The train ride ends up being relatively uneventful, at least for me. Nina and I sit together, Vito and Cara, and Alyse and Alto. Truthfully, I'm dying to know what the last pair talked about in those two hours, especially after my little forced confession with Alyse earlier. Should I have warned her that Alto is....hmm, well...would this world understand the phrase, 'asexual bibliophile'?
When our group exits the train, and we make our way towards the royal palace, we get lots of looks from the common elves. This meeting isn't like the Royal Announcement, there is no official public knowledge of its happening. Plus, most of our group is pretty well known at this point. So, these elves are just seeing the infamous red-haired noble, an Elder Dragon, and a human strolling through their city casually.
To my great joy, there's lots of pointing and whispering, but virtually no disdain or hostility. They mostly seem excited, like seeing a celebrity out and about. Honestly, experiencing things like this after my initial reception makes it hard for me to believe I'm really making no difference in how these people view humans – what the others said last night. But I guess that's just wishful thinking on my part, and an unwillingness to see myself as anything other than a 'human' influence.
We arrive at the palace main entrance, and I see a familiar face standing by the door. It's Ren, one of the guards that was on door duty when Ilina first escorted us to meet the Queen. The one that made a joke about other guards getting jumpy and stabbing me because I'm human...I liked the guy. Apparently, he recognizes me, too, because he immediately smiles.
"Oh, hey Mizuki! Long time no see! It seems you've made yourself quite at home here, eh? Roaming around the palace freely, hanging out with an Elder Dragon, waving to the elves in the city like your friends, and the like. You've come a long way, so congrats! Ladies Nedonera and Cara, and the rest of you, welcome!" (Ren)
I smile uncertainly back at him....I'm not quite sure if those were compliments or not. Something about the way he said 'roaming around the palace freely'...
"Uhm...thanks, Ren....it's good to see you again, too. I'm genuinely uncertain, is there sarcasm buried in there? Also, my Lady was with me when we first met..." (Mizuki)
Ren smiles politely, and I still can't tell if it's genuine.
"Oh? Think nothing of it! It's just that the inner guards will occasionally mention seeing you in the palace, but nobody ever seems to see you enter or exit. Not me, certainly...the one overseeing external security. As for last time we met, I suppose you're right, but we certainly didn't know your Lady was an Elder Dragon. After all, if we'd been told that, that throne room guard wouldn't have tried to throw her in a cell for not kneeling. I got a lot of the blame for that near-lethal encounter..." (Ren)
"Fufufu...oh yes, that was quite entertaining! I remember you now!" (Nina)
Not helping, Nina! Cara and Alyse just stare at me like I'm an idiot. Or a troublemaker. Or both...I can't really tell. Alto is clearly giving me an 'I told you so' look, like she fully expected my casual treatment of palace visits to catch up with me.
Ren maintains his smile, but he's staring at me pointedly. Oh boy...yup, he's definitely upset with me. Time to deflect. I hold my hands up placatingly.
"Hey, hey I was just following Princess Ilina's lead, you know? It wasn't my place to go around talking unnecessarily on my first visit! I didn't want to get stabbed for accidentally being disrespectful, right? Anyway, that's crazy about you guys never seeing me – I didn't know I had such a forgettable face." (Mizuki)
Ren's face clearly says 'bullshit', but the other guard uncomfortably clears his throat.
"Ehem...uhm, Ren? Shouldn't we get them to the conference room? The meeting isn't too long from now..." (other guard)
Ren sighs deeply and nods.
"Yeah, I suppose so. Mizuki, we've all been told to never impede you when you're seen here, unless the King or Queen directly orders us to. But I'd consider it a personal favor if you'd be a bit more...obvious...when you enter the palace from now on. Yeah? Anyway, let me escort you all to the conference room the meeting is being held in. Follow me!" (Ren)
Ren ushers us behind him and starts leading us through the castle. I've been here enough now to know that he's taking us to the roundtable conference room where the first nobles' meetings were held. As we walk, Alyse slides over next to me, then tries to whisper quietly.
"Hey...Mizuki...uhm, on the train, Alto told me that you guys are just friends. That true?" (Alyse)
Well now, at least I know one thing they talked about. I smirk at Alyse and nod.
"Definitely. Our relationship is completely platonic, and I promise you that she feels the same way. So, if you're wondering if she's single, the answer is yes. That said, I wouldn't expect much success wooing her if I was you." (Mizuki)
Alyse looks embarrassed at first, like she's going to deny that she fancies Alto that way, but then she just gives me a glum expression and whispers back to me.
"So.....she is into men then. I thought for sure, given how attached she seems to you, that if there was nothing romantic between you...it must be because she's into women." (Alyse)
"Fufufu...I haven't seen her show any interest in men. In fact, she's outright said that she'd prefer any new group members to be women, because she didn't want men bothering her with their flirting. Or, something like that. Still, I wouldn't assume that she's into women." (Mizuki)
Alyse looks hopeful at first, then turns puzzled.
"I'm confused, what would she be into, then?" (Alyse)
I have to stifle laughter as I shrug.
"Books, magic, and research?" (Mizuki)
Alyse gives me an annoyed expression, but before we can discuss it further, Ren speaks over his shoulder.
"Alright everyone, here you are! I'll be heading back to my post now." (Ren)
I turn my attention back to our group, and we're standing in front of the conference room that I anticipated. At Ren's direction, the door guards begin ushering us into the room as Ren walks back the way we came. Cara's group enters first, then we follow them with Nina in front.
As we pass through the door, I start to take stock of those present. The Queen, King, and Ilina are absent, as are Alara and Zara, but the other nobles are all here already – Helena, Darak, Jorah, Tessa, and their escorts. I'm guessing nobody told them that we'd be here, because most of them look pretty surprised to see us again. A couple of them also look displeased to see me again. I won't name names, though.
Nina takes a seat at the table, and Alto and I take our places behind her. As we do, Tessa Uril narrows her eyes at me with a barely suppressed scowl, before directing a polite smile at Nina. Jorah is giving me a pretty menacing stare, and seems conflicted about whether to speak. Not surprising, considering that Nina threatened to murder him if he was ever disrespectful again.
"Great Dragon...I must say, I'm surprised to see you and your party at another of these meetings. Was there another development with Veyron, perhaps?" (Tessa)
"Yes, err..Great Dragon, I was wondering the same thing." (Jorah)
Nina gives an amused smile back to Tessa and Jorah.
"There was no such development, no. I suspect that Veyron will not bother the elves for at least a dozen millennia." (Nina)
"I see...that's wonderful news, Great Dragon. We appreciate that you were so thorough. In that case, my I ask why you are here?" (Tessa)
Nina smirks at Tessa's question. Before she can respond, however, Helena snorts and interjects.
"Playing coy, Tessa? I notice that you didn't express any surprise over having another one of these meetings so soon. So, you must be aware of this 'train' and the other developments in Alara's new city, like the rest of us. I'm sure you suspected they are the subject of this meeting. Did you think Queen Elira would call such a meeting without inviting the people responsible for those developments?" (Helena)
Tessa keeps her face neutral as she glances briefly at Helena before returning her gaze to Nina.
"Oh? A 'train', you say? Yes, I do believe that I've heard of the device. It's capabilities strain the imagination...there's nothing even remotely like it anywhere in the world. Truthfully, if I had not seen it myself on the way into the city, I wouldn't have believed such a thing to be possible. Tell me, Great Dragon, is this device the reason for your presence? Perhaps you plan to explain to the elves how they are made?" (Tessa)
If there was any doubt that the nobles want trains of their own, it's shredded by the sight of all of them leaning forward in anticipation for the answer to Tessa's question. I see Cara glancing at me nervously, and Alyse is watching the exchange with a look of...excitement!? Nina leans her head over to rest in her hand, and looks back at Tessa curiously.
"You desire trains of your own, hmm? Yes, Mizuki predicted as much. He thought that you would all be quite displeased with only Alara possessing one, and that you would trouble Queen Elira as a result. He suggested addressing your concerns quickly, to avoid such an outcome. This meeting is an opportunity to do so. There are also other matters Mizuki wishes to discuss. Those are the reasons for my presence." (Nina)
Several of the nobles, including Tessa and Jorah, raise their eyebrows and glance at me. Jorah smiles genuinely and returns his attention to Nina, before responding in an unnervingly cheerful tone.
"How splendid, Great Dragon! Your hum...err, Mizuki, is correct. So, this meeting is to work out the details of when we'll each be getting these 'trains' in our own territories? The elves are truly blessed by your generosity with these items." (Jorah)
I almost can't keep the dumbfounded look off my face...how does he continue to be so dense? How is this man responsible for nearly a quarter of the developed country?