Stephan stared down in dismay at the report in his hands. The long awaited report had finally arrived early this morning. After briefly perusing its' contents he was reluctant to give it to Charles. The truce between Kat and Charlie was very shaky. It was especially delicate after Kat's reaction in his study. If those two didn't kill each other first, they would make a very formidable couple. But what sane person would take on a
Vindexicis
warrior and a healer that had Kat's skills? Looking back down at the report, he realized that there was a lot more to Kat than met the eye.
He slowly closed the folder and rubbed the back of his neck. If he gave this report to Charlie, Charlie would have a complete meltdown. The man was nothing if not protective of his chosen. If he, Stephan, had his way, Kat would be the one to tell Charlie about her past. The report was like handling a lit bomb. It didn't matter who handled it, the damn thing was still going to explode. He needed to talk to some one about this. But who? Who would keep Kat's secrets and know how to handle the King? And then he knew...and he smiled.
Arianna ... he decided. She would be the perfect person to talk to! She had been trying to avoid him lately, citing her duties in training the future queen. But this time he had the perfect excuse to get her alone. She couldn't say that he was distracting her from her duties.
He leaned over and pressed a button on his communications console and waited for her to answer.
"Councilor Dean, I don't have time for this!" Her voice sounded irritated.
"What's wrong, Ari?" he asked immediately.
"Those children!" she hissed. "Damn it, Charles, leave her alone!"
Stephan cringed when he heard several thuds and several voices raised in anger.
"I can't talk right now, Stephan. I have to go play referee."
"Come by my office when you're done."
"Fine, fine....Kat, it's our custom. You have to have your family here for the bonding! If your father isn't here your mother has to be..." Stephan shook his head as he heard Kat's response. It sounded suspiciously like she just told Arianna that her mother would be there when Hell froze over. He disconnected the call and looked at the folder once again. There was no way in hell that Kat would ever invite her mother to her bonding. He wouldn't either if the woman had done to him what she had done to Kat.
Then a thought struck him. Why not have her grandfather come? It sounded like that Kat had some affection for her grandsire. He punched his communications console again and asked for an intergalactic connection. Within minutes, he was listening to the ring of an Earth phone line. He found it odd the way that they communicated but it was quaint at the same time.
"Hello?" a grumpy male voice answered.
"Is this Jason Littlebird?" Stephan asked.
"Yeah, state your business!" the old man demanded.
"Testy, aren't we? My name is Stephan Dean. I am the advisor to King Charles of Areseric. I'm calling concerning your granddaughter, Katrina."
"What's wrong with Kitty?" The concern in the older man's voice was obvious.
"Nothing is wrong with her. I was wondering if you would be interested in a trip to Areseric." Stephan replied.
"You want me to come to Areseric? Why?"
"Yes, it is our custom that a family member be available to give away the bride."
"Bride? Are you trying to tell me that my Kitty is getting married?"
"Yes, Mr Littlebird, your granddaughter is going to be bonded with our king at the peak of the new moon. That day should be in the next week or so."
"Okay, I'll be there. I'll have to drive to Iowa City to catch a flight to Chicago. That's the closest spaceport."
"I'll send one of our private spaceships for you. It will be there sometime tomorrow. I will get back to you with the time. Your daughter won't be coming with you will she?"
"No." Jason replied tersely before disconnecting the call.
And it was a good thing that she wasn't, Stephan thought. He didn't know if he could stand to be in the same room with the woman that had birthed Kat and then abandoned her to the penal system.
* * * * * *
Jason sat in his old farmhouse and gazed at the small picture he had placed on the mantle. Since his daughter had left, he was finally able to have the picture out in the open. It was a duplicate of the one that he carried in his wallet. His beautiful little Kitty. It was hard to believe that she was finally getting married. And to King Charles! He wanted her to be happy, he really did. But this custom was going to put him in between a rock and hard spot. Because sure as anything, King Charles was going to recognize him. He had been able to fool Prince Rand with his Midwestern getup and fake accent. He had only seen the Prince in passing. Charles on the other hand wouldn't be so easy to fool. Considering that he had trained the lad, it would be damn near impossible, despite the fact that it had been over twenty years since the boy had seen him. The past had caught up with him and now was the time to heal the damage done.
* * * * * *
Stephan stared at the communications console and tried to place what was bothering him. The man on the phone had been a bit short with him. But there was something familiar about him. He was jerked from his thoughts when someone knocked on his office door. "Come in," he called as he slid the folder under his blotter. He was glad he did when Charles came in.
"Good morning, Charlie."
"I'm gonna kill her!" the king growled as he flung himself into the chair across from Stephan.
"Relax, it's just the
mezclar
. It's playing havoc with your hormones." "It's doing more than that, Stephan!" Charlie flung his arm across his eyes in despair.
"It's calling to your latent power, Charles."
"I won't perform the
Traiectus
! I won't,' he said strongly as if he were trying to reassure himself.
"This promise you made to yourself, Charlie, is going to be hard to keep. I don't claim to understand all of the traditions facing a
Vindexicis
warrior but the
mezclar
