Palace Dinner

Airabella found her son's room empty the next evening. She flew into a frenzy searching for him but there was not a trance to be found of him. At last she went to find Onicent. She found his on his way to the throne room, all dressed up and groomed.

"Our son, Epis, is missing." She told him.

Onicent stopped walking and turned to her, "I am sure he is somewhere, perhaps out in the gardens."

Airabella replied hotly. "He is nowhere to be found and no one has seen him."

Onicent started to walk again and then Airabella came forward and gripped his arm. "Your son is missing."

"I am not concerned, he is not a child anymore. He can do as he pleases."

"Last I saw of him he was wallowing in the despair of losing his love." Airabella replied, her voice was rising.

"Airabella please," Onicent said sounding exasperated. He tried to pry her off of himself.

"He is your son, and he is missing. What if he has fallen into a deep pit like your niece Sonnis!"

"He is fine, I am sure. Now we are having a guest tonight, my brother Dauntice and his lot. Where are Hermyra and Lyris?"

"Gone," Airabella said.

"Gone?"

"Gone away to my sister." Airabella replied, with just the slightest tinge of triumph.

Ancient grew stormy very quickly, and suddenly Airabella was wishing she hadn't presented herself as a vanquisher.

"And you approved there leaving?" Onicent said quietly.

Airabella stayed silent and wavering.

"Go now, and get ready for guests." He said deadly with his calmness. His eyes were gleaming with something wicked.

Airabella walked away as slowly and calmly as she could.

Dauntice, Farren and a young boy whom was unknown to the palace arrived shortly after. Happily the child was introduced as Piyipin. Rissa emerged from the shadows with a pretty young nymph who was to be a guest.

"Are you the one who found Sonnis?" Dauntice asked her.

Feeling incredibly uncomfortable Sonnis nodded and kept walking. She had not counted on her family being in the palace with her.

"Thats your daddy?" Rissa asked.

"Yeah, now shush." Sonnis told her, "they must not know it is me. I should not have come at all."

"The chaos continues." Rissa said with a giggle in her voice. Then more seriously, "he seems like a good father."

"He is," Sonnis replied, "but I'm not a good enough daughter. I'm no sea goddess."

"What are you then?"

"Goddess of magic." She replied, she was toying with the wand she carried.

"Better keep that out of sight." Rissa replied, "but also handy, I think Onicent is eyeing us."

Sonnis looked up and saw Onicent watching them with a drawn expression.

Airabella and Onicent took opposite sides of the table. Sonnis could sense they weren't at ease, and apparently so could Dauntice, for he looked somewhat uncomfortable. Farren sat at his side looking quite happy and holding there young son. Which oddly Sonnis realized was her youngest brother who she'd never met. She decided she should go home and visit.

Enisia and Rissa sat together and Feia joined them. Iyora was on Dauntice's side and was looking between all the different people curiously, she seemed to sense unseen tensions.

"Where is your son Epis?" Dauntice asked Onicent.

Immediately he tensed and looking slightly angry said, "he couldn't join us, where is your son?"

Dauntice replied, "off somewhere I imagine."

Sonnis realized that meant Ianin had never came home. Where was he?

"Your other two?"

"Probably off terrorizing someone." There was an underlying tone.

Farren interjected though, "we are very thankful to your son for his service to our daughter. I wished he had been here for us to show our thanks."

"Of course," Airabella said sounding extremely stiff. "You know Epis, he has a good heart." Her voice broke on the last word.

"We were wondering though, what became of her afterwards." Dauntice added, "we haven't heard or seen her."

"She left." Iyora said. Perhaps she sensed that no one else felt like talking about it.

Dauntice inclined his head slightly to her.

Across the table for the first time Sonnis noticed something. Onicent kept a gaze on her.

Sonnis was feeling very uncomfortable, and so as soon as she could she slipped away.