Megumi officially pronounced sentencing on the two feuding clans:

“By the divine authority of the Great Lady of Darkness and Secrets, I hereby dissolve both the Tan and Fu families of Lichua county. Although their histories and monuments will be maintained out of respect for the ancestors, all current individuals, assets, and duties are henceforth transferred in their entirety to the newly created Fantu family. Bear witness to this, the making of the official seals of clan Fantu of Lichua.”

* FORMAL CREATION *

Clouds of darkness hovering above each of her outstretched hands dissolved into a pair of weighty metal stamps (sized for plant-folk, naturally). Megumi sent them floating gently into the waiting hands of their new, awestruck owners.

The rippling sound of three dozen feet stomping on stone was solemnly followed by,

“Heard and witnessed.”

Megumi’s heart pounded at the magnitude of what she was attempting.

Oh please, let this work.

“Congratulations, Fantu YongQi and Fantu YiMin. I declare you two as equal Masters of Fantu. I task you with bringing the former families of Fu and Tan together into a single, harmonious whole. I give you one year to accomplish this to the best of your ability. At that time, your progress will be assessed and then either rewarded or punished.”

Neither of the newly minted Masters looked pleased.

“Great. We’ll both be dead in a day.”

YiMin scowled at YongQi but didn’t argue. She turned to plead,

“My Lady, how can we possibly hope to succeed? Our families hate each other.”

She made a good point.

“Let’s start with yourselves. It’s my understanding neither of you are married or betrothed?”

“As if any man would have that sword-tongued harridan.”  

“Says the fool who pays women to pretend to listen to him.”

“Excellent.”

“WHAT?”

Heh, spoken perfectly together.

“I hereby declare you two as husband and wife, bound in sacred matrimony. What has been divinely wrought, let no one tear asunder. May you be blessed with many children. Soon.”

Megumi wondered if she was committing some kind of cosmic crime by doing this.

“Married …”

That single dry comment was followed by brief silence.

Then the entire assembly erupted into raucous laughter. Some people were literally rolling on the floor. The comments and catcalling ranged from mildly insulting to outright vulgar. All sense of dignity and decorum had completely fled the room.

Megumi knew she really should be calling for order. The awkward blushing and hesitant, sideways glances exchanged by the newly married couple were too cute to miss. She was fervently grateful that the two weren’t glaring at each other in fury or revulsion.

“My Lady, you can’t possibly be serious.”

Spoken together. Again.

“I suppose the lack of appropriate attire conflicts with my absolute seriousness.”

Megumi raised her hands like a conductor initiating a grand symphony.

“Let’s fix that, shall we?”

A simple yet plentiful feast followed the impromptu wedding.

Several temple staff had been conveniently waiting in the hallway, just out of sight. The delicious smells of the dishes being served made Megumi’s stomach rumble. She must be smelling something her mother and sister had cooked or gotten for takeout.

She’d be waking up soon, and at a perfect stopping point.

A trio of musicians, probably the ones Megumi heard earlier, provided entertainment. The elegantly dressed Fantus toured the long tables together, conversing with the other guests.

Pei had joined Megumi at the goddess-sized table. With the bench pulled up close, the girl could reach her place setting with reasonable comfort. The distance away from the regular furniture allowed them a measure of privacy.

“… don’t you think so, my Lady?”

“Hmm? What was that?”

Megumi had been looking for the Chancellor. He’d been absent for some time now.

“I said, ‘don’t you think the honorable Masters Fantu look wonderful together’? I’m so glad they’re happy. They sounded so angry at first. Now they’re walking together like my parents always did. They say some strange things, but I’m sure they’re in love.”

Megumi grinned wryly.

“True love will take some time for them, my dear little Pei. Old habits are hard to break.”

She’d overheard the two trying to argue. Subtle phrases of admiration kept slipping in.

It was utterly adorable, honestly.

“Oh, I do hope they work out, my Great Lady. Having peace in town again will be so nice. Would you like more juice, Miss Pei? We’ll be bringing our Lady’s meal out soon.”

“Yes please, Ms. Dennilmi. Thank you very much.”

Megumi turned from scanning the room to ask the older dragon who was serving them,

“Dennirumi, have you seen Sir. Kuradiru lately?”

The serving woman paused, uncertain.

“What was that, my Lady?”

“Sir Kuradiru. Do you know where he is? He was out in the hall earlier, but I haven’t seen him for a while. I’d like to speak with him.”

“Who?”

“Kuradiru … you know, my Chancellor.”

Recognition finally lit up the old dragon’s topaz-colored eyes.

“Ah, you mean Lord Hazadul. My apologies, my Lady. Your new accent is a bit peculiar.”

New accent? That might be a problem …

“Hazaduru?”

“I believe she means me, Great Lady.”

Megumi hadn’t sensed the man’s approach. Not surprising, considering the boisterousness of the room. Far more concerning was her mental database’s insistence on the identity of this thin, tallish dragon in blue.

(Kuradil, my Chancellor and most irksome advisor)

“If I might join you and your guest …”

Megumi nudged Pei over just a touch to allow more room on the bench’s other side.

“Why of course, Lord Hazadul.”

If the stony-faced dragon noticed Megumi’s accentuation, he made no sign of it.

“My thanks.”

The significant distance from floor to seat proved no difficulty. A few stately steps on nothing but thin air and Hazadul stood on the edge of the oversized bench. The top of his head didn’t quite reach Megumi’s shoulders, even with her sitting.

“Welcome back, Great Lady. You’ve been absent for some time.”