Author's note: Yup. That's right. Two updates at once. Neat, huh? Don't get used to it, though. Once again, review! Or Fanoc and Kerbris will get you.
Chapter 3
The Royal Tailor's name was Mike. Kerbris sighed as Mike measured him. "Do I have to dress up?" "Yes, you do" came the reply from Fanoc, who was standing just out of the way. "Then why aren't you up here?" "I, unlike most others, carry my formal wear with me." "You're aggravating, you know that?" "You have mentioned that before." "Arrghhh!" "Please don't fidget." Mike warned. Kerbris grumbled some more as Mike kept measuring.
"Hey, could somebody zip me?" Kyra asked. A lady-in-waiting stepped forward and performed the task. "Thanks." Kyra observed herself in the mirror. 'Not bad.' Who was asking you? 'You, believe it or not.' I doubt it. 'Doubt it all you want, dearie. I know you wanted my opinion.' Arrghhh! 'Don't be mad just because I know you better than you know yourself.' I am not mad. 'Whatever you say, dearie.' Ohhhh, I hate you. 'That's ok. I don't mind a bit.' Kyra made a rude noise. 'There is no need for that kind of language.' Go back to whatever mind hole you crawled out of. 'Fine, fine, I'll go. I do like the dress, though.' Kyra sighed. I better not have to wear high-heeled shoes.
"Daddy, the royal parties are so boring. I don't want to go." These words came from the mouth of a green-eyed, brownish red haired teenage girl of slightly below average height and well-fleshed build. Jack, who was standing next to her, replied "Adumi, sweetie, I know you don't like the royal parties and normally I wouldn't dream of asking you. But Kyra has come and she has brought some like her and I. Adumi's eyes grew wide. "You mean, Dragoons?" "Yes, my daughter." "Ohhh, I can't wait! Page? Where's my best dress? I need it for the party tonight." Jack left his daughter arguing with several servants as to the location of the dress in question, a smile on his face.
Fanoc stood in the main ballroom looking out the window in his "formal wear". It was a man's kimono with ocean designs on it. Ghenga sidled up to him. "Yes?" he said. She replied "I am…uncomfortable with this." Fanoc turned and looked at her. She still wore her traveler's clothes. "Ah, I see. You want some clothes for the evening." "Yes, yes, I really need some." "I will get Mike. He should enjoy this. Wait here." Ghenga did as she was told. Fanoc came back with Mike, the Royal Tailor. "Here is your subject, Mike. Take her to your studio and create." Mike was ecstatic. "The best subject ever. Ohhhh, I am just so happy. Come, come, we have work to do." Ghenga glanced at Fanoc, who nodded, and started to leave with Mike. "Mike?" Fanoc called. "Mmmm, yes?" "Please direct her to a lady-in-waiting who is good with makeup when you have finished." "Of course, of course." They left and Fanoc resumed looking out the window.
The night of the party had finally arrived. Kerbris and Fanoc stood outside the door to the main ballroom. Kerbris straightened his dark purple shirt again and glanced down past his black pants at his shiny black shoes nervously. Fanoc merely tightened the bindings that held his hair in a ponytail. Ghenga's head came into view on the stairs and the rest of her slowly appeared as she climbed. By some miracle, the giant woman was looking sharp in a red dress that left nearly everything to the imagination. Kyra was right behind Ghenga, surprisingly well dressed in a long white and blue curving vertical striped skirt with a white shirt. Kerbris whistled. "Wow, ladies. Mike pulled off a miracle and a half." Kyra's face darkened. "Who's the miracle?" Fanoc answered before Kerbris could bury his foot further down his throat. "He meant that Mike did a good job on the two of you." Kyra shot him a look that froze the air on its way by. Kerbris suggested that they go inside. The rest agreed so fast that he found himself the first in by way of pressure from the rear.
After the initial speech by Jack, Kerbris found himself on the sidelines drinking wine. On the dance floor, various lords, ladies, and assorted royal personnel swung around in whatever dance they were dancing now. He noticed Jack dancing with some young redheaded girl and Fanoc leading for the incredibly embarrassed Ghenga. Kerbris felt out of place as he watched Jack twirl his partner around. The current song ended and Kyra walked off the floor and leaned next to Kerbris. "Are you alright? You haven't danced at all." "I'm fine. Just got no one to dance with." "Not for much longer." Kyra pointed a few feet down the wall at a group of five middle-aged women who were doing their best to pretend that they weren't looking at and not inching their way closer to Kerbris. Kerbris put his hand over his eyes. "Crap. I've been spotted by the hunters." Kyra giggled. "Don't worry. I'll save you from them." Kerbris grinned and led her onto the dance floor just in time for the next dance, leaving his wine goblet behind.
After the dancing, came the feasting. Kerbris noticed that the same girl Jack had danced with was sitting on his right. Strange, he thought, and got back to eating.
After the feast, Fanoc stood on the balcony, thinking about memorable meals from his past. "Hey, you." Those words interrupted his reverie. He turned around. The words had come from a redheaded girl with eager green eyes. "Yes?" Fanoc said. The girl spoke again. "Are you with Kyra?" "Partly. Why do you ask?" "Well, first, my name's Adumi and, second, Daddy said that the new Dragoons came with Kyra. I wanted to talk to them." Fanoc smiled. "Yes, child. I am a Dragoon." Adumi's eyes grew more eager. "Tell me all about it." Fanoc proceeded to do so, answering her questions when he could and referring her to Kyra when he couldn't. This took a while. Eventually, Fanoc ran out of answers. He said so. Adumi looked upset. "Aw, man. I thought there was more to it than that." Fanoc raised his eyebrows. "There may be more. I just do not know it." A servant appeared on the balcony. Adumi frowned. "I have to go now." She left with the servant. Fanoc turned back around. He knew who Adumi was, even though she didn't tell him. Fanoc had seen an uncanny resemblance to Jack in her face. She was none other than Princess Adumi of Serdio.
In the morning, Jack called the other Dragoons to see him. He stood on the throne platform, Adumi seated beside him. "Thanks for coming" he said. Kerbris recognized the girl next to Jack as the girl he was dancing with. Who is that girl?, he thought. Fanoc merely looked at Jack and Adumi. Kyra smiled at Adumi, but not Jack. Ghenga looked at Jack and the redheaded girl that she had never seen before that stood next to him. Jack continued. "The girl next to me is my daughter Adumi, in case any of you were wondering. She wanted to meet you, so…" Oh, that's who she is, Kerbris thought. Fanoc raised his eyebrows. "Of course" he said. Kerbris looked nervous. Kyra looked at him. "Afraid of a girl, are you?" she said. "No, not at all" Kerbris said quickly. "Alright then." Kerbris was the first to be peppered with questions from Adumi. He looked uncomfortable the whole time. Ghenga was the second and Kyra was the last. Both of them took it well. During Ghenga's peppering, a messenger came in and spoke to Jack. Jack left with the messenger, but was came back just as Kyra's was ending. "Alright people," Jack said, getting their attention, "Adumi, leave." Recognizing her father's tone, she did as she was told. "I have just received a message from Merle Frama. He challenged us to find him. Problem is, he is on a different continent." Everyone except Fanoc stared in shock. Jack continued. "We leave from Helena Port in five days. Get ready, this is going to be a ride. I'm borrowing the Queen Fury III for this." Jack grinned. "Oh, yeah, baby." They left the excited Jack in the throne room.
Fanoc and Kyra stood on the deck of the Queen Fury III. Kyra wondered aloud where the others were. Fanoc said nothing. A little later, Kerbris strolled aboard. He and Fanoc spoke briefly. Fanoc left the main deck, headed for amidships. Kerbris took his place beside Kyra. They talked. Ten minutes later, Ghenga passed unnoticed by both of them. The departure signal sounded. Jack came from amidships to tell them to get inside. They did so. The Queen Fury III left Helena Port with no one having noticed that Adumi had stowed away on board.