The frustration of the three before Ixion was steadily growing as the flippant king continued to mock and degrade their efforts.
Their contemptible efforts to mount a defense against the Scourge.
The effort that had led to millions upon millions of soldiers throwing their lives away to gain what?
'A couple more years to live in anticipation of death?'
Ixion, 'the only sane man alive,' had seen the futility of it all.
Quartz's stare grew cold as she stood tall and added:
"Futility? Nothing in life is futile. There is always something at stake. Something of worth and value being measured. Something to lose and something to protect… And there is always a chance one may be successful in their ambitions."
Ixion rolled his eyes, then said:
"Ah, there's always a chance of success… Who taught you that lie?"
Quartz ground her teeth as she added:
"Call it futile if you must. But meaning still arises with how one lives in inevitability."
Ixion sighed and added:
"You can hardly call your struggle living… Or do you consider a painful death on the battlefield the epitome of life? Perhaps the growling of an unfed stomach is more to your liking? Ah, or perhaps—"
Xena, the dwarf, failed to hold her tongue and shouted out:
"Futility?! How dare someone who's given up on the world call our efforts futile?!"
The air grew tense as the dwarf shouted and the nobles above quietly bickered — half in fear of what Ixion would do, and half in awe of the dwarf's bravery.
They each prayed Ixion wasn't crazy enough to kill a foreign emissary.
Ixion's eyes narrowed as he rested his head upon his fist.
"You come into my throne room… and disgrace me? Speak over and yell at me?"
Quartz and Gryr quickly stepped forward.
"Forgive Xena's impudence."
"She merely stepped out of line from the immense stress of her situation. After all, the front lines have been pushed back to Iron Hand's front gates."
Ixion stayed silent for a second, then began laughing.
"And?"
The Lord of Truth then screeched in its shrill voice:
"And?"
Ixion looked at the bird like a proud father.
'He's amazing… Lot is the best pet one could ask for!'
The bird quickly added:
"Fuck you!"
Then Lot turned around, putting its back to the emissaries, and promptly shit in its cage.
'My heart!'
Xena's face contorted in a rage, but the other two held her back and tried their best to control her anger.
Ixion wiped a proud tear out from the corner of his eye, then said:
"The Lord of Truth hath spoken! The aid you seek? Your plight is not worthy of our help."
'You didn't even bring me a gift?!'
Ixion could hear Xena mutter under her breath:
"He staked our lives on the squawking of a parrot?"
'Oh… that's right. Lot is a parrot. A parrot!'
Quartz curtsied, then said to Ixion:
"Very well… we will take our leave."
Then, the crystal owl looked up at the nobles in the gallery who shied away from her gaze in embarrassment and shame, too fearful of Ixion to openly rebel or speak out.
As the trio turned to march away, the jester shouted:
"Three kingdoms' fate decided by the squawk of a bird! How reassuringly sophisticated our diplomacy has become. Everyone, clap for the Lord of Truth! Clap for his glorious intelligence!"
The jester began clapping and cheering while flipping around the room, causing the bells on her hat to chime.
Xena nearly turned around to give the Catatran King a piece of her mind, but thankfully, the door was shut before Ixion could garner another reason to execute her.
As the throne room door closed, Ixion laughed.
His gaze then fell upon Runa, whose face was pale and frozen.
'Poor girl…'
She'd inadvertently become an enemy of all who hated the parrot…
Which was all but Ixion and his closest followers.