//------------------------------// // 46. The King and I // Story: Time to Shine // by Easysnuggler //------------------------------// “Well, that’s an encouraging thought. I was hoping you might have some pleasant thoughts before we reach the aetheric plane.” – S. Glimmer, reply to T. Sparkle — “Reflections”, Autobiography by Starlight Glimmer 46. The King and I Count George Starfield equerry to the Griffon king had promised Giselle a private audience with King Gerald on Tuesday at six, and meanwhile he would make proper inquiries regarding the missing Gerrard and his sister Gwendolyn. Giselle wore a new dress her mother had begged a friend of a friend Giorgio to make for the audience. It was black, tight, and ruched, and showed just the tiniest bit of tail and paw while leaving her forelimbs free. She suspected it was now the most expensive thing the family owned. Other than that, she was simply clean, brushed and had had a pedicure and her talons done in sheer talon and claw polish. She wore no jewelry and was painfully aware of the fact she was the only one without it. The castle clock began to chime, and upon the sixth bong, the door to the audience hall was opened and a courtier ushered her in. The room was mostly empty. The catlike infighting for the day court mostly over as evening neared. “Announcing Giselle Grimfeathers, the intended of private Gerrard Griffenloft squire to Grand Huntsman Gardet Greenbreze, assigned to Grand Falconer Gina Goodfeathers on the most recent royal expedition across the Stampede Stream.” The small number of people in the court paused and looked up at her. From across the small but elegant hall Giselle saw the king sitting. The King himself was flushed, and choleric, ruddy and a bit past his prime dressed in white silks with a blue waistcoat. He motioned for her to come, and she bowed upon entering the room, and once halfway across the room and would do so again a final time in the king’s presence. She thanked her mother silently for the before now altogether useless deportment lessons she had been subjected to as a gosling. Off to the side stood the Princess Royal Gale and Princess Gustia, eldest daughters of Gerald. They narrowed their eyes, appraising her appearance. The two were plain rather than beautiful, well-shaped with fair complexions and a tincture of the King’s countenance. The young sisters looked much alike. They were both dressed in lilac and silver silk with a silver netting upon the coat, and their heads were full of diamond pins. Queen Gyges on the other hand was a true beauty. She sat on Gerald’s left in purple and silver. Some griffons held that in her youth she had been the most beautiful Griffon of all. Her fourteen children had been the envy of every griffon hen. The two that had died had been eight and ten, the second and third eldest toms. They had both passed on the same day. They had contracted Feather Flu, but some bad medicine had carried the children both off within hours of each other. The position of royal physician empty ever since. It was said they were trying for a fifteenth. Gerald’s eldest the “golden prince” Gerald the IV was not present, and Giselle was grateful for that. He had been the son of Gerald’s first wife who had died when he was fourteen. The eldest son was rumored to be a cruel bird with a wicked tongue, a mean temper and a nasty beak always poking itself into trouble. The two princesses and the queen were exchanging whispers and looking at Giselle’s dress. One of them even pointed at her. As she reached the throne the green griffon Count George Starfield whom she had met in the Hall of Heroes stepped forward. She bowed the final time three paces from his majesty. “Greetings and welcome Lady Giselle be at ease. Why have you come seeking an audience this evening? I have not seen my Huntsman Gardet in some time. Do you bring news of his whereabouts?” “No, your majesty, that is why I’ve come. My fiancé went across the Stampede Stream as part of the Falconer's party and was in Gardet’s group that went west. They still have not returned. I have had no word from my fiancé or his sister Knight Corporal Gwendolyn, a scout in your majesty's Wing Guard who was dispatched five weeks ago in search of your huntsman, and her brother, my fiancé. I have had no news as to their fate which is why I come before you.” “Your majesty” said Count Starfield “I have checked and there has been no word from the south regarding any of these, your majesty’s subjects or his gallant officer dispatched to track them.” He continued. “However, a second set of scouts encountered a foul residue amid a trackless devastation that stripped and ravaged the northwest coast twenty or more canters inland. The cause is the Greater Equestrian Everfree Parasprite, a triphibious swarming insect-fish omnivorous during its final lifecycle. The pest has not been seen since the Celestial Era. The area was NOT that way when the missing parties were dispatched.” “The dangers of the south are largely unknown. Thus, why they were sent to begin with.” said the King. “What ill fortune.” “My lady, please do not abandon hope. They may be simply unable to return yet. Gardet trains his people well, and I have faith that a Corporal in the Royal Wing Guard would not fall prey to a flying insect fish no matter how dangerous.” Giselle nodded and tried to smile for the king. “My family and I were about to retire to supper and would be delighted if you joined us?” There were more whispers. “If you don't, I'm sure the ladies of the court will never forgive me. They’re quite taken by your simple elegance.” The king stood, walked to her, and politely and gently guided her to a nearby dining hall. Servants had set the table and a meal was prepared. They began to eat informally, and Giselle found herself relaxing slightly. The princesses complimented her on her dress, inquired as to the designer, and were delighted to find they had heard of the fashionista Giorgio before. As they had just begun to sit, a courier came to the hall and whispered to the esquire and king in hushed tones. The king rose. “Giselle, I fear that for us, dinner must be interrupted. Envoys have arrived with no notice and have brought at least your Gerrard and my Corporal with them! They are at the Hospital across the common for some reason. I must hasten hither. These envoys, whomever they are, simply cannot fit within our halls!” Giselle was so overjoyed, that the trip from the dining hall to the nearby hospital was a quick blur. When she arrived, she saw a crowd of onlookers. Griffons crisscrossed overhead and clustered on rooftops to see the strange sight of three enormous colorful scaled beings flying and floating in the air as if it was water. They resembled a serpent or a seahorse but with pretty scales and had hooves like a land creature but tails and fins like fish. The flying creatures were flitting and hovering above the entrance to the hospital, and a pair of griffons were speaking to several dozen guards who were mostly focused on keeping the crowd back rather than on the strange sight. One of the griffons was Gerrard! The other was Gwendolyn! The beasts were just hovering, talking, and apparently joking and laughing with one another. As the king approached, the three enormous creatures broke out into a short song. Some dazed medical griffons flew back into the hospital. Giselle could not remember the words of the song, but the babbling and joyful reunion and the warm embraces of Gerrard and Gwendolyn made the haunting tune an experience she would never forget. Apart from a bandaged paw he seemed unhurt. Knight Corporal Gwendolyn approached the king and said a few words quietly.