When an attendant arrived to tell them of the impending evening meal, they had just finished donning fresh clothing.
“I still think this kilt is a curtain with a belt,” Marc said. He was the only one not completely pleased with the new clothing.
The rest of them reveled in the soft cottons and silks of the Abvi clothing. The attendant had purchased clothing that closely matched in color what each person had been wearing. The black silk shirt they’d gotten Pantros fit a little loosely, but was far lighter than any silk he’d been able to find in Ignea.
“Abvi are patient,” Sheillene said. “They can take the time to make their cloth with a finer weave. Someone probably spent the better part of a week weaving the silk that became that shirt.
Bryan took the Abvi clothing but still insisted on wearing his armor over it. He had taken the time to clean the armor, getting much of the odor out. “It has my rank insignia,” Bryan said, pointing to his epaulet. “I don’t want to be the only one in the room without a title.”
Pantros shook his head and said, “You’re going to be the only one in the room with a title other than the Champion Archer over here.
The attendant led them back to the palace and into a huge dining hall. Over a hundred people, almost all Abvi, sat at rows of table crowded with plates of food.
Tethen met them at the door and pointed to the King’s table. A silver haired Abvi sat at the center of a table on a raised step at the end of the room. “Bow,” Tethen said.
They all bowed or curtsied and Tethen continued, “The human two seats to the King’s right is Prince Reginald. He’s been informed of your arrival, though he did seem confused at most of your names, as if he’d never heard of any of you except Sir David Norda.” Tethen then pointed to a group of empty seats close to the head table. “Your seats are there,” he said. “Enjoy the meal.”
“I’ll join you in a minute,” Sheillene said. She pulled the missive from her pouch and headed towards the Prince.
“Um,” Tethen said, stepping after her. He stopped and turned back to Pantros, “She shouldn’t be going there, it’s against protocol.”
“And she’s armed,” Norda said. “Two gold says she makes it to the Prince, leaving two of the King’s bodyguards on the floor, one bleeding.”
“I’ll take the bet,” Pantros said, “Only because I don’t think there will be blood.”
“Me too,” Marc said.
“You don’t have two gold coins,” Thomas said.
“Pan will cover me,” Marc shrugged.
Pantros nodded, realizing the exchange was less gambling and more camaraderie.
“Does it affect the outcome if I help her?” Bryan asked.
“Only for you,” David said. “Sheillene would side with the bodyguards if you got involved. Remember the part about her being the King’s Archery Champion? She’s only going to get away with this because she can know that she is not an actual threat.”
Several Guards rushed to intercept Sheillene. The guards wore thin mail that chimed when it slammed into the floor as Sheillene rolled a guard that had tried to tackle her over her shoulders. A second guard fell when Sheillene spun and kicked low, taking the guards legs out from under him.
“Let her be,” The king spoke loudly. “She is no threat to me.”
The approaching guards all stopped where they were, but did not return to their posts.
“Your Majesty,” Sheillene said. “Thank you.”
“Don’t yet,” King Allaind said. “I can’t say I’m pleased with you at the moment.”
Sheillene glanced back towards the guards on the floor. “My apologies, Your Majesty. I have an important missive for Prince Reginald from his father. It cannot wait.”
The king gestured for her to approach the prince. Prince Reginald stood and reached out across the table. Sheillene set the missive in the Prince’s hand. The Prince then broke the seal and sat down to read the letter.
“Perhaps if you would spend a couple days a year taking your spot on the royal guard, the other guards would have a better chance of recognizing you.” The King said.
“I will endeavor to do so at some point, Majesty” Sheillene said.
“Now’s as good a time as any,” The king pointed to a spot behind and left of his chair. A man wielding a long-bladed spear stood behind and right of the King. Sheillene stepped up and walked around the table. She strung her bow before taking a watchful stance behind the King.
Pantros and the others took their seats at the long dining table.
“I must leave,” Reginald said then stood and bowed to the King. “My father has died. I must return to Relarch.”
The King stood as well. “I am sorry to hear of your father’s passing. I knew him for many years as a friend.”
The man between the King and the Prince also stood and offered sympathy.
The prince then walked off the stage and out of the dining hall. A large group of men who had been sitting near Pantros got up and followed the Prince.
“His knights?” Pantros asked.
“Yes,” David replied. “I should go with them.” He excused himself and followed the others into the hall.
CHAPTER 25: KEHET
Try as he might, Kehet couldn’t feel comfortable as a guest in the King’s Palace. Beldithe had convinced him that it would only be polite if he introduced himself to the local king. The king had insisted not only that Kehet stay, but that he stay in a suite next to the royal family’s suites. For four days he’d had to sneak out into the city to avoid the constant attention of the princess. She wasn’t trying to seduce him; she was just trying to convince him to show her his Unicorn form. He obliged her several times over the days.
The meals, due to his presence as well as the presence of another foreign prince, were all elaborate feasts. Kehet didn’t miss the meals. Since the King went through all the effort to produce a feast, it was only polite for him to attend.
When, on Kehet’s fourth night eating with the King, the Prince of Relarch excused himself from the high table, the dinner essentially ended. Within minutes the hall was empty aside from the royal family and the King’s Guard. A small group stood just inside the dining hall. Two of the men in the group were among the largest people Kehet had ever seen.
“Does this mean Prince Reginald is the King of Relarch now?” Kehet asked. “Is he now Reginald the Second?”
The king nodded. “He’s Prince Regent until the coronation, and then he will be Reginald the Second.”
Kehet took a moment to think about the fact that he’d been sitting between two kings. Then he had the realization that both kings were probably just as awed to be sitting next to a god.
The king then said, “I only hope that he can make it out of the city safely.”
“I was told this gathering of Vulak is unheard of,” Kehet said.
“And they’re closing on Melnith.” The king’s archer stepped into the conversation. “The Prince may not be able to make it to Relarch today or anytime in the near future.”
“I knew their numbers were growing, Sheillene, but I hadn’t heard they were moving this way,” The king said. “I assume your Hunter’s Guild is passing news along.”
“Yes,” Sheillene, the archer, said. “We use an enchanted quill system to keep our bounty postings current between our guild halls. Occasionally they can be used for spreading news. We don’t really want that to become their primary use, however.”
“Yes,” the king replied, “but, don’t you think this is the kind of information you should tell your king as soon as possible?”
“I’m here,” Sheillene said. “This is as soon as possible.”
“I see,” the king said. “I should summon my generals.” He called over a servant and told him to get his