I grabbed the leather-bound packet, but Ankhelina refused to release it. I looked into her eyes, and saw the warning in it, the promise of death should I harm her Emperor. I tried to answer in kind, that I would never hurt her. Apparently, something of my intent was made clear, for the guard released her hold. Gingerly, I undid the leather wrappings.
My eyes widened. “Am I allowed to carry this?”
Astrid’s smile was positively wicked this time. “Being Consort has its privileges.”
ROYAL DECREES
“WERE IT UPto me, you would never be suffered to bring a monster before my Emperor.”
In the face of Ankhelina’s towering rage, I remained cool, holding my arms out as the scanner took my measurements. “Monstrosity is in the eye of the beholder. To many of my countrymen, you are monstrous.”
“Your countrymen are fools,” Ankhelina shot back, “clearly illustrated by their unwillingness to expunge artificial life forms from the galaxy.”
I raised my eyebrows in surprise as I stepped back from the scanner. The replicator glowed blue as it began synthesizing my new outfit. “Expunge. A good word. Your command of the Commonwealth tongue is better than I expected.”
“I study the languages of all my Emperor’s enemies,” Ankhelina growled.
“Then you’ll understand perfectly when I say I will ride Tilly in today’s hunt.”
The replicator dinged. I opened the synthetics chamber,removed the neatly folded clothing, and walked towards the changing screen. Ankhelina followed, fuming.
“Your hoversteed already attacked the Emperor once. It should be executed for treason.”
I tore off the roughly tied toga I’d made from medical sheets and began dressing myself. “One, Tilly is a Commonwealth citizen and not subject to your laws. Two, that was a simple misunderstanding. The Emperor already knows, and I’ll explain to Tilly she shouldn’t attack anyone I am having sex with, unless I specify otherwise.”
Ankhelina ignored my verbal jab. “If you loved the Emperor, you would not bring that thing into her presence. It is dangerous.”
“Thank you. I’m certain Tilly will be glad to hear you say that. She takes great pride in her combat abilities,” I said, with mock cheerfulness in my voice. It felt nice to have somebody else be inconvenienced by me for once, instead of the other way around.
Ankhelina opened her mouth to say more, but my chamber door opened and Astrid swept in. She was wearing a low-cut, high-waisted leather riding jacket, skintight suede riding breeches, and knee-length high-heeled riding boots, all in black. Her hair was tied into a tight bun at the base of her neck, and a pair of flying goggles dangled at her throat. Silver-capped riding gloves completed her ensemble.
“Levar, why aren’t you ready? And Ankhelina, you’re not even dressed for the hunt.”
Ankhelina dropped to one knee, palms flat on the floor, and spoke before I could open my mouth. “My Liege, I must protest against allowing the Consort to ride his infected hoversteed for the hunt. Let him use an Imperial steed.”
Confusion quirked Astrid’s eyebrows. “Champion, the entire point of the hunt is to acclimate myself to the Consort’ssteed and gain confidence in its ability to behave. Will it behave?”
The last question was to me. “On my honor as a gentleman and a soldier,” I promised.
Astrid nodded. “Ankhelina, you will take my Consort to retrieve his hoversteed from the visitors’ stables.”
“But, my Emperor, there are hundreds of suitable steeds in the Imperial stables, none of which are infected with a—”
“I know what afflicts the Consort’s steed,” Astrid replied icily. “I have decided to allow it. Do not make me repeat myself, Champion.”
“Yes, my Emperor,” Ankhelina said, her head drooping towards the floor.
Astrid looked me over, a mischievous grin spreading over her face. “You look lovely in your new clothes.”
“Thank you,” I replied, doing up my tunic over the well-folded cravat.
With lightning speed, Astrid leaned over and kissed me, crushing me to her breast with such force that my feet left the floor. “Of course, I can’t wait to get you out of them again.” She left me breathless, trying to regain my senses, as she swept from the room. “Until tonight,” she called, then was gone.
I straightened myself and calmed my breathing, my hand fluttering to my chest. Astrid had mussed up my cravat. I turned to the mirror to straighten it. Ankhelina glared at me in the reflection. With a sigh, I motioned to the door. “Shall we?”
We portaled to the Crystal Palace in silence. The hallways were empty but for a few hordlings and several low-ranking delegates who were not joining the day’s hunt. The latter stared at me, eyes wide. Some rushed off the moment they saw me, undoubtedly to report to their missing superiors. Others waited until I was past them, then excitedly whispered to their companions.
It was a relief when Ankhelina and I stepped into the lift to the stables. “Let’s get Tilly and get out of here without causing trouble,” I said.
