Be thankful, my child, for blessed are we who are free…

“Get it out!” Lokaia exclaimed.

Elmira laughed. “Oh, Kaia, it can’t be that bad.”

“Well, usually it wouldn’t be,” she told her. “But it’s been running through my head for months and driving me insane!”

Elmira shrugged. “At least it’s pretty.”

Lokaia nodded. “Whoever happens to be singing it has a very beautiful voice, and I’m sure the song is wonderful, but I only know that one line. I’m ready for any other song besides this one.”

Elmira smiled. “Any other?”

“Yes!”

“ZaBaGaBe! ZaBaGaBe!”

Lokaia woke with a start, completely against her will. She raised her head and propped herself up onto her elbows. Someone was yelling incoherently in a language Lokaia didn’t recognize. She glanced over at Radu, who was still asleep, and sighed. Her husband had much more sensitive hearing than she did, but he also slept like a log. A log… in a nice soft bed… with pillows… and a down comforter… Lokaia plopped backwards, exhausted, only to pop back up again at the scream of “ZaBaGaBe!” Glancing enviously at Radu again, Lokaia slipped out of bed and grabbed her robe. Pulling her braid out of the fabric, Lokaia left the room she shared with Radu in search of the insane screaming person.

Her ears led her to the mess hall where Catalina danced around in a shockingly bright rainbow dress shouting “ZaBaGaBe!” at the top of her lungs. Lokaia covered her ears with her hands and screamed, “CAT!”

Cat stopped screaming, but continued to dance around Lokaia in circles. “Yeah?”

Lokaia shook her head to get rid of the ringing in her ears. “W-what are you doing?”

Cat sighed. “Saturnian Rejoicing Festival,” she explained. “I have to do this all week.” She gave Lokaia a sideways look. “I don’t suppose I could convince you to break my leg? Just for the week?”

“Uh, n-no, no,” Lokaia told her, still tired and confused. She bit her lip. “All week, huh?”

“Yup.”

“Well, then, I guess I’ll just stay up here with you, then.” Lokaia walked over to the foodwheel and dialed up some tea and orange juice for Cat. Cat drank it down in one gulp, muttering a ‘thanks,’ and continued her dancing and chanting.

Lokaia sank into a chair, hiding a yawn and watched Cat dance. After a moment, Cat spoke. “Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you. Suzee talked to Cheiron and he said his dad wants to meet with you before signing a treaty.”

Lokaia groaned. “I don’t suppose he’d settle for a tele-call, would he?”

“I don’t think so.”

The Elvian sighed. “I thought as much. Does Barrak know?”

"Probably not."

Another sigh. "Wonderful. All right, then. I'm going back to bed. 'Night, Cat." She stood and made her way towards the hall, but not before stopping to pick up two pieces of cotton that fit her inner ear.

"Heiress, Miss Suzee, Prince Cheiron," Barrak greeted, nodding at each of them.

"Barrak, Che," Lokaia said, mimicking his nods.

"Suzee, Kola, Lord Barrak," Che greeted.

Suzee rolled her eyes. "Are you all done now?"

Lokaia sighed. "You know, Suz, you don't have to stay if you have something better to do."

"Excuse me," Suzee snapped, insulted. "But I had to talk to Cheiron!"

"Oh?" Cheiron asked, interested. "What about?"

"Uh..."

"Heiress?" Barrak interrupted. "What is your plan?"

Lokaia's eyes widened. "My plan? I thought you and the Elders had one."

Barrak looked obviously uncomfortable. "Well, since you will be the one initiating the apology, we had thought--"

"To let me do all the work," Lokaia finished with a sigh. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Well, I suppose we'll meet him as soon as possible and just tell him the truth: I'm very sorry for what I said." The last word was said with obvious sarcasm.

Cheiron smiled. "I do not think he will be satisfied if you say it in that tone."

"What are you apologizing for, anyway?" Suzee asked.

"For something I didn't say," Lokaia answered, rolling her eyes. She paused for a minute and then sighed. "Which I am still going to apologize for because Chemor would never believe that Jalan would make something like that up."

"Something like what," Suzee demanded, becoming annoyed.

"For saying that she would rather marry an Elvian criminal than a Centauri prince," Cheiron told her, face hardening as he spoke the words.

Lokaia noticed his expression. "Che, you know that I really didn't--"

"Yes, of course," he said quickly, flashing a smile. "Of course I know."

“What are you going to wear?” Suzee asked, changing the subject quickly.

Lokaia turned to her surprised. “Wear? Well, this, of course.” She gestured to the uniform the Christa had supplied for her at the outset.

Cheiron, Barrak, and Suzee stared. “You are joking, right?” Cheiron asked her.

“What?” Lokaia asked.

Suzee laughed. “Kaia, you’re hopeless! You’ve got to wear one of your gowns and look all official!”

“I must agree with Prince Cheiron and Miss Suzee, Heiress,” Barrak told her. “The Elders would be horrified if you approached the Chief in those clothes.”

Lokaia frowned. “He wouldn’t be impressed of the Elvians capabilities to allow a female to wear slacks?”

Cheiron shook his head. “No. Father does not particularly care about fashion, though we think the clothes you Elvians wear are peculiar.”

Lokaia rolled her eyes. “Well, of course you do, Che. The centaurs don’t wear any clothes.” She looked back at Barrak. “So, why won’t the Elders just allow me to wear what I wish?”

Suzee sighed. “Oh, come on, Kaia. They want you to look all innocent, feminine, and unthreatening. You know, so it seems like you actually are.”

Lokaia frowned again. “Can’t it just be a really nice pair of slacks?”

“No,” Barrak told her apologetically.

“A high collar, long sleeves, and long skirt?” Lokaia asked, hopefully.

Barrak looked uncomfortable. “Well… not quite.”

Lokaia bit her lip. “I get a collar, though, right?”

“Well…”

Lokaia sighed. “All right, fine. But I am going to demand that at least fifty percent of my skin is hidden under cloth.”

“Um…”

Features hardening, Lokaia fixed Barrak with a death stare. “Forty-nine percent, Barrak, or you can fend the centaurs off yourself.”

“Deal!” Barrak cried. “I’ll ask Eurycleia to get started on your gown immediately. But I don’t suppose the Elders will agree with your percentages, Heiress.”

“Oh, yes,” Cheiron said with a hint of a smile. “They will probably demand at least seventy-five percent should not be covered. Far too little, I say, don’t you agree, Barrak?”

Barrak smiled, enjoying the teasing. “Oh, yes, far too little. I’d say the Elders would demand at least ninety percent.”

Lokaia frowned. “I’m hanging up on both of you,” she said, reaching for the button.

“If she doesn’t, I will,” Suzee told Cheiron angrily.

Cheiron shrugged. “I would not have any objections to you showing ninety percent of your skin,” he said with a grin.

Suzee scowled. “Just because I saw you naked, doesn’t mean I’m going to let you see me.”

“I’m hanging up now,” Lokaia announced.

Barrak held out his hands. “I apologize, Heiress. I will ask Eurycleia to begin your gown as soon as we are finished here.”

“We are finished here,” Lokaia told him, lightening up a bit. “And Barrak? Ask Eurycleia to use a lot of fabric.” Barrak nodded and reached to hang up. “Barrak? I mean, yards of fabric. Meters. Do you understand?”

Barrak laughed. “It will be tasteful, Heiress, I promise,” he told her and hung up.

Cheiron grinned. “I suppose I should leave too. So, you two will be coming in tomorrow, correct?”

Lokaia glanced at Suzee, who sighed exaggeratly and said, “I suppose so.” Lokaia smiled and nodded.

“Well, then, I will see you then,” he said. “Goodbye, Kola,” he nodded to her.

“Goodbye, Che,” Lokaia said, smiling.

“Incompetent,” he said to Suzee with a grin. Suzee rolled her eyes. “’Bye, Genius.”

“Kaia! Hurry up, or we’ll be late!” Suzee yelled.

“Just a moment,” Lokaia called through the door of her room. “I’ve never worn a gown with this much cloth before. It’s harder to get into than I had thought.”

“Oh, but I bet it looks beautiful on you!” Rosie called happily.

Radu stepped forward and knocked lightly on the door. “Come on, alomai,” he said softly. “They’re expecting you.”

“I’m coming.” The doors slid open and Lokaia stepped out. Radu heard the rest of the crew gasp with him and hoped his eyes didn’t pop out from his head. Lokaia wore a two-layer dress: the bottom layer was a long dark blue skirt that trailed along behind her and belled sleeves that began at her upper arms. Over that was a sleeveless purple gown, sectioned off below the bust and flaring out at the bottom. Lokaia’s hair was free, billowing out around her knees; the hair that framed her face was curled with purple ribbons matching the gown braided into them. A golden diadem was around her forehead.

Lokaia frowned at their silence, looking disappointed. “You don’t like it,” she guessed and turned back to her room.

Harlan reached out and grabbed her arm. “Kaia, you’re insane. Don’t you dare leave.”

“Lokaia, you look wonderful,” TJ told her happily.

“Really?” the Elvian asked, looking down at the dress. “You all like it then?” Her gaze turned to Radu, expectantly.

Radu cleared his throat, still staring. “Loki…” he began hesitantly, “You’re gorgeous.”

Lokaia blinked, surprised, and then smiled. “Thank you,” she murmured.

“Well,” Suzee said, taking Lokaia by the arm. “We should get going. Radu, are you coming or not?”

“No!” Lokaia said quickly, startling everyone. She softened, seeing the hurt look on Radu’s face. “It’s not that I don’t want you to come, alome, it’s that I don’t want Chemor to think I’m trying to impress him with an Andromedan husband.”

Radu nodded, understanding. “Then don’t announce it,” he told her. “I’d still like to go with you.”

Lokaia bit her lip. “Well…”

“I’m going,” Radu told her forcefully. He noticed everyone’s eyes on him. “What?”

“Just noticing the first time you’ve ever been forceful,” Harlan told him, smiling.

Bova rolled his eyes. “He’s probably going insane.”

Radu was about to reply when Cat when dancing by, spinning in circles in her bright rainbow dress. “ZaBaGaBe! ZaBaGaBe!--Bye, you guys—ZaBaGaBe! ZaBaGaBe!” She danced down the rest of the hallway, out of sight.

“Right,” Suzee said after a moment. “Well, I guess we should go. Bye.” She pulled Lokaia over to her cross-dimension machine, and Radu followed. There was a bright flash of light and all three disappeared.

“Good morning, Heiress,” a member of the council said to Lokaia, holding out his hand for her to take.

She took it and smiled. “Good morning, Levon,” she replied. “Allow me to introduce my friend, Suzee, and my husband, Radu.” Lokaia put the strain on the word to see how the young man would react. He hardly flinched.

Smiling, Levon stretched out his hand to Suzee and then Radu. “It is a pleasure to meet you both,” he said. “Shall we go to meet the Elders?”

Lokaia beamed at the acceptance Levon showed to Radu. “Yes, of course. Thank you, Levon.” She followed the young man, linking her arm with Radu’s and grinning. As they passed other Elvians they dipped their heads in greeting to Lokaia. She raised her right arm, the back of her hand facing them because it had the royal mark of the triquatra on it. She hardly noticed she was doing it; it was so natural. Radu glanced back at Suzee, confused. Suzee merely shrugged and chose to raise her chin when passing the Elvians. Radu decided on a deep nod.

They were lead to a very large room where the Elders sat in a row at a single desk. They sat in stony silence, staring down the visitors.

Lokaia sighed exaggeratly. “Will you all please stop acting so morbid?” she requested. “We have things to discuss.”

The head Elder’s face cracked into a smile. “It is good to see you again, Heiress. You as well, Mr. Radu and Miss Suzee.”

Lokaia turned to Suzee. “You can go find Cheiron if you want, Suz. This is bound to be boring.”

“Oh, I have no doubt it will be,” Suzee said with a smile. “Is he here?”

The head Elder cocked his head. “Prince Cheiron? No, he is at the centauri palace. We could arrange for a transport to take you directly there if you wish.”

Suzee jumped at the chance, and Levon led her out the door and off to the transport. Lokaia smiled and took a seat next to Barrak, with Radu at her side. Taking Radu’s hand in her own, she addressed the Elders. “Well,” she began. “What do you all think of my gown?”

Suzee stepped out of the transport and looked around. “Miss Suzee?” Levon asked. “Are you sure you wish to stay here? Perhaps I could accompany you as an escort. After all, the treaty has not been signed yet.”

The Yensidian shook her head. “No, that’s okay. Cheiron knows I’m coming. How will I get in touch with you when I’m ready to get back to the palace?”

“This transponder goes directly to the palace,” Levon told her, handing her a bracelet-like transponder. “We should respond in but five minutes after you call.”

“’Kay,” Suzee said, taking it. “’Bye, Levon.”

“Goodbye, Miss Suzee.” Levon signaled to the driver, and drove off.

Suzee, alone now, looked around. Two centaur guards eyed her as she stepped towards the gate. “Suzee to see Prince Cheiron,” Suzee said officially.

The first guard pursed his lips. “Prince Cheiron is out at the moment. Was he expecting you, Elve?” The way it was spoken made the word ‘Elve’ seem like an insult.

Suzee smiled and pulled back her hair to reveal her ears. “I’m not an Elvian. Just a guest of Prince Cheiron’s.”

The guards visibly relaxed. “Well, then, he is out at the moment with an acquaintance. But I assume Chief Chemor is expecting you?”

Suzee shrugged. “I guess so.”

“Very well.” The guards pulled open the gate and Suzee walked into the centauri palace. Another guard escorted her into the throne room where two adult centaurs stood talking. Both wore green and yellow sashes, the royal centauri colors. Besides the sashes, neither centaur wore anything else. Suzee suddenly felt very overdressed.

The male looked up at Suzee. “Yes?” he asked.

Suzee, remembering her manners, bowed and said, “Your majesty, sir, I’m Suzee.”

The older man stared. “All right,” he said slowly. He turned to his wife. “Do you remember inviting an Elvian named Suzee?”

“I don’t remember inviting an Elvian period,” the woman replied.

“Uh, no, no,” Suzee protested. “I’m not an Elvian. I’m a, uh… friend of Cheiron’s. He… he didn’t say I was coming?”

The Chief and his wife exchanged a glance and smile. “Our son does not always keep us updated on his appointments,” China told Suzee.

“Oh.” Suzee was set back. Cheiron had invited her, and knew she would be coming today. He hadn’t told anyone else?

“He should be back any moment,” Chemor said, checking his watch. “You are welcome to wait with us until he returns.”

Suzee blanched. Meeting the parents? Uh-oh…

“Um, sure! That’d be great!”

China smiled. “I assume you thought our son would tell us you were coming?”

“Well, yes,” Suzee said, slightly exasperated. “He invited me yesterday. I just thought he would have been here when I got here!”

Chemor laughed heartily. “That sounds like Cheiron,” he said with a smile. “Forgetting to inform his parents, or anyone else, of when a beautiful woman would just happen to appear.” Suzee smiled at him, flattered.

China cocked her head, hearing something. “Ah, here he comes now.”

The sound of feminine laughter reached Suzee’s ears and she turned. Through the palace doors came Cheiron and another centaur. She was a filly of about Suzee’s approximate age. Her coat was black, her mane and tail bright red. Her eyes were bright green and shining with mirth as she laughed. She, like the other centaurs, wore no clothing and was very well endowed. Cheiron turned from her and smiled. “Sire, Dam, Suzee.” He did a double-take. “Suzee!”

Suzee crossed her arms. “Hi, Cheiron!” she said in false brightness. “Thank you so much for coming to meet me at the transport and telling your parents about me so that when I got here early and you weren’t here there wasn’t a big awkward mess of me feeling like I wasn’t really welcome. Really, thank you, it helped ever so much.” Finishing her speech, Suzee’s brightness dropped and she stared Cheiron down furiously.

Cheiron only laughed. “I am very sorry, Suzee,” he told her, walking up. “I had not known you would come so early and I had thought there was time to meet you. I would have informed my parents otherwise.”

Suzee rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh.”

“Cheiron,” the filly came up behind him and put a hand on his arm. “We should get going. Falynn is waiting.” She eyed Suzee with contempt.

Cheiron gestured to her. “Suzee, this is Chakra. Chakra, this is my friend, Suzee.”

Friend? Suzee smiled at Chakra falsely. “Nice to meet you.”

Chakra didn’t even bother smiling. “Ditto.” She turned to Cheiron again. “Cheiron… Falynn? She and Scylla are still waiting.”

“Suzee, why don’t you join us?” Cheiron suggested. “Unless you would rather not tear yourself away from my parents’ intriguing conversation.” He grinned at them, and China and Chemor smiled back. Through all the teasing they gave each other, it was obvious that the Chief and Chiefess loved their son very much and that love was returned.

While Suzee liked China and Chemor, there was no way she was going to let Cheiron stay alone with Chakra. She smiled. “I’d love to. But we’ll have to be back in about an hour to meet Lok--” she glanced at Chemor, who had raised an eyebrow. “Our friend,” she amended.

Cheiron nodded. “Right. Our friend… um, Lokar.”

China’s lips pursed. “Lokar? I don’t believe we’ve met him yet.”

“Well, perhaps you can some other time,” Cheiron told them, taking Suzee’s arm. “Come, Suzee, Chakra, we should go.” He picked up Suzee by the waist, depositing her onto his back and started off. Suzee sent a look of conquest to Chakra as she released her handhold from Cheiron’s mane and held onto his chest instead. Chakra glowered.

“What?!” Lokaia screeched.

“We wish for a full caravan to accompany you,” the head Elder repeated.

Lokaia held her head in her hands, frustrated. “Elders, you cannot send an entire caravan on a treaty mission to inform the centaurs that we are peaceful! I must insist that Barrak and I go alone!”

Barrak raised his hand. “Uh, Heiress, perhaps we could just take a small caravan…”

“Heiress,” the Elders began again, “we must demand that you not go alone with Lord Barrak. A small group of soldiers, however…”

“Soldiers?” Lokaia repeated incredulously. “Elders, please keep in mind that we are attempting to tell the centaurs that we are peaceful.”

The head Elder rolled his eyes. “What do you suggest, Heiress? And please, understand that we will not allow you to go alone with Lord Barrak.”

Lokaia sighed. “All right… I suppose I could tolerate a guard or two, but not enough to appear threatening.”

The Elders hesitated before nodding. “Very well, Heiress. We shall send two guards along with you. Perhaps Feld and Rellos would care to take the task.”

“Excuse me, Elders.” Radu rose from Lokaia’s side to address the Elders. “I would like to volunteer as a guard.”

“Radu…” Lokaia began.

“That is an excellent idea, Mr. Radu,” the head Elder told him. “Perhaps when Chief Chemor finds that our Heiress has an Andromedan husband he might--”

“No!” Lokaia exclaimed, standing at Radu’s side. “Elders, I will not allow this. My husband will not be exploited to prove a point.”

Barrak spoke up. “Perhaps he would not be exploited, exactly, Heiress. It would prove the virtue of yourself, which is what the Chief seems to want.”

Lokaia’s lips tightened into a thin line. “I can prove my virtue myself, thank you. I do not need my husband to do it for me. If he wishes to come as a guard, I will not object, but I will not tell the Chief who he is unless he specifically says the words, ‘are you married to that Andromedan’.”

The head Elder held up a hand. “Very well, Heiress. Mr. Radu, you shall go with the Heiress and Lord Barrak, along with Rellos.”

Lokaia still didn’t look too ecstatic but Radu took her hand and squeezed it gently. She smiled at him and squeezed back, leaving the room with Barrak trailing behind.

“Suzee, this is Falynn,” Cheiron gestured to a young woman sitting upon a rock with gauzy fairy-like wings. “And Scylla.” Scylla was propped onto the land by her elbows, the rest of her emerged in the lake beside the group. ‘The rest of her’ included a fish-like tale of sparkling orange scales. Both girls looked Suzee up and down, hardly impressed.

Suzee glowered at both of them, slipping down from Cheiron’s back. “Nice to meet you,” she said, with just as much sincerity as when she had met Chakra.

Scylla smiled simperingly at Cheiron. “Che, darling,” she began, “wherever did you meet her? You weren’t out and about around the Elve village again, were you?”

Suzee was slightly startled. She had thought that only Lokaia called Cheiron Che. He answered her anyway. “No, I was not ‘out and about,’ as you so eloquently put it, Scyl,” he told her, and Suzee relished in the slightly annoyed voice he used with her. Apparently Che was a name only allowed to Lokaia, and no one else. Actually, now that she thought about it, that didn’t make Suzee feel too much better.

“She’s not Elvian,” Cheiron was saying.

Falynn shrugged her shoulders gracefully. “Looks Elvian to me,” she said. She flew from her perch to hover in front of Suzee about an inch or two from the ground. “No wings,” she remarked, glancing at Suzee’s back.

“Or hooves,” Chakra added.

“Or tail,” Scylla said, slapping her own against the water.

Annoyed at being studied, Suzee rolled her eyes. “Well, I would apologize for not meeting your standards, but it’s going to be pretty difficult considering I don’t really care.” The three Misethian women stared after her outburst, but backed down slightly.

Cheiron met Scylla’s gaze. “I seem to remember you telling me your brother would be accompanying us.”

Scylla shrugged and brushed a lock of silky blonde hair from her shoulder. “Arcal could not come. He had other business to attend to and told me to go ahead and meet everyone here.” She turned her gaze to Suzee and said disdainfully, “Of course, we had not expected your friend to be here as well.”

“Well, his friend is here,” Suzee snapped. She sighed and turned to Cheiron, suddenly tired of his so-called friends. “Maybe I should just get back to Kaia and meet you tomorrow. You seem busy enough here.”

He caught her arm gently. “No, Suzee, stay,” he requested. “Come now, I invited you, the least I can do is show you a wonderful time. Kola would be mortified if I didn’t, and the meeting isn’t until tomorrow anyway. We shall have you back in plenty of time.”

“Oh, are you leaving so soon?” Chakra asked, coming closer hopefully.

Suzee smiled. “Yes, but don’t worry! I’ll be back.”

Before the girls could counter that, a transponder from Cheiron’s pack beeped. He took it out and conversed for a moment before putting it back and facing Suzee. “I’m very sorry, Suzee,” he began apologetically, “but my sire wishes for me to go over his plans for the treaty. It should not take too long; I could probably convince Chester to take my place after a few moments, but you will have to stay here.” His eyes passed over the others. “Can I trust that you all will play nice?”

Suzee opened her mouth to reply but Falynn interrupted her. “Oh, don’t worry about us, Cheiron! We’ll make sure your friend has a wonderful time!” Scylla and Chakra nodded.

As Cheiron galloped off, Suzee attempted to call out and stopped herself. The Yensidian had spent a large chunk of her life thinking she was the baddest thing on two legs with gills. Now was apparently the time to prove it. She faced the Misethian women with her hands on her hips. “Well… exactly how are we going to ‘play nice’?”

Chakra cocked her head. “We are going to have a friendly conversation, of course.”

Suzee raised her eyebrows. “Friendly?” she repeated incredulously.

“Yes,” Scylla said, pulling herself up to the shore to sit. “Friendly, as in, that had better be the definition of your relationship with Prince Cheiron.”

Giving her a look, Suzee crossed her arms over her chest. “Or what?”

“Look, sweetheart,” Falynn began. “It’s not that we have anything against you, personally. It’s that the three of us have fought scale and feather to get where we are with him and we don’t need any more competition.”

Suzee laughed, suddenly understanding. “You mean that you three are competing for Cheiron?!” She laughed again and harder, holding her sides.

Chakra scowled. “Understand something now, you false excuse for an Elve, that at the moment I have the best shot. As a centaur myself the royal family is much more comfortable thinking of me as their son’s wife than with Scylla or Falynn. I have dreamed of this for far longer than you can most likely imagine and I am not about to give it up for you.”

Suzee listened silently and when Chakra was finished with her speech she looked at the others. “Why don’t you all just proposition his brother?”

Scylla snorted. “Chester? Ugh, he is so serious. The man will hardly ever crack a smile. Besides, Cheiron seems to have a much better chance at becoming Chief.”

“Why?” Besides the fact that Suzee seriously detested the three women, this was getting a bit interesting. She was learning about Cheiron’s family—more than she had learned in the almost-year she had known him.

Falynn shrugged. “The Chief and Chiefess seem to favor him.” She regarded Suzee for a moment, in a tight-lipped frown. “We made a pact, the three of us, that whomever happened to win the prince’s favor would have the support of the other two. Chakra has, theoretically, won. And because of that, Scylla and I are sworn to keep others, to keep you, away from him.”

Suzee stared. “Excuse me?” She stared at the others and saw no smiles, signifying no joke. “Well, what does Cheiron think of that?”

Chakra shrugged. “We have never thought to ask him. Cheiron has no knowledge of our deal. However, he and I had become quite close up until a few months ago. This, I suppose, was because of you.”

Slowly, Suzee grinned. “Yeah. Probably.”

Lokaia opened the door, just to have Suzee storm in. The Yensidian walked stiff-legged in, whirled around and sat on the bed, crossing her legs underneath her and her arms across her chest. “Your friend is a moron!” she exclaimed.

Lokaia blinked. And blinked again. Attempting to process that, she came and set next to Suzee. “All right,” she began slowly. “I assume you’re talking about Che?”

“Yes!” Suzee exploded. “Your stupid friend, Che, who didn’t inform anyone that I was coming and kept referring to me as a friend around the members of the Misethian Brothel!”

More blinking occurred on Lokaia’s part. “The what?”

“Those stupid, oh-so-full-of-themselves, little wenches who are hot for my guy!” She paused, fuming. “Or, as he so eloquently put it, my friend!”

“Suzee, calm down,” Lokaia told her. “I’m sure Che didn’t mean it.”

“Didn’t mean what?” Radu asked, coming from the bathroom in his pajamas. His pajamas that consisted of a long-sleeved turtleneck, long pants, socks, and gloves.

“Didn’t mean to be a complete idiot!” Suzee cried. “And yes he did! Arrgh, I hate him! He makes me so mad!” Suzee settled back down wrapping her arms around her knees. “Why hasn’t he called me yet?!”

Lokaia smiled and motioned for Radu to take over and headed for the bathroom herself. Radu awkwardly sat next to Suzee. “Um… maybe he’s not sure you’re upset.”

Suzee groaned. “How could he not know I’m mad at him?!” She moped for a moment before rounding on Radu. “Radu, you’re a guy.”

The Andromedan stared. “Um… yeah.”

“So, you can answer this question,” she continued.

“O-okay, I guess,” he said. “I can try.”

“Okay, here it is: Why are all guys scum?”

Radu thought about that for a moment, surprised. “Well… I mean, not all guys… I mean, you know, Bova a-and Seth and Harlan are, you know, okay, right?”

“No,” Suzee snapped, still angry. “They’re men and they’re scum. So, why are all guys scum? Come on, Radu, you’re a guy, tell me.”

“Uh…”

Lokaia emerged from the bathroom in her nightdress to find Suzee still interrogating Radu and the Andromedan looking as if he’d like to be anywhere else in the universe. “Kaia!” Suzee called. “You’re married, you’ve got to know: why are all guys jerks?”

Eyebrows raised, Lokaia came to sit beside Radu. “All of them? Are you sure you’re not being a bit dramatic?”

“Of course I’m sure! Your best friend, the guy who did practically anything for you because he loved you so much, was a total jerk to me tonight and I want to know why!”

Lokaia stared. “Well, Suzee, you have to keep in mind that he doesn’t love me anymore. As for you, well, Che was never particularly perceptive. You might have to tell him yourself that you’re angry.”

Suzee scowled. “Stupid guys and their stupid inability to know when I’m pissed off,” she mumbled.

“Suz, you should just talk to him,” Lokaia tried again. “Don’t just stay here and be angry, talk to him. I’m sure he’ll apologize once he realizes it.”

Frowning, Suzee hugged her knees again. “Kaia, if you can give me the name of one guy who’s completely sweet and honest and has never been a jerk, then I’ll do just that, okay? I’ll go up to him tomorrow after your meeting and talk to him. Just one name.”

“That’s easy,” Lokaia said with a smile. “Radu.” Her husband turned and smiled back, kissing her.

Suzee watched, annoyed. “You guys are sickening.”

“And right,” Lokaia added, parting from Radu. “So, now you have to talk to him tomorrow.”

Rolling her eyes, the Yensidian stood and sighed. “All right, fine… maybe. I’ll think about it.”

“Suzee!” Lokaia cried. “You said that--”

Suzee waved a hand, dismissing that topic. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what I said. I’ll do it… maybe.” She retreated from the room, leaving two very confused and tired friends.

“Suzee, are you all right?” Radu asked quietly as they rode along in the transporter.

Still sulking slightly, Suzee nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She made a face. “I just really, really don’t want to talk to him.”

“Talk to who about what, Miss Suzee?” Barrak inquired, while going over his compupad where his speech was prepared.

Beside him, Lokaia took the compupad from the flustered young man. “She’s just worried about something she needs to tell Prince Cheiron, Barrak.” She eyed him for a moment. “What happened to your robe?”

“My robe?” he repeated a bit hysterically.

Lokaia put her hand on his arm to calm him. “Shh, Barrak, there’s just a spot on it. Here.” She took the corner of his red robe and flicked off a bit of something. Holding it up to him she said soothingly, “See? Nothing’s wrong.”

Barrak took a deep breath. “I apologize, Heiress. I am awfully nervous about this treaty however.”

Patting his shoulder, Lokaia smiled. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Chemor is a bit intimidating, but he is a decent man. You’ll like him.”

“And you, Heiress?” Barrak asked with a small smile. “What shall you be doing as I negotiate?”

Lokaia scowled. “I’ll be standing to the side, making no noise and pretending I’m not there until the Chief himself speaks to me,” she told him in a monotonous tone.

Suzee laughed at Lokaia’s obvious discomfort. “Why do you have to do that?”

She sighed. “The Elders would rather not admit that they’re giving the Lady more power. Add that to the fact that I haven’t been coronated just yet and they’d rather just not admit I exist.”

“They’d also rather not admit that the Heiress has been doing most of the governing under the guise of me,” Barrak added, taking the compupad back and reviewing his speech.

Radu frowned. “But since you have to make the apology yourself, Loki, won’t the Chief notice something’s different about you?”

Lokaia shrugged. “I wouldn’t think so. I haven’t changed that much since he last saw me.”

Suzee and Radu burst out laughing. Lokaia just stared. “What?”

Radu smiled brightly. “Nothing, just a joke we were thinking of.” He and Suzee glanced at each other and laughed again.

“Barrak, why don’t you go ahead and practice your speech on us?” Lokaia requested, still staring at Suzee and Radu.

Barrak nodded and held the compupad up close to his face. “Chief Chemor, Chiefess China, the Elvian royals thank you for attending this conference with us. The Elders and I are quite grateful to you. However, to get down to business, I would like to apologize for anything that the former Lord or I may have said to insult you. If you can put these scruples aside I am quite sure that we can arrange a treaty that will be beneficial for all. Do you not agree?” He stopped and looked up at his audience.

Suzee raised an eyebrow. “You mean that’s what you and the Elders were discussing all night?” At Barrak’s nod, she glanced at Lokaia disbelievingly.

Lokaia smiled slightly. “It’s great, Barrak. Really wonderful. The Chief will be very impressed.”

The transporter came to a halt and an Elvian man with brown hair opened the door. “My Lord, we’ve arrived,” he said to Barrak, barely acknowledging Lokaia.

Barrak put the compupad away and smiled. “Thank you, Rellos.” He stepped out from the transporter, leading the way. Suzee followed, taking Rellos’ hand, and Lokaia after her allowed Rellos to help her down. The Elvian ignored Radu, beginning to close the door on him. Radu stopped him, pushing gently on the door and succeeding in knocking Rellos to the ground and door almost off it’s hinges. Smiling to himself, Radu followed the rest of the group.

“Now, Heiress,” Barrak was saying. “Just to be sure that neither of us get in trouble, what shall you be doing during my speech?”

Lokaia scowled at him but, because Rellos was just behind them, merely said, “I’ll be standing to the side, making no noise and pretending I’m not there until the Chief himself speaks to me.”

Suzee laughed. “Oh, this’ll be fun.”

Barrak bowed low to the Chief and Chiefess before him. “Chief Chemor, Chiefess China, the Elvian royals thank you for attending this conference with us. The Elders and I are quite grateful to you. However, to get down to business, I would like to apologize for anything that the former Lord or I may have said to insult you. If you can put these scruples aside I am quite sure that we can arrange a treaty that will be beneficial for all. Do you not agree?”

Chemor stared the young man down in a tight-lipped frown. “’Scruples’?” he repeated incredulously. “Lord Barrak, have you even any idea what your heiress said? Or how insulting it was to us? My people are tired of you Elves acting as though you are far superior to us. I had thought that we could arrange a treaty many years ago when my son and your heiress seemed to get along, but that thought has been cruelly dashed. That woman,” he pointed to Lokaia who stood off to the side of Barrak, head bowed and had not said a word throughout the meeting, “insulted my son and our people, who had been nothing but kind to her upon our first meeting.”

Barrak blanched, glancing quickly at Lokaia, forgetting that she could not help him. “Uh, well, um… you see, sir, I, uh…”

Chemor scowled. “Perhaps the Elvians did not even bother to prepare an eloquent speech. Perhaps they did not even think the animals were worth a true apology and wished to sidestep it with a stuttering fool. Are you even the true Lord or a decoy because the actual Lord felt too far above us to attend this meeting himself?”

Panicking, Barrak froze upon the spot, staring at Chemor’s enraged face. “Uh… um…uh…”

“Chief Chemor.” Barrak and the Chief looked over at Lokaia who had stepped forward, hesitantly. “I would formally like to apologize for anything Lord Jalan had said to make you think I thought you and your people were below my own station. I swear to you that it was a complete falsity. Your son was my first, my best friend, and the day I lost him was quite possibly the worst day of my life. I apologize for any pain I may have caused you or your family.”

Chemor regarded her with a slightly softer look, but was still frowning. “If this is how you feel, Heiress, why didn’t you bother to ever tell us before? Why bring it up again after so many years have passed? Perhaps it was because your husband needed this treaty signed and demanded you apologize?”

Lokaia shook her head. “No, good sir, this is impossible because Lord Barrak and I are not married. My true husband has no interest in Elvian politics besides those that effect him and I directly.”

Chemor raised an eyebrow. “I was under the impression that the Elvian Lord and Lady were always wed.”

“A tradition, Chief, not a necessity,” Lokaia answered seriously. “Chief Chemor, I must ask of you… No, I must beg of you,” she stepped forward and bent down on her knees, bowing low before him, “to disregard the lies Jalan has told you and grade my people on the merits they have now.”

The Chief watched her for a moment with obvious surprise. Slowly, he smiled. “My dear Heiress,” he began. “I do believe you have learned humility.” Lokaia met his small smile with one of her own as he laughed. “I should like to meet this husband of yours.”

“Perhaps one day you will, sir,” Lokaia told him, bowing her head.

Chemor laughed again and nodded to Radu behind, who had his head bowed as well. “Perhaps your humility has begun to show in your servants as well. Are you married to that Andromedan?” he joked.

Lokaia’s eyes grew wide as her head snapped up. She stared in surprise at Chemor and glanced back at Radu. The Andromedan merely smiled and nodded, telling her that he was going to hold her to her promise. Stifling a grumble, Lokaia looked back at Chemor and smiled. “Yes, sir, I am.” Chemor looked as if he was about to say something but Lokaia cut him off. “But, sir, I must ask you not to use this in your decision to sign the treaty or not.”

Chemor nodded and held up a hand. “That is enough, Heiress, thank you. My wife and I will discuss this and return back to you with our answer.” With that he dismissed the members of the Elvian counsel.

“Kaia, sit down, you’re giving me a headache,” Cat told her.

Lokaia continued pacing the Christa’s team room anxiously. “I can’t,” she said nervously. “I’m too freaked. Why are they taking this long to decide? It was a definite ‘no’ before we propositioned them. I just wish they’d get it over with.”

“Stop worrying,” Harlan told her, unconcerned as he moved a pawn in the minbar chess game he was playing with Suzee. “It’ll turn out okay.”

“Yeah, calm down, Loki,” Radu added. “Harlan’s right.”

The human smiled blissfully. “My two favorite words.”

Cat scowled and poked Radu in the head. “What’d you do that for? Like his head isn’t big enough already?”

“Are you making fun of my head?” Harlan asked her in shock.

“Rainbow Head’s better than having a head the size of a planet, Harlan,” Cat sniffed.

“How about having a head that looks like a planet?” Harlan countered.

They faced each other angrily, teeth bared for a moment before dissolving into laughter. Cat caught Harlan’s chin in her hand and pulled his face forward to kiss him. “Speaking of which,” she told him, “I wanted to talk to you. Come on.” She led him out of the team room.

“I bet she’s going to rip off that over-sized head of his,” Bova told Seth, who tried to stifle a laugh.

“Kaia, sit!” Suzee ordered, interrupting Lokaia’s pacing to pull her to a chair beside the chess table. “You’re making me dizzy.”

Crossing her legs and tapping one foot obsessively, Lokaia answered distractedly, “Sorry.”

Suzee reviewed the board for a few seconds before suddenly grabbing Lokaia’s foot and holding it still. “Kaia! Do you mind? You’re being absolutely--”

The main screen beeped, signaling an incoming message and Lokaia popped up from her chair. However, since Suzee was still holding her foot, she then tripped and fell on her face muttering, “Oof!” Flipping hair from her face, Lokaia stood and called, “Message on!” The black screen flickered and then switched to Prince Cheiron’s face. He was smiling broadly.

Lokaia caught her breath. “Yes?” she whispered to Cheiron.

He nodded, still smiling. “Yes.”

Lokaia screamed happily and caught Suzee in a tight hug, as she was the closest one. After she had disengaged the Elvian from her neck, Suzee passed Lokaia on to TJ (who claimed that it may hurt the baby if she was hugged) and Seth (who said he felt a bit quesy and probably shouldn’t be hugged) and Bova (who merely stepped away) and Rosie (who hugged her back enthusiastically). After the initial excitement had died down, Lokaia glanced meaningfully at Suzee and cocked her head toward Cheiron. Suzee didn’t move, and Lokaia sighed. “Come on, everyone,” she said, taking Radu’s hand. “Let's go... do something else.” She pulled the group from the room and closed it before Suzee could leave.

Indignantly, Suzee turned to look at Cheiron who was regarding her with curiosity. “What was that about?” he asked.

“Dunno,” Suzee answered with a shrug.

“Hmm.” Cheiron cocked his head at her. “I have been meaning to talk to you, Suzee. Were you upset with me?”

Eyes slitting, Suzee smiled tightly. “Upset with you? Noooooooo, Cheiron, why would I ever be upset with you?”

Visibly relieved, Cheiron sighed. “Oh, good. Well, I should be off then. I am supposed to be meeting some friends.” He reached out his hand to cancel the connection.

“ARE YOU FREAKING INSANE?!”

Startled, Cheiron pulled back. “What?”

“God, talk about unperceptive!” Suzee ranted. “I thought Kaia was just overreacting, but you know what? I have every certainty that if we looked up ‘unperceptive’ in the dictionary right now your picture would be next to it!”

“Huh?” Cheiron asked, perplexed.

“Lemme ask you a question, Cheiron,” Suzee began in conversational tones. “How would you feel if the person that you were… God, I don’t even know what we’re doing! Okay, how would you feel if I invited you to Yensid? Then I didn’t tell anyone you were coming, and I had never talked to my family about you and when I finally did introduce you to everyone, I introduced you as a friend? Not anyone special, not someone you really cared about, just a friend. Like everyone else!”

Cheiron stared, contemplating this. “So… you are upset with me?”

“AND THEN,” Suzee continued, twice as angry, “I would introduce you to some people, some insufferable moronic people who I called my friends and they told you that they were going to keep you away from me because they wanted me! And I seemed to really like these people! And you’re pissed off because you thought you could really care about me, but maybe now you can’t if those people are my friends and since I obviously don’t care about you enough to tell anyone about you--”

“Wait a moment,” Cheiron interrupted her suddenly. “Is this about you or me?”

“About you, of course!” Suzee cried, enraged. “I’m not the one who has a thing for red hair and people with pointed ears and I don’t have a thing where no one can call me Che except Lokaia and did I mention I am sick of hearing about how in love you used to be with her and how much I am starting to loathe hearing the name Che because I am not allowed to call you that but she is and then those friends of yours, those stupid friends of yours who absolutely infuriate me and I’m sick of it and I’m sick of you and I’m just so sick of--”

“Suzee,” Cheiron interrupted again, raising his hand. “Did it occur to you that… perhaps… the reason you may feel this way is because you… love me?”

“LOVE YOU?!” Suzee screeched. “How could I ever possibly love someone who infuriates me so much?!”

“Then answer a few questions, and I’ll never say it again,” he compromised quickly. When Suzee merely stood and stewed in her own anger, Cheiron took his chance. “When you talk to me this way, does your heart pound? When you think about me, is it hard to breathe? When you actually see me in person, do both of those things happen and it seems as if you are floating on air?”

He paused, waiting for her answer, and Suzee took the time to prepare for a new rant. “That is the most arrogant, self-absorbed, idiotic thing you have ever said to me!” she exploded. “Why would you ever think I felt that way about you?!”

Cheiron merely shrugged. “Because that is the way I feel about you.”

Rage taking over, Suzee cut the call and began to storm from the team room. As she stepped over the threshold of the door, she paused, reflecting on what Cheiron had said. That is the way I feel about you…. Did that mean… Surely it didn’t… Suzee turned slowly to face Cheiron’s smiling face, who had called back immediately. “Has it clicked yet?” Cheiron inquired.

Anger melting, Suzee nodded slowly. Cheiron’s smile only grew. “And you? Do you truly loathe me?”

Suzee scowled. “Well, I’m not too fond of your friends.”

To her surprise, Cheiron burst out laughing. “Chakra?” he demanded between chuckles. “Scylla and Falynn? Good Smorf, Suzee, I loathe them as well! They are absolutely infuriating! Why do you think I demanded that you come and stole away as quickly as possible?”

“Then why the hell’d you leave me with them?” Suzee asked acidly. ,p> Cheiron grinned. “Because I knew you would give them… what is the term? A run for their money, I believe it is. I loved watching the looks on their faces as you spoke to them.”

Her anger ebbing away, Suzee asked one more question. “Do you know about their little deal?”

“Ah, the one of who shall marry me and become Chiefess?” Cheiron inquired casually. “Yes, I know it well. In fact, I know a bit more than that.” He smiled at her confidentially and said, “You see, the day or so after I found out I went to talk to my sire. As it was, I had no need. I had gone to him to discuss who would continue in his footsteps: whether my brother or I would become Chief, or, if they wanted it, which of my sisters would become Chiefess. It turns out, my sire did not even think I wanted the job. Chester has been next in line the entire time.” He grinned again. “Of course, Chakra, Scylla, and Falynn will not find out about this until his coronation.”

Suzee stared. “Wait, if Chester’s going to be Chief, what are you going to do?”

Cheiron cocked his head. “If all goes well I should be able to find something I am interested in and make some sort of career about it. As for now,” he shrugged lightly, “I would settle for finding out how my girlfriend truly feels about me.”

Suzee’s eyebrows shot up. “Girlfriend?” she repeated.

Cheiron mimicked her expression. “Yes?”

Slowly, Suzee smiled. “Yeah. Well… I guess, you know… she might feel the same way.”

The centaur prince’s grin returned. “I am glad you were able to figure that out for yourself, Incompetent.”

“Thanks, Genius,” Suzee replied.

Dolls of this Story

THE END