There were about two dozen guests at Iolana Staff’s Accord Day party, ranging in age from the girl’s contemporaries like Willa Tice to young adults like Saba and his wife.  It was an odd sort of grouping, Saba thought, and he asked his mother about it when he saw her poke her head out of the kitchen.

“The girl reads too much,” said Mrs. Colbshallow.  “She doesn’t have much in common with the other children her age.  I think she would have invited only adults if she had her druthers.”

“How is Mrs. Dechantagne?  I hear she’s not feeling well.”

“She’s taking the cure.”

“Taking the cure?  From what… drink?”

“First things first,” replied his mother.  “Governor Staff is taking good care of her.  She won’t let her out of her sight.”

“Did you have to make all the food?”  Saba watched the lizzies, wearing red, white, and blue aprons passing out finger foods.

“Oh heavens no,” his mother replied.  “It’s all catered.”

One of the lizzies waved an appetizer tray in his direction and Saba examined the tiny sausages, little cheese pies, dainty meat pasties, and roasted shrimps.  With her free hand, the servant passed him a small plate, and he picked one of each of the items.

“Get an extra sausage,” advised Shemar Morris, scooping up several sausages for himself.  “They’re fantastic.”

Saba wondered if he should gather a plate for Loana, but looking around, he didn’t see her.

He followed Shemar around the corner and saw him begin to circle the group of girls in the parlor, like a predator trying to separate one from the pack.  From the flash of eyes and the giggles, he knew that the girls had spotted their would-be hunter and were not overly worried.  Gabrielle Bassett, Dutty Speel, and Hero Hertling all undoubtedly knew the truth: that the real threat was from each other.  In a land where women outnumbered men, the young ladies wielded their charms like fishing lures.  Gabby with sparkling blue eyes and a face like an angel, and Hero with her long raven locks and thick exotic lips, both had the advantage over the rather blank looking Dutty.  Eleven year old Sherree Glieberman, standing next to the three older girls, tried to continue whatever conversation they had been having, but their attention was all on Shemar.

Continuing through the house, Saba found his wife in close consultation with Wenda Lanier.  He walked up to ask her if he could bring her a plate of food, but she spoke before he had a chance to.

“Saba, there is a rumor that Billingbow’s is being served in the foyer.  Be a dear and bring me one.”

Saba nodded and turned on his heel to head toward the foyer.  There was no soda water there, but the front door was open and on the front portico, he found a large barrel filled with ice, frosty bottlenecks sticking out.  He pulled out three—one for Loana and one for himself, and an extra in case Wenda wanted one.

As he turned to step back inside, he noticed a huddle of young men near the corner of the house.  Stepping toward them, he caught a snippet of the conversation.

“It’s on for the tenth.  Then it’s smooth sailing…”

The face of Walter Charmley turned toward Saba, then turned back to shush the speaker.  The rest of the group faced the police inspector and it was as if the fates had conspired to place in one small spot all the mischief making talent of Port Dechantagne.  Warden Charmley was next to his brother, along with young Ascan Tice, newcomer Maro McCoort, Hertzal Hertling, and the obvious ringleader Graham Dokkins.

“Just what are you young gentlemen planning?” wondered Saba.

“Nothing that concerns the police,” said Graham, who had been the one speaking before.

“You’re not planning any more dinosaur races are you Graham?”

“Like I said, nothing that concerns the police.”

“I just don’t want you to get hurt is all—you or Walter or these other boys.”

“It wasn’t me,” said Walter.  “It was Warden.”

“Shut up,” said Warden.

“Just be careful boys.”  Saba turned and went for the front door.

“Saba.”  The police inspector turned back around.  Graham stepped very close to him.

“You haven’t heard anything about Staff’s expedition, have you?  About Senta?”

“No.”

“Well… because Maro is worried, and all.”

“I’m sure we’ll hear something soon.”

Back inside, Saba was looking for his wife who seemed to have disappeared again, when he almost literally ran into Dot Shrubb.  Wearing a bright pink dress, her copper hair parted in the middle and pulled back in long curls, Dot stood out in a not unpleasant way.

“Hello.  I didn’t know you were here,” said Saba.  “Is Eamon with you?”

Dot shook her head.  “Working.”

“How are you?”

She shrugged.

“I didn’t know you were friends with Iolana.”

“Church.”

“Oh, I see.  Um, have you seen my wife?”

“Out back.  WC.”

“Oh.”

“Everyone!” Iolana Staff called from the edge of the room.  “It’s time to go to the garden for games.”

She shot out the door, trailed by Willa Tice and four other girls as well as a single nine year old boy.  The older guests followed along.  Saba noticed that Shemar Morris had been landed by Gabrielle Bassett.  All was not lost for the other girls though.  Dutty Speel walked arm in arm with Benny Markham, and Hero Hertling held hands with Marzell Lance.  Of the group, only Sherree Glieberman was unescorted.  Saba followed along with everyone else and found Loana waiting outside.

In the garden, party goers played croquet or Hightower, and then the girls watched the boys run sack races.  The lizzies brought out cucumber sandwiches and lemonade and they all ate sitting on folding wooden chairs around the gazebo, while they listened to music from a mechanical player.  Afterwards, they played Doggy Doggy and Honey, Do You Love Me, and just as the sun was going down No Ghost Out Tonight.

Then it was time for dinner.  In the back of the house a long table had been set up with thirteen chairs down each side and one at the table’s head.  Each place was labeled.  In addition to the party guests, Iolana’s mother the Governor, Saba’s mother, and Cissy the lizzie joined the group.  Saba and Loana were seated at the far end from the young hostess, who sat at the head.  This was fine, as far as Saba was concerned, but his wife immediately hissed at him.

“Why is she seated there?”

Saba looked where Loana indicated and saw Dot Shrubb seated between Iolanthe and his mother, not a seat that he would have chosen for himself.  But he had to admit that it did show some status.

“Well, Dot’s well thought of,” he said.

The evening was topped off with fireworks.  The party was a great success.  All in all it was one of the most memorable Accord Days that Saba had ever experienced.

Iolanthe passed through the kitchen where two lizzies were cleaning up the breakfast dishes.  The house was quiet.  Stepping down the hallway, she peered into the library and saw Iolana again in her uncle’s chair, reading.

“Good morning Iolana.”

“Good morning Mother,” said Iolana, looking up.

“Are you still reading Garstone?”

“No.  This is Sable Agria.”

“Good god.  It’s not Virgins in Spring is it?”

“No.  It’s Three Marks for a Pfennig.”

“That’s hardly appropriate reading material for a little girl.”

Iolana hugged the book closer as though her mother might snatch it from her grasp.

“Still, at least it’s not that socialist.”

“I think Agria is a Tory,” said Iolana.

“Hmm.  It’s been a long time since I’ve had time to read any of our books.”

“I think books are wonderful.”  Iolana jumped up, setting her book on the lamp table, and pulling a large volume from the bookcase.  “Look what I found.  It’s a picture book of Brech City.”

“I had forgotten about that book.  I don’t think it’s very up to date.”

“It has photographs in it.”

“Photographs have been around for more than seventy or eighty years.”

“Oh, well, look at this.”  The girl opened the book to a page in the middle.  “Here’s Hexagon Park and on this side is the Great Plaza.”

Iolanthe sat down on the arm of the chair and looked down at the book.  “Here’s that café I used to like.”

“Really?  I think Brech must be wonderful.  Do you think I could visit it someday?”

“Of course.  In fact our house in the city is just down this street here.”  She pointed to a spot in the photograph just above and to the right of the café entrance.

“Is it a nice house?”

“Far too big, in my opinion.  But then you can judge for yourself when you go.”

“When can I?”

“Oh you will take Brech by storm some day.  But first you must learn how to be a hostess.  Are you ready?  Accord day is only four days away.”

“Yes.  No.  Maybe.  I don’t know what I’m going to say to all those people.”

“You only have twenty three guests.”

“Twenty three is a lot of people,” said Iolana.

“Perhaps you could quote Garstone to them.  Half of them are Zaeri.  They’re probably all socialists.”

“Auntie Yuah isn’t a socialist.”

“Where is Auntie Yuah?”

“She went out just after you left for the office.”

“And what about Augie and Terra?”

“Egeria came and took them with her.”

“You didn’t go with her again.  Don’t you like the Korlanns?”

“Of course I do.  Zeah is very nice and he says that I may call him Grandpa if I wish.  Egeria is very nice too.  But…”

“But what?”

“They don’t have any literature.  All they have are scriptures and mathematics texts.”

A bubbling laugh sprang from Iolanthe’s lips.  “You are a dear girl.”

Iolana’s eyes lit up.

Hearing a hiss from behind her, Iolanthe turned.

“Sada here,” said Narsa from the doorway.

“Come Iolana,” said Iolanthe.  “If you can put your books away for a while, Police Inspector Colbshallow will take us to lunch at the café.”

“Do you think he can afford to take us out on his salary?”

Iolanthe laughed again.  “Probably not.  So you can pay for lunch from your allowance.”

Iolana jumped up and followed her mother into the parlor.  Saba Colbshallow was waiting.  He had thrown on his police uniform jacket, probably to replace his bloodstained day coat.  This reminded Iolanthe that she had yet to change her dress.  She excused herself, leaving her daughter to entertain the young inspector—it would be good practice for Iolana, she thought—and with Narsa in tow, made her way up to her bedroom.  Once there, she had the reptilian help her into a blue dress that she had been saving for Radley’s return.  She thought it really didn’t matter.  Like most men, Radley didn’t much notice whether a dress was new or not.  He preferred to see it removed.

“I vring Ssiszornic and childs to house today,” said Narsa.

“What’s that?”

“Ssiszornic, elder, and childs to house today.”

“Oh, yes.  Very good.”

Arriving again at the bottom of the stairs, Iolanthe called for her daughter and the police inspector and then went out the front door to where Saba had parked his vehicle.  He helped Iolana into the back and Iolanthe into the passenger seat, then added some coal to the firebox and climbed into the driver’s side.

“Have you decided where you wish to dine?” asked Iolanthe.

“Aalwijn’s new cook is at Café Etta.  He’s good, but now it’s so busy there.  I was thinking we should go to the bakery.”

“You are such a silly boy,” said Iolanthe.  “If everyone is eating at Café Etta, then that’s where we must luncheon.  It’s not as if we will have to wait for a table.  And think of the cachet you’ll have dining with me.”

“I have all the cachet I need,” replied Saba.  “Cash on the other hand…”

“Oh, don’t worry.  Iolana is buying us lunch.”

Saba glanced over his shoulder at the girl.

“Café Etta it is then,” he said, making a left turn down the parkway.

“What did you do with him?” Iolanthe asked in a low voice.

Saba glanced back once again at the girl, then turned back around and said. “He won’t bother you.”

“Did you..?”

“Maybe it’s best I don’t say right now.”

“Mind you, I have no problem with that in theory.   However, I wouldn’t want to soil your conscience with deeds done on my behalf.”

“My conscience is fine.”

“What are you talking about?” wondered Iolana.

“Police business,” said her mother, without missing a beat.  “Saba wants to hire a wizard for the police department.”

“Kasia Garstone says wizards are tools of the oppressors.”