Roya abruptly flung her arm around Toka's neck and tumbled them both
in--and the water frolic was on.
Refreshed and clean again, the party split to the respective bedrooms.
Toka faced Rok and Old Ledo. "Any ideas?"
"The Kosannans we've seen so far," Old Ledo offered, "are anything but
combative."
"We could butcher them by the hundreds." Rok toyed with his battle-ax.
"Only...."
"Perhaps," Toka hoped as he led for the lounge room, "we'll learn
something definite at that banquet."
Roya and Elees were waiting. At once a reverent knocking came on the
great entry doors.
Assuming his role, Toka intoned royally, "Enter!" The great doors began
swinging in.
As the procession moved up the Hall Of Life, Toka was startled by the
addition to the reliefs on the wall--a perfect portrayal of the frolic
in the bathing pool!
"I," Old Ledo mused dryly, "didn't see any of them in there with us."
Surfacely casual, Toka spoke ahead to their guide. "Kosanna's artisans
are swift, O Princess Alota--as well as accurate."
Alota bowed her titian head in acknowledgment. "As Great Prince Toka
knows all, so he knows the scene of his frolic in his pool was ready
for installation even before he came to Kosanna."
Proceeding to a pair of doors on her right, Alota led them into a
vast auditorium, beautifully scened of wall and softly glowing of
vaulted ceiling. There was a tremendous black banquet table, its center
gleaming and bare. Beside ornate black chairs down each side, hundreds
of beautiful princesses stood expectantly. At the far end of the
table was a great stage, its black curtain hanging in huge folds. An
enchanting perfume filled the air.
Toka sauntered to the quintet of white chairs at the head of the table.
Each chair back bore a small but perfect likeness of the member of the
"divine" party who was to sit in it.
"Aren't there any men in this palace?" Elees wondered lowly.
"Maybe the whole place is a harem," Rok posed puckishly, "just waiting
for Toka."
Toka was aware of Roya instantly stiffening. Comparing her sunny blonde
and creamy-tan loveliness with the titian and milk-white beauty of the
Kosanna princesses, Toka failed to see why Roya should be irritated.
Alota raised her wand. At once the curtain on the distant stage rustled
aside to reveal a choir of sheerly gowned princesses who began a low
choraling. With a swaying of diaphanous gown, the choir parted and a
line of graceful girls danced out, bearing large trays.
"Brother!" Rok gaped.
Toka felt the warmth creeping into his face. If those dancing girls
wore more than silver gilt it was not discernible. And straight down
to Toka the creatures danced. After passing each tray before him, as if
for benediction, the girls danced away right and left, serving first
the rest of Toka's party and then the princesses down each side of the
table.
As the exotic banquet progressed, a thought occurred to Toka. "O
Princess Alota."
"As Great Prince Toka wishes."
"Are here gathered all my ones of my palace?"
"As Great Prince Toka knows all, so he knows that tomorrow he shall
meet the Council Of Kosanna's Old Ones."
"So," Roya mocked quietly, "the big brains aren't dining with us after
all!"
"They'd probably pop an old blood vessel at sight of these dancing
girls!" Elees mused sardonically.
* * * * *
As his party was escorted down the Hall Of Life, Toka was only mildly
surprised at the newest scene--of the banquet from beginning to end.
Escorted into the lounge room, Toka and party watched the great doors
swing shut.