“You do not need to accompany me for every blasted event.” Prince Latik of the Canid Royal family, second to ascend, was in a huff today. 

Protectorate Shasis Deshik took long deep breaths as she listened to him rant. He was, after all, speaking to her. Standing quietly, she held her paws together in the front, one clasped over the other. Her observant eyes watched him pace back and forth. 

“It’s like you enjoy stalking me. It’s a guarding bond, not an obsession.” 

At this rate, she surmised, he was going to tug out hair on his pelt and he really couldn’t afford the thinning that was already on the horizon for him. Still, Shasis gave him the same bland stare her father implemented toward her when she tried to gore and back to get her way 1000 different times, knowing it was never going to happen. Since taking on her role as the protectorate for the prince, she often commiserated with how she imagined her Da had felt. Whether the prince remembered her profession and skills or not, she was absolutely certain she could not cub-smack him on the back of his large head—a fact she’d double-checked with her Da and uncle. So, she played that silent game she’d created for these moments. In Conversation Roulette guessing what he might say next, she awarded herself points. 

His next complaint would probably be the conveniently often cited fact of her 20 years of youth versus his hugely vast difference of 23 of adulthood. She’d been hearing that for three years now. Possibly with all the changes taking place for him, he had not been pleased to be tied to a 17-year-old protectorate just when he turned of age. Not pleased with the pairing, nor the controls that came with it, either. And most of it happened in such a short amount of time, it was probably more unpredictable than anything else. 

While she was not the source of his discomfort, she was somehow made the scapegoat of his displeasure. At first, she thought Latik felt spurned over his brother. She knew he took it hard when his father died. And then his brother stepped into the King’s chair. The population of trillions grieving and the multiple throne ceremonies spaced over four continents, all the changes, threw the entire planet into chaos. It was a hard wrench of a tail. And then he’d been thrust into the bonding ceremony, almost as an afterthought. While Shasis was ready at 15, the delays waiting for the planet’s acceptance and his brother’s implementation allowed her additional training and a few more years of freedom herself. He was definitely stripped of his many freedoms when he became the second potentate. She was positive those crucial years were when the prince met with corrupt influences. 

As a teen, he’d been friendly and respectful. He was excited about the bond relationship, knowing her role would reduce his handful of guards and allow him a sense of independence. She’d been excited as well. It was what she’d trained for and pushed herself to the limits to achieve. And she was good at it. Still, she was greatly surprised at his clear change of attitude when she stepped forward for the bonding to find his eyes dismissive and his posture defensive.

“You probably can’t even get inside. It’s for full-grown Canid men and women, not for under-aged girls.” 

Shasis blinked and tapped her claw on her off paw, as she stood in front of him. One guess, right on the nose. Let’s see, that was point 384 to her. He might mention his mate’s speech excuse next. He really just wanted a night out with the guys. Or, it could be his weak argument that she got to do things on his royal spend. As his protector, she was accepted in almost all locations with him as a sidekick. His royal status earned him an extra seat at most tables. But businesses near the capital and around the planet could claim a fee at the end of the year if he showed up in a location multiple times. He’d started using this subtle spend excuse recently so perhaps the pal’s excuse was more ingrained.

“A man should be allowed to hang with his mates and not foot the spend for a moocher on the side.” The prince spit.

She ignored the snide remark and tapped her paw twice more for the winning guesses. As far as she knew, the people feeding him these seriously flawed excuses were possibly political climbers. As of yet, she was unable to pin down one individual who regularly met with him. She agreed with him silently on that, she was sort of stalking him in this aspect. Even in the infancy of her protectorate role, she’d recognized someone was targeting him hard to rebel against this bond. After discussing it with her father even he agreed the coincidences of his excuses were growing suspicious. 

Every royal session, aids, politicians, and journalists were at his side talking quite energetically about his role as second-in-command. His influence, yet untapped, would be important someday. Whenever she moved closer, they would lower their voices or urge him to move away. She was extremely tired of the ravenous wolf being fed in this two-wolf divide. 

Prince Latik did resent her. That was for certain. Whether it was mind-games by politicians, his reduced freedom, his limited command, her different sex, or any other manner of reason his mind conjured taking on his heightened position as second in command. It could possibly be the simple fact she could kick his ass about the practice mat, with exceptional ease. 

She almost grinned at that thought but managed to suppress it. Somehow, she knew it went deeper and the foundation was a liquid mire she was unable to stem or stop as it slimed its way into the royal family. And in doing so, it sullied the reputation of all protectorates, including her father, even with his sterling history in holding this role, and would soon be sliding down the hill to cover her little brother Spirito. 

She swallowed bile at the thought of the little guy being swept into this convoluted river of muck, greed, poison, and false pageantry. Not a day goes by she didn’t argue internally to fight harder, dig deeper, and remain focused. Who would get this mess clean, if not her? Trying to keep her purpose clear to protect the prince allowed her to watch her own back from a random toss of a blade. Her father sounded trumpets at the history of the protectorate role and here she was, in the early half of her first decade, barely holding a twine-pick with its single rubber string to pluck. And what was going to happen when Spirito joined the band?

Well, she tilted her head to the side watching the still-ranting prince. He was almost running out of steam. His jowl was puffed out and he panted with anger, spittle flying. It was absolutely ridiculous at the level he was reaching. 

She didn’t want her brother to deal with one such as this. If she had anything to do with it, she would find out the truth and make sure the royal family was well aware of the creeping descent away from morality. And at this point, she was tired of pretending to lose control of the situation.

Shifting in place, she straightened her form. Not overt, but Prince Litak stopped talking in mid-sentence. Shasis tilted her head and flicked an ear. She took a step closer to the prince and noticed when his tail stilled. This was something she could control.

“The hour is growing, Prince Litak. Are you finished telling me all the reasons why I cannot accompany you this evening?”

His frustrated growl filled the air.

She took another step. 

His eyes narrowed. “Are you completely out of your mind? I could have you strung up for threatening me, you know.” Prince Litak flung his paws in the air, a gesture of such obviousness.

Shasis lifted a brow ridge and blinked with innocence. “I have no idea what you are referring to.”

He lifted his chin and looked down at her, playing on his height, which she found extremely childish. “You are playing a game that you won’t win.” He shook his head in denial of his reality. 

Shasis moved with such quickness to stand so close to him, that she felt his hot breath on her cheeks. And she let that open mouth, teeth gleaming, come very close to his throat, a pure threat as deadly as she was. His big eyes got bigger. “I don’t care what you believe you are doing or who is pulling these strings behind this charade, but I want to make sure you and I don’t continue with either of us believing it’s working.” She stated, her tone laced with venom.

Prince Litak looked at her with a pause. He blinked and swallowed.

“Are we understanding each other?”

He slowly nodded.

Shasis took a few steps back and let her bland stare return. “So where are we headed tonight?” She commented calmly.

He stared at her and then looked away. “I’m not feeling like much entertainment tonight. I think I’ll stay in.”

Shasis shrugged. “Probably best. Your brother has a visiting conglomerate from the West Hollow Green region tomorrow. It may be exhausting. You might want to get some good sleep.”

She turned her back to him. There was no doubt he could attack her or at least attempt. But she had no qualms about his efforts, and he probably knew it. They’d sparred way too many times for her not to be able to defend herself from him. One-to-one fighting was not his best skill. Nor was he quick to make decisions. However, he was keen to hold a grudge. She was certainly aware. And he did show some skill in tactics. So, she considered that, and nothing more, as a peace offering toward his offended sensibilities.

“I do sometimes wish you were given more command with the armies, to develop a strong experience out in the field.” She turned sideways and glanced in his direction. She saw his stiff form and hunched shoulders remain filled with tension. “I grant that your brother may not be fully aware you are seeking that experience and so has not thought to offer it.”

Prince Latik relaxed slightly. Her words penetrated his brain, which fed his defenses, which cooled at her display of serious discussion, no hints of derogatory contempt. 

“Perhaps, I could recommend that he recall your grades and your focus in the area at school. I’m sure he has just forgotten. But he was impressed when you won that battle against the Bortish family twins.” Shasis turned to face him fully, with a more natural grin. She leaned back against the side table and shrugged. “As was I.” She admitted, in full truth. 

She remembered seeing Prince Latik make a specific dash early on to obtain a hammer anvil for the battle. Back then she’d thought it too heavy and unwieldy for his thinner and yet to fill out with muscle, skinnier form. But he’d handled it well and released the slave bolts of those chained in the area with precise knocks on the bolt pins. His team, along with the annexed slaves, crushed their opponents. She remembered his father was also at that battle and had sworn to all the other parents his son was uncommonly brilliant with his tactics. He couldn’t outsmart Spirito on a bad day in preschool, but he could definitely learn to recognize obstacles and find ways around them. Plus, it would get him away from this capital thieves’ den.

Prince Latik watched her and frowned. “I wouldn’t mind learning more about field battle. Those arena pens were barely enough to cover surface training much less explore full battles. Father spoke of commissioning…” his words faded as the bitter loss of his father returned.

“I know you would work hard. Your father was already proud of your skills and only at the arena level. Imagine what you could become with professional experience.” Shasis saw his eyes brighten. She did not praise lightly. “Besides, I imagine those that are feeding you what you deem important for breaking our bond would be less than enthused to learn you might scamper off out of reach and stop feeding their purpose, whatever that may be. I am not your enemy Prince Latik. I may not be your friend, but I am definitely not your enemy.” She stood from her resting pose and looked him in the eyes, as tall as her 1.8-meter height allowed, to his full 2.3-meters.

He looked back as if seeing her fully for the first time in months. And gave her a nod.

She nodded back and turned to leave.

****

As she walked down the hallway within the capital building, she wondered if her remarks were really being considered by the prince. They should hit home once he brings them up in conversation with some of the potentially aggravating parties who are trying to undermine her importance. She hoped he might take her seriously and his murmured ‘Goodnight, Shasis’ felt more natural than ever tonight. At his use of her first name, she’d raised an eyebrow ridge. He snorted and turned back to go to his room. It was rare he spared her the courtesy of a first name, drawing on the more formal Protectorate title or even using just Deshik.

“Shasis,” her younger brother yelled down the length of the hall. She was jerked from her inner convolutions at the sight of Spirito tugging her father faster to get to her. A huge grin broke across her face. It had been at least two weeks since dinner at home, and more importantly, spending time with her family. Her brother already seemed taller than she remembered. Could that be possible? If so, he was going to be so tall she would need to stretch to see his eyes.

Her Da grumbled at being pulled but was grinning at the sight of her too. 

She felt her own step hasten as she moved forward. Nothing like a little family connection to set you back on the right path. Which reminded her of her promise to the younger royal Hormet sibling. She would make a point to mention to King Hormet III, his little brother needed a focus, first thing tomorrow before the world was up and around to destroy her efforts. And maybe, her father could just mention it to Uncle Oberian, since he had the king’s attention as the current primary protectorate. My…my…she was getting sly in her position. Perhaps her gray pelt should turn a little redder, like the northern wilderness fox. And maybe, two wolves from the same pack could convince the degenerative politco flock members to graze in new pastures.

“Hey there, little brother. Hey, Da. It’s good to see you guys. It’s frightening how fast he is growing.” She bumped a paw with Spirito and leaned forward to give her Da a quick hug. “How is mom?”

“She’s excellent.”

Salor and Shasis grinned together as they both spoke in unison. “She should know.”

“Hey, do you get to ride one of the King’s horses when you are here?” Spirito asked, eyes wide. “Does the king know how to play Chittel? Can you see the ocean from the high towers?” 

Shasis chuckled. All questions she probably once had, many years ago. As she listened to him spew out more royal-bound questions, she glanced at her father and found him frowning toward Spirito, with an uneasy stare. He must have felt her gaze as he rid himself of his worried state and gave a relaxed toothy smile her way.

She twitched an ear and he just shrugged. If not for her trained eyes regarding him for hours and understanding his body language, she would have thought him relaxed and amicable. But just a hint of tension in his shoulders, his ruff was standing, and his paws slightly curled inward, she was too knowledgeable for him to get away with lying. 

She looked back at Spirito and found him gazing at her pulser handle. 

She clicked her teeth and let him know that was off-limits with just the slightest noise.

His little nose pinched as he wrinkled his muzzle when he was caught looking.

“You guys want to get a bite to eat at the market stalls near the east gate? My treat?” She winked at Spirito to let him know she was not mad.

His eyes widened and he yipped joy.

Shasis chuckled and let her father rest his arm around her shoulders as they turned to walk down the hallway toward the stairs.

While she wasn’t going to forget that brooding stare her father held looking at his son, she wasn’t going to ruin an unexpected visit with an uncomfortable topic. There was obviously something that caught the old man’s concern. Spirito was just a cub. And while her Da played his trumpet and she, her single band mouth guitar, this cub was going to be a force to reckon with. That drew her stare once more at the boy. Maybe his instrument was his voice? He was a very clever Canid. She wouldn’t be surprised to find him holding his own with any politician who dared to step into his arena. She would simply make an unplanned visit to the house this week and get the issue out in the open. She was sure it was something her Da and Mom could handle but it probably wouldn’t hurt to consider a third viewpoint, like hers.

* * *