Zarkon had not stepped foot on Nalquod in decaphoebs. This avoidance wasn't out of a sense of dislike. It just felt awkward.
The Galra and the Merpeople had been at war for hundreds of decaphoebs before the alliance was tentatively formed. While relations between the two planets had greatly improved with the assistance of the other three major members of their treatise, there remained bitter feelings on both sides. Zarkon was ashamed to admit that these feelings were not unjustified.
His people's long history of conquest and war was a confusing mess of invasions, crossed borders, and the occasional blood fuel. Only the rare Galran scholar possessed the expertise to sort through it all and cobble together a proper history. In regards to the war with Nalquod, the scholars were quite clear that t had been Daibazaal's Emperor Grepo who'd invaded first.
With this in mind, Zarkon feared that his visit to Nalquod might not be unanimously well received. It didn't help that the last time he'd visited the planet had been as an invader. A clear enemy and threat.
Gyrgan and Trigel's worlds were all too familiar. Their worlds had been allies with Daibazaal since before Zarkon took the throne. Altea, as the planet spearheading the alliance, had also become a place of great familiarity to the emperor.
Nalquod, by comparison, carried memories of war and battle. A fact that set Zarkon's instincts on edge against his will. It didn't help that there were… cultural differences.
"I assure you, sire," the Nalquodian diplomat couldn't hide his exasperation, "it is entirely safe for children. In fact, they tend to enjoy it."
He held up a curled shell, as thought offering it for inspection. Supposedly, the contraption created a special bubble that could process the oxygen in the surrounding water to allow any non-Mer to breath underwater. A necessary convenience for visitors since all of Nalquods major settlements were under the waves.
Normally, Zarkon would have accepted the offered convenience with only a passing bit of hesitation, but in this case…
Zarkon spoke in a calm but stern voice, "No."
The Merman sighed and looked to Honerva for assistance. However she didn't play up.
"I have used them myself while on Nalquod before." She spoke slowly as though unsure of what she was saying, "but I haven't read anything about its use on infants."
The diplomat deflated, clearly exasperated by what was, in his view, the unwillingness of these visitors to accept an obvious solution to a simple problem. They need only set the child in the water, allow him to apply the bubble, and then they could all have been on their merry way.
It seemed the stereotype was true. Galra really were impossible when it came to their children.
Deeming it pointless to try and argue further, the Merman lowered the shell and stepped back into the water.
"Very well," he sighed, "I shall go and fetch out procession and we will conduct the meeting… on land."
He spoke the words as though he was suggesting they eat off the floor and dove into the waves.
Zarkon growled at the retreating figure, and allowed his grip on Honerva's shoulder to finally relax.
"He was certainly persistent." Honerva muttered voicing her distaste. "I would have assumed they had better manners than that."
Words of agreement hovered on Zarkon's lips. Something along the lines of not being able to expect discipline from the same people who'd produced Blaytz. But he managed to restrain himself.
This was supposed to be a happy occasion to celebrate both the birth of a Galran prince, as well as the long desired peace between their people. Zarkon didn't dare lose his temper. He couldn't afford to.
"Okay, Nemor, let's go over this again." Blaytz sighed, trying his best not to slam his face into the nearby rock formation, "this time with less… indignation?"
The other Merman snorted, "They are refusing to come down here. It's completely disrespectful."
"I thought we had all agreed that we were gonna meet them on the shore?"
Nemor made a disgusted noise.
Blaytz groaned, "Look, you don't have to go if you don't want to, but this is the first time Zarkon's come to Nalquod in… awhile. We want this to go well. So as long as we don't do anything to offend- Oh quiznak why are you making that expression?!"
The other Merman's tail twitched uncomfortably under Blaytz's gaze, "They did not respond well to the bubbling."
"Really? But I'd have thought Honerva would be all for that."
Nemor's gills flared nervously, "I, uh, I-I didn't offer it to her."
"Oh, well Zarkon is kinda a stick in the mud. But since he's never done this before I guess I can't really blame him." Blaytz laughed and patted Nemor on the shoulder.
"I didn't offer it to him either."
"But you said they said no."
Nemor didn't meet his eyes.
"You DID ask them right?"
Nemor nodded, but still didn't reply.
"You didn't… try and bubble the baby did you?"
The Merman's face drained of color, "Is… is that bad?"
Blaytz's gills filtered a deep breath of water, "If by 'bad' you mean that you were lucky Zarkon didn't toss you into the water bound to a boulder, then yes, this could be very very bad."
The paladin groaned and rubbed his temples.
Why couldn't they get this right? Not a year or so ago, they'd had the same exact issue with Princess Allura. Alfor had been polite about the whole thing in that terrifying way of his, and they'd managed to finish the encounter in a way that made all the Merpeople involved view the whole thing a resounding success.
Only Blaytz, and a few others, had been left ramming their heads against the side of the nearest reef.
The problem wasn't that his people were particularly thick, bad mannered, or even undisciplined as Zarkon liked to think. It was just that Merpeople were… different. A fact that Blaytz only really learned when he went into space for the very first time.
Most planets, as it turned out, weren't mostly water. Most technologically advanced species had not developed in aquatic environments. And most space faring civilizations didn't have most of their major settlements on their home planet under the waves.
In fact, in all these ways, Nalquod was quite unique. A fact that was both a major advantage, as well as a disadvantage.
Their strange anatomy and underwater civilization was credited with why they had managed to fight off the Galra for so long with their limited technology. Just the sheer depths of their underwater world made for an intimidating unexplorable landscape for a people who were used to fighting on land. Then once the alteans got involved, the Merpeople were given the technological advancement to go toe to toe with the Galra on the land masses of their own home planet as well as others. Once the war was over, however, Nalquods strange and unique way of life had proven to be something of a stumbling block.
Like children for example.
Mer children could swim immediately from the moment they were born, and developed extremely quickly from there. Something that greatly differed from how altean and Galran children functioned. Even how they raised their children seemed to differ.
Both Galran and altean children were helpless for decaphoebs after their birth, requiring the constant guidance and protection of their parents. Mer children, on the other hand, could more or less navigate and communicate a mere few phoebs after being born, and looking after and educating them was largely a collective effort of a community rather than just the individual parents.
Blaytz had learned all of this and more through his adventures with Alfor and the others. It had all been such an enlightening experience, that he'd been excited to come home and share them all with his people. But when he did…
Merpeople were not unsociable by nature. Quite the opposite in fact. But when they had opened their doors to the universe for the first time, and they ended up with invaders on their step, that had rather colored their opinions on the ways of offworlders.
In a way his role as the representative of Nalquod for the whole alliance was something of a curse. He knew things about the universe now that he had never imagined thinking about before. Things about other planets, their systems of governance, and, most interestingly, all the people who made it all up.
The other Mer couldn't quite understand the change. Being one of the few people to ever leave Nalquod had always made them view Blaytz as something of an odd fish. But ever since he'd become a paladin they had begun to view him more and more as an eccentric.
It made him think about one of those hypothetical philosophical things he'd come across on earth. Something about a bunch of humans in a cave. Now that he knew about the universe, he couldn't go back to the old days in the shallows when the night sky was just a thick black slate with pearls stuck in it, rather than an entire system of interconnected peoples, cultures, wars, and treaties. He wasn't sure he wanted to go back.
"He's not… not going to… do something is he?" Nemor asked, sounding frightened. "I didn't mean to insult them. They're so… so sensitive."
Blaytz was tempted to reprimand him. Another person's sensitivity was hardly an excuse for one's own insensitivity. He decided against it. There would be time to sit everyone down and explain just what exactly they'd all managed to do wrong later. For now there was patching up to be done.
"Go on back to the palace." Blaytz instructed trying to sound as strict as possible, "I'll patch things up with Zarkon and handle the gift."
He then paused and added, "And be sure not to tell anyone about your unfortunate slip up. You've got a long career ahead of you in Queen Luxia's court, and I'd hate for her to think that you were unreliable."
It wasn't the most truthful way to handle things. Luxia would most definitely not have appreciated him using her name to finagle things in this way, but Blaytz had to make sure Nemor didn't go around complaining about Zarkon having an attitude. There were other Merpeople in the depths who'd be more than indignant if they thought the Galran emperor was anything but demure about being on their planet for the first time since the war.
Better to let Nemor think that wagging his tongue would risk his good standing, than let him unintentionally begin an intergalactic incident.
Thankfully the maneuver worked and the younger Merman paled. "Y-Yes sir. Thank you sir. I-I'll be going then."
As he started swimming away Blaytz called after him, "Be sure to send the procession up once you get there! We don't want to keep our guests waiting."
Nemor nodded before making a beeline into the depths. Once he was out of sight, Blaytz sighed and turned towards the surface. It wouldn't take them long to gather everything up and start heading to the shore. At most he had maybe half an hour to make sure Zarkon wasn't rattled, and calm him down if he was.
He had wanted this to go well, and already things were getting off to a rough start. Though he and his would be leader often disagreed, Blaytz was fond of Zarkon. He didn't know if it was because they had fought in so many battles together, or if simply being forced into each other's general proximity had somehow endeared the emperor to him, but their relationship had gone from merely one of convenience to a companionship Blaytz was surprised to find he was happy to have.
He didn't want all that ruined by an unintended instance of cultural miscommunication.
"He's not holding him." Zarkon muttered as they watched Blaytz make his way up the beach towards them.
Honerva sighed. She would need to get used to Zarkon's little idiosyncrasies when it came to Lotor.
Really, his protectiveness was something she found endlessly endearing. Seeing him deal with Lotor with the same rare gentle softness that he normally only reserved for her filled Honerva with a warm feeling that reminded her of just why she'd fallen in love with him. The only problem was that he was so unwilling to acknowledge the fact.
Whenever she hinted as much to him, he would always suddenly become evasive or deny having any feelings of the kind. It was his pride, she was sure. To someone like Zarkon, being identified as one of those overprotective doting fathers was something to be embarrassed about.
"Oh come now. You let both Gyrgan and Trigel hold him."
"Yes," Zarkon hissed, "but I haven't seen either of them drop a priceless antique vase in front of its owner. We were on the run for so long that I ended up arriving home three days late."
Honerva paused at that before giving a nod, "Point made. But what do we do if he asks?"
"I will handle that."
They pulled their heads apart as Blaytz arrived, breathing hard from having hurried down the beach.
"Okay," he breathed, "what happened?"
"Your servant tried to drown my son." Zarkon deadpanned, "Outside of that nothing."
"First off Nemor's NOT my servant, secondly he wasn't actively trying to drown your son, and third," here Blaytz gave a sigh," thank you for not killing him."
"I did not think it would be diplomatic."
"And you were right. Oh so very very right." Blaytz sighed again, rather relieved that Zarkon hadn't taken the incident as an excuse to get into one of his moods. "I, uh, I apologize for him. To be honest, they should've sent someone a bit more experienced with off worlders. Unfortunately that wasn't really MY call to make, so whoever was in charge probably just picked whatever willing young Mer seemed available at the time. So it wasn't something that was done on purpose or anything."
At least, that was what Blaytz hoped.
He had enough things to worry about on the diplomacy front without incompetent attempts at social sabotage.
"Well whoever IS in charge of those appointments needs to be removed in favor of someone with more sense." Honerva said scathingly. "Your diplomacy leave a lot to be desired."
This was harsh criticism coming from an altean, and Blaytz couldn't help but physically deflate at her words. It was precisely what he'd been dreading. Zarkon and Honerva were good people, but they were mercilessly critical at the same time.
Blaytz wasn't an autocrat by birth, nor had he been trained as a soldier or any kind of politician. This made him rather inexperienced in his current career as a diplomat.
His original career had greatly prepared him for his life as the blue paladin. However, Blaytz assumed that being a former privateer wasn't something he should advertise to Nalquods political allies. Lest they get the wrong idea about how Merpeople typically did things.
"I'll be sure they understand that." He managed as he prayed for the powers that be to send down some kind of divine intervention to spare him from this scrutiny.
At least one god must have heard his plea because it was at that moment that the child in Honerva's arms chose to start getting fussy. Blaytz almost jumped at the sound. With all these worries plaguing his mind, he'd somehow managed to forget the whole point of this meeting.
He immediately welcomed the change in subject.
"And who is this?" He asked leaning towards the boy.
In response, the babe moved closer to Honerva while keeping a curious, if watchful, eye on Blaytz.
Zarkon begrudgingly allowed Blaytz to slither out of the conversation and decided the sooner they got this over and done with the better.
"It is my honor, Blaytz of Nalquod, to introduce you to my son and heir, Prince Lotor." He spoke with a stately flourishly gesture towards his son to help somehow make the whole thing feel more official. It would have been better with an audience but as it was…
Blaytz stared at the child. Lotor stared back.
Zarkon stood by awkward as Blaytz continued to stare. Trigel and Gyrgan had been more prompt with their responses than this. As practiced leaders and diplomats they had a lot of technical and social expectations they could fall back on.
Blaytz was neither of those things. Anything he'd say in response to the sight of his son would be his honest raw first impression.
This made Zarkon more nervous than he cared to admit. He wasn't sure he'd be able to hide his anger if Blayts made ay disparaging remarks about Lotor's appearance. He'd heard enough o that sort of talk from well meaning officials who phrased it all in the most polite and indirect way they could muster.
It was beginning to embarrass him. Not that Zarkon dared to share that particular feeling with Honerva. He didn't dare share it with anyone.
"He's got blue eyes." Blaytz observed, "And white hair."
"Yes," Honerva replied with a sense of interest, "to be honest it's rather fascinating genetically speaking. I can only guess that they're recessive altean genes on my part. Although neither of my parents-"
"Yes, yes." Blaytz cut her off before she could get started. Most of the mothers he'd met didn't get quite so technical when it came to boasting about their babies. Considering that this was Honvera however, he chalked it up as being very much in character. "Just saying, he seems to have inherited his mother's looks. Which can only mean he'll probably end up taking after his father in personality."
Zarkon let out a breath. Though he doubted Blaytz had meant the last comment as a compliment, it was nonetheless an encouraging thing to hear.
"Can I hold him?"
"No." Both Honerva and Zarkon replied suddenly.
They stopped and glanced at each other. Not wanting to appear rude, Honerva immediately began listing excuses.
"He does not like strangers."
"Well, he'll have to get used to me eventually."
"He drools. He will drool all over your lovely vestments."
Blaytz glanced at the endless ocean of water from which he'd come, "I think I'll be okay."
"He- well, you see he… he…" Honerva floundered.
"He BITES." Zarkon said baring his own rows of sharp teeth in a rather aggressive smile. "Hard."
That gave the Merman reason to pause. He watched as Lotor reached out for the necklace around his mother's neck. His jaw moving in anticipation.
"On second thought, I'm still a bit damp from the sea. Might be best if you hang on to him for now."
Zarkon hummed in response. It was lucky Blaytz hadn't seen just how gummy Lotor's mouth actually was. Or if he had, it hadn't made the potential bite any less appealing.
"Maybe we should just move along." Blaytz said as he looked at the shore.
The procession still hat yet to arrive. A good thing really. Their conversation had successfully calmed Zarkon's initial indignation, but he was still far from being in a good mood.
Deciding that a bit of ceremonial bribery was in order, Blaytz reached into a satchel he'd taken with him to the shore and drew out something wrapped in some green plant material. He wanted Zarkon in a positive state of mind when the other Merpeople arrived and figured this was his best bet to get him into such a mood. If this failed, he was just going to have to pray for the best.
Due to their friendship, Queen Luxia had left the choosing and giving of the gift to Blaytz. Mostly in the hopes that his recent experience with Galran culture would assist in choosing something suitable. He had thought long and hard on exactly what a stolid Galran traditionalist like Zarkon would think of as a decent gift for a newborn baby, and had arranged things accordingly.
Now if he could just remember the words…
"Alright so, uh… Prince Lotor this is a gift to celebrate you being born and to, hopefully, ensure a long lasting alliance between our people."
Even as he spoke he could tell by Zarkon's expression that it wasn't the right thing to say. However, he seemed more willing to be lax with Blaytz's unofficial behavior today than he normally would have been.
Blaytz glanced down at the baby boy who was still staring at him intently.
If this is how he acts when you're around, Blaytz thought suppressing a smirk, I think I might end up liking you kid.
Zarkon accepted the package with an unreadable expression.
"Thank you." He said politely before turning his attention to the gift.
It had been the first time on this trip that one of the gifts had been wrapped. Zarkon didn't count the chest Trigel had placed the model in given that that was more of a means of presentation. This manner of giving rather reminded Zarkon of those packages of contraband they would find on illegal trading ships rather than a ceremonial gift between peoples. He somehow doubted Blaytz saw it that way though.
The package was rather hefty despite its small size, only fitting within the palm of Zarkon's hand. It was too small to be something as big as Gyrgan's blanket, but shape wasn't off enough to be something strange like Trigel's gift (or mistaken gift as the case may be). He was feeling rather apprehensive about what might lie under the wraps of fibrous sea plant.
"Aren't you gonna open it?" Blaytz asked.
"Ah, yes. Of course I am. I was just wondering if… we should wait for the procession?" He asked buying time.
Blaytz shrugged, "Don't worry about it."
Zarkon sighed in annoyance but nonetheless began unwrapping the package, preparing himself for the worst. As the last fold was pulled away something tumbled out from the material into his open hand. He stared at it in surprise.
"So?" Blaytz began trying to prevent his nervousness from creeping into his voice, "What do you think?"
Honerva stared at the thing in Zarkons hand, "Is that a knife?!"
"Uh… yes? I mean, Gyrgan said it's technically supposed to be a sword or something, but since it was short notice I figured it'd be easier to go with something a bit-"
"You're giving a knife," Honerva said coldly, "to a baby?!"
Blaytz shrunk under her glare. "I feel I may have made a cultural misstep somewhere along the way."
Honerva's misgivings faded into the background of Zarkon's mind as he absorbed the meaning in this gesture. He hadn't really expected any of his allies to act on any Galran gifting ceremonies. Politically it sent a clearer message to use their own planets traditions than his own.
Especially since the blade ceremony was a gifting tradition geared towards expecting parents rather than ones who'd recently given birth. Clearly something had gotten lost in translation when Blaytz had asked about it. However it was unexpectedly thoughtful given how little Zarkon himself knew about Nalquods culture. The fact that it was a legitimately well made blade only increased his appreciation. Honerva on the other hand...
"While I do appreciate the intent we are NOT giving our infant son a blade. Right dear?"
Zarkon was on the spot now. Both of them were looking at him expectantly. He'd missed most of the conversation but he could imagine that it had likely consisted of his wife expressing her forceful disapproval as Blaytz feebly defended himself. Now HE was expected to settle the issue.
"Uh, well…" Zarkon glanced down at the knife. It really wasn't ideal to give to him now but perhaps in the future…
"It does seem to be more symbolic than literal darling." Honerva frowned in disapproval causing Zarkon to hurry along, "that being said, we will naturally give it a place of honor somewhere prominent and in a very high, difficult to reach place, where it will remain until he is much much older. If he needs it at all."
Honerva huffed, "Naturally, if that's the way you wish it then I have no choice but to go along with it."
He sighed, "Beloved-"
But it was too late. Honerva had already turned away.
"Lotor and I are going to go wait on the procession by the shore. You two can catch up."
Zarkon's quiet protests fell on deaf ears as his wife flounced off with their son looking back over her shoulder.
The two men watched her go helplessly.
"It… It was a long trip." Zarkon said as a means of excuse.
Blaytz sighed as he took a seat on a nearby rock. "I screwed it up. Queen Luxia left this to me, and I screwed it up."
Zarkon took a seat next to him.
"How did you know about the blade ceremony? I have never mentioned it."
"I asked Gyrgan and Trigel. They've been allied with you for longer than I have so I figured they could help with a thing or two." Blaytz explained. "Trigel never picked up, but Gyrgan said something about some sword giving ceremony. He was really vague about the details though."
"Evidently." Zarkon mused dryly. "It is supposed to be given before the child is born. As a gesture of strength and protection."
"Oh. Sooo giving it to you now?"
"Likely would carry the same connotation as the majority of other civilization. That is… not good."
"Quiznak."
"Yes. You are fortunate it was me and not another. I can't guarantee you'd have kept your head."
Blaytz peered at him with a cautionary expression.
"Then why aren't YOU mad? I'd have thought you'd have at least been slightly miffed."
Zarkon straightened his back and crossed his arms, "Because I know you Blaytz of Nalquod. Though you lack discipline and are, frankly, capable of great insensitivity you would not threaten a newborn with violence. Especially not through some archaic symbolic gesture. Besides," Zarkon's shoulders relaxed. "It was a kind gesture. And a well made blade."
"Oh"
Blaytz head fins perked up. He hadn't expected this. A disgruntled thanks or a lack of complaint was all he thought he could hope for. Not something as sincere, if a little gruff, as this.
"Thank you." His voice dripped with appreciation. "That… actually means a lot coming from you."
Zarkon tried to come up with a suitable reply but was interrupted by a sudden commotion from the shoreline.
"Oh that must be the-" Blaytz began but stopped as Zarkon suddenly launched himself up and shot for the shoreline in an undefinable blur, "-procession?"
He watched as the blur moved over and between the stone that made up the Nalquodian coast, only stopping when it reached where Honerva was standing and pulling her back away from the shore. Blaytz couldn't help but give a smile at that. Stiff and uptight though he may be, he certainly could never accuse Zarkon of being an uncaring husband.
As the water a few feet out surged with movement, Blaytz casually made his way down to the shore. Becoming rather amused with the protective way Zarkon pushed his wife and child back while reaching for a sword that wasn't actually there. The idea that swords had no place in diplomatic debate was still something of a fresh concept to his hard lined warrior instincts, and a few mental wires were probably getting crossed.
Since he was the diplomatic representative of Nalquod in this situation, Blaytz knew it was his duty to set the Emperor's nerves at ease and make him feel welcome in the face of the dozen or so Merpeople that were about to rise from the depths. But whether it was the embarrassment he'd set on himself, his unexpectedly friendly talk with Zarkon, or the fact that he was just finding that the more traditional methods of the intergalactic representative just didn't work for him; Blaytz wasn't in the mood to play along.
Instead, he did what he might have done back before they were leaders tentatively trying to hold together a peace, before they were paladins, or heroes even.
Blaytz pulled a spare bit of driftwood out from between some rocks and poked Zarkon in the side of the helmet with it.
"Look alive, fearless leader." He said as Zarkon turned to scowl at him, "You're about to meet the queen."
They all watched as the violent movement of the waves produced bubbles, then heads, and, finally, the torsos of Queen Luxia and her accompaniment. They stopped at the shoreline, and the guards in the front bowed in greeting, the lower halves of their bodies still under the waves.
A smart decision as far as Blaytz was concerned. Honerva and Zarkon may have been of the scientific turn of mind, but even they likely wouldn't want to watch the complex and unappealing process of fins splitting into legs. If they intended to come ashore at all.
Luxia came forward toward the shore with only a slight pause of hesitation before she spoke, "I, Queen Luxia, welcome you to Nalquod; Emperor Zarkon, Empress Honerva, and…?"
She paused as her eyes searched for something. Eventually she glanced at Blaytz with the vaguest suggestion of a request for assistance. Blaytz tipped his head towards Honerva while making informal gestures with his arms.
Luxia blinked and then looked at Honerva. Then lowered her eyes slightly. Then she stared.
Luxia had never really seen alien children Lotor's age. Mer-children Lotor's age were in school by now. Blaytz had tried to explain it to the queen but she had struggled with the concept. However she rallied magnificently.
"-and the young prince."
"It is an honor." Zarkon said with a hand in a salute over his chest.
"You seem to be well." Luxia commented safefly. "I have not seen you since we… signed the treaty."
"I remember. You too seem to be well." Zarkon paused, unsure of how to continue.
"I have not had the honor to meet your wife." Luxia said helpfully.
Honerva looked relieve to be included.
"Honerva," she said extending her hand, "i have studied on Nalquod. It was an enlightening experience."
Luxia took her hand, not noticing the way Honerva's lip twitched at the feel of her clammy damp skin.
"I am happy to hear that. We do pride ourselves on our hospitality."
Zarkon opened his mouth to say something (likely unflattering) but shut it again as Blaytz dug an elbow in his side.
"And how are you enjoying your stay?" Luxia asked…
… addressing the baby.
A long silence followed, save for the sound of Blaytz sucking in air through his gills and slapping his face.
Luxia blinked, "Is… he shy?"
"He can't speak yet." Zarkon said bluntly, though not unkindly.
"O-oh," Luxia flushed in embarrassment, "I am… so sorry. I did not know."
"It is alright." Honerva soothed shooting her husband a disapproving look.
In response, Zarkon did his best to look sheepish.
Luxia leaned in close. Lotor moved further into his mother's chest, as he often did with strangers, and whispered very slightly. Zarkon, in a way so slight that even he didn't noticed, moved in and loomed. Not menacingly but in a way that reminded everyone present that he was there and at least a head taller than everyone else.
"He is very cute." The queens said pulling back. "I apologize. I've never seen off world children this small."
"Understandable." Honerva smiled and discreetly used her free hand to un-loom her husband, at least slightly, while refraining to mention how unusual Lotor was even off world, "hopefully you'll have more chances in the future."
"Perhaps," Luxia said noncommittally, "if this state of affairs continues."
Zarkon didn't know why he spoke. Only the vaguest feeling that if he didn't speak, then something would slip through their fingers. Something, some chance, that would never come again.
"They will. I-... WE will ensure it."
It wasn't the most inspiring thing he'd ever said. He'd done much better in the face of much more dire odds. You couldn't be bad at public speaking when you ruled over a race of warriors and had to get them all to do what YOU wanted at the drop of a helmet.
However, the effect was unexpected effective.
Luxia actually smiled at him. Not just diplomatically or politely, but sincerely. Her attendants even relaxed somewhat.
Blaytz certainly let out a held breath that he pretended not to hear.
"In that case consider this a token of my promise to do all that I can do make this last."
Before either Zarkon or Honerva could ask what she meant, Luxia dove beneath the water. After a short while she emerged holding something in her hand.
"On behalf of myself and my people, I want to gift you this."
"But…" Zarkon glanced at Blaytz who, judging by his expression, had no idea what was going on.
"Yes, I know." Luxia said somewhat guiltily. "I must confess that we- that I have been making Blaytz carry the responsibility of sustaining our alliances."
"Really?" Honerva's polite reservations gave way to honesty. "But he's not exactly trained is he? I mean there are rocks with more diplomatic sense."
Blaytz looked offended. "I am right here!"
"I know but he DOES know a lot about the universe. More than I do. He does well, despite lacking training. He's also," if possible Luxia looked even more guilty, "well, he's your friend isn't he?"
Zarkon stared at her not comprehending. Then it sunk in. He took in a breath.
He couldn't lose his temper. Not here. Not now. Besides, wouldn't he have taken advantage of such a thing himself?
But he hadn't. She had. She'd used Blaytz to get a foothold in broadening their relationship with Daibazaal, and it worked.
"If it's any consolation," Blaytz whispered, "it's not really news to me. I mean I was upset when I figured it out but…" This was more important.
The words went unspoken but the meaning was there. They didn't really make Zarkon feel better. He took them to heart nonetheless.
"The fact is," Luxia explained, "that I have been neglecting my duties as Nalquods leader. No more though."
She offered the thing in her hand to Zarkon and Honerva.
"So consider this a gift to honor your heir, a hope for the future of our peoples, an offering of apology for my negligence, and, potentially, the start of a new friendship."
Honerva took the thing and held it in her hand. It was some kind of shell.
"It's a kind of undersea creature." Luxia explained. "It creates a kind of jewel by…"
Here she paused. They didn't really need the nitty gritty details.
"... well it creates a jewel. We have a word for it in our ancient language but you couldn't be able to pronounce it. You need gills you see. Another people we have recently contacted have a similar lifeform that makes a similar jewel. They call it a uhm, a-" She snapped her fingers. "Oh! Pearl. They call them pearls."
We know what pearls are. Zarkon wanted to say. But he held off.
Honerva held it up and tried to peer through the crack in the shell.
"A pearl? How do you get it out?"
"You must crack it open. But not yet. Keep it in some water until the time comes."
"What time is that?"
Luxia paused. "On Nalquod we give them to our children and then open them when they come of age. I know that is much longer for you then for us but the pearl should still be fine."
Honerva looked at the thing with a renewed interest.
"The color of the pearl tells us something about our children's life and future. So when your Lotor comes of age be sure to crack it open."
"How will we know what it means?"
"You can ask us." Luxia gave them a shrewd smile. "I am certain we will still be on good terms then?"
"She's good." Honerva said after Luxia and all the other Merpeople had left. "A little rough, but impressive considering your people haven't broadened their alliances in some time."
"Y-yes." Blaytz responded distractedly. He was still eyeing the very silent Zarkon. "Your not still mad are you?"
"It was very cheeky." He huffed.
"Well… maybe a little. But that's only cause you made a good impression on her! She knew you could handle it. To be honest I've been having a helluva time convincing everyone you wouldn't fly off the handle at the minorest provocation."
Zarkon looked offended, "You know very well how I handle myself."
"Yeah." Blaytz said drying, "I do."
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
"You DO lose your temper fairly easily dear." Honerva added constructively. "Though of course your not nearly as violent about it as some might think."
Zarkon looked at her feeling betrayed, "My own wife."
Blaytz added, "Oh and your perpetually grumpy. Not to mention bossy, arrogant, lacking in volume control-"
"Enough!" Zarkon boomed indignantly. "Stop this nonsense!"
Blaytz and Honerva snorted before laughing good naturedly at their proven points. Only Lotor failed to laugh along.
"At least someone here loves me" Zarkon huffed as he took up his son into his hands.
Despite being huffy, he really was happy things seemed to have gone well. This whole 'era of peace' thing was still new to himself and the rest of the Galra. Their whole society had been based around warfare since before they'd become starfarers.
They weren't warmongers. At least not what Zarkon thought of as a warmonger. Peace was certainly an idea amongst their people. It just hadn't been considered an attainable idea.
Every time they got close something would ruin it. Someone would invade, some coup would kick up, the emperor would be assassinated, the emperor would assassinate someone else, and then they'd be back at someone's throat. It had always gone on like that.
And it would happen again if something wasn't done.
Once Zarkon kicked it, the empire would be up for grabs. People who enjoyed the old ways would make plans. Their alliances would fall apart, war would kick up, and Lotor and Honerva would be…
Zarkon ran his thumb over the top of Lotor's head.
He wasn't going to let that happen.