The Princesses debated for nearly an hour. Within that time Artex and Razor had stepped out into the hallway and asked for cushions and a tray of vegetables with humus, which had become ridiculously popular in Canterlot after Artex had some made and passed around the massive public interview a month before. Oriana had decided to enjoy some as well and the three sat on their cushions chatting idly while the Princesses decided.
Artex feeling pensive about the quiet, decided to broach a subject he had been avoiding for the past week and a half,
"Oriana, the morning after Razor and I had our first date," he began, "I woke up to find you snuggled against the backs of my knees."
Oriana's ears perked up when he began but her ears and head steadily lowered with each word he spoke. By the time he was finished with his short statement Oriana's chin was almost on the ground.
"Now I wanted you to know that I'm not upset with you. I wasn't then and I'm not now." Artex watched as the young Zebra mare perked back up slightly, "I did stare at you, but I never said anything. I was letting you draw your own conclusions so I could watch your reaction. You looked guilty and you left. I would like to know why. Remember I'm not upset, but I am genuinely curious why you did all that."
Oriana took several deep breaths before answering,
"I... I just..." she let out a heavy sigh, lowering her eyes, "You both looked so content and happy and I... I wanted to know what it was like. I know I was interrupting and I am sorry, but I didn't think there was any harm in it. I just snuggled up and... it felt good. It was relaxing and warm and I... I guess I drifted off. I didn't mean to and I'm sorry for interrupting and I..."
Artex held out his hands,
"Woah, slow down there." he said soothingly at the upset mare, "I said I wasn't upset. I wanted to know and you told me. That's all, nothing more."
Razor scowled down at the humus then, without looking up, she reached up with her left forehoof and cuffed Artex on the back of his head.
Artex squawked and ruefully rubbed his throbbing noggin,
"Ow! Geeze what the heck was that for?"
Razor shot the man a smoldering look,
"That was for not telling me and for doing what you did to Oriana."
Artex continued to rub his head,
"Damn glad you know not to hit too hard. So what's wrong with what I did?"
Razor shook her head at him,
"It's more the fact that you let this go for more than a week before addressing it. Did you ever stop to think that maybe it was eating poor Oriana up on the inside? You left her to stew for a week before saying anything. How would you like it if I snubbed you then didn't talk about it for a week?"
"I'd have figured that you were willing to let the matter drop by day 3 and not given it any more thought." Artex replied, "How was I supposed to know she was stewing?"
Razor lowered her eyes,
"Oh dear, I'm sorry Artex. You probably didn't realize because Humans don't have that... Oriana was expressing curiosity about our herd."
Artex' eyes bulged slightly,
"Oh! I had no idea. Oriana I'm so sorry. I never would have..."
He stopped abruptly as Razor covered his mouth with her left forehoof,
"Shush you." she said playfully, "You didn't know and you obviously feel bad. The only question now is, 'Do we want Oriana in our herd?'"
Artex pulled his head away from the hoof and Razor lowered it back to the ground,
"The first pair make the final decision on who can join the herd. I want to know your feelings about this first before I tell you what I think." Razor explained.
Artex looked over at the young Zebra mare,
"How old are you Oriana?"
Oriana blinked in confusion,
"I am nineteen."
Artex nodded,
"And are you interested in joining our... herd?"
Oriana averted her eyes as her cheeks flushed,
"Well... yes, a little. I don't have any experience with romance but I think you and Razor are really nice and the two of you obviously care about each other. I want to know what that's like. I'm not in love with you Artex. I haven't known you long enough I think, but I am interested and you two seem like the type of husband and sister/wife I would like."
"Are you in love with Razor?" Artex asked bluntly.
Razor let out a quiet chuckle and Oriana looked almost stricken,
"Why would you even ask that?" Razor asked.
Artex shrugged,
"Well, doesn't she have to be in love with all the other herd members?"
Razor shook her head,
"Oh no, no, no, no, no. The wives are IN love with the husband. They love each other but not romantically. Can you imagine how awkward it would be to be a Comforter while somepony else is being mounted? You would be aroused and jealous at the same time. No, the wives love the husband romantically, not each other. Some mares are inclined in that direction and same-sex herds aren't unheard of, but for the most part herds have a stallion who is the target of the affection."
"What about a herd of all stallions?" Artex asked innocently.
Oriana looked at him aghast,
"Are you serious?" Oriana asked, "A whole herd of all stallions? Six stallions and no mares? There would be at least thirty mares who never find a stallion because of that!"
Razor hummed thoughtfully,
"I have heard of it once or twice before but herds like that receive a lot of social negativity because there are so few stallions in the first place. There used to be very strict laws against that sort of thing. Mares who like mares are uncommon, but not completely rare. They don't have any sort of social problems because there are so many mares. Stallions who are attracted to other stallions face being outcasts. There aren't enough stallions as it is and many mares who have no attraction to other mares go their whole lives without ever marrying or having foals. That's part of the reason there are only so many of us at any point in time."
Artex crossed his arms moodily,
"That's extremely unfair to those stallions who like other males. I don't agree with homosexuality at all. Heck I think it's unnatural as all get-out, but if that's how somebody wishes to live, I have no right to stop them and I'm not going to treat them any differently because of it. They're still a person, so I treat them like a person. That's really messed up. They shouldn't be treated badly because of their decision. Whether any of us agree with it or not, it's THEIR decision, not ours and we have no right to tell them who they can and cannot be with."
"Well it's not right that so many mares never find love because of it." Oriana argued back.
Artex held up his right hand,
"Just a second there Oriana. How many mares are the limit for a single herd?"
"There is no actual limit, but..." Artex cut her off.
"Then it doesn't matter. Granted, one stallion can only spread his affections so thin, but it seems to me that if any mare really wanted to be in a relationship there is nothing stopping her. It sounds to me like society is using the mares who never marry as an excuse to pick on homosexual stallions. I first noticed it at the gathering when The Unity Pact was signed. Stallions are treated as second class citizens or mares just think they're worth less than mares."
Oriana looked shocked,
"That's not true at all!"
Razor placed a gentle hoof on her shoulder
"Actually... it is." she turned from looking at Artex to Oriana, "Were stallions allowed to be surgeons?"
"Well no, but..." Oriana trailed off before she collected her thoughts, "There's a good reason for that. Stallions are much more aggressive than mares."
Razor shook her head,
"That's beside the point. Stallions are good enough to train as military commanders and soldiers, the ones who protect all of us. They're good enough to use as living shields, but not surgeons? Artex is right, that's not fair. During the meeting he mandated that stallions should be allowed to be surgeons and mares could join the Guard. He didn't bring up the part about stallions who liked other stallions probably because he didn't know at the time. I hate to say it, but I do agree with him about the... what did you call them Artex?"
"Homosexual. It means somebody who is romantically inclined toward others who are the same gender as they are. It can be used for males or females, though most Humans call women who like other women: lesbians." Artex explained.
Razor nodded,
"I agree about homosexuals. I hadn't really thought about it, I just went along with what everypony else was saying, but now that I'm thinking about it he's right. Stallions should have the same right. Society doesn't tell me who I can love, no matter which species, so why should society tell me which gender I can have feelings for? How would you feel of society said you could only be attracted to Zebra stallions? Not Ponies, not Humans, nobody except Zebra stallions. Would that be fair?"
Oriana sat still and looked down at the floor deep in thought,
"No," she said after a few moments, "No that wouldn't be fair... and I guess it's not fair to stallions either." she spoke quietly.
Artex waved his hand,
"It's fine. You didn't think about it and you just went along, it happens. The important thing is that you always try to think about the opposite side of an argument. That's why Razor and I are hated enemies."
Razor's head snapped up,
"What!?"
The entire throne room fell silent and Artex felt every eye shift to him instantly,
"What?" he asked ignorantly.
Razor took a deep breath to cool her nerves then addressed Artex in American English,
"I'm assuming you meant something else, you do occasionally use the wrong words once in a while. The word you used means, 'hated enemy', though the normal use of it has a different meaning. Something closer to, 'One that I hate so much I wouldn't be burdened by your death'. Is that what you meant?"
Artex held up his hands waving them frantically,
"NO! No, no, no, no, no, no! No, I would NEVER say that!"
Razor simmered down,
"The word you want is, 'opposition'. Remember that in the future please."
Artex nodded his head vigorously,
"I am so... so sorry Razor. I don't hate you, please don't think that."
Razor took a long, slow breath to calm herself down,
"It's alright, I forgive you. Just please remember not to use that word. It's rarely used, I don't even know where you heard it."
Artex scratched his head,
"I... don't remember either. Again, I'm really sorry Razor Wit."
Razor waved him off,
"It's alright you big goof." she then smiled warmly at him, "You know, you can be kind of sweet when you want to be."
"Um... thank you?" Artex replied.
Razor beamed back a broad smile,
"You're welcome." she cleared her throat, "So, are you interested in Oriana? You never answered the question."
Artex shrugged,
"I'm willing to give it a shot. She's nice and she's willing to admit when she's got something to learn. Those are both positive traits. Besides, I'll give almost anybody a shot. Not other guys though, no homo."
Razor and Oriana chuckled as the Alicorns turned back to their discussion.