Kleia serves as a royal guard sworn to protect Prince Eamon, heir to a throne caught between war and uneasy negotiation. Beyond Vaskara's borders, the Djinn'ta gather, powerful magical beings branded as enemies even as the king struggles to broker a...
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"I have my coming-of-age ceremony in two days," announced Eamon.
No knock, no announcement, no hesitance, the prince just strode directly into her chambers. On one hand, he was the prince. But on the other hand, if his father caught word of him entering a guard's chambers without at least knocking, he'd be given an earful.
A sword remained across Kleia's lap as she lifted her gaze, hand frozen mid-air. This wasn't the first time the prince had barged in without warning, and it usually meant he was up to no good. If he was thinking about his ceremony, then there was only one thing—
"No." She spoke firmly, ignoring the eyes he was giving her.
"I haven't even said anything!" the prince exclaimed, throwing his arms up.
Kleia sighed as her head fell into her hand. "You're no doubt here to ask me to be your personal guard, and for the last time ... no."
"But wait! I have a different idea!" he went on.
"Oh, for the love of—"
He interrupted her. "No seriously, listen to this. I know you well enough to understand that the reason you don't want to be my guard has nothing to do with you not wanting to be a guard. You're more concerned about not always being there for me, correct?"
She glanced up at him, already regretting what was about to come out of his mouth.
"It's simple really. I can just have two guards!" He grinned maniacally. "Think about it. It's fairly inhumane to only have one personal guard; imagine having to trail me constantly? That's enough to ruin anyone's day."
"You got that right," Kleia muttered.
The prince continued on as if he hadn't heard her. "Instead, if I have two guards then you can both be on rotation."
It wasn't a completely terrible idea, and that was what bothered her. There had been too many separate attacks, thieveries, and disappearances for it all to be coincidental, and she suspected there was something not right with it all.
As part of the royal guard, she'd been able to keep an eye on any situations involving Eamon. But once he's been assigned a private guard, there'd be too much at stake.
But with just Kleia to guard him? There were so many uncontrolled variables, she couldn't even trust herself with his safety. Now a secondary guard, they would be able to step in if anything happens. It wasn't guaranteed, but could she really trust any other person but herself to take care of the prince?
It was almost selfish of her, to want all of his duties and care assigned solely to herself. Kleia knew she had the power and means to investigate more thoroughly into these incidents, but it wouldn't hurt to have a secondary investigator.
