Chapter 3: Family Dinner

Marcus 2.
Dinner time. I hear the forks scrape against the plates as my family starts to dine. The smell of roast chicken and potatoes with stewed greens fills my nose and makes my mouth water. I'm late. That’s never good, father has a thing for punctuality. I say a small prayer for mercy as I head inside, dusting off my breeches.

My family was already seated at the long table in the great hall, red mahogany at 10 feet long. Father sits at the head of the table, looking as stoic as ever. Next to him, my beloved mother, with a kind smile on her face. Lucius and Maria Andromedus cut the image of royalty as they eat as gracefully as ever. Further down the table, Gaius and Cassia, the eldest daughter, sit across from each other and eat in silence. Always polite, those two. Always perfectly regal. Mercifully, there's at least one person at the table who looks like a human being. Tyxia Andromedus, my little sister of 8, bouncing in her seat, waiting for us to ask about her day. I take the seat next to Tyx, and father frowns slightly. I was supposed to sit across from her, next to Gaius. Stuff that. Gaius is boring. At least Tyx never lacks for something to say.

"Welcome back, Marcus." my father says to me as I sit. A man in his 40s, large and toned with blond hair and eyes like a field of violets. He's a hero, they tell me. Secured a victory over in Pendigrad after the battle was all but lost, without losing a man under his command. I know he's not my real father, but he's my father all the same.

"Come, dig in before it gets cold, my love." mother tells me, and I look upon her beautiful face once more. Soft features, with blond hair and green eyes, and a face full of freckles that only adds to her charm. Not my real mother either, but gods help the man who thinks he could harm her with me around. 20 years they’ve been married, 4 decent children they’ve raised together.

I fix my first bite with equal portions of chicken, potatoes, and greens. As I chew the flavors paint my tongue. Rosemary and garlic, Oregano and queen's herb. Ilio is a master in the kitchen, I hope we pay him enough. I'm really not sure if anyone else truly appreciates the food, but damned if it isn't the best cooking around.

Cassia picks at her food slowly, her blond hair getting in the way of her own obnoxiously perfect face. Fair skinned and blond haired, with the same purple eyes as my father and the rest of the children. All of her reeking with poise and perfection. I love her, I do, but she just makes it so hard considering she always looks like she can't stand the sight of me.

Gaius eats slowly, his regal face lost in thought. He looks like the perfect little lordling. If only he wasn’t so grim all the time. Technically speaking, as my younger brother, I would take the throne over him. As I am also technically a bastard, the entire succession is a bit nebulous. It's something he and I have discussed at length, at his urging. I'm not sure he wants it, but he's the one being groomed to take it, while I am taught to be his protector.

Tyx leans over and plants a peck on my cheek, and I ruffle her curls in response. She's the only one of the three to truly accept me as family. "how was your day?" she prompts me, more interested in telling me about hers. She listens in rasp attention as I tell her of the river and the arrowhead, and under the table I show her my bandages. Mother doesn’t miss a thing. She stands up from her seat and walks over to kneel at my side, undoing the bandages to check on the cut. It's still bleeding, slowly. "you must be more careful, Marcus. One of these days, you're going to do something to your body that won't heal. Aria, fetch the medicae."

I expected worse honestly.

Cassia chippers in, "More likely he'll do something to someone else that won't heal."

"That was rude, Cassia. Apologize to your brother, now." My father, always ready to defend his son. "he's not that big, nor is he some common brute." Gaius, always ready with the facts.

"I'm sorry, bastard. I'm sorry you think you're worthy of our table."

"Cassia! To your room, now!" mother has a hard line on name calling, especially when bastard is the name being called. Tyx just snuggles against my wounded arm, trying to console me from my sister's hatred. My mother sighs and sits back in her chair.

"We're having guests tomorrow. Be on your best behavior, children. Finish your supper then off to bed." father announces, eager to change the subject. "Of course father, always." Gaius responds. Such a dutiful son. As we finish, mother shepherds us off to our rooms, planting a kiss on each of our foreheads before heading off to lecture Cass.