I hurried after him.
People bowed as we passed by, and I couldn't help feeling smug. Because the King was leading me to his big elephant table. Was this a date? No, of course not. But I could work with it.
There were three of those couches/chairs behind the royal table—the grand elephant one and then two simpler versions, one to either side. The King waved at the chair on the right, then sat down on the center couch. I looked at him, then at the seat he'd offered me, and it struck me. I was going to eat with the King. Right beside him.
“Is there a problem with that chair?” King Shaleros asked.
“No, not at all,” I said as I sat down and bounced a bit on the cushions. “It's a great chair. I mean, it's more of a lounger, than a chair, but that's even better. Who doesn't like a lot of room?” I stretched out my arms, pulled a knee up on the couch, felt awkward, and put my foot back on the floor. As I fidgeted into a semi-casual pose, I went on, “I like the carvings. More elephants. Yay.”
He lifted a brow at me.
“Powerful animals, elephants,” I stammered. “Or so I've heard.”
“Indeed, they are.” He cocked his head to watch my posturing attempts. “And they are highly intelligent, emotional creatures.”
“They are?”
“Yes. They even bury their dead.”
“They . . .” I finally leaned an elbow on my knee and settled my stare on him. “Did you say, they bury their dead?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“What?”
“How do they bury their dead? They don't have hands.”
“They have trunks.”
“So they dig holes with their trunks?”
“I imagine so. I haven't actually witnessed an elephant burial.”
“Huh.” I shook my head. “That's amazing. Kind of ironic that they're your symbol when they're so emotional and . . . never mind.”
“And I am not?” the King asked.
“Are you unemotional?” I propped my chin on my hand. “I didn't notice.”
No reaction. He just asked, “Are you comfortable?”
“Isn't this someone else's seat? Someone more important?” I glanced at the embroidered pillows and carvedsides. I could have curled up and gone to sleep on that chair. It was that spacious.
“Not tonight.”
I snorted. “Good answer.” I finally got my pillows done right, with the armrests under my arms, and looked out across the dining hall. “Wow. I'm sitting at the King's table. This is nice. Great view from up here.”
“I'm glad you like it,” the King said absently as he nodded at a servant.
Suddenly, there was movement everywhere. The courtiers scurried to their tables while servants streamed into the room carrying steaming platters of food. The first people in the parade of food veered off to the King's table. Several platters of delicious smelling dishes were set before us. I lifted my brows when the food kept coming, more than enough for two men.
King Shaleros got right to it, piling food onto his plate. He didn't tell me I could proceed, so I waited until he started eating before I made my selections.
With the first mouthful, I groaned.
“Good?” he asked.
