Page 6 of Jorhee

Once the microwave pinged to let me know my food was ready, I took it out and settled down to eat it at the small table the motel provided. I opened my laptop and entered a search to find out what I could on the Dragonii.

Meat, veggies, and fruit. Meat nearly completely raw. Okay, I think I’m good. I’ll simply cook my meat for longer. Kilt-ha, wonder what kind of meat that is.

I clicked to discover it was a sort of reptilian looking beast that ate both meat and plants. Apparently they laid eggs in nests they built out of grass, and the unfertilized eggs were collectedand used the way we used chicken or duck eggs. The article said the taste of the meat depended upon the cut, with some parts tasting beef-like, while others leaned more towards a pork flavor and were indeed smoked to produce a kind of bacon, which they ate completely raw.

The article also referenced a creature called a hopalong, which was a marsupial raised for food, though often also kept as pets. It looked like a cross between a huge lop eared rabbit and a wallaby, if they had blue and purple fur and mostly hopped on four legs when moving about, unless carrying a baby in its pouch, which, as the information vid provided showed, meant they then stood upright like a wallaby to hop on only its rear legs.

Oh, man. They also have little hands at the ends of their front paws, like a raccoon. Cute little guys, but weird looking. I dunno if I could eat one, as they seem too much like something I’d want as a pet.

I finished my food and cleared up before taking Buster out for a walk, thinking about what life on my future ranch might look like. By the time we got back and I got into bed, that had morphed to wondering how long before I was contacted to arrange my test.

Please let it be soon. I can’t keep spinning my wheels like this.

5

JOHREE

I smiled down at Paxtil, who was looking adorable in his miniature set of Council ceremonial robes and governor’s sash. He grinned up at me cheekily, his wings fluttering behind him and his tail wriggling as he tried and failed to rein in his excitement. I held the pillow holding the key to the governor’s manse out to him, which he accepted.

“With this key,” I said, my voice solemn despite my smile, “I hand over the wellbeing of the people and planet to you. May they prosper under your leadership.”

We both turned towards the press, allowing them to see our smiling visages, my arm now around one of Paxtil’s shoulders, his father’s around the other.

Grekl allowed them to take photos and record their commentaries for a few moments, then stepped forward to urge us back inside the governor’s manse.

I breathed a sigh of relief that this part was over.

“I gots a whole planet now!” Paxtil crowed.

“You do,” Hulomin replied, smiling down at his son as he plucked the key off of the pillow, which he then handed overto Grekl. “But you’re not officially in charge here until you’re twenty. Until then, I’ll watch over it for you.”

“With the guidance of our esteemed council, naturally,” Grekl simpered.

My brother was too smart to fall for his attempt to usurp authority. He’d heard from me all too often about Grekl’s pompous attitude, and as Crown Prince, was all too aware of the nonsense he tried to trouble our father the king with.

“I’ll take your words of advice under consideration,” he replied diplomatically.

Grekl’s face took on a disgruntled look, which he pretended was entirely due to my continued presence as he turned it towards me.

“Well, your personal belongings are all aboard your vessel, which is waiting to take you to that backwater planet you’re going to,” he sniffed. “At least there the yokels won’t be overly affected by your lack of respect for Dragonii traditions. The humans will no doubt see your suggestions as innovative and exciting. I heard they like shiny, new things.”

“That’s quite enough, Grekl,” my brother said curtly. “Johree has the complete confidence of the king and the rest of our family, as well as the Grand Council. He has maintained tradition without getting mired in it, and Radnath has benefited greatly under his sixteen years of guidance. Keep up with your outright animosity and disregard for the king’s wishes, and I will have to contact my father about it.”

Grekl blanched, knowing he would lose his council seat there on Rednath at best, obliterating any chance at all of his advancing to a seat on the Grand Council. At worst, he could be investigated and possibly charged with treason as well.

“I just remembered I have another appointment to attend,” he said abruptly, fleeing.

“That one is a viper trying to hide in the grass,” one of his guards observed.

Hulomin’s lips thinned. “I think Johree’s suspicions regarding him and his followers’ intentions are most likely accurate. Absolutely bold of him to make a move against him right here in front of me. I want him and his associates and family members thoroughly investigated. Have intelligence come up with ways to undermine his influence. Rednath’s living museum is one thing, confined to Rednath Town and its environs, but the entire planet cannot remain static and thrive. There has to be some innovation.”

“He’s going to fight you hard on that,” I warned him. “When I allowed farmers to employ machinery that was still vintage but much less antiquated, he became absolutely apoplectic. He and his minions have continued to vote in a block to restrict the use of modern flitters and cargo transports designed to look antique to move produce and livestock in revenge.”

Paxtil hopped from foot to foot. “Can I go watchJulop and the Zoomeritesnow?” he begged plaintively.

Hulomin nodded. “Go with Fewxthor to the media room, and I’ll ask the cook to prepare and bring you a snack.”

“Ah, to be so young again and have nothing more pressing than to get to stand around for a few moments before getting to go watch vids and eat fruit and cake,” I chuckled as the guard led my nephew away.