The Power and the Glory

Bonus Chapter: Birds of a Feather

Author's Note: It's only briefly mention in the stories themselves, but The Power and the Glory takes place in the same universe as the Death series. So naturally I decided the main characters have to meet each other. Even if most of them will only meet in this AU.

As for the internal logic of the story... How did Shizuki and Siarvin end up on a diplomatic mission with Kiriyuki and her siblings? How did Irímé and Hailanyu meet? Damned if I know. When I tried to explain it the explanation made no sense. So I just kept telling myself it's a crossover. Things don't have to make sense in crossovers.

Birds of a Feather

Any true wizard, faced with a sign like 'Do not open this door. Really. We mean it. We're not kidding. Opening the door will mean the end of the universe,' would automatically open the door in order to see what all the fuss was about. -- Terry Pratchett, The Last Continent

When you were Emperor of Carann you had to greet many strange and unwelcome foreign dignitaries. Kilan knew exactly how to deal with emissaries from Malish, Nirne, and every other kingdom on the planet. This was the first time he had to greet an emissary from another planet. And it was most certainly the first time an honoured guest saw fit to present him with a sea monster as a gift.

"How very... unusual," Kilan said faintly, staring at the creature. Behind him he just knew the court were wrinkling their noses at the atrocious smell. Only the fear of causing a diplomatic incident stopped him doing the same. "However did you manage to kill it?"

Never before had he seen a qirguth in real life. It was enormous, as was only to be expected of a creature famed for pulling ships underwater. It had so many long tentacles that the quay looked like it was covered with a grisly spider's web. Even in death its eyes were still open -- all fifty pairs of them. Kilan had a horrible feeling it was staring at him.

Most disturbing of all were the bite-marks that covered its back and head. Judging by the size of those marks the qirguth had been attacked by something with jaws wider than Kilan was tall. It must be said that Kilan wasn't especially tall, something he was only too aware of. But even so anything with jaws that wide was something far too large for comfort.

Princess Kiriyuki of Seroyawa looked at her gift with badly-hidden pride. She gestured to Prince Nozomi[1], standing a short distance behind her. He bowed with the blank expression of someone who didn't understand what she was saying but knew she was talking about him. "My brother and I killed it ourselves, your Majesty."

Kilan looked at Kiriyuki. Yes, she was taller than him -- as was everyone else around him, unfortunately. Her younger brother was half a head taller than her. Still they were both just ordinary people. They couldn't possibly have killed a qirguth.

Prince Nozomi whispered something in his sister's ear. She blinked.

"Oh," she said to the assembled court in general. "You don't know, do you?"

This situation had gotten so badly out of hand that Kilan honestly couldn't see a way to regain control of it. "What don't we know?"

Kiriyuki scratched her head. "Well... We're sea serpents." Seeing the looks on everyone's faces she hastened to add, "All of us are shape-shifters. I know foreigners find it hard to believe."

Nozomi said something in Seroyawan. Kiriyuki glared at him. "What do you mean, I should break it gently? I did!"

Kilan and Qihadal exchanged glances. For once they were united in mutual bafflement. Sea serpents, qirguth... Thank goodness Seroyawa was far, far away. Kilan's sanity wouldn't survive repeated encounters with these two.