Page 50 of Bearing Secrets
“I asked someone,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I’m not helpless you know. Besides, I couldn’t stay in that room any longer. What’s going on here?”
He forced his jaw to remain shut so he didn’t gape at her in front of his men, but he could already feel curious eyes trying to figure out what was going on.
“My office is over here,” he said in a more even voice. “You can watch the review from there, my love.”
Natalia grinned at being acknowledged publicly. “Thank you.” She linked an arm through his and followed him up the metal stairs and into the second-floor office.
“Listen,” he said the instant the door closed behind them. “I’ll make you a deal, right here, right now. I’ll show you around where I can, but you have to promise not to go wandering around the house without me. Those are the terms, take them or leave them.”
“And if I don’t agree?”
“Then you go back to your old life and worry about the Queen’s watchful eye finding you if you slip up,” he said coldly. “This is no time for games, Natalia. There are things going on here you aren’t aware of.”
He saw his words sink home, and hoped she picked up on the dangerous situation she’d just placed herself in. By revealing herself to everyone, he could no longer keep her secret and safe.
And Klebra would know she was here now.
“Am I in danger in your own house?” she asked cautiously, looking past him and around the room.
“More than you know. Now, I have to go do my job. I’ll explain what I can to you later, once we’re back in my quarters, but for now, please,stay here.Okay?”
“Okay. I can do that.”
“Good. Thank you. I won’t be leaving this room. I just need to talk to my men. Hopefully I can keep calm knowing I’m being watched.” He winked at her to try and lighten the mood somewhat.
He wasn’t sure if it worked or not, but he knew he had to get back out there before the rumor mill completely destroyed his credibility.
“I’m sure you’ll do fine. Go get them, love,” she said with fake emotion, sticking out her tongue.
Keeping his snort to himself, Kirell exited the room, standing up straight.
“At ease,” he called out as the men came back to attention. “At ease.”
They relaxed, feet apart, hands behind their backs. The guards weren’t a military outfit, not exactly, but they acted like one much of the time.
Basic training procedures were drilled into all new recruits, including coming to attention and parade rest. They didn’t do any marching drills and the like, because nobody wanted that sort of formality in the House.
He stood in front of them and looked them over. His senior men stood in front.
Kellas, an old friend.
Kedd, an acquaintance, but a good soldier.
Klaue. A relative unknown, but from all reports, an outstanding soldier and his seniormost man.
Krave. He knew almost nothing about the man, except what he’d read in his folder. Solid. Loyal.Eager but unimaginative, according to the late and unlamented Captain Kven.
He looked them over along with the other soldiers, many of whom he recognized, and tried not to let his heart ache over those missing from the formation. There were several new faces, soldiers who had been assigned to other locations but who had returned home to assist the House in its time of need.
The speech he’d come up with in his head faded away as he looked over the assembled men.Now isn’t the time for speeches.He’d thought it was, but one look at the hardened faces staring back at him changed his mind. No, now was the time to address them personally, not as a group.
“I’m not going to sugar-coat things for you,” he said calmly. “You all know what happened last week, how Ursa was nearly torn in half by greed, gluttony and a lust for power… How those traitors to the throne rose up and nearly overthrew our rightful rulers. None of that was kept secret, and many of you fought with me to cut out the cancer.”
He paused, looking over the assembled shifters, from his highest-ranking officer down to the newest recruit.
None of them reacted adversely to his harsh words, but that had been too much to hope for; no traitor worth their salt would let themselves be discovered his easily. Whoever they were, they could blend in, slipping right under everyone’s noses.
“There are sixteen of us, and we need to do the job of over twice our number, if we are to keep the House protected. That’s a lot of work and there’s no way around it. We lost a lot of good men in the fighting, and I will not see their memories tarnished by us slacking in our duties.”
