Cassandra's Challenge (52 page)

“If the planet was decimated how is she here?”
The King nods to Cassandra. William’s tone becomes even icier.

“Cassandra
and her niece
Victoria
were on the Retribution at the time.”

“Why Admiral.”

“Because they’d just gotten done saving Lucas’
life, Majesty!”

“What happened to Lucas!”

“His Blade was shot down on Earth. Cassandra’s
family helped him, got him to the recovery spot. When the Raptor
arrived the Regulians attacked. Cassandra and Victoria were the
only survivors.”

The King leans back in his chair. Obviously,
information had been withheld from him.

“How is Lucas?” Jotham has to ask.

“Recovered fully in three days.”

“Good.”

Cassandra remains quiet during the exchange the
King obviously cares about Lucas, a point in his favor.

“And you believe they destroyed this planet to
kill a possible Queen.”

“If they were unable to acquire her they were to
destroy her so she couldn’t return.”

“All this you got from intercepted
transmissions.”

“Yes.”

“And
Cassandra
claims to be the lost
Queen.’

“I’ve never
claimed
anything.” The King’s
eyes shoot to her as she interrupts the conversation. “Forty-eight
days ago I didn’t know you even existed. You mattered to me as much
as I matter to you. We should never have had any contact. But one
of
your
people made contact. One of
your
people
decided that the Earth posed a threat. A threat to him.
He
claims the true Queen to the House of Knowledge was on Earth, not
me. Until a few days ago I’d never heard of it!” Cassandra eyes
shoot back at the King.

“Yet you’ve been able to obtain the protection
of a Coalition Admiral, convincing him you need mine. How?” And
there it is what Valerian has been telling him.

“You tell me.” Cassandra challenges him. “You
seem to think you’re so well informed.”

“Cassandra didn’t ask for your protection!” The
Admiral lets his fury show. “I did!”

“I wasn’t speaking to you Admiral.” The King’s
own anger is starting to show.

“No, you were speaking to me.” Cassandra brings
the King’s focus back to her. “You’ve obviously been in contact
with Valerian. I surprised a King would make a decision without
having all the facts, especially one involving a long time
trusted
friend.” Her tone’s the same she’d use on a
disappointing student.

“People are dying because Valerian has a
personal agenda. An agenda, that’s allowed a traitor to operate in
Carina for nearly eight cycles. He can’t accept that so he attacks
the one who discovered the traitor. The Admiral. That
you
would doubt the Admiral because of something Valerian says amazes
me. I would have thought
you
would have more loyalty. As for
the relationship between the Admiral and myself….it’s none of the
King’s
damn
business!” Her eyes blaze into Jotham’s.

Jotham is stunned that this woman would speak to
him in such a way. No one speaks to the King like that, especially
one needing his protection. Her total defense of his friend also
surprises him. It didn’t agree with Valerian’s opinion of her using
the Admiral.

“Cassandra.” The Admiral draws her blazing gaze
from the King. His look telling her she’d said enough. Staring into
his eyes, seeing his strength she calms.

Jotham watches the silent exchange surprised at
how the two seemed to communicate with just a look, it reminds him
of himself and Lata. There is more going on here then what he’d
been told.

This woman―Cassandra―is right, as much as he
hates to admit it. He hadn’t waited for all the facts before he
made his decision. Something as King he couldn’t do, but he hadn’t
been thinking like a King―but a friend―who knew someone had to be
to blame for the damage to William’s career. Cassandra had to be to
blame.

But that’s not what he’s seeing here. William is
obviously
not
being controlled by this woman… if anything
he’s controlling her. If he took the obvious personal relationship
out of the equation, looks just at the facts William’s presented,
facts from a decorated Admiral in the Coalition, a Royal member of
the House of Protection, and a trusted friend. Then everything the
Admiral’s done makes perfect, logical sense. He needs to talk to
his friend.

“Cassandra, would you mind excusing us. I’d like
to speak to the Admiral alone.”

Cassandra says nothing.

“Deffand will escort you back to your
detail.”

“No.” The Admiral tells the King. “Either I
escort her to her security or they come here.”

Jotham raises his eyebrow at the Admiral’s
demand. That William feels the need to protect her, even within the
King’s guards, is telling to Jotham. The King presses a button.
Deffand enters the room.

“Deffand, the Admiral will accompany you as you
escort Cassandra back to her security detail. Then he will return
here.”

“Yes Majesty.” Deffand waits at the door.

Realizing she is being dismissed by the King and
that William wants her out of here she stands.

“Majesty.” She nods to the King then turns to
the Admiral. William put a hand at the small of her back, saying
nothing he guides her to the door.

“Marat.” The Admiral barks as they exit the
King’s Wing.

“Admiral.” The security detail closes around
them.

“Cassandra is to be escorted back to the Royal
Wing.”

“Yes sir. Are we to return sir?”

“No, secure the Wing.”

“Yes sir.”

He turns to Cassandra, sees her eyes full of
concern, concern for him. He puts a gently hand to her cheek,
soothing her.

“It will be fine.” He steps away. “Marat.” He
waits until the detail is out of sight before turning back to
Deffand.

Reentering the room, William finds it empty, the
door to the private area open. Passing through he finds Jotham
sitting with a glass in his hand. Seeing William he motions to the
chair across from him, sitting on the table a glass filled with
Ale. Sitting William picks up the glass waiting.

“What’s going on Will?” William looks and sees
his friend.

“We have a traitor Jotham.” He takes a sip.

“You truly believe she’s in danger.” Jotham
thinks of him not trusting the King’s guards in the King’s Wing to
escort her.

“I know she is and she’ll be protected whether
she likes it or not.” The steel in his voice unmistakable.

“She doesn’t think there’s danger?”

“Oh, she knows there’s danger. She’ll make sure
everyone else is protected.
Her
safety will be the last
thing on her mind. It’s the first on mine. She’s first.” William
watches his friend over his glass.

“Why? I realize she’s young and beautiful, but
you can find that anywhere.”

“Did you? After Lata, did you find it?” Jotham
pales at the mention of his Queen, Tibullus’ mother.

“No one can replace my Queen.” Jotham’s voice is
rough with emotion.

“No one can replace mine.” William fires
back.

Jotham stiffens in his chair. “What are you
saying Will.”

“Cassandra’s my life mate Jotham, I will protect
her, from whoever the traitor is. I will not lose her.”

“William….” Jotham has to stand, this isn’t what
he’d thought, what he’d been led to believe. William truly believes
this woman is his life mate.

“You don’t know her Jotham. I do. You know me.
Believe in me, not Valerian.” William watches his friend struggle.
He knew Jotham would have his doubts, if it was reversed he would
too.

“You can’t be sure of her. That it means the
same to her.”

“I can. It does.” Jotham really looks at his
friend, seeing the conviction in his eyes.

“I owe you an apology.” William raises an
eyebrow. “For listening to Valerian, I know better, but for you to
ask to return, because of a woman…even if she is your life
mate.”

“I asked to return because there is a traitor.
One who has made promises to the Regulians. One who is trying to
kill the true Queen of the House of Knowledge, a Queen, who was on
my
ship, who needed
my
protection, being my life mate
has nothing to do with it.”

“Yet you’re letting everyone believe
differently.”

“No one needed to know who Cassandra was until
she was safe on Carina, safe from the Regulians.”

“Valerian doesn’t know you’ve claimed her.”

“If he had, he’d never have allowed the
Retribution to return. He doesn’t care about Cassandra or the House
of Knowledge, only the traitor.”

“His hate runs deep.”

“Yes. It makes him willing to sacrifice the
innocent to catch the guilty. Something I won’t allow.”

“There will be talk. There already is. You may
never command again.”

“Do you remember what you said to me after Lata
died?” William sees the pain in his friend’s eyes. “You told me
that if I ever found my life mate that I was to do whatever was
necessary to protect her, to keep her safe, because to lose her is
to lose everything that truly mattered.”

“I remember. It’s still true.”

“Well I’ve found her Jotham. I nearly lost her,
I won’t let that happen again, I will do what’s necessary to keep
her safe and protected! Everything else is secondary.”

“Including your command?”

“Including my command.” William finishes his
drink. “Give her a chance Jotham. Don’t judge what you don’t know.
That’s all I ask. I need to get back.” Turning to leave he sees the
question in his friend’s eyes and stops.

“She worries about me.” William leaves slightly
embarrassed.

To having a woman worry about you, it’d been a
long time, but he remembered how it felt. Jotham swallows hard.

“Thank you Marat…gentlemen.” Cassandra enters
the Royal Wing.

“Mam.”

“Aunt Cassie!” Seeing Tori and Amina at the top
of the stairs, she smiles, time to switch gears.

“Hey you.” Cassandra starts up the stairs. “What
are you two up too?”

“We just got done with Pazel and Kia. Javiera is
talking to them in their quarters.”

“Let’s go there then.” Entering Javiera and
Leander’s suite she finds the three laughing.

“Cassandra, come sit down.” Javiera moves over
on the couch.

“I don’t want to interrupt.”

“You’re not. Sit. You’ve been going hard all
day.” She looks at her with a critical eye, seeing she’s slightly
paler than normal.

“Hutu sent up some snacks, eat.” Passing her the
plate she waits until Cassandra takes one.

“I’ve been talking to Pazel and Kia about the
clothes Victoria will need. They’ve scanned everyone, that wasn’t
necessary.”

“Yes, it was. Tell me what’s been decided.”

Pazel pulls up his screen, showing her the
designs. Most were very basic, day to day clothing. But there were
several that were more formal.

“Those look fine, will you have time?” She looks
at Kia, she seems to be doing the actual work.

“We will have extra hands.” Kia replies. “But it
would be helpful if you, all of you, could come to the shop, to
pick out material, have fittings there instead of us bringing it
all to you. It would save time.”

“Kia!” Pazel exclaims. “I’m sorry.”

“Why would it save time?” Cassandra asks Kia
biting into what seemed to be some type of bar.

“You could pick your material, we would then be
able to cut, fit and start constructing the garment almost
immediately. Instead of bringing you the material, leaving to cut
it, returning to fit it, leaving to construct it, and then
returning for the final fitting.”

“It would be more efficient.” Cassandra thinks
about it. “You could get everyone done at the same time?”

“Yes.”

“With all but the final fittings done in one
day?”

“Yes.” Kia sees Cassandra’s considering her
request.

“I will discuss it with the Admiral. If he is
agreeable and security can be arranged we will be at your shop
tomorrow.”

“Yes, mam.”

“I’ll let you get back to your stories.”
Standing she holds her hand out to Victoria. “Time to go.”

“Bye Amina, bye Javiera.” Tori slips her hand
into her Aunt’s.

“Javiera….what’s her story?” Pazal asks. Javiera
turns to her daughter.

“Amina, go get changed for bed.” She waits until
her daughter leaves the room before turning back to Pazel.

“Story?”

“She’s challenging Yakira for the House of
Knowledge. But who is she?”

“She is the challenger to the House of
Knowledge.”

“Javiera… Where’s she from? How is she related
to the House? She’s different from the other Royals.”

“How?”

“Well… she’s concerned, considerate, even…kind.
She made sure I was served a meal!”

“Those are good things.”

“No Royal worries about their clothier. She’s
giving me the rights to her dress designs!”

“You would prefer she didn’t?”

“Of course not! But it’s unheard of!”

“Pazel…Cassandra isn’t like any other Royal.
She’ll make a wonderful Queen.”

“So, do you want to try out that big tub?”
Cassandra looks down at Tori.

“Can I?”

“I don’t see why not. Why don’t you get it
started while I change.”

“Okay.”

Entering their suite she groans sliding her
shoes off. Her feet were killing her. She’ll have to remember to
tell Pazel and Kia to lower the heel. Picking them up she walks
into the closet. Changing back into her clothes from the
Retribution she hangs up Kia’s beautiful outfit.

It amazed her, the difference in the feel of the
material. Leaving her feet bare she returns to Victoria.

“Wow! You were fast.” Cassandra finds Tori
already in the filling tub.

“Aunt Cassie, I can almost swim in here.”