THE FEUD #1

CHAPTER 6

NOVENA

It’s early morning before the light of the day has graced the land's surface. Most of Ladonar sleeps with only the start of movement on the city streets. The fluffy cloud-cover hangs low over the skyscrapers that tower over the city floors beneath, cutting them short as the clouds hug the tall glass buildings. As our vehicles break free from the concrete jungle, the heavens give way to a downpour as the sound of rolling thunder disrupts the morning slumber of the civilians. The heavy rains force us to travel at a slower pace, delaying our arrival at the Ladonar palace. Once on palace grounds, we drive for the underground garage, the car's roars echoing against the grey concrete stone. Turning the engine off, Emmaline and I climb out of the lower sitting seats. Approaching my brother and his friends, I can already see Axel is looking more alert and present than he was at the start of our journey back home.

“Novena – Emmaline, go ahead and prepare the doctors and nurse for Axel’s arrival.”

I raise an irritated brow at my brother’s order but think better of saying something with Axel in such a dire state. As I turn with Emmaline to leave, Axel’s voice stops us in our tracks.

“No. Just take me to my bed.”

Ragnar snarls, “You have got to be kidding me! Look what he has done to you, Axel! This time he’s going to pay for it!”

Axel seems tired, more drained than even the four of us who have travelled through the night to ensure his safety. I’ve never been drugged before in my life nor beaten but I have fallen hard enough that dark marks have graced my sensitive skin. Those marks that had swollen, covering the side of my hip and upper leg, had been painful and I remember thinking that it was a bad bruising. Now, after seeing Axel’s battered body, I think myself fortunate. I have never known such physical pain and from the way Ragnar and William are acting without having seen the extent of Axel’s injuries, I’m assuming even during training they have never either.

“No Rag, please.” He’s words are soft, his plea a whisper in the face of Ragnar’s blinding hatred and anger towards Axel’s father.

William seems to agree with Axel as he speaks softly near Ragnar’s side, making Ragnar sigh loudly in defeat at whatever William has said.

“Very well Axel.”

Emmaline and I follow them only to the glass lifts and up to the suites before parting ways, deciding that it’s best to rather leave the three friends to their own. Opening the door to our shared suite, Emmaline and I are greeted by a very unhappy looking Maddie.

“Where have you two been? I have been worried sick! If not for the fact that you were seen leaving right after Ragnar, I would have reported you both missing!”

“Oh Maddie,” Emmaline cries, “It was horrible!”

Maddie, seeing that we are both obviously upset, takes a seat allowing us to join her on the sofa. Emmaline and I spared no detail describing the events of last night from our suspicions that Axel was in trouble to his abuse and our rescue mission resulting in pushing him out a window. Maddie’s emotions range from interested, to horrified, to angry.

“That is quite a story. I knew the duke was unkind to his son but really, no one knows to what extent. You two should get some rest, you’ve had a long night.” And on her insistence, I soon find myself deep beneath the covers of my blankets, the heaviness of exhaustion dragging me into the bliss of sleep.

*

Pallas arrived a few hours ago and as expected my fathers expressed his desire to introduce his children and heirs during dinner. Emmaline and I patiently sit through being instructed by Maddie, who has the unfortunate pleasure of ensuring the success of this meeting. She has been in communications with our ambassador Lord Marksmen, Duke of Gorgensberg, who arranged this historical meeting. Someone on their side has likewise been required to ensure Pallas and his people react with the correct cultural curtseys that are to be expected amongst my human brethren. Originally, I had been annoyed at the requirement to practice special treatment with our enemy of old but on further thought, it seems only right that we should make an effect given his willingness to put himself in jeopardy to further relations between our people. It seems only fair that we should be aware of their cultural difference as they too are being instructed in ours. So, I listened to Maddie as she speaks of their social standing, explaining that there are three levels of social structures within their society. The highest of these three being the Alphas’ and the lowest being the Omegas with the Beta’s making up the middle. She further explained that there are subcategories to these three levels and that Munditia is the highest level of their social structure because it is a name given to the King and Queen.

“You are never to look any individual with a higher social standing than yourself in the eyes. It’s deemed disrespectful. The individual with the higher standing will speak first at the start of every conversation.” Maddie stresses but I dismiss these rules, seeing as I am of the same social standing as the prince.

Then Maddie looks at Emmaline as she continues, “Emmaline this obviously refers to you as you are not Royalty. Oh, and you must ask to speak if you wish to start a conversation with the Prince.” I frown unhappily at the slight, knowing that even though I want her to be respected as I am, that’s just not how things worked.

Emmaline agrees reluctantly. Delighted, Maddie continues with social interaction, saying that opposite sexes are not allowed to touch mated individuals, “It is one of their strictest laws and can result in death if not followed.” I cringe, thinking of all the people I know who are dabbling with married people.

“I have a question Maddie,” Emmaline interrupts, “I am assuming that their word, mated, is like our use of the word married. I know the definition of the word in their culture, but does that mean they get married or is that like not a thing?”

She frowns at the question, “I’m afraid I don’t know. I was only informed of the most relevant information for this occasion. But even unmated individuals don’t allow physical interactions with individuals who aren’t from their pack or who haven’t been given consent. This includes handshakes.”

“Do they call themselves people?” I wonder curiously noting how she avoided doing so.

“Again, I don’t know. But the guy I spoke to kept saying individuals and Werewolf is a human name for them, which originally, they did use as a species name. Whether they still do I cannot say. I do believe that they have a different terminology for certain words, like a man is a male, a woman is a female, and a baby is a youngling.”

She goes on to say that our use of Mister, Misses and Miss is not used and instead of family names, they use their social standing as their surnames, “Likewise Prince Pallas will be expected to be addressed as Prince Pallas Regius, because that is the name given to white wolves born into their royal family.”

“And how are we supposed to know what a person's social standing is?”

“Yeah, that’s a good one.” Emmaline pipes up. She turns a smile at me, her eyebrow arch, as she looks at me.

“All you need to know is how to properly interact with Prince Pallas Regius.” Maddie says.

With that Emmaline and I are left to our preparations for the dinner that will make history for not only the South Continere but the North as well. Never in my life did I think that I would really meet a werewolf and in less than a few hours I will be dining with a Regius – a prince of their people. The feud between our families has lasted generations, resulting in countless lives and destruction, so unnecessarily. Still, I find myself beaming at the opportunity presented to my family. A chance to mend relations with the werewolves without sacrificing the freedom of our people.