“I choose her.”
“Sir?” Her jaw was clenched, fists tight at her side, clear declarations of protest.
“I choose Bravo Ilisa to stay here in Harthen to instruct me, to be the liaison I need with your throne and help me in any other needs of higher security.” I looked at Kajo. He was analyzing Ilisa’s reaction, seemingly amused by her tense posture and clear disdain for me. “Will that be a problem, King Kajo?”
“Of course not. Will it, Bravo?”
“I serve at the pleasure of the throne, of course, your highness, but I am surely expected back in Commander Cartari’s regiments, now that he is returned from Vailstor…” Ilisa looked pleadingly toward Cartari and Axis where they were listening to the conversation. They shook their heads and gestured that Kajo was the one making the decision here. They could not -- would not -- intercede on an inter-galaxy trade deal.
I crossed my arms again smugly and grinned at her. She dashed her look away from me with such contempt I was sure her King was going to reprimand her, but he laughed instead, perhaps at some conversation they were holding telepathically. I wondered how she was going to teach me to guard my thoughts.
“It is final. Bravo Ilisa will suspend her place in the Bristola Special Operations for the moment and stay here to be the Farian liaison for Lord Skarde. You will report to my court weekly. Understood?” She nodded and the King held out his hand. I shook it gruffly. Then the King moved away with a slight salute. “See you for dinner, Lord Skarde. Please let us know if you need anything else to get settled.”
Bravo Ilisa was also moving away in a huff but I caught her arm. She clenched her fist and jerked away, nearly grabbing for her knife. I pulled her in close.
“You’re mine, Bravo Ilisa. I choose you to stay here with me in Harthen,” I whispered close to her ear. She pulled her arm away but stepped in even closer, so that I could smell her slight perfume, one of the native flowers and the slight smell of jet fuel.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Lord Skarde. I may be staying here with you, but no man chooses me. No man controls me. No man owns me. You can view me as a partner here. I will help you and you can listen to me as I help train you so that you aren’t lost in a kingdom that may never fully belong to you. You would be wise to treat me I deserve, because you’re stupider than you look if you don’t even view me as your equal.” She flashed her eyes, even brighter than they had seemed before, turned, saw her King looking at me, forced a smile, then left out a corner door with Commander Cartari.
Cartari followed her quickly but his chosen one, Zaya from Vailstor, stayed behind and walked up to me. As soon as all the Farians had left, I burst out laughing.
Zaya paused as she approached, startled by the gusto with which I laughed. “All right, Skarde, what is it now?” I clutched my stomach and heaved a huge breath to slow my guffaws. My ribs hurt, my cheeks ached from the laughter I couldn’t stop. The laughs seemed torn from me without my will. I wondered if they were half from unsteadiness at this new place, as much as from real mirth…
“Oh, Zaya, you know me… I thrive on chaos…”
“This is true, and I do know you well enough that I can fear that you will create some chaos just so that you can thrive when no one else will… These are good people… I have seen that well enough just in my short time here. And, I have felt that from my Destin, from my Cartari.”
“Yes, how is it that you came to be indebted to that charzbos?”
“He saved me, somehow… After holding me captive, actually. He mind controlled me. When we were imprisoned together on Vailstor. That’s how I am able to access the telepathic controls.”
“Hmm…” I grunted, wanting more explanation, but also fearing it.
Zaya was a gorgeous, dark-skinned Vailstor girl, with freckles showing bright from the days in the southern Farian sun. Commander Cartari of Farian was lucky.
“He is my soul-mate, my fated one, my true love, now. I could do nothing to harm him, and I know I am lucky to have him.” I waved away her words with another grunt and she laughed. “All right, I won’t say any more of that. But, truly, give this place a try. I think it is worth it. Besides, it is for Vailstor. General Truloy is what is best for our planet, and the trade of calasis for frajili will help us all.”
“Indeed.”
“I will be in Harthen for another week. I hope to spend more time with you.”
“I am sure we shall, Zaya.”
“Good, then.”
“See you tonight at least?”
“Yes.”
Zaya tiptoed away, looking back at me sideways as I stared up at the sparse castle walls. I really would need to get some tapestries. Maybe I could make Bravo
