“The monk that Councilman Turlock wanted you to go see on Mars? He’s
demanding that you go see him before we return to Venus.”
Cooper’s eyebrows rose. “He’s demanding?”
“Yes, that is what I said." A muscle ticked in Baylor's jaw. "He demanded that
you be presented to him immediately.”
Cooper’s eyebrows went up even further. “Presented?” Why did that make him
feel like a prize Beagle at a dog competition?
“And just why am I to present myself to him?”
“He didn’t say, sire,” Baylor replied. "He
merely stated that you present yourself to him. You were not to go to Venus or
Earth or anywhere except the
Monastery of the Sourak on Mars. He said it was
imperative that you listened to him.”
Cooper crossed his arms, the first furrow of anger beginning to burn in his
belly. “A matter of life or death, huh?”
“I believe that was his intent, yes.”
“Bullshit.”
“Excuse me, sire?”
“I don’t know what this monk’s agenda is but he doesn’t get to demand that I
do anything. I take orders from Nicky and no one else.”
Baylor’s eyes shot to Nicky. “You take orders from the king, sire?”
“Baylor, we all take orders from Nicky, whether we know it or not.”
There was a ghost of a smile on Baylor’s face when he turned back. “I suppose
you are correct, sire.”
Cooper leaned closer to Baylor. “Just don’t let Nicky hear you say that. We’ll
never hear the end of it.”
Baylor paused for a moment, a thoughtful expression furrowing his brow as he
glanced from Nicky to Cooper. “May I speak freely, sire?”
“Yes, please do.”
“I am unused to this manner in which you speak of King Nicolas. I know it is
due to your familiarity with him added to the fact that you grew up with him
merely being a friend and not the king of the galaxy, but are you sure this is
not insulting to him?”
“I’m sure.” Cooper was actually warmed by Baylor’s concern. Baylor seemed to
care for Nicky’s well-being above and beyond him being king. “Granted, there
is a fine line between what is appropriate and what is not. And not everyone
is the same on where that line is drawn, but Nicky is cool with it. He knows I
love him even when I joke with him.”
"I admit that I am confused by your familiarity with His Majesty but I also
see how happy he is just to be with you. That bond is rare, sire." Something
hardened in Baylor's dark eyes, giving them a dangerous glint that told Cooper
under no uncertain terms that a predator lay just beneath the surface. "Do not
abuse the gift you have been given. It will not come again for a thousand
years."
Confused, and admittedly impressed that Baylor was standing up for Nicky, he
asked, "What do you mean?"
"Remember that I told you a true bond is rare?"
Cooper nodded.
"It is said that once someone has found their true bond, their souls are
entwined for all eternity. If one dies, the other soon follows, unable to be
bare the separation. If they are separated, they won't find each other again
for a thousand years."
Cooper felt a pang in his chest as he glanced at Nicky. He couldn't imagine
living one second longer than his love but a thousand years without him? "That
seems kind of unfair, Baylor. If this love is so great, why a thousand years?"
"No one knows, sire," Baylor replied. "But I believe it is because this love
is so great. And because there is no greater bond, the price is higher."
That actually kind of made sense. The bond he felt for Nicky was beyond
anything he had ever felt in his life. It felt stronger than steel and yet as
fragile as a flower. He knew it had to be nurtured in order to grow, and he
intended to do just that.
"I appreciate your words, Baylor." Cooper gave the man a slight smile so he
would know there were no hard feelings. "Nicky is the most important thing in
my world and I'll do anything to keep him safe."
"I worry that it may not be enough, sire."
Cooper cocked his head as he tried to read the silent message in Baylor's
words. "Why?" he asked when he couldn't solve the puzzle. "What aren't you
telling me?"
"I worry what will happen when others learn that you are Marsovian."
"I thought the Marsovians were great warriors."
"They were, but they have been myth for so long, I fear many have forgotten
their existence. If word gets out, many will not believe that it is true.
Those that might know of the legend and believe you are Marsovian might try
and use you in some manner that is in conflict with the High King's needs."
"I would never go against Nicky."
"You would not want to," Baylor said, "but if your total loyalty is to King
Nicolas, what would you give if someone tried to use him?"
"You're talking about that situation with
Melakon Tempest, aren't you?"
"That is a good example, yes."
Unfortunately, Cooper understood where Baylor
was coming from. He just didn't like it. He crossed his arms, his unease
growing by the second. "Do you have a suggestion?"
"As much as I dislike saying it, you might
consider talking to that monk at the
Monastery of the Sourak."
Baylor's lips thinned for a moment as he paused, a hard glint coming into his
eyes. "I don't trust this monk. I don't like the fact that he is demanding
your presence. That feels wrong to me. But he may be the only man alive that
truly knows of the Marsovians."
"If my being a
Marsovian is such a problem, why would we even bring it up?" Cooper asked. The
answer seemed simple enough. "Why not just keep it a secret?"
"I'm not sure going to see this monk is the
best plan, Baylor." Reluctantly pulling his eyes away from Nicky's laughing
face, he looked back at the man. "Isn't there anyone else that knows about
Marsovians?"
"I'll look into it, sire, but I do not
believe so." The man clasped his hands behind his back, once again looking
like the confident captain that he was. "The myth of the Marsovian is so
ancient that most only know about it from obscure history books and legends
told down through the ages."
"I'm starting to feel like a fossil."
Baylor blinked. "I'm sorry, sire. I do not understand your reference to
preserved remnants of the past."
Cooper chuckled. "You keep referring to my Marsovian DNA as something ancient,
a myth. It makes me feel old."
"That was not my intention, sire. I merely wanted to point out the danger of
not learning everything we can about being a Marsovian."
"No, I got that part, Baylor." Cooper drew in a breath, his eyes going back to
Nicky. "I just hope whatever we learn doesn't make me extinct."
"People will
know, sire. Secrets never keep. There will come a point when something will
happen and you will not be able to hide what you are. It is better to be
prepared for that eventuality than to think it will never come."
|