The Acolytes of Crane (Theodore Crane, #1)(88)

The guard knowingly leaned in and whispered into my ear, ‘Let your memory of the ambush go. Put it behind you. I know you are rattled, but this is right up your alley. Take a deep breath. After you exhale completely, squeeze the trigger.’

I followed his lead exactly and nailed a bull’s eye with ease.

‘Hey!’ Dan yelled in astonishment.

I turned back to the boys with a wicked smile. ‘There’s more.’

I proceeded to nab five more bull’s eyes in a row.

The boys were shouting about luck from behind me.

The lead guard, sporting a wide, beaming grin, sauntered over to my side. ‘I think we have a natural here. Shooting a rifle just doesn't seem to be the thing for you, boys. I hate to say, but she showed you. Now, there was a purpose to this lesson. I wanted to show everyone that all weapons are suited for certain body types and attributes. Yes, it is great to be proficient with many weapons, but it is best to perfect your skill with one that suits you.’

‘So what does this mean for us, right now?’ Lincoln asked.

‘We have already scanned you aboard the Uriel, and we know exactly what weapons to issue all of you. I knew Mariah would be the best with the rifle. We will stop by the armory on the way to meet King Trazuline. There, we will issue weapons that we designed specifically for each of you,’ the lead guard said. ‘Oh, and my name is Pritok, but I still prefer to be called sir. Xalag and I are special aides to His Majesty.’ He pointed to one of the guards directly behind us.

Another man dressed in the same attire as our guard ran over and said, ‘The king’s escorts made it out safely. One of the wounded is in the infirmary. He requested your presence, my Captain.’

Pritok looked at us and said, ‘I have to go. My troops will take it from here. We will meet again someday. I am sure of it. Doviant. It means good luck.’

The nameless guards brought us to our rooms after we received our previously issued weapons and equipment, the ones from the Uriel, through shipping crates. These crates had been hauled into the castle through a hydraulic hover lift. We radiated pride as we truly felt that the king was taking our role very seriously, treating us like privileged guests. The guards told us that the king was waiting for us at the castle’s lounge.

We left to meet the king, after dropping off our gear in the dorms. We were marched to what we were told was the king’s strategy room. Our newly assigned escorts kept staring at us and keeping a respectful distance from us, as if we were celebrities.

To the uninitiated, a strategy room conjured up the image of a drab boardroom, replete with whiteboards, projector screens, and a huge oval table in the center, covered with wood veneer. However, the king’s strategy room was elegant, consisting of an enclave much like that of a church’s alcove. A round room, it had oak furniture, a marble floor, and stained glass windows showing medieval-themed motifs. As I approached the king, I could see that he had a hearty pitcher of beer right beside him. In the room was a body odor that could make a bum’s nose crinkle.

The closer we were to the king, the more I wrapped my face with the scarf to filter the stench.

Upon our arrival, King Trazuline stood up strong and prideful. He sounded irritated and disappointed.

‘Well, how was your trip through the town?’ he asked, and none of us responded. His tone was slightly sarcastic. ‘That is precisely why you are here. You are lacking a defined leader, and your confidence is impaired. What will you do when you are shoved into battle?’

‘We will fight, your majesty,’ Lincoln said. I was surprised to see his assertiveness, since he was the more cerebral one.

King Trazuline sneered. ‘Like you did in the bazaar? I specifically instructed you not to stop. You could have all been killed. Your assigned guard detail will be increased. One guard for each of you.’ Sitting back, he took another swig of his suds. He burped out loudly and said, ‘Want some?’

‘No, thanks,’ Dan politely declined. We exchanged startled glances at each other.

After wiping his mouth, the king shook a finger at us. He gazed into Lincoln’s eyes, and scolded,

‘I had you humans ranked among the top of the recruits. You are all brilliant, but you have failed me with your cowardice. To see you run like sissies after that tea party with the Rangiers just outside the castle.’

The boys were stunned. I think they even believed him, becoming ashamed of themselves.

That was all the fuel I needed; no one talked to us like that. My mother would give me hell if I let any man, alien or not, push me around. I didn’t care—for that one fleeting second—if this was a king of an entire planet, imbibing a brew right in front of us. That he had millions in his servitude and was the right-hand man of the demigod Zane. ‘Respect is earned,’ I affirmed to myself, seething. I was ready to blow up in the face of that arrogant beast. To the boys’ shock, I stormed over to him with my fist clenched and my posture straight.

I said, ‘Listen here! We are strong and will fight for you, if you just give us a chance!’

“That was all that came out of my mouth before I felt a crushing weight on my back. I had to kneel as if bowing to his glory. He made me cower with his rolesk.”

“From what I know about you, Mariah, I cannot imagine you taking that,” the warden says. I am still in the holding room with the warden, halfway done with my story.