Joe handed Chris a King's Goblet, full to the brim with ale and overflowing with froth. He pulled up a stool and took a seat at the bar beside him. "You look lost in thought," Joe said in response to Chris's lingering glance at Joe's clothes—dark, neat, and formal. He hadn't changed after dinner. He was too eager to get out. . . .

Chris stashed his pack under his feet and widened his eyes at the size of the goblet. "No, not really. I was just noticing that you're so . . . well adjusted. Almost like you're enjoying yourself here."

"It's all right once you learn to live without the modern-day conveniences. I've gotten to know—and even like—many of the fairies here. They're not all bad, and that includes most of the ones with wings. I try to have a good time when my schedule allows for it."

"Does Dad keep you pretty busy?"

"Busy is the wrong word," Joe answered candidly. "Overwhelmed is more like it. I'm Chief Counselor. That makes me number two in command."

"Oh, wow. Nice," Chris replied, although the enthusiasm wasn't exactly a match to the words he said.

Something was clearly grating at Chris and Joe had a sense that it had nothing to do with promotions or job titles. It could have been Pyxis and the memories associated with it—not all good for anyone—or it could have been something more, like an incurable sadness.

"I didn't start out in that position," Joe continued, realizing how silence had the potential to lead a well-intentioned mind to stray. "And Dad didn't just assume the role of Prime Minister. We organized the elections for an interim government as soon as things settled down. Many of the royalists left Pyxis. Those who stayed pledged to work with us to restore order. Dad actually selected someone from Andromeda's cabinet to be his Chief Counselor as a gesture of goodwill. It soon became obvious that he was dangerously power hungry. His support in the administration was growing as well. Dad eventually pushed back. A number of them resigned. They swore Pyxis would crash and burn in their absence. But I became Chief Counselor, the new progressive party filled the abandoned posts, and Pyxis has never been more peaceful. And someday, when she's ready, Cassie will be queen. There is some antiquated law that says Andromeda has to be dead or gone for ten years before the next in line can be crowned."

"I hope dead comes first," Chris replied as he peered at some of their onlookers.

He may not have realized that he'd be recognized in Pyxis, especially now that the two of them were sitting together, one a leader and one a war hero, back from the dead. 

"As do we all. So I heard you've been fighting with the Kāne Army?"

"Yeah. When it's not something, it something else. I'm sure you know how it is."

"Mmmhmm," Joe replied through a hearty gulp.

"Those rare times I'm not fighting, I help train the recruits. I guess you could say I'm a commanding officer. I don't have an official title or anything."

"And how are the Jokuras? Are you getting along with Kale any better?"

"They're all fine and no, not really. With friends like him, who needs enemies? You would never believe what he just did to me. . . ."

Chris relayed a story about a fairy named Lily, Kale's sister-in-law, and how she showed up on Chris's doorstep looking for companionship.  

Joe elbowed him in the ribs. "Does this mean you're not seeing anyone?"

Chris emitted a self-deprecating chuckle. "No! Being with Alana for so long made me forget how bad I am at the whole dating thing."

"Somehow, I don't believe that."

Chris had fem-fairies gawking at him as they spoke. He seemed blind to it and that had to be by choice. "Believe what you want. It's true, though."

"You could always sneak back into the human world and try dating there."

"Yeah, it'd be like, 'Hi, my name is Chris. I'm a single dad. That's because my first wife was murdered by a fairy queen's evil henchmen. And by the way, I'm a fairy. No wings, though. Sorry. I'm too unworthy. Oh, don't know what that means? I'll have to enlighten you sometime. First, I should probably mention that I have more enemies than I know what to do with. They'd kill us both if they saw us together. But hey, can I buy you a drink?'"

Chris lifted his goblet with a grin.

Joe nearly lost a sip of beer to laughter. When he regained control of himself, he wagged a finger at Chris. "You're funnier than you used to be."

"It's all about perspective. You're just so much more serious."

Chris tried to mess up Joe's hair. Joe swatted his hand and ducked from reach.

"But don't worry," Chris went on, ending his pursuit. "I find it refreshing. The constant wise-cracking used to drive me crazy."

"I'll try to remember that," Joe said as he deflected his gaze to the entrance.

He spotted a familiar face. It was someone he probably couldn't get around speaking to this time. Joe avoided him on the last occasion they were both in the same room and Joe knew Scorpius LeMaire had been seeking him out with business to discuss.

Moments later, Joe turned toward the tap on his shoulder.

"Welcome, Chief Counselor. It's nice to see you enjoying yourself at one of my establishments."

Joe didn't know Scorpius owned The Cavern, but he wasn't surprised. He likely owed ten percent of Pyxis, from shiny and new to broken-down shack and everything in between. He was a titan of his trade and never failed to remind anyone.

"Thank you," was all Joe could get out.

"It's been a while since I've heard from you," Scorpius said, swooping right back in. "My last invitation went ignored as did the one prior. When might I expect your return to my estate?"

"I will schedule something with my father and the princess very soon," Joe replied as he stood for a handshake. "But I must say we're all booked for at least two months. I will send you a letter once we've selected a day."

Scorpius looked to Chris, who was watching the exchange with unbridled suspicion. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Chris, my brother."

"Any MacRae is a friend of mine." He held out his hand.

"Chris, this is Mr. Scorpius LeMaire," Joe announced to complete the introduction. "He's on The University of Pyxis' Board of Trustees with me."

Chris was more reluctant to accept the handshake this time than he was with Apus.

"It's an honor to finally meet the legendary Christopher MacRae. It's not too often I'm introduced as Scorpius. Friends and associates call me 'the Banker.'"  

Chris choked on and spit out the ale he was in the process of swallowing. He turned to the bar to cough. Joe slapped him on the back as if he was trying to help, but, really, it was rough with consternation. 

And the Banker was looking upon them with a curious tilt to his head. "I've heard so much about you," The Banker continued. "And I must say, you quite closely resemble your father."

Chris turned around slowly, his face as bright red as Joe had ever seen it. It would take more than a little coughing to do that.

His posture straightened and his eyes lifted to the Banker's face. For a nanosecond, Chris glanced at Joe and must have had a fleeting concern for his family's best interest. But then he was like screw it!

"And do you know what you look like?" Chris asked in a loud, ill-mannered tone. "You look like you could be someone's grandfather. Absolutely! Maybe not mine, but someone about the princess's age, I would say. Joe, do you think the Banker here is old enough to be Cassie's grandfather?" The question may have been directed at Joe, but Chris's glare was unmoving, unyielding, and unforgiving. "Well, maybe if she was sixteen again."

The innuendo hung uncomfortably in the air and the Banker became visibly nervous. "Well, Mr. MacRae. . ." He propped his hand in Joe's vicinity. "It was nice to see you again. I wish you well at your wedding."

Joe accepted his closing handshake, too dumbfounded to do otherwise. "Thank you very much. And try to ignore my brother." He turned his head to peer at Chris, but Chris was too busy doling out a death threat with his whole existence to notice. "He's been living in the jungle a little too long, apparently."

When Chris shifted on his stool as if ready to spring from it, the Banker fluttered out the door. His haste seemed to defy physics. His wings didn't look strong enough to support his stout body at that speed. 

Joe retook his seat next to Chris, but he couldn't even look at him. If Chris could cause this much trouble in less than an hour, what else was in the realm of possible?

"I know what you're thinking," Chris began to explain before Joe calmed himself down enough to ask. "I don't regret what I said, though. He had that one coming. He's lucky I don't hunt him down and—"

"Chris!" Joe interrupted. "He knows everyone and loans us an obscene amount of money whenever we ask for it. So why exactly would you feel the need to be so disrespectful? Do you even know him?"

Joe was sure that he didn't. How could he?

Chris took a gulp of ale and shrugged. "I've heard of him." The long pause was almost convincing; Chris had the good sense to leave it at that. But the ale and probably a guilty conscience led to some additional rambling: "And I wouldn't accept a cent of that swine's dirty money. If I were you, I wouldn't take Cassie anywhere near his estate either."

"She's been there with me," Joe insisted, although he couldn't recall what she wore, where she sat, whom she talked to, or what she ate. He couldn't place her in the setting whatsoever. Then he vaguely recalled the conversation they had right before he left for the last gathering Joe had attended. It had been a while. Almost a year. And it was a stretch for his memory, but he eventually dug out the detail he needed. "No, wait . . . she had a headache that night. I went alone. What do you know that you're not telling me?"

"Nothing. Let's drop it."

"No! If you are insinuating that my fiancée isn't safe there, I think I should be privy to the information she obviously wanted to keep from me." 

Chris gulped down the rest of his ale, slowly, as if to buy himself some time. He finished with a wince.

Joe had a higher tolerance for alcohol than Chris had, something that, despite more practice, still seemed to contradict basic physiology.

When Chris clunked his empty cup down and wiped his mouth, Joe was busy emptying his goblet. Joe then set it back on the table with shaky hands.

They sat next to each other in mutual silence.

Joe needed to talk to Cassie as soon as possible, even if he had to wake her.

Chris eventually had the nerve to look in Joe's direction. He slapped and squeezed Joe's shoulder. "C'mon, Joe. Relax. That was years ago. And besides, I saw Cassie already. She pretty much told me to drop dead, take a hike, go you-know-what myself. However you would like to translate 'your invitation has been rescinded,'" Chris said, mimicking her voice. "So I think that means you have nothing to worry about."

Joe knew from experience that Cassie could put almost anyone in their place with her word choices, so sharp and potent once someone crossed the line and disrupted her boundaries. And Chris was the type to bottle his anger and flee the scene, especially when the gender of his opponent wouldn't allow him to use his fists. In other words, Cassie trampled all over him, her victory, a landslide.

"I won't go to the wedding tomorrow if it will make you feel better," Chris suggested, clearly searching for any reason not to go. "I'll take off right now if you think that would be best. Just say the word."

Joe raised his eyes to heaven and sighed in exasperation. "No, you should come. I want you to be there. You are my only brother and I already told Apus that he's not my 'best man' anymore."

"Are you sure? It's probably not a good idea anyway. The last thing a groom needs is a pissed-off bride." 

"I'll talk to her. She'll come around." 

Chris gave him a smile, the right thing to do to ease the moment. He could be a politician, too, if he ever cared enough to make the attempt. "I'm not so sure, but I appreciate the gesture. It would suck if I came all this way and couldn't even watch my baby brother walk down the aisle."

"Yes, it would. I must say, Chris, it is comforting to talk to another ex-human. I've missed hearing phrases like 'pissed off' and 'suck' and 'take a hike.'"

"Glad I'm good for something. And sorry about that Banker guy. But for future reference, I would defend the honor of the princess as her brother-in-law. Better yet, you and me, kid. We could go kick his ass together!"

"Now that I'm over the initial shock, I suppose I should thank you."

Chris lifted a questioning hand in the air. "What for?"

"Now I have one less fairy to make time for, someone I never really liked anyway. He's such a goddamn prick sometimes," Joe admitted because he was off-record and talking to his brother. For once, he didn't care if his candor was unprofessional.

"Bravo. You just made me proud."

After that, Joe paid the bill and they left The Cavern. Joe began his venture north. When he realized Chris wasn't walking with him, he turned back. "You're not coming to the palace?"

Chris was standing still, staring at the crowd, lost in a world of his own. "No, I think I'll go to Aurora Borealis. I've had enough angry princess encounters for one night."

"I completely understand. And trust me. I've been in your shoes before and don't envy you. See you tomorrow, then?"

Chris both shrugged and nodded. His ambivalence was clear before any words came out. "Um, yeah . . . you bet. And could you do me a favor and let Dad know I'm here?"

"I think I can handle that. He'll still be in his office obsessing over some crisis he feels is imminent. I'll tell him you say 'hello' and that you suggest he get some sleep. He might actually listen if the message is from you."

"I doubt that. Well, G'night."

Joe saluted him as a good-bye and they parted ways. Joe kept his walk casual until he was sure his brother could no longer see him. Then he broke into a run.

Who does she love? Is it him or me?

He had to hear the truth before the night ended . . . and his wedding day began.

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