Chapter 21: Retirement

I grinned as Samantha tossed my son into the air while Domino led my daughter Cambra and their three back to us. All three had young dragons that followed Camdra’s Jewel in a swirling chase that made people stare. Amanda snorted as she nursed our daughter Samantha, “I can not believe they picked all three girls.”

My sister grinned, “Family charm.”

I grinned as I turned to look towards the entrance to the royal park. A large party of guards were entering and spreading out while a smaller group headed straight for us. Two dragons leaped into the air and several more followed as they swirled and then followed them towards us. Dragon stood on her back legs and made a long warble.

She like Cynthia were on Amanda’s lap and seemed more then fascinated with my daughter. The flock of dragons slowed and circled before picking spots on and around Amanda. She shifted but ignored them since this was not the first time it had happen. Samantha looked at me, “So why are they all so interested in her?”

I shrugged, “The pictures I get from Dragon are shaded so I have no idea. I can say that if anyone tried to harm her I do not think any of them would use a stasis bite.”

She chuckled as the guards reached us and the empress slipped out of the middle. She grinned as she bent to peer at my daughter, “She is a perfect doll.”

I smiled, “So you escaped the crowd after all.”

She smiled as she moved a couple of dragons and sat beside Amanda, “They have a new petition that requests in the most polite language that I produce an heir.”

Amanda snorted, “It is time and you did...”

The empress sighed, “I know and actually that was one reason why I asked you here.”

She glanced around at all the guards, “What do you know about something called Cane’s Protectorate?”

My sister stiffened, “Where did you hear about them?”

I looked at her before I glanced around, “We should not speak of that here.”

The empress frowned, “I can use...”

I shook my head, “How long have you known me?”

She sighed, “How bad can it be?”

I stood and moved closer before gesturing to the guards, “Surround us so no one can see.”

I waited and then bent to whisper in the empress’s ear, “They were the first teachers for the school.”

She looked at me but I turned her head, “They are a clan and can disappear even while you look at them. As far as I know they are not assassins but ... if they wished you dead it would happen. They are from ancient Sol and are extremely adept at stealth or killing.”

I pulled back, “Where did you hear the name?”

She looked around, “My fleet intel briefing this morning mentioned a man from ... they wished a meeting with me.”

I straightened and turned, “What does that have to do with...”

She sighed, “They have a client that wishes a union with us.”

I gestured, “Time to go.”

I turned and walked out of the group and stopped. I scanned the park before speaking, “Send one to speak with me.”

It was not a whisper or very loud but I could almost feel someone and knew they had heard. I turned as the empress and her guards left with my sister and Amanda. Domino moved the children ahead of him while dragons seemed to fill the air. It was ten minutes before the man seemed to step out of thin air, “You ask much assassin’s child.”

I relaxed, “You wish to meet with the empress and for that I will risk all if needed. Speak to me and tell me why I should allow you to speak with her.”

He smiled, “A long time associate has contacted us. The emperor of Cairo wishes a union for his youngest son. He could not propose it openly because of his nobles. The young man is ... not our sort or yours. He is a dedicated young man who is very loyal to his father.”

I turned and glanced around, “Why now?”

He snorted, “All know the she wolf is resisting her nobles demands to mate and have a child.”

I smiled as I looked at him, “She wolf?”

He shrugged, “She is very firm in her protection of her people.”

I chuckled, “True.”

I was thinking and finally nodded, “Where and when?”

He looked at me carefully before pulling a card and handing it to me, “He will be here in two days. It is supposed to be a trade delegation from his father. We will be protecting him while he is here.”

I took the card, “I will inform her majesty.”

I turned and walked out of the park and headed for the palace. When I entered the empress’s study she was speaking with several minor nobles and a fleet admiral. I waited and saw her eyes flicker to me before she continued. She finally gestured and they moved away and I moved to the side of her desk. I glanced at her guards, “We need privacy.”

One looked at me before nodding and whispering and moving towards the door while the other guards herded people out. The empress sat back and waited and when the door closed she cleared her throat, “Well?”

I searched her desk and picked up two comp screens and checked them before I tossed them across the room, “Bugs.”

I looked at her, “The Cane’s Protectorate has two missions. To protect the prince of Cairo on his visit and to broker a possible union between you and him. All I have heard of him has been good but you would know more than I. In any case it is your choice.”

She turned to look out her armored window, “His name is James Alexander Cara. He is the youngest son and by all reports an honest man. I have met him a few times and he was very ... likeable.”

She smiled slightly and then looked at me, “His father’s conditions?”

I shrugged, “That would be something he would have to tell you.”

She nodded and stood to pace and I waited and finally cleared my throat, “As much as I hate to say it you do need an heir. One with this prince will quiet your nobles and keep them from fighting to prove they should be the one to ... assist you.”

She snorted and then laughed as she looked at me, “Very well. I will ask Amanda if I can borrow you. You can tell this Cane’s Protectorate that I will consider a union but only after I meet with James.”

I nodded and cleared my throat and she lifted an eyebrow, “The Cane’s Protectorate is guarding him for a reason. They are not cheap and never used without reason. Let your guards know there is a threat. I will try to find out from where this threat might come and why.”

She nodded and then smiled, “I find that I am looking forward to meeting the prince.”

I chuckled as I headed for the door, “Let your dragons know so they do not bit him if you decide to bed him.”

She laughed as I opened the door and gestured her guards back in. I did not have to go far to find one of the protectorate. I felt him long before he appeared to walk beside me. He glanced at me and smiled, “You are in a good mood.”

I smiled, “Her majesty will consider a union but wants to meet the prince first. What I want to know is who you are guarding him from and why he needs you and not his royal guards.”

He looked at me as we walked out of the palace and I headed towards a connected estate we were staying at. He looked around finally, “Several of his oldest brother’s supporters think to make sure there are no others in line to succeeded his father. His brother is not part of this and is trying to stop it but two cousins and a sister have died.”

I snorted, “He knows who is behind it.”

He smiled, “We believe so. The emperor is not convinced but has engaged us to protect the rest of his children.”

I looked at him as I stopped by the guard into the estate, “And you have orders for after the emperor dies just incase his son acts openly.”

He looked at me carefully, “Perhaps.”

I nodded, “In any case that is the emperor’s problem and yours and in the future. Do not use your vanishing act around the empress. I will attend her and know if you are there.”

I glanced at Dragon as she dropped out of the sky and landed on his shoulder. He shifted as he looked at her, “And your ... creatures will know. They can see us I think.”

I held out a hand and she jumped and landed on the wrist and climbed to my shoulder, “Your people trained the masters that taught me.”

He shifted again and frowned, “A task we did not ask for or enjoy. There are many such schools now and we are not happy about it.”

He looked around, “We have watched you and your sister and are happy you did not choose the darker path. While we have sometimes walked it, the ones we took were always judged before taken.”

I looked at him and he smiled, “Go prepare and be with your family.”

He walked away and vanished after a dozen steps. I walked into the estate and headed for the manor. When I stepped in the front door it was to hear shrieks as the children chased the dragons. I headed into the large living area and smiled as I watched the older children. I shifted as Amanda stopped beside me, “I think the empress is attracted to the younger son of the emperor of Cairo.”

She chuckled, “Among a few others.”

I glanced at her, “I will be protecting her when he arrives. He will be asking about courting her with intentions to marry.”

She grinned, “I can not wait to return the favor she extended me.”

I looked at her and she headed through the room and then grinned as I followed. I spent the evening with my family and slipped out early in the morning. I felt the shadows as I left the estate and let Dragon leap into the air. The shadow stepped out of the night to walk beside me and chuckled, “You would have made a good brother.”

I smiled and glanced at him, “Your name?”

He looked ahead, “You may call me Caleb.”

We walked in the gate to the empress’s estate and I gestured to the guards. One turned to speak in a whisper as we continued. When we stepped into the small dining room there were eight guards around the room and the empress across the table. She looked up from a comp screen and sat back while lifting a small cup of tea, “Morpheus.”

I smiled and gestured, “This is Caleb.”

Her eyes looked at him and I knew she saw more than most. She bowed her head, “How may I assist the Cane’s Protectorate?”

He bowed, “His highness, Prince James Alexander Cara will be here tomorrow. We are here to broker a union between you and him. His father wishes to let you know he is not asking for a union with your empire or alliances. His wish is the marriage and happiness of his son. His son has told him of you and of his admiration and attraction.”

He smiled, “Understand majesty, this would hopefully be a marriage of the heart. James is a private person with no ambition to rule, in fact he detests the politics his father must wade through. He has a passion for flying and music.”