“Highness, it’s good to see you this morning,” Master Kiev said brightly as he stepped from the transporter.

I sat back in my chair as I felt much of the tension I’d had since walking into the living area this morning sluff off. I turned to watch the older man cross the room as he came to join me.

“You know if we are friends like you say we are, perhaps you could simply address me as Adar.” I replied in almost a joke.

That caused the man to stop short halfway to the table. A surprised look came over him as if that was the last thing he’d expected to come out of my mouth.

Crap. I should have known better than to say something like that, especially after the lessons with Dur-rele. He had spent a great deal of time emphasizing how important formalities of station were in Ethia. That it was more than just a matter of propriety, but also a matter of authority. He claimed that high borns were put in very specific placements to provide the Empire with an anchor to order and discipline. It kept a galaxy that stretch for thousands of light-years and over hundreds of planetary systems from the throes of chaos, and so there wouldn’t have to be an overly heavy reliance on military power.

Well, I couldn’t argue with that logic, but it kind of sucked that there were only a select few within the realm of my station that could address me in anything other than my title or an honorific of that title. Those like my father, the Kings, and heirs of those Kings, otherwise, I was doomed to be addressed by my title almost entirely. The hell with that, dammit. If I was in such a high class, then didn’t that mean I could make my own rules every once in awhile?

It took a moment for the man to recover. He then strolled the rest of the way to the table where I sat, albeit at a much slower rate. “Well, I am certainly honored you would say such a thing, but I’m not sure it would be appropriate, Highness.”

I waved a hand like I didn’t care at all of what was appropriate, deciding that the die had been cast and I wasn’t going to retract what I said.

“Master Kiev, you have been a vital presence for me since my arrival to Ethia by providing me with information and guidance that I have found invaluable. You have also presented yourself as someone who actually wants to preserve my life. It would be unseemly for me not to show you that appreciation in some small way. Consider this a gift for the loyalty and kindness you have shown me.”

The man blinked and paused once more, but I knew I had him. Dur-rele had also told me about the concept of gift giving in Ethia. These people took their gifts quite seriously, and it wasn’t something a person did on a whim or for no good reason. Gifts were almost a sacred thing in Ethia, and when one was offered, it was considered rude and down right disrespectful to refuse, especially if offered on by a high born.

Kiev’s face then flushed red, and he bowed low. “If that is as you wish it, Highness––err, I mean, Adar.”

He almost sounded like he was choking on my name, and I was finding it hard not to laugh. But my mirth was quickly cut by the overwhelming feeling of discomfort I was receiving from Master Kiev. Dammit. I hope I hadn’t alienated my one friend in Ethia.

“Thank you, Master Kiev, or is there another name you would wish for me to use?”

It was only fair. I had played that card with him, so he had the right to ask in return. And I supposed this would be a moment to see if I really had stepped too far. In for a penny. In for a pound.

The other man hesitated, and then spoke. “I am Elorkis Kiev. You may address me as Elorkis, if you wish.”

“Elorkis,” I said, trying it out. “I like it. Would you like some breakfast? I’m just about done with mine, but you are welcome to grab a plate and join me.” I replied nodding to the kitchen area to my left.

The other man looked relieved to have the subject changed and I suddenly had the impression that he might be thinking about how to check himself to try avoiding using my name in conversation at all. Dammit. Well, at least I knew he didn’t have an issue with eating at the same table as myself unlike those in the Zahnian Legion and Dur-rele.

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“I already ate not long ago, but I appreciate the gesture. I wanted to come and update you on events and to let you know that Captain Dexter is allowing you to move about the College now. I’ve also talked to the Quat-lo Master, and he said you may come by any time over the next few hours to do the first part of your assessment. After that, I thought perhaps we could finish that tour I promised you.”

A jolt of excitement rushed through me. I was very ready to get out of the chalet, and I really liked the idea of being able to see more of the College. And it seemed my awkward blunder hadn’t dimmed his desire to be around me at least. Thank god for that. “So there’s been progress on the investigation?”

Master Kiev paused and he seemed to be struggling with something for a moment. All embarrassment gone and forgotten. Now a stark seriousness had settled over the other man, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of concern.

He finally spoke. “No, not exactly, but Captain Dexter feels you will be safe enough with being assigned two Pledges instead of one, and of course having an assault team on standby. He personally assigned the two Pledges to you early this morning.”

Master Kiev cast his gaze over to the man standing by the balcony. He gave a start when he noticed who it was. The Master stared at Gunther as if the Pledge was the last person he expected to see in the chalet in that moment. Master Kiev then turned to get a look at Vasti on the opposite side of the room. His gaze only rested on the other Pledge a moment before Kiev turned back to Gunther. A hardness settled over the Master’s face like he had come to some sort of conclusion, or decision.

“High––I mean, Adar, perhaps we should be going sooner rather than later. There is still so much of the College to see, and if we arrive before mid-morning, we can get the assessment in before the quat-lo arena becomes overrun with trainees.”

The look on the man’s face had turned to stone, but a flood gate seemed to have opened inside the man as deluge of anger came gushing from the Master, and mixed in the anger was a distinct feeling of fear. That caused all the tension I’d let go of since Master Kiev had shown up come right back like it had never left.

I nodded uneasily as I pushed back my chair and stood up. Clearly, Kiev wasn’t happy about something and it seemed aimed at Pledge Gunther. Had something happened with the Pledge that I didn’t know about? The Master’s demeanor sent my own misgivings about the Pledge into overdrive and it was all I could do not to throw a fearful look at the man standing near my balcony.

My heart sounded loud in my ears as I began to move toward the exit, and then paused as I realized I had yet to put on my boots and long coat.

“Let me finish dressing. I will be right back, and then we can go.”

While I had been turned away, Master Kiev had picked up the data pad I’d been using to read Gunther’s file. I saw he had opened a blank document and started to hastily pecked out something. After a long moment, he handed the tablet to me.

Master Kiev gave me a nod as if he was approving of something he’d just read. “Of course, you might want to look over this recent report I received this morning on the investigation while you ready yourself. I’ll see if Dur-rele would like to join us.”

His words seemed ordinary enough, but I was watching the Master’s face closely. I saw them give the tablet a meaningful glance before he handed it to me. I also heard the slight inflection when he used the word join. My heart raced even faster.

I forced a grin, took the tablet, but didn’t look down at it until I was safely in my room. Once the door swished behind me, I glanced to the screen, and across the device were words that filled me with terror.

Gunther can’t be trusted. He’s a close friend of Hame. He shouldn’t even be on your guard right now.

Fuck.

I wasn’t surprised by the first sentence. I had already come to that conclusion myself, but the fact that Gunther was a friend of Hame’s was news. It certainly explained why Gunther was so hostile to me. But was he upset enough to slip into my residence in the dead of night and kill Haxley?

That made me stop for a moment. Had Gunther really been involved in that? And if he was, would he be so bold as to come back to the scene of the crime like he had? That would take some freaking balls, but it certainly was possible, especially if he was getting help from higher up.

Master Kiev’s words came back to me. Captain Dexter feels you will be safe enough with being assigned two Pledges instead of one.

Kiev made it sound like Dexter himself had assigned Gunther and Vasti to me. And that Gunther should have never been assigned to me in the first place. So did that mean Dexter was involved in all this too?

Shit. I was getting paranoid.

“Or it could have just been a scheduling mixup or miscommunication.” I said out loud in an attempt to calm myself down.

I needed to shake this off. There were three other people in this apartment, if Gunther wanted to make a move against me, he’d have to take everyone else out too. He’d have to get me alone, which I realized I was alone in my bedroom with the balcony wide open, and him only a few quick steps around the corner.

Crap. I raced over to my closet, pulled out a cobalt blue long coat and a pair of black boots. I slipped the boots on quickly, and was walking and stuffing my arms in my coat as I rushed back into the living area. I was relieved to see Kiev and Dur-ele waiting for me.

Master Kiev gave me a relieved smile as well when he saw me. “Ready to go?”

I nodded leading the way to the transporter. “Very much so.”