Crito lay next to Chapado and stroked her hair. He knew he wasn’t her first lover since she came to Sen-gan and he wouldn’t be her last. He didn’t care. He also didn’t know if it was a good idea to get involved with an immortal. But he’d kept an eye on her for the last five years and trusted her. And things had turned out fine this evening. He smiled. She did too. She kissed him. “Stay the night,” she requested. “I can’t. I need to get on duty.” “Can’t you skip?” She suggested. He shook his head. He had never skip, would never skipped. “I’m the bodyguard for Prince Tolin.” “Come back when you get off?” That request surprised him. “You’ll probably be up. I won’t get off until mid morning.” He didn’t know if he should continue this. But he would as long as she wanted. He was tired of being cautious, tired of being alone. He might never have a family, but he could have company for as long as this lasted. “Then, maybe when you get up tomorrow,” she offered. He nodded. “I’d like that. But I can’t be late.” He started to get up. She kissed him again. “I have to go,” he insisted and pulled away. He dressed and hurried to the healer’s room. “Where have you been?” Merton asked. Crito frowned. “Am I late?” Had he misread the clock again? “No, but you’re usually fifteen minutes early.” “Anxious to get back to your wife?” Crito grinned. Merton frowned at the implication and his tone. Crito sobered. It was one thing to talk like that in the barracks or down in the prison, but not while they were on duty in the palace or in front of the king’s brother. “Sorry, sir. That was inappropriate. “How did things go today?” Crito asked. “Well. No one came besides those who were expected. At night, he’s to have no visitors except his family or his majesty’s. And I don’t mean shepol.” “Shepol?” Crito frowned. He knew it was a dragon word, but couldn’t remember what it meant. Merton had grown up in Bisfip and had known dragons. “Dragon family. His adopted daughter’s birth father’s cousin’s roommate who he claims as family because they spent five minutes together.” Crito nodded. “Understood. What about the dragons?” Merton nodded. “The ones usually here can visit. The only healers allowed are Shunati, Thailyn, and Lamdi, no one else. Ivee is the page on duty. She’s the only servant allowed.” “Ivee? The little one who braids her hair on the side to hide a scar above her ear?” “She’s the one. And he can only have food brought by the healers. If they need help carrying it, unless it’s the family, they need to check it. Make sure they remember.” “Yes, sir.” “Very good. He’s your responsibility.” Merton saluted and left. Crito took up watch where Merton had been. “You’re not going to stand there all night, are you?” Tolin asked. Crito nodded. “It’s my job to keep you safe. This spot is the best for watching both the window and the door.” “Remtani said that this was like when you watched Ann. You didn’t stay in her room.” “Ann’s room was on the garden side. The windows were watched by the guards in the garden. You’re on the outer wall. Those guards don’t come past as often. I was told to stay in the room.” Tolin frowned. “At least sit someplace. I can’t sleep with you standing there.” “Sorry, sir. I have my orders.” “I’m ordering you to sit.” “You don’t outrank me, captain.” Tolin tried to raise an eyebrow, but it was on the side that was affected by the stroke. “A prince doesn’t outrank a soldier?” “Not on duty, nor does he outrank the king or prince-general. My orders come from his majesty.” Tolin frowned. “I trained you too well.” “Yes, sir, you did.” Crito had come to Sen-gan and tried to enlist when he was fourteen. He hadn’t been allowed, even though he’d lied about his age, but some of the soldiers had seen his potential and mentored him. Tolin had allowed him to help in safe duties and train with the soldiers. “So who is she?” Tolin asked. “Excuse me, sir?” “Who’s the woman that made you late?” “I wasn’t late.” “For you, you were. And you never make lewd comments on duty unless you’ve been with a woman.” “The stroke didn’t affect your reasoning.” “So who is she? One of the soldiers?” “No, sir.” “Who? Crito, tell me. I’m bored already and it’s only the first day.” “Perhaps we should see if Rejenn can visit tomorrow. He can tell you the stories he used to tell your girls.” “Crito,” Tolin growled, then calmed. “If you want, I can be discreet.” “Of course you can. I don’t know how much discretion is needed. I’ve never been one to hide my relationships, but she may want to. I’ll have to talk to her.” Tolin laughed. “Never been one… How long were you a soldier before we’d learned you were related to Barin? And who was your father again?” Crito frowned. He had kept who his family was a secret until Barin was pledged to Janta. He would have liked for it to never be known, but he couldn’t ask that of her. “I meant my relationships with women.” “Both of them?” Tolin teased. “It was four, now five.” “It’s not one of my girls, is it?” “Shuli is half my age and Chirin is still a child.” “She’ll come of age next month.” “Which makes her a child this month,” Crito insisted. “Besides, I know what would happen if I slept with either of them. His majesty wouldn’t get a chance to hang me. You would do it and it wouldn’t be by my neck.” Tolin nodded. “So who is it?” Shunati entered. “Good evening. How are you feeling?” “Bored,” Tolin grumbled. “Good. That means you aren’t exerting yourself.” Shunati took Tolin’s hand. “Sorry I didn’t make it to the barroom,” he told Crito. “It’s alright.” “Crito wasn’t in the barroom,” Tolin informed him. Shunati looked at Crito. “Something happened in the barracks?” Crito shook his head. “No.” “He wasn’t in the barracks. He was with a woman.” Shunati grinned. “Oh?” “But he hasn’t told me who. Do you know?” “It’s not my place to gossip.” Tolin laughed. “Since when? The only bigger gossip was Miramar.” “He’s standing right here. Ask him. I’m on duty. I need to check other patients.” “It’s about time,” the elf muttered to Crito as he left. “So, she’s someone Shun knows. Do I know her too?” “Yes, sir.” “You’re going to make me guess, aren’t you?” “Yes, sir.” “I could order you.” “You still don’t outrank me. I could have told you her name to start with. But it’s ten minutes later and you’re still trying to find out. You did say you were bored.” Crito smiled. “Is she a noble?” “No, sir.” “A servant?” “No.” “Is she someone I’m related to?” “I believe the word Merton used is shepol.” “Half the kingdom is my shepol.” Crito grinned. “Only half?” “Is she younger than you?” “No, sir.” “Older?” “Yes.” “By how much?” “I don’t know. I didn’t ask her age.” “Then how do you know she’s older?” “Because she is.” “Is she going gray?” “No, sir.” “Then how do you …” Tolin stopped. Crito grinned again. He knew Tolin had figured it out. “You and Chapado?” Crito nodded. “You know she’s not the type to settle down.” “I’m forty five, sir. I’m not looking for a wife.” “What are you looking for? In the thirty years I’ve known you, you’ve shown interest in four women and none lasted more than a month.” “Things just never worked out. Some people aren’t meant for marriage.” “You prefer men?” “You know I don’t, sir.” “You like women, don’t want to get married, and don’t want to sleep around. What is it you do want?” “I’m a soldier, sir. A family would hinder that.” “Troll spit it would. I have a family, remember?” “Sir, it just wouldn’t work for me.” “Is it because of your dad?” “My dad, sir?” “You’ve never mentioned him but from what Barin has said, he was no one who should have been a father.” Crito’s father had been worse than a troll and it had made Crito unsure about becoming a father himself, but he wasn’t the reason Crito avoided relationships. “This room isn’t secure, sir. I’d rather not discuss my reasons.” “We could have Ann secure it,” Tolin suggested. “Healing rooms aren’t to be shielded that much. Besides, she had a busy day. I imagine even she might need a rest.” “What happened?” “She was helping shield the kids for testing.” “What kids?” “You didn’t hear?” Crito explained about the kids and their rescue attempt and testing. By the time he was done, Tolin was beginning to drift off. He stayed quiet and let the prince sleep. He thought about Chapado. He wondered if she would want to hide the relationship. Usually she didn’t, unless it was with a married man. He knew there weren’t many of those. He’d been watching her. He’d received one gift from his father, not his life, not the curse he’d inherited, but something his father had taught him. Watch everyone. Pay attention to everything they did. You would understand things so much better. It had served him well. It not only helped him become a guard in the palace, a high honor, but an honor guard. This position gave him access to even more information. He used that to help him do an even better job. He wondered if that was what Chapado saw in him, an information source. He trusted her. She’d shown a loyalty to the royal family one wouldn’t expect from a foreigner. He would still be careful what he told her. *** Ann entered in the morning, carrying a breakfast tray. She set it down. “He’s not supposed to eat anything unless the healers bring it.” “Shunati’s on the way. He gave it to me to carry. One of the pages fell on the stairs. He can check it before Uncle eats it.” Crito nodded. “Any sign of Vishom or Klilom or whatever his name is?” “Not yet. When you see Chapado, would you tell her the spell didn’t work?” “When I see her?” “She makes the pages nervous. I’m sure you’ll see her when you get off duty.” Her grin told him she knew about the previous evening’s activities. “If you don’t want people to know, have her use a silence spell.” He frowned at the thought of being overheard. “Just be glad Cari’s room is shielded.” “Sorry.” “Don’t be. It’s good to see you enjoying yourself. “I’m heading to Paosij today. Is there anything you need before I go?” He shook his head. She nodded and left. Tolin was still sleeping when Merton arrived. The guard was grinning when he entered but frowned when he saw that Tolin wasn’t awake. “Shun said he’s fine and needed his sleep,” Crito reported. “He’s been checking every half hour.” “Any visitors?” “Princess Ann brought in the food. Shun checked it.” Merton nodded. “I’ll see you tonight.” Crito nodded and left. In the hall, he saw the reason for Merton’s grin. Chapado was waiting for him. She leaned in to kiss him but he pulled away. She frowned. “I’m on duty,” he explained. “Still?” “I need to report to the duty commander.” “And then?” “I should be off duty and I’m getting breakfast. I’m starved.” He started towards the barracks. “May I walk with you?” She requested. “You don’t have a problem with people seeing us together, do you?” He asked. She shook her head. “I know how to be discreet.” Crito nodded in agreement. “Like the redhead from town.” She raised an eyebrow. He smiled. She had thought they’d been discreet. Compared to most relationships, they had been. “But Prince Tolin and Princess Ann already know. If she knows, then Prince Andy most likely does too. And Merton suspects.” Chapado waved it off. “I did walk with him this morning. Did you want to keep us a secret?” He shook his head. “Why would I care?” “In the time I’ve been here, you haven’t once been around a woman in anything but a professional manner. I figured you were either the most discreet man in the world or the loneliest.” He shrugged. “Just don’t like having sex with a pillowcase over my head.” She laughed. “I can’t imagine any woman asking you to do that. You might not be pretty, but you are good looking.” He grinned. “The last woman wanted to use the whole pillow.” In the barracks, he left her in the common room while he reported to the duty commander and changed out of his armor. When he returned, he found another soldier making advances on Chapado. Before he could do much more than make a few lewd comments, he was flipped upside down and dumped on his head. Crito laughed. “First the prince-general’s wife, now an immortal. Are you going to try a white wyrm next? Princess Ann’s married, but you smell enough like a troll that Drepal might accept you.” “If she doesn’t break your neck,” Chapado agreed. She came and kissed Crito, assuring every soldier present knew who she was interested in and the rest in Sen-gan would know by nightfall. Most soldiers respected each other’s relationships and would make sure civilians did too. Crito’s stomach growled. He took Chapado to the mess hall where he got breakfast. She commented on his bacon and eggs. He explained that he’d been on night shift so long it no longer seemed odd to have eggs before bed and he didn’t know what he’d do if there wasn’t meat and potatoes when he got up. She sat and talked with him while he ate and after he finished invited him back to her room. He accepted, still wondering if it was a good idea.