Chapter 27 #2
“Honoured guests.” King Xulei, who looks like the most badass King Cobra I’ve ever seen, speaks with a booming voice to the hall.
The com-gem in his fancy bejewelled collar lights up, and it takes me a moment to realise his voice is being relayed to the com-gems of everyone in the hall.
Myself and Tumva included. “I welcome you all to Orna’s Golden Palace for this most fortuitous Gcorket.
Not only is my only daughter Jajana finally ready to choose a worthy mate to become their Queen-” He lifted Jajana’s hand and an eruption of hissing and cheering thundered through the hall.
Billie ducks behind Izule, but soon peers back out, so she’s okay.
“-but it would seem my youngest son will soon have a mate of his own as well.” Izule snapped his head towards the King and he looked to be 3 seconds away from launching at his father in a panic.
“A most welcome and advantageous addition to our-” Jajana turned into her father’s side, covered his com-gem with her free hand, and whispered something urgently into his cowl.
Everyone in the hall seemed just as confused as I was, so I didn’t feel like I was the only one who felt like they’d missed something.
Is Izule engaged or something? Has a female Ucfeni from another Royal house chosen him?
How would that bode for Billie as his charge?
I thought for sure I was getting ‘more than’ vibes from the two of them earlier…
Jajana turned away from her father to smile the the hall and Izule hadn’t taken his intense stare away from the King the whole time.
“I see.” King Xulei huffed and was far from subtle when he leaned forward to look across at his youngest son.
A very pale looking Izule who’s left eye was twitching.
“And here I thought it was already done?” He turned to look at Vrujac, who also looked a tad pale.
“Well, he had better get on with it.” He seemed to give his eldest son some sort of order, and then returned his attention to the hall like nothing had happened.
Izule seemed to sag with relief when his father moved on.
“Yes, a most wonderful occasion indeed. People of Orna, please welcome our most honoured guests, as they come to put on a grand display for our Royal princess Jajana of Orna.” King Xulei took a small golden thorn from his hip and blew it.
The Lunar dancers finally vanished down service tunnels and I turned to look right when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye.
Everyone was parting to allow servants in bronze clothing move a large ramp into position.
It connected the middle of the bottom tier to the ledge of the middle tier right in front of us.
“Presenting!” A black and white Ucfeni slithered up the ramp first and coiled on his own tail to act as some sort of announcer.
His com-gem necklace glowed, also broadcasting his voice and he held a tablet in his hands.
“The Royal party from the Naltik Coast.” He was very proud of himself as he called out ahead of more giant Cobras.
Their colourations were rather similar to the ones on the upper platform.
Sandy in colour with more of yellow tint and orange markings on their cowls.
Three males moved at pace up the ramp and moved to pose high up on their tails directly below our viewing room.
“Next, the Royal party from Erya.” The announcer paused and waited for Royals with dark brown scales, black markings and cream underbellies slithered up the ramp and took their position beside the posturing Naltik Royals.
Thing is, I know I should be more entertained by the arrival of more Royal princes hoping to impress princess Jajana…
but I keep returning my attention to the announcer.
He has black and white banding like a sea snake…
a very expressive mouth…and…oh no. I recognise him!
It’s the dude form the Xeno-porn!!! In my head I can replay the video of him arching backward as his blonde human partner rode his dick like a jockey.
“Tumva, the announcer-” I start to stand and i’m already thinking about how I’m going to take the muzzle net from my back pocket to subdue his head once I get within throwing distance, when Tumva stops me with a chuckle.
“Yes, I spotted him as well.” Tumva’s hand on my shoulder settles me back into my seat.
“Well done for recognising him. We will not make a scene now, or startle him into fleeing. At the right moment, when everyone is at ease and Gcorket festivities are well underway, we will apprehend him. If not now, we can get his employment records from the palace and trace him that way.”
“Gotcha.” I grin, tasting my first ever arrest on the tip of my tongue and eager to get on with it.
“Presenting…” He hesitates and warily looks down the ramp toward the main entrance. “…the Royal party…of the Rapali Tribe.”
The hall fills defensive snarling. Tumva moves in a dark flash from his stool to ‘stand’ on his tail to my left and leaning out from our hollow room to get a better look.
I also stand, only for his tail to coil around my waist and move me to stand on his left so he can shield me from danger.
I peer out anyway, of course, to see what the big deal is.
All the Ucfeni seem to be jittery for some reason.
I look to my left and see that King Xulei has moved Jajana into a similar position as Tumva has moved me.
Billie is in Izule’s arms! At first I’m shocked to see her welcome so much skin to skin-erm-scale contact, but then I’m grateful.
If this shit is about to hit the fan as I suspect it’s about to from the vibe of the room, at least Izule is ready for a quick escape.