Lake Park, City of Mammatus
“I hope for your sake you didn’t hurt my Leven.”
Dropping the voice disguise, Master Adara drawls, “Pain is a relative experience that’s hard to communicate to others, you can never be certain of someone else’s. And he was ours before you corrupted him.”
After a pause Adara adds, “You see me, why don’t you show yourself.”
The bold feminine voice snidely replies, “If you can’t see me, you’re not worthy to do so.”
Turning her head twenty degrees and gazing at the empty top of a hill ten yards away, “I asked you to show yourself, I didn’t say I couldn’t see you.”
A woman in a white dress patterned with small pink flowers lightly peppering its length appears, nods her mid-length, violet hair covered head in salute before turning and disappearing down the far side of the hill with a few quick strides.
Dashing to the top of the small hill, the master disguised as Leven finds a dragon scale bracer abandoned on the ground. Peering across the surface of that device pierces illusions. The view is muddled and distorted, from tunneling through space between viewer and subject. Master Adara has put many hours of research on these bracers. This one will be added to her collection. Vania Adara watches as the woman joins the crowd of people exiting the park.
Vania Adara contently follows the woman, preferring a less populated battlefield than what the park offers.
The woman upon exiting the park, disappears behind the brick column supporting the access gate, reappearing with her dress changed from white with pink flowers to pink with white birds. Each step she takes, the dress hem shortens until it almost shows her knees.
Turning on to an avenue lined with women’s clothing stores, where the crowd is thick with similarly dressed women. Locked on target, the master engages all senses to keep from being distracted.
The woman from nowhere produces a black jacket and drapes it around her shoulders, when she does so her violet hair lengthens and darkens to a deep shade of purple.
Quickened steps take the woman around another corner, peering through the wooden structure with gift enhanced senses reveals her skeletal form breaking into a run.
The woman, now dressed in slacks, white blouse, and black leather jacket, is sprinting. The master from Mammatus minimally fast traveling, keeps pace easily.
Two blocks are quickly traversed, taking them into a middle-class neighborhood. Here there are rows of townhouses built of stone, with narrow alleys separating every second residence from its neighbor.
The woman vaults up the stairs and seemingly passes through a closed door like a ghost.
Master Adara is not fooled, the door was left open, and the woman was dressed as she now appears the whole time. It was nice of her to make the chase visually entertaining but accomplished nothing.
A cursory sweep of the building reveals nobody but the woman is present. She’s chosen the battlefield, the least the Dean of Sight and Sound can do is oblige the woman with her confrontation.
Inside the woman is seated on a settee, that would have matched her original dress. The other furnishings are an eclectic collection of wooden chairs, tables, and lamps.
Master Adara speaks first, “You could have just invited me to join you here, we could have spoken while we walked.”
“You presume I wanted you to follow.”
“Well, you did imply harm would come to me if Leven was somehow injured. I can’t allow such threats to go unaddressed.”
Standing, the woman draws a new model of pistol. Revolvers and bolt action rifles are no longer state of the art. This firearm is loaded using a preloaded magazine that holds fourteen rounds.
Using both hands, she levels the pistol at Master Adara’s face, “Don’t move, or I’ll punch a hole through that pretty face of yours.
“I see by your expression that you’re not familiar with this weapon. You’ll also be unfamiliar with the ammunition. The priests say it uses something called smokeless powder, far more energetic than black powder, at this range only a few people could dodge these bullets and you’re not one of them. And if you think you’re going to capture the kinetic energy, think again. These lead slugs have dragon scale jackets.”
“Now, how are you going to return my Leven? He’s no good to you and it sounds like he’s already been punished.”
The master isn’t impressed, “You are in no position to negotiate. Tell us where Leven’s reports go?”
Moving her aim to the right of Master Adara’s head, she lightly squeezes the trigger. Thunder rings out as a projectile moving approximately 400 yards per second narrowly misses the masters head and punches a hole in the wall beyond.
Returning her sights to the space between Master Adara’s eyes, “Still think I’m not in a good position to negotiate?”
Smirking, “Thanks for the demonstration I wasn’t sure this would work until you did that. Where do Leven’s reports go after you retrieve them?”
The woman show’s annoyance at the lack of concern on Vania’s face.
Master Adara tries a new tact, “Let’s start over, with me taking the lead. My name is Vania, I work with someone you know. He goes by the name Leven. What does he call you?”
Her face is turning red in frustration, but she keeps her arms relaxed and her grip firm, “You know Leven, he’s always using pet names to woo his women.”
Vania, acting coyly, “Does that include you, are you one of his women?”
Barely changing her aim, the woman squeezes off another round and resumes her lethal posture while the blast still rings in all their ears.
“You misunderstand our relationship. Besides our professional entanglements, I am his mentor and advisor. He calls me Mistress Jane.”
“Excellent, it’s nice to meet you, Jane.
“I feel like we have so much we can discuss. I’d like to start with this terrible business you’ve gotten yourself and Leven caught up in. You know, we can help with getting you out.”
In answer the woman squeezes off another round, this one nearly nicking the master’s ear.
“We have nothing to discuss other than how you plan on returning Leven to me.”
“Oh, sweet Jane, that simply is not going to happen.”
Janes face is emotionless as she squeezes and fires the kill shot, aimed right between the eyes of her target.
Simultaneous to the explosive expansion of hot gas, fueled by the ignition of the smokeless powder, the image of Master Adara perfectly follows the master’s motion as he swings his left hand and catches the jacketed bullet in his hyper-covalent bonded fist.
Without need to keep up the illusions Master Adara drops her remaining illusions. The one hiding her as she stands behind the woman calling herself Jane and the one disguising Master Leonis Terius as Vania Adara.
Jane is frozen in disbelief, she fires two more shots erratically, completely missing her target.
She gasps out a single word, “How?”
Approaching from behind, “You should have kept the bracer, I can’t keep it from revealing the truth, but I can alter what you see on its surface… so long as I know what you’re going to look at.”
Jane tries to put the sizzling hot muzzle of the gun in her mouth, Terius disarms her with two swift motions; slips behind her and executes a sleeper hold until she slips into unconsciousness.
Adara admonishes, “Did you have to show off by catching the bullet, you could have just moved aside, I would have held the illusion in place!”
“Had she not fired that first warning shot I would have. Now let’s turn this garbage over to Sanne so I can give this weapon to Hron to shoot at me.”
Hearth Room at Riverside, Twoya
Teum was dismissed after introductions; Father discreetly told him to wait at the bar if he’d like to rejoin the group after the meeting. Sitting alone at the bar makes him realize how alike Father and Luscin can be. Both of them tell him what to do with no sense of doubt that he will not obey. It bothers him for almost a full minute before he lets the personal slight go. He likes both of them, and he can comply because he likes them. While he can’t imagine a world where he won’t love Luscin, he could see Father stepping over a line and losing Teum’s respect.
The introductions were interesting, none more so than meeting Council Woman Elisa Remon. She didn’t show any recognition when Teum’s name was mentioned. He hopes she never learns of his role in the death of her sister Defender Elora Remon. Not as gifted as her sister, she was an activist pushing for social reforms during the El’Hat renaissance. Now she’s an elected council woman making real changes to benefit all.
The representative from Brust Valley is Ambassador Valmir Moon, cousin to Advisor Ethan Moon they shared a look and a smile, he hopes she remembers their one interaction where she settled an argument, he was having with Malo over the color of a banner hanging in the dining hall. Malo said it’s gold; I saw it as purple. Turns out the lighting and the crystalline statue beneath caused many people to see different colors. She flashed some pure white light on the banner, showing its true color; it was blue. We were both embarrassed and apologized for holding up the buffet line.
Bergmeester Emma De Jong mentioned she has served as mayor of Brass before taking the highest position of power in Oiho. Teum was once kidnapped in Brass and spent a night chained to a wall as a child. That should have been his first step towards becoming a defender. But truth be told, he nearly forgot about the incident a week later.
Also from Brass is the Mayor Stephen Wald, a nice enough man. He looks young for someone in such a position. Not much older than their friend Tomas Brusk, who was forced to take over the kingdom at the age of twelve when his father was murdered. Mayors don’t inherit their titles, so Stephen Wald must be a prodigy.
Lt Governor Dusan Podgorski was standing in for Governor Anfal Nikitin, he was loud, boisterous and upon meeting him it was easy to believe that everyone from Indi must be a pirate. There was an obvious tension between him and Father that should be watched closely.
Shichō Amiruddin Mahathir he is cursorily aware of, having heard him publicly thanked during music festivals that take place in Righterlund. Teum decides to see if that makes him a music fan or does, he do it for the economic and social impact.
The representative from Gateland traveled the furthest and seemed the least interested in being there, Lt Governor William Rothwood was wearing an obviously expensive suit, and a gold pocket watch that must have weighed two pounds. He did his best to appear bored with the entire proceedings.
Ambassador Louis Jordan attending on behalf of the Governor of Rebirth seemed enamored with everyone especially Lt Governor of Indi. Teum couldn’t help but notice the man sneaking glances at the man throughout the introductions.
Mayor Justin Smithly of Mecanose seemed to have an ulterior motive to be present. He was the only one to produce a notebook and take notes and asked for people to repeat themselves when he had trouble keeping up.
That left Mayor Rudolph Pilloski of Twoya, who he already disappointedly met. The man is a fool to think he can negotiate with the Empire of Blood.
The one positive he took out of that initial meeting was that Father didn’t respond either way. Lucy warned Teum that Father is always plotting five steps ahead and you’ll never outflank him. Teum has one more trick up his sleeve, he hopes Lucy is right and this is Fathers one weakness, his daughter Luscin.
He’s nursing his second glass of punch when the unmistakable voice of Indi’s Lt Governor Podgorski carries across the restaurant, a sure sign that the door to the Hearth Room is open, signaling the meeting’s end. Teum waits to see what develops. At this point he needs to let Father play his game; if he can’t be swayed, Teum will be forced to play his ace card, by bringing in Luscin.
The group slowly winds their way through the restaurant towards the bar where the restaurant staff had discreetly roped off a section for the eleven attendees. All but a few of the single seat chairs have been removed, leaving four small couches fit for no more than two occupants each.
Father arrives first with Pilloski in tow, he surveys the seating and nods as if in approval before taking one of the three chairs and moving it to the back of the section.
The representatives from Brusk and Rebirth, Advisor Valmir Moon and Ambassador Louis Jordan take the couch closest to the bar and farthest from Father. They represent the two wealthiest families in South Cenoka; their aligning is no surprise.
Teum doesn’t know what to make of El’Hat’s Elisa Remon hanging on the arm of the Lt Governor from Indi. When they take a seat next to Father, Elisa has her arms around his neck and one leg thrown over his, she’s practically sitting in Dusan’s lap.
The seat on the other side of Father is taken by Bergemeester Emma De Jong of Oiho, her neighbor from Mecanose, Mayor Justin Smithly joins her, leaving plenty of room between them. There is no tension between them, but no affinity either.
Mayor Stephen Wald of Brass and Lt Governor William Rothwood of Gateland seeing the remaining seats, decide to stand.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
The last to arrive is Shichō Amiruddin Mahathir of Righterlund, he went directly to the bar before rejoining the group. Drink in hand he sits at the remaining open couch, happily by himself.
Their host Marcin returns to check if everything is to their satisfaction. Hearing no complaints she assists Ewa and Maria with fulfilling drink orders. Once everyone has a drink and side conversations seem concluded Father addresses a comment to Pilloski loud enough for all to hear.
“I’ll take in account your concerns when I address the other parties later this week.”
Feigning surprise that everyone is looking at him, he addresses the room, “That goes for all your concerns.”
Shichō Mahathir, on his second drink since dinner, “I propose a toast… To cooperation, may our combined strength give us admiral bargaining power with the Bl—“
Pilloski saves Father from having to cut the man off by doing so himself, “with all our future trade partners.”
Teum watches as the group finish their drinks and one by one are informed that their carriage is waiting to take them to their residence in Twoya. The last to go is Mayor Pilloski, when he’s gone Father joins Teum at the bar.
Turning to his father-in-law, “What exactly did you propose?”
“As you know I was able to consolidate power in Thuma by force. I then repopulated the government officials and top bureaucrats with loyalists. I made a slew of anti-corruption reforms. I know all the avenues since I was the one exploiting them in the first place. Those same reforms allowed me to legitimize many of the operations I used to prop up the middle and lower classes. Thuma no longer has two governments, the official and shadow governments are one.”
Teum doesn’t have to think long before realizing a glaring hole in that story, “That sounds all well and good, but what about your wife’s work, you know the bird watching and shoe making?”
“The bird watchers are now an off the books arm of Thuma’s intelligence gathering network, they’re limited to working outside Thuma.
“As for the shoemakers, I didn’t say we’d disband all family business. If I did that, another family would step up and fill that niche.”
Satisfied with those answers, Teum looks at his sizable father-in-law for a minute before asking, “I asked you for help earlier and you put me off and let the mayor answer for you; why?”
“Timing, son. That wasn’t the place or time for that discussion.”
“Time isn’t on our side; the attacks could begin at any moment.”
“We likely have a year or more before the full assault begins. Lucy has been feeding us information too and her sources seem to have improved immensely in the last few weeks.”
Not satisfied, Teum presses, “When is the right time?”
“Tonight, when we make the same pitch to the Family run shadow governments of the same states and municipalities that just left.”
“You told them, “Teum nods his head towards the exit, that meeting was next week.”
“They are not yet allies, I can’t trust them with the all my plans.
You said we’ll make the pitch tonight, does that mean I get to sit in on the next one?”
“That depends on you and her.”
“Her?”
“Yes, her. I need Luscin to make this work; I need you to bring her. She won’t come if I ask, but I think she’d do it for you.”
Stunned, “Woah, we’re talking about Luscin. She doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to do… and what exactly do you expect from her?”
Father reassures, “I’ll take care of my part. It’s your pitch to form a resistance effort. One look at you and they’ll be reminded of me; I’m already asking a lot.
“Your request needs to come from someone other than me, in fact I’m going to oppose the proposal. Most people in these circles believe our relationship is adversarial. Those that don’t will pick up on it quickly.”
Teum, knows he needs to make this happen fast but doesn’t trust Father enough to leave. Raising his voice, “Hey Sammy, how fast can you get a message to Luscin?”
Sammy sits up and shows himself, he had been completely obscured behind a low wall surrounding a planter box full of shrubs, “How’d you know I was here?”
“You breath through your mouth and every time I moved from my seat, your heart beat speeds up. Once I detected you it was nothing to spot you laying there.
“How fast can you get a message to Luscin?”
Sammy slips over the wall and stands with his back to the bar, “Maybe you should tell her the message yourself.”
“I don’t have time for this, can you tell her I need to ask a favor?”
Luscin’s voice replies from behind Teum and Father, “Sammy told me two hours ago to meet you here at this time.”
“Sammy, I see you trying to sneak off. Stay put.
“You’re not the planning ahead type, Teum. That means the message was from him. What does he want with me?”
Prison Cell 468
Lynx sits alone in his hard-earned private cell; every square inch earned by actively participating in the Party indoctrination classes all prisoners are mandated to attend. He goes over the words he needs to deliver for today’s performance; they feel right, more so we each repetition.
He misses his platform shoes, stomping around in them looking over everyone’s heads. He can’t imagine living life that tall, as Teum and Malo do. The shoes and shiny clothes, tall hair, all crafted to make him more visible on the massive stages his band used to perform on. All of that is in the past for now, best not to dwell on it. His drab brown uniform will have to do, it’s all anyone has to wear here.
Of course he does what he can, unbuttoning the top two buttons and popping his shirt collar upright. It’s frowned on by the guards, but they’ve been giving him more latitude since he’s been signing any and all of the memorabilia they’ve smuggled into the prison.
The hypocrisy of the situation is not lost to him, he’s being force fed collectivism party nonsense by the same people participating in underground capitalism. It’s a wonderful world full of contradictions and miracles. Understanding that is what brings him closer to his ultimate goal.
A loud clank followed by the grinding moan of twenty locking bolts retracting, brings his thoughts in focus. That sound has replaced the noise of the crowds in his psyche, hearing that sound makes him simultaneously happy and calm. He pats his pockets to make sure the contraband he’s hiding is secure and not blatantly obvious.
Nineteen other inmates step out of their cells and shuffle to the commons, where they can mingle with five other blocks of prisoners.
That makes an audience of one hundred and three eager listeners for his audience, including the four guards stationed at the two exits.
This is only his third performance of this new material; his delivery has improved with each recital. Confident in his abilities, Lynx makes his way to the far end of the room.
Seeing Lynx at his known starting position the room begins to stir, groups of four begin moving the long tables with built in bench seating against the walls, the tables to Lynx’s left are pushed together tightly to form a continuous surface.
A guard Lynx isn’t too familiar with shouts, “Hey, what’s going on,” as he reaches into a pocket retrieving a vulcanized rubber bullet the size of an eyeball.
His partner puts a calming hand on the excited guard’s shoulder, “Stand down citizen, this activity is sanctioned. Relax and enjoy yourself.”
Relaxing at the assurance of his partner, uncertainty fades from his eyes and the guard relaxes his grip on the rubber bullet and leaves it in his pocket.
Now with the stage set, Lynx steps on a bench seat and spryly leaps to the table top, then struts confidently to the center of his improvised stage.
The room hasn’t settled completely, clusters of inmates are muttering optimistically. The scuffle of slipper covered feet makes a constant hiss, but this isn’t pretty music, no harmony; this is raw rebellion and rebels wait on nobody.
Raising his voice to cut through the noise, “This song is from Dead Dragon’s first year touring, it’s called – Never Gonna Stop, and I believe you’ll see why I chose it right quick.
Taking a quick intake of air, he belts out in a gravelly voice the lyrics.
I lay here broken, with peace of mind
Shackled to a wall, for my crimes
They can’t kill me, I’ll never stop
My dreams will carry me to the top
Never gonna stop, never gonna stop, never gonna stop
I do what I please, the rules be damned
I take no orders from any man
get knocked back a step, take two for—ward
Never gonna stop, never gonna stop, the rules be damned
These chains can’t hold me, I bide my time
Bones heal, bleedin’ stops, I’ll rest when I’m dead
Gonna reach the top, the rules be damned
Never gonna stop, never gonna stop, the rules be damned!
He sings the same two versus three times, encouraging with waves of his arms for everyone to add their voice to the rising tide of rebellion. The warden rejected his request for an amp, he said nothing about audience participation, after all collective activities are encouraged.
When finished he throws his arms in the air, the same signal the propagandists use to tell their audience to cheer or repeat the indoctrination training. The instinctive applause quickly becomes enthusiastic cheering as they realize they are cheering themselves as much as Lynx.
The three guards that knew what to expect joined the celebration. The new guy nervously fondles his crowd control bullets, before allowing himself to give into his desire to be happy and lifts his empty hands and shouts out a whoop of his own.
Lynx lets the cheering go until he detects that moment when it’s about to become forced, this allows the room to settle down without losing all their energy.
Waving his arms he loudly interrupts, “Thank you, thank you. You are all so wonderful, I can’t think of a better bunch of citizens to share my imprisonment with.”
That line has not failed yet to bring a laugh, he waits for the room to settle again.
“For those of you that don’t know why I’m a guest of the PPoV, I have this leaflet that explains everything.”
That line gets the attention of the guards.
Removing the leaflets from both pockets he quickly passes them to a pair of prepared hands. They in turn split the stacks in two and hand them back to two more people.
Before the guards can react, the leaflets are gone. Distributed to more than half the inmates in attendance.
The new guy’s partner is the first to reach Lynx, “What was that? Where did you get them?”
Lynx doesn’t bother playing dumb or denying anything, that wouldn’t be his style, “Why, that was subversive anti-party propaganda, mate.”
Loudly Lynx declares, “As for where I got them from… through grace all things are possible.”
Touching the man’s arm he quietly he adds, “Eternal Grace upon you.”
The guard shivers and whispers, “Eternal Grace upon you.”
Home in the suburbs of Missacon
The steeply slopped roof of the home has done an adequate job of keeping snow from accumulating on the roof top. The front walk and carriage-park have been cleared by Shelly using a shovel found in the shed behind the house. Having worked out her stress at being away from her people she now luxuriates in a hot bath where she intends to stay until mealtime.
The pantry well stocked, has provisions to provide a family of six with two solid meals a day all winter. Silk has her blond hair up in a bun, a white apron protects her pink knee length strapless dress as she prepares their meal. Her high heeled shoes clunk loudly as she swoops from pantry, to ice box, to oven, to stove preparing a dinner befitting the finest of restaurants.
Gege, sits in the main room, looking as tiny as ever, plays with her curly red hair as she reads a report destined for their employer in Rebirth. Adjusting the fluffy blanket that covers her from toes to neck she places it on the read-pile and picks up a fresh report.
Sitting opposite is Abott with her pixie cut blue hair, also covered for warmth but she opted for a silk sheet, perfectly contouring her curvy figure. She too studies a report, this one destined for Vorg.
The women can’t help themselves from competing for his attention whenever he’s around.
Puck is well aware of their attempts to lure him away, to have him for their self. That’s not his way. He’s content with keeping them as friends. When he learned the word plutonic, a term describing a teacher that refused to have sex with his students, he vowed to be just like that man.
The feeling of having a harem of woman pining over him, in a constant state of wanton frustration is the greatest pleasure he could imagine. These four have outlasted hundreds of others, they may be the ones he can be with forever.
Sitting on the floor with his back to the fireplace, Puck is bored and desires entertainment “Are there any surprises?”
Gege looks up and glances at the stack of reports she’s read, “The creature called Malo, has left the continent.”
Disappointed, Puck glances down and to the side, “I didn’t need a report to know that, and neither did any of you.”
“True, but the simpletons in Vorg know it too.”
Abott sees her opportunity to one-up Gege, “The Defenders of El’Hat have joined the naval battle. They’ve inflicted heavy casualties, but the Empire of Blood is still on schedule. Food shortages are beginning to hit the rural areas of South Cenoka.”
Puck expected that news but is heartened to know his instincts are still good, “What of the Empire of Blood? How is their population faring?”
Abott knows he wants to hear this on a high level, if she mentioned the specific atrocities he’d shut down and want to be alone. She can’t have that, “The population is dwindling, but it’s not effecting the output of War Born and the ship yard is still running at maximum capacity.”
Puck expected that too, “What of the Rangers in the mountains?”
Abott shrugged, Gege perks up, “I read that they’re on the move. Not all of them, just the command group. They left the mountains on a diplomatic mission to Brust Valley.”
Another bit of expected news, “How goes the valley’s progress?”
Gege, digs through the pile of papers she already read to find the one with the details she’ll need to impress Puck, “Just a moment.”
Finding the report, she scans it for the details she couldn’t recall, “They are well on their way, this information is a month old, but they’ve already contracted four construction companies and have surveyed and prepped the sight for their fortress.”
Gege leans back pleased with herself.
Puck ignores the glow on Gege’s face, and turns to Abott, “Knowing what we know, how far along do you think they are now?”
“The people in that valley are some of the hardest working people to ever live. Add to that the deep pockets of the second wealthiest family of Rebirth, augmented by the valley’s own treasury… I’d say they are twice as far as anyone suspects. Construction is well underway, how far I could not say without seeing with my own eyes.”
Gege is holding her blanket up over her nose, a sure sign of insecurity, Puck can’t have that, “Gege, is there any news of the Jones woman?”
Dropping the blanket to her lap, “No, she continues her exile in Mammatus.”
Puck can’t help but tease, he knows the secret that the Jones family hides, “What about the report of her being in Twoya the same day she was spotted in Mammatus with her young charges?”
Gege can only opine using the knowledge she has, “That report can’t be accurate unless she has an alley capable of transporting her hundreds of miles in the span of an hour.”
“Yes, that does sound outrageous. There’s no way she could be in two places at one time.
“Abbot, what else is happening in the Empire of Blood?”
“The usual politics, except the remaining power lords are ostracizing one of their number, which is unusual. They are ganging up on our employer in Vorg, thinking he’s behind the assassination of Rätsel.”
“Any new suspects on that unexpected twist of fate?”
“Only our benefactor…”
Puck picks up on the uncertainty in her voice, “Do you have something you wish to say?”
Abott is hesitant to suggest something as speculative as this theory, but she needs to stand out amongst her peers, “Perhaps it was one of his assassins… going rogue. Someone with a stone to grind as the old saying is supposed to go.”
“That is a peculiar saying, I wonder if it refers to mill stones?”
Stammering, “Um, I guess… but what do you…”
Saving his blue-haired best friend from embarrassment, “That is an interesting thought, very original. Too bad we are not paid to be advisors. All we can do is pass along other people’s facts and rumors.”
Silk’s melodious voice interrupts, dinner is ready. Somebody should fetch Shelly before she falls asleep and drowns.
Puck pretends to stand, “I’ll get her.”
Gege leaps from her chair, “No, no! You’d just embarrass her; I’ll get her.”
Abott is pleased to see her competition reduced to one.
Puck glides past her before she can stand.
“That smells incredible, Silk. I could hardly concentrate on business while smelling this wonderful meal.”
Silk blushes, “You’re too kind. I try to contribute where I can. You have so much to do, you should never concern yourself with meal planning when I’m around. I know all the ways to take care of a man.”
Without a second look at Silk, Puck continues to the table and takes a seat on the side of the table, knowing only one can sit beside him.
The spread is immaculate, there’s a soup, salad, a dish of green beans, a large roasted avi, mashed potatoes with gravy, fresh baked bread, she really out did herself.
Humbly Silk takes the seat at the head of the table, positioned to his left. Puck notes her maturity, seated there she can easily look and talk to him without making him turn his head.
Abott takes the seat to his right, leaving the two empty chairs on the other side of the table for Gege and Shelly. Gege is always putting herself at a disadvantage by acting rashly. But, that’s ok, if they were all the same they wouldn’t work so well together.
Shelly, still wet and wearing nothing but a child’s bath robe and Gege in a pair of green pajama’s with hearts on them take the remaining seats.
Silk gloats at Abott. Abott is angry with Shelly for daring to come to dinner looking like an unkempt savage. Gege, looks enviously at Abott seated next to Puck. Shelly looks inward feeling uncertain of her place amongst humans.
Puck looked at the spread of food before him and couldn’t be happier.