The Nightfall Saga: Moving Pieces (Part 1)

This story starts with The Nightfall Saga: The House Gathers.
 
Cixi had tamed wild mountain cats that were less aggressive than this pack of women who proceeded to "attack" her every single day. Combs, brushes, powder and lipstick were among their weapons of choice. Shoes that no one in their right mind should have on their feet, and dresses that were impossible to clasp together unless you folded your ribcage in on itself, all flooded through the doors of Cixi’s room every single day. All of this, just so she could masquerade around with these people she barely knew. They were somehow important and because of this, Cixi had to undergo this torture every morning. As Cixi’s handmaidens dressed her like an inanimate play thing, there came a knock at the door.

“Lady Cixithara, your presence is being requested,” a voice said through the door.

“She will be out shortly,” was the reply.

That was the way things worked here. Cixi hadn’t spoken for herself since the moment she was first hauled away and painted up like a life sized porcelain doll. At least not to any of the servants. Her hand maidens talked for her. She had also noticed that not a one of them would lookher fully in the eye. She was followed around all day long by a man in brown robes. In fact, it was him who was talking through the door now. She had gathered his name to be Matthias.

With a final hair pin and the last tug on her bodice, Cixi was ushered out of her room. Matthias bowed his head as she walked out in front of him.

“Lord Jaias has requested that you sit with him at his table tonight.”

Cixi stiffened upon the mention of her uncle's name. Though unspoken, Cixi knew that her mother was not going to take it very well when she saw Cixi sitting with Lord Jaias. Ever since they had arrived, there had been an unspoken tension between her mother and her newfound uncle. They had been civil to each other in public. But those cold stares let everyone know that it was all a charade, right down to every bow and curtsey. Of course, from the whispering going on, it was what everyone had expected from the two of them the moment that Lady Alara had arrived.

“With him?” Cixi stammered, “I’m sure that there are others who he would rather have sitting there. Someone that is more important?”

“Lord Jaias made his request quite clear. Would you like for me to tell him that you are declining his request?”

Cixi looked at the top of the reddish blonde head that was bowed before her. She sighed and shook her head. It could not be helped. Her mother would just have to be upset.

“No. Let him know I will sit with him at dinner tonight.”

“He will be pleased to hear this.”

Part 2