With a push on the black panel alight with the blue of NAID beside the door, a bell chimed.
“Enter,” Monqilcolnen called, and the door slid open, revealing the commander.
He leaned over his desk crowded with screens. A xyihyn tree, with golden leaves and black bark, stood next to a long windowthat looked into the void of space. He had a couch, cluttered with even more items. On the built-in shelf behind him, I spotted trinkets, from rocks to an orange leaf held in stasis to different carvings. Oddly enough, there was a plain stylus on a stand directly behind his right shoulder. Maybe items from his previous travels or his past.
A meow sounded, and my soul froze. A cat was curled up on an over-stuffed bed in the corner of the room, next to an artificial tree that had plenty of places for the Earthen god to rest. The cat itself was fluffy with orange and white fur, making the creature look rather creamy. I wanted to squeeze them close and bury my face in their ruff.
“Lieutenant,” he said.
“You have a cat,” I burst out, then shied away, my tail curling around my ankle.
“I do indeed. Cincin was a gift from Kalvoxrencol when I expressed an interest in having a house god, or goddess in her esteemed case. She is friendly, if you wish to introduce yourself.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I went down on my knees, my tail thrashing. She cracked one golden eye and rolled, showing off her white belly. I sank my fingers into her thick fur and groaned at the softness. I gently stroked her, and she purred, eyes closing, as if she expected to be worshiped, which she probably did. I didn’t know how sentient cats were, but Lucy, Seth’s cat, wasn’t stupid.
“Greetings, Cincin,” I whispered. “That’s a fine name.”
I glanced at Monqilcolnen, and he was already watching me with a peaceful expression, but I’d hardly expected anything different. He usually appeared serene. I doubted much upset him, though I didn’t know how that was possible. No one could always be calm. Emotions and life didn’t allow for it.
“I apologize,” I said.
“For?”
“Getting distracted. What can I do for you, Commander?” I asked, but when I tried to stand, he waved it off.
“Keep petting Cincin. She likes it.”
My butt hit the backs of my calves as I kneeled on the soft moss, my fingers buried in her fur.
Monqilcolnen said, “Doctor Qinlin was working on your assignment, but I feared her choices would be too straining for your hand, so I’m going to take you on as an assistant.”
“Excuse me?”
He gestured to the mess of screens on the desk and couch. “I could use assistance collating, organizing, and refining all of the reports I have to read. I also need someone to manage my schedule. I’d intended to hire a civilian, but in the interim, I thought you could assist me.”
No. No way could I work with Monqilcolnen. One arched eyebrow, and he would send me fleeing. I couldn’t work with him on a regular basis. But how did I politely decline his kind offer?
I couldn’t. He wasn’t only my superior; he was also a much higher rank than me. And if the rumors were to be believed, he was going to take over his father’s position as royal advisor when Hallonnixmin took the throne.
No safe way out of this political snare existed.
“I would be honored,” I said.
A gentle smile bloomed on his lips. A full one. Not a smirk like when we’d been on the mat. This was a real, true smile. I blinked. He was smiling at me. It was… I didn’t have words. But even more curious, the sight of his full lips turning upwards and revealing his white teeth set my soul ablaze.
Monqilcolnen cleared his throat. “Excellent. After your week off, you can start.”
Cincin meowed, because I’d stopped petting her, and successfully ripped my gaze from Monqilcolnen’s face. I rubbedher head, and she settled again. At least I would be able to interact with his cat. That was a massive benefit.
Wyn was cuddling Cincin as she pressed against him, happy as can be. I’d lied. Cincin wasn’t a friendly cat. She liked me, and that was it. She was shy and usually ran from anyone who approached her, ears folded and a hiss building in her throat. Seth had promised to make friends with her, and I believed him, but I’d hoped she would like Wyn, much like Seth’s Lucy had—and she did.
Even now she pressed her head into his palm, making him smile. My soul calmed at the sight, and my serenity wasn’t fake.
When I’d approached Qinlin about having Wyn work for me, she’d said it was a waste of his talents. I fully agreed. Wyn was far too intelligent and competent to merely assist me, but I wanted him to stay by my side to assure myself he was healing appropriately. I feared he’d push himself too hard to the point of harm. Wyn was far too important to risk.
My eyes flicked to his wounded hand, which was still covered in a thick plaster. While Qinlin had assured me he was healing, I wanted to see it for myself, to run my tongue over the injury and clean it thoroughly, but I could not. I didn’t have the right; I didn’t even have the right to have such instincts. Wyn and I were nothing.
Yet my instincts demanded I clean the wound and ignoring it wasn’t easy.
