Chapter 10: Duel

specton - 2 1/2 minutes
Toton - 2 1/2 hours
minton - 2 1/2 days
daycon - 2 1/2 weeks
quant - 2 1/2 years
galant - 2 1/2 centuries
Metson - 2 1/2 inches
heckson - 2 1/2 miles
tetson - 2 1/2 acres

Bill Axor (AKA Ambrose) - Lion clan
King Tomco Traxor - Bill’s dead father
King Tobias Traxor - Bill’s dead brother
Queen Niaco Traxor - Tiger clan, Tobias mate, now Bill’s
Twitty Glax - Grey Tabby clan, bill’s body guard and mate
Glenna Nox - Bengal clan, Bill’s body guard and mate
Mikos Glac - Chartreux clan
Commander of star crusier - Wire hair clan
General Roth - Leopard clan
Henna Glac - Chartreux clan, Mikos mate, Xendran Doctor
Theta Panadon - Cheetah clan
Cornelius Glax - one of Bill’s Uncles, Grey Tabby clan
Conrad Nox - Bill’s other Uncle Bengal clan
Assassin group - Jaguar clan
second assassin group - Ocicat clan
Gregor - Cougar clan
Gwayne - Panther clan
Thomas - Lynx clan
Mileen - Lynx clan Thomas’s mate

Henna checked on Bill, Roth, and her mate Mikos. She loved her mate with all her heart. Shaking her head, she knew there would be hell to pay when they all awoke. Then a thin smile crossed her face. She’d just get the King-elect’s mates to explain that it was her duty. Let’s see them argue with that!

Several hours later, Roth’s eyes flickered open. Knowing better than to just bolt upright, he waited a few moments to let the sedative wear off more. Damn it! How he hated doctors! Especially one as experienced as Mikos’s mate was. Sitting up slowly, he thought he’d better prepare for when Bill awoke. He actually had the strength to rip most of them apart!

Another hour passed when Mikos’s eyes slowly opened. A groan escaped his lips as he felt the sedative slowly receding from his body. His mate was as smart as she was tricky, that was for sure! Looking over, he saw that the King-elect’s mates were all on guard around him. Then he saw that they were also around his mate. What was going on? That’s when he saw a distraught Roth standing nearby, his sword drawn.

Sitting up slowly a moment later, Mikos drew his sword and slowly advanced upon Roth. Whirling suddenly, Roth had Mikos’s sword flying to the wall as it was easily twisted from his hand! Then Queen Niaco’s sword was blocking the killing blow that Roth was about to deliver. “You should really recover more before attempting to make such a stupid mistake!” Roth snarled at him.

“I’ll try and remember that. What is going on? Why is your sword drawn?” A now even more concerned Mikos asked.

“Your mate put all of us out with an injection!” Roth snarled as he backed away from Mikos, turning his heated glance upon Henna. “She interfered with the sworn duty of a first Knight of the realm! I intend to see that she is punished!” With a roar, Roth lunged at Henna only to be blocked by Twitty, then Glenna. Slashing away, he stopped suddenly when he felt Queen Niaco’s sword at his throat.

“I may not have the skill of you, Sir Roth. I will end you if given the chance!” Came a low growling female voice behind him.

Dropping his sword, Roth quickly took a knee before her. “I could never hurt you, my Queen!”

“That’s good,” came a low raspy voice from the bed. “I would really hate to have to execute you just after making you a Knight.” Looking at Henna, he stated, “Thank you, Doctor. I am glad you have kept up with all the old poisons.”

All of them turned to see a pale but much better-looking Bill looking up from the bed.

“MATE!” Came three excited female voices as they all rushed toward Bill.

Henna stood between them and Bill. “Not yet, he is still weak. Let me examine him before you throw your bodies at him!” Shaking her head at the crestfallen looks on the three females’ faces, she then smirked at Bill when he got a large grin on his face.

“You must be an excellent Doctor to have incited Roth to such anger. I think you more than pass, Henna Mikos.” Bill’s rapidly growing stronger voice said.

Henna began to blush at the praise that Bill was showing her. Faltering only a moment, she started to check all of Bill’s vitals. “I do the best I can,” she replied. “I have no hard feelings toward you, Sir Roth.” She stated as she looked at the still bowed male. “I think you should check the mandates set down by King Tomco.”

“The mandates?” Roth said, suddenly his interest peaking.

“Yes, I think that you will find that he enacted a law. A law, that was put in at the insistence of his first Queen. I believe that it states: In the event that anyone in the palace, staff or otherwise, is in any way injured. Then the attending palace doctor’s orders cannot be superseded nor expunged. The palace doctor will be designated as the attending named palace doctor or another that has been called in.” Smirking at a wide-opened mouth Roth, she continued. “Since it was the Queen that ordered me here, I think that in this instance you are in the wrong, Sir Roth.”

Roth tensed up a bit, only to turn toward Bill, looking at him like he was crazy as he started to laugh. “I seem to remember something of this with father. I also remember that the first Knight also reacted the same way. Ah! Such memories from long ago!”

“You mean to tell me that this insane law actually exists! That is the most ludicrous law that I have ever heard of!” Roth growled out.

“Perhaps,” Bill continued, “As I remember it actually saved father’s life a few times, as it did the first Knight. I also remember the first Knight thanking the doctor, I believe his name was Tonaco.”

Roth made a sign in the air with a gasp. “I remember him, he was the finest that was ever in the service of the realm. I can only aspire to be like him. Though I never remember hearing of his death.” Roth was almost whispering, his face with a look of awe on it.

Bill nodded, a look of distant fond memories flooding his mind. Yes, Tonaco was still alive. Bill thought he might be, well, he was five years ago when he left Xendra. He had respected the retired Knight’s wishes not to say a word about him still being among the living. No, he wouldn’t break that word, even if Bill needed him. As far as Bill knew, he was on the furthest out planet of the realm. What had been the name? Tandra? Scratching his whiskers, he wasn’t sure. He’d have to wrack his brain to remember.

Henna paused a moment to allow Bill to finish with his musings. She might have the last say but really didn’t want to get the King-elect against her also. A few moments later, Bill turned to look at her, sitting there waiting.

“So, you are as smart as I thought. You have passed more than you thought, Henna Glac.” Looking at a grinning, sheepish Mikos, Bill continued, “You chose a highly intelligent mate, Mikos.”

“Thank you, sire, though I can’t claim that. I was decidedly set in my career; I had no desire for a mate.” Here Mikos smirked a moment, “I was approached by the leader of the Chartreux clan. It was her father, he advised me that I was of an age where I was required to take a mate. His eyes got wide when I told him I had no time for a mate. This young Chartreux clan female suddenly approached me, then after looking me over told the leader. He will do, father. She then boldly walked to me, laid a paw on my chest, and claimed me!”

Bill and his mates started to chuckle; his mates already knew that Henna was a strong female. “So I take it you refused?” Bill said, a wide smile on his face.”

“Refused?” Mikos said, with apparent shock on his face, reliving the memory of quants ago. “Sire, I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t speak! This, of course, she took as refusal, as did her father! It wasn’t until he’d drawn his sword that I was woken out of my stupor. Well, that and the near miss the leader’s sword made of my chest. I fought him for three fourths of a toton before he declared a draw.”

“I am unfamiliar with the Chartreux clan law, Mikos,” Bill interjected.

“Yes, sire, I was allowed to leave, though I would be shunned somewhat by the clan. The fact that I hadn’t actually been in the clan for almost a quant didn’t bother me that much. I had started to turn to go when I heard a wailing of a female. I looked back and saw Henna on her knees begging her father for another chance. Her father still had his sword drawn, pointed at her throat.” Mikos sighed.

“You went and claimed her,” Bill said, nodding. He could see that in Mikos’ character. Mikos wouldn’t have allowed another to die because of his actions.

Mikos nodded, “The rest is, as they say, history, though,” he looked at a blushing Henna, “you know, sire, at times I still feel I was set up! Even now after all these quants! Hmmmmm.”

Henna blushed even more as she quickly turned her face away. Uh huh, Bill thought, so the whole thing HAD been staged. Trying his best not to laugh, Bill stated, “You do have to admit, Mikos, she was and is the perfect mate for you.”

A huge smile lit up Mikos’ face as he nodded, “Yes, sire, she is that and more!”

“So, it appears that I owe my life to both of you. Perhaps even twice to you, Mikos, having risked your life at the start of this.”

Henna’s face showed shock. Her mate had said nothing of any of this! She had to tell her father; the honor that this would bring the clan was beyond compare. Then there was the fact that Mikos had done it not once but twice! Purring, she rubbed against her mate. She was starting to find him more and more attractive. In fact, this latest development was starting to change her mind about having kits with him! Smirking, she thought, then maybe her father would lay off with the snide no-kit jokes!