Isca and Caylis' Day of Giving

     On the dais, against a backdrop of pearlescent curtains, was a long, ornate table reserved for King Kelpbeard’s court. The Blue Koi himself was deep in conversation with Swordmaster Talek on his right, and the Maraquan Xweetok lady-in-waiting next to Talek.

     And on Kelpbeard’s left was Isca, and on Isca’s left was an empty space, with a fancy plate and silverware, a goblet adorned with beautiful shells, and a nameplate that said, “Caylis”.

     The Jetsam next to the vacant chair leaned toward Isca and whispered, “Isn’t your sister coming?”

     She received a shake of the head in response.

     “Why not?”

     “She didn’t say,” said the Aisha, and then turned back to her Ocean Delight Salad. “She just didn’t RSVP, that’s all.”

     “I see. That’s too bad, you’d think she’d be excited to return to Maraqua after the battle with Scarblade and all.”

     “Hmph.” The two of them looked at Kelpbeard, who had cleared his throat liberally. “I offered her a place here in my palace, and she turned me down. Now, I send her an invitation to our Day of Giving banquet, and she doesn’t respond.” He shook his head. “I’ll never understand that girl.”

     Swordmaster Talek frowned in thought. “Perhaps Caylis likes parties less than her sister, milord. She has never struck me as the social type.”

     “Please understand Caylis, your Majesty,” said Isca. “Swordmaster Talek is right. She isn’t fond of parties. Or large crowds.”

     “She didn’t have to stay long,” Kelpbeard replied, dipping a cracker into a bowl of Succulent Cheese Dip before passing the said bowl to Isca. “Besides, it’s the Day of Giving! It’s all about parties, and giving, and family…”

     “You’re right, sire.” The Aisha rose from her seat slowly after finishing her salad, sighing. “The Day of Giving is about family. If you’ll excuse me.”

     The Koi huffed. “Are you going to fetch her, then? Hmm, she did not RSVP, but I did have that seat saved just in case she changed her mind.”

     “No,” said Isca softly. “I’ll see you later, your Highness.”

     Before Kelpbeard could say another word, she swam away from the table, and the crowds, and the band, and the buffet, and the banquet hall, and the palace.

     * * *

     On the outskirts of New Maraqua was a simple cottage built from white and grey coral and surrounded by potted plants in every shape and size. An especially long frond of kelp had already begun to crawl from its trellis onto the wall, and an Aisha was next to it, pruning away excess leaves from the frond and tucking them into a pouch around her waist.

     “Caylis!”

     “Isca?” Caylis nearly dropped her pruning shears. “What are you doing here?” She groaned and then immediately headed for her cottage. “You could’ve told me you were coming! Ugh, I didn’t even make dinner! I’ll just have to head for the nearest market, and…”

     “Sorry, but I did get you this. You don’t have to go to the market.”

     Isca held up a large wrapped package as she followed Caylis into the house, and into the dining room, with only a single table, two chairs, a lamp overhead, and a display shelf full of simple tableware, a few vases and some trinkets here and there. Then she set the package down on the table and opened it up.

     “Happy Day of Giving, my dear sister.”

     “Is that…Coral Cake?” said Caylis, her eyes becoming wide as the plates she was setting out. “Whole Roast Pheasant? A whole jug of Thornberry Brew, Luxurious Vegetarian Star Pie…” She looked up from arranging the food on the table. “Isca, this is all from King Kelpbeard’s banquet, isn’t it? But…I don’t understand. Why are you here, and not…there? And they let you have this much takeaway?”

     Isca smiled sheepishly. “Yes, it’s all from the banquet. The chefs insisted I bring some food with me, though I suspect King Kelpbeard asked them to give me whatever I wanted. Please, Caylis, sit down. No, no, I know where you keep your glasses, I’ll handle it.”

     “You…didn’t have to leave the party, you know,” Caylis mumbled. “Like I said, I don’t mind that you went. I just didn’t want to.” She poured the Thornberry Brew into the seashell-studded goblets Isca had set out.

     “And I understand why. I just told anyone who asked that you didn’t RSVP, though.”

     “Thanks.”

     “I don’t think he understands, though.”

     “Of course he wouldn’t. Here, have a slice of the pie. He forgot that he was the one who banished me from New Maraqua when he found out about my visions. He forgot that he told everyone else in New Maraqua that I was bad and caused bad things. Let me guess – did he grumble about how I turned down his invitation to live in the palace with you?”

     Isca paused from where she was cutting up the pheasant and said, “Yes, he did.”

     “I knew it.” Caylis stared at the Coral Cake in the middle of their spread. “Why did you leave? Did he say anything…”

     “Because I’d rather spend the Day of Giving with you,” answered Isca.

     Caylis was silent, at first, and sniffed as she focused instead on her plate of food. Finally, she looked up, a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.

     “Thank you, sister,” she answered. “At least you understand me.” Then she flapped a hand dismissively. “Enough about that. How many times did Kelpbeard grumble about ‘more land-dwelling tourists’ this time?”

     Hiding a giggle behind her hand, Isca said, “Oh, I think I lost count. He keeps forgetting that two land-dwellers helped Maraqua out against Captain Scarblade and I don’t think he bothers to correct himself on that.”

     “Speaking of those two incorrigible land-dwellers, have you heard from them lately?”

     “No, I imagine they’re still sailing around, enjoying their life as pirates.” Isca rolled her eyes. “I was going to suggest we visit Garin and Jacques but we don’t even know the first place to look. I haven’t seen them in my visions at all.”

     Caylis leaned forward and dropped her voice dramatically. “I know folks who can keep a lookout for them. Maybe give them a little scare, as a treat. At least they haven’t shown up in my visions, that’d be a really bad sign.”

     Isca gaped at her and said, “Don’t scare them too much. I still want to give them presents if we see them again.”

     “What would you even give a couple of greedy pirates? And can you pass the pie?”

     * * *

     As Caylis wrapped up the leftovers, she saw Isca lingering, examining the seagrass that had been arranged artfully in a large glass jar.

     “Aren’t you going back yet? It’s getting dark. Won’t King Kelpbeard start looking for you?”

     “Why would he, when he knows where I went – and knows I can handle myself even without him or his guards?” Isca sat down on the couch. “Besides, I think I’d rather stay here a bit longer. Would you mind if I spent the night?” She sat up abruptly. “Though, I’d probably have to go back anyway to fetch some of my things…”

     Caylis stared at her, at first. Then she sighed, shaking her head and grinning. “Do I mind? Of course not. Just remember to come back like you said.” She flapped a hand. “And…tell Kelpbeard I send my regards, I guess.”

     Her sister nodded, and flung her arms around Caylis in a hug.

     “Thanks.”

     “Yeah, yeah, go on, grab your stuff. You won’t believe the kind of gossip I hear around here, and I haven’t shared it all with you yet.”

     The End.