Kingdom Come (7 page)

“Beautiful,” he answered.

He watched the man’s gaze slide to Abigail. “I’m glad you think so.”

Before the man could say anything else, the kitchen staff served lunch. He was familiar with every dish, as part of the agreement was exposing Abigail to Ghadrikan culture. Konani agreed it was best to start with the cuisine. He watched Abigail’s face carefully, as she sampled a forkful of essuru, a large flightless bird.

She chewed slowly and licked her lips after she swallowed the bite. She immediately went back for more. He looked down at his own plate and wondered what she would like best. Apsu, a deep water fish, shared the plate with the essuru, salmu, and sisu. The sisu, a four-legged grazing animal, was on the gamey side. He had killed it mere hours ago to insure it was fresh for her.

The salmu, a black, flying reptile, had taken a bite out of him while he was hunting it. He hoped the wound would form an impressive scar to show Abigail later. Her voice drew his attention from his plate.

“Your Majesty? What is this?” She scooped up some of the sisu and dipped it in the spicy sauce that accompanied it. “It’s really good.”

He smiled slightly. “It’s called sisu. The sauce is called isatum.”

“See-su?”

He nodded. It was close enough. He watched her take another fork full to her mouth and chew thoughtfully.

“It’s good on its own, but I like the isa-toom,” she said.

He smiled. They could work on her pronunciation later.

“The prince is a hunter, Miss Ashley.”

He looked up at the president’s words. The man was watching Abigail closely, as if waiting for a reaction. She continued to eat sedately. After a moment, she seemed to notice the gazes fastened on her.

“That’s nice,” she said.

“I understood you to be an animal welfare advocate,” the president said with a small frown.

Edric scowled. He could see where this was going.

“That is commendable,” he said to Abigail, ignoring the president.

“I have no problem with hunting for food,” Abigail said slowly, as if considering her words. “It’s hunting for sport, I dislike.”

“I see,” the president said.

She looked over at him, obviously noticing the irritation in his tone. “Sir?”

He waved her off. “I was concerned it may upset you.”

Edric narrowed his eyes. Lies.

“Oh. Thank you for your concern.” She finished the last of her food and sat back in her seat.

Sotia and Kriskanos immediately approached the table, Sotia asking Abigail if she would like anything else. Abigail smiled and shook her head.

“No, thank you. I’m fine, Sophie.”

It was strange to hear the human name applied to one of his own. He had almost forgotten Konani had insisted upon it. Watching Abigail smile at the two cooks, he was pleased he had agreed.

“Water is fine.”

After Kriskanos refilled her water glass, the two of them left with her empty plate. She raised her eyes to look across the table at him. He lowered his gaze to his plate.

“You’re not hungry?”

He glanced up. She was frowning at his nearly full plate.

“I find I have no appetite,” he said simply.

“No appetite for food, maybe,” the president muttered under his breath, just loud enough for him to hear.

He sent the man a dark look and noticed Desta’s hand move to the blade she kept hidden under her forearm guard. Her hazel eyes moved to him, waiting for the order to cut the man down. He shook his head. She visibly sighed and sent her mate, Roshan, a set upon look. The blonde inched closer to her and the dark-skinned woman relaxed slightly.

His guards were not used to being so forgiving. In truth, neither was he. He watched Abigail sip at her water, her gaze moving over his guards. For her, he was willing to tolerate snide remarks and mild disrespect. Until she was at his side. Then, the disrespectful human leader would die along with the insolent Agent Jackson.

“I used to be a hunter, myself,” she said, breaking the silence that had fallen.

“What is your weapon of choice?” He noticed the agent watching them from the corner of his eye.

“Both rifle and bow, but I had been learning black powder rifle before—” she broke off.

“Before your mother’s illness?” the president asked.

Edric did not like his tone. He was intentionally pressing on an emotional bruise. He was proven correct with the man’s next words.

“She was your adoptive mother, correct?”

Abigail’s eyes snapped up to look at the president and, though she did not speak, he saw a flash of fire in her eyes.

“Yes. My parents adopted me when I was four weeks old.” She seemed to be daring the man to insult them.

He possessed enough wisdom to simply nod.

The lunch ended soon after, Abigail giving him a polite smile before she followed the president into the White House. He felt her absence immediately, but he was careful to keep his face free of emotion. He led his guards to a cluster of trees on the South Lawn. The White House guards watched them closely, but none of them interfered when the portal opened and they stepped through.

The world was a starburst of lights and sounds for three breathless seconds. Then, like being reborn, the gateway opened in Anshargal’s city center. Air rushed in to fill his empty lungs and the dizzying array of stars formed into one large one overhead. Damkianna, the star of Ghadrik bathed the land in light stronger than the Earth’s Sun. As always, he felt the tug toward Earth and Abigail, but he set it aside.

“Your Highness, the queen wishes to see you.”

He looked over his shoulder to see Konani standing near one of his mother’s guards. The other woman bowed to him in respect, before muttering something under her breath to Konani. Konani nodded and the woman turned away. He raised an eyebrow at Konani and she smiled.

“Gol is more active than usual.”

He tensed at the mention of his father, but nodded. He gestured for Desta to approach him. After giving her mate a saucy wink, she strode over to stand in front of him.

“Your Highness,” she said, all business.

“Hunting implements for Abigail,” he said simply.

Her lips curve
d. “Already planning, Your Highness.”

He nodded. “I will come to your workshop after I meet with the queen.”

Konani was at his side before he turned away. She nodded in the direction of the palace and fell into step with him. The central courtyard of the city spanned over 20 square miles. An avenue bisected the space. The majority of the square was the business district of the city. The center pyramid held the center of trade, office of interdimensional travel, and central court system.

The smaller pyramids along the edge of the avenue, while still twice the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza on Earth, held shops, restaurants, and the living space for those who chose to live away from the beach and valley. Under the bright light of Damkianna, the pyramids shown a brilliant, marble white.

Edric had always found the city to be beautiful, far more attractive than the buildings of earth. He looked around fondly. The people of the Anshargal bowed to him in respect as they passed, clothed in robes of every color of the rainbow. The women often with accessories in contrasting colors to draw attention to their flashy weaponry. Edric paused next to Konani to wait for the enlil.

It appeared as a small dot on the horizon, approaching quickly. The craft slowed and finally stopped just overhead. In one smooth maneuver, it sank to the ground and the silver side panel slide aside
to reveal the plush interior. Konani entered the craft and settled on the soft bench. Edric started to follow her when a flash of metal caught his eye.

He glanced to his left to see small group of women walking down the stone promenade just beside the enlil loading dock. The glint came from the hilt of a dagger worn on the hip of one of the women. He started toward them and the group paused to look at him.

“Who is your armorer, ninti?” he asked politely.

The woman pulled the dagger from its sheath, examining it. “Just there, Your Highness.” She gestured to the nearest pyramid on the left.

“Thank you.” He started to turn away, when she called out to him. He turned to see her holding the dagger out to him.

“You want it for your courting gift?”

He nodded.

She exchanged smiles with the other women. “Then, take it. I wish you luck in your future bonding.”

“You are far too generous, ninti. I thank you for such a gift,” he said formally, taking the gift with both hands to show his gratitude.

The dagger was far more extravagant in close proximity. The hilt was covered in dozens of flawless rainbow diamonds, reflecting the colors of nature every time the light hit it. The blade itself was precision cut and he could see it had been lovingly honed to razor sharpness. The gift was priceless. He raised his eyes to tell the woman he could not accept it only to find the group had moved on in his distraction.

“Your Highness,” Konani called. “The queen awaits you.”

Gripping the dagger, his lips turned up into a small smile. He crossed to the enlil and climbed in next to his head advisor, the panel sliding closed silently. The craft rose steadily and moved toward the center of the square. The large front window showed the ground flowing below them at an impossible speed, the stone avenue giving way to the city park surrounding the royal palace.

After a handful of minutes, the palace came into view. It was blinding white in the midday light. The enlil slowed and finally stopped, landing on the front lawn. Enric hopped out as soon as the panel slid open. He waited for Konani to join him before walking toward his home.

“My son,” his mother said, the moment he entered the throne room.

He studied her as he approached. She appeared paler and thinner than the last time he saw her. Her usually luxurious hair was wane and dull, hanging limply around her face. She sat with her back perfectly straight, but he could see small tremors shaking her shoulders.

“You’re not well.”

She gave him a small smile. “I did not call you here to discuss my health, son.”

He paused at the base of the steps to the throne and looked up at her. “Nonetheless.”

The motherly warmth fled her eyes at his tone. “You forget yourself, Ambassador.”

He ducked his head. “I apologize for my lack of respect.”

He knelt on one knee and crossed his right arm across his chest. When he raised his head, her gaze had thawed. She studied him closely.

“What is that?” she asked, her eyes on the dagger.

“A courtship gift for Abigail.”

“She has acknowledged you?” his mother asked, obviously pleased.

He paused. He was not sure he could consider her behavior accepting. She had yet to tell him he could approach her. If she had not asked for assistance, he would not have been allowed to take her arm in the garden. For the thousandth time, he wondered if there were a better way to approach her. He looked down at the dagger in his hands. Perhaps, it would please her.

“Not yet.”

His mother shifted in place. “Have you not made her aware of your feelings?” she asked sharply.

He frowned to himself. “I have not met her gaze. What more can I do to show her the high esteem in which I hold her?”

“She is from Earth. What is so obvious to us is not to them.”

He looked at her sharply.

“I mean no offense, my son.”

He sighed. “I know. I apologize.” He reached up to loosen his tie. “I am merely irritated with the human governments.”

“Which brings us to the business I have called you here to discuss. The Dorn have been far more active of late.”

Mention of his father’s people made him tense. He had met his father only five times in his life, none of the meetings had been pleasant. While the man adored his mother, he had very little interest in his son. Edric preferred it that way.

“What have they done?”

The Queen visibly sighed. “Caern has chosen to supply that rebel group with weaponry.”

“The one you were following in Eastern Europe?”

She nodded. “The skirmish has bloomed into a small war. The Russian government is trying to contain the situation, but…”

Edric scowled. “Anything else?”

In a fluid move, his mother stood from the throne to descend the steps. “Always. The Dorn are warmongers, you know this.” She stopped in front of him and placed her hands on his shoulders.

“What more is there, mother?” He did not fail to noticed the way her lips quirked up at the title.

The smile fell away when she began to speak. “Caern has chosen to show the government of China a better way to control the rising population.”

He looked into his mother’s eyes and saw true concern. If it was enough to concern his war-hardened mother, it was surely a nightmare scenario.

“What has he done?”

She backed away from him and began to pace. “He is trying to convince them to selectively sterilize certain parts of the population.”