Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3) (17 page)

“Majesty?”

Deffand’s question pulled Jotham from his memories. “Open the doors, Captain.”

“Yes, Majesty.” Deffand nodded to the guards at the doors.

As they opened them, the Assembly’s Sergeant at Arms announced his arrival.

“All rise for the King of the House of Protection,” he shouted and everyone rose.

Jotham slowly walked down the aisle, nodding to an Assemblyman here and there, as he approached the podium. Why did he feel no excitement, no anticipation for the coming cycle? Turning, he looked to the empty Royal area and felt his heart lurch. Lata should be there. She should be sitting there, smiling up at him as she always had and for just a moment he swore she was. Her smile was as bright and her eyes as full of love as they had always been, then she slowly faded away. Yet she left behind a joy and sense that he was exactly where he was supposed to be that he hadn’t felt in cycles.

The sound of the Assembly moving restlessly as he stood silently at the podium finally broke through to him and he forced his gaze away from Lata’s empty seat.

“Today marks my fortieth address to this esteemed Assembly and I am honored to be able to deliver it to you. Forty cycles… where has the time gone?” Jotham let his gaze travel over the Assemblymen gathered on the floor before moving to the people in the balconies.

“It seems like only yesterday that I addressed you for the first time. Many of you weren’t even born then, yet here you sit, where others once sat. Where others once stood.”

“They were dedicated men and women who wanted to make their House and their world a better place for their children. Some were Assemblymen. Some served in the Coalition. Some were those who performed the necessary, yet unglamorous day-to-day tasks that it takes for our society to function properly.”

“Those of you before me have the daunting task of living up to the standards they set and they set them high. As Assemblymen, you must always remember that you serve the
people
of this great House. You must make sure that the laws you enact, that the decisions you make are always in
their
best interest, even when they may not be in your own."

"You owe it to those who made it possible for you to be where you are today. Assemblymen like Pedahel Watson, Roxbert Botterill, and Stephan Michelakakis. They all dedicated their lives to the advancement of their people."

"You owe it to those that are to come, your children and your children’s children to do this. But most of all you owe it to those that are here now. Look around you,” he ordered and waited until they did. “See the people you serve. See their hopes and dreams and know that what you do in this room directly affects those dreams.”

“Yet even with all of that responsibility and power,
you
are not more important than those that serve in the Coalition. They willingly protect us all, risking their very lives to do so.”

“And
you
are not more important than those that serve quietly in the background. The ones that do the necessary day-to-day activities that make our society work. They and the families that support them are as important as any Assemblyman or member of the Coalition.”

“Queen Lata came from such a strong and proud people.” He heard the gasp that echoed through the hall at the mention of Lata. “Many considered them commoners, but I say to you there is no such thing, not in this House. I look at you, my people, and I don’t see one ‘common’ person anywhere. Each of you is extraordinary in your own way and you do extraordinary things every day. Never think that it goes unnoticed by your King.”

Applause thundered through the hall, the majority coming from the balconies where people were shouting their approval and Jotham acknowledged them with a small nod.

“In a few weeks, the Guardian, the new flagship for the House of Protection, will be leaving to join the Fleet to protect us from our enemies. And while it’s Captain, Lucas Zafar, is from the House of Protection, there are members from every House serving on her. It is a true representation of the best of Carina.” Jotham thought about what William had told him before and decided to see what he could stir up.

“We are a great people. We have a great future. The only thing that can stop us is us.” He heard the confused whispers. “A people cannot have a great future if they don’t learn from the mistakes of their past. Ten cycles ago one of ours was responsible for the death of billions.”

He heard the rumbles of disagreement begin to filter through the hall. He knew what they were thinking, Audric had been from the House of Knowledge, not the House of Protection.

“It matters
not
which House Audric claimed! He was Carinian! One of us and that makes
all
of us responsible for his actions!” Jotham’s claim echoed in the hall. “Actions caused by greed and the belief of his self-importance. We must remain vigilant so that it never happens again. So that when we become history," Jotham touched his chest, “future generations can look back at this time and celebrate our accomplishments, not be disgusted by our short comings. The choice rests with you.”

Jotham stepped away from the podium and applause slowly began to build. By the time he reached the doors to exit, the entire Assembly was on its feet showing their support for their King.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“Well, that was an… interesting speech.” Stephanie took a sip of her wine as she switched off the comm she’d turned on so she and her mother could watch the King’s speech. “I can’t believe he mentioned Dad after all these cycles.”

“Your father and Jotham always had a great respect for each other,” Jacinda said absently thinking about what
had
been said. Especially the last part and wondered what was going on. She'd heard too many of these speeches to not realize he was sending a message, but to who?

“I guess I just never realized it before.”

“Why, does it
worry
you?” Jacinda gave her daughter a sharp look, knowing her tones.

“It’s just… I told you what I want to do.”

“To become the first woman accepted into the King’s Guard.”

“Yes. Getting accepted into Captain Chamberlain’s elite training program is the first step. When I graduate from it, there will then be no excuse for them to refuse my application. No one else will have the specialized training I will.”

“And that’s what you truly want?” Jacinda closely watched her daughter’s reaction and found herself surprised at the emotion she heard in her voice.

“More than anything. I can’t explain it, Mom, but I
need
to be there. My heart and soul tell me I do. I don’t know why, but if I’m not…”

“If you're not?”

“Then I can’t follow that harder path that will take me to where I’m meant to be.” Stephanie turned tear-filled eyes to her mother, pleading for her understanding.

Jacinda felt her own throat tighten at the absolute belief she heard in her daughter’s voice. How long had it been since she’d been that sure of the path she needed to be on? How long had it been since she had to truly work and sacrifice for something? Cycles for sure. Since she’d lost Stephan, nothing had truly challenged her enough to make her move outside her comfort zone. Not until… Jotham. Her gaze flew to the now dark comm. That couldn’t be right… could it?

“Mom?”

“I’m sorry, honey. What?” Jacinda forced her gaze away from the dark screen.

“Are you alright?”

“Of course I am.” Jacinda waved a dismissive hand. “If you believe that you are meant to be a member of the King's Guard then you will be. I’ve never known you to fail at something once you’ve set your mind to it. And I will be there, in the front row, proudly watching as you make history when they pin that insignia on your chest.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Stephanie rose to hug her mother. “You don’t know what your support means to me.”

“I will always support you." Jacinda hugged her back. "You’re my daughter.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Jotham sat back in the limisin, watching the lights of Pechora pass as they drove back to the Palace. Across from him, Deffand sat silently watching him.

"What's on your mind, Nicholas?" Jotham looked to his Captain, using his first name to let him know he could speak freely.

"I found your speech... interesting."

"Did you?"

"Yes. Is there a threat that I am unaware of?"

Jotham ran an assessing eye over his Captain. He shouldn't have been surprised that Nicholas had caught what he wasn't saying. He had been Jotham's Captain for fifteen cycles and before that served as a member of his Guard. He, more than most, knew how Jotham spoke when he was silently trying to make a point.

"No 'threat' but the High Admiral discovered that Rogue Stannic has been regularly communicating with someone from the House of Protection, concerning Barek."

"I'll increase his security immediately."

"No. Barek is aware of the situation and will handle it." Jotham saw Nicholas frown. "The communications seem to be of a more personal nature as in trying to influence who he might choose as his Queen."

"I wasn't aware Prince Barek was currently involved with anyone."

"He's not. As I said, he is aware of the communications and will take precautions."

"Still I would feel better assigning more guards."

"I will discuss it with him, but you know that his answer will be no."

"Yes, Majesty."

"He won't be on planet much longer, Nicholas, and you know Barek refuses to get involved with anyone while he's on tour."

"I believe the High Admiral was the same way... until he met Queen Cassandra."

Jotham found himself laughing, "Yes, well that is true but I highly doubt Barek will find himself in the same situation."

"If you say so, Majesty."

"What did you think about the rest of the speech?"

"It wasn't what you had planned on saying."

"Was it that obvious?"

"No, but I was there when you and Chesney discussed the points you wanted to cover."

"Of course, I'd forgotten."

"It was a rousing speech, Sire. Maybe not as much to a few of the Assemblymen, but to those that aren't, it validated that what they did mattered."

"Which Assemblymen?" Jotham demanded.

"Pajari for one, although if not for Madame Pajari jabbing him awake I don't think he would have heard a word."

"I can't understand how that man can continue to be re-elected."

"It has more to do with his wife than him. There are those that feel that having someone of 'Royal' blood as their Assemblyman will get their voices 'heard' more easily."

"They are wrong."

"I know this, just as I know you voiced your support of Danton Michelakakis."

"I did no such thing."

"You mentioned his father as one of the most important Assemblymen of your reign. It elevated his position within the Assembly even though he is newly elected."

"That was not my intention."

"But it is what was surmised by many Assemblymen, especially after what occurred at the Ball."

"What 'occurred' at the Ball?" Jotham asked frowning.

"Prince Barek opened the Ball by dancing with Jacinda."

"He did that to prevent the rumors that always occur when I dance with one of the wives."

"Of course, and it might have, had
you
not chosen her for the final dance. A dance you haven't danced since the death of Queen Lata.
That
didn't go unnoticed."

"She is the widow of an important Assemblyman. It would have been rude of me to not dance with her."

"Agreed, but it was the
final
dance. You, Majesty, are single. She is single. It started people wondering."

"Let them wonder."

"Yes, Majesty."

Jotham frowned at Deffand. Over the cycles, he'd learned when Deffand wasn't saying something. "What's really bothering you, Nicholas?"

"Not 'bothering,' Majesty, rather wondering."

"Wondering what?"

"If maybe there isn't more to your relationship with Jacinda than you are letting on."

"With
Jacinda
? You feel you are well acquainted enough with her to use her first name?" Jotham found he didn't like that.

"She insisted the last time we spoke."

"I see." But he didn't. "She and I don't have a 'relationship.’"

"May I ask why not? She is an amazing woman."

"Excuse me?" Jotham wasn't used to anyone questioning him, especially not about his personal life. "You overstep, Captain!"

"Pardons, Majesty." Deffand snapped his jaw shut and saw they were entering the Palace grounds. "Will you be wanting to return directly to your Wing, Majesty, or should I notify the guards that you will be in your gardens?"

Jotham looked at his Captain, took in his stiff posture, and knew he had overreacted, again. Deffand would willingly sacrifice his life for his. He wasn't trying to further his own agenda with his question.

It seemed his Assemblymen weren't the only ones that needed reminding that they were no more important than anyone else.

"I believe I would like to walk in the garden. Would you join me, Nicholas?"

"If you wish, Majesty."

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Jotham let the fragrance of the night blooming flowers fill his senses as he wandered along the discreetly lit path of the garden. "Jacinda Michelakakis is an amazing woman." When Deffand didn't reply he looked to him and found him several steps behind him, his eyes scanning the area. "Let the guards on the walls do their job, Nicholas. You are off-duty."

"I am never off-duty, Sire."

"You are as of right now. I asked you to join me so we could talk. Not so you could guard me."

"If that is what you wish, Majesty."

"It is. Now Jacinda Michelakakis."

"I agree, she is a truly amazing woman. One I don't think I've ever met the likes of."

"She intrigues you." Jotham found he couldn't contain his surprise.

"Yes, she's led an amazing life and yet she doesn't seem to see it that way. I'm not sure I would be the Captain of your Guard if it wasn't for her."