The Banquet

Ira's Pov

I watch through the window for several hours as thousands of guests arrive into the palace grounds, all dressed in their finest attires and bearing gifts for the angel kings. The celebration will be extraordinary indeed. But only Royals from other kingdoms, close allies of the angel kings and their extremely wealthy friends will be allowed into the banquet hall where the most scrumptious foods will served and the most impressive performances made.

I wonder if I am on the list of today's entertainers. I never got summoned by the angel kings to surrender our mate bond to the stunning Princess. She might have felt disgusted by the thought of getting a mate bond from a human with no royal blood. So I am unsure if the angel kings will still let me perform when they are not gaining in return. 

My face is no longer in pain so I am assuming that the swelling is gone too. I am a human so even swells take longer to heal. I must still be looking ugly.

Another hour passes before the room's door opens and two servants and the assistant of the angel kings steps inside. His expression is frigid unlike the last time we met. His clothes are also fancier to match today's event. One of the two servants is carrying an elegant, silk dress and a beautiful mask that matches the colour of the dress. Did they confuse this servant's room for Princess Andria's guest chambers? The fabulous dress and mask cannot be for me, can they?

"The angel kings have granted you the chance to sing at their banquet. But you shall not leave this palace until the mate bond is safely transfered to Princess Andria. The ritual will be performed once the kings and the princess have agreed on the terms of their marriage," the assistant of the angel kings informs in a frigid tone. 

I thought they said that Princess Andria agreed to marry them? What other terms needs to be agreed on? I cannot wait in here for weeks when my father is still missing. I am sure Princess Andria will want to take her time because being courted by my rich mates is an extremely surreal experience. Meanwhile I will be locked in here waiting to give the mate bond to her when she finally feels ready to become their queen.

"Our esteemed guests will be disgusted by the sight of you unless we improve your dull appearance. These two servants will help you bathe and wear a proper outfit," the assistant of the angel kings says.

Apparently he is no different from his masters. I have learned that in this palace appearances are everything. No wonder they cannot see through the Princess's pretentious behaviour.

"I can bathe and dress myself," I say firmly. "I am not a princess."

The servants appear shocked while the assistant of the angel kings laughs. But the stern expression returns to his face instantly. 

"Then do not waste time as guests should not wait a second for you. I understand that you never performed in front of the angel kings. So I must warn you that you better do an excellent performance, otherwise . . . ," he trails off as if the consequences are too dire to be described with words. 

I can only hope that despite my moods I will succeed in singing in my best voice. I cannot sing any of the songs that I wrote because I realize now that they will want a tune that makes them feel joyous and powerful. It's their magnificent celebration. Their rich guests must not think of poor humans and their misery. 

"I will be done in a minute," I say.

 "We will show you to a bathroom," one of the servants say. 

The assistant of the angel kings turns to leave while the servants guide me to a nearby bathroom. I take half an hour to wash away the dirt of days since I arrived in this palace  and wear the splendid dress and the mask that perfectly hides the side of my face that is yet to heal completely.

The servants lead the way out and towards the main palace. Thousands of commoners are gathered outside, having their own celebrations. There is a huge crowd surrounding Princess Andria's dragon, just watching it. They however make way for us as we pass. 

Once inside the main palace the servants guide me to the banquet hall where I join the short line of entertainers waiting outside the massive steel doors for their turn to enter and perform. None of the other singers who arrived here with me are in the line. Only a few popular entertainers from the neighboring kingdoms.

I must entertain the guests equally as good as them, otherwise . . . The punishment for embarassing the angel kings in their  would be brutal of course. 

Sounds of lively celebrations can be heard though the thick walls of the banquet hall. We can also smell mouthwatering odours of the tasty foods being served to the great guests. The other entertainers in the line appear excited as they wait for their turn to walk in, while I am quite nervous because I have never sang in front of so many proud royals before.

My turn finally comes and I take three deep breaths before striding past the open steel doors. I am immediately dazzled by the sheer magnificence of the heavily decorated hall. The attires of the rich and royal guests are of the finest fabrics and their shiny jewelry is made of the most precious stones. 

Yet none can compete with the beauty of Princess Andria and my three mates, sitted on throne-like seats on a raised platform at the far end of the hall. Their table is laid with most delicious dishes and decorated with colourful flowers.

My mind becomes a bit lost as their enchanting scents become more profound than the aroma of the good foods. The angel  in a white silk shirt and shimmering thin  crown, Ronen, leans closer to Princess Andria and pecks her on the lips. She delightfully smiles. Good thing I have a mask on or everyone would be frowning at my pissed  expression.

I take another three deep breathes to calm my nerves before striding forward, towards the open space close to the table of the kings. I avoid looking at them again as I make a dramatic halt at the centre of the stage. Their guests are focused on their talks and their foods. But it all stops when I utter the first line of my song. Maybe it's my anger that has got adrenaline rushing through my veins, but I am also surprised by the soothing sound of my voice.

I am singing a song that is probably centuries old and rarely sang because of it's difficult tune. Yet I got their undivided attention. 

I carry on expertly, making sure my vocals are the best they have ever listened to. The proud guests surprisingly applaud in the end, something I didn't hear them do for their previous entertainers. My mates and their desired queen doesn't look as impressed though as their expressions reflect unjustified rage. 

One of the angel kings opens his mouth to say something but he is cut off by deafening sounds of screams from outside the palace. The crowd of guests, servants and officials rush out, the angel kings and Princess Andria as well. 

I follow behind everyone, careful not to be caught in a stampede. Some of the guests who had ran out first seem to be running back in with terrified faces. Something horrifying must be happening outside. But my curiosity urges me to carry on though. 

Upon stepping outside I am appalled by the sight of a huge weyr of rogue dragons reigning terror upon the guests and residents of the palace. Screams fill the air as people flee from their vicious mouths and hot fire. 

There isn't enough buildings to run to, and the dragon fires have set one of the structures of the palace on fire. Princess Andria's tamed dragon is curled up beside the building of the main palace like a scared puppy. Clearly it will be of no help in this harrowing situation. The rogue dragons are like a flock of ferocious birds circling the palace grounds before diving down to burn and devour the multiple if people that had gathered for the celebration.