"Each month, the queen hosts a large dinner for the court and visiting dignitaries," Ardlac explained as they made their way to the palace. He had paid for the services of a small carriage driven by a well-dressed woman and a pure black horse with an eager air about it. Ardlac had explained that many such carriage services existed in Solaris and that it was seen as respectful to arrive without the dust collected on one's clothes from walking along the street when dining with queen and her court.

"Why were we invited?" Li asked casually. He was dressed in even nicer clothes of Ardlac's, made of shimmering green silk imported from Orma, with silver embroidery in designs Li couldn't quite make out. Ilya had done some quick adjustments to make the clothing fit him better, but he was still uncomfortable with how tight the breeches were on his groin. Ardlac had assured him, however, that the breeches were the finest part of his outfit, to which Li had blushed but accepted the compliment. He had then shaved the short beard from his face for the first time since joining the Gryphon, and allowed Ardlac to braid and adorn his hair in the Nair fashion. It still felt strange to have his hair in such a way, especially when he moved his head and some of the charms moved with tiny chiming sounds, but with Ardlac's reassuring approval he felt more comfortable than he would have at first expected.

"My father was often invited when he worked for the palace court," Ardlac explained. He had put on clothing even more beautiful than the first he'd worn to the palace, and practically glowed from all the shimmery thread in his blue coat's embroidery. "The conversation I had with the court officials, and the queen, went quite well. They accepted that I must leave for a time. There is another at the palace who has been doing my father's work in my place, and she is willing to continue for a while longer. It is not her primary role at the palace, however, and has no desire to do it for terribly long, as it adds to her usual workload. I agreed that, so long as nothing changes in the coming months, I will return and take the position. However, I also explained that I wouldn't return if my lover could not or would not return with me. I was invited to the dinner in my father's stead, and you were invited as my lover and as a way of ensuring you're welcome here."

Li smiled and gripped Ardlac's hand. "I did tell you I would be happy to return here when I am able to," he assured him. "I don't need to be bribed by the queen," he added teasingly.

Ardlac smiled and kissed his cheek. "I know. It is truly a formality. As my lover, you are also considered my family. I came to many of these dinners with my father as a child. If I had recognized the date today I would have expected us to be invited, even if I had declined the position. They would have invited me a final time in honor of my father."

Li was quiet for a moment, then had a sudden thought. "You came to settle your father's affairs. Where is he? His body, I mean."

"His body was burned shortly after his death, and the ashes from the fire placed inside a small glass vase. It was given to me by the queen and I placed it in his old chambers beside my mother's vase. During the Night of Ancestors, these vases are brought to the main part of the home and decorated with dried herbs and given offerings of food and trinkets, most of which are placed into the vases. It is how we remember those we have lost. How is it done in Mahlon?"

"We don't have any holidays to remember the dead in that way," Li explained. "We bury the dead, usually on the land where they lived, though there are special crypts in the cities for those who live and die there. Some mark the burial sites, but most do not. There is usually a burial ceremony and some of the dead's favorite items are buried with them. Most families usually hold a celebration of the dead's life the day they are buried, as well."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Ardlac nodded thoughtfully. "It has always interested me how so many traditions can exist in the same world."

The carriage slowed at that moment, then stopped. A helmeted head peered inside the window of the carriage and Ardlac gave his name. The guard nodded and the carriage continued on its way. Li noticed the usual city sounds grow quieter almost immediately, replaced mostly by the sounds of horses and conversation, with fewer barking dogs, screaming children, and sounds of work.

"We have entered the palace grounds," Ardlac explained. "The carriage will wait here with the others. These drivers make significant money this day each month."

"I can imagine," Li replied.

Within a few minutes the carriage stopped and Ardlac opened the door. Li followed him out of the carriage and took in the sights around him. The palace loomed ahead of them, the great double-doors flanked by numerous guards. Grooms tended to the horses of over two dozen carriages parked around them, and other well-dressed people in small groups - some of which included children of various ages - milled about, slowly making their way to the palace entrance.

Ardlac didn't stop to socialize with any of the other guests, but he took Li's arm and led him to the palace entrance. Inside was a massive entrance area, but Li was unable to look at much of it as the space was filled with other guests carrying on countless conversations. Another set of doors stood open and Ardlac guided Li to them. The room they entered was a great hall filled with tables in neat rows, and a large golden throne sat at the opposite end of the hall on a high dias. There were more guests here, some seated and others standing while they conversed.

Ardlac gave his name to a girl in a red uniform and they were led to a table in almost the center of the hall. On the table were many plates and cups, and arrangements of flowers that smelled lovely.

"At most times this hall is the throne room," Ardlac explained after they had been seated. "It is also used for dinners and other celebrations, however."

Li noticed that great tapestries and banners hung about the room, and the floor was lined with dried reeds. "It seems large enough for it," he observed.

Before Ardlac could say anything more, a man close to his age was seated on Ardlac's other side. When Ardlac turned to greet him, the man seemed entirely delighted to see Ardlac. They spoke in Nair for a moment, leaving Li feeling slightly out of place, but then Ardlac slipped his arm around Li and, smiling, introduced them.

"Fenion, this is Li, my dear lover," he explained, returning to the Trade language.

Fenion smiled at him, and did not seem at all bothered by Li being a foreigner. He was a remarkably handsome man, with bright blue eyes and a perfect face. His clothing was pristine and the style so elaborate that Li could barely make sense of it, and his dark brown hair was adorned with countless charms and fine chains of metal, from which dangled polished stones that Li had no doubt were incredibly expensive. Across his forehead was a band of braided silver, with a shimmering blue stone hanging from the center. Li could just made out hints of a matching tattoo beneath the band. On both his wrists he had multiple bracelets, and he had at least one ring on every finger. Multiple necklaces encircled his neck.

"I'm happy to know Ardlac has found some happiness," Fenion said, his accent much thicker than Ardlac's. "Many of us were worried when we heard he had left Solaris."

"I'm thankful to have met him," Li replied.

"And look at you," Ardlac added, grinning at Fenion and pointing to the silver band on his forehead. "A royal father?"

Fenion smiled again. "Just last year. I was fortunate enough to be chosen by Princess Belianyr. We have a beautiful, healthy, baby daughter named Kaelya. Belianyr was rather excited that she inherited my eyes," he added with a chuckle.

Ardlac smiled. "Congratulations."

As they continued to talk, still in Trade, which Li assumed was done for his own comfort, Li came to the realization that Fenion was certainly a member of the Eliarant, the men who were employed as lovers for the royal family. It explained to Li how he had such elaborate clothing and personal decorations. Li assumed the royal lovers were both paid and gifted well, and likely the fathers more so than the others. It also became clear to Li that this was one of the men who had attempted to bring Ardlac into the Eliarant and who had Asir magic much like Ardlac's. The man was friendly and welcoming to Li, eventually asking more about him, where he was from, and how he and Ardlac had met. Neither Li nor Ardlac gave him the true details, only saying they had met while on the Gryphon.

Before long, a bell sounded. Ardlac and everyone else in the room stood and turned to the throne, and Li followed their lead. Li needed no explanation for who it was who entered the room from behind the throne, as it could only be Queen Tahirah.