((Word hates me.

))
Cody had seen large dinners before, his mother was from a big family and sometimes they would have thirty or forty people eating with them on any given Sunday at his grandparents. He was used to big tables, large amounts of food and many people. This dinner consisted of the first two.
By Cody's math, there was enough food for at least fifty people. Seventy, if everyone took small portions. But there were only four men sitting there, talking lowly with grave looks on their faces, only stopping as Cody entered the dinning room. Cody knew all but one.
Mahn, of course. Across from him sat an older man, much older. This man was maybe about 80. Maybe even older. His name was Sam, and Cody had known him all his life. Sam had been the advisor to the royal family ever since Ginny and Conan had been crowned. He was kind, patient, and apparently much older than the last time Cody had seen him.
Beside Sam sat a sandy haired man, stubble on his face, dark circles under his blue-green eyes. Eyes that almost sadly looked at Cody. Cody could read so many emotions in this man's eyes as they looked at each other. Anger, regret, sadness...this man was Conan Sulai. He was the King of Romaina. More importantly, he was Ginny's ex-husband.
Across from Conan sat a younger boy, obviously Conan's brother. Cody had heard enough about Conan's family to known that his name was Tom, and he was almost the polar opposite of his older brother. Hard to anger, silly, and fun to be around. He gave Cody a grin, and was the first to greet him.
"Cody! This is so cool. You look just like your mom, you know that?"
Cody blinked as he took his seat, surprised. No one had ever said that. He was almost an exact replica of his father, looking nothing like his mom in his opinion.
"Not unless my mother and father have switched bodies." He replied with a small shrug.
"I see he has her sense of humor. Sarcastic." Conan made a face, shifting in his seat to get a better ook at the small child that had just sat down.
"Conan, hush." Sam had always been able to give a command and make it sound like a suggestion. It was strange, and something Cody admired. He knew that often in this palace the cooler heads preveiled. Sam nodded to Cdy, leaning towards him and smiling.
"Xexes, how nice to see you again."
"Signore," Cody shook his head, "Please do not use my formal name. You have known me far too long."
"Well then Cody-"
"To you, I remain Xerxes." Cody's calm soft voice cut Conan off midsentence and he looked baffled for a moment. It wasn't long before his face began to turn bright red though, and he slammed his fist on the table.
"I will not be spoken to like that!" He was losing his temper quickly. Cody was too much like Ginny to get along easily with Conan. So Cody decided the best thing to do would be to continue acting like her. Just to irk him.
"Then you will not be spoken to, Mr. Sulai."