Chapter 2 - Captain Jay

Then Rota head a voice. “Wait, Princess”

She turned to find two of the guards running after her.

“Sorry for the intrusion” said the first male guard, coming to stop in front of them with a bow of his head. He was obviously the leader of this detachment.

She acknowledged him with a smile

“You shouldn’t be unprotected, have you had a guard assigned to you?” he said

Rota shocked by this suggestion replied “no, but I am inside the palace. Surely I don’t need . . . “

Her voice drifted off as earlier events surfaced

“Normally, no it wouldn’t be necessary. We will protect you until a guard is assigned. We would normally be with your father . . .” he paused re- thinking his words “but he doesn’t require our services . . . at the moment” He finished

“Were you on his detail when . . . it happened” Rota’s voice waivered a bit.

“No, we were due to take over when they got back from his meeting” it went quiet both parties pulled in different directions by their thoughts before the guard added “I insist, you should be protected” He could tell she was about to disagree with him so he continued hesitantly “It looks like the . . . . attempt on your Father’s life was an inside job . . . and you being his only child . .”

He watched Rota’s eyes, they widened then fell as a wave of pain, confusion then fear crossed her face before she straightened her back and stood taller shaking her thoughts away.

He hated to see the fear but he had to make her aware of the situation.  She might not be safe in her own home anymore.

The princess relented “Ok, please may I know your names”

“I am Captain Jay & this is my communications officer Kat” They both bowed their heads before facing her again.

Rota studied them properly this time, captain Jay was tall and well built, his uniform only emphasized his muscled shoulders, he had a stern face but there was a hint of kindness in his eyes, short cropped dark brown hair and his only distinguishing feature was a black stud earing in his left ear. Kat was shorter and lean but looked strong with an air of defiance about her, she long sandy coloured hair was pulled into a high piggy tail and then platted down her back, her only jewellery was a black solid ring on her right hand, Rota had only noticed it because it took up almost a quarter of her middle finger, it was unusual.

“My friends, Shimel & Lacy” They both dipped in acknowledgment.

“Ok” she sighed to herself more than anyone “I was heading back to my apartments; I don’t really have any better place to be until I hear word of my Father”

The letter in her sleeve caught at her elbow & she remembered what she had just stumbled upon, she shot an assessing glance at Captain Jay, could he could be trusted with this information. She turned and continued walking.

When she reached her apartments captain Jay put a hand on her arm, almost dislodging the letter, hidden there. “Wait here,” he said “I will check to make sure its safe first.”

The Princess, her entourage and Kat waited at the door as Captain Jay swept her apartments for any threats.

Captain Jay entered the apartments, he waited until he was inside with the closed door between them, before pulling his hand gun out of his leg holster, no need to scare the princess further. His eyes travelled up the entry, a tiled walk way with a hall stand and large mirror, he supposed the princess would check her appearance before leaving. He then entered into an open plan sitting parlour with a galley kitchen and butlers pantry and dinning table for eating, this was a most unusual design for palace apartments. He passed through the comfortable lounges, skirted around the island bench and glanced into the well-stocked butler’s pantry. With that cleared he continued down the hall at the far end to the first door, these must be the bedroom suites. He opened the first door to his right, it looked like the women’s quarters two bedrooms with an adjoining bathroom and sitting room. Everything in here was nice, it looked like the princess spared no expense on them, little trinkets lined the shared bookcase which was unusual, the Princess called them her friends but in truth they were her maids that were there to attend her. The princess must truly treat them as friends, if they are loyal to her as well he could use that to his advantage, they could be another set of eyes and line of protection for the princess . . . with a bit of training. There was also a wooden violin, inlaid with gold. Even the Kings own attendants quarters weren’t this lavishly decorated or displayed this much wealth. Thinking of the King fighting for his life snapped him back to the present and his mission.

He returned to the hall and opened the next door along, it is the princess’s rooms. She had a private dressing room that lead into her bedroom, walk in closet and bathroom. Jay sensed they were empty even before he did a quick search.

The last door was a guest bedroom with sitting room and bathroom, smaller than the other but still nice and all empty.

Entering the hall again he continued further out until he reached the balcony room, half of the room was inside the castle enclosed and sheltered & at the other end was a huge open balcony that contained views of the capital city and mountain range beyond. It was a beautiful view. His eyes skimmed across the sprawling garden that the princess obviously cared for on her balcony, the scent that met his nose was fragrant and refreshing but not overwhelming.

He holstered his weapon and turned to return to the main door to let everyone in, there were no threats that he could find but they would have to sweep for bugs. He ushered them in quietly and put his finger to his mouth to tell them to remain quiet. He glanced at Kat who was already pulling her comm screen from her pocket and set to work. They waited and watched as she stared intently at the device in her hand following something on the screen. She walked over to the control screen for the room and with her knife popped the cover off. She pulled a black bag out of another pocket and pulled something out of the unit. She carefully put it in the bag replaced the cover and kept walking around the room. She found another stuck to the bottom of a lounge before making eye contact with Captain Jay “This room is clear, I’ll do the others” she said.

Captain Jay gave me a quick nod of approval.

“Are they what I think they are?” Rota stuttered, shocked at the thought her very own apartments were bugged.

Jay nodded with another quick nod

And a gasp came from both her friends too.

“Who would dare do such a thing” Rota asked indignant

“Well” Captain Jay cautiously continued “I can’t say I was surprised, although this isn’t a very good sign at all” His mind had jumped back to the examination of the scene where the King was just shot. All evidence despite their attempt to cover their tracks led Jay to suspect that it was an inside job, it was confirmed by his gut too. Only someone familiar with the palace could have made that shot.

“Not a good sign” Rota burst “This is my home, someone has been listening to us, Listening . . to . . . us!” her voice almost reaching a shout. “What is going on Captain Jay, please explain!”

Just then Kat re-entered the room “clear” she said as she passed the black bag to Jay containing the devices she had found. “Five in total”

Jay gave a quick glance to rota and her friends and asked quietly “any visual?”

“No” replied Kat

Jays face relaxed a bit

“Why does that matter? what does that mean?” Rota interrupted

Jay realising Rota was more observant that what he gave her credit for came clean “because that means we aren’t dealing with someone trying to film you for their sick desired or black mail but someone looking for information possibly to take a shot at The King or you, Princess”

“Oh” Rota’s jaw clamped shut, “thanks for being honest with me . . . do you think I am a target?”

“Well” Jay began

but Kat cut in “you are the Princess and the heir to the throne if your father doesn’t make it”

“Yeah but” Rota paused “well I just supposed no one would ever dare challenge my father for the throne because of the blood curse and oath to the people. Who would actually think they could fill both of those obligations? There are few with the Ziion Blood running through their veins but even less of them are loyal to the people like my Father King Levis.” Her thoughts started the scatter “I supposed one day I would have to take the throne but not for a very long time, but . . to be killed even before that, oh my”

Jay sent a quick look to Kat, neither of them were cut out to deal with a freaking out princess, he then glanced at her friends which seemed to unstick them in their poses behind the princess. Lacy took her arm slowly and ushered her to the lounge and Shimel turning into a host offered everyone refreshments. The normal actions seamed to calm the princess.