The whispers filling the hall grew louder and louder until what had begun as a sound as faint as footfalls on cedar boughs became loud enough that even ordinary people could hear their neighbor's opinions on the couples that Lady Nyrielle proudly presented to them.
"I thought her human progeny would have chosen human lovers…"
"I don't care how it happened, do you see? Our Clan of the Great Claw has a vampire again…"
"My horns are lighter and thinner than hers, does he really expect to live a happy life with a woman who's horns are so… manish? If he doesn't want to find himself rammed into submission by his own wife he should look for someone a little more demure, don't you think…"
"Is he going to make her a vampire too? Can witches even become vampires?"
"Why are you all so excited, thinking about one of them falling in love with you? Don't you see what your children would turn out like, sitting right there at the front table? You want to give birth to one of the Clanless?"
