Quills: the Rise of the Northern Matriarch-Chapter 83: The Banquet (2)

"Wow." Nora said as she looked at the entrances' grandiosity. It made the Allari buildings entrance seem quaint. Precious stones made up a mosaic pattern along the front of the building. Two exquisitely carved Itma sculptures held an end of colorful lanterns. It reminded her of the interior of a very affluent friend of her father's home, but thousands of times more ostentatious.

"You like things like this?" Liem asked as he grabbed their gift and Nora's instrument.

"It is beautiful. I can appreciate it." Nora said. "It is actually a bit much, they must have caused a lot of misery to get this wealthy." Nora said in Korean as she pointed around with a fake smile and surprised look.

"They have." Kai responded back to her.

"I can take the Teere." Nora said. Liem was against her performing. Monil, who was also performing tonight and had agreed to do a duet with her after she met the young entertainer through Janel's introduction. He had the sheet music and lyrics. First she would make their social rounds and give random puzzled looks every so often during the conversations to give them a chance to give her information in the guise of explaining Calloran to them. She was the Northerner, and it was decided to keep some of her skills away from them.

"It is best that we conform to social rules here. Do you remember what I said about us being used against you?" Liem responded in Korean in response.

"It will not be a problem, it is going to be a Northern gift," Nora responded. What would he think when he heard the version of 'Mad World?' she had sent to Monil instead of the other tracks she had been practicing at home. They checked her appearance and adjusted. She steeled her nerves and stepped in, walked into the entrance of the building. She could hear the pulsing music through the doorway, there was drumming along with a few pleasant instruments. Nora heard something that sounded like a fiddle. She started playing violin at a young age. It was great for expressing her feelings. She made a note to ask Monil about it. They were going to have their discussion today anyway.

"It is far more opulent inside," Nora said. It was sickening to know where the money came from. As she walked in, Kadir and Kai flanked her, whereas Liem took his role upfront, he was the best communicator among them. The room was filled with men. She saw Leilanna waving in the distance from her table. Nora awkwardly waved back. Allurai was busy chatting to another Matriarch. She hated this next part. The announcement. It was obnoxious, it was as if they were nobility.

"Representing Clan Quill, I am Liem Allari Quill, this is Kai Quill, and Kai of Clan Setton, and this is Matriarch Lenora Quill of Izaberne. The last Northerner," Liem said, flashing his handsome smile. Security parted as they walked through. Normally they would have to show their interfaces, but Nora seemed to have an effect on the staff already. Kadir was stunned, it was like they had forgotten their duties.

"Check." Kai growled, showing one of them his credentials. He was angry, looking at the men leering and forgetting to do their job thoroughly. They were Setton certified. He recognized one of them. The gazes turned more intense as they walked into the room. Nora felt goosebumps rise and a sense of danger grow. She could smell the release of male pheromones now that she had them explained to her by Cerez. Alphem men were the only ones able to release them, and it was done both involuntarily and voluntarily to intimidate other men and to when attracted to women. It felt creepy smelling it at such an intense level. She felt momentarily overwhelmed and nauseous.

'How awful it must feel to be leered at like a piece of meat. Is she afraid?' Kai thought. Kai placed a large protective palm over her lower back, conscientious to reassure her. He felt her slightly trembling.

"You are safe. No one will dare. I know how to break a neck with one hand. They know I am from Setton." Kai leaned in and whispered in her ear. They had walked into the large room and found their table.

"I would prefer you not to have to do that," Nora said. The room was so large. She followed the indicator in her field of vision. She found their assigned seating. Thankfully, the augmented reality beacon disappeared as soon as she sat down. It was like living in a video game sometimes. Nora draped herself over the couch feeling a little hatred for herself in the moment. She was at least covered more than when she met Kai. At least Leilanna seemed to be dressed in a revealing manner. Was she also seeking a spouse?

It was an important night. This was the first time since Liem that she would be initiating the contact and pursuing someone. She was surprised and disgusted with how socially acceptable groping a male was when they were coaching her earlier. Consent was going to be a Quill pioneered concept. Hopefully, he will come to them first. It was impossible to see through the massive crowd of people. She had never performed a song in front of such a large crowd before. She did her best to act mysterious and aloof to draw attention from the group.

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'Here comes a land mine. I hate the way they all stare at me. At least I am not dressed in a revealing dress this time and I have bathed. Keep your face neutral and calm.' Nora thought.

"Greetings, I am Seril from Clan Noro, it is my life's honor to make your acquaintance." Seril said, eying the redhead sprawled over the couch. He was the first to approach her group.

"Is he safe? What does his family do?" Nora said, in Korean, looking at Liem.

"His family is in politics, we can take him, it would cause an incident." Liem said, explaining to Nora in Korean.

"Greetings Seril, I am Matriarch Lenora Quill. Thank you for stopping to greet us. I was worried, since I am not confident in the language completely, that no one would talk to me. How am I doing? They all lie to me and say I have no funny talk sounds" Nora said, faking her familiarity with the language, and slowly pronouncing the words.

"Very good, it is good to see you are learning the language well. I collect your still images. You must work really hard, it looks as if the warm climate has agreed with you. You look healthier." Seril said, making conversation with her. He noticed the men in her Bind looking protective.

"I am still pretty new to society, since I have been taking lessons and have been so busy with the children, I do not get to go out and meet people. Can you help us make new friends?" Nora asked Seril, seeing if she could put him to use. She used to use her skills at networking events back in her world or in her reality. She knew that sometimes to talk to another person they would have to use another as a contact to make the introduction. That is how she got her internships and jobs, and she was quite adept at it. The difference was she was popular, and her natural pheromones were enticing enough to change ascetic, damaged men into crazed fiends. She got what she wanted. Seril was very eager to please her.

'I should not get comfortable or used to using men like this. You have daughters now, you have to teach them to do it better.' Nora thought to herself. Seril was leering at her chest. She stopped feeling so bad the next moment, when she realized.

'Gross. I hope I do not look like this when I look at my spouses. Ugh. This is what an eye fucking is.' Nora thought as she looked at her spouses.

"Alright, how about I introduce you to the hosts? My Father is from Clan Hudai." Seril said, trying to impress Nora.

"Really, this Clan? How prestigious," Nora said as, she feigned interest in him.

"I am a delegate like your first bound. I read that you are learning from Allari herself. Do you plan to enter Prime?You should. You already know enough common language." Seril said. Matriarch Lenora Quill was making the news across the world. She was seldom seen except for her advertisements for Quill products. She had many popular and revolutionary businesses, belonged to a new clan and had four daughters already. A chance to catch her eye meant the possibility of getting a daughter and a second name which three of her spouses already had. Not only that, her exotic looks and small but curvaceous frame were very enticing. She was not as tall and commanding as most Matriarchs. She looked fragile, she made her spouses look very large and tall. Those eyes of hers were so captivating. The closer he got to her, the more captivated by her he became. Nora smiled and Seril felt his pulse quicken.

"I did not think that far ahead. I want to share my culture with everyone first, I will sing later. You will watch, yes?" Nora said. Seril felt his pulse quicken as he became excited. He eyed her small frame as they approached the lineup, his eyes paused and lingered upon her breasts.

"Yes, I will. Here we are." Seril said. Kai watched him staring so blatantly. Any other Matriarch would have said something about the rudeness right now. He pulled her into a protective embrace looking at Seril. He released pheromones, he hated doing it. Seril finally made eye contact with him.

"I would very much like to thank the hosts. I think it is our turn." Nora said. "Thank you?" Nora said puzzled. "He looked like he wanted to eat me." Nora said in Korean.

"I want to eat you all the time. I can behave." Kai said. She looked really beautiful tonight, just like the first night he laid his eyes on her. She was beautiful with nothing on or with messy hair. He could tell that Liem had put a lot of effort into dressing her tonight. Nora had no rivals when it came to beauty, in his opinion. Liem was somewhat possessive of her clothing choices. He spent time picking and having clothing tailored for her. He chose mostly light colored clothing that looked good on her. But that was not what she preferred. She liked wearing bright clothing at home, shorts and sometimes boys' clothing. She liked fun prints. Cerez ordered those for her. He was still bothered by Liem's attitude towards Nora when they were on their way to the party on the transport earlier.

'Sometimes I wish she could be more assertive with them, she has given them so much power and freedom. She gives us a fair vote. It is safe to say she is not going to abuse us. It is also more than fair that she has more of a say over the children. They are different from business decisions. I do not think that they understand how grateful they should be. I will be on her side from now on.' Kai thought.