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Now we were talking. I got up quickly, but the consort’s voice stopped me right away.
“No! Oh, for God’s sake, Davos, you can’t just kill people in our bedroom.”
The king looked at me and I shrugged. I think neither of us was sure what he meant.
“Of course, I can,” Davos said. “Colonel, bring him to me.” He glanced over at the consort. “Keep him out in the hall until I’ve finished.”
Again, I started to charge toward the door, but the consort clutched my arm. My blood was so high, I was afraid I’d hurt him, but I managed to control the urge, though it made me tremble all over.
“No,” he said again, and he swayed, as his face got deathly pale.
It was well known that the consort was of a somewhat advanced age, for a human, at least, though he certainly didn’t look it. Tygerians had roughly twice the life span of humans and King Davos was still quite vigorous, so he dosed his consort with youth enhancers to keep him young and fit and healthy. If not, Davos would have outlived him by perhaps a hundred years, and it was said that he couldn’t bear the idea. The current situation was obviously upsetting Blake terribly, and Davos noticed as soon as I did. He went to his consort quickly and wrapped his arms around him.
“Nobyo, don’t be so upset. All right. I won’t actually kill him. Probably not, anyway. Not right away. I just need a moment to comprehend all this. Colonel, can you help us understand how a man like the major ever got in so high a position?”
“I did tell His Highness, Prince Mikos, my concerns, and that I was worried about Venkarr, who is my cousin, taking this position so close to Prince Rakkur. Venkarr suffered torture during the war at the hands of the Alliance, and I believe it has affected his mind. Somehow, he convinced the crown prince that he was fully recovered, and that he could guard Prince Rakkur well. He can be extremely persuasive that way. Unfortunately, it appears that wasn’t the case.”
“I see. Rakkur, why didn’t you tell us immediately? Less than a half-hour ago, you were in my office saying he bothered you, but when I asked, how does he bother you, you said…”
“No,” the consort interrupted, seemingly recovering a bit. “That wasn’t how it was. Mikos butted in with his bullshit comments. I don’t know who I’m most angry with at the moment, Mikos or this fucking Major Venkarr.” He rounded on Rakkur again. “Or you! How could you not tell me? What were you thinking?”
I didn’t like the look on Rakkur’s face when his omak tore into him. I hated it, in fact. “Excuse me, Your Highness,” I said. “But I believe Prince Rakkur thought he could handle the situation on his own.”
“Thank you, Colonel,” Blake replied in an icy tone. “But I’m speaking to my son. I appreciate what you’ve done, but I can handle this situation without any help at all.”
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, clenching and unclenching my fists. I knew better than to get between the royal family in an argument, and I knew better than to express an opinion when it wasn’t wanted or needed. Not that any of that mattered when it came to Rakkur.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness. Of course, you’re right.”
“No, he isn’t!” Rakkur cried out. “Omak, you stop bullying him!” Rakkur jumped to his feet, shouting at the consort, and I thought that was a situation that didn’t happen too often. I saw the king’s eyebrows rise, but Rakkur wouldn’t be silenced.
“The colonel is trying to help me, and he’s the only one who has, so I don’t know why you’re shouting at him when you should be thanking him. Leave him alone. I insist!”
He surged over to stand beside me, putting a hand protectively on my shoulder. I could feel his touch burning through my tunic and robe again. The consort gave first Rakkur and then his husband startled looks and tipped his head to the side to look at me again with a little more interest. “Colonel Tariq, isn’t it? And you’re an Imperial? I know I’ve seen you before.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” I said, taking Rakkur’s hand to try and remove it. He only tightened his hand around mine and brought it to his chest. My mouth fell open, because his parents were right there in front of us. To say I was uncomfortable with both the king and his consort staring at me in amazement would be badly understating things. I didn’t try to get away though.
“Young too, and quite handsome,” the consort said, almost to himself. “Colonel Tariq. Yes, I remember you now.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Perfect. You’ll do just fine. Rakkur, say hello to your new bodyguard. I think this will work out nicely.”
Chapter Three
Rakkur
Naturally, that wasn’t the end of it. Far from it. I think Colonel Tariq was in shock, and so was Father. It was unheard of to place an Imperial in the role of a mere bodyguard. It was serious overkill, like using a disruptor to kill an annoying insect in the room. It would get the job done, but it might knock down all the walls while you were at it.
But as usual, my omak made things up as he went along. In the end, Blake got his way, though, and I have to admit I certainly didn’t object in the least.
Mikos was called to our parents’ room. He looked around at all of us and especially at Colonel Tariq before he was quickly taken by the king into his office. We all heard a lot of shouting, but finally, the door opened, and Father returned, Mikos having left his office by the door that led out into the corridor. I figured he didn’t want to face Blake. Like that would save him for long.
Father took Tariq aside and spoke to him for a long time, while Omak and I shamelessly eavesdropped. He thanked Colonel Tariq profusely and assured him that by the time we reached Loros, he’d have another solution in place, but for now, if he wouldn’t mind too much, he’d like Tariq to do him this favor. He told him that my nephew Prince Mikol could take over once we got to Loros, until a suitable replacement for Venkarr had been found, but if he could just make himself available for this small service, he would appreciate it.
Well, what could Colonel Tariq say, really? My father implied he had a choice, but of course, he didn’t. Father told Tariq he would be free to resume his original mission once I’d been delivered safely to Loros. At most, he told the colonel, this would be a temporary mission, just until we arrived.
Naturally, the king didn’t have to explain himself. He could assign anyone to do anything, but he was being extremely courteous, on account of Colonel Tariq’s sterling reputation as a war hero. As for the colonel, his manner was respectful and impassive, as always, though he couldn’t have relished the idea.
