Chapter Nine
Riley
Jendrish had been back home for the last two weeks – after spending two weeks in the hospital. But it was like he'd never come home at all. He wasn't the same man. Not by a long shot. He was still in pain at times, although he never complained – but then, he wasn't saying much of anything anymore.
Most days, he sat in a chair out on the balcony by himself. He refused to see anybody. He barely even acknowledged that I was there. I had no idea what he was thinking or feeling. He just sat outside, staring out at the ocean below.
Which was where I found him that morning.
“Jendrish,” I said, as I stepped out onto the balcony, carrying a tray of food. “I've brought you breakfast.”
I set the tray down on the small table next to him and uncovered it. Though the food arrayed on the dishes looked strange, it smelled heavenly. But Jendrish didn't seem to notice. Or care. It had been the same routine since he'd come home – I'd bring him food and try to engage him, and he'd ignore everything.
I sat down in the chair beside him. “I spoke to your doctors,” I said. “They said you will make a full recovery. Nothing vital was damaged during the attack. They said your body will naturally heal itself.”
Nothing.
“They also said that although Vink's injuries were serious, that he was going to recover as well,” I said. “It's just going to take a little time, but he'll be back on his feet again.”
Still nothing.
“It's a beautiful day out,” I said. “Maybe we can go for a walk down on the beach?”
I sighed. If he even heard me, he gave no indication of it. I was growing frustrated. Angry. I wanted and needed him back. Optorio needed him back. But he simply sat there day after day in sullen silence. I'd been trying to tiptoe around him. I'd been walking on eggshells as he recovered from his wounds. What happened had been terrible.
But it happened. It was over. He'd survived. And now, it was time to get on with living. It was time to get on with finding out who did this and put a stop to it. I looked at him as he simply stared vacantly out at the ocean, not reacting to my voice – or to anything.
“Jendrish, this has to stop,” I finally said. “There are people depending on you. You need to snap yourself out of this.”
The waves crashing upon the shore below was the only sound that filled the air between us. I didn't know what it was going to take to snap him out of his funk, but I needed to figure out what it was. And soon.
“Do you think Vink would want to see you like this?” I snapped, my voice rising. “Do you think this is why he very nearly gave his life for you? So you could sit here and pout?”
I watched as he clenched his jaw and balled his hands into fists. He was angry. Good. That was good. At least he was feeling something. Although, honestly, I was more than a little surprised. After two weeks of non-responsiveness, I had sort of come to expect that he'd continue to ignore me. So, when I saw the first stirrings of a reaction from him, I wasn't sure what to do at first.
Slowly, he turned his head and looked at me – the first time he'd looked at me in two weeks. I could see the anger in his eyes. And though ordinarily, that might have hurt my feelings, in that moment, it didn't. I knew most of his anger wasn't directed at me. Oh, he was going to take it out on me, but I was willing to take one for the team. As long as it snapped him out of his near catatonic stupor, I was willing to endure his anger for a little while.
Optorio needed him. I needed him.
“Don't you dare use Vink's name,” he hissed. “You don't even know – ”
“Know what? That he's lying in a hospital bed because he believes in you enough to put himself in harm's way?” I asked. “How do you think he'd feel knowing you're sitting out here brooding – and have been for the last two weeks?”
“Somebody tried to kill me,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “And they very nearly killed Vink to get to me. How am I supposed to feel?”
“Pissed off,” I said. “You should be angry about it.”
“Good, because I am.”
“And what are you going to do about it?”
“What am I supposed to do about it, Riley?” he asked.
“Something, Jendrish,” I shouted. “Anything. Pull your head out of your ass and do something. Get off of this balcony. Track down the people responsible for the attack and do something about it.”
Jendrish looked at me, his eyes slightly widened, as if he were shocked I'd dare speak to him the way I was. But, I couldn't just sit back and do nothing. If I had to shock him out of his stupor, I was going to do it.
“It's so easy for you to sit there and criticize me,” he said. “It's not your blood being spilled.”
“You're right, it's not my blood,” I said. “But I would spill it if it meant I was defending what I loved. One thing I can tell you is that if I survived an attack like that, I sure as hell wouldn't be sitting on my ass moping about it.”
Jendrish winced a bit, but he got to his feet and stared me down, his eyes blazing with anger. “Who do you think you are?”
“I'm the woman who's supposed to be your wife, Jendrish,” I snapped back.
He looked at me a long moment, the anger not abating in the least. “Yeah, maybe we should re-think that.”
I felt like he'd slapped me across the face. Those six little words had driven the air out of my lungs. I looked at him, feeling my head spinning.
“You don't mean that,” I said.
“Don't I?” he replied. “You said to do something. Maybe this is me doing something. Maybe I'm finally realizing that bringing you here was a mistake.”
“Jendrish, you don't mean that.”
“Maybe I do,” he said. “Perhaps I've allowed myself to become too complacent. My senses and instincts too dulled. Maybe if I'd been on top of my game, I would have seen the attack coming. Maybe I wouldn't have been hurt. Maybe Vink – ”
I took his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. “Listen to yourself, Jendrish,” I said. “You're not making any sense. How does what we have impact – ”
“And what do we have?” he asked.
“Love,” I said. “We have love.”
He snorted. “We barely know each other,” he said and shook his head. “This was a mistake. A big mistake.”
He pulled his hand away from me and turned to walk back into our chambers. I ran after him, grabbing his arm and turning him to face me. Though my head was still spinning in stunned disbelief, my anger was also rising. I'd expected to bear the brunt of his hurt and frustration, but I'd never expected – this.
“You know that's not true, you son of a bitch,” I hissed. “You know what we have is good. What we have is right.”
“I don't know anything anymore,” he said, sounding deflated. “The only thing I do know for certain is that I must get my house in order. I have a lot of work to do here.”
“Then let me help you,” I said. “We're in this together, Jendrish.”
He looked at me a long moment and I thought that perhaps, finally I was getting through to him. That he would see what he was doing and pull back from it. But those hopes were dashed a second later when he shook his head.
“I'm sorry,” he said. “I can't. We can't do this.”
“What are you saying?”
“I'm going to arrange to have you transported back to Earth,” he said. “I can't have you here any longer.”
“Jendrish – ”
He shook his head again. “No, I'm sorry,” he said. “I will have you transported home as soon as possible.”
With that, he turned and left our chambers. And my whole world collapsed around me.
~ooo000ooo~
When he'd said as soon as possible, he hadn't been kidding. Jendrish's Guardsmen had come early the next morning to escort me to the hangar where my transport back to Earth was waiting. As I boarded the ship, I felt my heart shattering into a million tiny pieces. I couldn't believe this was happenin
g.
I hadn't had the chance to say goodbye to Ynora before I was forced to leave. But as I looked out the window of the ship, I saw her standing in the hangar. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she held her stomach like she was going to be sick. I understood the feeling all too well.
Pressing my hand to the window, I mouthed the word “goodbye” to her as my own tears began to fall.
“Please make sure your safety harness is on,” said the Guardsman who sat across the aisle from me.
“Do I really need a babysitter?” I asked. “Did he really think I was going to take over the ship and refuse to leave?”
The Guardsman looked at me, his expression completely neutral. “Just following orders.”
I shook my head. It was bad enough that Jendrish was kicking me off of his planet and out of his life. I didn't need somebody watching me all the way home.
The ship rumbled to life and it wasn't long before we were rocketing through the sky and entering the darkness of space. As I looked at the stars all around us, I couldn't stop the tears from falling. How was I supposed to go back to a normal life after all of this? How was I supposed to feel like I fit in with people back on Earth knowing this was out here? After seeing what I'd seen?
I wasn't even back yet and I already knew Earth was going to feel too small. And I was going to feel far more out of place than I already did.
One of the pilots was coming down the aisle toward the rear of the ship. But just as he was about to pass me and my shadow, he pulled something from his belt. I didn't have time to react, let alone say anything, when a red laser burst from the small weapon in his hand. The laser hit the Guardsman in the chest and blew a hole into him. I watched as blue blood poured from the wound and pooled in his lap. He was quite obviously, dead.
The pilot turned to me, the weapon still in his hand. I felt my eyes grow wide and my heart start to thunder in my chest.
“We won't be having any problems with you,” he said. “Will we?”
I shook my head quickly and after pointing it at me a moment longer, the man nodded and tucked the weapon back into his belt. He took off his helmet and I found myself staring at a man I didn't know. He had the typical Optorion features – the smooth, almost translucent skin. He had long black hair, shot through with silver that fell very near to his waist. He wasn't an exceptionally large man, but he looked trim. Fit. Somebody I might not be able to beat in a physical concentration.
“What can I do for you?” I asked, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt.
He sighed and sat down on the arm of the chair on the aisle across from me, studying me for a long moment.
“Well, my name is Veshna,” he finally said. “And I'm going to need some help dealing with Jendrish. That's where you come in.”
I wasn't sure how I knew, but it came into my head that I was looking at the man who'd masterminded the assassination attempt.
“You tried to kill him,” I said.
He nodded and gave me a small smile. “And now that I have you, I'm going to finish this.”
Book 6 – The Future King
Chapter One
Jendrish
Morning dawned and I hadn't slept a wink the night before. I watched the Optorion sun rise over the ocean, setting off a blaze of colors on the surface of the deep red waters. I leaned against the railing of the balcony and breathed in the salty air.
Usually, the sight and scent of the ocean could soothe me. Could calm my frayed nerves. But it wasn't doing anything for me in that moment. Riley used to say that it never appeared that I felt anything. That I had no emotion. She teased me about being a robot. But the truth of the matter is that Optorions felt things very keenly. We just aren't expressive about it. Unlike humans, we tended to keep our feelings inside and avoid all outward displays of emotion. We were just more controlled and less demonstrative.
But I felt things. I felt them very deeply. And as I stood there, on that balcony, staring out at the ocean, I was feeling Riley's absence very keenly. Very deeply.
I had sent her away. Packed her up and sent her back to Earth. It had been a difficult, painful decision to come to, but ultimately, I believed it was the correct one. It was the only one I could have made, given the circumstances.
Touching the spot where I'd been shot still drew a wince from me, but it was getting better. I was getting stronger. My body was healing and soon enough, I'd be one hundred percent again. And when I was, the people who'd attacked me – the people who'd very nearly killed Vink, and did kill a number of other people – were going to be brought to heel. They were going to be made to pay.
I'd sent Riley away because I did not want her to be witness to that. I did not want her to see my bloodlust and need for vengeance.
But most of all, I'd sent her away because I feared for her. I feared for her safety. For her life. I couldn't even protect myself at my own coronation. How could I protect her here in the palace? Sooner or later, my would-be assassins would return and the last thing I wanted was for Riley to be caught in the crossfire.
Unless I got to them first.
I feared it would be a vicious and bloody campaign to root out the rebels and bring them to justice, but it was going to have to be done. More Optorion blood would have to be spilled if I hoped to win – and maintain – the peace.
“I've brought your breakfast, Your Majesty.”
I turned at the sound of the voice to find Ynora standing in the doorway, bearing a tray full of food. I gave her a small smile. She stepped across the balcony and set the tray down on the table next to my favorite chair. Everything smelled magnificent and for the first time in days – perhaps even weeks – I was ravenous.
“Thank you, Ynora,” I said as I sat down in the chair.
“My pleasure, Your Maje – ”
I held up a hand. “Please, it's Jendrish. Just Jendrish,” I said. “There is no need for all of this Majesty stuff.”
She avoided my gaze. “It would be improper, I fear, given my station.”
I looked up at her. “Your station?”
“Yes, Majesty,” she said. “I am but a servant in the palace.”
I shook my head. “You are a valued member of this household, Ynora,” I said. “And I am sorry if I've ever made you feel otherwise. I truly appreciate all you do for me around here. And I'm also sorry if I don't express that very well either.”
Her smile was small, but genuine. “You are not like the other Royals I've served here in the palace.”
“Because I'm not Royalty,” I said, my voice still somewhat thick. “I'm just a soldier who got stuck into a position unexpectedly. I'm just trying to do a good job on behalf of all the people.”
“And I believe you will do just that.”
I cocked my head and looked at her. “Do you?” I asked. “Truly believe that.”
She nodded. “I do.”
“Why do you believe that?”
For the first time, she looked at me, her eyes haunting and yet – filled with hope. It was a look I savored. It heartened me greatly to know that other people believed in me. Even when I did not believe in myself.
“Thank you, Ynora.”
She smiled. “You two were a lot alike, you know,” she said. “You and Riley.”
“How so?”
“She was much like you,” she replied. “She did not care for formalities or a person's station. She judged a person by the content of their character. Not by what they did or what they had.”
I nodded and smiled. “That sounds like her.”
“And she too, hated to be called by a formal title,” Ynora said. “She insisted that I call her Riley.”
My laugh was soft and nostalgic. It had been only a couple of days, but I missed her tremendously. Ynora gave me a small curtsey and turned to leave, but I stopped her.
“You two were close,” I said, not a question.
She nodded. “We were,” she replied. “I miss her a great deal.”
“Was she h
appy here?”
Ynora opened her mouth to speak, but then hesitated and remained silent for a moment.
“Was she, Ynora? I would really like to know.”
“May I speak freely, Your Maj – ”
I cocked my head at her and she gave me a small smile.
“Jendrish,” she corrected herself. “May I speak freely, Jendrish?”
“You’re very free to speak your mind, Ynora,” I said. “In fact, I would prefer it if you did.”
She shifted her feet and looked down at her hands, which were clasped in front of her. She was clearly, still uncomfortable with the idea of being so – familiar – with a king and speaking her mind. That was something she was going to have to get used to though. I wasn't a typical king. And if I ever turned into one, I would hope that Vink put me down himself.
“She struggled here,” she admitted. “She felt alone much of the time. Lonely.”
I nodded. “She mentioned it, but it didn't seem like a large problem. She said she would handle it.”
Ynora was wringing her hands nervously. “With all due respect, what would you expect her to say in that situation? That she was not okay?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but closed it again. I did not know how to respond to that question. My hope was that she would have felt comfortable enough with me to give voice to her concerns.
“Riley feared that you had enough on your plate without adding her own troubles to your pile,” Ynora said. “She told me that she would find a way to deal with it. But she wished that you had spent more time with her. She knew that you are a busy man, what with a world to run, but all she wanted was to spend time with you.”
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. “I wish I had spent more time with her, to be honest.”
“Then why did you not?” she pressed. “You are the king. Surely, you could have delegated some of your responsibilities to others.”
“Because I don't want to be the kind of king who pushes his work and responsibilities off onto others.”
She laughed. “I tend to believe that the kitchens will run just fine without your guidance. Or that the janitorial crew can function without your insights.”
I gave her a small smile and looked away, feeling the heat creep into my cheeks once more.
Rocor (Dragons of Kratak Book 5) Page 47
