Euthara (14 page)

“Yes, I’m afraid she is still out there somewhere,” Jon said. “Don’t worry we’ll find her and get her back safely.”

“She’s not a Princess,” Andara said.

“Just couldn’t help yourself could you,” Jon said.

Oojoung spun on Andara as Jon spoke and slammed the edge of his hand into the Duke’s leg just below his crotch. The Duke let out a groan of pain and fell to his knees as he grasped his inner thigh. “Terri person is Princess and always will be,” Oojoung said. The words came out as more of a growl. “Now you are in right position to greet Prince Hunter and his wife. But Oojoung cautions you not speak again before given permission or Oojoung will have you waking up not knowing where you are.”

Andara looked up at Jon and Nefeit as he rubbed his leg. The look of disbelief was all over his face as Oojoung mentioned Nefeit was Jon’s wife.

“Oojoung that’s enough,” Jon said. “He’s not a prisoner here. He’s a guest, for now at least.” He looked down at Andara. “If there was one person you don’t want to piss off here, its Oojoung. You see he has a thing for my sister, and to be honest she has a thing for him. I don’t think she realizes that yet though. Then there’s my adopted daughter Sam, who is here by the way, that’s the person he’s probably most protective over. By far Oojoung is the most deadly person here and I tend to let him go and do what he does best as I trust his judgment. If he told me I should let him kill you now, I would probably let him.” Andara’s eyes widened as fear set in and Oojoung grinned at him, baring his fangs at the Duke for good measure and fright factor. “I suggest you act like a guest while you’re here and you don’t attempt to leave the grounds. Take guards with you everywhere you go as there are probably some people who would kill you on sight rather than look at you. You’re not well liked by many here but I think you already know that. So, stand up, dust yourself off and follow me.”

“Oojoung come too?” Oojoung asked.

“Of course Oojoung, he’s your current assignment,” Jon said. “There’s no one I trust more with his safety than you.”

Jon turned and with Nefeit next to him led the way back into the main house. Sam met them at the door and grabbed Oojoung's hand as the small group entered. Jon glanced back and watched as Oojoung grabbed her as if she weighed nothing and tossed her on his shoulders. She ruffled the fur on his head and giggled.

“How’s my big cuddly bear?” Sam said.

“Oojoung is fine, how is little squishy girl?” Oojoung said.

“Fine, missed you though,” Sam said.

“Oojoung very busy here,” Oojoung said. “Oojoung very sorry, Oojoung try to make some time to spend with little Sam person.”

Sam leaned down and whispered in Oojoung’s ear and Oojoung nodded in response to the secret question. Jon arched an eye brow in question.

Sam turned to look at the Duke and gave him the what for look as she spoke, “If my Aunt Terri is hurt or killed, I want you to know I’ll order Oojoung to snap your neck like he did Vors.”

Andara laughed at Sam and said, “Sure you will.”

Oojoung stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face Andara. “Sam person is Jon’s adopted daughter, which makes her Princess. If she orders Oojoung to do something Oojoung has to follow the orders.”

Sam folded her arms across the top of Oojoung’s head and laid her chin on her arms as she grinned at Andara.

Andara paled as he looked at the two of them and said, “He wouldn’t follow her orders would he?”

Jon shrugged and said, “Maybe, you never know what those two will do. What I find surprising is you have a child mad enough at you that she wants to order your death. If that’s the case I think you should be confined to the house. You can move freely inside, but aren’t allowed outside unless given permission by me or the base commander, Captain Anders, and then only under heavy guard.” Jon knew that Sam wouldn’t do anything like that. Even if she did, Oojoung would contact him before doing anything that rash. But the scare factor made Jon chuckle as he turned back to lead the way down the hall to the living room.

Oojoung turned back and took a couple skipping steps bouncing Sam who giggled in excitement.

Andara laughed nervously and looked at one of the guards next to him as he spoke, “She wouldn’t would she?” The guard shrugged and when Andara looked back towards the small child riding on Oojoung’s back she was looking over her shoulder at him.

“Crack!” Sam said as she made a wringing motion with her hands. “Pop!”

Andara gulped and rubbed his neck as he paled even more.

“That’s enough Sam,” Jon said without turning around. “Duke Andara is a guest here.”

“Ok, ok,” Sam said as she slowly drew her thumb across her neck before turning around.

“I think that kid is psychotic,” Andara muttered.

“Then I don’t think I would do anything to get on her bad side,” one of the guards said.

“No kidding,” Andara said.

Guards took up positions on either side of the doors leading to the living room so that all exits were covered. Oojoung took Sam off to the side and occupied her time while Jon offered Andara a seat on the couch. Once Andara was seated Jon and Nefeit sat down opposite him.

Andara kept watching Nefeit as if he was waiting for her to bite him. Jon sat quietly and watched the non-verbal exchange. Nefeit was clearly not nervous by the scrutiny that Andara had her under.

Jon broke the silence, “Something wrong Duke?”

“Besides being kidnapped?” Andara said.

“I didn’t kidnap you,” Jon said. “I invited you here to speak to me.”

“Which I refused,” Andara said.

“You can’t refuse a Royal offer,” Jon said. “You should know that better than anyone else.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Andara said.

“I just thought being the lapdog for the King you would know a Royal summons couldn’t be ignored,” Jon said.

“I’m no one’s lapdog,” Andara said.

“But, I’m right about the Royal summons,” Jon said.

“For now you’re a Royal, and you’re correct, I had no right to refuse the summons,” Andara said. He hated admitting it but Jon was correct.

“I know the laws, I’ve studied them for a while before coming here,” Jon said. “I like to know what I’m getting myself into. Everything I have done here so far has been in line with the law. I found the documents I was referring too in your transmission files. So, we can dispense with the act as we both know you received them and they’re on record.”

“So, what, it changes nothing,” Andara said.

“It changes the fact that you issued orders to those fighters to cross the border and engage my fighters,” Jon said. “That was an unlawful act.”

“You have no proof that I gave the orders,” Andara said.

“I do, I have the recording of you giving the orders,” Jon said.

Andara paused for a second and looked Jon over then said, “False recordings, I never gave those orders.”

“Maybe, they’re being analyzed now for authenticity,” Jon said.

A beep sounded from the table in between Andara and Jon. “Yes?” Jon said.

“Sir, the King is requesting to speak to you,” a male voice said.

“I’ve been waiting for the call, put him through,” Jon said.

Andara smirked as he sensed his release close at hand.

“Don’t get to happy,” Jon said as he touched a flashing button on the small holographic panel that sprung up from the table.

“Captain Hunter,” the King said as his face appeared. “It seems you have something I would like back.”

“Mr. C’loth,” Jon said. He intentionally referred to him that way, if the King was going to be rude he could oblige him. “I can say the same to you. However, I don’t know what you’re talking about me having.”

“Are you always so disrespectful?” the King said.

“Only to those who show me no respect,” Jon said.

“I addressed you properly, I expect the same in return,” the King said.

“No, you addressed me in a disrespectful manner,” Jon said. “I’m still a Prince of Euthara and should be addressed as such. I’m tired of playing mind games with you and your nobles. If you want respect from me you’ll show me the same respect.”

“Not for long you’re not,” the King said. “The bond between you and my daughter has been brought into question.”

“You think it’s false?” Jon said.

“It’s possible that you forced it on her in some way,” the King said. “We’re working to discover if that is true or not.”

“A forced bond doesn’t establish a correct link between the two people,” Jon said. “It emulates everything a bond is and nothing else.”

“I know this,” the King said. “We have ways of discovering false bonds.”

“I assure you I have no mental powers, my people haven’t developed that far yet,” Jon said.

“That remains to be seen,” the King said.

“I warn you, if you hurt her there’s nothing on the planet that will stop me from coming for you,” Jon said.

“Threats don’t become you,” the King said. “Now about the Duke, I assume he is in good health.”

“You can ask him yourself, he’s right here,” Jon said.

“I’m fine Your Highness,” Andara said.

“Good, you’re to report to me immediately,” the King said.

“As you wish,” Andara said as he stood up. “Thank you for your hospitality Prince Hunter. I really enjoyed the time we had to talk.”

“Oh, I don’t think that will be possible Your Highness,” Jon said. “The air space and surroundings are very hostile right now. I wouldn’t want another incident like what happened to my patrol group happening again.”

“Excuse me,” the King said.

“Oh, it seems one of your flight groups engaged my flight group over embassy grounds,” Jon said. “The Duke was just explaining how it was all a misunderstanding.”

“Then it is as he said,” the King said. “Was everyone ok?”

“All pilots were recovered except one,” Jon said. “We’re currently searching for her.”

“I hope she is ok,” the King said.

“Oh, I’m sure my sister is,” Jon said. “Though the troops you have searching for her are impeding our search efforts.”

“Training missions, nothing more,” Andara said. “They have orders to not engage your people.”

“That’s what I thought. That’s why I haven’t opened fire on them even though they’re on our grounds,” Jon said. “Consider it an act of cooperation.”

“Of course,” the King said.

“That is as long as they don’t wander too far in as my men have orders to shoot trespassers after they cross a certain distance over the border,” Jon said.

“That would be an unfortunate event,” the King said. “Though, none of these events change my need for the Duke back at the Palace.”

“With all this military activity the Duke might get shot down by accident,” Jon said. “You understand how I couldn’t have that happening. It would be a terrible thing to have a stray shot kill him or even the shuttle he was on getting shot down by accident. I think he’s safer here until all these military exercises are over and my sister is found. I understand the Princess Deatra wanted to speak to him.”

“That’s correct she’s been asking to see him,” the King said.

“Then I guess he can wait here for her return from the palace,” Jon said. “She expressed to me how she wanted to meet him in a relaxed environment so they could catch up. The palace is so formal and stuffy she said when she asked me to invite the Duke.”

The King’s eyes narrowed as he spoke, “You’re playing a dangerous game. First my ships and you trying to get the Ga’sahde Treaty restored. Now the Duke Andara is your prisoner at your so called embassy. I see no paper work on that so even that’s questionable to say the least.”

“I’m not playing any games and the Duke isn’t a prisoner here he’s my guest and on a state visit,” Jon said. Jon reached down and tapped a few buttons on the holo screen in front of him. “Here’s a copy of the filed paper work from the Duke’s own transmission archives. So, I guess now you’re officially notified.”

The King’s eyes widened as he looked at the Duke who just gave a small shrug. “I see that everything appears in order,” the King said as he tried to recover. “However, if the Duke is a guest as you say then he’s free to leave.”

“Certainly if he must leave then he can do so,” Jon said. “I was just worried about his safety. However, since you’re willing to take that into consideration and the responsibility if anything happens to him he can leave right now.”

The Duke smiled and stood up then sat right back down as he spotted Oojoung across the room. Oojoung had stopped playing with Sam and was now looking over a large rifle with a decent sized scope on it. Oojoung was adjusting the sights on the scope and he had his head tilted down as if examining the rifle. His eyes however were watching the Duke as he fiddled with the rifle.

“Your Highness,” Andara said softly. “With your permission I would like to stay here for a while to get to know Prince Hunter. It would be unfortunate if something happened because we were careless and didn’t heed the Prince’s warnings. I’m sure he’s only watching out for my best interests.”

“Certainly,” Jon said. “With the Princess returning soon there’s no need for you to go anywhere until she arrives and gets to catch up with you.”

“As you wish Duke Andara,” the King said. Jon could see the dislike and pain in his face as he continued. “Thank you Prince Hunter, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to my most trusted adviser.”

“Of course not, no one does,” Jon said.

“As far as my daughter,” The King said. “She’ll return when she’s ready to leave. She has been away for so long we’re all still catching up.”

“I understand,” Jon said. “One more thing, have you made a decision about the Titan?”

“I’m not going to restore the Ga’sahde Treaty if that’s what you’re asking,” the King said. “I have no need for them and neither do my people. I refuse to even speak to them about the matter.”

“That’s unfortunate, because even if you don’t realize it your people need them,” Jon said.

“That’s your opinion,” the King said.

“So, you would rather sacrifice a ship than to see reason?” Jon said. “Last count I took you didn’t have very many ships.”

“I know that,” the King said. “But, it’s not negotiable. Though I see you have plenty.”