went round the audience.
“What is the meaning of this?” the queen demanded. Alessia looked at the table with more care and gasped herself, for there beside Rasifi’s cup was its replica, with three curved handles in the shape of petals and the other petals lying smoothly along the rim. She felt herself sway and Danthys was there beside her, holding her. She leant against him, a tendril of anxiety curling up through her. Her vision clouded, the world looked grey, she felt herself falling. Then she saw Danthys’ face above her and heard someone offering her water. She struggled upright, muttering apologies. The young page was beside her with a stool, explaining that she should have been sitting, if she was pregnant. “You should have told us,” he hissed, “the queen does not ask pregnant women to stand for ceremonies.”
Rasifi and Bullneck were explaining to the queen and her advisors that it was pure chance that they had chosen the same design; that they had not conferred. But in both their minds there was a doubt. Danthys and Alessia would have some explaining to do. The queen and the other priestesses conferred at length as the goldsmiths waited. At last the queen spoke.
“This is an omen. The Mother is telling us that we must celebrate doubly this year, that next year will be full of wonders,”
“Oh, really! She just knew she couldn’t choose one of two almost identical cups,” said Trynor.
“Yes. Wonderful to be in charge like that, making up the rules as you go along. Now she can blame everything that goes wrong on the cups, or take credit for the things that go right because she ordered a double ceremony. Not that the cups are identical, ours has no bees.”
“No, how could you? They are nothing to do with Danthys and Alessia’s idea, they’re just Mikolos’ trademark added on. They look good though, don’t they?” Trynor laughed, “But we shouldn’t have let our pleasure, our confidence in Alessia and Danthys stop us discussing this, we should have shared the design!”
“I was enjoying the contest. I still have a strong human streak, don’t you? Even if you were only a human once it must be in there.”
“So there will be two ceremonies, one at dawn on midwinter’s day as usual, and one at dusk. I will use one cup in the morning and the king will close the day with the other.” The queen turned to Rasifi and Bullneck and her gaze swept over everyone in the two family groups, as she gave the tiniest of bows. “I thank you all for your participation. Your rewards will arrive tomorrow.” She turned and swept out of the arena, followed by the king and both retinues.
Back in the courtyard, there was much laughter and teasing and excitement that both families would be paid for their work and neither cup would have to be melted down. They were all frustrated that they could not examine the two cups more clearly, to see how they had differed. Voices were raised as opinions were given.
“Alessia and Danthys know.” No one was sure who had spoken, but all eyes turned to where Alessia and Danthys were sitting. Alessia blushed.
“Yes, you had better both explain,” said Bullneck, “You suggested the idea to me, Danthys.”
“And you to me, Alessia,” said Rasifi, “Why?”
“Well, it just seemed that it would be pretty,” Alessia said helplessly, “Danthys and I were talking about the cups and that idea just came into my mind.”
“And into mine,” said Danthys.
“But I did not tell Danthys my idea, only you.”
“Is this true, son? Did you tell Alessia your idea?” Bullneck’s eyes flashed. Eventually Alessia and Danthys managed to convince everyone that they were telling the truth and had not shared their ideas. As this realisation became clearer to the others, they fell silent one by one and looked at each other in amazement. It was Rasifi who broke the silence.
“We must give thanks to the Mother for guiding their minds, so that we would make two cups for the two ceremonies she needs.”
“Oh, for goodness sake,” muttered Trynor, “they are looking at a miracle of human and soul symbiosis and they ignore it entirely and give the credit to their god.” He sighed and sat back in the wintery sunshine.
“Lighten up, Trynor, at least they have noticed and accepted, and are thankful.”
“Yes, and we are going to have to sit through double ceremonies. We should have foreseen that.”
“You are too anti-ceremony. They enjoy them and