Sat, August 1
Lassander, Kingdom of Obdrest
The King’s private study
Phillip Marius, better known to his nation as Phillip V, and to the world as King of Obdrest, felt every one of his 71 years. He had never wanted the crown, and with two older brothers, two nephews, and a positive horde of his brothers’ grandchildren – not to mention great-grandchildren, he’d never expected to be. But the past few years had seen one death after another.
Today, he was sitting in his study, waiting for the phone to ring. Not literally; he had one half of a pair of magic mirrors. They couldn’t be tapped, could be taken anywhere, and you could see the speaker, but it was close enough. His was face down for privacy, and soon enough, it spoke – muffled by speaking into the table: “Good afternoon, your majesty!”
He turned the mirror over and propped it on a book. “Good morning, Dormer.” The gate was six hours behind Obdrest, and it was just past dawn there; the younger man looked far too cheerful for the hour. “I take it you have good news about Christina’s son?”
“I do, Your Majesty. Prince Joel passed the entrance examination,” said Dormer, “and his father has agreed to let him come here for the year. I think that will be long enough to convince him to stay.”
“Thank you, Dormer. I don’t suppose we know for sure how a 16-year-old boy will react to all this, but you’ve got the best sense of him. Are the security arrangements sound?”
“My counterpart from the Americans is an old veteran, Your Majesty. I think you’d like him, and I’m learning by his example. The Feldarenese security services seem solid as well,” here Dormer paused a moment, “I’d be happier if Joel could stay at our ambassador’s residence, but they make a good point about the difficulty in keeping his identity confidential there.”
“One I agree with, and not just in case he decides to return to his world,” said Philip. “I can’t prove that someone was behind the deaths of Louis and Brinna, and I certainly can’t put a name to them, but I am firmly convinced that we have an enemy who can reach past our best security here. Let Joel enjoy his first year here in as much peace as he can.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Speaking of keeping him safe, keep an eye out for my sister-in-law, or someone working for her.”
“What is your concern about the Duchess of Lassander?”
“I hope it’s nothing, but Sophie is too perceptive by half. She means well, but she has a terrible blind spot for her family.”