5.5: Things are Different Now
Up in the library, Benedict and Hudson had paused in their recording of the Wyvern Clan's chronicle, while they and Ursula talked about the good news that was spreading through the mansion. "An official pairing already!" Benedict said with a smile, as he sipped from a glass of the wine that had just been brought to them for celebrating with. "And it's been less than a week since your arrival!"
"I know life moves at a faster pace for the humans these days," Hudson mused as he studied the ruby-red depths of his glass, "but I never realized how much it was catching."
Ursula took a sip of her wine before saying, "They did decide awfully fast… but I'm not really surprised," as she set her wine down and picked up her embroidery again. "Our Rebecca has always been one to decide things quickly, and once she decides to pursue something, whether a new hobby or a new male, she leaps for it with all her talons out."
"Aye, and Lexington is like that to some extent," Hudson agreed. "But still, 'twas the swiftest courting I've ever heard of! Back in the old clan, when the unattached youngsters went inland to look for mates from our sister clan, we sometimes didn't hear from them for months! The soonest any party ever came back with mates in their wake, or sent a messenger to say they'd be perching with the inland clan for the rest of their nights, was three full moons."
"Well, it's not likely that you'll be staying down here for a full twelve weeks," Ursula pointed out, "as much as some of us would wish otherwise. Frankly, I think your Lexington's being quite sensible about it… and really, quite considerate as well. Of the five young ladies, Rebecca is obviously the most compatible with him, with their mutual love of computers and exploring. By agreeing now to become mates, it gives us all that much more time to prepare for the mating ceremony."
"Prepare?" Hudson cocked his good eye at her. "Why do we need time to… Och, don't tell me you do fancy ceremonies, the way that humans do?"
Benedict's smile was wry. "Oh, yes. I remember having to wait a full six weeks between my Therese and I officially choosing each other, and actually being mated to each other. There were fittings and rehearsals to attend, and that was only on my side of the bargain; most of the time, Therese and the females helping her were kept busy from dusk to dawn."
"And considering that this mating ceremony will actually seal the alliance between our clans," Ursula said with a gleam in her eyes, "It will likely be even fancier still! Speaking of fittings, we'd best either ask Lexington to return to the estate soon, or send a seamstress—Yvette, most likely—out to measure him for his wedding clothes. It'll be a challenge to make a tuxedo for a web-winged gargoyle…"
Hudson groaned and leaned forward to bury his head in his hands. Then he straightened up, and gave Ursula a stern look. "Listen well, female… I'm agreeable to the notion of us becoming mates as well. But I'll not have any unnecessary frippery for the ceremony, and I'll not ever wear a tuxedo!"
Ursula said nothing, though she gave him a peculiar look. Benedict spoke instead, with a chuckle; "That was the most off-handed mating agreement I've ever heard. Would you mind if I recorded that for the chronicles?"
"Eh?" Hudson stared at him, then sat back with an odd smile on his face. "Well, I suppose it was one, at that…"
"Yes, Benedict, you absolutely should record that," Ursula said as she firmly set aside her embroidery project, and got up from her chair. "Tomorrow. For now, would you mind leaving the library to us? Hudson and I have something to discuss…"
Benedict was still chuckling as he hastily departed.
To be continued…