Heir of Beasts

Ch. 3.5- A Truth I Never Thought I'd Find

This chapter has some adult content. Consider yourself warned.

- S

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Esato runs up to us, his face flushed and eyes dancing. He's leading Tipari by the hand, which he raises triumphantly when he sees us.
             "What in the nine hells is going on," Irei asks gruffly. "Just how drunk are you, Lyu?"

            "She said no," he practically crows.

            "Who?"

            "Tipari," he says like it's obvious, motioning to the smiling woman at his side. "I asked her to marry me and she said no."

            Irei pauses, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Is it midnight yet?"

            "It's ten thirty!" Esato insists. "She said no, you pompous bureaucrat. I want you by my side when the day comes. You're the best friend I have."

            "Isn't that a sad state of affairs. I consider us mere casual acquaintances." He smiles, clapping his friend on the back. "I'm happy for you, Esato. Really. And Tip," he says, turning towards her with a serious expression. "Blink twice if you're being coerced, blackmailed, or otherwise threatened. Surely you couldn't have agreed to him of your own free will."

            "He has my family locked in a dark room somewhere, doubtless, but there's nothing you can do about that."

            "My dear, I told you I'd give them back after the honeymoon."

            Irei snorts. "Shards, go to the mainland, alright? Esato is nearly intolerable when he's happy."

            "Oh, don't you worry your pretty little head, Ambassador dear," Tip croons. "I'll make him so miserable he'll be great company."       

            "What more could any man ask for?" Irei replies.

            "Oh, a great deal," Esato cuts in. "Expensive whores and chocolate dipped strawberries, gilded halls full of exotic pets, a gaggle of children that look like her. Endless coin, down featherbeds, rooms full of pastries and jams."

            "Well, now we know what to get you for wedding presents."

            "I call the pastries," Tyro chimes in. "That seems to be the least objectionable thing on his list."

            "The most objectionable isn't even the fancy whores bit," Irei tells us. "It's the children. Imagine a host of little Esatos running wild over Kama, drinking and fucking anything that moves."

            "Oh, but those were my bachelor days," Esato protests. "I'm reformed, I swear it. Now I'm a dignified and highly respectable member of society."

            "Last week you got kicked out of Midami's Tavern for refusing to stop standing on the tables and singing. What the rest of the world must think of Kama, with our Minister of Finance belting out off-key showtunes!" He shakes his head, looking believably forlorn, but there's a smile hiding in his eyes.

            "I was perfectly on key," Esato insists. "And our coffers are overflowing at a time when most are empty, so I say I'm doing a fine job. Now, if you're done taking pot shots at me, why don't we head over to the east harbor to watch the fireworks?"

            "Let's go, then" Avamir says "it's only ten minutes to midnight and the opening is always so dramatic. We don't want to miss it." She turns to me. "You're in for a treat, Shira. The Kamai fireworks are incredible. They put out all the lanterns until the full moon is the only light and then they set the sky above the east harbor aflame with the most beautiful display you've ever seen."