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The entire hall gleamed in the same off-white color as the rest of the palace. The walls, floor, and pillars were accentuated by golden veins and dots running through the marble-like material.
My gaze moved over the rows of guests, of which most were Pandraxians, but I saw others, like Crough and his minion, as well. There were aliens with fur, scales, and even feathers. I noticed a couple whose skin shimmered golden, wearing tunics and some kind of elaborate headdress that was at least half their size, and wondered how the sticklike figures managed to carry all that weight and look animated and happy doing so.
Every color known to man seemed represented and even a few I couldn't quite place, like the woman a few seats down whose scales shimmered in an iridescent deep blue-black in a variation I had never seen before.Four hands fished for food and drink, delivering it to an opening in her face that was probably a mouth.
Across from her was another woman, also scaled, but her scales shimmered in all colors of the rainbow, constantly changing, and her mouth looked more human.
A man, whose head resembled a boar, snorted loudly to what another man said to him, who looked human until I noticed his arms that seemed too long, giving more of an appearance of tentacles.
"Who are all these people?" I asked when my mind was threatening to become overstimulated with the variety of aliens around me.
"Some are ambassadors from neighboring galaxies, a few heads of conquered domains which now belong to the empire but are still run by their species. They owe us taxes and levies and show up frequently to beg to have both lowered," Garth explained. "Some are lord protectors, like me."
"You are more than just a lord protector though, aren't you?" I voiced my suspicions.
"I'm lucky enough to call Daryus not only my emperor, but my friend as well, vra," he confirmed, but not truly giving away how much sway he most likely held over the most powerful man in the universe. "We—Daryus, Xandros and I—grew up together," he added, confirming mysuspicions that he wielded a lot more power than just anordinarylord protector.
After dessert Garth excused himself for a moment and I watched him walk up to Daryus who noticed his approach and waved him forward.
Others noticed as well and the constant buzz around us didn't totally abate, but quietened some, as most eyes followed his progress. Curiously I watched just as clueless as the others, as Garth leaned forward to whisper to Daryus, whose eyes turned to me, taking me in more than intrigued.
A few minutes later Garth returned to sit next to me.
"What was that about?" I couldn't help but ask.
Strangely Garth didn't look like his usual over-confident self when he replied, "You'll see." His smirk teetered just a bit, enough to raise my suspicions, even though I had no idea about what. Something was definitely up though.
It seemed the evening was beginning to wind down as a few guests rose, about to depart.
"Lords and ladies, may I have a moment of your attention please, before you leave?" Daryus rose as well and spoke in a loud, booming voice. His eyes were riveted on Garth as if to say,your funeral, pal.
Garth took my hand and raised me from my seat. "Come, I want to show you something."
My legs felt leaden with a foreboding sensation running through me and my stomach fluttered anxiously, but I wasn't sure if it was good or bad. All I knew was that my entire body hummed with nervous energy.
Garth led me out to one of the sprawling balconies, and the sight took my breath away.
Golden, gauzy, see-through curtains had been pulled to the sides, and danced lightly in a soft breeze.
Above us, the sky was illuminated by trillions of stars and two moons rising behind each other, visible about three quarters now and looking as if they were incredibly close to Pandrax.
Before and underneath us lay the city with all its different-sized buildings and alien ships and trains moving about and between.
Far off in the distance I could make out the vastness of the ocean I had seen when we first flew in.
All this however was nothing compared to the hundreds of candles set upon the balcony's balustrade, small tables, and round pedestals.
Two small fountains stood on each end, spewing cyan water into the sky to be caught in circular vessels filled with tiny fish.
With wide-open eyes I turned to stare at Garth, who fell on one knee in front of me.
"Silla, you came utterly unexpected into my life only a few days ago, but you have my life already completely turned around, and made me into a better male. I cannot abide by the idea of being without you for even one tick."
My breath caught. Behind him all the guests from tonight's banquet gathered, stared at us, led by Daryus and Xandros. Ashley stood to Xandros's side, with an inscrutable expression on her face.
I wasn't paying any attention to any of them though. No, all I could focus on was this magnificent man in front of me, on his knee.
"The gods have blessed me by leading me to my mekarry—you—Silla." I caught the same hint of insecurity in his expression I had seen earlier and realized, that even after all we had been through, he wasn't sure of what I would say. How I would answer. But he put himself out there, in front of his emperor, his peers, to fulfill a human tradition I had told him about.
