Grim

by M. K. Eidem

  “May I speak with Dagan to see if he is willing to make sun catchers for me?” Lisa returns to their original conversation, ignoring Gossamer.

  “He is with his brother right now at Travon’s.” Padma says looking to Gossamer.

  “The shop is close?” Lisa questions.

  “It is not far.”

  “What is he doing there?” Gossamer demands. “You know what Travon will do.”

  “Gahan was sure he would be out today.” Padma says quietly.

  “Is it alright if I speak with him then, at the shop?” Lisa addresses her question to Padma.

  “Yes, it’s just…”

  “My Queen.” Agee interrupts. “It is time for us to go.”

  “Of course Captain. Girls. Padma thank you for everything, I’m sure we’ll be talking soon. Gossamer.” Lisa tips her head to him then exits the cottage.

  “No.” Agee instantly refuses. “The King has not approved this.”

  “The shop is close is it not, between here and Luanda?”

  “Yes but that…”

  “Then we will stop.” Lisa informs him.

  “The King expects us back by a specific time, he will be furious.” Agee counters.

  “Then notify him of the change.” Lisa doesn’t understand the problem.

  “We are not to use communications unless it is an emergency.”

  “Then send a transport with one of the men to inform him of the change because we are stopping!” Lisa isn’t sure way she feels it’s so necessary go to this shop but some instinct tells her too and she’s going to follow it.

  Minutes later, they pull up to another cottage, one not as pretty or well kept like Padma’s cottage. It has weeds, dirty windows and if she’s not mistaken the door doesn’t close properly.

  “This is the shop of the King’s glassmaker?” Lisa questions disbelieving.

  “Yes my Queen.” As before, they wait until the guards have secured the area, then exit.

  “Mommy, what are we doing here?” Carly asks.

  “We are going to see about getting some of those beautiful sun catchers made for Luanda.”

  “Oh that will be so pretty, can I have a green one?” Carly asks.

  “And a blue one?” Miki chimes in making Lisa chuckle.

  “We’ll have to wait and see.” Entering the dimly lit shop, they find it empty.

  “I told you what would happen if I ever found that idiot here again!” A crashing sound from the back of the shop has Lisa moving quickly towards it.

  “My Queen, you will wait!” Agee and six guards quickly surround them but not before Lisa sees a large, overweight man striking a cowering boy on the floor while another tries to protect him.

  “Stop him!” Lisa orders, furious at what she’s seeing.

  “Who are you? What are you doing in my shop?” Travon demands, backing away from Agee and Kirk, leaving the older boy to comfort the younger.

  “Girls stay here.” She waits for both of them to nod before walking up to touch the guard blocking her path.

  “Let me through Zaki.” She orders.

  “It is not yet safe my Queen.”

  “Those boys aren’t going to hurt me.” Both hear the one sobbing. “Please Zaki.” With a curt nod, he and another guard move with her to the boys, while the others encircle the girls.

  The older boy looks up suspiciously as Lisa moves towards them.

  “You are Gahan?” She asks softly.

  “How do you know that?” He demands.

  “I was just at your mother’s. She told me you and Dagan were here. She said I could talk to you. May I come closer?” After a moment, he nods and Lisa eases down next to the still sobbing boy.

  “He struck him?” She asks softly.

  “Only once, I was on the other side of the table when he came in.” Lisa carefully puts a comforting hand on Dagan’s head. When he raises his eyes, she can’t contain her gasp. Dagan is older than she thought, his small size and actions deceiving, but now she understands, Dagan has what would be called on Earth as Down’s syndrome, his facial features giving it away.

  “Dagan, my name is Lisa. Your mother told me you were here.”

  “She did?” He sobs.

  “Yes, I’ve come looking for you.”

  “I didn’t do it! I promise! I’m a good boy.” Dagan curls into a ball, trying to be as small as possible

  “Of course you’re a good boy Dagan! You’ve done nothing wrong!” Lisa assures him. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

  “Truth?” Scared eyes look into hers.

  “Truth. I came here to talk to you about the beautiful gift you made your mother.”

  “Gift?” Dagan quickly uncurls to sit up facing her, using his sleeves to scrub his face. “My gift made mama very happy. She put it in the window.”

  “I know, I saw it, it’s very beautiful.” Dagan beams, as if she’d just given him the greatest gift in the universe, his earlier ordeal forgotten.

  “Tell the female Lisa thank you Dagan.” Gahan orders quietly.

  “Thank you female Lisa.” Dagan quickly complies.

  “You’re welcome Dagan.” Lisa slowly tips up Dagan’s face, taking in the growing bruise. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes, he’s hit me worse.” Dagan tells her innocently.

  “Really…” Lisa’s eyes look at Gahan before turning to look at the man blocked by Agee and Kirk.

  “He doesn’t belong in my shop! This is the King’s shop! He doesn’t tolerate idiots!” The man blusters. “Who are you?” He demands.

  “She is the Queen, you idiot!” Agee informs the man and Lisa can’t help but enjoy his disbelief.

  “Mommy?” She sees her girls peeking through the legs of the guards.

  “Zaki, there is no danger here.” He nods and the girls are allowed to pass.

  “Gahan, Dagan, these are my daughters, Carly and Miki. They are part of the reason we’re here.” Lisa watches as the three children smile at each other.

  “You come to play with Dagan?” He asks hopefully.

  “Not this time I’m afraid. We’ve come to see if you could make some of your sun catchers for us.”

  “You want mama’s gift?” Dagan frowns. “I made that for mama.”

  “I know and no we don’t want that one. We would like you to make different ones, so we can hang them in Luanda.”

  “The castle?” Dagan’s eyes grow large.

  “Yes.” Lisa smiles encouragingly.

  “My Queen, the floor is cold.” Zaki informs her, meaning he would like her to rise.

  “Yes it is a bit. Can we stand up Dagan?” Without a word, Dagan stands and the rest follow.

  “I cannot make you one, female Lisa.” Dagan looks at her with sad eyes. “I used all Gahan had to make mama’s.”

  “You gave that idiot material from my shop!” Travon yells, trying to get to Dagan, who immediately flinches.

  “He used my scrap! From my master work!” Gahan yells back.

  “Using my furnace!”

  “It was already running!” Gahan argues.

  “Enough!” Lisa shouts, silencing the room before turning back to softly speak to Dagan. “If you had the supplies of your own would you make more?” Dagan nods happily.

  “Not with my furnace he won’t!” Travon denies. “I say what goes in it!” Agee looks down at the self-important man wondering if he understands just who he yelling at.

  “That’s fine.” Lisa dismisses the male. “You don’t want to come here anyway do you Dagan?”

  “I come here to see Gahan. He is gone so much and I miss him.” He looks adoringly at his older brother. “Otherwise I not come here.” Dagan looks at Travon then quickly away.

  “I can understand why. Is there another furnace that can be used?” Lisa directs her question to Gahan.

  “There is a very small one by our home, my father built it so I could practice, but it isn’t possible for Gahan to use it by himself my Queen.”

  “Yo
u can’t help him?” She questions.

  “As Dagan said, I am not home much, I apprentice under Master Travon, and my master work has yet to earn his approval.”

  “And it never will at this rate!” Travon replies smugly.

  Lisa turns looking at the despicable man holding this boy’s future in his hands, while terrorizing the other. Her eyes move to the work on the shelves behind him.

  “These goblets are meant for Castle Luanda?” She moves for a closer look. Agee and Kirk shove Travon aside.

  “Of course, I’m the King’s Master Glassmaker.” Travon says self-importantly.

  “You made these?” She picks one up, feeling its balance, enjoying its beautiful form.

  “Of course as I said…”

  “Personally?” She cuts off the pompous ass. “You personally made all these?”

  “Well…I am the master and I inspect what is made.”

  “So Gahan made these.” She presses for the answer she knows is true.

  “Yes, under my guidance.” Travon finally admits.

  “Only a master could have made something this perfect.” She puts the goblet back. “I would like to see your master work, if it is alright with you Gahan.”

  “You can’t! I haven’t approved it!” Lisa whips around fire in her eyes.

  “That’s fine because I don’t approve of you!” She stares at him for a moment, making sure Travon understands what she means, then turns her back on him, looking to Gahan she waits.

  “It is over there.” Gahan guides her to a table in the corner, where a large object is covered with a cloth.

  “May I see it?” Lisa asks.

  “It is beautiful female Lisa.” Dagan informs her.

  “It’s my Queen Dagan. My Queen.” Gahan tells him gently.

  “You have a Queen Gahan?” Dagan gives him a confused look.

  “No Dagan. The female called Lisa is the Queen.”

  “Queen Lisa?” He looks to her.

  “Yes Dagan, I am Queen Lisa.” Lisa smiles at him.

  “You call her my Queen, Dagan.”

  “But she isn’t your Queen Gahan.” Lisa can’t help but laugh, holding up her hand she stops Gahan.

  “Dagan, ever since I arrived here I’ve been trying to get someone,” She looks over her shoulder at Agee and Kirk. “To call me by my name, but no one will, so it would greatly please me if you would call me Queen Lisa.”

  “Will that be okay Gahan?” Dagan looks to his brother who helpless nods.

  “If that is what the Queen wants Dagan then you must do it.”

  “Okay. Can we show Queen Lisa your master work now?” He asks excitedly.

  Without another word, Gahan walks over and removes the cloth, stealing Lisa’s breath. Dagan’s wrong. It’s not beautiful. It is magnificent! Slowly, she walks towards it, watching as the light capture the deep resonating colors. It’s a Raptor in attack mode. Its wingspan at least three feet wide, its sharp claws ready to snatch up its prey while his open beak makes you hear its war cry. He’s made the body black and sleek but the detail of every feather is visible, is perfect. Along the wings, he’s inserted colors, deep greens, blues, dark yellows, and oranges all giving the allusion of movement, of power. But its eyes…its eyes are a piercing purple, the color of the House of Luanda. They look at you, follow you and you see the intelligence, the power, strength, and cunning of the Raptor, of the warriors of Luda.

  “It is magnificent Gahan.” Lisa whispers and the boy blushes with pleasure.

  “Thank you my Queen.”

  “It has flaws.” Travon’s denial breaks the spell the Raptor has on Lisa.

  “The only flaw it has is that you should be allowed to approve it.” Lisa replies angrily. “If you claim it worthy, Gahan will leave, and you will actually have to do some work.”

  “Who are you to talk to me like that?” Lisa just raises an eyebrow at him.

  “Are you deaf male?” Agee can’t believe how stupid this male is. “She is Queen Lisa of the House of Luanda, declared so by the King himself. These are their female offspring! You will show them respect or die for your offense at the King’s own hand!” Travon pales. He hadn’t believed the female had truly accepted the title, no female accepts the title.

  “I…my apologies…my Queen.” He chocks out, Lisa ignores him turning back to Gahan.

  “Must you have his approval to open your own shop?” Gahan is startled by her question.

  “I…not his approval but it costs a great deal to open a shop and without being a Master…people would not buy even if I were able.”

  “Travon can’t be the only Master who can approve your work.”

  “No, there is another but he is a great distance away and I would have to sign under him for many years.”

  “Well that won’t do.” Lisa taps a finger to her lip. “He won’t evaluate your work and if it earns his approval allow you to open your own shop?”

  “No My Queen, I would then compete with him.” Lisa silently looks from Gahan to the Raptor. She understands what he is saying, it’s a great deal like the old guild societies on Earth, but there has to be a way. If Gahan wasn’t competing against this other Master but instead working with him…

  “I will need to speak to the King, but I may know of a way, but one way or another you will have your own shop Gahan. There is much for you to do for the House Luanda.”

  “I am the King’s Glassmaker!” Travon shouts angrily.

  “And so you shall remain.” Lisa turns to him. “Until the King says differently.” She taunts. “Gahan shall be the Queen’s Master Glassmaker.” Lisa lets her declaration hang there.

  “What?” Gahan whispers.

  “Do you think you can handle that Gahan? I’m going to be very demanding of you and Dagan.”

  “Me and…Dagan?” He looks to his brother.

  “Yes. Dagan will be in charge of making sun catchers. Luanda has many windows for they can grace.”

  “My Queen...it takes Dagan a long time to make one. He is very exacting in what he wants.”

  “Good. That will make each one that much more special. They will be sought after and treasured. Now you and I will discuss the Raptor.”

  “The Raptor?” Gahan’s head is spinning.

  “Yes. I realize it is your Master work and when this other Master is available to give it his approval he will need to come to Castle Luanda because I want it as a gift for Grim.”

  “For the King?” Gahan is shocked.

  “Yes, I know the perfect spot for it. So let’s talk price.”

  “Price?” Gahan doesn’t know what the universe is coming too.

  Lisa smiles as she sits back in the transport, ignoring Agee and Kirk’s frowns. She not only purchased the Raptor, she arranged for Gahan to deliver it personally tomorrow. He insisted he needed to build a proper transport case.

  She then gave him the largest diamond in her pouch, telling to start immediately on building his own shop. The kid nearly fell over, Travon had. She also instructed him that while he needed to make it exactly the way he wanted, it also needed to be done quickly. For she had several commissions she wanted to discuss with him tomorrow.

  She also made sure Travon understood that if anything…anything at all…were to happen to Gahan, Dagan, or the Raptor that she would hold him personally responsible and would make sure Grim did too.

  “Mommy are we going home now?” Miki asks.

  “Yes we are baby, I bet your hungry.” She smiles down at her.

  “I am, but I miss Grim too. I haven’t seen him all day.”

  “He’ll be glad to hear that baby. That you missed him that is.” Looking out the window, the transport slows and she sees Grim standing on the steps. “And there he is.” Agee puts an arm out, stopping her from opening the door.

  “Even here?” She asks frustrated. “Grim is right there.”

  “Always.” Agee tells her. Once they are certain the area is safe, Agee allows Lisa and the girls to exit.
>
  Carly and Miki race up the steps as Grim heads down. “Grim!” Crying out in unison, they are quickly engulfed in his arms.

  “Hello my little ones.” He gives them each a quick kiss on the cheek. “You are late getting back.” His look lets Lisa know he’s not happy about that.

  “That’s ‘cause we stopped at this mean man’s shop, he was hitting a boy named Dagan but Agee and Kirk made him stop, then mommy talked to Dagan and he’s going to make us the most beautiful sun catchers Grim, he’s going to make mine blue and Carly’s green, it’s going to take a little while but that’s okay because that just makes it that much more special, right mommy?” Everyone is happy when Miki finally pauses to take a breath.

  “Right baby.” Lisa sees Montfort standing in the doorway. “I know you two are hungry and I bet if you ask Montfort nicely, he’d take you to Cook to get something to eat.”

  “Yeah!” As soon as Grim sets them down, they are off. Lisa sees two of the guards follow them.

  “Mean man?” Grim demands.

  “Hi. I missed you.” Lisa stretches up, pulling his head down to capture his lips for a kiss that Grim quickly deepens, with a low growl he breaks away.

  “You will not distract me. You changed your plans without approval.” Grim looks to Agee his eyes hard. “Perhaps I was wrong in choosing you as my Queen’s Captain.” Agee pales at the accusation but says nothing.

  “Now wait a minute!” Lisa can’t believe Grim just said that. “Agee did nothing wrong. None of my Guard did.”

  “They didn’t follow their orders.” Grim counters.

  “Who’s orders? Yours or mine?”

  “MY ORDERS!” Grim can’t stop himself from shouting. The extra time she’s been away from his protection has shredded his control. It didn’t matter that the males with her were handpicked, the elite of the elite. He still wasn’t with her, protecting her.

  “I thought they were my Guard! There to follow my orders!” Lisa steps away from him.

  “Only if I agree!” Gripping her arms, he pulls her back. “I didn’t!”

  “Are you telling me,” She rips her arms out of his hold. “That I have to ask for permission before I go anywhere, that the girls and I girls are prisoners here?”

  “You go nowhere without my approval!” Doesn’t she understand he is only protecting her?