Kliev lurched forward and snatched the leg of mutton he had been eying from the sterling silver platter it rested on. His teeth ripped into the meat, the taste savory and juicy. The top of his right ear twitched in happiness.
‘Don’t forget to try the brauthon rib, or the finchrel eggs,’ Wogiwoj overjoyously advised him. ‘The tastes of the world are before you, keeper! Be merry in my stead!’
Kliev felt he had died and ascended to the highest of the heavens. There was great food with new friends and a beautiful woman on each side. He grasped a tankard of ale and chugged down the malted magic, then reached for another, and another after that. He caught Fwen’s look of disgust from the corner of his eye, and opted to give her the biggest grin in response. No one was going to bring down his mood, especially the prissy Noctide.
“Want to try one?” Kliev asked as he offered her a bite of a half-eaten brauthon rib.
“No, thank you,” Fwen answered back with a grimace. “I don’t eat meat.”
“Then you haven’t lived!” Kliev declared and pushed the tray of ribs closer to her.
I’el slapped his hand. “Try to behave, will you?” She reprimanded him under her breath. “Fwen and Verina are trouble. You remember what happened last time we ran into them.”
“Oh, I remember quite well,” Kliev responded loudly. He turned to Verina, who had been staring coldly. “You think I didn’t catch you watching me, ‘Nirave’? What, are you going to threaten to stab me again? Cut my neck and serve me on a platter with an apple in my mouth?”
‘That’s right, keeper. You tell her what for!’ Wojiwoj commended.
Verina stood and reached for her sheath within her cloak, but Fwen placed her hand up. “One moment, Verina. Give me the chance to speak.”
Verina let out a frustrated groan and sat back down. Zall snickered while Qio remained in a conversation with himself. Fwen turned to Kliev and stared him down. Her gaze was intense, but warm. It reminded him of the bonfires that used to heat Krijya in the coldest winter months. Her flared purple ball gown popped out from under the table, and black-laced frills ran up the edges to converge into a solid black bodice that accentuated Fwen’s slender figure. She leaned closer, half moons dangling from her ears.
“My deepest condolences for our earlier behavior,” Fwen said. “My lady-in-waiting has been trained to fight first and question later. I ask that you won’t hold her upbringing against her.”
“Your lady-in-waiting happens to be a Tomekeeper as well?” Kliev replied with a raised eyebrow. “Fancy that.”
“My family wanted to ensure my safe travel, hence Verina’s false name and unfriendly demeanor. I, myself, like to keep things close. I’m sure you understand that, as well,” She explained, then dropped her voice to a whisper only loud enough for Kliev’s ears to pick up. “Right, Prince Rorn?”
Kliev felt his blood run cold. He took a long drink from his tankard, unsure of how to respond. “I do.”
“Then all is forgiven?” Fwen asked in her normal volume. Her eyes grew big and she gave him a slightly pouting look. She ran a finger along the side of her head and brushed her hair behind her pointed ear. “I’d quite like for us to start on much better footing. You know, as fellow Tomekeepers and in the name of peace, and all.”
Kliev rubbed his temples. He knew he was being toyed with, but a small part of him enjoyed it. Fwen twisted her hair around her finger and waited for a response. He downed the last of his drink and wiped his mouth clear with the top of his coat sleeve. “Sure. To new beginnings.”
“What exactly are we beginning?” I’el jumped in. Her tone was sharper than Verina’s dagger.
“Oh, I was just about to tell Kliev that it would be nice for him to come by To’tenkhar after all of this is done. I would love to show him around. After all, it isn’t often that we get visits from our snuggly next door neighbors,” Fwen tilted over the table and told her.
I’el clicked her tongue. “Ah. I see. So, Kliev? What are you going to do?” She staunchly asked him. “Do you feel like dipping your face in a puddle of ink and putting fifteen holes in your ears?”
“At least there’s culture in To’tenkhar. Or would you rather spend your time rolling down hills and picking off twigs and ticks from your body?” Fwen snarked.
Kliev raised his hands up between them. “Hey, now. Peace is nice, right? Is that not the theme of tonight’s banquet?”
“You’re right, Kliev. I’ll behave now,” Fwen said with a wink and a mischievous smile, then engaged in conversation with Verina. I’el ripped the leg off of a roasted hen and bit off a mouthful. Kliev nudged her with his shoulder, but she looked the other way.
“I’el, I’ve actually been doing a lot of thinking.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. After tonight is done, I don’t really know where I’ll be headed next. It’s damn sure not back to Krijya.”
“Sounds like you’ve already got an offer on the table.”
Kliev held his breath and hoped for the best. “Actually, I was hoping I might be able to go to Farnen’s Grove for a while. With you.”
‘Ooo, talk about an exciting development,’ Noli commented. ‘Is this the blossoming of something special?’
I’el was caught off-guard by Kliev’s request and she started to stammer. In the half-second it took her to respond, she went through what felt like hundreds of different thoughts.
‘What does he mean? Why? Where will he stay? What are his intentions? What about Friston? Will he think there’s something going on? What if his parents don’t approve?’ I’el pondered.
‘I’el, just say yes!’ Noli yelled at her.
“Yes!” I’el blurted. She could feel the others glance her way at the sudden outburst. Kliev jumped slightly from the energy. I’el recomposed herself. “I mean, yes, that would be fine. I know you need a place to go, so who am I to turn you down?”
Kliev’s eyes lit up and he put a firm hand on her shoulder. “Thanks, I’el. You’re the greatest.”
I’el felt a sense of solace take over. She didn’t realize how much she dreaded the idea of Kliev leaving. She had felt sadness about their future parting, yes, but the anxiety was a new component that she wasn’t expecting. The worry of heading back to the Grove alone shifted into a fear of how the rest of the Phreeton would react, but I’el knew there would be plenty of time to think through all of that in the future. The vines on her dress crept up onto her shoulder and over Kliev’s hand. He pulled back and laughed, striking a deep embarrassment in I’el.
‘Why did you do that?’ She cried to the goddess in her head.
‘That wasn’t me, I’el,’ Noli claimed. ‘I don’t have the ability to control your powers for you.’
I’el flicked the vines off and buried her face in her hands. She refused to talk to Kliev any further until she had figured out what was going on. She turned to Irada, who had been sitting silently across from her, before Kliev could say anything else.
“Irada Holst, right?” I’el asked, hoping the attention would fade from her as quickly as it came.
Irada nodded his head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’el,” He said, barely audible over the conversational roar of the table.
“I imagine you’re from the Varlan Plains?” I’el inquired. “What was your journey over here like?”
“It was fine, for the most part. I traveled with Qio over there,” He said and pointed to the loudmouthed Asceniate in the corner.
“Oh! I’m sorry,” I’el replied. “I’m sure that wasn’t the most peaceful trip.”
“I found if you let him talk it out, he’s pretty alright,” Irada told her. “The company was nice, anyway.”
I’el opened her mouth to ask another question, but the blare of horns pulled everyone’s attention back toward the Monarch. He stood and waved his left hand across the room. The table went silent. The doors to the great hall were thrown open, and a Wingsong man with stunning blue wings entered.
“Tomekeepers, I would like to announce the arrival of our dearest Reveticus Awn - Hero of Kephram’s Keep, purveyor of righteousness, and chosen by Ghantei’s light to serve in her most special of roles,” the Monarch praised.
‘Awn? Is he related to Yonni’s boyfriend?’ I’el questioned.
Reveticus moved around the table and took the empty seat next to Yonni. Silban looked on with an expression of pride. I’el saw Reveticus say something to the Anquan Princess, but couldn't make out what it was.
‘I’m concerned, I’el. Ghantei’s light isn’t so easily hidden, and I don’t sense it anywhere around him,’ Noli shared.
‘Are you saying he’s not a Tomekeeper? That would imply the Monarch is lying.’
‘Or protecting something. Or someone.’
I’el rested her chin on her hands and observed the shift in mood. Noli was right: something was off. She heard the clack of Kliev setting down his twelfth tankard next to her.
“Well, it’s about time you graced us with your presence, lightkeeper,” Kliev taunted. “You sure know to keep the rest of us waiting.”
Reveticus was unphased, but Silban stepped forward. “Watch your tongue when addressing my brother, Rorn.”
“Or what, birdbrain?” Kliev spat back as he leapt from his seat. I’el tugged at the back of his coat in a failed attempt to make him sit. The last thing they needed was a fight in front of the Monarch. She noticed the look of concern in Yonni’s eyes as well.
“Gentleman, please,” The Monarch pleaded from the throne. “Let us take a moment and remember why we are gathered here. The in-fighting and ultimate betrayal of our great goddess Ghantei is what led to the destruction of the gods’ physical form and the collapse of society through the Discordance. It wasn’t until the first selection over a century later, and through the channeling of the gods through the power of incarnacy, that the nations have been able to find some semblance of peace. It is up to you, as the Tomekeepers chosen in this cycle, to keep that peace. You will need to be leaders for your people and make impossible decisions. You will need to stand tall when life tries it's hardest to knock you down. Do not yield.”
Ramji had long since passed the point of annoyance with the Monarch and his haughty speeches. If he genuinely cared about the people of Lidaesea and their well-being, he wouldn’t have stifled her father’s attempts at a better transportation system or shut down the efforts of the Alcheknight society to develop new defense systems for the many cities. Instead, Reveticus got to play hero and the city of Casis was branded as a place of dangerous ideas.
‘A king is only as powerful as his followers allow him to be,’ Shoroux warned.
‘He doesn’t understand the severity of what’s on the other side of the veil,’ Ramji added. She continued to furiously scribble the signs and diagrams that Shoroux had burned into her mind. ‘All this talk of peace is nothing but a stopper in the sands of what will inevitably come.’
‘Just remember that it is not our job to prevent. We must merely watch,’ Shoroux clarified. ’This information is for you to better handle that task.’
“That is why you have the power of the gods bestowed upon you, and the tomes will only unlock that power further,” The Monarch continued preaching. “You must use incarnacy only for the greater good of those that you are indebted to protect. Do not abuse it.”
Ramji’s charcoal snapped in half and smeared across her light brown vest and the cream blouse underneath. “You talk about abuse, Monarch Mivano, but you fail to mention the numerous times that the Tomekeepers of the past have made selfish decisions for the so-called ‘greater good’. Incarnacy has been, and always will be, a means to an end. Do I need to remind you of Jahailah’s fall or the Sins of Ashamonte? Your idea of peace is to put people in the corners and silence those that dare to speak out against you.”
“That’s enough!” Silban shouted. “His excellency will not sit here and be slandered!”
“Especially by one so warped in the head that she sits and scribbles like a toddler,” Verina quipped from across the table.
“Says the one that paints her face in the name of her goddess, as if she actually gives two shites about you,” Ramji snarled.
Verina stabbed her dagger into the table, but Ramji refused to show fear. She had seen far worse than a temperamental Terrolaff with a stabbing fetish.
“Geez, way to kill the mood,” Kliev commented from the side.
“No, she’s right,” Qio chimed in. His marmalade robe, accented by a golden key pattern, swayed as he motioned to Reveticus. “You really want me to believe this pompous fool is Ghantei’s Tomekeeper?” His hand moved to Verina. “Or that this one wasn’t a mistake chosen simply because her name is one letter off from Istio’s older sister?”
“Do you ever shut the Hael up?” Zall exploded. He slammed his fist against the top of the table. Unbridled fury bubbled within him. “You’re the pompous one, if anything. You’ve been talking non-stop and it’s driving me crazy. Do you even have anything worthwhile to say, or is spewing nonsense all you do?”
‘That’s right, keeper. Tear him down!’ Hilaster cheered.
“You think you can take me on, you fire-obsessed fraud? I’m the only one here worthy of the title of Tomekeeper,” Qio argued back.
Zall tightened the three black belts that went across the sleeveless crimson tunic he had been given. He cracked his knuckles and stood. There was no way for him to fight, not until he did as the fray conventions commanded, but Qio didn’t have to know that. In fact, he was sure he could scare the wannabe weakling before a single punch was thrown.
“Boys, please. Have some respect for yourselves and the rest of us,” Fwen interrupted. “We are in the presence of the Monarch of Prodigium, in the very hall our gods gathered in. There is no need for all of this ridiculous behavior.”
“There’s no need for you to open your mouth and tell us what to do, either,” Zall barked. It was clear that Fwen only wanted attention. “Back off, before I make you.”
He watched as Verina flipped onto the table, knocking off the platters of food, and pressed her dagger against his chest. The tip dug into the space between his ribs. She clicked the heel of her boot against the table to reveal a hidden blade and swung it out toward Qio’s throat. “I’m getting rather tired of all the disrespect being thrown our way,” She hissed. “One more comment, one more move, and I start sending people and their gods to the afterlife together!”
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