The fading sunlight cast long shadows over the city as guards from the capital encircled the Deshek household. Queen Horment granted a sleepover for the two boys, hearing a yipping celebration, she allowed her youngest to stay the night with his friend. 

Clad in adorable two-piece pajamas and cozy slippers, they settled into Spirito’s bedroom for quality time together. Spirito’s spaceship-covered cotton PJs had a row of large white buttons. Tanue sported a fine grade of silk, patterned with leaves and green buttons. Both had smudges of sauce from the evening’s delicious noodle dinner Yilta cooked up. Neither was bothered about it.

“Let’s sneak into the attic. We can hear better up there.” Spirito whispered as the two boys agreed to spy on the grown-ups. It was going to be interesting, especially since Shasis was at home, visiting. When Spirito realized his family was staying quieter than usual, he became curious. He remembered a solution. “Shasis once made listening holes beside the beams.”

“Won’t she know we can hear her?” Tanue scrambled after his host as they pushed a chair closer to Spirito’s closet door. Inside, they lifted the ceiling panel to show a small access hole. 

Spirito’s eyes sparkled with an uncanny insight as he gave a subtle nod. “I think sometimes she does things on purpose.”

Tanue’s muzzle closed tight as his lips formed a small ‘O’.

Spirito leaped up to the hole and pulled himself inside. The faint scratching sound echoed into the space above as Tanue grabbed hold and hoisted up himself.
The rough texture of the attic floorboards grazed paws as they crawled through the narrow space, their paws brushing against cobwebs and deep pockets of dust. They moved across to the spot above the table. Crouching, they could hear the ongoing conversation clearly.

****

“Well, I can understand it,” Shasis said, the pads of her paw-tips tracing words on the Skaveen scroll, the rough texture coarse beneath her touch. “The mages read that as part of his talents. They must have seen his skill for reading others. The way he listened and asked probing questions showed his ability to uncover hidden truths. Even I listen to his comments sometimes. He makes sense for a boy twice his age. And, he is just following his parent’s teachings.”

Yilta puffed out her cheeks and Salor tapped his claws on the table. Neither looked at each other, but Shasis shook her head at them.

“I know he follows our teachings,” Yilta rubbed her paw on her arm. “There is more to it, though. He has always had these interests. As a baby, his eyes lit up at the sight of the stars. You remember, Salor, his favorite toy, was that little stuffed bug, a replica of a Winter Bleek. I don’t remember where we found it and I had never heard of that creature before. Then I found out it’s a mythological water beetle constellation clear out past Pomdomara. We only see that planet every eleventh year. At three, Spirito says he “once saw this beetle crawling across the night blanket.” Yilta held up her claws in imaginary quotes.

Shasis snickered.

Salor didn’t laugh. “Just last month, he begged me to take him on the tour of the Elementor Spaceship. I don’t know how he discovered the news of the spacecraft docking at the spaceport and the authorities permitting guided tours. Why would he expect me to bring him to see a spaceship? I’ve never even been on one. Imagining the vast emptiness and isolation in space makes my stomach clench, with the absence of any scent left the air.” He stuck his nose upward and his nostrils flared wide.

Shasis smiled. “I’ve been on three ships now. The protectorate travels with the Prince and my Prince travels for his brother often. Two trips were to different parts of the planet. We used a royal spaceship to reach our destination in just a few hours, a journey that would have taken weeks by skimmer or months by ground travel. However, there were plenty of smells if you were worried. The sterile, metallic scent of the spaceship’s interior mingles with the whiff of fuel and makes you just sick enough to wish you’d never boarded as it propels us forward.

Salor stared at her and shook his head.

Shasis continued. “I’m sure he heard about it from Prince Tanue. If I know my brother, his friend has listened to many an eager discussion of the latest discoveries and theories on the wonders of outer space. I will, however, discuss security with Prince Latik. He should not let his men talk of recreational off-hours topics around his little brother.”

Salor’s ears twitched. “We don’t know that as truth, Shasis. A concise whisper directed towards the Queen would convey the message.” 

Yilta coughed. “You two are overachieving. Why don’t you just mention it to Prince Tanue as a security issue? The boy is smart.”

Salor harrumphed. “Not as smart as my son.”

Shasis clicked her teeth together. “But smarter than his older brother.”

Yilta sighed. “Protectorates and politics are like two children playing a game of Simonus Says. They both expected rules to be followed, but both cheat when nobody’s looking.” She caught two sets of eyes staring at her and smiled. “I’ll take these dishes to the kitchen.” With a firm grip, she balanced the stack of dishes and made her way toward the kitchen, leaving behind the two silent figures.

“I don’t know if that woman should have been a protectorate or a politician. Either would be lucky to have her.” Salor sighed.

Shasis nodded, and they both gave each other a toothy smile.

The faint scent of polished wood mingled with the air as Salor tapped his claw once more. “Are you still having issues with him?”

Shasis’s face lost its humor.

Salor held up his paws. “I haven’t heard from you since he returned two weeks ago.”

Shasis bit her tongue and released it. “Yes, well, field training did wonders to give him confidence and now that he’s back, he has his sights on a Captain Commander position. He is nowhere close to that level of experience, but his head is growing bigger. And my words are moot. I’m just the protectorate. How could I understand such levels of command?”

Salor laid his palm on the table and slowly moved it as if stirring a thick brew. “Perhaps, you can show him where he needs training, without him feeling undermined.”

Shasis tilted her head but twitched her ears forward, listening.

“Isn’t his birth day soon to come? You could make him a gift he would consider worthy and important enough to accept as given between him and his protectorate.”

Shasis lifted her brow ridge.

Salor’s nod felt decisive, a subtle movement that conveyed a firm grasp of the situation. “I know just the one.”

Yilta returned, setting slices of sponge cake down on the table for them both. I’d like to offer this to the boys before they bathe and brush their teeth.

****

Spirito and his friend scrambled down from the opening to jump onto the bed. Spirito grabbed a pillow and smacked the prince with it. The ensuing pillow fight was all shouts and giggles.

Yilta walked in just in time to save the lamp from falling onto the floor, with a quick hip movement.
“Put down that pillow now, Spirito Deshik, and come get this cake. Or you won’t understand how fast I can ask Queen Horment to allow me to spank you both.”

The boys dropped the pillows and quickly retrieved the sponge cake offerings. 

“Thank you, mama.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Deshek.”

Yilta gave a curt nod and turned to leave.

The boys both sat eating the cake quietly.

“Do you think I’m smarter than Latik?” Tanue asked.

Spirito smiled. “I knew you’d enjoy hearing that.”

Tanue smiled. “But do you think I am?”

Spirito gave a slow shake of his head. “Not yet. He has more knowledge than you. But he’s what my sister calls stubborn as a tap shoot. The Taple tree seed stays underground for years. Your brother fights everything.” 

Tanue nodded, clearly understanding what Spirito was talking about.

But pretty soon, you will grow up. By learning about kingship and trying to be a good king, you can surpass your brother. Shasis says he doesn’t have that much patience to learn about that role.”

“So, you think I can get smarter than my brother? So, can I get smarter than you?”

Spirito shrugged. “I think you could. But we are different.” 

Tanue shoved a huge bite into his mouth and tilted his head.

Spirito licked the cake off his own muzzle with a quick swipe. “It’s like we aren’t the same. And because we are different, we know different stuff. Like we are both studying defense, right? But I take extra lessons and study three different styles. You are only learning basics really well. So, you won’t ever be smarter in that area than me.”

Tanue nodded. “I get it. And you won’t ever be smarter than me about becoming a king.” 

Spirito agreed.

“So, what else will you be smarter than me? Maybe I’d like to study those areas as well.

Spirito grinned. “That’s for me to learn and for you to find out.”

Tanue set his plate on the night table and, as he turned, he shoved a pillow into Spirito’s side.

Spirito squeaked.

“I guess I know how to pillow fight better than you.” Tanue grinned.

Spirito quickly shoved the prince off the bed with a well-placed foot.

Tanue looked up from the floor with a wrinkled muzzle. “Maybe not.”

They both laughed. 

****

Spirito listened to his friend breathing deeply beside him. The boy was a log and barely twitched in his sleep. But Spirito felt restless. He couldn’t get his mind to settle. His brow ridges furrowed as he tried to recall the exact details of Shasis discussing the Skaveen. He remembered the reading so differently. The Skaveen aid simply said he had provided all that they needed for his destiny’s reading. And asked him if it hurt, in a teasing manner. Spirito remembered shaking his head. But one looked at his father and he felt an odd sensation sink in his stomach. His father looked upset.

His Da didn’t speak about it on the way home. Spirito remembered tapping a claw against his short leg, the uncertainty of the conversation leaving a lingering unease.  He didn’t think it was so horrible. But now that he was two years older, he recognized his Da’s anger.  Was it with him? Or was he angry at the Skaveen? Turning his head to stare out the window nearby, he studied the stars lighting up the sky. Were the wonders of the galaxy that captivated him so awful? What if he traveled in a spaceship-like Shasis? He could just imagine the whirring of the spaceship’s engines and the beeping of control panels filling his ears. They were plentiful in the galaxy now. Canid is one of the major five species that Mar’s International Space Center connected with so far. What was once unknown was now known. He heard his mother’s voice whisper in his mind. 

Why wasn’t Mama upset with his reading? She just seemed a little anxious. He didn’t know why, but it left him puzzled and curious. He decided to ask her. Da said he was a smart boy. So, he should just ask. And as he made that decision, his jaw spread as a yawn took him. Blinking, he felt too drowsy to think further. His last thought was a brief moment spent wondering where Canus, his Winter Bleek stuffy, went too.