this is a game or need proof that we can
protect you. I’m here because you hired us. If you would prefer your private
bodyguards, that is fine with me. It will give me more guards for your
family."
Silence followed. Dara was furious but
unable to take any action. His sidekick stood staring at me like I’d grown
horns, the colonel appeared amused, and the Prince stood staring at me as if
that would help him make a decision. When he finally spoke, he surprised me.
"Is that whip really that
dangerous?"
"It will go through skin and bone
like a wire through cheese."
"Doshi informs me you and your
team would like a tour of the palace and to meet my family."
"Yes, I would have my team take up
their responsibilities immediately. It will give your family time to adjust.
Guarding someone while traveling is different from guarding someone in their
own environment. A few days adjustment would be helpful."
"And you need me?"
"I think it would be beneficial for
you to be able to recognize my Guards’ faces, and helpful if you introduced us
to your family. You are placing their lives in our hands.
* * *
After I collected Lieutenant Ceder and
my three teams and introduced them to the Prince, we proceeded down the hallway
into the East wing, which was reserved for the Prince and his family. At the
intersection, we were led right and into the first room on the right where two
women stood, obviously having been warned we were coming. Badal approached the
small petite woman, whose eyes locked onto me after a quick survey of the
others. Another young woman stood a few steps behind her.
"Captain Sapir, my wife Princess
Sophia, and my daughter, Princess Jovana," he said, emphasizing the titles
as he introduced them. I gave each a small nod of recognition.
"Ladies, I will be assigning each
of you a team of six. One member of that team will be in your sight except when
you are alone in a room we can protect." I said.
"That will be very invasive,
Captain Sapir," Sophia said.
"We, the Black Guard, are very
good, Princess Sophia; however, we cannot protect you if we cannot see you. In
your home, we can control who is in the building and can identify those
authorized to be there. When you are traveling, we cannot. So yes, it will be
invasive but necessary if we are to provide you adequate protection."
"What if we don’t want someone
following us?" Jovana said, frowning.
"Unless your father stipulates you
do not need protection, it’s not optional."
"You work for us," Jovana
said, placing her hands on her slender hips.
"That is not exactly true," I
said, watching Babal and his wife, who seemed amused. "We are contracted
to Prince Babal to protect him and his family and have configured teams to meet
those terms. If conditions are such that we cannot adequately fulfill our
obligation then we will leave."
"We are not used to such arrogance
and certainly not from a woman," Sophia said with a small smile. "But
you have a point. A contract requires that both parties agree to the terms. My
husband believes strongly in the teaching of the Prophet Nomiko, who was the
founder of Xintoism, the dominant religion on Molova. The other major Sect follows
the teaching of the Prophet Azarias who appeared a hundred years later—"
"And saw man as evil and God as
vengeful," Babal interjected. Sophia continued as if he hadn’t spoken.
"Our current laws are based on
Nomiko’s teachings. But this time the Princes are divided; therefore, my
husband will be the deciding vote. The followers of both Sects have been at
odds with each other for many generations, but the followers of Azarias’s
teachings have been growing over the years and tend to be more radical and
prone to violence. If my husband were to be killed, they would come into
power."
"Sophia believes my brother, Meric,
would side with the followers of Azarias if I were to die and he came into
power, which transfers through the male line."
"Yes. That is why I talked him
into hiring the
protect you. I’m here because you hired us. If you would prefer your private
bodyguards, that is fine with me. It will give me more guards for your
family."
Silence followed. Dara was furious but
unable to take any action. His sidekick stood staring at me like I’d grown
horns, the colonel appeared amused, and the Prince stood staring at me as if
that would help him make a decision. When he finally spoke, he surprised me.
"Is that whip really that
dangerous?"
"It will go through skin and bone
like a wire through cheese."
"Doshi informs me you and your
team would like a tour of the palace and to meet my family."
"Yes, I would have my team take up
their responsibilities immediately. It will give your family time to adjust.
Guarding someone while traveling is different from guarding someone in their
own environment. A few days adjustment would be helpful."
"And you need me?"
"I think it would be beneficial for
you to be able to recognize my Guards’ faces, and helpful if you introduced us
to your family. You are placing their lives in our hands.
* * *
After I collected Lieutenant Ceder and
my three teams and introduced them to the Prince, we proceeded down the hallway
into the East wing, which was reserved for the Prince and his family. At the
intersection, we were led right and into the first room on the right where two
women stood, obviously having been warned we were coming. Badal approached the
small petite woman, whose eyes locked onto me after a quick survey of the
others. Another young woman stood a few steps behind her.
"Captain Sapir, my wife Princess
Sophia, and my daughter, Princess Jovana," he said, emphasizing the titles
as he introduced them. I gave each a small nod of recognition.
"Ladies, I will be assigning each
of you a team of six. One member of that team will be in your sight except when
you are alone in a room we can protect." I said.
"That will be very invasive,
Captain Sapir," Sophia said.
"We, the Black Guard, are very
good, Princess Sophia; however, we cannot protect you if we cannot see you. In
your home, we can control who is in the building and can identify those
authorized to be there. When you are traveling, we cannot. So yes, it will be
invasive but necessary if we are to provide you adequate protection."
"What if we don’t want someone
following us?" Jovana said, frowning.
"Unless your father stipulates you
do not need protection, it’s not optional."
"You work for us," Jovana
said, placing her hands on her slender hips.
"That is not exactly true," I
said, watching Babal and his wife, who seemed amused. "We are contracted
to Prince Babal to protect him and his family and have configured teams to meet
those terms. If conditions are such that we cannot adequately fulfill our
obligation then we will leave."
"We are not used to such arrogance
and certainly not from a woman," Sophia said with a small smile. "But
you have a point. A contract requires that both parties agree to the terms. My
husband believes strongly in the teaching of the Prophet Nomiko, who was the
founder of Xintoism, the dominant religion on Molova. The other major Sect follows
the teaching of the Prophet Azarias who appeared a hundred years later—"
"And saw man as evil and God as
vengeful," Babal interjected. Sophia continued as if he hadn’t spoken.
"Our current laws are based on
Nomiko’s teachings. But this time the Princes are divided; therefore, my
husband will be the deciding vote. The followers of both Sects have been at
odds with each other for many generations, but the followers of Azarias’s
teachings have been growing over the years and tend to be more radical and
prone to violence. If my husband were to be killed, they would come into
power."
"Sophia believes my brother, Meric,
would side with the followers of Azarias if I were to die and he came into
power, which transfers through the male line."
"Yes. That is why I talked him
into hiring the
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