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Authors: C. R. Daems

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BOOK: Black Guard, The
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"Since Prince Badal has picked you
as his personal bodyguard, I have no doubt that you are good at what you do.
But the only proof that counts is if you can keep Prince Badal alive when he is
attacked. Unlike a match between two persons, there will be no notice, no
choice of weapons, and no artificial determination of winning. The Prince
either lives or dies. My teams and I are members of the Black Guard; therefore,
we have proven we’re qualified. Whether you or anyone else is qualified or not
means nothing to me," I said, preparing for some macho move from one of
them. Dara’s face broke into a smile as his hand slid towards his weapon. I hit
the release on my whip, and it dropped lose. The Prince’s face lost his amused
look.

"Prince Badal, I’ll wager I can
separate Dara’s head from his body before he can pull the trigger on that
weapon he’s considering drawing." I stood ready, watching no one but aware
of everyone in the room. "That includes your other guard if he
interferes."

Silence followed as Dara considered his
options, which weren’t good. If he backed down he would look foolish and admit
I was better, at least, in his mind. If he tried to kill me, he faced a Black
Guard with an unknown weapon and risked death. And if he killed me, what would
Badal think and would the Guard leave?

"Dara, relax. Captain Sapir, you
said matches prove nothing but you were quick to incite one." A smile spread
back on his round face.

"Prince Badal, I gave warning only
because you started the tension by suggesting a match, which encouraged Dara to
be aggressive. You seem to think this is a game or need proof that we can
protect you. I’m here because you hired us. If you would prefer your private
bodyguards, that is fine with me. It will give me more guards for your
family."

Silence followed. Dara was furious but
unable to take any action. His sidekick stood staring at me like I’d grown
horns, the colonel appeared amused, and the Prince stood staring at me as if
that would help him make a decision. When he finally spoke, he surprised me.

"Is that whip really that
dangerous?"

"It will go through skin and bone
like a wire through cheese."

"Doshi informs me you and your
team would like a tour of the palace and to meet my family."

"Yes, I would have my team take up
their responsibilities immediately. It will give your family time to adjust.
Guarding someone while traveling is different from guarding someone in their
own environment. A few days adjustment would be helpful."

"And you need me?"

"I think it would be beneficial for
you to be able to recognize my Guards’ faces, and helpful if you introduced us
to your family. You are placing their lives in our hands.

* * *

After I collected Lieutenant Ceder and
my three teams and introduced them to the Prince, we proceeded down the hallway
into the East wing, which was reserved for the Prince and his family. At the
intersection, we were led right and into the first room on the right where two
women stood, obviously having been warned we were coming. Badal approached the
small petite woman, whose eyes locked onto me after a quick survey of the
others. Another young woman stood a few steps behind her.

"Captain Sapir, my wife Princess
Sophia, and my daughter, Princess Jovana," he said, emphasizing the titles
as he introduced them. I gave each a small nod of recognition.

"Ladies, I will be assigning each
of you a team of six. One member of that team will be in your sight except when
you are alone in a room we can protect." I said.

"That will be very invasive,
Captain Sapir," Sophia said.

"We, the Black Guard, are very
good, Princess Sophia; however, we cannot protect you if we cannot see you. In
your home, we can control who is in the building and can identify those
authorized to be there. When you are traveling, we cannot. So yes, it will be
invasive but necessary if we are to provide you adequate protection."

"What if we don’t want someone
following us?" Jovana said, frowning.

"Unless your father stipulates you
do not need protection, it’s not optional."

"You work for us," Jovana
said, placing her hands on her slender hips.

"That is not exactly true," I
said, watching Babal and his wife, who seemed amused. "We are contracted
to Prince Babal to protect him and his family and have configured teams to meet
those terms. If conditions are such that we cannot adequately fulfill our
obligation then we will leave."

"We are not used to such arrogance
and certainly not from a woman," Sophia said with a small smile. "But
you have a point. A contract requires that both parties agree to the terms. My
husband believes strongly in the teaching of the Prophet Nomiko, who was the
founder of Xintoism, the dominant religion on Molova. The other major Sect follows
the teaching of the Prophet Azarias who appeared a hundred years later—"

"And saw man as evil and God as
vengeful," Babal interjected. Sophia continued as if he hadn’t spoken.

"Our current laws are based on
Nomiko’s teachings. But this time the Princes are divided; therefore, my
husband will be the deciding vote. The followers of both Sects have been at
odds with each other for many generations, but the followers of Azarias’s
teachings have been growing over the years and tend to be more radical and
prone to violence. If my husband were to be killed, they would come into
power."

"Sophia believes my brother, Meric,
would side with the followers of Azarias if I were to die and he came into
power, which transfers through the male line."

"Yes. That is why I talked him
into hiring the Guard. Badal will decide which Sect will dominate, but I didn’t
realize the Guard had women. Women guarding my husband is going to inflame the
radicals among the Azarias."

"Of course it’s Prince Badal’s
decision, but if the Guard stays, they operate by my rules, which are designed
for your safety," I said, wanting it clear I would not compromise.

"My wife is right. It will empower
the zealots who see women as inferior. Even I have trouble with women soldiers,
as you noticed with Dara. But if women aren’t inferior, then aren’t they
equal?" He shook his head as if to clear it, and a small smile appeared.
"I probably won’t like it, but I’ll like it less if my wife or daughter is
harmed. Do what you must."

"Princess Sophia, Senior Sergeant
Zinn’s team is assigned to you," I said, and stepped back as Zinn stepped
forward and gave a small bow.

"If you have any concerns or
complaints, they should be addressed to me. My team," she said, and
stepped to the side as each individual stepped forward and introduced himself.

"What is the double dragon on some
of the sleeves?" Sophia asked when they had finished.

"It’s the only recognition the
Guard gives for doing your job. Not so much as a reward to the individual, but as
a reminder to the rest of us what it means to be in the Jax Guard. They were
awarded to the survivors of Lanzhou," Zinn said.

"And to those who would challenge
you."

"Yes." Zinn smiled. "The
Guard has always had a reputation of fighting to the last Guard, but Captain
Sapir and her team at Lanzhou have reminded everyone of the cost of doing
so."

While Lieutenant Ceder introduced Wahle
and his team to Jovana, I turned to Badal. "Sir, Senior Sergeant Solow
will be assigned to you," I said, and Solow stepped forward. Badal scrutinized
each individual as they introduced themselves. "Be assured, Prince Badal,
regardless of the rank or double dragons, each person here has earned the right
to wear the Black of the Guard, will defend you with their life… and rarely
miss what they shoot at."

"I have two bodyguards…"
Badal said, worrying his lip with his teeth, as he wrestled with the potential
conflict.

"So long as you agree the Guard is
in charge of your security, I see no conflict. They know you and the potential
dangers on Molova, and we would welcome their input and support if it comes to
a fight."

"What if there is a
conflict?" Badal asked. Dara stood glaring at me. The other guard’s eyes
swiveled between Badal, Dara, and me.

"Sir, your life and your family
are my only concern. We will not allow anything to interfere with us protecting
you."

"Meaning?" Badal asked.

"In an emergency, we cannot afford
to have even a few seconds of confusion and, therefore, we will not debate our
decisions. Any interference will be met with deadly force," I said, then
turned to look directly at Dara, whose hand was resting near his weapon.
"Sir, I’m sure Dara and your other bodyguard would gladly risk their lives
to save you. I do not know their qualifications, but each Guard member has gone
through years of special training to be a Guard. I began my training at age
six. You are paying for that expertise and I must assume you want us to
exercise it."

"Six… it’s no wonder the Jax are
so much in demand and expensive. Yes, you are in charge of my security. I’m
sure I won’t like it, but I doubt you’ll care," he gave a strangled laugh.
Dara didn’t look happy.

"Only protecting your life is
important to me," I said, feeling satisfied I had taken care of the
immediate issues and the situation was under control.

* * *

The next day, I met with Lieutenant
Ceder and my senior sergeants for an update on their activities.

"Solow?" I asked after
everyone had gotten settled.

"The Prince has been cooperative,
but I don’t trust his bodyguards. They are looking for trouble—looks,
comments, gestures. Particularly towards the women."

"Ignore them but tolerate no
interference," I said, knowing they or some man was going to act the fool
before this assignment was over. "Zinn?"

"Princess Sophia is being very
cooperative, although she is nervous around the male guards. Perhaps it would
be less stressful if Solow’s two women were transferred to Wahle and my team
and we provide two males to replace them."

"Yes, everyone would be happy—except
me." I laughed as I said it. "It wouldn’t affect duty, but it would
tradition. If we move members around to satisfy a contract, we would be telling
those that hire us that we have men and women guards—"

"But we do," Wahle blurted
reflexively.

"… and that they have a choice,
which is not true. The Guard will decide who and where members of the Black
Guard are assigned, based solely on the individual’s experience or rank."
I paused to look at each individual and received nods of understanding.

"Wahle?"

"Princess Jovana doesn’t like
being monitored and is nervous around the men guards. But no trouble."

"If I thought it would avoid
trouble, I might consider some compromise. But I believe it would incite more
trouble because we would be admitting they were right in believing women are
inferior. I repeat. Ignore them but tolerate no interference with your
duty."

* * *

I had just reached the front door when
Colonel Jarde arrived in one of their armored vehicles. Using my Mfi, I had
contacted him on a prearranged channel we had set up. He opened the rear door
and waved for me to enter.

"Good afternoon, Captain Sapir. I’m
glad you called. I have many questions before we depart, and I would like my
senior people to meet you. We are not backward here on Molova, just
paranoid." He laughed. "The states have a long history of wars over
borders, treaties, money, and women, among other things, and therefore have
over the centuries developed rules to reduce the carnage. No state may bring
more than fifty troops into another state or the capital, which means I can
only send thirty since you have twenty Guards. No state may have an air force
which includes any flying vehicle that is not strictly for civilian transportation,
and those have limits on size, speed, range, etc. Furthermore, no state may
have more than five hundred militia. The central government independently
maintains the army and navy for the planet. The capital acts like an eighth
State and it take four princes and the capital’s representative to elect a president
to run the government."

"Do I understand correctly that
Prince Badal’s brother prescribes to the teaching of the Prophet Azaria and
would become the Prince of Surat if Prince Badal died?" I asked, trying to
understand the potential dangers Badal faced.

"That is true and correct. He has
his own estate and a small contingent of fifty troops assigned for his
security. Religion is a personal choice and not everyone on Prince Badal’s land
follows the teaching of the Prophet Nomiko or Azaria for that matter. Prince
Meric appears to favor Azaria but isn’t vocal with his views."

"How many roads lead from here to
the capital?"

"Only one."

"If you were going to ambush the
Prince’s party, where would you do it?" I asked. Jarde would know the best
spot and the local thinking.

"Near the border with the capital.
They wouldn’t be wearing uniforms so they could easily disappear into the city
afterward. You think there will be an ambush?"

BOOK: Black Guard, The
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