Page 7 of Spectral Seas (Spectral Worlds #2)

F ROM AN ARCHWAY in the recess of a high tier on the opposing wall, two deep red curtains swung wide, and from the dark cavity, adorned in a golden toga and flowing emerald cape, stepped his royal highness Elggwa, king of the Viridians.

He spread his arms wide, and as the Herald had a moment before, let loose a tentacle-wiggling wail. The occupants of the hall, again, responded in kind, this time adding their applause—not with the cheers offered to Leta and Abby, but with the gusto reserved for the ruler. They beat upon the tables and stomped upon the balcony floors. The king nodded at his audience in approval, then sat upon his dining chair, the makeshift throne for the evening.

When the crowd appeared satiated, the king lifted his long-clawed hand in a gesture of gratitude, then spoke. The outside gurgle quickly translated into the chamber, a new voice unlike Uhggwa’s digitized translator, this one warm, full, and fluid. It was Elggwa. “Thank you all for coming,” he said. “I’m so very pleased to be joined by our guests from the Alpha plane.” He raised both of his hands and added, “Let’s show them a feast.”

There was another round of stomping from the infinity tables, and from the tier above the king, a row of five seated drummers rapidly struck their drums while three musicians to the side blew into elongated conch shells. In unison, columns of uniformed waitstaff with large, dome-covered platters in hand, flooded from the curtained archways into every level of the arena, and, with precision, distributed themselves around the infinity tables. When they were equally dispersed, the league of servers, again in unison, placed the large trays onto the tables and removed the domed lids to reveal the first course of the evening’s dinner: huge glass bowls overflowing with writhing eels and worms.

From behind Abby and Leta, an atmospheric suit attired waiter wheeled in a cart with a domed tray on its top.

“ Oh, please no,” chin-chipped Leta.

The waiter removed the dome lid and presented a silver tray overflowing with multi-colored cut fruits.

Leta sighed.

“What?” chipped Abby. “You didn’t want to share in that delight? ” Beyond the glass of the chamber, the Viridians drew long, thin tube worms from the serving bowls onto their plates—the small creatures still squirming as they were devoured.

“ No, thank you,” she said. “I’m okay with the synthetic fruit.”

“They aren’t as bad as you think,” Abby said aloud.

“I’ll take your word for it.”

Elggwa’s warm digitized voice filled the chamber. “Drink with me, my old friend.” Across the hall, the king had his chalice in hand. Abby and Leta raised their crystal goblets to their host .

“His Highness humbles me,” said Abby.

Elggwa’s head tilted to the side. “Cheers, Benediximus,” he said, but there was no sign or expression he was speaking, no gurgling broadcast to the other guests, just the eerily omniscient voice of the king over the chamber speaker. “And welcome back.”

Abby and Leta waited for Elggwa to dip his tentacled face into his large cup, then drank from theirs.

“Oh,” said Leta, snickering her nose. “That’s delightful.”

“Viridian ice wine,” said Abby. “Never disappointing.”

“I’m pleased you like it,” said Elggwa. “Our island vinyards have been producing this fine wine for longer than remembered, but this vintage is exceptional.”

“It is magnificient, your highness.”

“We’re very proud of it. I will have a cask packaged for your return. It’s the least I could do after missing your arrival. Please accept my apology for not greeting you in person. We are honored that you and Captain Serene have come to offer assistance in our time of need. I’m concerned that without your help, these mining issues will continue to hazard production.”

“I assure you that we will do our best to get to the bottom of this.”

“Good, good. I trust my son accommodated you.”

“He did, your Highness,” said Abby.

“And you, Captain. Have you found everything to your liking?”

“Your Highness,” she said, “your kindness to diplomats—the habitat, the banquet—we are humbled by your generous hospitality.”

Though Elggwa appeared not to react, deep laughter boomed throughout the chamber. “Is that what he told you?” asked Elggwa. “That he was a mere diplomat? Abernathy Squire is revered as a hero in Viridis. He is the Benediximus.”

“The Benediximus?” Leta glanced at Abby in awe.

“Well,” said Abby. But before he could explain, a thunderous gurgle filled the hall beyond the glass as Elggwa stood and raised his chalice high. “All Hail the Benediximus,” came the translation. Every Viridian stood with their goblets raised high above their heads.

Abby continued. “It was a right time, right place, sort of thing.”

“Hoorah,” bellowed the voice, echoed by a roar from the hall, followed by another, “Hoorah,” then a third.

Abby stood, put his fist to his chest in salute, then bowed to the crowd to another outcry of cheers.

“Nine planes,” Leta said under her breath. “Right time, right place? You said you were key in brokering the alliance. Just what did you do?”

“I told you,” he said. “When the Viridians weren’t eager to trade, some of the other envoys wanted to handle things in an innovative way.”

“ You said that they wanted to apply some pressure ,” Leta chin-chipped.

“ Well ,” said Abby. “ There was this assassination attempt, and— ”

“ The syndicate tried to assassinate the king?”

“ They were in a hurry and negotiations weren’t going their way. I stopped the assassin, Elggwa decreed me the Benediximus, and I was able to influence the deal in favor of the Alpha Plane . It all worked out.”

“I’m glad we’ve evolved as an organization.”

“You keep telling yourself that.”

Elggwa set his chalice down before him and the Viridians ceased their cheers and returned to their seats. Instantly, another series of servers entered the hall to swap the near empty glass bowls with the next course—a mixed grill of shell fish and crab. Abby and Leta had barely touched their fruit plate, but the server replaced it with a platter of baked vegetables.

“I could get used to this,” said Leta.

“I am so glad you enjoy the dish,” said Ellgwa. “Now to begin the evening’s entertainment...” He spread his arms wide and slowly raised his open palms. The lights of the arena dimmed, replaced by spotlights that cast down onto the floor. There was a drum roll, then, as the trumpeters joined in, a group of thin acrobats lept and somersaulted into the center of the arena.

~*~