By contrast, Kai sported a bright yellow tunic, more in keeping, Lance thought, with his sunny personality. His hair hung down straight in the back, not as long as Dakota’s, or even Lance’s, but nearly to his lower back. The front sections of hair on either side of his face were woven into his traditional braids and he, too, sported the same headband he’d worn that day at the stables. The beads were all in yellows and oranges and burnt reds, the colors of the Southwest, and dangling from each temple were long strands of similarly colored beads and tiny feathers. Dakota’s polar opposite, Kai grinned from ear to ear as the two boys took their places before Arthur.
“In recognition of their fealty to Lance,” Arthur announced to the expectant gathering of excited youth, “the Prince will step forward and perform the knighting.”
He looked over at his startled son with a smile, and stepped back to sit on his throne beside Jenny and Merlin.
Lance exchanged a grin with Ricky and then stepped forward. He dropped to one knee before Arthur and bowed his head. Then he stood, and the king handed him Excalibur. Lance took the fabled blade, surprised that it no longer felt heavy in his grasp. When first he’d tried to heft it soon after Arthur had recruited him, he’d barely gotten the sword to waist height. Now he could hold it in one hand and cut the air with ease.
He felt proud and privileged and grown up as he stepped toward the two Indians before him. Kai grinned like crazy and Dakota elbowed him, causing Lance to smile broadly. He waved them to their knees with a gentle waft of his hand, and the boys complied. Each placed his sword, point downward, into the grooves set within the stage.
Raising Excalibur above them, Lance ordered each to speak the oath of knighthood.
Kai went first, bowing his head. “I thank thee, Heavenly Father, for permitting unto me the use of this sword to repress the wicked and defend the downtrodden. You, who in thy infinite wisdom created the order of chivalry, and who planted goodness within my heart, doth charge thy humble servant here before thee to never use this sword to strike anyone unjustly. Grant me, Lord, the strength to be now and for all time, a warrior, not for might, but for right.”
He looked up at Lance, his brown eyes alive with excitement. Lance smiled and lightly touched each shoulder with Excalibur’s tip. “I hereby proclaim thee Sir Kai, Knight of the Table Round.”
Kai leaned forward and kissed the hilt of his sword. Lance looked down at Dakota, who gazed up at him with wonder in those usually taciturn eyes. He repeated the process, Dakota spoke the oath, and Lance knighted him with the touch of Excalibur’s point. He wasn’t sure, but it seemed to Lance that he saw something in those eyes other than the usual stoicism - pride, and something resembling gratitude.
Applause and some whoops rose from the assembled as both boys stood and hefted their swords overhead in triumph. Kai grinned happily at Dakota, but the Lakota boy gave him a noncommittal look in return. Then both resumed their seats down in the front row beside Reyna, Esteban and the rest of the leadership team.
Once Lance returned Excalibur to Arthur and resumed his seat, the king stood and continued with the other business of the day. He took reports from those knights working with the mayor, and from the neighborhood patrols that alerted Ryan or Gibson at the first sign of new criminal encroachment. He seemed pleased with the progress Mayor Soto was making toward improving conditions for the youth of Los Angeles, and Lance agreed. Since January was mere days away, the reforms would soon have to be implemented, and Arthur commanded all those knights on the mayor’s task force to personally monitor what was happening within their own neighborhoods.
At this point, he indicated Lance and Ricky. The boys rose and crossed the stage to stand beside their father. Arthur looked soberly out at his troops, and explained about the death threats Lance had received, and how everyone needed to be on guard at all times, especially after what had happened at Griffith Park. As he was instructing them on the essential importance of keeping Lance safe, Lance stepped forward and did something he’d never done before––he interrupted his father during a gathering.
“Uh, Dad, can I say something to them?”
Arthur turned to him in surprise, but did not look angry or offended. He immediately gestured to the microphone and stepped back.
Lance gave him a tight smile of thanks and stepped up to the mic. Ricky grabbed his arm and hissed, “Don’t do this, Lance!”
Lance looked at him, his green eyes burning with determination. Ricky let go his arm and reluctantly stepped back. Lance gazed out over his peers, his fellow knights, his soldiers in the event of war. And a war had been declared on the Round Table.
“My fellow knights, I have never been one to go against my father’s orders, for he is still king and rules over me,” he announced in a flat, deep voice. “But today I ask you to ignore his last order, and I ask him to take it back.”
He glanced over his shoulder at a surprised Arthur even as a flurry of buzzing confusion swept over the room. Arthur furrowed his brows questioningly, but said nothing. Lance turned back to the assembled knights. “The threat promised to target Ricky first,” he explained. “I’m the one the killer’s saving for last. So I want you all to protect Ricky before anyone else. That’s my order, unless my father says otherwise.”
Ricky bowed his head shamefully, feeling weak and useless.
Lance barely glanced his way before turning his eyes back to Arthur, who met them straight on, man-to-man. Arthur stepped back to the microphone, taking it from Lance’s trembling hand. He looked out at the crowd. “My son’s order stands. Wherever we may be, protect Sir Ricky before all others, even me.”
There were gasps from the crowd, even from Reyna, and much yammering amongst the others. Lance looked at his father and smiled wanly. When he turned to Ricky, suddenly the large flat-screen TV on the wall turned on, drawing everyone’s attention.
A message appeared on-screen: “Hello Round Table. It’s me, the one who’s going to destroy you.”
Lance sucked in a breath and flung his gaze down at Techie in the front row. “Techie, can you––”
“Techie can do nothing” appeared on-screen, now accompanied by a robotic voice reading the text aloud.
Techie, already on his feet, resumed his seat beside Darnell and played with the remote, aiming it at the TV and pressing every button. Nothing happened.
“I hope you fag boys liked my little surprise at the park last week,” came the next message read by that creepy, inhuman voice. “I’m just getting started. Oh, and if you think those two Indian bitches can save you, you’re dreaming.”
Lance glanced a moment at Kai and Dakota. For once Kai wasn’t laughing, and Dakota’s face looked like a thundercloud ready to burst.
“But you gave me a good idea, Lancey, with those Final Destination movies. You were right, little boy, death is coming for you, but slowly and only after it takes out the people you love. Oh yeah, King Arthur, don’t think I forgot you. You’re high on my list, but Lancey is the prize. So go ahead, try and protect your faggot boyfriend, Lance. When I’m done toying with you both, he’ll die anyway. In the meantime, get used to being messed with. Oh, and don’t count on your street trash gangster pals to save you. Right, Sir Esteban? You threatened to get me in San Francisco. So bring it on. You think that sword and tunic make you anything more than street trash? You’re wrong. Get in my way and you’ll die, too, along with your whore.”
There was a pause in the scrolling, and both Lance and Ricky turned to Esteban and Reyna. Esteban boiled with rage, and Reyna gripped his hand so tightly her knuckles were white, her face livid.
Suddenly the voice resumed, and everyone looked back at the screen. “Ultimately, it’s going to be just you and me for the final dance, Lancey boy, a dance to the death. Man-to-man. Or should I say, man to fag? Ha! I’m so looking forward to the new year, Lancey. Aren’t you?”
The screen went blank then and suddenly Techie had control over it once more. There was a moment of stunned silence, and
then chaos ensued as everyone tried to speak at once. Lance and Ricky turned to Arthur grimly. Jenny’s face had gone white as snow, her eyes brimming with tears of terror. Arthur reached out to take her hand, even as his gaze found those of his sons.
He released Jenny’s hand reluctantly and stepped forward to the microphone, unsheathing Excalibur and holding the gleaming sword aloft to quell the panic. Gradually, the knights settled back down, though Lance could see Reyna’s enraged expression and Esteban whispering soothing words to calm her.
“Sir Techie,” Arthur began, forcing a calm into his voice he clearly didn’t feel. “Do you have any idea how this person got into our system?”
The boy looked shell-shocked and shook his head. “I put up firewalls, Arthur. I thought we were impregnable.”
Arthur looked solemn. “The moment we adjourn, please review your fail safes for any flaws. I’ll have Sergeant Gibson send his computer expert to look over our system. In the meantime, my noble knights, you have all heard the threat. Lance’s previous order stands––protect Sir Ricky first, since he will likely be the primary target. Lance?”
He looked over at the boys and raised his eyebrows questioningly.
His heart thumping with fear, Lance forced air into his lungs and stepped forward. Arthur handed him the microphone.
Lance cleared his throat. “It looks like we’re at war, guys, a war we didn’t want.” He paused and sighed heavily. “I honestly have no idea who this could be or why he wants me dead. You all know me––I don’t piss people off. But this guy sounds pissed.”
He tried for a smile and there were a few chuckles from the crowd.
“Just so you know, we’re not giving up. We have a bill of rights to get passed and I’m not quitting till we do.”
There were cheers and applause at his words, which emboldened Lance. “Over the next few months, Ricky and me’ll be shopping the CBOR around to congress people, and if that means we gotta travel then we gotta travel. No one is gonna stop us.” Then he looked out over the sea of anxious faces. “I understand if any of you want to stay away from Ricky and me cuz you’ll be safer that way. No worries. We got Kai and Dakota as backup and I don’t care what Mr. Text Message said, those guys kick ass!”
He grinned down at Kai and Dakota while the surrounding knights applauded, whooped, and hollered. Kai smiled and elbowed Dakota, but the other boy remained somber, as always.
Returning his gaze to the crowd as a whole, Lance offered the best version of his winning, confident smile he could muster. “The new year looks to be exciting, guys, so I say to mister little bitch out there who hides behind text messages––bring… it… on!”
The room erupted with stomping and whooping and applause. Even Reyna joined in, leaping to her feet and pounding her hands together.
Lance exchanged a look with Ricky and saw nothing but love and devotion. Chris ran over and grabbed their hands as Arthur and Jenny stepped forward. Lance looked into his father’s eyes and saw a mix of wonder, trepidation, and immense pride. He grinned, and Arthur smiled.
Merlin sat thoughtfully in his chair, eyeing the king and his family, his expression unreadable.
Yes, Lance knew in his heart, the New Year would be fraught with danger and uncertainty. But as long as he could protect Ricky, the two of them together would for now and always be unstoppable.
†††
January blew into Los Angeles with a vengeance, wet, cold, and windy. As a rule, January and February were the months for rainy, inclement weather in L.A.––when it rained at all, of course––and the gloomy, dark overcast days made the sky look, to Lance and Ricky, like Dakota’s standard facial expression - sour and angry.
Being restricted to the hotel, however, allowed the boys to step up their physical training, especially improving their prowess with the bow and arrow. Sylvia continued coaching any newer recruits and assisted Chris in improving his technique, but the four Native Knights––as Reyna had taken to calling them––trained as a unit. At Lance’s instigation, they practiced scenarios whereby one or more of them had been attacked or disabled and required rescue.
These scenarios often involved guerrilla tactics outside in the massive back gardens whenever the weather permitted, and Lance found Kai and Dakota to be especially adept under these conditions, and fearless if he or Ricky “fell” in one of their scenarios. Lance now understood how the Indians managed to sneak past security on Thanksgiving – they moved like ghosts, silent and swift, and could sneak up on Lance or Ricky before either knew the other was there. Of course, none of them knew how or when the next attack would come, but at least their reflexes would be top-notch when it did.
The FBI sent over two agents who looked like the Men in Black from those movies, right down one being Caucasian and the other African-American, with both sporting dark sunglasses, to ask questions about the latest threat. The LAPD IT guy who’d cracked Michael’s digital trail came up blank at New Camelot, and the FBI promised to send one of their guys to do a check on the system.
The two agents, Black and White, as Lance and Ricky nicknamed them, smirked at the two boys as though just being together in one room meant they were doing something dirty. Jeez! They weren’t even holding hands! Lance was miffed, but Ricky gave him the ‘look’ and Lance’s temper eased.
Black and White questioned the boys at length, and also asked Arthur a number of questions. Lance mentioned Michael’s parents as possible suspects, and was told they were already under investigation, as were Richard and Mr. D. and everyone else Lance and Arthur had come into contact with since their crusade began. Many of these people had already been under surveillance since the San Francisco bombing, but thus far none had acted in any way that would suggest they were guilty.
The remote controlled helicopter had not revealed any useful information––no prints, no place of origin, no record of purchase. Same with the electric golf carts used to chase the boys. Everything came up blank. Black and White smirkingly told Lance to call them if he thought of anything else, and handed the boy business cards, eyeing Ricky with amused disdain as they did so.
“You, too, boyfriend,” White added as they left through the front door.
Lance opened his mouth to say something, but Ricky clapped a hand over it. “Not worth it, boyfriend,” he said with a chuckle, turning Lance’s face to him.
Lance sighed and smiled. “Is that what I am? Your boyfriend?”
Ricky grinned. “Damn straight.”
They both laughed.
Mayor Soto, knee-deep in his massive project to implement Proposition 51 and provide alternatives for needy kids, also communicated with some of his colleagues in higher office, both at the state capital and at the federal level, regarding the CBOR. He suggested Lance contact as many representatives in California as possible, and then move on to other states, to gauge their feelings about his amendments.
Many in the media had already dubbed the CBOR “Lance’s Folly,” and dismissed it as a “Childish proposal that would go nowhere.” Over the phone one cold morning in early January Soto explained to Lance, “You have to convince two-thirds of both houses of Congress in Washington to back your bill of rights, and that’ll take some heavy political stumping just to get someone to bring it to the floor for a vote.” To that end, he sent over the email addresses of every U.S. representative and all one hundred senators, as well as their phone numbers. “You’ll need every one of your young Mr. Lincoln skills to pull this one off,” the mayor added with a chuckle.
Then the call ended and Lance sat back in his chair in the library, eyeing Ricky, perched atop his lap, and his new friends sitting directly across from them. The sheer weight of what he was attempting finally dawned on Lance, and almost engulfed him. He’d researched the amendment process online and knew it would be daunting. The Congress these days was so divided ideologically that he didn’t even have a clue which side might consider his CBOR.
Those on the right might balk because they’d say
it would undermine the family unit and take power away from parents, something he’d already seen online many times since the CBOR went live. The ones on the left might not like it because the CBOR put more rights into the hands of individuals––in this case, children––and took it away from government and government agencies, like Children’s Services, which made money off of children and wielded a great deal of power over the people. So he decided it would be best to target people in the middle. Then if the others didn’t come around, Lance thought wryly, he’d bet money their own kids could make them.
Ricky tilted his head quizzically, his soft brown eyes almost making Lance melt beneath their gaze. “What, Lance? You’re not gonna emo-out on us, are you?”
Lance let out his breathy laugh. “No, and I do not emo-out, do I guys?” That last was directed at Kai and Dakota.
Kai, as usual, laughed, while Dakota remained impassive. “Lance,” Kai said with a flick of his thumb toward Dakota beside him, “when it comes to emo-ing out, you can’t compete with the champ here.”
Dakota glowered at Kai, which drew an even bigger grin to his face, and another laugh. “I am not emo,” the Lakota youth announced formally. “I just do not find life funny as you do, Sir Laughs A Lot.”
Lance chuckled, as he did every time he heard that. Unable to give up their childhood names for each other, Kai also called Dakota Sir Cloudy Boy. Feeling vindicated, Lance smirked at Ricky. “See, fool, I’m not emo. Now c’mon, you heard the mayor, we got work to do.”
He playfully shoved Ricky off his lap onto the floor, and Ricky’s expression of surprise was so comical even Dakota chuckled.
And The Children Shall Lead Page 18