“Yes, Your Majesty,” the Dragon knights said in unison.
“Claw Shinkai?” the King prompted.
“Huh?” I swung my head away from the knights to stare at the King.
“Why did you grab my wrist?”
“Oh! Uh, you were about to pass my office, sire.” I waved at the door.
He grimaced at his knights. “Well done on saving me from Claw Shinkai's assistance.”
The knights glanced at each other before inclining their heads to the King.
Meanwhile, the Talon Chief backed away.
What a day. I shook my head and opened my office door. It was far from boring, but I wasn't sure if that was a good thing anymore. Just as I went inside, Talon Fren came running up. The Dragon knights went on alert again.
“Stand down!” I shouted at the knights. “I need to speak with that man.”
The knights looked at the King. The King nodded.
Talon Fren saw what he was rushing into and backpedaled to a stop. “Uh, Claw Shinkai?”
“It's all right, Talon Fren. Did you discover the victim's identity?” I waved him forward as I noted the Chief had vanished. Unbelievable. That was the man in charge of the safety of the city.
Talon Fren came forward, but with every step, his jaw fell further. Then he bowed deeply. “Your Majesty.”
“What have you discovered?” the King demanded.
“Uh, here is the identity.” His hand trembled as he offered me a sheet of paper.
The King took it before I could.
I pressed my lips together and sought calm. He said he was going to assist me, not take over.
“Good work, Talon.” The King put a hand on my back and pushed me forward. “Claw Shinkai, we have what we need.” He handed me the paper.
Correction: I thought he was handing me the paper when he was actually giving it to one of his knights.
“Sir Vasren, inform the driver.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Then the King was pushing me past gaping talons and out of the hall. Everyone went silent again as we passed, people falling into hasty bows. I was getting vexed. Very vexed.
By the time the King and I settled into his carriage, I was angrier than I'd ever been. Considering how much it takes to make me angry, this was quite an achievement. But the rarity of the emotion meant that I was unprepared for it. To be plain, I didn't know how to deal with what I was feeling. And that was a terrible state to be in while sitting beside a Dragon King. Yes, he sat beside me this time. Yet another vexing occurrence. Especially since I liked it.
Chapter Four
By the time we reached the victim's home, I was fuming. This was a new experience for me. Even on the rare occasion that I couldn't find a criminal, I never felt such anger. And the King had done nothing truly terrible. In fact, he usurped my case with the utmost charm. I should have dealt with it better. But there was something about the man that got to me. Yet another reason to keep my distance from the Dragon King. But all of that is to explain why, when his knight, Vasren, opened the carriage door, and the King shifted to climb out, I held out a hand to stop him. In short, I had enough of this nonsense.
“No!” I said. “You are not going in there.”
“What?” The King narrowed his eyes at me, his endless charm vanishing.
“You are the King of Rushao!”
“Yes, I am aware.”
