“I got your letter,” the emperor announced in agenial tone, waving the paper aloft. Darren could have been knocked over with anOorooriafeather. That was the last thing he expected to hear.
“Fine sentiments you express. I wish all my subjects looked on me with such loyalty and affection,” the emperor continued.
Darren bowed again but didn’t speak. He didn’t know where this was leading; he didn’t know what to say, to ask.
“Unfortunately, I’m not inclined to let you leave service as a warrior.” The emperor leaned forward. “Show me your fated mate marks.” Again, the grand vizier whispered in the emperor’s ear. The room couldn’t hear what he said, but from the advisor’s body language it couldn’t be anything but objection.
Uchantik shook his head and waved his hand, a signal to the captain to free Darren's hands. Darren couldn’t comply fast enough, he sweltered in the close, warm air. He stripped off his uniform jacket and singlet. Everyone in the room turned and regarded him. And the marks on his skin.
“Tell me how they appear,” ordered Uchantik.
With more detail, Darren repeated what he’d told the doctor as the emperor rested his elbow on his knee, chin on his hand and nodded sagely. “Interesting,” he murmured. Suddenly he snapped upright and dropped his hand.
“Release the prisoner. He will be transferred to my personal guard.” He met Darren’s eye. “Report to Commander Gorkorlox for your orders.”
The grand vizier voiced his objection aloud that time. “Your Imperial Highness, is that wise? Dheltans are not of this planet, they are strays which we’ve been good enough to take in—” He took a breath and opened his mouth to carry on, but Uchantik cut him off.
“You seem to forget, I have a Drek empress and I believe in fated mates. It’s my decision. I will brook no argument against it.”
The grand vizier retreated with a bow, but his lips were tight.
Darren bowed also. “My eternal thanks, your imperial highness.”
“Captain, approach.”
The Ohirin captain did it.
The emperor tutted loudly. “Not you, the Dheltan,” he said irritably.
The Ohirin looked daggers at Darren and jerked his snout toward the throne.
All eyes in the room on him, Darren stepped forward.
“Tell me about this fated mate of yours,” said the emperor, and Darren told him the story from the beginning when Crukugs had given him his orders.
Chapter 26
Dirty Clothes
Darren’s brothers were waiting for him when he walked from the jail block, a free man. They hugged him in turn. Blayze even wept, sniffing on Darren’s shoulder like a baby.
“Feel free to get snot on my jacket. It needs cleaning anyway,” Darren quipped, but he was half-serious. He liked to be well turned out. Also, he was overcome with tenderness for Blayze and they comforted each other.
“You stink, if the truth be known.” This from Lero as he shouldered Blayze out of the way, hugged Darren and slapped him on the back.
“Thanks for your candor, middle brother.”
Lero was reluctant to let him go, surprisingly. “We thought you’d be shipped off to the arse end of the empire and we’d never see you again,” he added.
“Been there, done that. Drypso, remember?” joked Blayze.
“We’re at the heart of the empire, more’s the pity,” Darren mumbled over Lero’s shoulder, feeling a rush of affection for his other brother.
He pushed Darren to arms’ length and scrutinized him with a frown. “You look awful. Do you need us to call a doctor to check you out?”
Darren did his best attempt at a smirk, painful with his split lip where a guard had landed an extra-hard punch. “Thanks for the compliment. The emperor’s doc already checked me over and given me various treatments.”
Blayze whistled. “The emperor’s personal physician, no less. You are going up in the world. What are your plans?” he asked, hooking his arm in Darren’s, Lero took his other arm, sandwiching him between them.
