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“I’m at your service.”
“He believes, and I agree with him, that our armies need to begin training alongside the Lorians right away, because of the threat of war presented by the Pton. That will require my presence. Kalen’s too, as Warlord of his own army.”
“Is he up to that job?”
“It will be a strictly figurehead position until I see him in action. His men need to see him on Loros alongside me and know that we’re together in our plans. After I satisfy myself that he’s capable, he may be able to reassume command of his men.”
“Do you mean that?” came a soft voice from the doorway and Mikol turned to see Kalen standing there, partially dressed again and swaying a little but holding tightly to the frame.
“I came in on the end of that. Just as you said I’d be able to reassume command of my men.”
Both men stood up and Mikol immediately went to Kalen to put an arm around his waist to steady him.
“Did you mean that—about my army and me taking command?” Kalen persisted, looking up at Mikol, though allowing Mikol to move him toward the chair he’d just vacated.
“I said, you may be able to. It depends on how you do during training,” he said, depositing him gently in the chair. “How long have you been standing there listening?”
“Long enough to hear about a new training facility. And Icanlead my men. I’m an excellent soldier.”
“We’ll see,” Mikol replied. “It’s not a matter of just ability. Training will be fierce and hard, and you’re too young to have fought in any wars.” He held up a hand to stop Kalen’s protest. “Not up for discussion. I won’t have you risking yourself. You can observe and help in planning, for now. Then we can reassess after I see you in action.”
Kalen looked up at Mikol then quickly turned away, but not before Mikol had seen the flare of anger in his eyes. “The first thing we need to do is to move my army back to the capitol.”
“No, they need to stay where they are in your southern region and continue their training. It doesn’t matter where they train for now. We’ll be building some living spaces for my men nearby. I’ll be bringing a large company with me to train against the Pton. We can all stay in these units until more permanent structures are built.”
“But…my uncle won’t approve.”
Florin made a snorting noise, and he and Mikol smiled at each other.
“What? Did you already discuss this with your father long before now and are only now presenting it to me as if I really do have some say in things?”
Mikol shook his head. “You’re too suspicious, looking for conspiracies that don’t exist. I don’t need to discuss such matters with my father or anyone else. Your uncle’s construction is almost finished near your southern border, and it would be easier for us to simply continue building there. I want a fortress when we’re done, impervious to attack. In fact, I’d like to build a residence there as well within the training compound. It would be more convenient.”
Kalen shook his head, his cheeks pink. “My uncle won’t allow us to live away from the palace. And building ourselves a fortress? Nerol would be apoplectic with rage at the idea of such a thing. He could take that rage out on my mother. No, my uncle will insist we live in the old palace.”
“And I will insist that Lord Nerol leave me to make my own plans and accommodations. He won’t harm your mother knowing we’re close by. No, a residence by the training areas is better, and the cost is mine. It will serve as our primary residence after all, when we’re not on Tygeria.”
“My uncle won’t like these plans,” Kalen said softly, looking down at his boots. “He’ll object. He will more than likely refuse you the right to build anything on Loros. This is why you must depose him right away before he gets the upper hand.”
There was an abrupt silence and then the sound of a sharp laugh coming from Florin. When Kalen looked over at him in surprise, Florin held up a hand in apology. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but you need to wrap your mind around the idea that this Regent of yours does not outrank a Prince of the Imperial Axis, and the Dyson of all its armies. Only two others in the entire galaxy do—his father and his grandfather.” He shook his head. “Prince Mikol will do as he damn well pleases, wherever he pleases. Your uncle will then have two choices—take it or leave it. It makes little difference to us which choice he makes.”
Chapter Ten
After the doctor arrived and Kalen was put back to bed, Mikol decided it was time to call his parents and break the news to them, before there could be any leaks from the commandant’s office that might get back to them. He had decided to tell them only that he was coming home with Prince Kalen and their marriage would be taking place immediately. He would tell them he met Kalen on Belline, but all the circumstances of how that came about would not be shared. That was personal and the business only of the two of them. He could easily assure Dartan and Florin’s silence on the matter.
His parents might not even think it odd. Quick marriages were not necessarily unusual for Tygerians, who had a long history of falling in love at first sight. They felt superior to other species in that regard and saw no need in dithering around on long engagements when they found their mates. It seemed likely to him, in fact, that Florin may have decided on Kalen’s young captain of the guard at first sight. Or first argument, seeing as how they’d done little else.
He broke the news of his coming wedding to his omak and his father, who didn’t seem all that surprised at his decision.
“I’m happy for you, son,” Mikos said. “It seems I chose well for you.”
Mikol’s omak smiled indulgently and rolled his eyes. “Of course, you’re taking credit for it. Why am I not surprised? Wearehappy for you, though, darling. Did you have any trouble talking the prince into moving so fast?”
“No, he’s anxious to leave Loros for now, since his mother’s remarriage to his uncle. It will be good for him to get away from it for a while.”
“So that marriage isn’t following some common custom on Loros?”
“Not at all, according to Kalen. He despises his uncle, and claims he murdered his father.”
