As evening approached, Persephone was finishing preparations for dinner. She could be heard shouting commands in her full accent as the first guests arrived. King Ajax overheard her from an open door, saying almost in a drawl, "It has to be browned, not burned! If you don't know the difference, put your hand on the burner and-!" He pushed the door shut and went to find Mel.
She was by then back in a lighter version of the outfit Nopalina had improvised from her armor, still including a sword. When Ajax found her, he asked abruptly, "Do you have your firearms?" Mel held up a handbag Persephone had introduced her to. She reached in and pulled out the compact pistol. She then lifted her greaves, revealing the selective-fire pistol and stock at her right hip. "Good. Come with me."
Ajax led Mel aside into a small chamber long favored by lovers. Passing staff only smiled as they sat down at the small table. The King set up the Eightfold Orb and asked, "Orb, are any who would conspire against me among those here?" The answer appeared quickly: Proposition affirmative. "Orb, is there another assassin in my Palace?" The answer came instantly: Proposition highly likely.
He rested his chin on his hand. "We need to call off the banquet," he said.
"No," Mel said. "If an assassin is here, that will just tell him, or her, or them what we already know. As long as there are guests, an assassin will stay under cover until there's a clear shot, even if collateral damage isn't a concern."
Ajax frowned as he heard another approaching. "Hey, is this a private party?" the newcomer called out. The King knew the voice before he looked. It was Lady Cerasa.
"Just a little private conversation," Ajax said. "Let us go meet our guests."
As they departed, a bush outside the window rustled. If any had looked with care, they would have seen the earth beneath it crumble inward, just before a paw burst up.
Mel and Cerasa talked as they made their way to the dining room. "Yes, I was one of Ajax's Maidens," she said. "I was the first and only one to be chosen for a third year. Then, well, there was the thing with the Wishing Mirror…"
As they reached the door to the dining room, Ajax said to Mel, "Take your seat. I have a small matter to attend to." She did as he said with a sly smile. The King turned to Cerasa. "So, Xaja let you come alone?"
"He swore vengeance a thousandfold if you or one of your barbarous sycophants ravished me," she said. She smiled and sighed.
Ajax smiled in turn, sadly. "Would you wish me to say I am sorry again?" he said. "I was clear in my intentions. If you had told me how you felt, I would have sent you away."
"That was why I did not," Cerasa said. "You know that, too."
The King's expression hardened. "What I know is that I have worried if it was a wrong of mine that drove you to what you did," he said. "I am done. I know I should have treated you better. But you knew what you were doing."
"Why, Ajax," Cerasa said, "that's sweet!" She tousled his hair as she went into the dining room.
By the time Ajax took his seat, several guests were already seated. His eyes first set on Nopalina, seated with Kiv near the middle of the table. He had given her leave, but then sent her an invitation at Mel's insistence. Closer at hand, he was jarred to see Skarff talking with Lord Agaric. "Ah, Lorrd Ajax," the creature called out. "Congratulations on yourr engagement. Ah, and here is the Lady!"
Agaric bowed in turn. "I was pleased to receive your invitation," he said. "I heard the news on the way. It is already the talk of the Realms."
"What is?" asked a Lady at hand. Ajax glanced at her, then looked again. He took a deep breath and smiled.
"Lady Meliboia," he said, "this is Lady Lemmia of the Kyrushyan. She is the daughter of Naam and stepdaughter of Empress Pruna."
"Charmed," the newcomer said. She curtsied with the skirt of a blood-red leather dress that could have passed for armor. She appeared human, except that her hair was a shade of blue. On close examination, her dusky skin was covered in scales. She took her seat, and soon was chatting with Mel and Cerasa.
"The fact is, my father has had a number of consorts," Lemmia said. "He has held his throne at Alcaraz for over 200 years, and he has still not entered what we count as old age. In that time, partnerships were necessary both to establish his line and consolidate and preserve his rule. My Mother is the most powerful of them all, the ruler of a separate empire beyond the lands of Naam. Their union secured an alliance to expel the Biarmamen from our lands. The conditions allowed for an amicable parting, well, by our standards."
"What about Lady Pruna?" Cerasa asked.
"She is the first consort Naam married according to the customs of the Mushroom Folk," Lemmia answered. "From the beginning, he was quite taken with her. I was the first to tell him so. He denied it, for quite a while. It really was not abnormal. He took the Princess captive by the rules of his Realm and hers. It stopped uprisings in the occupied territories that would only have laid waste to the land. Then, of course, it was his duty to entertain her as an honored guest. Really, if he had not been so attentive to her, the Wars might have gone quite differently. By the end, his only wish was to offer an honorable peace, so she could receive his suit as a free Maiden."
"Do they have any offspring?" Mel asked. "If it is not impolite to ask…"
"That is not something we speak of idly," Lemmia said. "But no, they have not. By our standards, they have ample time."
Skarff, too, made his way into the conversation. "Yourr attendants have shown me the art of the Palace," he said. "It is a fine collection. I might purchase certain items, if any arre for sale. Perrhaps I did not explain before, I am an agent and seller of indigenous art. You may find a great many more interested buyers arriving once the World Islands become better known. I would be glad to represent you and the other leaderrs of the Realms of your world. I can make sure nobody sells something too dear at too loow a price, or with too many strings attached."
"I will bear that in mind," Ajax said. As he spoke, Persephone brought him his tray.
"Yor dinner, m'Lord," she said, still speaking in her accent. She lifted the cover with a flourish. "Roast lesser jackelope!" It was indeed a jackelope three Spans long, skinned and finely glazed.
"I am honored," the King said. In his amiable mood, he waved in the direction of Skarff. "Please serve it to our honored guest. I will take the next one, I'm sure it is just as good."
"Yes, m'Lord," the Maiden said with a half-curtsy. Her disappointment was keen to the King's ear, but she could not protest before guests. Ajax almost countermanded himself, but he knew that would be a greater offense. Skarff began to eat with surprising delicacy for a being whose mouth could clearly swallow the entire carcass whole, instead tearing fine strips of flesh.
"Mmm," the Eater said. "My highest compliments! It is a fine flavor. Ah, and the texturre!"
Diantha and Persica came out to serve the rest of the guests. As the dinner began, Agaric sought the King's attention. "I appreciate your patience regarding the Levies. You will find that our yields are higher than usual. Perhaps you might count the surplus as a credit against any shortages in the next few Harvests…"
"Yes, to be sure," Ajax said around a mouthful. "Discuss it with Manny, he can make the arrangements…"
"Yes, my Lord," Agaric said. "Still is this not a matter for your personal attention?"
Ajax was about to answer when Mel pulled at his arm. He rose with her to speak.
"You have all been invited here for a celebration," Ajax said. "Two nights ago, My Lady Meliboia Niobides of the Myrmidons proposed to me a marriage covenant. I have accepted, and I acknowledge her as my mate and Lady by the ways of her people. She in turn has agreed to be married according to the laws and customs of the Red Realm and the Mushroom Folk, so that we can reign together as King and lawful Queen. We intend to have our Royal Wedding by the waning of the next Moon."
There were cheers and clapping, then the guests began to rise to mingle among themselves. "My Lord," she said, "if you recall, we had discussed an audience with Lady Nopalina. Where should we go?"
"The Royal Storehouse, of course," he said. And he wandered off without a glance back at Agaric.
"My Lord," Nopalina said as they entered, "Lady Meliboia asked me to this meeting. I am honored, but I do not know the reason."
"I will admit, she has not told me herself," Ajax said. He unfolded a card table and pulled out several chairs.
"Yes, I chose to wait until our engagement was formalized," Mel said. She crossed her legs as she sat down. For the first time, the King thought of her bearing as queenly, and he found he was neither pleased nor comfortable. "Since we are all friends, I am we can be informal. Nopalina, you know I am unable to bear my Lord's heir. Fortunately, there is a solution by the Codes of the Myrmidons that I understand is accepted in your Realms. I propose that you join our Triad, and bear our children for my Lord."
There was a long, pointed pause. "My Lady, it is an honor," Nopalina said, her arms crossed. "But I am with Kiv."
"Of course; you will not be required to abandon him," Mel said. "C'mon. It's Kiv."
"My Lady," Ajax said. "Of course, there are measures, but there are rules, and they are spoken of discretely…"
Suddenly, there was a shriek from the door, which Ajax realized only then was left ajar: "No, no, no!" He turned and saw Persephone, flushed more purple than her hair. "I am his Favorite!" She literally stamped her foot and screeched in rage, just before a pistol was pressed to her head.
All in all, it was a relief when a blast tore a hole in the wall.