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fight with .” Shaking his head, he turned and offered the sword back to General Shixi. “My apologies, General.”
    The General walked forward and accepted it with both hands. His eyes were unreadable as he put the sword back in its sheath. “There is no apology needed when in the defense of our queen. But perhaps you should have your own weapon?”
    Yes, after today’s events, that had become a top priority. “Indeed, sir.”
    Queen Tresea stood from her chair and glided down. “Well, now that that’s all settled, let us dine. I’m absolutely famished.”
     

 

    The topic at the formal dinner that night revolved around him, to his complete lack of surprise. At Tresea’s urging, he answered some of the questions put to him, giving just enough information to satisfy them.
    But he didn’t enjoy it.
    After the dinner had ended, all he wanted to do was find a nice, quiet corner to cool down. His head spun after the events of the past four days. Only his experience with making snap decisions on a battle field had allowed him to keep up.
    Of course, that’s exactly what he couldn’t do.
    Tresea caught his eye as he stood from the table and crooked her little finger at him. That look and gesture might as well have been an iron chain around his neck. He didn’t dare disobey. So he heaved a covert sigh and followed her out of the formal hall and into a much smaller, more private room. It looked like an antechamber, but had the size of a receiving room. Aside from a long bench and two chairs, there was no furniture inside. There weren’t any windows or other doors, either. Clearly, this place was meant for secrets.
    Two men he didn’t know waited inside the room. One of them had been sitting on the bench, but at their entrance, rose to his feet with the aid of a cane. From the way he stood, he clearly needed it. His right leg didn’t quite work properly, but he obviously didn’t mind it as the smile on his face didn’t falter. He did not have the dark skin of his people, which suggested he spent most of his time indoors, and his black hair did not fit the short style that seemed to be in fashion, but instead had been grown out and tied off to rest over one shoulder. The formal green coat and white pants spoke of wealth and power—this man, whoever he might be, had a high rank in court. He radiated the calm intelligence of a scholar, not a fighter.
    The other man was the exact opposite. He was big and burly, with very dark skin and hair nearly shaven, it was so short. The short sleeves of his shirt revealed muscled arms that had crisscrossing scars here and there. His shirt and pants had the same rough wear to them that most of the soldiers in Niotan did, but Darius had this idea that he’d seen this man before. Not in the army here, but it had been in a battle situation…all at once it hit him and his eyes flew wide in recognition. Yes, of course. The Quetel’s bodyguard, the only one that had stayed with the family to protect them.
    “General,” Tresea had the smile of a cat that had just finished off a dish of cream, “allow me to introduce you to your new advisor and your bodyguard. This is Sego of Aramesh.” Sego bowed at the introduction, without a hint of reluctance or mockery in the gesture. “His family has been serving Niotan for generations, as administrators in one form or another. His integrity is without question. With this man at your side, no one will doubt the orders you give. As a plus,” she gave a satisfied smile, “his Arapesh and Brindise is impeccable. I have noticed that you are sometimes at a loss with my language?”
    So she’d caught that…. Darius rubbed at the back of his neck, a little embarrassed. “I’ve never been formally taught, My Queen, just picked up words and phrases where I could. Your language is very similar to my homeland’s, which makes it easier, but I am not a scholarly man.”
    Her eyebrows rose in true surprise. “For someone who’s just picked it up