guaranteeing her safety and that of her son. Kiva couldn’t help but admire Odette’s political skill and wherewithal.
After a moment of quiet, out of respect for the Queen Mother’s grief, the Coral Assembly co ntinued to conduct the business at hand. “House Yellowtail also votes in favor of Iago being installed as regent,” Penn spoke into the silence. Uchenna shifted in his seat, as did Vaschel, the representative of House Paua, Mervidia’s first and most influential house. Vaschel’s bright red fins waved as he settled more comfortably onto his shaped-coral perch.
Speaking out of turn will not win you any friends here, Penn, Kiva thought. The three most powerful houses in Mervidia traditionally held positions on the Coral Assembly, but which three houses held seats often changed as their fortunes rose and fell. House Paua had held a seat as long as anyone could remember, rising to power in the early days of Mervidia and remaining there as the cycles went by just as strong as the day of the house’s birth. Traditionally, Vaschel should have been the first house representative to voice his vote. Are you making a move to advance your house by sucking up to the new regent and the Divine Family, or are you just purposefully trying to goad a reaction from Paua and Chimaera? Kiva wondered. Making enemies of the highest house and the closely following second house was not wise. What are you up to, Penn? Kiva made a mental note to assign a few more eyes and ears to House Yellowtail.
Uchenna, showing his usual devious politeness, turned his tentacled head to look at Vaschel and nodded graciously. Kiva admired the gesture. It was courteous, showing deference to the higher ranking House Paua, yet at the same time impertinent, as though Uchenna was allowing Vaschel to voice his vote first, despite the fact that it was already his place to weigh in before House Chimaera and House Yellowtail.
If Vaschel noticed the slight, he showed no sign of it. “House Paua agrees with our ethyrie brethren and votes to install Iago as regent.” He nodded his pink-skinned head in turn to Damaris and then to Iago, letting his gaze slide to Penn. Though Vaschel’s face showed no emotion, his eyes stayed on Penn for several moments longer than was truly polite.
Oh, well played, Kiva thought. Remind everyone around the room that you count allies amongst two seats on the Coral Assembly while also subtly reminding them you are the head of the most influential house as well. The fact that the soon to be installed regent is your son is not hurting your position either.
Vaschel turned his meaningful look away from Penn and nodded to Uchenna, acknowledging that it was now his turn to speak, with the ethyrie’s permission of course. Kiva thrilled inwardly at the subtle and sublime politics being played out before her.
“House Chimaera bows to the will of the Coral Assembly and supports its decision to place Iago as temporary Regent of Mervidia,” Uchenna said. His voice was deep and smooth, resonating nicely in the intervening water. Kiva couldn’t help but listen. It was one of those voices that could command a room, while never rising above the volume of a normal conversation between friends.
Kiva noticed that one of Uchenna’s tentacles was resting ever so slightly on Quag’s muscular, rough ly scaled arm. Meanwhile, the grogstack was looking intently at Penn. Quag, unlike Vaschel, was making no effort to hide his anger at the Yellowtail. What has got your tail in a knot? Kiva pondered. A moment’s thought brought the solution to her swift and clever mind. Oh, you do not like someone slighting your master, do you, shark? The faera knew that Quag was grateful to Uchenna for campaigning to get a grogstack representative placed on the Coral Assembly, as were all grogstack to some extent. Kiva was surprised though that Quag had noticed that Penn had spoken out of turn. Uchenna had placed a calming tentacle on the hulking merwin’s arm,
After a moment of quiet, out of respect for the Queen Mother’s grief, the Coral Assembly co ntinued to conduct the business at hand. “House Yellowtail also votes in favor of Iago being installed as regent,” Penn spoke into the silence. Uchenna shifted in his seat, as did Vaschel, the representative of House Paua, Mervidia’s first and most influential house. Vaschel’s bright red fins waved as he settled more comfortably onto his shaped-coral perch.
Speaking out of turn will not win you any friends here, Penn, Kiva thought. The three most powerful houses in Mervidia traditionally held positions on the Coral Assembly, but which three houses held seats often changed as their fortunes rose and fell. House Paua had held a seat as long as anyone could remember, rising to power in the early days of Mervidia and remaining there as the cycles went by just as strong as the day of the house’s birth. Traditionally, Vaschel should have been the first house representative to voice his vote. Are you making a move to advance your house by sucking up to the new regent and the Divine Family, or are you just purposefully trying to goad a reaction from Paua and Chimaera? Kiva wondered. Making enemies of the highest house and the closely following second house was not wise. What are you up to, Penn? Kiva made a mental note to assign a few more eyes and ears to House Yellowtail.
Uchenna, showing his usual devious politeness, turned his tentacled head to look at Vaschel and nodded graciously. Kiva admired the gesture. It was courteous, showing deference to the higher ranking House Paua, yet at the same time impertinent, as though Uchenna was allowing Vaschel to voice his vote first, despite the fact that it was already his place to weigh in before House Chimaera and House Yellowtail.
If Vaschel noticed the slight, he showed no sign of it. “House Paua agrees with our ethyrie brethren and votes to install Iago as regent.” He nodded his pink-skinned head in turn to Damaris and then to Iago, letting his gaze slide to Penn. Though Vaschel’s face showed no emotion, his eyes stayed on Penn for several moments longer than was truly polite.
Oh, well played, Kiva thought. Remind everyone around the room that you count allies amongst two seats on the Coral Assembly while also subtly reminding them you are the head of the most influential house as well. The fact that the soon to be installed regent is your son is not hurting your position either.
Vaschel turned his meaningful look away from Penn and nodded to Uchenna, acknowledging that it was now his turn to speak, with the ethyrie’s permission of course. Kiva thrilled inwardly at the subtle and sublime politics being played out before her.
“House Chimaera bows to the will of the Coral Assembly and supports its decision to place Iago as temporary Regent of Mervidia,” Uchenna said. His voice was deep and smooth, resonating nicely in the intervening water. Kiva couldn’t help but listen. It was one of those voices that could command a room, while never rising above the volume of a normal conversation between friends.
Kiva noticed that one of Uchenna’s tentacles was resting ever so slightly on Quag’s muscular, rough ly scaled arm. Meanwhile, the grogstack was looking intently at Penn. Quag, unlike Vaschel, was making no effort to hide his anger at the Yellowtail. What has got your tail in a knot? Kiva pondered. A moment’s thought brought the solution to her swift and clever mind. Oh, you do not like someone slighting your master, do you, shark? The faera knew that Quag was grateful to Uchenna for campaigning to get a grogstack representative placed on the Coral Assembly, as were all grogstack to some extent. Kiva was surprised though that Quag had noticed that Penn had spoken out of turn. Uchenna had placed a calming tentacle on the hulking merwin’s arm,
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