She shakes her head. “I’m sure she probably doesn’t enjoy all the jostling and scheming involved in establishing a clan hierarchy. Musette and I feel the same. Both of us would rather hold out for a possible blood rose than join a clan. We see how devoted Mother and Father are to one another and want what they have.”
I nod my head in complete understanding. “Have you had any luck yet?” I ask, and she pouts.
“No, but we travel around Vilax regularly. Mother gives us different diplomatic missions in the hopes we might find them in the general population like she found Father, but I think with Saxon finding his with Lila that maybe we need to look beyond the Vilaxian population. Fate has a funny way of putting blood roses in each other’s paths, and neither of us have even had an inkling of ours.”
“You may be right. It’s good that you aren’t closed-minded and bigoted like some of your people.” I think of Radella and Estrella and how they reacted to Lila being Saxon’s blood rose.
Mehira sniffs and waves her hand. “Those two were always full of self-importance. They thought they were above their station because they were in the same clan as the queen’s two nephews. You should have seen their heads nearly explode when they were trying to decide which twin to follow when the clan dissolved.” She giggles evilly.
I think about telling her that they are welcome on the ship if they so choose, since Saxon’s act is short quite a few fliers, but I need to run it by both him and Lila first. He may not want them aboard. Family can be difficult despite the obvious close relationship they have.
Musette stands up and claps her hands, gaining everyone’s attention. “Let the games begin,” she declares, and there is a flurry of activity as tables in the middle of the throne room are cleared away, leaving a group of chairs placed back-to-back.
“What’s happening?” I ask Saxon’s cousin, who just smirks with undisguised glee.
“When Mother and Musette were researching Earth party traditions, they discovered that games are regularly played at them. They decided it would be fun to play a few here as well.”
I frown as I try to remember my own Earth research. I can only remember party games being a staple of children’s birthday parties, not whatever this one is supposed to be. We watch as most of the members of Saxon’s family clan gather around the chairs. The only ones not taking part are his brother and the people gathered around him. His two clan members, Kavita and Dante, are with him, but so are Hale and Velorina.
“What is going on there?” I ask Mehira, and she growls as her gaze finds what I’m referring to.
“Xenos is not being very loyal to his brother. He is making a huge mistake, because Mother has taken note and is not amused,” she replies mysteriously.
Music starts to play, and the clan members begin to dance around the chairs in a large circle. They are writhing and twitching in what I think is supposed to be dance moves, but they almost appear like they are having a fit of some kind.
“What’s going on?” I ask, confused at what I’m seeing. I turn when I hear my wife laughing. Her eyes sparkle with amusement, and she claps in time to the music.
“This is called musical chairs on Earth,” she explains to Saxon and me. “The aim is to dance around the chairs as the music plays, and when the music stops, you need to sit on one of the chairs.”
I turn back to the spectacle, count the chairs, and compare it to the number of clan members. “But there are less chairs than people,” I point out, and she nods, grinning.
“That’s the point. The people who don’t manage to sit in the chair are out.”
“Oh fuck,” Saxon mutters, and my eyes widen as the music stops and there is a mad dash for the chairs. It all happens in a blur of motion, the movement too fast for us to make out due to Vilaxian speed. All of a sudden, someone goes flying through the air, hitting the floor and sliding a distance. Then, there is snarling and cursing as a fight breaks out. Fists fly as blows are exchanged. Lila’s mouth drops open as a chair is smashed over someone’s head.
“Vilaxians are incredibly competitive, and nobody likes to lose,” Saxon says flatly. When the movement finally stops, there are two blood-covered family members—one groaning from being thrown across the room, and one knocked out completely.
The music starts up again, and the chair winners all stand up and continue to dance, stepping around the losers. A couple more chairs are removed, and the injured Vilaxians are escorted off the floor by the queen’s guards.
“Well, that was…” Lila trails off, and Sabine claps her hands.
“Highly fucking entertaining. We should include musical chairs at all of our functions,” she exclaims, congratulating Musette on the wonderful idea.
Musette preens, and Mehira snorts and rolls her eyes. “My choice of game is so much better.” She sits up straight, her wine glass forgotten, wearing a determined look on her face.
Fuck, I had forgotten how competitive the twins are. This surprise party, while a sweet idea, is quickly devolving.
Once musical chairs is over, and the injured losers are all taken care of, we get up to mingle for a little while. Saxon doesn’t stray far from Lila, and I find myself caught up in a conversation with the head of Saxon’s family clan—or I guess the head now that Saxon’s dad passed. He is a pompous fool who likes to toot his own horn, as Lila would say. I’m barely paying attention, instead keeping an eye on my family. Both Saxon’s and Lila’s expressions are looking a little strained at their individual conversations. Xavier, of course, seems like he’s having a blast. I’m sure he’s causing as much mischief as possible.
“Next game. This was my pick,” Mehira shouts as something is lowered from the ceiling. The gathered crowd cheers as the object comes into view. It is a large, star-shaped thing that looks to be made up of an organic material. I find Lila, who is smiling and nodding her head. She obviously knows what this is.
“It is time for the penisata,” Mehira announces and waves a hand. A guard comes over holding a blindfold and a wooden stick. “It is filled with wonderful prizes for those of you quick enough to get them.”
Lila’s smiles drops, and she frowns slightly. I search through my data banks in the hopes I can figure out what a penisata is.
“Who will do the honors in going first?” Mehira asks, and there is a jostle amongst the partygoers as they all fight to go first.
Instead, she waves Saxon forward. “As the guest of honor, it shall be your turn first,” she declares.
