“I’ve seen that look before!” King Ver chuckled as he entered the main throne room. Sitting at the large, round table were the High General of the Retha and the All-Ksa of the Skyavok. The three of them were always the first to arrive for the Year-Beginning Alliance Dinner. To be fair, it was hosted on the Vrekan home world of Vreka 1, so it wasn’t a long trip for any of them. “I’ve seen it! Lots of times!”
“The smug look of a being after losing their virginity?” Kayel, the Skyavok leader, asked. His reply immediately drew ire from the High General.
“Uh, no. A look of content. One of a good night’s sleep. In a warm bed. With an optional other…” Ver quickly answered. “Not a look I normally see on our friend the High General here.”
Elkay, the High General and a notably powerful Rethavok overall, tapped his fingers together. “You are both very lucky that I am a merciful being…”
Kayel shrugged, then changed the subject. “Excuse me for being stupid, but who the fuck else is coming? I’ve been sitting here for fucking ages.”
“I already told you, All-Ksa…” It was clear that the High General was getting very tired of the Skyavok sitting next to him. “The other races have all recently had elections or changes in leadership. We are waiting upon Kindyna Tromou, the current leader of the Ksithanai; Vahrga Levik of the United Unity Vohra Nests; Serpequin Liliac of the Fidavok; Prime Minister Aesop of the Independent Cassid States and the Ipsila of the Neutral Banikan Territories.”
Just as Elkay finished speaking, a tall, bright green and very feminine Ksithan appeared, followed by a silver-scaled Fidavok, who slithered in awkwardly. Like the other leaders, Kindyna and Liliac had left their guards outside the room, but both seemed out of their element.
“Greetings,” Elkay smiled as he stood up. “Welcome.”
“Hello!” Kindyna beamed back, taking Elkay’s hand and shaking it violently. “I’ll be honest, I was a little worried when it came to meeting you, but this is way better than I expected!”
Liliac was more hesitant. She didn’t attempt to great anyone and simply sat down at the table next to Kayel. Kayel smiled at her and she smiled back, before muttering a small hello. She also seemed incredibly relieved that several of the other leaders had also arrived.
“General Elkay, King Ver, it is good to see you two again,” Aesop, a very skinny, very long-necked Cassid clumsily shook both the leaders’ hands. “Good to have some good news, yes?”
Ver and Elkay both nodded. “Good to see you as well, Prime Minister…”
Ver led Aesop to his seat, while Elkay greeted the large, heavily armoured being who had just stepped in.
“General.”
“Hello, Levik. How are you?”
“Not great…” Levik was an extremely strange and powerful being. He was a Vahrga, an adult Vohran male, but unlike most Vahrga, his intelligence was intact. “I have matters I wish to discuss with you. Personally.”
“Today?”
“No. Not today. Not among the others”.
“Well…” Elkay sighed. “You have my contact details. You let me know when and we can arrange something.”
Levik grunted, then turned away, his attention grabbed by the last two leaders to enter.
“I see why you wanted to use the big room…” Kayel muttered.
Two Banikans, one with bright yellow fur, the other with sky blue fur and both wearing gem-filled leather armour, stepped into the room, closing the door behind them, being careful not to scrape their horns on the low ceiling.
Elkay sighed as he tapped Levik on the shoulder. Levik grunted and sat himself down, while the High General introduced the Banikans.
“My fellow leaders, these gentlevok are Dy’Ia and Ef’Ta, the Ipsila of the NBT. They agreed to join the Union at the end of 2018, on a preliminary membership.”
“When did we agree on this?” Aesop asked. He was genuinely shivering in his seat.
“Elkay and I decided on it ourselves!” Ver explained. “The Banikans have been isolated for years. But they came to us. I helped them prepare. Easing them in.”
“But…” Aesop was about to speak, but Kindyna immediately flicked him with her long, braised hair and Kayel immediately slapped him with a little bit of telekinesis. They all knew what Aesop wanted to say and didn’t want him to offend the hulking meat tanks.
The two Banikans both had a good idea what the Cassid leader wanted to say as well, but remained calm. Ef’Ta, the yellow female, leaned down towards Elkay, breathing heavily.
“We thank you. Honourable little beings. Honest too. We treasure this new path.”
“And we are honoured too! Honoured to have you here!” Ver beamed, feeling very proud that his plans had come to fruition. “We are all equals here!”
The two Banikans bowed and awkwardly sat down at the table, sitting next to the Rethan General and the Vrekan King.
“Yes. Equals. We like this…” Dy’Ia smiled, teeth sticking out from his jaws. “Makes change. Pleasant.”
“Oooh, this year’s going to be interesting!” Kayel waved from the other side of the table. “The lot of us could do such amazing things together!”
“Very true, little All-Ksa!” Ver nodded in agreement, then rang a little bell by his side. As he did so, lines of Vrekan waiters entered the room, bringing in specially prepared meals for each guest. “But before we do anything, let us all have some food and drink to celebrate our cooperation!”