Kay ignored him and looked at his sister. "Dan, that vampire and I have been through a lot together."
She looked blank. After a few blinks she drew her brows together. "Vampire?"
Kay paled a little when he realized he'd slipped. He looked at Baka, who grinned brightly and raised his glass as if to say, "Cheers," before bringing it to his perfectly chiseled lips.
Kay stared at Baka for a moment before finally deciding what to say. "It's an inside joke."
Dandie turned to Baka as if to get confirmation. He waved the glass in his hand toward Kay. "Indeed. Nothing quite says funny like vampire."
Dandie considered that for a moment, stepped closer to Baka and said: "Come near me again and I'll kick your ass myself."
In response Baka gave her his best sardonic smile and rubbed a forefinger in his ear. "I'm sorry. Did you say kick or lick?"
Dandie's eyes grew impossibly wide and her face reddened, making it look like she might spontaneously combust.
Baka seemed intrigued by the demonstration and watched with interest. "Kay, my friend, do your sisters berserk as well?" Kay stepped in front of the ex-vampire. "Never mind. That was a silly question. Given the right circumstances all women berserk."
Kay advanced with a more threatening tone. "Baka..."
"Alright. Alright. I'm going." Baka looked around like he'd lost something. "Has anybody seen Aelsong?"
Kay, who had turned toward his sister, gritted his teeth and wheeled around like a parent who'd been pushed too far. "Baka! Give. It. A. Rest. Everybody's sisters are off limits. Am I making myself clear?"
"Kay," Baka chuckled, "most women are somebody's sister."
Kay took a step forward in an aggressive mannerism that was universally understood as provocation-gone-too-far. The fact that it was out of character for Kay was a little alarming. So, in an unprecedented display of good judgment, Baka set his glass down, held up his hands, and began backing toward the door.
Having witnessed the entire scene without saying a word, Squoozie now hurried out the door after Baka. When she caught up to him, they were still close enough for Kay and Dandie to hear their sister say: "My baby brother doesn't speak for me, Baka. I'm sure Aelsong is busy right now. But I'm not."
***
CHAPTER 4
On the day of the handfasting, the palace became a blur of activity between deliveries and the hustle and bustle of staff, both permanent and temporary. Katrina and the Norns kidnapped Elora from the breakfast table and insisted that Ram could not see her again until time for the ceremony. Elora was touched that they wanted to fuss over her and help her get ready.
When Song heard about it, she showed up and the suite was alive with feminine laughter and excitement. In mid afternoon she said, "I'm goin' to go check on the groom."
A chorus of voices sounded all at once, the gist of it being, "Don't tell him a thing you've seen or heard!"
Song found her brother in his suite and offered to braid his hair behind his ears. He sat quietly in front of the mirror and enjoyed reminiscences with his favorite sibling, who was quick to assure him that she found Elora Laiken a treasure beyond compare. He tried to pump her for information about what Elora was doing, but Aelsong resolutely kept her pledge of silence. When she was sure that Ram knew exactly how to put on his own costume along with where and when he should report for the ceremony, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and returned to the bride's ready room.
Tepring and Aelsong had spared no expense on the bride's gown. She had chosen white for no reason other than that Ram loved to see her wear white. The dress was raw silk with decolletage that showed the right amount of bosom - not too scandalous, not too prude - and a tight fitting bodice beaded all over with real pearls. There was so much fabric in the skirt that a weaker woman might grow tired carrying it around.
Tepring arrived in late afternoon holding a box wrapped in forest green satin sheen paper with white and gold ribbons woven together then formed into a bow. Elora sat down on the settee to open it saying how much she hated to disturb the perfection of the wrapping. The gift inside was the perfect complement to her dress - a four strand pearl choker necklace - all the more precious because it was a family heirloom, having belonged to Ram's great-grandmother. When Elora started to tear up, there was a sudden rush of group admonition insisting that no tears were allowed once make-up had been applied.
Aelsong then handed Elora a smaller gift in identical wrapping.
"For you from the king. 'Tis somethin' new," Song said quietly.
It was a pair of stud earrings with pearls identical to those in the choker. Each pearl sat on a foundation of emeralds. Song then handed her a bracelet of four strands of pearls. "This one is mine, but it matches the necklace so I insist you wear them together today."
"It's beautiful, Song. Are you sure?"
"Oh, aye." Aelsong's tinkling laugh made the space joyful. Elora gave her a hug. The pearls for the dress, though smaller, had been chosen to match the exact same tone and luster. The result was stunning.
As oldest, Urz took the leadership role. "Trinnie's got one more thing from us." She gestured to indicate the other four women.
Katrina handed her yet another forest green box with gold and white ribbon. Elora looked from one to another with delight and anticipation. She tore off the wrapping with more abandon each time she opened a gift. This box contained a wide blue, raw silk garter with a luxurious excess of ruching, accented with a single pearl centered on a white satin bow.