Cassandra's Challenge (61 page)

“Cassandra, His Royal Highness Prince Dadrian.
Prince Dadrian, Cassandra Qwes Chamberlain, Challenger to Queen
Yakira.”

“Prince Dadrian?” Cassandra shoots William a
confused look.

“King Jotham’s second son.” William leans down
to tell her, so only she sees the quick sparkle in his eyes at her
jab.

“Of course.” Cassandra’s gaze returns to
Dadrian. “Your Highness.” She offers no apology. Dadrian is
infuriated, as Cassandra wanted, before he can respond King
Jotham’s arrival is announced.

“His Majesty, King Jotham.” All heads turn to
the doorway. Nodding to the Assemblymen and spouses as he passes,
the King walks over to his son and friend.

“Admiral Zafar, Princess Cassandra.” The King
acknowledges the couple.

“Majesty.” William and Cassandra nod to the
King, their expressions unchanging at Cassandra’s sudden title. The
same can’t be said for Dadrian

“Kyle, it’s good to see you again.” The King
smiles at him.

“You too Majesty.” Kyle smiles back as he nods.
The Zafar smile Cassandra notices.

“Dadrian.” While the King continues to smile his
tone is cooler.

“Sir.” Dadrian nods to his father,
unsmiling.

“Majesty.” All eyes turn to find Valerian has
approached.

“High Admiral?”

“Might I have a moment of your time before the
meal is served? It regards the First Son.” Cassandra can tell
Valerian has pushed the right button.

“Excuse me.” King Jotham leads the High Admiral
out of the room, an air of self satisfaction around him. Cassandra
looks up to William, wondering if Valerian has discovered were
Tibullus is.

Conversation has barely resumed in the room when
the King returns his face an unreadable mask. Valerian’s lost his
self satisfied look.

“Majesty.” A servant enters the room. “The meal
is ready.” Nodding his permission the servant opens the doors to
the dining room.

Placing a hand on Cassandra’s lower back William
guides her into the room. As the guest of honor she will be seated
closest to the King. Walking to their seats his thumb absently
caresses her soft skin. Servants pull out the chairs, all wait for
King Jotham. Once he sits, everyone else is allowed too.

With the King at the head of the table, William
to her left, Cassandra looks across to find Dadrian directly across
from her, Kyle across from his father. Next to Kyle sits High
Admiral Valerian, who is currently staring intently at Cassandra.
Raising an eyebrow she cool stares back, letting the High Admiral
know he doesn’t intimidate her. Kyle watches the silent exchange
with interest.

“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s meal is the
conclusion of the first day of the Challenge to Queen Yakira
throne. You, as the Assemblymen for the House of Protection, have
all been invited to meet the Challenger so you will be able to make
an informed decision on what is best for Carina.” The King looks at
each of them. “With that said, I believe we should have some words
from the Challenger before we eat.” King Jotham gives her a pointed
look.

Cassandra’s eyes are calm as she listens to
Jotham. She realizes he’s not giving the Assemblymen his opinion of
her Challenge. William’s friend or not he’s not going to publicly
support her. Realizing this, he’s next comment doesn’t surprise
her. He’s testing her. Seeing how she’ll stand. So she would.

As she starts to slide her chair back, a servant
steps up to assist her, nodding her thanks, she stands. She first
addresses the King.

“I’d like to thank King Jotham for this
opportunity, he’s understanding with the uniqueness of the
situation is appreciated.” Nodding to him she turns her attention
down the table.

“While I have met with each of you today, I
realize that small amount of time isn’t enough for you to make an
informed decision about my Challenge. It is my hope that in the
following days we will be able to spend more time getting to know
one another. So you, as King Jotham so eloquently put it, will be
able to make the
best
decision for Carina.” As she turns to
sit the servant pushes her chair back in for her.

Silence greets Cassandra’s statement until
Evadne Terwilliger begins to clap her hands together. The Admiral
and Assemblyman Terwilliger are quick to follow. As the King claps
the others follow. After a nod to Madame Terwilliger, Cassandra
turns her attention to King Jotham, her eyes staring directly into
his, waiting for his next move. When he stops clapping the servants
begin to serve.

The first plate is small. It contains what
looked to Cassandra to be pasta dish even although it is black in
color. Reaching for her glass filled with what she knows is water
she takes a sip, waiting for William to take his first bite.
Following his example she takes a small bite, finding that while
the texture is pasta like, the flavor is more like black licorice.
Chewing she tries to make sense of the contrasts.

William discretely watches as she takes her
first bite, chew, and swallow. She is a constant amazement to him.
She hadn’t known Jotham would ask her to speak but acted as if it
had been a well thought out plan. Now she is eating things she’d
never seen before, without complaint, when did she ever
complain?

Conversation is light during the first course,
all knowing they would be there a long time. As the plates are
removed and replaced King Jotham turns his attention to Cassandra.
He is impressed with how she handled his thrusting her into making
a speech, she hadn’t faltered.

“Have you been able to see much since your
arrival?” The King asks politely, knowing she hadn’t.

“Unfortunately no,” Cassandra replies to him.
“There will be time after the Challenge is completed.” Her
confidence apparent, “I was able to spend some time in the Royal
Garden today, though. Queen Lata had a wonderful eye for color and
contrast.” She watches the quick flash in his eyes at the mention
of his late wife.

“She redesigned that garden herself. She wanted
you to be able to stroll through it, to be surprised.”

“She certainly accomplished that, the center is
unexpected and welcoming. The girls particularly liked having an
open area to play in.”

“I’m glad they enjoyed it.”

“I hope they were better behaved then when they
returned to the Palace yesterday.” High Admiral Valerian
criticizes.

King Jotham watches Cassandra’s eyes turn icy
before she slowly turns to the High Admiral.

William, along with the rest of the table, had
been following Cassandra and the King’s conversation with interest.
Valerian’s interruption, his comment about the children, has a
jarring effect on all present. It also tells William that the High
Admiral has a spy within the Palace.

“Why would you think they’d been out of the
Palace?” The Admiral’s eyes are rock hard as they look at the High
Admiral, his voice revealing nothing.

“It was obvious.” The High Admiral, in his
attempt to undermine Cassandra, hasn’t yet realized what he’s
revealed. The King has.

“How so?” William presses.

“I don’t need to explain myself to
you
Admiral.” Valerian barely contains his sneer.

“You do to
me
, High Admiral.” Jotham’s
voice carries the authority of his position. He’d been aware of the
animosity between William and Valerian, but to hear the High
Admiral so openly disrespect him, in a public setting, Jotham would
not tolerate. “I was there yesterday and saw no indication of an
outing.”

“They were coming from the Public Wing,
Majesty.” Valerian must respond to the King.

“That indicates nothing High Admiral.” Jotham
tone hardens.

“The child must have said something then.” He
tries to cover his tracks.

“Victoria said nothing to indicate she’d been
out of the Palace. Her only comments were about her room and
Barek.”

“Then I must have heard it somewhere
Majesty.”

“You’re implying that someone from my House
would inform you on the movements of my guests.”

“No Majesty,” Valerian begins to sweat. “I must
have misunderstood the situation.” He is forced to admit he is
wrong or tell the King he has eyes in the Palace.

“Yes High Admiral, you did.” Jotham drives home
his point.

Cassandra watches Valerian as the King steps in.
She too realizes what he’s revealed. He’s been watching Victoria,
watching all of them. He has a spy in the House of Protection. Her
fingers clench under the table. Feeling William’s gentle touch she
looks to him. What she sees calms her fears, he isn’t going to let
anything happen to Victoria. Lacing his fingers with hers he gives
her a reassuring squeeze before retuning his hand to the table.
Picking up his forc his look telling her she should do the
same.

“Barek?” Dadrian lower’s his forc. He’d been
enjoying the High Admiral’s belittling of the Admiral until his
father’s intervention, and now Barek.

“Victoria met him when she was on the
Retribution.” Jotham tells his second son.

“Why wasn’t he on the Sentinel?” Cassandra sits
back as plates are exchanged. Watching Dadrian she can almost see
his thoughts. Where had Barek been during the Regulian attack on
the Sentinel?

“Your brother’s position has him traveling
throughout the fleet.” King Jotham informs Dadrian.

“I realize that. I meant, why was he on the
Retribution?” Dadrian picks up a goblet.

“Because of an assassination attempt,” Cassandra
informs him, watching as wine sloshes onto Dadrian’s hand. A
servant’s immediately there mopping up the spill. The King looks
questioning at his second son.

“Assassination attempt!?!” The table has gone
silent.

“Yes.” Cassandra lets it hang there for minute.
“He needed to interview me.” Dadrian stares at her.

“There was an attempt against you?” Kyle hadn’t
heard this. Cassandra’s eyes turn to Kyle.

“Several. Victoria was hurt during the first,
several of the Retributions crew members during the second.”

“But
you
were unharmed.” Dadrian presses
her.

“The Princess was badly hurt in the second
attack.” While the Admiral’s tone and express are cool and
unreadable, both Cassandra and Jotham know him better. Jotham
realizing this is where William had nearly lost his life mate.

“It is what convinced the Admiral and then High
Admiral Valerian,” Cassandra makes sure everyone understands that
Valerian was in full agreement with the decision, “that the
Retribution should return to Carina.”

“The Succession Protection Law.” The Admiral
gives his son a surprised look.

“Yes.” Cassandra nods to Kyle.

“Why wasn’t this made public High Admiral?”
Terwilliger demands. “Rumors of all sorts have been flying about
Admiral Zafar and the return of the Retribution.” Mummers of
agreement filter around the table.

“Making it public would have put the Princess
and her remaining family at risk, it’s what we were trying to
avoid.” Admiral Zafar speaks for the High Admiral, earning himself
a glare.

“And the rumors?” Umbarger demands.

“Were helpful in diverting attention away from
the Princess.”

“Not all diverted attention
away
from
Cassandra.” Dadrian can’t help but comment. Things were going to
much the Admiral’s way. His comment and use of her first name earns
him a cool look from Cassandra, but the Admiral eyes flare before
cooling, telling him he’s scored a hit. He’ll have to remember
that. But his enjoyment is short lived as he meets his father’s
eyes. The King is not happy with him.

“I’ve never put much stock in rumors, or those
who spread them, Prince Dadrian.” Cassandra puts the subtlest of
emphasis in his name, scoring a hit of her own.

Leaning back William allows the servant to
remove his plate, and his temper to cool. Cassandra had handle
Dadrian perfectly, making her opinion of him known without actually
referring to him. When the next plate appears he discovers its
Zebu, remembering the first time they’d shared it, William looks to
Cassandra. The slight smile she gives him tells him see remembers
too. The shared moment goes unnoticed by all, except Dadrian.

What can she possibly see in that old man! He
silently rages. She must absolutely hate sharing a bed with him.
He’d show her what a real Carinian male could do in bed. Then she’d
talk to him with more respect!

Sitting next to Dadrian, Kyle is silently
chewing his Zebu. He’d come here tonight having made up his mind
about Cassandra. He’d listened to Dadrian, to the rumors of his
father being controlled by a conniving woman. But what he’d found
was that his father had indeed made a military decision, following
the law, in the protection of the heirs to the throne. That he’d
knowingly allowed the rumors to further that protection. He is one
of the people Cassandra doesn’t put much stock in.

Valerian fumes as he eats. How dare this….woman
imply that he believes she is a royal entitled to protection under
Carinian law! But arguing would only make him have to explain why
he’d really wanted the Retribution back. He needs that child to
flush out the traitor, and he’d almost said too much when he’d
commented on them leaving the palace. If the King found out he had
eyes in the Palace….but he hadn’t….now he just needs to bide his
time.

“So you spoke with my son.” King Jotham comments
as another course is served. It appeared to be some sort of
soup.

“Yes twice actually.” Cassandra stirs it with
her spoon missing William’s raised eyebrow. It seemed thick for
such a clear soup.

“What was your impression?”

“Impression Majesty?” Cassandra slowly lets go
of her spoon, looking at the King she wonders how honest she should
be.