Zeph held an ice pack to his forehead and kept his eyes focused on the ground. What he had to say, now that he was back in Vellag and in front of the King, wouldn't sound good. He watched as Prince Regwallis tried to spell with blocks ahead with King Sheward bending down to give assistance. Zeph didn't say a word as he watched the boy take off out of the room, most likely in search of his mother. He removed the ice pack from his head . "Fine boy, your majesty." Yeah it didn't hurt to butter him up a little.
King Sheward looked over at the blocks Prince Regwallis had been playing with previously. "My boy is learning to spell. Regwallis will be a great king one day. At least, I hope he is king one day."
Zeph wouldn't drag it out. "I couldn't get her to say yes, sire. She wouldn't budge, and even got the drop on me in an alleyway. I think. I feel like she hit me over the head, and the injury is hurting, so I could use some time off to recover." Oh what the heck, might as well try.
King Sheward turned away and stared outside his throne room. He stood straight with his hands folded upon the scepter. "I knew she wouldn't."
Zeph couldn't help lifting his mouth in a thin smile. "Your highness, it was hard to even talk to her. She made no mistakes, there wasn't an opening. She was smart, most likely taught in the past."
The King did not join him in a smile. His eyes stared ahead at Zeph, wanting to communicate. Sympathy maybe? Zeph couldn't pin it. "It was a long shot, but I'd do anything to save this kingdom. Save our future. Make everything right again."
"Long shot or not, I understand why you wanted to try, King Sheward." Zeph
placed the pack upon his head again. "About this injury?"
"You don't understand." King Sheward took a deep breath. "I could easily hide this from you, but Guardian Zephyr Smilliat, you are one of my most trustworthy and highest Guards. I only deceived you for the good of the kingdom."
Zeph removed the pack off his head. "Deceive me, sire?" Oh he deserved a vacation now.
"You must understand it was our last option," King Sheward emphasized the importance of what he had to say. "I could not let it get away simply because you were a Guard."
Zeph's mouth twitched twice. "Highness? What is it you're speaking of?" He tried to sound patriotic, but it came out as a light growl. The way the King sounded, it couldn't be good.
King Sheward took one hand off his scepter and moved his gaze back toward Zeph. "Get out your anti-allurance spray."
Zeph reached into his pocket and brought out the spray. "It's right here, King Sheward."
"Your escort changed it out," King Sheward revealed. "It is a concentration of male pheromones which helped attract her to you. At the same time, we recruited the bartender to slip things in both your drinks. It made you more relaxed, while canceling out some generic anti-pheromone pills she had been taking."
"You wanted us to attract each other?" Zeph didn't bother saying any allegiance that time. "If she were on pills the cancellation would last no longer than-"
"Thirty minutes," King Sheward interrupted him. His royal attitude softened. "I'm sorry, Guardian Zephyr Smilliat. We were hoping for some feelings to pop up, and then I could give you special permission to date her."
Zeph focused on him, waiting for the part he was sorry about. His throat felt phlegmy, King Sheward had not moved from his serious tone or posture for most of the conversation. "Are you sorry it didn't work and I'm not dating the female?"
"No, I am sorry I had to deceive you, it had to be done." King Sheward patted his arm gently. "You were the only one that could pull it off. It shouldn't have been that risky."
Zeph felt out of it as he pieced together what King Sheward was saying. It didn't sound like it was a failed attempt. That couldn't be true though because he was talking to her, but then the headache came? "The headache was from the drink." He dropped his ice pack to the ground in realization, his attention back at King Sheward, eyes pleading he was wrong. "Sire, did you make me corrupt my vow?"
"One time, no one will ever know," King Sheward assured him. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." King Sheward gestured toward the escort who appeared beside Zeph. "Your escort here watched the alleyway; no one saw you and no one will ever know."
"That is correct." The escort looked at Zeph, but took a step back. Zeph was not giving off warm friendly vibes "She ran off first, and I-I picked you up..." Zeph could hear the choppiness, the signal for lies, in the escort's phrasing as he thought of how easy it would be to lose control. A small punch or kick. Brutal beating, it would be fine.
"I could not disobey the King. I-I couldn't lose my position." The escort looked away from Zeph and back at the King. "Majesty, may I go now?"
King Sheward waved the escort off and stood only a foot away from Zeph. "We've scheduled everything out for a reason, to the best time we could. She was important and you must realize that. This is not simply an individual, it is our future at stake and she refused to help. The eventual date would have ended the same way eventually," The King assured Zeph as he placed his hand on his shoulder. "If there is a child, our race can carry on. A second chance. A part of you must understand that."
Zeph had nothing to say. Investigate highly, best days, they were timing for the best time to make this happen. He could be a father of a females' child whose name he didn't even know? This can't be happening, it isn't. King Sheward would not do this. I'm dreaming. I've got to be, this makes no sense, I don't hurt females, I never hurt females. He could feel his anger emerge and, for a brief second a thought about striking the king down. He remained calm and steadied himself. There was a good chance nothing would happen, but it wasn't impossible .
The past echoed in his head. What would his father say to what he let happen? What would his family have thought of him? After everything that happened, how could he do this to them? His instinct racing against his brain as he shoved King Sheward away from him. "It isn't fair! I'm a Guard, and I chose it for a reason!"
On hearing his outburst, the doors swung open and Guards flooded the room around Zeph. He could not continue on the path he was on. If he got hurt there would be no way he could be of help anymore. He bent down to the ground and bowed to the King. "Majesty." His word dripped like oily poison.
"Rise, Guardian Zephyr Smilliat." King Sheward held his hands up to the other Guards. "At ease."
Zeph did not rise until after everyone was gone. He looked back at King Sheward. If only he wasn't the damn king of the kingdom. His next words were staccato as he held himself together. "Talk--to--her."
"It will not do any good," King Sheward said with a degree of sympathy barely detected. "She has learned to distrust any and all Guards, royal guards, males, everyone. We've known about her for years and we have tried to change her mind countless times before resorting to this level."
Zeph looked toward the ground. He should have known from the way she had been acting. He assumed they bothered her recently but it had been years. No wonder she was so uncaring for the kingdom.
"She wouldn't believe anything you say," King Sheward said firmly. "She would only talk with her family or her so-called childhood Guard."
"Then what's the problem? Call her damn Guard, a little humiliation doesn't seem like it would phase you." Zeph knew he needed to back down with his intolerance, he was speaking with the leader of the kingdom, but his feelings raced ahead of his mind. He needed to keep himself calm, the images going through his head were anything but healthy.
"There is no humility in finding him. I knew who he had been." King Sheward paused a minute. "It was another reason I had to keep everything secret. Why it had to be you."
Zeph looked squarely at him, this wasn't right. Had that female been someone he had guarded in the past? Females needed no protecting until they reached maturity, and he had never guarded anyone that was a child. Well there was one, but that was different. He wasn't a Guardian at the time, he was just in training. It wouldn't be her. It couldn't be her. His mind faded back to the restaurant and the words she had said about him looking familiar.
"Her family name is Saga," King Sheward began the explanation with a brief reminder. "She escaped when everyone in her family was destroyed. Much too young to be alone, she was given to a childless family. Soon after, more children came but her new mother and father loved her so much, they continued to keep her as their own and she no longer goes by Saga. She hasn't since she was a small child."
King Sheward's words blurred with the rest of reality as Zeph kept dwelling on that restaurant. Those last words she said before things got fuzzy:
"I don't want anything heavy," the female said firmly. "He…always told me when I…yeah, I don't drink heavy."
"She goes by the name of..." King Sheward stopped. "Guard?" He waved his hand in front of Zeph's face. "Are you still there?"
-----
"Whoah," Prince Regwallis said as he tried to balance himself when Zeph rushed past him at full speed.
Zeph paid no attention to Prince Regwallis' remark as he ran past the boy to his room. His heart beat fast, a part of him not accepting this could be reality. He opened up his suitcase and retrieved some old tattered letters. The paper he wanted had tinged yellow through time. He shuffled through the worn letters. He used to read the letters for comfort. They were written to him from the Cattral's, a caring family who treated him as one of their own. He had been a young non-official Guard, carrying out his duty by serving the family. It was more than shelter though as he became close friends with the children. He was no more than a child himself back then, and whether he would admit it or not, he had never found that close relationship with anyone since then.
He kept track of them by writing letters back and forth, but as with all things, the letters slowed down and eventually stopped coming. He continued to shuffle through until he found the the very last letter written to him. He held it closer to his eyes as he read.
5675
Dear Zeph,
Hi! It's been a long time. It's too bad we can't write more often, but at least we can write. So far, things are looking up! Remember, Iri ,the girl I told you about in the last letter? I took your advice and I didn't do anything reckless; I just gave her a flower and told her she was pretty. Her parents didn't like it, but we started to hit it off!
I've finally graduated from school and have my Certificate of Excellence in Cuisine. Zella, Muin and Iri were really happy for me and they're going to help me open up my first restaurant. I hope you get to see it one day. I think I'll name it Cattral's.
I do have a new problem though. Muin! Her pheromones aren't half as bad as Zella's, but she keeps having this same male named Zaria come over for her! The thing is, I can't do much because Muiny actually likes him back. Should I just let it continue?
Hope you get this letter soon. The way everything works though, I'll be lucky if it reaches you in a year.
Signed,
Xiam.
Zeph read the letter again. That was the last one Xiamipoc Cattral ever sent. He never received another with the new address which would have allowed him to write back.
A lost letter that would explain what happened. He wished he still needed that letter.
Zeph sat down on the floor, staring at the pile of worn letters while thoughts of what happened raced through his mind. Why? King Sheward would do all this for a small chance of a pure lineage?
With what Zeph had in mind, he wouldn't be able to push King Sheward far away. He didn't know what was up his sleeve, but it would have to stay there to get the chance he had to take. Standing up, he made his way back to the throne room.
King Sheward looked back as Zeph came near him again. "Guard."
Zeph nodded with steel eyes. No matter what the circumstances, or what cruel trick had been played, he had to be respectful to King Sheward. His words would be kept short and to the point as much as possible so that his true sentiments did not emerge. "I want to be her Guard." He watched King Sheward shake his head. "You owe me that much."
"Halt," a royal guard moved in front of King Sheward. "No one speaks to King Sheward in that manner."
Zeph held his eyes on the guard. A simple maneuver and he could have taken him out, but he need King Sheward on his side. He reached into his vest and pulled out his official Guardian license. He held it out in front of King Sheward briefly before letting go. It hit the ground with a soft thud at King Sheward's feet. "Appoint me or I leave anyhow."
Zeph watched King Sheward breathe out slow and deep. One way or another, he was getting back to his friends. King Sheward had something planned, and not knowing the extent of it, he couldn't risk them getting hurt.
"Guardian Zephyr Smilliat, you are a rare class, an A Guard. I don't want to lose you, which is why I told you," King Sheward insisted as he folded his hands on his scepter. "With your skill you would have figured it out at some point. Hate me as you wish, but don't do this to your kingdom. It is more fragile than you know."
Zeph made no response to his speech. Either King Sheward appointed him or he walked. He kept silent, not moving at all as he continued to stare.
" If it means so much to you, I may appoint you her Guardian again," King Sheward muttered. "It takes time though, remember that."
"I'll help," Zeph insisted. "I'll wait in offices to sign papers and I'll take them back myself."
King Sheward mumbled something undetectable then held up his index finger. "She will be suspicious that you came right when this happened."
"Well gee, I wonder why," Zeph said sarcastically. He noticed the guard eyeing him again. "Majesty."
"I warn you." King Sheward leaned further upon his scepter, his crown tilting forward. "I am being lenient. Do not say anything about the kingdom's involvement. Disobey this order and I will pass judgment." King Sheward's eyes hardened and his posture became rigid. He stood in a manner Zeph had only seen used in front of his enemies. "One day, you will understand." His eyebrows lowered as he tapped his scepter. "You will be guilty of treason if you implicate our kingdom into this matter."
Zeph shifted his right leg and jerked his index finger involuntarily as he considered the decision. "I'm not supposed to tell her you're directly responsible? So what are you saying, if I tell her-"
"- you cannot implicate the kingdom in the plot," King Sheward finished for him as he placed his hands behind his back. "You say anything and you will be guilty of treason."
Zeph glanced at the ground. If he told her anything, all he could tell her was he was the guy that night? He couldn't explain why?
"Agree, and I will appoint you. I understand you want to see this through. Disagree though and leave, and I will make sure you never find her or her family again." King Sheward's words were rough and raw, a tone never used with Zeph before. "The Kingdom cannot be seen as the bad guy in this situation."
Zeph's throat felt dry. No one lived after being recognized as a traitor to the kingdom. Many times the killings were merciful and fast injections, no one wanted to prolong suffering. In some instances though, the act was considered so heinous, the traitor's death involved viruses. Thoughts of a past traitor in particular filled his head. The kingdom had been so furious; he had been injected with five of the worst viruses known to their species. He hollered in agony for six days.
Zeph took one more moment for himself. King Sheward would not punish him that far, he would never use such a threat. Zeph gazed into his expression searching for a sign of weakness, a sign that would point it out as a joke.
Had the kingdom's position become so weak that they would stoop so low? Zeph rubbed the bridge of his nose. There was more King Sheward was hiding, he could sense it. No matter what King Sheward's plans were, he couldn't forget about his promise. He would just have to be extremely careful. To blame or not to blame, he had to protect them.