Page 19 of The Alien Noble's Little Human

“I was unhappy about it then as well.”

“Now there’s a dire reason for me to go, Father. Your Highness. It’s for the survival of your granddaughter and the strength of the dynasty. I don’t trust anyone else to perform the task. And Zaya is necessary for finding the mineral.”

Despite all my doubts, the strangest thing happens. He’s starting to convince me that I might actually be useful on this mission. And it almost seems like he believes it, too.

“Very well.” The Thane nods, not revealing his inner mindset. “But not without a sendoff.”

“Your Highness, we really must –”

“Elcior!” the Thane bellows, and a regal guard, one who might even be nobility himself, appears in the throne room, outfitted in finery.

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“Elcior, my Chief Steward. Please. We must organize a dinner — no, a banquet — to send off our Crown Prince.” His eyes meet mine from across the room. “And his aide,” he adds as an afterthought.

“For when my Thane?” one of the staff members asks.

“Tonight.”

“Ah. Yes.” His words affirm him, but his voice and expression betray his hesitancy. “I shall have the household staff prepare the palace. For sundown?”

“Thereabouts.”

He nods and bows. “I shall contact the nobility and mobilize the kitchen and festivities crews.”

“Thank you, Elcior. I know you’ll rise to the occasion.”

“We shall see.” He smiles, and the Thane smiles back. It seems like they have a long kinship. I wonder if they grew up together.

The Thane motions to his son with his head for Elcior’s benefit. “We must make sure they’re well-fed before sending them on this perilous journey. Divine Ones know it’s the last satisfying meal they’ll have for a while.”

“Or ever…” I hear a guard murmuring, and the Thane’s neck twists to see who.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Taurek bows before walking out of the throne room, and I follow.

I whisper to Taurek as we race through the hall, wishing he would slow down a hair. “Don’t we have to get ready, Taurek? Prepare for a major trip?”

“The staff can prepare what we need. But if we don’t humor the Thane, we’ll never have clearance to leave.”

9

TAUREK

“That was painless. Or will be, once this banquet is over,” I say to Zaya as we walk between the palaces, in a special walkway that connects my palace with the Thane’s.

Bringing the quest to the Thane went as well as could have been expected, although he couldn’t have really said no. He just could have made it unpleasant, especially with an unknown, untested assistant. But even he realizes how necessary she is to the expedition. She’s the only one who knows what we’re even looking for.

Once we’re back in my palace, Zaya and I walk toward my wing in relative silence. I see one of my servants, Mikal, a Kiphian woman, waiting for my return. “Will you be requiring anything this evening, sir?”

“Yes, Mikal, many, many things. The Thane will be throwing a feast this evening in anticipation of our departure. Please see to it that our guest is fitted in a dress worthy of such an event. Something to go with my blue robes, if possible.”

“Of course, sir. Consider it done.” Mikal leads Zaya down a side corridor, and Zaya slips away with her. She looks stunning in the informal Kiphian clothes she’s borrowed, but at a banquet, she has to be dressed at least as well as the nobility.

I start to make my way to my chambers to get changed for the feast but take a quick detour into Hanai’s chamber. I find her asleep in her bed, a state I’ve found her in all too frequently. Never would I imagine I’d miss the headache of her running around screaming as she plays.

Her eyes weakly open as I tip-toe to her bed. An equally weak smile grows on her face as she sees me. “Papa?”

“Hanai, my love. How’re you feeling?”

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