Ember was wondering what the correct protocol was for a taken consort when approached unbidden in the gardens by an ally queen. Particularly one of the court's most powerful allies. Should he greet her as if it were normal? Perhaps he could pretend he hadn't seen her and head back to the consorts' bowers? Would she take offence?

Malachite studied him silently for long moments. She was like Moon in her bluntness and like Stone in her acerbity, but harder to read than both. Ember was becoming concerned that he was coming up short in her estimation.

"You are the second consort, while bonded to a reigning queen," said Malachite, at last.

Ember nodded. It seemed the safest response.

"It's unusual," she continued. "Wouldn't you prefer to be first consort?"

He recoiled from the thought. "No! I don't want... I'm not ready to take on the responsibility of an entire court yet."

"Are you sure? You don't think Indigo Cloud needs a first consort who understands how consorts are supposed to be?"

Ember twitched, and clasped his hands behind his back. "There isn't one way to be a consort." Which she already knew, and he wasn't going to fall for an obvious leading question like that.

Malachite watched him carefully for a moment. "No," she admitted at last.

"Indigo Cloud needs Moon," said Ember. He took a deep breath. "But I think it needs me, too."

>>>>

Malachite accepted Ember's declaration with an ironic flicker of her spines. The breeze stirred the decorative flower beds, threatening to carpet the ground beneath them in loosed petals.

In a flurry of wings that set the petals flying again, Stone landed in front of Ember, who edged off to the side so he could see around him. Stone stayed in Raksura form, not saying a word. Malachite inclined her head, and shifted to her own winged form.

"I thank you for your indulgence, Ember," she said. Her own departure barely stirred the flowers.

Stone gave Ember a look.

Ember took a moment to think, choosing his words with care. "You have my gratitude," he sad, "for your timely arrival." That sounded neutral enough.

Stone remained silent. He never spoke in his Raksura form, but this silence felt weighted.

"I'm not Moon," Ember added, after a moment. "I'm not you. But I'm not useless. Just because I'm not the kind of consort you were doesn't mean that I'm not important. That what I do isn't important."

Stone stared at him for a long moment, then gently cuffed him on the back of the head before he flew off.

Ember stood alone in the empty garden and tried to remember what he'd been doing before he was interrupted.

"That's how he shows affection," explained Moon, later.

Ember held back his feelings on that with a polite, neutral expression.

Moon rolled his eyes. "I know. But he's been like this as long as I've known him. As long as anyone at Indigo Cloud has known him, as far as anyone can tell me."

But Stone liked Moon, because he and Moon were cut from the same cloth. Ember slumped up against Moon's side, until Moon slipped an arm around him and ruffled his hair.

"I'm glad you're back," said Ember.