There was no avoiding a talk with the Queen, though.She was among the last to approach us and, to my surprise, spent an entire 5 percent of her monologue admitting that I was having a positive effect on herbrother.That she was actually glad he would have“not a viper like Katsia by his side but a female who loves him.”I guess I was in her good graces?
Another 90 percent was about the possible ways my children with Karim might look and their number.The rest of the talk turned into an interrogation about my physical state.Had I skipped any of mytwomonthlybleeds?Did I have evening sickness after eating radish for breakfast?Did I have inexplicable cravings, for example for steamed artichoke rather than raw?
I thanked the Queen for her support for the braid linkage so shortly after she’d met me.Then, once Karim and I got to the other side of the Great Cavern from her, I thanked him.For not giving me radish for breakfast in the evening and artichoke in any form.Hecould barely hold back a chuckle.
With diplomacy out of the way, we could finally enjoy the feast as much as our connected braids allowed us.Cocktail tables of mushroom-shaped crystal offered every kind of fruit and vegetable imaginable along with cherry wine.A live band of six elves performed dreamy music with flutes and harps that some elves were gently swaying to on an impromptu dance floor.
I was too excited to eat, but Karim made sure to fill a bowl for both of us.Before we could say anything to each other, alone at last, we were joined by Tisvali and his moss partners.Borella stood on his right side and Kassium on his left, the three of them a vision of muscle and grace in green.
The two pure-blooded elves did not just congratulate Karim and me.They talked to me personally, asking me about my life and wedding traditions.All it had taken to win their good graces, as Tisvali whispered conspiratorially to me afterward, had been my teaching him–and, indirectly, them–about strip poker.
“Now they share me without constantly fighting for my attention,” he explained to me.“No one claims they’re being neglected in favor of the other, because they know the rules of poker.The first one to lose all their clothes wins thebigaward.”
He sounded so excited that I chose not to correct him.What mattered the most was that the card game had made three people very happy, had given me new friends, and had won me the permanent title ofBloom Lady.
The only other person who Tisvali had awarded with a title joined us as soon as he and his partners left our side.She was closely followed by her charge for the night.
Deidre had been burdened with the hard task of keeping the Gargoyle King’s special emissary company for the duration of the ceremony and feast.The Emissary had been sent specifically to attend what he described as themating celebrationof his homecloud’s ally.Deidre had to both keep him entertained and ensure he didn’t leavethe Great Cavern throughout the night’s festivities.
“This is so not fair, Curly-Q,” she muttered.“I was punished for my violations two weeks ago!I understand Ris should not be wandering around the Kingdom in the name of keeping our secrets safe.But tell me, what secret could he possibly learn from taking a close look at my moss?Ain’t it so, tiger?”
A deep gargoylish growl followed.
“See, Jasmine?Ris is totally in for the cultural tour an emissary deserves.”Her subsequent giggle died abruptly.“Why the smug look, Karim?I can’t take any other punishments today.Spill it, right now.”
Because of the hair situation, I couldn’t turn to see what look of his she was referring to, but Deidre knew Karim too well.
“Congratulations,” he announced with unbridled amusement.“You will be the Kingdom’s trade ambassador to King Xaniban’shomecloud.”
Karim might as well have thrown a bomb in the center of our small circle.
“The trade ambassador,” he went on in the absence of reactions, “has to ensure the travel of humans and the exchange of mutually beneficial products by going back and forth between the underground and the clouds.As the head of the carrier unit, Emissary Ris,” Karim’s tone was laced with warning now, “I expect you to be personally responsible for the transportation and safety of my very close friend.”
Ris’ reply?One deep grunt and a single flap of wings.Deidre’s reaction?A gaping mouth.
“As the Queen’s chosen ambassador, Deidre, you’re expected to use your light-tolerant eyes in the clouds to ensure the Kingdom is getting the best fruit and vegetables our ally has to offer.Since your delicate skin should be shielded from the unforgiving rays of the sun, you are also expected to have housing there for in between trips.I’m sure Emissary Ris will be able to find you a place to stay.”
Finally, Deidre’s slack expression morphed into an ecstaticlook.Ris issued an ever deeper grunt than before.
Karim was amazing.Under the pretext of implementing the alliance’s provisions, he’d made sure his friend would get exactly what she wanted.And judging by the excited flutter of wings, so would Ris.I was so happy for them, though I would miss having Deidre constantly around.
Soon after, Karim, Tisvali, and I were watching Deidre’s attempt to involve the gargoyles’ emissary into acultural tourof the dance floor.Compared to the elves on there with their willowy sways to the soothing music, Deidre was being rather progressive with her hip shakes.But her efforts seemed fruitless at first, with Ris just standing behind her like… Well, like a stone statue.
“If he disappoints her in any way,” Karim declared, “on the moss or otherwise, I’m turning him into target practice.”
“And I,” Tisvali said, “am turning his tail into a souvenir for the Lake Lady.”
Seeing how big Deidre’s smile was and how the gargoyle’s tail slid sensually around her ankle, I was sure these two would be just fine.
“Don’t rip it, Karim!”
“Should I wait for winter to come and make all the leaves fall on their own?”
“Gosh, no!I will self-combust if I have to wait much longer.”Waiting until it was polite for us to leave the feast had been excruciating enough.No touching, not even an exchange of loadedglances because of our linked braids–this had been the most demure wedding I had ever attended.But now the ceremonialities were over, the ribbon linking our braids was off, and nothing stood in our way of celebrating properly on our moss.
Nothing but my dress, that was.
“Turn around, my flower.”Karim had me with my hands on the wall by the bed.“Stay still.Or I’ll be tempted to tear these maddening leaves off you.”
