Page 75 of Suffer No Fools
"She wants her freedom," Hugo reminded him. "We won't keep her in a cage, but I might build her a house in the palm tree closest to the deck. It's only fair."
Stan's heart melted a little more each time Hugo displayed his sense of fairness. He would be a good ruler, same as his parents.
Hugo squirmed into the space between Stan and Tovey and turned onto his side so he could mold himself against Stan's front. Tovey was already half-asleep with his head up on the pillows, but he scooted closer, too, draping an arm and a leg over both Hugo and Stan. Stan gripped Hugo's hip and extended hisother arm beneath Hugo to grab Tovey's shoulder. He felt more at ease with the fresh wards over the house, but he still needed to touch both of them and know they were safe before he let sleep take him.
#
Tovey
The parrot was as beautiful as she was brash. Her coloring was mostly red with some blue plumage across the tops of her wings. The red lightened to orange as it progressed toward her tail feathers. Her name was Breezy, and she opened up to Hugo the moment they stepped beneath the eaves of the old barracks.
She wouldn't stop talking about her captain's treacherous ways. "Awk - our sovereign doesn't know!" she cried repeatedly to anyone who would listen.
"There's another Glamierian ship at the docks," Stan said. "Hannah's rounding them up for the meeting."
"Come, Breezy," Hugo cooed. "You're our star witness."
"Awk - witness." Her "s" sounds hissed, making Tovey shake involuntarily. He'd never much cared for birds. They'd always reminded him too much of reptiles with wings, even the island's chickens.
Through their bond, he now knew he and Stan shared a dislike of birds. He'd tolerate this one for Hugo, of course. Gods, he'd even forgive her for being a bird if she could make their case against the kidnapping captain and her crew. That wouldn't change Tovey's overall dislike for the creatures, even if they were his creatures to call.
When they reached the sentinel oak, Hannah and Petri stood at the door, waiting for them.
"Aw!" Hannah cooed at Breezy, and she flew to Hannah's shoulder for a few pats on the head. "I love birds. They rarely love me. It's the lightning."
Breezy squawked but remained on her shoulder.
"I don't think that matters," Hugo said. "She likes you."
Hannah bowed their head, blushing. "Finally, something does. Those kittens all despise me."
"Not Mewskers," Petri said. "He spends almost as much time with you as he does with his owners. I'm envious."
"That's why the others don't like you," Stan said. "You've chosen an allegiance to their brother."
"Gulde said one of the island cats is about to have kittens," Petri said. "We'll tame them so you can have your pick."
Hannah grinned. "I hope so."
Breezy squawked again.
"The bird says she's better than a kitten." Tovey smirked.
"Aye," Breezy said. "Aye."
Hannah rolled their eyes. "I'd like to have both."
They made their way down the new staircase to the conference room. Beatrice had ordered Stan to leave the stairway in place, since more people arrived to meet with the council each day, and the ladder caused an unnecessary bottleneck. The other earth weavers must have moved the walls and tables back to where they belonged after the banquet. Stan hadn't left the house the day before.
They had needed the full day alone with Hugo. The emperor seemed unfazed by the night's events, while Stan was the most shaken. He'd thought Tovey and Hugo would remember only the kidnapping, but Tovey would never associate that with the wonderful gift Stan had given them. He only wished he could reassure Stan in a way that would prevent him from sinking into melancholy. Even now, Stan studied the bird,which had returned to Hugo's shoulder as they descended, and his thoughts turned toward his failure to keep Hugo safe.
The elders and the rest ofStarlight Specter'sandWildfire'screws already sat at the banquet table. Hannah took their place between Olivia and Klaus, and Petri stayed to guard the door. The Glamierians stood between the table and the wall formed mostly by the trunk of the giant tree. Their hands and feet were bound together, and they were shackled with wood or the metal befitting their elements. Tovey was surprised to see most of them were water weavers. Had they intended to steal ships along with Hugo?
Beatrice motioned Hugo to the head of the table, usually reserved for her, even at the Solstice banquet.
Hugo took the offered seat, and Stan sat to his left, beside Efren. Tovey took the seat to his right, beside Nola. It seemed strange that their new roles placed them above ship captains.
Beatrice cleared her throat and stood. "I owe you an apology, Your Majesty. I have been lax in showing you the respect you and your guards deserve. You are the ruler of Aquarion. The elders have adhered to the rules of the empire in your absence, but now that you are here on our island ..." she trailed off, and Hugo followed without missing a beat.
