Snow Bite, Blood Red by Jade Astor

Author:Jade Astor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay paranormal erotic romance
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Published: 2012-05-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Albion accompanied the king to the great hall. There, Lord Oswald and a few other men sat at a well-stocked banquet table, watching a group of mummers perform in the center of the room. The actors paused, and the nobles rose, as the two of them entered and seated themselves side by side at the table.

"I thought you might enjoy some entertainment while you dined," the king said. He motioned for the play to continue. The mummers bowed in unison and resumed their performance. At the same time, servants hurried forward with huge tureens of stew and wedges of fragrant wheat bread.

Albion found himself captivated by both the spectacle before them and the succulent flavor of the food. His own father never treated them to such elaborate or tasty suppers. Rosarius often complained that they ate little better than the peasants who tilled the fields on the other side of the estate.

Noticing his expression, Lord Oswald leaned over and patted Albion's back. "You are enjoying yourself, I take it?"

"Yes, my lord—everything here is very fine indeed."

"This castle was always known for its lively gatherings," the old man reminisced, his voice heavy with drink. "Your father spent a good many evenings here in his younger years. His laughter used to fill the room."

"He did?" Albion found himself surprised. Although he could picture his father enjoying the wine that flowed freely at the king's table, he found it harder to imagine him laughing at mummers or bawdy stories. In fact, he wasn't sure he had ever heard his father laugh at all.

Oswald nodded. "He and King Umbert were great friends in those days. In fact, he met his first wife right in this room—Lilia, the mother of your brother Rosarius. I was much younger then, but I was here. I saw them fall in love with my own eyes—"

"Quiet, old man," Jasper interrupted. "Albion is young. He does not wish to hear tales of times long gone by."

"On the contrary, my lord," Albion said. "I have always been curious about events that took place before my birth."

The king's face stiffened with disapproval. "Well, you should not be. There is nothing to be gained from returning to matters best left forgotten."

Albion dropped his eyes to his plate, chastened, and Oswald cleared his throat as he reached for his wine.

"The point is well taken, Your Grace," the old man muttered. "We shall let the subject drop."

Soon the feast ended, though not on as high a note as it had begun. Albion took part in very little conversation until the king finally announced that it was time they retired for the evening.

The king waited at the table, along with the rest of the guests, while a servant stepped forward and led Albion to the same room he had been in the previous night. Again the fire was burning, and the bed looked as soft and inviting as before. The dragon tapestry was drawn down halfway.

Unsure what to do next, he stood by the fireplace, hesitant to touch or even look at anything too closely.

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