King Nadiue’s discovery of his father’s death left him very upset. And by saying very, Shasis meant he lost his temper, shouted at everyone, and threw his crystal glass across the room to shatter into thousands of pieces. The staff might still clean up glass until the distant future becomes the past. Accepting the blame, as he’d officially been the Protectorate for a few weeks, Uncle Oberian attempted to calm his liege and Shasis pretended to blend into the stone wall of the private room often used for close visitors. Thankfully, Prince Latik and Prince Tanue were not present. Uncle Oberian thought it was necessary to address this to the King and bring it forth to his siblings when necessary. Oberian calmly explained the sequence of events leading to the later findings. He allowed the king to absorb the information, remaining silent.

“Why is this just coming to me now?” King Nadiue spoke with a tightly controlled voice, pushing out words through his obvious wall of pain. “I barely got to grieve the first time and here you are, bringing it all to me again. It’s like he is dying twice.” His face, one much too young to twist into the expression of a man twice his age, contorted regardless.

“We only determined the evidence a few days ago, and we needed to investigate its validity,” Oberian explained.

King Nadiue took a few deep breaths and then looked at Oberian, his piercing stare direct and unyielding, one of the many reminders that the entire kingdom understood reflected his close genetics to his late father’s temperament. “This can’t be happening.” 

Oberian held his paws up and dropped them. “It is true, my king. We have found evidence of direct medication changes that may have caused your father’s heart to…fail.” Oberian slid his paw down over his other projecting a calm state to anyone looking. “The investigation has since discovered Protector Deshik’s accident was the precursor event to the Kings.”

“Oh, I bet that news went down like a hammer. Salor was a rock for my father for too many years.” King Nadiue ran his paw over his raised ruff and sank into a nearby chair. He covered his eyes. “I went to see him in the hospital, you know. My Da asked me to tell him to release any thought of guilt. Accidents are undesirable, but guilt is a burning shame that he should not suffer. I was too late, or the message was moot. I could see it in his hurt eyes. He felt he’d let my father down. And now? Ha!” The king huffed out a tough laugh. “I bet he’s boiling with rage. Just like me.” The young king stood and stiffened; his paws clenched into fists. He looked over at Oberian. “What happens now? Do we announce…no…we don’t want to let the wolf out of the trap?” He lifted his chin with a demand. “What are you doing?”

Oberian half bowed at Nadiue, for being recognized that he was doing something. “My brother Salor is asking to investigate his ship accident. He has enlisted a small, discreet group of highly trained individuals to aid his research. He is requesting access from you to interview those involved.”

“Yes, of course.” King Nadiue waved his paw.

“Thank you. I’ll let him know. As well, sir, I’ve asked Shasis Deshik.” Oberian pointed toward her direction, “to investigate the hospital data and to track down the electronic trail of documents that were involved with it. She will sift through and narrow the list.” He paused. 

King Nadiue stared, then scooped his claws, asking for Oberian to continue.

‘She would like to get Prince Latik involved.”

King Nadiue dropped his paws to the tabletop, leaning forward, his claws scraping its polished surface. 

Shasis winced. 

“You know,” the king growled, “I do not want him put at risk. Not only is he the potentate, but my younger brother, who, as I recall, is currently leading the local military office to gain field experience. Another request was made. But at least, in that role, he has a dozen or more soldiers surrounding him. This sounds more like protectorate sniffing skills, one that could lead to danger or even elimination. You Deshik’s are very much dogs with bones when you put your noses up in the air to smell the burning entrails. I do not want my brother involved in that part of your roles.”

Oberian nodded to Shasis. She stepped forward and gave her half-bow. Her job was to explain how Prince Latik could help and why. Which would hopefully balance the need for secrecy with the need for accountability.

King Nadiue gave a small grin. “Calling in the big boys, Oberian.”

Shasis glanced at Oberian, but he only gave a grin and tilted his head to have her begin. 

‘Uh…yes. Sir. While it’s true, that our protectorate’s role perform surveillance and ensure controls for safety, I would never wish to put Prince Latik in harm’s way. Yet there are many avenues that we,” she swirled her paw between her uncle and herself, “have little or no privilege to encounter, without formal justification. Prince Latik, on the other paw, can easily engage with those that may or may not be perpetuating the issue we realize.”

She paused, making sure the King was following her. 

He scooped his paw again and sat down in the nearby chair.

She nodded. “We have spent the last few days assessing why there was a need to risk having your father and my father removed from the hierarchy of the royal family. And currently, we are paralleling the effects of both events,” she air quoted the term events, “with societal changes that have taken place over the last 2 years. In doing so, we uncovered an active, more violent influence growing within the capital regarding off-world policies. One that is threatening to change political powers. I’m sure you are aware of it. The influence is swaying the population to expand the Canid warriors into galactic conflict. The rise of this movement begins shortly after the abrupt end of your father’s reign, and you’re taking the seat. And we believe it has a direct relation.”

King Nadiue’s eyes narrowed.

Shasis wished she had a glass of water to drink. She rarely addressed the royal peerage, and especially not the king directly. She continued. “We have been aware for some time, of someone or some group that is using key positions of the peerage to gain footing toward this influence.” She drew a huffed a breath to make sure not to also include the fact they were demeaning the protectorate role in every rumor. “With the upsurge of increased tensions and fringe groups rising to support this political direction, it has become the single most detrimental focal point for the royalty to handle.”

King Nadiue nodded as he related it to the Origin Oak tale, expressing his father’s opposition. “It sounded like a child’s tale when he told me, but I came to understand it when I started attending assembly. He related the story of the seeds of the Origin Oak that spread across the lands, rooted in foreign soil. But when the storms came, those trees bent and creaked, their roots pulling at the soil, searching for something familiar. But they could no longer connect with the ancient wisdom of the Origin Oak. They had strayed too far from their origins. My father didn’t want those who journey off-world, spreading across the galaxy, adapting to new systems and circumstances, to become lost branches. We are a warrior race, but that means we evolve and adapt to fit our environments. It does not mean we always make good choices. He was concerned drastic strangeness would make a Canid lose sight of their beliefs and traditions, ones that connected them to their home here on Canid, just as the distant trees lost their connection to the Origin Oak.”

Shasis never met King Gidreon, but his son’s remembrance of the story draped over her shoulders like a comforting blanket. She deeply respected the growth mindset of the Canid warrior, one she continually earned as she furthered her career and training. It was not about warring with each other or warring with a distant planet. It was an embedded mentality rising from the earliest memories of attending the academy and being taught the ways. To learn of the history of the master’s that came before was honorable. You cannot erase thousands of years of knowledge, spirit, and ideology behind the Canid upbringing. And King Gidreon was against involving those of his home world in a galactic fervor of unknown wars for the unknown, to shatter the dogma of the Canid with foreign culture and propaganda. 

She wasn’t sure whether the truth of her beliefs was going to hold back the rising changes in the future, but she would support the royal family ideals, as her role required. Unlike some others, she acknowledged. Those same politicos urged the royal family to use the might of the Canid warrior forces. Which brought her thoughts back around to informing her king.

“As politics continue to stir the fringe groups and build up authoritarian regimes, we are hearing rumors of key figures being persuaded to join with the majority or lose their positions. I suggested to Protectorate Oberian that we involve Prince Latik in visiting the more popular events held by the top politicos and begin asking specific individuals some random yet revealing questions to narrow down who is influencing their decisions at court. Of course, I would be within protection for him, and we would collaborate in advance to have him understand his function.” 

Shasis stopped speaking, realizing the King’s expression was now the more familiar stoney expression he wore while holding court. She looked over at her uncle and swallowed.

“Just who are we talking about for politicos?”

Shasis hesitated, but Oberian stepped up beside her.

“We have made a list and reviewed some of the scheduled events that are planned for the next three months. And of course, with your permission, Shasis will work with Prince Latik to—”

“No.” The King held up a paw.  “Not yet. I want to talk to him and Tanue. They should both understand what’s happening.”

Oberian and Shasis both nodded.

“I’ll explain it tonight.” He looked at them with a long face.  “Send me all the details.  I want my brothers to understand. Latik should know not only the risks but fully agree with doing this. And if he does, then you have my permission to give him guidance. Provide me with updates and I want to know of any progress. I will never forget this treason.”