Chapter 6

Oto'oco

The ale arrived just in time, Ayvar standing near the top of the stairs watching as the men struggled to carry it up. The Oto'oco had started, but it wasn't even halfway through its first course, which surprised the dwarf. He had only been stepping out to smoke his pipe, when he noticed the men hauling the massive keg up the stairs. His face lit with excitement, and quickly he called for servants to come and take the ale to its proper place beside the massive table.

Eyes glowed as they watched the ale float towards them, the civilians eating gleefully as their mugs began to fill up. It was by all means a charitable event, one that the queen had no obligation to fulfill. In fact, the Oto’oco had almost not occurred one year when the queen feared she couldn’t afford it. But she mustered up the cryys regardless. It was strange, considering her distaste towards the actual event itself, at least, the loudness of it.

The people were no doubt grateful, but equally gluttonous in their mannerisms. Tearing into turkey legs as if I’d be their last, salad thrown about between plates and candleholders. Wine and ale would topple onto the table and be utterly ignored in favor of more strawberry jam on bread.

Pawn watched with a complex mix of pleasure and distaste, the queen herself by his side on a lifted platform. Her throne glowed a brilliant silver, jagged edged meeting the smooth curves of the armrest. It was an imposing throne, one her late husband had commissioned and had carried over on a vessel. He was never given the opportunity to sit in it. Which often saddened Brielor when she thought it over, but knew his kingdom was in her well trusted hands. She hoped he would be proud; for what she did for her people most others wouldn’t ever think. And as she looked to Fe Pawn beside her, on his own ornamented chair, she could see that he too felt the same. That is, his feelings towards their people. He always followed her vigor when it came to how the people of J’ygar should be treated. That is, fairly.

“Little attendance, they said.” Brielor spoke in a soft tone, only her eyes moving to look at Pawn. At first, he assumed she was speaking to the other Master, Fe Keyotti, but caught her shifting eyes. His lips curled into a smile.

“Is that what they said? I was informed of the contrary.” He responded smoothly, taking a sip of his apricotwine. As much as he too disliked the noise, he wanted to remain sober. He took pleasure in the smiles, less so in the sight of airborn food.

“Oh, what do these nobles know anyways? Te Co’toli was just trying to convince me that Te Cortava was going to leave the island before this coming Gulf-fest. And here he is, fit as a fiddle, and ready to partake.” Pawn followed her gaze across the table, standing at the far end of the Diamond Room stood the mylian. Beside him was Lady Asu, a sight that neither of them expected to see. Their arms were interlocked, the young lady leaning heavily on Sym.

“You don’t think that…?” Pawn started.

“Who can say? Stranger things have happened.” The queen let out a chuckle, covering her mouth with her gloved hand. The white pure cotton gloves felt soft against her skin.

“And where’s the brother? Too afraid to show his face to you?” Pawn said, looking at his queen with a grin. But she lacked any reciprocation, it being replaced with agitation that made his smile quickly fade. “I mean not to undermine your ambitions.” He added, at a near whisper. But Brielor seemed to snap from her trance, taking in a breath and looking at Pawn with a forced smile.

“Of course not, Fe. I only hope that his absence implies he is putting his efforts towards his work.” She watched as a servant brought her a cup of ale, still frothing nearly to its top. Happily she drank, not stopping until no more liquor entered her mouth. By any means an inappropriate way to act in public among her people, but she had made it her duty that during the Oto’oco -aside from sitting atop a massive throne- she acted as her citizens would. Though she could never bring herself to eat so savagely.

“Might I ask, my Queen, what lies within this object you so desperately seek to understand?” The question was bold, but had rattled around in Pawns head so long it finally set itself free. Besides, his relationship with the queen allotted for more intimate questions. Ones that other nobles would dare not ask. Pawn hoped it was not simply his Mastership that allowed these questions, as the thought of Keyotti being given the same treatment enraged him.

Brielor didn’t look at Pawn, instead waving for a servant to fetch her more ale. Wiping her lip, she began to finally eat her steak.

“I will show you. Words evade me.” She said between bites. Pawn took that as a sign to cease his prying, and turned to his own food. They ate in peace for a moment before Keyotti spoke up for the first time.

“Can’t we at least enforce the usage of their utensils? It’s like watching a Hyvakian midland tribe.” He said with disgust, his upper lip flared as he watched the feast. Keyotti had yet to touch his own food, having lost his appetite the moment those large doors were opened to the public.

“Hyvakian tribes are quite civilized since last I saw them.” Pawn responded, picking at a brussel sprout that was perfectly charred. A nice brown outlining, just how he liked it. But his admiration for his food was disturbed by a scoff. Keyotti shook his head like a disappointed father, that being exactly how Pawn imagined him in his class room as he taught. How he managed to become a professor at the Academy was beyond him.

“Is this going to be another one of your pointless stories? Oh! And are you going to tell me once again about the pillars of war? Pray tell.” His mockery didn’t go unnoticed, but Pawn remained upright in his seat, unwavering.

“I apologize that my ambitions reach beyond this island.” He responded coolly, not drawing his eyes from the table. The second course was beginning to be dispensed, the kitchen roaring with sound. Keyotti laughed, his hand slapping against the low table as he leaned into it to try and meet the queen's eyes.

“Do you hear this fool, my Queen? One of your very own Masters cares not for this island's well-being.”

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“At what point in my statement did I say such a thing?” Pawns tone breached pure anger, but he stifled the coals that burned in his chest. The ones that wanted desperately to lash out at Keyotti. But it would do him no good to make a scene among the Masters. He’d be damned if he didn’t defend himself though.

“Actions are worth a thousand words. Your reclusive behavior mirrors that of another noble I knew of.” Keyotti scoffed again, leaning back in his seat. This finally gained the attention of the queen, who snapped her head towards the Master. He shrunk in his seat as their eyes met, hers a burning emerald green.

“Fe Pawn does more in a week than you could accomplish in a decade. So I suggest you find your competence, assuming you ever had it, and remain silent, as there are others on this island worthy of your title.” Though her tone was intense, her expression hardly changed. Anyone happening to look at the queen would think she was only leaning over to discuss something causal with the Master. But a short glance away and they would see the shaken look of Keyotti, whose lips were clamped shut. Silently, Brielor shifted towards Pawn once again.

“Apologizes. Thank you for containing yourself.”

“My Queen, you must never apologize to me.” Pawn said quickly, shaking his head as he picked at his steak. The queen seemed to soften, laughing quietly to herself.

“Even if I have done something wrong?”

“But you haven’t!”

“But if I had?”

“I believe you can do no wrong, my Queen.” Pawn wasn’t one for flattery; the last thing he wanted was to seem as if he was sucking up to the queen. But he truly did feel that Brielor had nothing but good intentions. She had never done anything to suggest the contrary, so she had earned his naturally ironclad loyalty.

The queen laughed once again, amused by his quickness to defuse any doubt.

“I myself am not above the laws I set, are you aware? You have the ability to dethrone me if you had proper proof of misdoings.”

“It isn’t that I wouldn’t take action if I believed you were committing some horrid deed, it's more so that I refuse to believe you ever could do so. You wouldn’t jeopardize this island, you’re island.” Pawns wit had begun to wear the queen thin, who grinned as she realized she had no other argument to present.

“How did we find ourselves from me not managing a fellow Masters outburst, to hypotheticals of me being tyrannical?” Brielor questioned, turning her whole body to look at Pawn. The gesture made him blush, but he knew people would talk if he turned as well, and kept forward.

“Perhaps you are saying how you feel?”

“Perhaps…” Brielor teased.

“Well, are you feeling tyrannical?”

“Not at the moment.” She rolled her eyes with a chuckle, facing back to her citizens. She wondered if they would ever grow full, but given their hungry eyes and outreaching hands, she thought not.

“Then I believe we have nothing to worry about.”

Sym did his best to keep Asu upright, who was pushing heavily on his shoulder. People were certainly going to talk now, regardless of whether or not Jarvic made his appearance. Lady Asu had sworn that he would arrive at any moment, but it seemed that wasn't the truth in the least bit. In fact, it seemed no one had heard from Jarvic since the day before. Though, even Asu hadn't seen him for days. She was growing fond of the distance, not a speck of worry in her mind. But now she just hoped to maintain what little dignity she had left among the people.

"Can we not just sit? It would make this much easier for the both of us." Asu whispered, tugging on Sym's arm. He wanted nothing more than to sit, biting his lip as he looked around the room. Te Co'uk, Te A'kula, and even Te Te'coli all stood around the table in different corners of the room. Both Te Lo-eel Mordd, and Te Jarvic Tu'la had yet to arrive. It was strange, last year they had been there right on time, before him even. He remembered that particularly, as his face had glowed red from embarrassment thinking he had been late. But then Otto Co'uk assured him that he hadn't been, then went on to talk about his time in the army for what felt like several hours.

"You should know better than I that's not how this works." He meant to say it playfully, but it came out much more brash. Asu frowned, watching as the citizens of J'ygar indulged in the food while they were forced to watch. A sick tradition made by fools, Asu had thought for the longest time. After the citizens left, it was then the nobles turn to eat up what was left. She always felt like a pig eating from a trough, even if the kitchen had a secret final course they always gave to the nobles after the citizens were gone.

"I'm hungry." She added idly, sighing. Sym hadn't thought about it until she said it, but realized he hadn't eaten since midday the day before. He only had to wait another hour or so before they all flocked down to the piers. But even that might be too long before he fainted in the Diamond Room.

"Me too…perhaps we can slip into the kitchen?"

"What? They would throw spoons at us!" Asu laughed.

"Oh please, if they throw spoons at the beautiful Lady Asu I'll have them hung." It was an obvious joke, though from Asu's expression it looked as if she took it seriously. He opened his mouth to reiterate it was only a jest, but stopped himself.

"Seriously, no one will notice." Sym didn't know that for sure. In fact, he had little to no confidence that he wasn't going to get caught and shamed publicly or something of the sorts. But he saw it as an opportunity to pull them closer together. Her worrying about Jarvic was making it hard for the courtship to seem possible. Opportunity. He reminded himself, pulling Asu along as he went towards the kitchen.

With unsure steps Asu followed behind, balancing herself on the tips of her toes. So far no one had said anything, nor had she made out any turned heads with cupped hands covering ears. Though she still felt as if everyone's eyes were on her. More likely, she thought, they were all watching the queen. Who would always make some sort of announcement regarding who was fighting in the Naval Duels after the feast.

She wondered who it would be this year, as there was often at least one of the nobles chosen. The obvious choice was Te Co’uk, with his years of experience in the army. But even after seven years of the tradition, he had yet to be chosen for the event. It was only a matter of time, she supposed.

Te Te’coli watched with a bitter look as the two entered the kitchen, whispering to himself. His wife stood next to him, watching merrily as the people ate. Memi’s head never seemed to leave the clouds.

The kitchen felt like a ball of heat, one that seemed to come from every direction. For a brief moment Sym thought he had fallen into a campfire, but was shaken from his surprise as a cook ran past him with a pot of some frothing liquid.

None of the cooks or chefs paid them any mind as they stood at the entrance.A look of anxiousness about them. For a moment Sym was at a loss of words, overwhelmed by the sounds of shouting and commands being given. He had seen battle, but even this was an intensity he was unfamiliar with. But once his eyes landed on a table filled from one end to the other with bread and cheese, he made his move hastily. Leaving Asu standing, he dipped and dodged between cooks, snatching a loaf of bread and wedge of cheese. One chef caught him, his lips opened to speak, but quickly he dismissed it as he realized who it was.

Sym slithered back to Asu, and dropped the food into her hands. "Best eat it quick, wouldn't want to be found disrupting the tradition." Sym said with a smile, as he looped his arm through hers and led her back into the Diamond Room.