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PARTY WOES
After the executions Arara had spent several days hiding from Sels and her responsibilities, but last night Recka had tracked her down and reminded her that the engagement party was the next morning and that she was expected to attend. So here she was at the crack of dawn, yawning and trying not to scratch at her black sedyu uniform while she watched Sels getting dressed with the help of several attendants. She had to admit that the purple and yellow robes really complimented the dark violet of his flowers.
Once Sels was dressed they headed downstairs. The ball didn’t start for another few claw marks but as the hosts he and Sesay had to oversee the final preparations of the hall.
Overnight the bottom levels of the tree had been transformed. Colored silk hung down from the vaulted ceiling, amidst dangling reflective crystals that caught and refracted the morning light filling the room with glittering rainbows.
“As the ball gets underway,” Sels said, pointing up as they descended the curving walkway, “Kin mages will fill the room with a gentle breeze and the whole room will sparkle.” Sels stopped and moved to rest against the railing, looking down at the activity below.
Arara stepped up next to him, stifling another yawn. She ran her claws through the fur on her head as she peered between the balusters, too short to see over the top of the railing.
Below them pink and silver bedecked royal pages rushed about, carrying pots of flowers, laden trays, and other last minute preparations. A few Earth mages in their rust-red robes milled about near the walls, their magic sending a riot of flowering vines crawling up the walls and pillars.
Cloth rustled behind them and a moment later Sesay joined them, moving to stand on Sels’s other side. Sesay’s petals had been curled and pleated together and she wore a yellow gown accented with rose sequins. A surge of guilt came through the bond as Sesay linked her arm through Sels’s and smiled brightly at him.
<What’s wrong?> Arara sent him through the bond, turning from the amazing sights below to look up at Sels’s face.
Sels glanced at Sesay then down at Arara. <I didn’t tell you this at the time, but Roel had some...conditions... before she would agree to help us save Ottont. One of them was an invitation to this party.>
Arara’s eyes widened and she craned around to look at Sesay, although she kept her mental shields tightly closed. <Sesay doesn’t know, does she?>
<I couldn’t tell her, not after the other night. I’d thought Sesay wanted out of this wedding too, until she kissed me.> A memory came through the bond to her, of him and Sesay making out on Sesay’s couch.
<So Roel will be at the party,> Arara gestured at the ballroom below, <So What? There will be hundreds of people here. Just avoid her.>
Sels looked pained for a moment, although the expression was quickly replaced with his normal court smile. <I also agreed to spend the whole evening with her.>
“Sels,” Sesay smiled and poked his hand lightly. “It’s rude to ignore your date at a party, especially to chat with your bonded.”
“Sorry. How did you know I was talking to Arara, anyway?” Sels turned to Sesay.
“I remember how it was with Recka at first,” her eyes got wistful. “But that must have been quite an intricate discussion for it to have taken you that long.”
“No. Not really.” Arara touched Sels leg and he took a step back so she could see Sesay better.
Sesay’s eyes snapped back to reality and focused on Arara. “Communication with your bonded is almost instantaneous. Or at least it should be. More like,” she waved her free hand, “a melding of minds than a conversation.”
Arara frowned and shared a glance with Sels. “It has been like that a few times,” Arara said, remembering in the garden, as the kwaso leapt towards them; the feeling of being one mind in two bodies. “But lately it has been just like gefiring with another Jegera, just a bit more intimate.”
“So you and Recka share every thought with each other?” Sels asked with a shudder that Arara shared. She couldn’t imagine Sels watching in on her private time with Yegra and knew Sels felt the same about his privacy.
“Of course,” Sesay quirked an eyebrow, gave Sels a warm smile and squeezed his arm. “Now, would you like to share with me what is bothering the both of you? Perhaps I can help.”
Sels closed his eyes and took a deep breath. <I can’t do it, Arara. I’m going to tell her now, before Roel shows up. I’ll apologize; and have the guards turn Roel away at the door.>
<No, you can’t!> A spike of panic went up Arara’s spine and her hackles rose. <What will happen to Ottont if you do?>
<Roel wouldn’t->
<If you snub her like that? I saw her thoughts after we dropped Ottont off. She doesn’t care about him; in fact she might even do it because she knows it will hurt you. If Ottont gets captured they’ll find out soon enough that we orchestrated the breakout.> To push her point home Arara replayed her memory of the execution, the dead Yaka, the jeers of the crowd. <You might be able to get some leniency from the Council for your crimes, but I won’t. I’m just some nobody, a Yaka to be killed like all the rest.>
She could feel Sels trying to find a way around Arara’s arguments and coming up short. Resignation flooded her through the bond. <Fine. Just... help run interference with Sesay. If we can keep her and Recka distracted, perhaps I can get through this in one piece.>
<Alright.>
“Care to share?” Sesay tugged playfully on Sels’s arm and as a group they began making their way down to the ballroom floor.
Sels shook his head no and a few of his vines fell out of his elaborate coif and into his eyes. Sesay stopped him and helped tuck them back into place just as the Queen approached them. Like Sels and Sesay she too was dressed in her a court gown, her vines braided and looped around her head, each positioned just-so.
“Sels, Sesay, good morning,” the Queen smiled at the two of them, her eyes barely glazing over Recka and Arara who stood on either side of the couple.
“Morning, Mother,” Sels replied as Sesay retook his arm. “Where is Tukura?”
“Supervising the placement of the security for the ball.” The Queen looked up to the window. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do myself. As do you.” She gave them a parting smile before catching the attention of a passing page and moving off to talk with them.
“What do we have to do?” Arara asked Recka.
“Our job at this whole affair is simple, keep out of the way and let the Prince and Princess have their day.”
Arara figured she could do that. The next few claw marks were boring, as she and Recka trailed the couple through the hall. Sesay stopped at intervals to give instructions to servants or send messages. Arara took the opportunity to dash off for a moment to ask the guards at the front door to gefir her privately when Roel showed up.
When the first of the guests started to trickle in Sesay and Sels took up position near the head of the room, acting as hosts while graciously fielding well-wishes from the guests. Recka and Arara stood to either side of the couple, acting as a buffer to keep the royals from getting overwhelmed.
Nobles had come from far and wide, from in and out of the Kingdom, in order to celebrate the engagement of the Princess Sesay of the Southern Summer Archipelago to Prince Sels of the Kin-Jegera Empire. Even most of the surrounding towns had sent a representative. Arara’s head spun trying to keep track of everyone; how Sels managed not only to keep it all straight but to greet almost everyone who approached by name was beyond Arara.
As more and more had arrived the hall had filled with Kin and Jegera. So many guests had shown up that the Queen had allowed the party to spill out of the ballroom into the surrounding gardens.
A commotion near the front door caught Arara’s attention even over the din and a moment later the expected gefir arrived. <The Lady Roel is here, and she is demanding that Prince Sels come see her at once.>
<Keep her there, I’ll come talk to her,> Arara sent back.
<Recka, can you cover for me? There is a situation by the door that I need to handle.>
She didn’t wait for a reply but dropped to all fours and minnowed her way through the crowd. Her small size was an advantage in such tight quarters, letting her slip in between and around the knots of people that had congregated throughout the hall. She found Roel waiting impatiently just inside the doors, kept in place by two Jegeran guards who blocked her from further entry with crossed wooden poles. Rather than her usual green Healer robes she wore a blue silk gown with offset shoulders and substandard embroidery around the hem and the sleeves. Among the over-the-top finery of the court it stood out for how plain it was, although Arara knew that in the poorer districts the dress would be considered very elegant.
“Arara, it’s about time,” Roel snapped as Arara trotted up. “I have an invitation, but they won’t let me in. The Prince invited me personally,” Roel said, turning her attention to the guards.
“I’ll take you to Sels, but we need to talk first.” Arara pushed up to two legs, to make it easier to chat, and motioned for the guards to let Roel through.
“First,” Arara said as she led Roel back through the crowd. The going was slower but Arara intended to take full advantage of that time. “How is my friend doing?” she risked cracking her shields a touch, just enough so that she began getting vague impressions of thoughts from those closest to her.
“I assume he’s fine,” Roel shrugged her shoulders, most of her attention diverted as she stared around with wide eyes.
Roel was telling the truth. Arara bit back a sigh. She’d wanted to go visit, but hadn’t dared try in the days since the execution, leading up to the party. The security at the palace had been heightened after the escape. She knew the Queen and Tukura at least suspected her involvement. Tukura had been trailing her almost everywhere and when Tukura had been absent Recka was always nearby.
“Second, remember this is Sels’s engagement party. You will not touch him. You will not flirt with him. Got it?”
“Sels promised me a date.”
“He did not,” Arara tried to keep her tone civil and polite but couldn’t help but growl at the last word. “He promised to show you around the party, nothing more.”
“That is a date.”
Roel was petulant enough that Arara stopped, holding out her paw in front of Roel. She didn’t want to make a scene in front of the curious nobles, who had already started whispering about who the commoner accompanying the sedyu was, but she owed Sels this much at least for helping her to save Ottont. Arara stepped around to face Roel, craning her neck up to look Roel in the eye. Roel was shorter than Sels, not by much, but she was still at least a tail length taller than Arara standing tall on her hind legs.
“You will agree to my terms or you will leave.” She was gambling that Roel, now that she was here would be reluctant to leave just to prove a point.
Roel frowned and nodded her agreement, although from her thoughts she didn’t intend to keep that promise.
Arara huffed, but was reluctant to call Roel on her intended duplicity. Instead she moved aside and resumed leading Roel towards the Prince. She’d warned Roel, so she’d done her part. If she did come on to Sels and Sesay threw her out, she wouldn’t be able to blame either Sels or Arara; at least in theory.
*****
SELS NERVOUSLY TRACKED Arara and Roel’s progress through the ballroom out of the corner of his eye. Sesay hadn’t yet spotted Roel, as she was engaged with chatting with one of the members of the Council and his family, but it was only a matter of time.
“Sesay, sorry to interrupt but it’s important,” Sels said as the conversation lulled.
Sesay gave him a smile, made her goodbyes, and stepped to his side. Sels laced his arm through hers and steered her away, making sure her back was to Roel and Arara’s approach.
They moved through the crowd in silence for a moment. “What is it?”
Sels took a deep breath and tried to figure out how he was going to spin this to Sesay. “I may have invited Roel to the ball.”
Sesay pulled him to a stop next to one of the pillars and went rigid on his arm. “You,” she sputtered, lowering her head. “When?”
“Before you showed me how you felt. I thought, well, I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry.” Sels felt himself flushing. Around them gaily dressed party goers laughed and chatted, making Sels feel even worse for having ruined Sesay’s good time.
“She’s here, isn’t she? That’s where Arara rushed off to.” Sesay’s head was still lowered but Sels could hear the anguish in her voice.
“Yes.”
Sesay looked up, un-shed tears filling her eyes. “So, she’s here. Fine. Let her stay; enjoy the food and the company. There are enough people here we can go the whole day without seeing her.”
“It’s not that easy,” Sels cursed, wishing that it was.
“It is that easy, Sels,” Sesay glared at him as a tear ran a line down her cheek.
Conversation around hushed as people turned to see the Prince and Princess arguing. Arara and Roel emerged from the crowd and Roel caught his eye with a smile.
Sels felt torn in two. He’d known Sesay almost his entire life. The marriage arrangement had never seemed real to him; something in the far future that would never happen. In fact, Sesay had even encouraged him in his first awkward fumbling encounters with pretty girls. He’d thought it meant she didn’t like him but he was beginning to see it was to help him gain confidence, something that he’d always struggled with because of his lack of magic. But seeing her so upset made him realize she was special to him and he was loath to hurt her.
But if he snubbed Roel he would be jeopardizing Ottont and the last connection that Arara had to her Yaka heritage. Ottont could provide Arara with training like he was getting from Elric. As Arara got closer their bond intensified, and he could feel her in his head, telling him to get on with it already.
“Sesay, I care about you, but I made a promise to Roel,” Sels pulled his arm free of Sesay’s grip. Sesay followed his gaze to Roel, her face hardening. “I just need to give her a quick tour, introduce her to a few people, and then I’ll be right back to spend the rest of the ball with you.”
Roel smirked as Sels moved towards them. His plan was to catch Arara and Roel before they were all the way to the pillar, to prevent Sesay from having to talk to Roel. But Sesay followed him, lifting her skirts to move faster. She got to Roel and Arara a moment before he did, and before he could do anything Sesay and Roel were face to face.
“Roel, why are you here?” Sesay’s fury was almost palatable. Roel faltered, glancing at Sels and then at Sesay.
“I was invited,” Roel recovered a bit, lifting her chin and locking eyes with Sesay.
“I’ll explain later,” Sels’s hand trembled as he reached for Sesay and grabbed her elbow, trying to gently draw her away. “Please, just trust me, Saywyn.” He said her true name softly into her ear.
Sesay shot him a look that would freeze lakes. Sels flinched but didn’t let go.
“Fine, do whatever you’d like. Have fun.” Sesay shook off his hand and spun away, marching off with Recka trailing behind her.
Sels stared after her, barely noticing when Roel moved up to his side and took his hand.
“Shall we dance?”
He allowed Roel to lead him away onto the dance floor. Hushed whispers followed them as they danced. Sels kept reminding himself that this was for the greater good. Piled bodies and glassy eyes kept invading his thoughts; he couldn’t let Ottont end up like the rest.
Roel kept up a steady stream of conversation as Sels led her through the court dances. Sels didn’t even try to keep up with what she was saying, as most of it was commenting on the gaily dressed dancers around them, the decorations, or other frivolities. He nodded and smiled, faking interest as best he could through the fog that had descended on his thoughts.
Whenever he looked at Roel she seemed to morph into Sesay, complete with the last look she had given him. The disappointment in her eyes and the genuine sorrow in the downward turn of her mouth twisted him inside like a knife to the stomach. The very thought of food made him feel sick. Thankfully Roel hadn’t seemed to notice or care about his distraction or lack of appetite.
They left the dance floor so that she could peruse the selection at the buffet. When she was done eating, Sels filtered around the room, Roel still hanging off of his arm. No one mentioned Sesay’s absence or commented when he introduced Roel, but he couldn’t help but notice the dark looks.
Finally as the afternoon faded into twilight the party began to wind down.
“This has been a magical day, Sels.” Roel leaned into him as she looked up at the darkening sky. “I hate to end it, but I need to get back to the clinic.”
“You are sincerely welcome, Roel, and I want you know how much I appreciate what you are doing for my friend.”
“About that,” Roel pulled a scrap of paper from her sleeve. “Your friend is ready to receive guests. He can be found here.” She slipped it discretely into Sels’s palm.
In his head he could feel Arara perking up. <Ottont!>
“Thank you,” Sels lifted Roel’s hand and kissed the back of it. “Let me walk you back to your carriage, my lady.”
Roel giggled and blushed an attractive shade of emerald as she leaned forward. Sels leaned in to kiss her on the mouth, but the glow of the setting sun turned her pale white petals pink, reminding him of Sesay. Instead he planted a chaste kiss on her cheek and offered her his arm.
