There were more cheers and waves as the boys were led quickly to the limo and everyone piled into the back. There was room for only Ryan and one Secret Service agent, so the others rode in a car driven by a local FBI agent. After a tumultuous week, the kids were finally on their way home, and Lance, for one, couldn’t wait to get there.
†††
A joyous homecoming met the group as they re-entered New Camelot. Chris threw himself at Lance and Ricky and hugged them desperately for several minutes, gushing with love at their safe return. Both boys suddenly realized how it must have felt being the eight-year-old in their arms, watching on TV as his older brothers nearly died on the other side of the country. Both assured Chris that no one was going to hurt them, but they knew their words were just words. Lance remembered that age all too well, and he knew how easily children could be hurt, and hurt badly.
“Don’t ever leave me again,” Chris begged when he finally released the stranglehold he had on them. His big blue eyes swam with fear and desperate need, and Lance’s heart flew right into his throat. He looks more like Mark every day, he realized, as he studied the young boy’s face and mop of unruly blond hair. And I failed Mark.
“Don’t worry, Chris,” he said, reaching out a hand to stroke Chris’s cheek lovingly. “We’re never gonna leave you again.” Then he grinned. “Sides, we need our badass little bro protecting us, right?”
That brought a smile to Chris’s round face. “Damn straight.”
That drew a laugh from everyone, and then it was time to clean up after their long journey. Jenny told the Secret Service agents to select any empty rooms they thought best for their purposes, and then Darnell, Justin, and Gibson would give them the lay of the land for security weaknesses.
For his part, Gibson, not known for being overly emotional, almost choked on his greeting when he saw Justin enter through the front door. The attack in Washington, while aimed primarily at Lance and Ricky, could easily have taken out his son, and he silently engulfed the young man in a tight hug. Justin hugged him back. Neither man was adept at words, so they just let the hug say everything.
†††
Dinner was filled with a recounting by the knights of their trip to Washington, details and feelings not available to Arthur and Jenny through the news. Arthur eyed his sons with intense pride, couching the fear deep within him that, despite Lance’s strong words at the airport, this enemy was implacable and determined. That shadow of doom that had portended Lance’s near death several years ago returned in force, and the king had to fight to keep it at bay.
Jenny laughed and gasped as the boys told of their adventures, but she, too, masked an extreme dread deep within her. She loved these boys more than words could describe, and just the thought of harm befalling either one of them filled her with terror.
All of the adults praised the boys’ speech and their handling of the appearance before Congress, and everyone shared a laugh at the doofusy vice president’s faux pas. They shook their heads in dismay when Ricky recounted the buffalo meat story. Arthur knew full well how out of touch leaders can become, and how that always led to bigger and less effective government, whether it be a monarchy or a republic like this one.
Arthur heaped voluminous praise on Dakota and Kai for their heroics in saving Lance and Ricky. “How blessed we are to have you amongst us.”
Kai grinned and laughed, while Dakota looked embarrassed and simply said, “Thank you.”
Arthur raised his goblet to Esteban. “And thank you, Sir Este, for your strength and courage.”
The young man looked embarrassed, and Reyna laughingly punched him on the arm.
After all the excitement in Washington, they were happy to be back home safe and sound.
†††
The following day plans were set in motion for Lance and Ricky, accompanied by ever-present bodyguards Kai and Dakota and their phalanx of Secret Service, not to mention the uniforms Chief Murphy insisted on providing, to travel with Arthur into various neighborhoods around Los Angeles to gauge the progress made by Mayor Soto, the knights, and local community leaders towards bettering the lot of children in the city.
In addition, Lance and Ricky would make daily outreach to senators and representatives in Washington, angling for their support. And, of course, they would keep in regular contact with the children of those elected officials, knowing that, as had been the case in California, they could best get to the parents through the children. Many of those senators and representatives had emailed Lance expressing their happiness that the boys had not come to harm when they were attacked, and promised to review the CBOR. Lance joked that maybe they should get themselves attacked more often to wake these guys up.
There was also the matter of the midterm elections approaching in November. Edwin had clued them in that some senators and many representatives were up for reelection and it would be smart to target their supporters in those states to challenge them about the CBOR.
“These guys’ll do anything to get reelected,” Edwin laughingly told Lance. He emailed a list of everyone up for reelection, and the boys could see they had their work cut out for them.
“I hate politics,” Lance said to Ricky for the umpteenth time.
“You and me both,” Ricky agreed with a sigh.
At the insistence of the Secret Service, who didn’t want either Lance or Ricky alone in their rooms at night, Dakota’s bed was moved into Lance’s room and Kai’s into Ricky’s. Lance thought the move something like overkill since it was unlikely anyone could breach New Camelot security, and if they did they could just as easily kill Dakota as him. However, when the agents had “strongly suggested” the move, Lance volunteered to house Dakota in his room because he wanted to get to know the other boy better.
Knowing how Kai felt about him, Ricky assured Lance there was nothing to worry about. “You’re the only one I love. ’Sides, I’m the jealous one, remember? You’re Mr. Emo-Ass.” He grinned.
“I promise not to be jealous anymore,” Lance assured Ricky that first night. Which was about eighty-percent true. Kai may have been skinny and sort of ordinary looking, but his sunny personality kicked ass, and Lance knew Ricky enjoyed it.
It took a few nights to get into a routine, especially since Lance and Dakota typically slept with no shirt on. For Lance, it was hard not to stare at the other boy’s physique, even though Dakota was about the same size as him. Lance’s childhood and, he knew, childish body-consciousness, always tugged at the corners of his omnipresent self-doubt. Having been so skinny growing up, he couldn’t get used to the idea that all his training had packed on real muscle. Inside, he still felt like that skinny little boy. Maybe that’s why I marvel at bigger guys, he thought as he got settled in for the night.
He attempted to engage Dakota in conversation as they drifted off to sleep, but most of the boy’s responses to questions were vague and short. Ah well, Lance thought, I’ll keep trying.
And then on top of all these other activities and changes, Lance and Ricky still had junior year final exams to take within the next couple of weeks that would move them on to the next grade. For Lance, who’d so disdained school before meeting Arthur, the thought of being a senior excited him, even though he wasn’t part of a traditional high school environment. I’m growing up, he realized with a mix of exhilaration and wistful abandon. His childhood had been miserable, and he knew adulthood would be fraught with responsibility, and yet he welcomed it, despite the knowledge that he’d eventually be running New Camelot in Arthur’s stead.
Your Majesty.
His mind kept repeating Merlin’s salutation. It unnerved him each time he recalled it. He’d entered the library the day after returning from Washington to thank the wizard for saving his life, and Merlin had continued addressing him as such.
As always, Merlin was sitting alone, reading and listening to his music. The man had not joined the family for dinner the previous night, and as Lance stepped into the brightly lit solitude of
the book-filled room, he felt shame that he hadn’t realized it until just then.
The wizard looked up when Lance entered. As usual, he closed his book without marking the page and pulled an ear bud from one ear. He smiled, his gray eyes dancing with mirth. “Your Majesty looks rested after such a dramatic week,” he remarked. “Perhaps I shall adapt your tale into one of the epic poems I have so enjoyed reading.”
Lance had to smile at that. Him? An epic hero? Yeah, right. “I just wanna thank you, Merlin,” he said, his voice quiet and filled with emotion, his mind replaying the image of Ricky dangling from the copter, completely out of his reach had he not had his skateboard. “You saved Ricky’s life.”
Merlin smiled. “I do what I can. I trust the other young prince is well?”
“Yeah. He’s still showering. I just wanted to, well, thank you.”
Merlin bowed his head respectfully. “My pleasure, Your Majesty. I trust the rest of your visit proved fruitful?”
Lance tilted his head in surprise. “You didn’t watch my speech?”
Those eyes looked amused. “Of course I did. I thought you were masterful. I merely sought your own assessment of the experience.”
Lance considered a moment. What had he accomplished anyway? Sure, he’d let those people in Congress know just how out of touch they were, and the president too. But would his speech win any support for his cause?
“I think I got their attention,” he told the old wizard. “But now I need to get them on my side.”
“A wise assessment, Your Majesty. You are indeed your father’s son.”
Lance beamed at that, despite the repeated salutation that creeped him out. More than anything he wanted to be a man in the mold of his father. “Thanks, Merlin. Catch ya later.”
Merlin smiled. Then he returned the bud to his ear and reopened his book, presumably, Lance thought as he exited the library, to the same place he left off. But with Merlin, who knew?
†††
While Reyna worked with Esteban and Arthur to plan out their neighborhood visiting schedule, Lance and Ricky split their time between studying for junior year exams, networking with kids and adults, following up with members of Congress and encouraging them to read and comment on the CBOR, and physical training for at least two hours per day. The episode in Washington hammered home yet again the need to both boys that they had to stay in top physical shape. Their lives might depend on it.
Being a year older, Kai and Dakota had already completed their senior year coursework, and would earn their diplomas that summer once the state mailed them to New Camelot. Seeing their Native brothers finishing high school further inspired the two younger boys to achieve that particular milestone.
As they sat alone, under Jenny’s watchful eye, in one of the classrooms of to complete their junior year tests, Lance considered once again how much the CBOR was needed to give kids more say over what the schools should, and shouldn’t, be doing. The exams took several hours, but both boys were confident they were now officially seniors and high-fived each other on their way to the Training Centre.
Techie had told them that both Kai and Dakota had birthdays in July, with Dakota’s falling on July 4th. To Lance, anyway, it seemed ironic that his birth coincided with the birth of the nation that, while good for the rest of the world, hadn’t been so good for Dakota’s own people. Yeah, Lance thought, he’d been seeing much irony of late. Maybe that was a symptom of growing up, he mused. There was always a monthly birthday party for any knights whose dates fell that month, but he felt that Dakota and Kai deserved special recognition at the event for their courage and bravery, for graduating high school, and for the attainment of their eighteenth year.
So he and Ricky had Jenny order lots of gifts for the boys, as well as clothes they thought the two would like. Lance had noticed in the days following their return that the Indians seemed distant from each other. Kai still laughed and joked around, but there was a sense of sadness beneath it all.
“More soul whispering?” Ricky asked one night when Lance mentioned it. He’d smiled and nodded, but said nothing more.
Then there was Dakota. He seemed more withdrawn and taciturn than ever, and Lance’s attempts to draw him out failed. His aloofness had always made his soul harder to read, but Lance sensed something besides guilt over his brother’s condition, something similar to his own life and childhood fears. But try as he might to engage the other boy, Dakota remained stubbornly silent.
In addition, on more than one occasion he was certain Dakota had been drinking. While not smelling alcohol on the boy’s breath, Lance knew the signs well enough – he’d seen them within himself the previous year. During weapons training, Dakota would miss the bull’s-eye when firing an arrow, causing Kai to gasp and Lance to eye him with surprise. On those occasions when he missed a shot, Dakota would lay down his bow and leave the Training Centre without a word. Lance and the others followed him with their eyes, and Lance noted a slight, almost indecipherable lurch to the other boy’s step. The lurch that came with drinking.
Sharing a room with the Indian at night, which was when he mostly noticed the signs, gave Lance plenty of opportunity for suspicion. Dakota’s responses were occasionally garbled, or mumbled. But not in his normal grunting kind of noncommittal tone he had. No, these were mumbles of someone whose tongue was not quite working alongside his brain. Lance recalled trying to talk to Ricky on the phone that night he’d left Bridget’s and drank all the vodka. He could barely get his tongue around the simplest of words. Dakota didn’t sound that bad, but there were traces of it, enough to make Lance suspicious.
He knew the hotel kept alcohol somewhere, but he’d never asked where because he wasn’t interested. Dakota was clearly depressed, and that bewildered Lance given all the stunning success he’d had within the Round Table. Not wanting to get the boy in trouble with Arthur, Lance chose to watch him more closely, and if it appeared the drinking was getting out of hand, he’d confront him about it.
The end of June also marked the high school graduation of Bridget and Ariel. They invited Lance and Ricky, but the boys felt it might be awkward, and Ryan nixed the idea anyway as being “Too risky.” Of course, Justin and Techie attended and gave everyone a full report afterwards, and took lots of pictures with their phones. Bridget, never the most conscientious of students, would be attending community college in the fall, while Ariel had been accepted to UC Santa Barbara.
Lance insisted they invite the girls to the July 4th birthday gathering, and both boys readily agreed. He was happy that the two couples had gotten together and honestly wished them well. He and Ricky agreed that neither felt the least bit uncomfortable around them anymore, which was about ninety percent true.
The boys kept in regular contact with Senator Cairns, mostly through Edwin, who constantly reiterated that “I thought I was going to die” when referring to the attack on them. He assured them the senator was “massaging” other senators toward supporting the CBOR and that, for now, at least, the boys should concentrate on the House of Representatives. With four hundred thirty-five members, getting the needed two-thirds would prove daunting.
The July birthday party was a grand success. Congratulations were given to all the high school graduates, and Reyna did a fantastic job of party planning. Kai laughed a lot as always and seemed to have shaken off his recent somber mood. Dakota appeared uncomfortable with all the adulation, especially with knights praising his heroics in Washington and gushing over his abilities on a horse and with the bow and arrow and “How freakin’ strong you are!”
Lance and Ricky had given Dakota a fancy, powerful new bow as a gift, which the eighteen-year-old humbly accepted. Kai was presented with an enormous collection of art pencils and paints, as well as canvases for his work. He was speechless, something of a first for the usually loquacious Navajo.
After the cake had been cut and distributed, Kai presented Dakota with a wrapped package, which surprised the other boy. As always, both wore a mix of
knightly tunics and pants, with added Native headbands, and feathers in their hair and sewn into their tunics. Over his colorful shirt, Dakota wore his breastplate that replicated strung-together bones.
Dakota hesitantly took the flat package that looked to Lance like it might be a framed picture.
Kai grinned nervously. “Go on, Cloudy, open it.”
Lance and Ricky watched as Dakota fumbled with the wrapping. Somehow Kai had found paper decorated with horses of various breeds, which Lance thought was perfect. But Dakota looked uncomfortable as he tore open the paper and let it flutter to the floor by his moccasined feet. He held out a picture frame, easily 11 x 17 in size, but looked only at the back. He hesitated, obviously reluctant to turn it over.
“Flip it over, Cloudy,” Kai said with exasperation, and Dakota slowly turned the picture front side up. Lance gasped, and he heard Ricky suck in a breath beside him. But Dakota remained obdurate and stony faced as they all gazed at the most exquisite drawing Lance had ever seen. This one was even better and more detailed than the one Kai had drawn of him and Ricky. It showed Dakota, sitting astride Llamrei, wearing no shirt, but sporting the breastplate he now wore, his hair streaming past his shoulders, feathers dangling at strategic points. The boy looked majestic and powerful, like the Indian warriors of old. Kai had captured Dakota’s bearing in stunning detail, as he had the face with its inscrutable expression, and the eyes, alive, but guarded. It was a stunning piece of art.
“That’s amazing,” Lance finally whispered, his eyes riveted to the drawing.
“It’s fantastic,” Ricky agreed. “But Dakota was never on Llamrei wearing only that breastplate thing.”
Kai smiled shyly. “I have a great memory for detail. Seeing Cloudy with his shirt off in Washington was all I needed.”
Lance shook his head admiringly. “Man, do you have talent! I can’t even draw a circle.”
He laughed, and Kai joined him. But so far Dakota had said nothing. He just stared at the drawing with that same guarded look in his eyes.
And The Children Shall Lead Page 32
