Chapter 15: A Surprise Visit

I looked at the doorway when I heard the outer room go quiet. I stood and moved around the desk once more thinking I needed to move the desk. I stepped out and looked at the eight large men moving through the room and spreading out, “What is going on?”

They ignored me and I growled, “Answer or someone is going to die.”

The commander was gone so I was in charge and no one had told me anything about imperial guards coming. A throat cleared, “That would not be good Morpheus.”

I glanced at the slim man I had only met in person once but spoken with many times. I straightened and relaxed, “Commissioner.”

He smiled and turned as a young teenage girl walked in with another dozen guards. I shifted and looked around the room, “Seal the marshal floors. I do not care if there is a guard on the door check them and seal them.”

My marshals stood and moved quickly as I turned and knelt to bow my head, “Your highness.”

She smiled as she crossed to me, “My grandfather sent me sir.”

I looked up and she stopped, “He wishes me to learn advanced hand fighting from you.”

She blushed, “He also said your spouse’s dragon is almost ready to hatch her eggs and I was hoping one might like me.”

I glanced across the room at Cynthia on her stand, “Highness we do not always know who they will pick. The baby makes the choice and sometimes we are surprised.”

She laughed, “And Crystal was a good example.”

I nodded and she smiled, “We will cross our fingers.”

I stood as commissioner Drake crossed to me. He glanced around, “We brought a dozen marshals to make sure you would have time to spare.”

I sighed, “It has been slow but with the commander gone...”

He shook his head, “She will not be returning.”

I straightened and he shrugged, “Retired commander Jessop is en route. Commander Maloy is needed at the academy.”

I grinned, “She likes teaching.”

He nodded and sighed as he looked at princess Katherine, “I will be leaving in a few days but her highness will be staying until she has what you consider the basics down.”

I looked at her, “I...”

I looked at Amanda crossing to me, “We will put her up in our quarters.”

The commissioner grinned, “So you can protect her.”

I nodded and he turned, “Marshal Swift his majesty has a private message for you.”

She looked at me, “Okay.”

He held out a data stick, “He said to look at it in private.”

I shook myself and glanced at Michaels, “Michaels? Get with the marshals the commissioner brought. They will need quarters and a desk, open the west expansion. Have sergeant Gregory open the seventh floor and reroute the lifts so they will stop there. Have maintenance set up a station outside the lifts so they are controlled from there.”

He nodded and turned to head towards the lifts as he used his comm. I looked at the commissioner, “The imperial guards can set up there and post their teams.”

He nodded and turned as a tall man entered the room and crossed to us, “Your maid is in the lobby with your bags highness.”

He looked at me and smiled slightly, “Morpheus.”

I had met him a couple of times before and smiled, “I thought you were going to retire commander?”

He shrugged, “The emperor was very ... persuasive when he asked me to protect his daughter.”

I nodded as the princess grinned, “Grandfather does have the ability to do that.”

I took a breath and looked around, “Right. I am setting your people up on the seven floor. Sergeant Gregory is getting with maintenance to make that floor the stop point for the lifts with a control station. The princess will stay in my quarters in the guest room. You can put her maid in the next set of quarters since it is empty.”

I looked at Amanda as Dragon leaped from my shoulder to the princess’s, “Would you show her to our quarters?”

She smiled and held up the data stick, “Want to bet what he wants?”

I grinned as I shook my head, “I know what he wants.”

I glanced into my office at a chime and sighed, “Duty calls.”

I looked at the princess, “We will begin in the morning highness.”

I nodded to the commissioner and the commander before walking back to my desk and the comm, “Marshal Morpheus.”

“We had a prisoner escape...”

I dropped down the lifts to our quarters and nodded to the two guards pointing weapons. They relaxed as I continued down the hall and stopped at my door. The guard on each side had watched me and let me enter. I walked into the living area and glanced at the maid humming as she ironed a martial arts gi. I shook my head, “Go wash them and get all the starch and chemicals out.”

The princess turned from listening to something and holding Dragon and frowned as I headed towards the kitchen. Amanda grinned as she turned from the counter, “I did warn her.”

I shrugged, “If he wishes me to teach her it will be my way and unpleasant.”

She nodded and gestured to the basket Cynthia was laying in, “She and Dragon think they will hatch tomorrow or tomorrow night.”

I looked at the eggs and reached out to touch one before petting Cynthia, “I would say early in the morning.”

She stuck her tongue out as I turned and headed to the wall comm as it chimed, “Morpheus.”

I listened to the building guard commander and headed for the door, “Lock the door Amanda!”

The lift stopped on the seventh floor and I gestured to commander Collins, “You need to come with me.”

He blinked and nodded before joining me and the lift dropped all the way to the ground. I passed Michaels and marshal Dale by the front door and stepped out. I barely glanced at the large board telling everyone this was the city sanitation building. Six golems stood still as if waiting and I walked to each to jab a dart into them.

I turned to the commander as he growled and gestured to the guards, “Get the techs working. I want their comps dumped.”

They moved out as I looked at commander Collins, “Someone knows the princess is here. I would recommend a scramble field around the building to stop anymore that try to enter.”

He nodded and turned to use his comm as I went in. I spoke with Michaels before starting my own check of the entrances. When I returned I waited for Amanda to unlock and open the door before stepping in. I smiled and murmured, “More golems.”

She shook her head, “You would think they would start using a scramble field to shut them down.”

I grinned as I headed towards the table, “I suggested it.”

I woke to the alarm and Dragon nudging my mind. I smiled and reached out to touch Amanda, “The eggs are hatching.”

She was already sitting up and grinned as she moved out of bed, “Know it all.”

I went to the guest bedroom and knocked. A few moments later the princess opened the door, “Yes?”

I grinned as I headed for the kitchen and Cynthia’s basket, “The eggs are hatching.”

She rushed past me and leaned over the table as Amanda made coffee. I sat and caught Dragon as she flew out to catch the princess. I held her against my chest as the eggs rocked and Cynthia crooned to encourage her babies. The first to break shell split it and stood up as if it owned the world. The princess grinned, “Cocky fellow.”

Its head turned to look at her and then at Cynthia before it started walking towards the princess who was holding her breath. It was still damp as it climbed up her pajamas and looked into her face. The princess got a surprised look, “He said I belong to him.”

I smiled, “He said?”

She grinned as she hugged the tiny dragon, “Well that was what it felt like he said.”

I nodded, “His name?”

She looked at it, “Nolan.”

I watched the next break shell and look around before Cynthia chirped and it moved towards her. The last egg took awhile before it shattered and a white dragon stepped away. It barely glanced around before heading straight for the princess. I looked at Amanda, “Would you get the med scanner?”

She nodded as she scooped Cynthia and her baby up and walked out. The white dragon leaped to the princess who looked at her in surprise. She caught her and held her with Nolan before looking at me, “She thinks I am hers.”

I shrugged, “They have a mind of their own.”

I turned to accept the scanner when Amanda returned and held it out to the white dragon, “What is her name?”

The princess smiled softly, “Alexandra.”

I looked at the readout and smiled, “She may be white but everything checks out normal.”

I gestured to the counter as Amanda went to bring a small plate of ground meat, “They need to eat and sleep.”

While Amanda and the princess cooed and encouraged the young dragons I went to the wall comm. The royal guard watch commander answered, “Yes?”

I smiled, “Pass it on to all your officers. The princess has been adopted by two dragons. Their names are Nolan and Alexandra.”

“Two?”

I sighed, “Yes.”

I disconnected and returned to the kitchen where Amanda and the princess were petting and caressing the three young dragons, “Practice in a few hours.”

The princess looked at me and grinned, “Not afraid my dragons will bite you?”

I smiled as I looked at Amanda, “Not really.”

Amanda grinned and bent to whisper something and the princess grinned. I shifted to the side and brushed the foot up before turning to slid in and strike. I pulled the punch as the princess rolled back and away and came to her feet. She was panting and sweating as I continued to press her. She was very good but like all martial arts she followed a set of patterns.

I finally stepped back and gestured, “Take a minute.”

She groaned and dropped to the mat, “And I thought I was good.”

The commander chuckled from the side, “And he is being very careful not to injure you.”