The corners of her lips had the beginnings of a smile, her eyes a glint of remembered pleasure. It wasn’t a look I saw on her face often, so I committed it to my memory.
“Each household brings a meal?” Solara asked, incredulous. “No one hosts?”
“No, that’s sort of the point.” Qole’s face was already closing off, her tone flattening. “It’s a shared thing, called a potluck.”
“I get it!” Ket nearly shrieked. “The luck of the draw—or the pot! You never know what you’ll get, right? Unifier’s name, how could you just trust all these family’s cooks like that?”
“Um, we don’t have cooks. We cook. Ourselves.” Qole must have anticipated what sort of response she would get from that because she went on quickly. “Anyway, I like it. It’s fun.”
Ket swooped back in—for the kill. “Well, there must be something else you do for more amusement. Oh, oh, let me guess, this will be a blast.” She pursed her lips as if deep in thought. “For those quaint fur clothes of yours, do you hunt and skin the animals yourself?? I’ve heard that locals of the outer planets like to do that. I’ve seen vids of people up to their elbows in blood—some even drink it steaming! Do you do the same?”
Great Collapse.
“Do I drink blood?” Qole opened her mouth, then closed it. I hoped she was too shocked to get infuriated.
Mother tried to salvage the moment, to her credit. “Or what about other cultural traditions, dear? Do you have any festivals?”
Qole’s face went still. Festivals? Alaxak?
But then she surprised me by saying, very calmly, “Sort of.” Her face was beyond still. A mask. “Once a year we gather on the tundra and light off Shadow flares for each person who has died in the past year. Every year we launch dozens, in a village that has only hundreds living in it. The flares are supposed to carry their souls up through atmosphere, to the molecular cloud where we catch our Shadow. It’s Shadow that kills us, so that’s where we go, when we die.”
Utter silence had descended over the room. Everyone was staring at her. Even Marsius and Arjan had halted their animated conversation at a table to look over.
If Shadow was where Qole’s people ended up in death, Qole was where polite, inane conversation went to die.
Solara, oddly, looked impressed.
As for me…it wasn’t at all funny and would have been the most inappropriate thing I could have done as far as either my family or Qole was concerned, but for a moment I wanted to laugh hysterically.
Mother cleared her throat first, followed by a chorus of the sounds. “Well, isn’t that fascinating? I’m sure we would love to hear about Alaxak all afternoon, but preparations really must be getting underway for tonight’s celebration.”
I knew what would happen now. Everyone would scatter, and soon I would be so tied up in an evening of protocol that I wouldn’t be able to move, let alone talk to Qole.
I turned to Father. “We must discuss a few things.”
He nodded. “Agreed. However, there will be time later. Right now, we must arrange for accommodations for our no-doubt exhausted guests. Food, baths. And you, Nevarian, must prepare for the ball tonight, and for tomorrow’s events.”
I nodded. “I know. And so should Qole. We must make sure that she is properly introduced.”
“What?” Qole stared at me, shocked out of any last vestige of propriety. “Are you mad? I’m not going to any ball.”
The king frowned. “Indeed, I’m not sure what the purpose would be.”
“She would no doubt be terribly uncomfortable,” Mother chimed in. “It’s probably best that she get her strength back.”
“What would she even wear?” Ket giggled.
I felt myself flush slightly. “It makes sense because tomorrow is the Dracorte Conference and Report. Qole and I both risked much to get here in time for that, and for the major yearly accomplishments that will be celebrated in advance, tonight.”
“Like our betrothal,” Ket said with satisfaction.
“Yes, yes. And like the fact that we have an official representative from Alaxak who will be the key to unlocking Shadow’s widespread energy potential, an arrangement in which I’ve played an instrumental part. This was the point, Father. If we don’t impress everyone tonight and give them a reason to have faith in the Dracorte heir, then you know that the rumor networks will start churning.”
Father hesitated. “I know Rubion was anxious to begin his study—the very basis for any confidence we might have on display tonight.”
“He’s not going to finish his study tonight, and, anyway, Qole’s appearance will do much more for us than some Shadow-saturated algae, with all the rumors no doubt flying around about her. Her bounty put her in the spotlight. She’s wanted, and we have her.”
The words brought even more warmth to my cheeks, but I tried to disregard it.
King Thelarus stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Perhaps. A delay for just this evening might be permissible.”
“No. No, no, no,” Qole said. “Ketrana’s right. Her Royal Majesty is right. You’re both so right, and Nev is wrong.” She stood in a rush and dusted herself off. “This was an honor. An honor and a pleasure. But I’m the last person who wants…who you want at a ball.”
Solara sprang up beside her, grabbing her arm. “Oh, please reconsider, Qole. It will be ever so much fun, I promise. And Nev is right, it will make such a splash. The networks will be raving about the great things the Dracorte family will accomplish with someone like you to help us. What do you say, Father?” She turned to Father and pouted at him. “Do let’s invite our guests to the ball.”
With Solara’s help, it seemed that I might yet get everyone—my family included—to accept Qole as a proper envoy of her planet and not something I’d tracked in on my boots. “Qole hasn’t received the best welcome on Luvos,” I added pointedly. “It’s time to set that right, and to show the world what we are made of and what the future holds for us.”
The king nodded slowly. “I suppose. Solara, prepare the captain for the ball. Ysandrei, please find a manservant to help Arjan with preparations as well.” He raised his eyebrow at her.
A perfect smile fell into place on the queen’s face, one that I knew masked disagreement. “Of course. Arjan, Marsius, do let’s get you both decent and more comfortable for the party.”
Marsius looked up from the table where he’d brought Arjan drawing materials to illustrate how a Shadow run worked. “What? Party? Party! Oh, Arjan, we’ll have so much fun.”
—
A few minutes later, only Father and I remained in the great room. The chandeliers had been dimmed, and we stood side by side looking at the view of the city through the glass balcony. The sun was beginning to set, and a million lights flickered to life, some running like rivers and others twinkling like stars. Bright streaks traced the contours of the Starport as ships departed and arrived.
Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.