already before the festivities begin! Will you’re daughters be joining us for such a treat?” King Easton's eyes narrowed coolly. Yet, it was ever so slight, that you would have to be as close as this servant girl to realise.

   Even with the vision of a raven. The blue-green-hued girl never noticed as she topped up the glasses of Prince Kavan and King Rouault who were really 7 paces away from her at most. This servant was more relaxed. She hadn't seen someone's face sliced open on a whim yet, or any of the Raven Queens' cruelty yet. This new servant was a new start. The severity of this household hadn't yet hit her. It may not be until the recent events and festivities are over. As when politics were in play, Queen Nox's conduct tended to shift.  

    “My darling daughters will be joining us all for a late breakfast, further on in the day. There are still some others to arrive, but we shall not dither until they decide to join us.” The Queen only answered after a few sips.

   Was she nervous? Or had the servant girl misread? When had Queen Nox ever been nervous? Who was this harpy male, King Easton, to be able to do this much to halt the Raven Queen in her tracks?

    “My servant here,” The Queen motioned to the girl beside King Easton, “In fact, she and the other present, shall assist all of you in showing you to your rooms once you have had your fill of the wine.  I must step out to attend to some far more trivial matters very soon, regarding the Raven Clan. Please enjoy you’re staying here and let me know if these two displease you in service in any way.”

   The servant girl only recovered from questioning what she had witnessed after a young Prince Lucas politely asked her for a further top-up pour of the blood wine.