Mickey Reichert - Flight of the Renshai

Saviar felt the need to cut in. "I'm not overburdened. I want to know what it's like to be a Knight of Erythane in training."

"Did you like it," Ra-khir said stiffly, "when your grandfather asked you to make a judgment in the king's place?"

Saviar flushed, then told the truth. "It scared me to death." He added quickly, "But I'm used to getting put in difficult situations, and I felt great when I realized I actually… handled it…" He turned to doubtful questioning. "… all right? Didn't I?"

Kedrin reassured. "You handled it very well. In fact, you demonstrate an impressive natural kindness, empathy, and sense of fairness. You have great potential for knighthood."

Ra-khir's stiffness became so intense it looked painful. He might gainsay his father but never his captain. "Please, Captain. Don't encourage him."

"Why not?" Saviar and Kedrin said in tandem, though the knight tacked on a "Sir Ra-khir."

Ra-khir sighed deeply, then shook his head. He drew breath, and Saviar awaited a lecture. Surely, his father would remind him how exhausting Renshai or knight training was on its own, how few managed either. He would have to pass his Renshai testing before he could even consider becoming a knight-in-training, and none of his Renshai peers could possibly understand why he would attempt both. They would tease him viciously; and even the knight-apprentices might ostracize him.

But Ra-khir did not lecture; he did not need to. "You say I'll understand when I'm a grandfather? I'll truly understand?"

Kedrin only laughed.

Dewcoated the hedge of prickles, the sawgrass, and the random array of rocks and twigs that littered the central courtyard of the king's palace in Stalmize. Prince Subikahn leaped and danced through obstacles that made the gardeners shudder every time they had to tend the area. His sword cut bold arcs through the air, leaving a wake of flashing silver. Silently, his torke, Talamir, watched every movement, his expression unreadable.

Subikahn drove into the last maneuver, his sword low, his legs flexed. Silky black hair spilled into eyes nearly as dark, with just a hint of his mother's blue. The sword made a shining contrast against the deep olive of his skin. He held the position for what seemed like forever, waiting for his torke to speak.

"Beautiful," Talamir finally said.

"Thank you." Subikahn slammed his sword back into its sheath. "Now what did you think of my svergelse?"

Talamir laughed. "You did a fine job, Kahn. You'll definitely pass."

"You're sure?" Though he knew he had performed well for several months now, Subikahn still worried about his manhood testing.

"No doubt. They'll pass you."

A man. The words sounded wonderful from the mouth of one who would certainly know. "You're not just saying that because-"

Talamir interrupted, his tone gaining a note of irritation, "I would never say something that important just to please anyone. You know that."

"Of course. I'm sorry." Subikahn could not stop grinning. "I didn't mean to impugn your character. I'm just so excited." Suddenly seized by the desire to share, he raced toward the gate. "Let's tell my papa. Everything."

"Everything?"Talamir scurried after his student. "Subikahn, wait. What exactly do you mean by everything?"

"I mean everything." Subikahn tripped the latch and yanked on the heavy portal. "He's a wonderful man who deserves to share my every delight. The most understanding father in the world will find joy in whatever makes me happy."

"I'm not so sure," Talamir said, his soft reply lost beneath the squeal of massive hinges. Closing his eyes, he followed Subikahn into the castle.

Sunlight glinted from bits of quartz and mica in the mortared stone construction of Stalmize Castle. King Tae Kahn clung like a spider to the courtyard wall, directly below the library window. Above him, his constant feline companion, Imorelda, watched him through the window, tail twitching daintily, her paws tucked calmly beneath her.*You have a visitor,* she said in the mental voice only he could hear. *Who's there?* he sent back. *Not here. Down there.* The silver tabby glanced past him to the ground, five stories below.

Tae followed the animal's gaze to a plump maid arranging blankets on the ground beneath him. Alneezah. He knew her at once, from her actions alone, and he could not help smiling. The servants had grown used to their king's strange antics. The son of a crime lord who had survived his youth by his wits, quickness, and wiles, he suffered from a restless need to know the location of every exit and to practice using them on a daily basis.

Tae's guards and butlers had requested the right to cushion the entire base of the castle, in case their king lost rooftop footing or a grip on a window, niche, or ledge. Afraid to lose his edge, Tae had dismissed their requests as unnecessary. Still, Alneezah always found an excuse to keep Tae safer. She also knew Imorelda's favorite treats and somehow always had them on hand for chance meetings in the corridors.

"What are you doing down there?" Tae called to the maid.

Alneezah did not bother to look up, though she did grant the king a respectful curtsy. Tae hated formality, but his advisers assured him of the necessity. Without it, they told him, he could not command the respect required to run a single country, let alone the entire Eastlands. "I'm airing out some quilts,Your Majesty."

"In the central courtyard?"

"Yes, Sire."

"On the ground?"

Alneezah finally glanced up. Though not traditionally beautiful, her features were becoming in their own way. Shiny black hair fell in waves past her shoulders, hiding her ears, and bangs eclipsed her gentle, brown eyes. The pink circles of her cheeks gave her a look of constant coyness, and her small nose seemed to disappear above full, heart-shaped lips. "Yes, Sire. On the ground."

"Directly beneath my dirty feet."

Alneezah bit back a smile. "Oh, I hope they're not dirty, Your Majesty. Some dignitary may wish to kiss them."

Caught off guard by the unabashed banter, Tae had no retort. *She's good.You should marry her.*

Tae felt his cheeks warm. When Kevral had chosen Ra-khir as her husband, she had devastated Tae. It was not that he had expected anything different. At that time, Ra-khir had everything he did not: striking good looks, impeccable honor, and a romanticism Tae could only watch and envy. Also, Ra-khir had just single-handedly gone to war against the entire country of Pudar to win Kevral back from their custody. Since then, Tae had devoted himself entirely to their son and never considered courting another woman.

Not that Tae had had no opportunities. The lesser kings of many countries had offered their daughters to him, and nearly every unattached woman in his own kingdom batted her eyes and giggled around him. He had a trove of barren concubines who happily shared his bed to satisfy their urges as well as his own. But, his deep love, and most of his attention went solely to his son; and only Imorelda consumed as much of his time. He had brought the boy into the world and swore to any gods that might exist that he would do a far better job raising Subikahn than his father had done with Tae.

Tae reached for any excuse to silence the cat.*Alneezah? She's too young for me.* *She's nearly thirty. You're thirty-seven.* Imorelda rose casually to poke her furry head out the window. Shed hairs swirled through the sunbeams, making her appear to grow an unearthly halo.*Close enough.*