The dais had been extended to either side. Lallie sat in her seat, Mary Anne next to her, and Zac next to Mary Anne on one end of the dais. They were both a little nervous about sitting there, and noticed many people staring at them.
Finally, everyone bar Rama had arrived. And when he did the entire hall was silent. Which was no small thing considering the amount of chatter that comes from that many people.
“People of Oceana! The Festival of Founding has begun!”
As Rama sat down, there was much cheering. Then trays started coming around, guided by the mind of the telepathic waiters. Mary Anne was stunned but delighted as a plate full of unusual food was gently placed in front of her, and she gave an astonished smile to Zac. He grinned back.
“What is it?” she whispered to Lallie.
“The names wouldn’t mean anything to you,” Lallie smiled. “Suffice to say they’re made from plants you can only find under the sea.”
“Wow,” she breathed.
“Oh wow,” Zac said, his eyes lighting up. “Hey this is great!”
Lallie smiled broadly at him, and went on with her own eating.
Waiters now started walking around. Zac noticed they would take empty plates, and other people at the feast would signal one over to get another plate of food, or something specific.
Mary Anne coughed a little after taking a sip of the drink at her place. Her eyes watered.
“Okay… ooh…” was all she could say before coughing again.
“It does have a bit of a bite to it doesn’t it?” Lallie commented. “It takes a bit of getting used to, and the best of it is at the bottom of the glass.”
Zac took a sip of his own drink. His own eyes watered and he shook his head a little.
“Potent stuff that. Whoa.”
Mary Anne giggled.
Dessert came. It was of a chocolate mousse texture, but an apple green colour. And it tasted nothing like chocolate. What it did taste like, neither Zac nor Mary Anne could quite ever find the right words to describe. It was of the same exotic flavour of the other food they had eaten in this sea kingdom, but it had a sweetness of its own.
In the midst of enjoying this strange delight, Lallie jerked her head up towards the people and quickly reached her hand in front of Mary Anne’s face. Lallie’s fist closed and to Mary Anne’s utter shock, in it was a sleek looking arrow. Her spoon fell from her hand with a clatter onto the plate and the colour drained from her face.
“Mary Anne? Hey you okay?” Zac asked worriedly as Lallie drew her hand away.
“I… I…” was all she could say.
“Take her out of the hall, Lallie,” Rama advised quietly, having noticed the incident. “I’ll join you as soon as I can.”
Lallie nodded and gestured for Zac to come to. Mary Anne was still stunned, but was moving into hysterical, and was in no state to go anywhere unaided.