Chapter 32

It was Ricky’s turn to gasp.

The three ladies paraded into the parlour to show off their finery. They each twirled gracefully and slowly, so he got a good look. They were dressed in their signature colours and looked ravishing.

The style this year, for those who could wear it, was strapless bustier-style tops with long, flowing, brightly coloured, semi-transparent top skirts with dyed floral patterns, over a mid-thigh underskirt.

A matching coloured, finely woven woollen shawl with metallic threads to make it shimmer, lay over the crooks of their arms, with the triangular tail trailing down over their fine arses.

The heels on their ballroom slippers were at a modest height of 5cm, for comfort. They were still effective at extending their legs to make them look long and classy. They all wore artfully applied eyeliner and bright shades of red or pink lip gloss, but no powders were on their faces.

Hetty may have been a hundred and eighteen, but she didn’t look a day over twenty-five and blended in just fine with the two High Wizards to create a bevy of beauties. Ricky had given Hetty her first magical medallion when she was still very young, as far as the Pix people were concerned, even if her life experiences said differently.

As far as Ricky was concerned, one of the smartest things he had ever done was to rescue Hetty from the men trying to force her into prostitution. She had paid him back a hundred times over as far as he was concerned.

“Ladies, you blow me away with your beauty and radiance. We have one more job to do before we depart. Hetty, would you like to do the honours?”

Ricky put his hand out, and a fairly simple-looking pink-gold crown appeared on it. The seven peaks were not tall and were rounded, they curved down and up into the next peak. Under each sat a magnificent gem. A large obsidian gem graced the front under the largest peak. A row of Quaz crystals studded the crown about 2cm above the rim.

Ricky handed it to Hetty and then knelt before her. The girls looked at him in shock. “We don’t need a big ceremony, girls, just put it on my head.”

Hetty stepped up to him and said as she placed the crown, “I, Hetty of no other name, crown you, Richard Merritt of Seth Province, as my Regent Wizard. Happy birthday, Rickard.”

She gently placed it on his head and stepped back as Ricky went stiff. He shuddered violently and then collapsed, putting his hands on the floor, as he gasped for breath. It took him a couple of minutes to gain his senses before he climbed to his feet.

“What a rush!” he exclaimed loudly and shook himself. He blinked several times and grinned. “Shall we depart?” he said and put his arm out to Micky. He then stopped before linking arms with Micky and turned to the fireplace.

“Shadow, I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” he said.

The three dracolings were sitting up in their bed-making whining noises at them. Hetty shook her head, “Richard if you’re going to make a splash, let’s do it with style.”

“If it gets to be too much, I’m bringing you straight home,” Ricky warned as he went over to get Shadow. The other two dracolings eagerly climbed up onto the shoulders of their bond mothers when they approached.

Ricky said a spell so they couldn’t fall off and to make sure they couldn’t dig their claws into the girls. Once they were settled, he locked arms with Micky and Ronan, and Hetty linked with Ronan too.

Ricky then blinked them inside the Palace.

The girls were surprised to find themselves in a crystal cavern.

They all looked at a grinning Ricky. “What? They weren’t using it. I hate to see a good cavern with a transporter ring go to waste, so sue me.”

Ricky then told them the spells to transport between his cavern under the house and here and back again. He also gave them the one to get back to the crossroads. From his tale about finding the transporter rings, they realised that the spells were very similar to say. They all memorised the correct pronunciations, as he coached them.

Once he was happy, they followed him up a long corridor until they came to a blank wall. Ricky gave them the password and waved his hand. He then walked through the image of a wall.

On the other side, they found themselves in a spartan room that had a set of wooden shelves on the wall and an iron-framed bed that had seen better days. It even had an iron-barred door. “This was my bedroom when I first came and stayed with my dear Granny.”

The girls were appalled by the room. It didn’t even have a mat on the floor or a window. “It’s a cell in the dungeons,” Micky retorted.

“Yep, she really loves me,” Ricky said and moved out through the doorway that opened to his wave.

They went down a short hall and then up two flights of stone stairs. At the top, they exited into a small cobbled courtyard that was at the back of the palace.

Ricky headed over to a door and banged on it with a series of knocks. They waited and finally, someone opened the door. They were surprised when Ricky was enveloped in the meaty arms of a huge Burgis woman.

She frighted Shadow, who squawked in alarm and the woman stepped back. She shook her head, put one hand her hip and wagged a finger at Ricky. “Never write, never visit, you are a terrible child.”

Ricky roared with laughter. “Hi, Cooky. So, what’s for dinner?”

The woman frowned. “I don’t remember seeing you on the guest list? When you came by this morning, I didn’t think you were going to attend?”

“Cooky, I’m not a guest, I’m family. How fast can you add a table for four?”

Cooky looked at Ricky and the three, stunning woman with him. She then looked at the dracolings. “Let me guess, they eat what your other dragon, Silver does, and I’ve got to feed those bottomless bellys?”

“If it’s not too much trouble, Cooky,” Ricky cajoled and gave her his best, innocent little boy look.

The big woman chuckled, and the rolls of flab and her huge breasts bounced. “Boy, you are nothing but trouble. You know she will be apoplectic if you walk in with them?”

“Would I have it any other way?” Ricky retorted.

She shook her head and stepped back into the room. They all heard her yell, “Tomas! Go set up a table for our little King and his three Ladies. Vince! Get your cute, skinny arse here and greet your King.”

The girls were surprised that when they were waved into the kitchen, everyone stopped and grinned at Ricky. The dozen people were all smiling, and most called out a hello to Ricky.

A middle-aged, fussily-dressed Pix male hurried up to them. He was beaming as he took Ricky’s hand in both of his and shook it. “Sire, it is good to see that you are so well. We thank you for the gifts you sent. Do you wish for me to take you to the receiving room? Most of the guests are here already.”

“Thanks, Vince, you know how I love a good party. Let’s not disappoint Granny by me being late,” Ricky grinned.

“No, Sire, that would never do,” Vince replied and led them out of the kitchens. “She is in good form tonight, some incident in the market this morning has had her ranting all day.”

Vince glanced over his shoulder at Ricky and then shook his head at Ricky’s grin. “We guessed it was you, as only you can get her that worked up. Oh my! It is going to be a party all will remember for some time I’m sure,” he tutted as he hurried them along several hallways and then up several flights of steps.

Vince stopped and carefully opened a door and peeked at the other side. He stepped back and waved them through.

“Good luck, Sire, and happy birthday,” he said and closed the door behind them.

Ricky led the girls across a foyer where people were hurrying in a direction away from them.

They followed and found themselves entering a huge ballroom. Ricky glanced over the milling crowd. Taking Micky’s arm, he straightened himself and proceeded to walk regally into the room. Ronan and Hetty put on their best haughty faces and paced after the couple in front of them.

As they passed, the people nearest went quiet and stepped away from them as they watched, opened mouthed in most cases, as the two couples strolled through the centre of the room.

The hush had others turning and falling quiet, as the couples passed. By the time Ricky reached the receiving line, the room had become so quiet you could only hear people breath. The people in front of him all shuffled to one of the sides of the blue carpet.