As it turned out, they did not go straight to their rooms, although ale was involved. Shiver enjoyed the attention he got from women as a lord, whether he was away from his wife or not. He got a lot of it. He was a handsome man, Eden supposed, trying to keep the sickened grimace off his face as another maid leaned over his father, taking far too long to pour the ale and smiling far too widely. Ross swatted them away, though they lingered at Rowan before giggling and running off, knowing they weren’t in trouble, happy with their endeavours. Shiver grinned at Rowan before spying Eden’s sour demeanour.
“What’s the problem, boy? You’re a man now, aren’t you? I’m sure more than one of these lasses wouldn’t mind pouring your ale, if you get my meaning.”
Shiver gave him a deliberately slow wink and started bellowing at his own joke. Eden, to force the point, refilled his own tankard. Ross elbowed Shiver.
“Maybe he’s like Augyr’s lad. Wotsisname. I can’t see him fathering too many sons for the good of his line.”
Ross laughed, though there was no genuine humour behind it. Both Shiver and Harn joined in, drawing more attention to themselves from the sleepy staff left up to serve them. Rowan grinned nastily at Eden, though the younger lad chose to ignore that. River looked embarrassed, but didn’t speak out either for or against. Eden felt sorry for most of them, though the serving girls, who Ross had called down from preparing the quarters for the visiting dignitaries, were exempted. They were making the most of their opportunity to entertain men of the nobility.
“I’m expecting more from you lad. Remember that. When I was your age I already had two mistresses. I’ve been told Rowan’s fathered a bastard. Whilst that’s going to cause me and your mother not a small amount of coin in retributions,” Shiver swung a look at Rowan, who merely smirked, “at least he’s showing something of himself.”
One of the maids came back over, prospecting for an empty tankard. Shiver’s wasn’t empty, but he raised it to her all the same, trying to draw eye contact. “He might have another one before the end of the week. I might have another mistress. Who knows?”
The maid giggled, tugging at her low-cut dress to expose even more of her chest, her roughly rouged cheeks and thick eyeliner making her look cheap. Eden twisted his mouth, trying not to vomit. Suddenly he wished he wasn’t quite so close to his father this year, and preferably back in Sevenspells going through drills with his men. Impulsively, he got to his feet.
“I’m going to bed father. It’s a long couple of days. I will see you on the training ground tomorrow.”
Shiver snorted at that suggestion. He clearly wasn’t going to make it to the training ground with the rest of his men. Eden was sure the sun would be up in only a glass or two. It was going to be a tiring day tomorrow, make no mistake.
“Do you know where your quarters are lad?”
Eden shook his head, and tried to pay attention as Ross slurred out directions. Eventually, Eden got the gist of where he had to go. He’d figure it out. There were always staff wandering the halls of Everfell, no matter what time of night it was. He’d get in the right direction and get sober help from there. He left the hall, trying to ignore the cutting jibes from his drunken family that rang in his ears.