Grim

  “Sad?” Lisa gives her quizzical look.

  “Yes, that a people once so great, could fall so far. Look at them, there was nothing they couldn’t handle.” Lisa smiles at her friend.

  “I agree and that’s why I need your help. To make it happen again.”

  “Mine?” Padma can't hide her shock.

  “Yes.” Sitting Lisa tells her about Wray granting Luuken’s petition and that in seven days she would be forced to go to Tornian, for the joining ceremony.

  “But…”

  “I need the wardrobe…coverings of a Queen Padma, specifically the Queen of Luda.” She points to the visual in the book. “For myself and the girls. We will make a statement, declaring who were are, who we belong with and that it is Grim. We will leave no doubt that Grim is more than fit.”

  “I…” Padma slowly turns the pages of the book, finding more visuals, before she slowly looks back to her. This small female plans to stand in front of the Emperor, the Assembly of Lords and challenge the Joining Law. Does she truly understand what she’s up against? Standing, Padma looks out the sparkling windows of Luanda and realizes it doesn’t matter. This small female has already faced her greatest challenge and won. She has the King’s heart. Compared to him, the Assembly of Lords is nothing. Smiling at the thought, she looks down at her friend…the Queen…who’d have thought.

  “Tell me what you want and you will have it my Queen.”

  “Where do you think you are going my Queen?” Lisa has taken no more than three steps outside of the Royal wing, when her Captain is in her face.

  “Excuse me?” She raises an eyebrow, looking from him to the two guards coming up behind her.

  “No one was informed you were leaving your wing.” At the sound of running feet, she turns to see the remaining members of her Guard storming down the corridor, weapons drawn.

  “I…” Her eyes fill when she sees the concern in her Guards eyes, concern for her. “I am so sorry.” Her gaze encompasses every male. “I didn’t think…I wanted to check on Ion and Nairn…” Closing her eyes, she forces herself to steady. “I haven’t thanked you yet, all of you, for what you did yesterday. You stayed with girls when I couldn’t. You protected them.”

  “It was our honor my Queen.” Agee speaks for all the males present.

  “I…thank you and I will try to do better in the future of letting you know where I am going.” All see the wicked smile that suddenly crosses her lips. “But I can’t promise.” Hearing them groan she turns to Agee. “Now I would very much like to see Ion and Nairn.”

  “This way my Queen. Bonar and Dyer with me, the rest of you return to your posts.”

  Lisa has never been in the Warriors Wing and from the shocked expression on every male’s face, no female has.

  "I assume this is something else not done." Lisa looks to Agee.

  "Of course it isn't my Queen, but we are becoming used to that with you." Lisa stops in her tracks, her mouth gapping.

  "Agee...I believe you just joked with me..." She watches her Captain's blue skin start to turn purple as he blushes. "I like it." She smiles then continues.

  "Would you check on the girls for me Agee?" Lisa asks as they leave the Warriors Wing. Both Nairn and Ion were recovering well from their injuries, although it would still be several days before they would be allowed resume their duties in her Guard. She is truly amazed at Tornian medical advances. Their injuries would have taken weeks, if not months, to heal on Earth, if they’d survived.

  "The princesses are still with Cook Majesty." Agee informs her.

  "Good, I would like to see Korin now." She knows her request is going to be met with a lot resistance and isn't disappointed as her Guard comes to a complete stop.

  "That is not possible Majesty." Agee informs her.

  "Of course it is." Lisa looks at him innocently. "You just take me to where ever he is being held."

  "The King will never let you near him." He informs her.

  "Why?"

  "Because..." Agee falters.

  "Because he helped protect me?" Lisa quizzes.

  "Because he tried to harm you!"

  "Psst." Lisa waves a dismissing hand at his comment. "Korin never harmed me."

  "I'm sorry majesty but I will not take you to Korin." Looking at him Lisa can tell there will be no budging him on this, which she supposes is good, for the Captain of her Guard to know when to tell the Queen no, and mean it.

  "Fine, then take me to Grim." Agee speaks into his comm informing Alger of the Queen's request.

  "The King will be in his Command Room shortly.” Nodding Lisa lets them escort her.

  "Does Tarbox have what he needs to assume control of the region?” Grim looks to Junius.

  "He believes so majesty. He met with some resistance, mostly Focke's personal guard, but they were easily subdued, once they were made aware of the charges. It seems his subjects are very happy with the change."

  "Yet no one approached me with their concerns." Grim is angry, with himself. No one loyal to Luda should ever fear coming to him with a concern. That will have to change. "Make sure he has what he needs to uncover any remaining traitors. I want it readily known that any threat to my Queen will be dealt with harshly and without mercy."

  "Yes Majesty, we will make sure it is known." Entering the King's Command Room, Junius hesitates, seeing the Queen sitting patiently in one of the chairs. He hadn't expected to see her again, especially so soon after her attack. From what he'd been told it had been particularly brutal, for a female at least, yet here she sits. Looking more closely, Junius can see the fading bruises on her cheek and neck.

  "Lisa, what are you doing here? You should be resting." Grim is immediately at her side.

  "I'm fine. I went to check on Ion and Nairn. They are doing well and will be back on duty before we have to leave for Tornian."

  "You went to the Warriors Wing?" Grim's eyes shoot to Agee.

  "Yes, with Agee and two guards, everyone was very well behaved I promise you." Grim grunts, letting Agee know he's not happy about her trip.

  “Do not be upset with Agee.” She pulls his gaze back. “They are mine Grim. They were harmed protecting me and mine. It is not only my duty, but my right, to make sure they make a full recovery.”

  “You didn’t have to go to the Warriors Wing to do that.” He argues.

  “Yes I did and I should have sooner. There are changes that need to be made there Grim.” Junius is shocked when every Guard in the room groans. “Nothing drastic.” She looks at the males with an indulgent smiling. “Just a few minor things, like the smell, I mean really there has to be a better place to store their wet gear and then there is the color. No wonder they hardly ever smile it’s…”

  “Lisa!” Grim stops her rambling.

  “Yes Grim?” She asks innocently.

  “Was there a reason you are here?”

  “Do I need one?” Grim raises an eyebrow but remains silent. “Okay, yes I have a reason. I…” She looks to Junius to buy time. “Oh hello.” Moving to stand, she looks to Grim, who hides his smile, he knows she's up to something and helps her stand.

  “Commander Baa Junius, my I present to you your Queen.”

  “My Queen.” Junius crosses a hand across his chest bowing slightly.

  “Commander Junius, a pleasure. The King tells me you discovered the unauthorized ship that carried Luuken.”

  “I…” Junius’ eyes shoot to the King. “Yes my Queen, unfortunately that is true.”

  “How is that unfortunate Commander? You discovered a problem and reported it. Unfortunate would have been if you had not, who knows what would have happened, had you not alerted your King.”

  “Yes Majesty.” Junius finds himself bowing again, thanking her for finding his own mistake.

  “The Queen is correct Junius, another might have looked the other way, and you did not. I trust you will continue to serve your King and Queen as well in the future.”

  “Of course my King! My Queen.??
?

  “Good, will you see to it that Tarbox is informed of my wishes then Commander?”

  “Gladly majesty.” With a final bow to the Queen, Junius leaves.

  “I want to see Korin.” Lisa waits until the door closes behind Junius before making her request.

  “Why?” Grim's expression instantly turns hard.

  “Because he is mine too.” She informs him.

  “How can you say that?” He spins away from her. “Because of him…” Lisa interrupts.

  “I am safe and whole.” Walking until she is in front of him, she puts a comforting hand on his chest. “He protected me Grim, when I couldn’t protect myself, until you could get there, because that’s what you taught him."

  “It never should have been allowed!”

  “Agreed, and in a perfect universe it wouldn’t have been but you told me yourself Bertos is using Korin’s younger brother to control him.” Her eyes plead with him for understanding. “He was only protecting what he loves the same as you…and when push came to shove, he chose to protect as you taught him, risking his brother because if Bertos finds out...”

  “He will kill Mabon.” Grim informs her.

  “Mabon…that is his brother?”

  “Yes. I have already sent word to those I trust, to have him removed from Bertos’ care.” He pulls Lisa close as her eyes fill with tears.

  “I’m sorry Grim. I should have realized you would understand and have done something.”

  “I understand that Mabon is innocent in his brother’s crimes.”

  “Crimes…” Lisa pulls away from him in shock. “What crimes are we talking about?”

  “He's attacked you twice Lisa.” He reminds her.

  “Both under the orders of Luuken.” She argues back.

  “That doesn’t matter.”

  “Of course it matters!” Lisa spins around and walks up to Agee. “There is a male that is a threat to Carly. He is keeping her against her will. Retrieve her.”

  “I…what my Queen?” Agee looks at her in shock.

  “Are you going to disobey my order Agee? There is a female at risk. My daughter!”

  “But…” He looks to Grim.

  “Yes or no!” No one has ever heard the Queen’s voice so hard, so cold, all eyes fly to her.

  “I would never disobey an order to protect a female my Queen, especially one of yours.” Agee stiffens at the thought then sees the Queen’s eyes soften.

  “Thank you Agee.” She turns back to Grim. “I was just able to get the Captain of my Guard, the male that, besides yourself, you feel is most fit to protect me. To agree to attack another male, securing a female because I told him she was in danger.” She watches Grim frown. “There is no threat to his brother, as with Korin, just Agee’s ingrained sense of duty to protect, taught by you and in the end Korin’s duty to protect a female, me, outweighed his duty to his brother. He is in a hard place Grim. In protecting me his brother suffers, but if he doesn’t his honor suffers. What would you be willing to give up for someone you loved Grim?”

  “Everything." Grim replies to the shock of his males. "I do understand my Lisa but there are still laws.”

  “Laws or justice Grim? Because they can be two very different things, there is protecting,” She walks to the Raptor reverently touching its head. “And there is controlling. Bertos and Luuken are controlling Korin for their own means. They care nothing about him or Mabon.”

  “His attacks have been documented.”

  “Ordered by his Lord.”

  “There is no proof of that.” Lisa gives him a disbelieving look.

  “Please…” Lisa waves a dismissing hand. “Korin is loyal to you Grim. He admits it every time he calls Luuken his Lord’s son and you his King. His loyalty to you has never been in doubt, but because of his manno’s decision, he’s had to survive Bertos’ demands, if he wanted to protect his brother. Would you have done any less if it was Wray? Would any of you if it was your brother?” Turning she address Luda’s most trusted warriors. “I have listened and heard you say to be a true warrior you have to have honor. But what is honor? Is it obeying your King without question? Some would say yes…but that’s what Luuken’s warriors did yesterday, even though it involved rape and murder. Is that honor? Korin was the only one there that said no. He was the only one that tried to stop it.”

  “What are you wanting my Lisa?” Grim asks.

  “I want to talk to him, he’s not innocent Grim, but that doesn’t make him guilty either.” She tells him.

  “And what will that achieve.”

  “Maybe nothing, maybe after talking to him I’ll believe he’s not worth saving…or maybe he’s the key, the key to Bertos. He could have the information you need to know what Bertos is really up too.” She sees Grim understands what she’s not saying.

  Korin lay on his back in his cell looking at its ceiling. How had his life come to this? He’d been such a proud young male, training under the Empire’s greatest warrior…then Grim had been attacked and his father had forced him to train under Bertos. It had been so different there, it didn’t matter how you succeeded in House Bertos only that you did.

  Korin turns his head at the sound of his cell door unlocking, not surprised when Alger and another Guard enter, but following them is Grim and from behind him steps his female.

  “Rise for the Queen, Korin.” Alger orders and slowly he does, wondering what is going on.

  “Hello Korin.” Lisa moves towards him, only to have Grim put a gentle, but firm hand in front of her. “I see your injuries have been treated.”

  “As have yours.” He finally finds his voice.

  “Yes Tornian technology is quite impressive.” Lisa assesses him. She’s never gotten a good look at him before, she was always being attacked. He is a rather large green male with the long black hair, all Tornians seem to have. However, it’s the look in his eyes that captures her attention. It’s pure defeat, tempered by acceptance. This is a male that knows he is undeserving of mercy and expects none. He has a great deal in common the other males she has met. He’s never been given that undeniable support that he is a deserving male, even if he has made some bad choices. Perhaps it is time someone shows him he is.

  “Why?” She asks.

  “Excuse me? Why what?” Korin finds himself captured in the Queen’s gaze.

  “Why did you assist me?” Her gaze is unwavering. “You put your brother at risk, for a female you don’t know. You disobeyed your Lord.”

  “Luuken is not my Lord!” Korin vehemently denies.

  “Are you saying Bertos knows you are here? Knows what was planned?” Lisa demands.

  “Lord Bertos does not confide in me. My orders were to stay with and obey Luuken.”

  “Yet you didn’t.” Korin finds he can no longer hold the Queen’s gaze, his shame to great.

  “Answer my Queen, Korin.” Korin’s eyes snap to Grim.

  “There is nothing to say my King.”

  “I disagree.” Lisa steps ever so slightly in front of Grim, making sure her back is touching him. “The question is simple Korin, why, if your Lord ordered you to follow Luuken’s orders and those orders were for me to be kidnapped, repeatedly raped and then finally murdered, all to accuse Grim, your former King, did you disobey?”

  “Because it was not what I was told and it was not what I was taught made a true warrior!” Korin all but yells at her, causes the males to stiffen.

  “Bertos instructed you what a true warrior was?” Lisa asks quietly.

  “No! I learned that here on Luda.” He fires back.

  “It is my understanding you were only here a year.”

  “And I learned more in that year than all those combined since.”

  “What were you told Korin?” Lisa asks.

  “What does it matter? I assisted in the abduction of a female and not just any female but a Queen. My life must cease, it is only the how that is in question.”

  “That’s what you think?” Lisa questi
ons. “That because you made the right choice…the hard choice…that you should be punished?”

  “It matters not, all that matters is that I failed and was caught because of it.” Lisa looks up at Grim, seeing him frown.

  “How did you fail Korin? By not allowing me to be raped?” She demands.

  “No! That should never have been allowed. I failed in not returning you to Tornian to rejoin the other females.”

  “Those were your orders?”

  “Yes.”

  “Given to you by?” Lisa demands.

  “It is what Bertos informed me and Luuken when he ordered us to Luda.”

  “Bertos said nothing about Lisa not making it to Tornian?” Grim demands moving her to his side.

  “Not in my presence, I was told to leave to prepare the ship. All I heard was that this mission was imperative.” Lisa looks up at Grim.

  “What else have you heard Korin?” Grim steps towards the male, menacing. “What have you heard about Wray?”

  “The Emperor?” Lisa sees the honest confusion in his eyes.

  “Yes, the Emperor, what is being said of him in the House of Bertos?”

  “I don’t understand?” Korin gives him an honestly confused look.

  “It is a simple question Korin.”

  “Yes of course it is but in what way do you mean? Bertos speaks of the Emperor daily, mostly of his failings as he does…”

  “As he does?” Grim questions, knowing what he is going to say.

  “As he does your right to remain King of Luda, when you have no chance of producing offspring.” Korin flinches under Grim’s glare.

  “But he does have offspring, two to be exact. Carly and Miki.” Lisa speaks breaking the tense silence.

  “He believes he can easily challenge Grim’s acceptance of you offspring since your educator was improperly removed.”

  “Which Grim didn’t know.”

  “That doesn’t matter, not to Bertos.”

  “Then he is as big an idiot as his son.”

  “He isn’t.” Korin says quietly, looking at Lisa. “Bertos is as smart as he is deadly and his female is worse.”

  “Risa.” Korin gives her a shocked look.