Cassandra's Challenge

by Michelle Eidem

  William looks at her, realizing he should have discussed it with her. She would have understood.

  “Okay. I’ll let the boys know.” He gives her a gentle kiss. “You are amazing.”

  “Really? Remember that next time I piss you off.” She grins at him. Her smile slowly fades, her eyes becoming serious. “I love you William.”

  “I know. That makes me a very lucky man.” Rising he helps her stand. “Kyle’s working on compiling some information for you.” He tucks her under his arm as he starts back to the building.

  “Kyle is?”

  “On Fayal and who translated the Regulian data.”

  “Really?” Her eyes flash at the thought. William shakes his head. Some women like jewels, his woman likes data. His woman….his mate….someday his wife.

  “William?”

  “What? Sorry, just thinking. He should have it for you tomorrow.”

  “Alright.”

  Entering the Wing he leads her up the stairs. “You should rest for a while.”

  “If I sleep now I won’t tonight. Go talk to your boys, I’ll find something to do on the comm.”

  “That scares me.” William gives her a hard kiss.

  “Liar. Nothing scares you.” Smiling at him she turns entering the Royal Suite.

  “Just losing you.” He says quietly, and goes to find his sons.

  “William?” Cassandra feels him pulling away.

  “Sleep.” He kisses the top of her head as he slides out of bed. “I need to get ready for Dadrian’s entombment.” She watches him head to the shower. He explained last night what would happen today.

  At first sunrise, a transition ceremony would be preformed, in the King’s private temple, preparing Dadrian to meet the ancestors. At second sunrise his funeral coffin would be transported to the family tomb, in a valley a short distance from the Palace. With the rising of the third sun Dadrian will be placed in the tomb. Then his journey to the ancestor’s begins with the burning of Daktar, the white smoke rising to show him the way. After the smoke disappears they will return to the Palace and have a meal to celebrate his safe arrival.

  William walks out of the bathroom, a towel low on his hips, his chest still wet. Watching, Cassandra’s eyes flare, God he’s beautiful, and he’s all hers. Smiling she watches as he enters the closet. Several minutes later he walks out fully dressed except for his jacket, seeing she’s still awake he walks to the bed.

  “You’re supposed to be sleeping.” He sits down next to her.

  “After you leave, right know I’m enjoying the view.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh yeah.” Rising up she kisses him, deeply. He presses her back into the bed.

  “I need to go.” He mummers against her lips.

  “I know that should hold me until you get back.” Attacking her lips he leaves her breathless.

  “That will have to hold me.” Rising while he still can, he leaves the room.

  Watching him, she tries to catch her breath. What this man can do to her…touching her lips she smiles, the man can kiss. Rolling to her side she closes her eyes. After several minutes she sighs, sleep won’t come. Suddenly a thought enters her head.

  “Fudge torta.” Her stomach growls, sitting up she suddenly realizes she ‘needs’ fudge torta, her first craving. Rising she pulls on her jeans and a shirt and heads to the kitchen.

  There it is…entering Hutu’s kitchen with the light of first sunrise showing the way she spies the fudge torta in a far corner. Pulling a large knife out of drawer she moves to cut a slice.

  “No High Admiral. If I’d known sooner I would have informed you.” Freezing she turns toward the garden door.

  “All security is in the Wing, only the Zafars’ left.” She watches as Ensign Paa enters the kitchen talking on a portable comm. She turns the knife in her hand, gripping it defensively

  “There are no plans to leave the Wing. Everyone else is sleeping.” Paa listens to Valerian. “Yes High Admiral, I will notify you as soon as there is any change, I must get back to my post.” Ending the communication Paa slips the portable comm inside his jacket, than leaves the kitchen, never seeing Cassandra.

  Sagging against the counter, she sucks in a much needed breath. Here’s Valerian’s eyes within their own security. What if he had seen her?”

  “Princess?” Cassandra raises the knife than realizes it’s Hutu.

  “Princess, what’s wrong?” He looks at the knife in her hand.

  “Hutu, it’s you.”

  “Yes, what’s wrong?” She puts the knife on the counter.

  “Would you contact Colonel Tar and Chief Marat, tell them to meet me in the Admiral’s ready room. Please.” Hutu looks at the knife, looks at her.

  “Yes Princess, of course.”

  “Thank you.” She leaves the kitchen.

  Tar is the first to arrive. Entering the ready room he finds Cassandra sitting behind the Admiral’s desk. Seconds later Marat arrives.

  “Cassandra, what’s going on?”

  “Chief Marat, would you have Ensign Paa report here please.”

  “Princess?”

  “Ensign Paa. Please.”

  “Yes Princess.” Marat looks at Tar then calls on his portable comm. Tar watches Cassandra closely, minutes later Paa enters the ready room.

  “Colonel Tar.” She looks him in the eye. “Would you please relieve Ensign Paa of his weapon.”

  “What?” Paa asks. Tar looks at her then takes the weapon.

  Standing she walks around the desk stopping in front of Paa, she holds out her hand. “You’re portable comm.”

  “What?”

  “You’re comm Ensign Paa.”

  Paa looks at Marat. “Give her you’re comm Ensign.” Reaching into his pocket Paa pulls out his comm handing it to Cassandra.

  Putting it on the desk behind her she holds out her hand again. “The other one.” She sees his eyes widen.

  “Princess?”

  “The one inside your jacket pocket.” When he doesn’t move Cassandra looks at Tar. “Colonel.”

  Tar realizes what’s happening. He steps in front of Paa, rips open his jacket he pulls out a second portable comm, with hard eyes he hands it to her.

  “Thank you Colonel.” Walking around the desk she sits, watching Paa she pushes a few buttons.

  “Paa what do you have for me.” High Admiral’s Valerian’s voice comes across the comm. Marat and Tar suck in their breaths.

  “He has nothing for you High Admiral.” Cassandra tells him. There is no sound on the other end. “You’ve lost your eyes.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Princess.” The High Admiral sneers.

  “That’s okay, High Admiral.” Cassandra sneers back. “I expected no less from a man who’s allowed a traitor to exist for over seven cycles.” She disconnects before Valerian can answer.

  Turning her attention to Paa she waits. Paa starts to sweat in the silence.

  “I’ve done nothing wrong.” Paa finally breaks.

  “Really?” Her eyes are hard. “Sneaking around the Royal Wing, reporting to Valerian who’s coming and going, where security is, you see nothing wrong with that?”

  “He is the High Admiral. I took an oath to defend the Coalition, to obey orders.” Paa fires back.

  She leans back in the Admiral’s chair. “On Earth, men in the military take a similar oath, to defend against any enemy, foreign or domestic. Do you understand what that means Ensign Paa?

  “Yes.”

  “Yet you’ve chosen to not defend against a traitor.”

  “There is no traitor. That’s just a rumor you made up to get the Admiral to help you.” Ensign Paa fires at her.

  “And who told you that?”

  “High Admiral Valerian, Commander of the Coalition.”

  “When?” Paa is silent.

  “You will answer Ensign.” Colonel Tar commands.

  “The day we arrived on Carina.”

  “After the Admira
l gave you a choice.”

  “Yes.”

  “So you’re a spy for the High Admiral.”

  “I am protecting the Coalition.” His voice is stiff.

  “From what Ensign? A little girl?”

  “No, from you.”

  “Me. How is my Challenge to the House of Knowledge a threat to the Coalition?”

  “The High Admiral said it is. I didn’t question his judgment.”

  “But you feel you can question the Admiral’s?” Cassandra’s voice is cold. “Valerian is using you Paa, to protect himself, I am a threat to him.”

  “I followed orders.” Paa justifies himself.

  “Colonel Tar.”

  “Princess.”

  “I would like Ensign Paa restrained until the Admiral’s return, kept isolated.

  “Restrained!” Paa is shocked.

  “You put my niece in jeopardy Ensign, with your blind following of Valerian’s orders.” She walks to stand in front of the younger man. “No one threatens my family, Ensign. But you are right about one thing. This is a military matter and will be handled by the Admiral. He’ll decide what happens to you.” Cassandra looks to Marat.

  “You will make sure his patrol is covered?”

  “Yes Princess.”

  “Thank you gentlemen.” She leaves the room.

  It’s nearly 1000 when the Zafars return to the Royal Wing. As they approach the Admiral notices the looks the guards give each other. They’re tense. Something’s not right. Entering the Wing they find Marat waiting for them.

  “Report.” He demands.

  “The Royal Wing is secure sir.” He reports. “There is a situation that needs your immediate attention in your ready room, sir.” While Marat’s eyes remain steady with the Admiral’s, he can see guilt in them.

  “The Princess?”

  “Is secure sir, as is Victoria. They are upstairs, they never left the Wing.”

  “Kyle, get that Intel to Cassandra, Lucas with me. Where is Colonel Tar?”

  “In your ready room Admiral.” Marat responds, turning he follows them.

  Kyle enters the guest suite to find Cassandra, Victoria, Amina, and Javiera in the common area.

  “Hi Kyle.” Victoria sees him first.

  “You’re back. All of you?” Cassandra asks.

  “Yeah, dad and Lucas are down in the ready room. I’ve got some Intel for you.”

  “Javiera?” Cassandra looks at her.

  “I’ve got them, go.”

  “I’ll get it from you later.” Cassandra turns and leaves the room.

  Entering his ready room the Admiral finds Colonel Tar sitting across from Ensign Paa who is in restraints. His expression unreadable he walks around his desk and sits.

  “ATTENTION Ensign Paa.” His voice hard and cold, Paa jumps to his feet. “Explain.”

  “Sir I was following orders, sir.” Paa can’t look the Admiral in the eye.

  “Whose orders Ensign Paa?”

  “High Admiral Valerian’s sir.” William sees Cassandra slip into the room.

  “And what were those exact orders Ensign Paa?”

  “That I was to report all movement in and out of the Royal Wing, so he could properly defend the Coalition against unfounded rumors that were causing a disruption in effectiveness of the fleet.”

  “You were informing High Admiral Valerian on the locations of the Royals, within the House of Protection.” The Admiral’s tone is deadly.

  “NO SIR! Only the locations of the two refugees from Earth.”

  “The returning QUEEN of the House of Knowledge and her family!”

  “The High Admiral guaranteed me her claims are false.”

  “And you believed him.”

  “Sir, he’s the High Admiral.” Cassandra looks at William she can hear the youth and innocence in Paa’s voice. He truly believes that the High Admiral wouldn’t lie to him, wouldn’t use him.

  The Admiral puts his comm on speaker then enters the High Admiral’s code.

  “High Admiral Valerian’s office.” Valerian’s assistant answers.

  “This is Zafar, put me through.”

  “I’m sorry Admiral he’s not receiving your calls.”

  “Put me through Lanier, or your nephew will be facing Royal treason.”

  “What!”

  “You got him into this Lanier let’s see if the High Admiral will get him out.” Seconds later Valerian comes on the line.

  “What is it Zafar!” Valerian demands.

  “I’m calling to see what you want me to do with your spy, High Admiral.”

  “Excuse me!”

  “Ensign Paa. The one you order to report to you the movements of the Royals in the House of Protection.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about Zafar. That would be treason. Palaces’ are sovereign ground. The Coalition has no power there unless asked by the Monarch themselves.” The Admiral watches Paa pale.

  “So you’re saying you didn’t order Ensign Paa’s to report the movements of Princess Cassandra and her niece to you. That you didn’t give him a personal comm,” he picks up the second comm on his desk. “Didn’t receive reports from him?” He scrolls through the comm, seeing transmission times.

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying. If you insinuate anything else I’ll destroy you.” The High Admiral is furious that he’s been found out. “Paa is your problem, do with him whatever you want.” Valerian ends the transmission.

  “There seems to be some discrepancy’s Ensign.”

  “Sir, I swear to you sir, the High Admiral gave me orders.”

  “He specifically said, ‘I order’, to you.” William hammers him.

  “I…no…he said he wanted my help…that it would help save lives.”

  “And he gave you the personal comm.”

  “No my Uncle did, he came to the Palace, the day we arrived and gave it to me.”

  “All this after I gave you the option to not be involved.”

  “The High Admiral said I would be more useful here.”

  “I’m sure he did.” William looks at Cassandra.

  She’s been listening, while no one else in the room is surprised that Valerian has denied everything, Paa is shocked and devastated. Valerian has just destroyed the young man’s belief in his commander. He is no longer the innocent young man he’d been just a short time ago. While her expression doesn’t change William can see the sadness in her eyes.

  “Princess.” The Admiral brings all eyes to her. “Your opinion.” Paa’s head whips around and she sees she’s not wrong. He’s pale with a lost look on his face and looking at her like she’s his executioner. She walks forward to stand beside the Admiral.

  “The High Admiral is an ass hole.”

  “Agreed,” The Admiral’s eyes flash at her. “But with regards to Ensign Paa.” Cassandra gives him a considering look then turns her attention to Marat.

  “Chief Marat,” His eyes lock with hers, she can see the guilt. “Would you explain to me why you chose Ensign Paa to be part of the security force?”

  “Princess, Ensign Paa while young was at the head of his class at the Academy. He showed a natural ability in the security and defense. He excelled on the Retribution and with his heritage an obvious choice.”

  “His heritage?”

  “Paa’s grandfather was High Admiral, before Valerian Princess.” Colonel Tar answers for Marat.

  “You knew him Colonel?”

  “Yes Princess. He led by example. He was killed in battle saving multiple crew.” There was no doubt of Tar’s respect for Paa’s grandfather.

  “So Ensign Paa’s subterfuge is totally unexpected.”

  “Yes Princess.”

  “Lieutenant Zafar, you’re opinion.”

  “Princess, I’d never met Ensign Paa until our arrival on Carina. I’d heard good things about him on the Retribution, from people whose opinions I trust.”

  “So you’re finding out he’s been reporting the Valerian on the move
ment of myself and Victoria surprises you.”

  “Definitely.”

  She turns her gaze to Paa. It’s obvious to her that the High Admiral has chosen his patsy well. A young, still idealistic man, who is trying to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, who up until a few minutes ago, believed the current High Admiral was like his grandfather, honest and true. One no one would ever suspect.

  “Admiral.”

  “Yes Princess.”

  “Paa’s uncle.”

  “He is not blood. Ensign Paa’s father was High Admiral Paa’s only son. Lanier married Hargrove’s third daughter.”

  “You knew the High Admiral personally.”

  “Yes Princess, he was a good High Admiral, a better man.”

  Cassandra heard the respect in William’s voice for the late High Admiral, had heard it in all their voices. Yes, Valerian had chosen well, the fucking jerk.

  Ensign Paa sees the Princess’ eyes harden and knows he’s finished. He deserves to be, he’s shamed his grandfather’s memory.

  “Ensign Paa.” Cassandra waits until he makes eye contact. “I said it earlier. The decision regarding you is a military one. Admiral Zafar will make that decision. That being said,” She turns to look at William. “If it’s your decision that Ensign Paa stays part of the security force I will not oppose it, but he has no contact with Victoria.”

  “Understood Princess.” He gives her a slight nod. Nodding back she gives Paa one last look then leaves the room.

  Paa stands shocked at the Princess’ comments and exit. Turning his eyes to the Admiral’s he realizes he’s not clear yet.

  “Sit Ensign.” The Admiral orders. “Marat, remove the restraints.” As he does Paa rubs his wrists.

  “Can you work the schedule so Paa’s never alone?”

  “The only place for that is exterior door security Admiral.” Marat answers.

  “He is issued no comm, no weapon.”

  “Yes Admiral.” Paa’s eyes widen, he doesn’t understand what’s happening.

  “Colonel?”

  “I agree Admiral.”

  “Lucas?” William realizes his son is going to have a hard time with this.