“Pardon, m’lady. I’m just relieved it was nothing more serious.”
Feenaly returned with a metal trolley, plates and silverware clattering as it crossed the stone floor. The sweet scent that emanated from the platter was delightful.
After she placed our meals in front of us, she stepped back and said swiftly, “King Julreous would like to see you all in the throne room after you have finished your meal. I will be waiting nearby to show you the way there.”
“Ah. Thank you,” I said through a mouthful of the delicious seaweed and rice concoction that had been served to me.
The two males had each received some sort of fish. Rio looked delighted and dug in immediately, while the kin was wearing the same face he wore when I served him tea.
Not much was said as we ate. It had been hours since my last meal and I was famished. I finished my food much too quickly, my stomach groaning in protest as I leaned back and observed the others.
Levent picked at his meal with surprising delicacy, while Rio’s plate looked like a battlefield.
“I feel like I’m going to explode,” I complained as Feenaly led us up the stairs to the thrown room.
I definitely should not have eaten all of that but it was so good. Now I felt like an overstuffed pillow as I went to conference with the king of the merfolk.
“Me too,” Rio commiserated.
A pair of guards inspected our persons to check we had not pocketed any of the cutlery for an improvised assassination attempt. They seemed a little disappointed when they found nothing – Levent and Rio had been relieved of their blades much earlier in the evening – and then opened the doors.
The throne room was at the top of the tower. Water rushed over its windows as delicate curtains that trickled into the city below. The king was seated majestically between a set of coral pillars alighted with glowing blue crystals.
Rio’s aunt stood beside the throne. She smiled gracefully as we entered.
Rio stepped forward and bowed deeply to the two. I lowered my head and followed suit. As my head came back up, I saw that Levent had done the same.
“I would like to apologize for our rude entrance this afternoon, King Julreus. Queen Ixnia.” Rio bowed to each of them in turn, seeming to have appointed himself