Francesca was livid. Whatever Prince Jin had done to her with his hand had left her body weak and a little achy. Once the lightheadedness had passed, she was able to concentrate, but her limbs didn’t move. It was all she could do to rock her head back and forth on the mattress.
Glaring at the ceiling of the lavish room, she cursed herself for getting caught. Everything had gone so smoothly. Francesca had slipped into the Sacred Hall undetected as the Lintianese royalty had their little show off the new concubine—or whatever it was—ceremony. No one had seen her, she was positive of that. Then how in the world did they know she was there? Motion detectors? Cameras? She closed her eyes, running through every little detail. She would have seen a camera and surely she would’ve known if she tripped an alarm.
If this was prison, it was the nicest one she’d ever been in. The walls were lined with silk and gauze. In truth, it looked more like a brothel than a penitentiary. There were a couple thin sliding doors, but they were pulled closed and she couldn’t see into the other rooms. However, the main door was different than the others in that it was dark and thick with gold inlay. This section of the palace was obviously the prince’s personal living quarters. Which meant all the other royal children would sleep in this building as well. The emperor and empress would have their own building nearby.
If that man thinks I’m going to screw him just to get out of a hanging, he’s seriously mistaken!
Because of her lethargic state, the guards had carried her effortlessly out of the Hall of Infinite Wisdom, following the walking paths that led from the large center building, through the beautiful gardens, to the sleeping chambers of the royal family. Looking past the guards, she’d seen the strange flowers lining the paths. All of them were delicate, fragrant blossoms—some as pink as a maiden’s blush and others shaped like an eight-point, dark blue star with a golden center. Tiny winged creatures fluttered over the petals. Their bodies were so small compared to their large black wings. The shape of the number ‘7’ formed when their wings bent forward in flight.
Each building had a name, but she couldn’t remember what this one was called. When she’d memorized the palace map, she never thought she’d see this area. In fact, she didn’t think she’d come face to face with the royal family.
That will teach me to be unprepared.
Unprepared was a little harsh. She’d studied the layout endlessly, not just memorizing most of the forty plus names of the buildings inside Honorable City. She had visualized her escape, had planned each aspect perfectly. What in all the galactic refuse heaps had happened? Did one of those spoiled brat princes really declare that she was to be his wife? What was that all about? It had to be a joke. Her Lintianese wasn’t that great. She did get the upload of it from the black market on Torgan but it had been an incomplete copy. Maybe she’d mistaken his words.
I have found my bride.
No, she was pretty sure that was what the man had said.
I have found my bride.
Bride?
Bride?!
“Bride?” Francesca swore, trying to force her weak body into sitting up. All that lifted was her neck. She dropped her head back down in frustration. Nothing made sense. Why would a prince choose to marry a stranger? A thief?
Her?
Couldn’t he have just said sex slave? I think I’d prefer that. At least I could respect it. What kind of prince threw his future away on a girl like her? What kind of man gave his word so flippantly?
The guards hadn’t touched her beyond carrying her to the room and tossing her on the bed. She still wore her mask and her dark clothing. Francesca closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, willing herself to move with her mind. If she concentrated hard enough, perhaps her mind would take over her body. Most injuries were mental anyway. It was part of the fight-through-the-pain mentality she’d been trained with. The feeling in her neck was slowly beginning to work its way down her shoulders. It felt like prickling needles along her shoulder blades. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be long before she could move.
Hearing a noise, she turned to look at that door as it slid open. It was one of the princes, but not the crazy one who made her his bride. No, it was the other one, the sane one who had wanted to protest the marriage—Prince Haun. He too wore red and gold, only there weren’t any dragons in the patterned design. Even if she hadn’t seen him in the hall, it was clear by the superior look on his face that he was royalty. Only a man with power could look that arrogant and sure of himself. Francesca knew how to read people. In her line of work, she had to.
I knew I shouldn’t have come yet. I needed more time to prepare. If I were ready, I’d be gone by now with the Jade Phoenix. I should have waited.
Who was she kidding? She was addicted to the adrenaline rush stealing gave her and she was as ready as she’d ever be to steal the Zhang artifact. Being ‘on the job’ was the only thing in the world that could make her feel alive. Odd that to feel alive she had to be in the clutches of death. Irony was nothing new to her. Neither was facing death. Life was a game and she did love to play.
She closed her eyes briefly. Perhaps love was too strong of a word. Compelled by a will outside of herself was more like it.
“Your name,” the prince stated, speaking her language. His tone was husky and thick with his Lintianese accent.
Francesca snorted and looked at the ceiling. Forcing complete disinterest into her tone, she said, “You first.”
“I am Prince Zhang Haun, future Emperor of the Muntong Empire,” he said. “You will answer my questions.”
Francesca smirked. Did he honestly think his title would intimidate her? There was nothing he could do to her that was worse than what had already been done. Titles meant nothing to her, nor did the people who bore them—using status as a means of power over those who were weaker.
“Your name,” he insisted, standing rigid by the door.
“Princess Zhang Mei,” Francesca said, mocking his accent as she stared once more at the ceiling. There was something inside her, daring her on. It was the same thing that made her such a great thief. So what if she was reckless with her life? It was her life—such as it was. “Do you not recognize me, dear brother?”
“You dare to impersonate my sister?” the prince demanded. “You are not her. I spoke to her this morning.”
“Your brother dares to claim me for a bride?” She mimicked his hard tone.
“What is your name, thief?”
“Princess Song Jia.” Francesca could feel his frustration radiating over her. She tried to lift her hand. It was still plastered to the bed. Half expecting the prince to slap her for her obstinacy, she peeked at him from under her lowered lashes. His face was red and his fists were clenched at his sides. Oh yeah. He was livid.
“Fine. Do not answer. But you should think about your position here. Thieves are not welcome, even if my brother did claim you for his bride. Until the marriage is final, you can still be executed for your crimes. I suggest, for your sake, you tell him more than you are telling me.” Prince Haun turned and left her alone.
Francesca rolled her eyes. Loudly, so the prince could hear her, she said, “Well, as long as I can’t go anywhere, I might as well take a nap. Do you think you could have one of those nursemaid guards bring me an extra pillow?”
* * * *
Jin met his brother’s eyes as they passed in the hall. Haun’s lips were tight and he shook his head in obvious exasperation. His brother didn’t have to say a word. Jin knew he was angry. Since Haun didn’t get upset easily, he could only guess that the woman had really gotten to him. He wondered what she had done.
Sighing, he stopped by the door to his chamber, pressing his forehead against the cool gold inlaid entryway. From the corner of his eye, he watched Haun leave the royal chambers through the front entrance.
The guards had brought the woman to his room, as ordered. Jin wasn’t sure he wanted her in his bed. Yes, she had beautiful eyes, but he had yet to see her face. And, even if she was the most engaging creature in the galaxies, it didn’t mean he wanted to be married to her. He didn’t want to marry any woman. Not yet.
“Why, Grandfather?” Jin whispered, staring at the door. “Why me? Why her? Why this?”
He waited for an answer that didn’t come, but wasn’t surprised. The ancestor was avoiding him.
“Fine, old spirit, play your game, but know that one day I too will be in the afterlife and then you won’t be able to escape me.”
Placing his hand on the door, he slid the barrier easily to the side. His eyes instantly went to the bed. Spread out on the silks was the woman. The stark black of her tight outfit was a startling contrast to the bright blue and gold silks of his bed. He searched the mask for her gorgeous eyes, but they were closed.
Jin waited, hands hanging by his sides as he stood in the doorway. He didn’t expect her to be sleeping. She was a thief caught with her hand around the jade and she… slept? It didn’t make sense. He’d dealt with his fair share of criminals over the years and this was not how they acted.
He took a deep breath, shutting the door behind him. His family was depending on him and he wasn’t sure where to start. What did he say to her? Sorry, I didn’t mean it. I was possessed. Care to tell me who hired you?
Slowly, his eyes drifted down to her chest. It rose and fell evenly. He watched, counting to see if she faked rest. When it became apparent that she didn’t, his examination went from investigative to curious. Jin found himself eyeing the gentle slope of her breast more than her breathing. The soft curves molded into a flat stomach and rounded hip. She was not shaped like the typical females of his planet. Her body was made up of lush curves, and yet was tight with muscles that he longed to explore for himself.
Jin glanced down her legs and back up to her hips. He was fascinated by the shape of them. Taking a step closer to the bed, he didn’t think as he reached out to touch her. She didn’t move. Lightly, he let the tips of his fingers glide over her hip. The woman’s body was warm, causing his hand to tingle as the nerves came alive. A trail of desire worked its way over him, shooting up his fingers and stirring his loins. Without exploring further, he pulled back. She was still sleeping.
Jin knelt on the bed, his knee close to her unmoving arm as he stared at the mask that hid her face from view. Curious, he drew the backs of his fingers over her covered cheek. The mask was warm, caressing every subtle curve. He could see her tanned skin through the eye slits, or at least the part that wasn’t covered by dark shadow. Her eyes were rounder, larger than his people’s. Tracing his finger over the impression of her lips, he drew along to the other side. The mask didn’t appear to have a seam to pull it free and expose her features.
“Please tell me you’re above raping an unconscious woman.”
Jin stiffened. It took him a second to translate the words as he fought down his desire for her. The woman hadn’t moved and her eyes were still closed. However, he felt her cheek shift when she talked.
“Otherwise,” her low voice continued, dripping with sarcasm, “I might regret your beautifully dictated proposal. It’s not every day a woman is ordered to marry a tyrant. I have to say, I was very touched by the whole affair.”
“You know who I am.” Jin pulled back, moving to stand beside the bed. The woman chuckled and her lids opened. Her jade eyes stared directly at him, devoid of fear. In that moment he knew. She hadn’t been sleeping. She’d been waiting. “How? You didn’t look at me.”
“I smelled you,” she chuckled, “and by the sound of your walk.”
“Impossible. You do not know me well enough for such things.” Jin hid his surprise the best he could, but had a feeling she would sense it anyway. There was an eeriness to the way she looked at him, so lacking in emotion.
“In the hall. You touched me. I smelled you then and I smell you now. Not bad, I might add,” she said, her tone low. She took a deep breath, making a show of sniffing him. “You exercised this morning. Not hard, but enough to sweat. Then you quickly bathed and dressed for the ceremony.”
The woman paused, her eyes expectant as she waited for him to tell her she was right. She was studying him, watching him, assessing him. He would have to be very careful with her.
“You’ve been spying on me?” Jin frowned. If he wasn’t mistaken, he saw her mask shift to match his expression.
“Of all the things I saw being dragged into the hall, you did the one thing I could not predict.” Her eyes bore into his, probing, searching, seeing. “You claimed me for your bride.”
Jin merely nodded, scrutinizing her as closely in turn. Her tone had dipped slightly, giving away her displeasure. Was it displeasure in herself or him? This woman was more than just a little observant. He had to watch what he said around her.
“Why?” she asked, confusion evident in her voice.
He could tell by the way she said the word that she wasn’t pleased by the uncertainty his actions caused. Very cautious about every movement, he kept his face blank. “Perhaps it was love.”
“At first sight?” she laughed. Jin wasn’t sure what to think of her immediate dismissal. “No. I’ll wager you’re the type of man to love many, not one. I’m not judging you for it. In fact, good for you. Life is a thrill. Why settle? You should take pleasure in it while you have it. But, with all I see of you, I would still know why you claimed me. Is there something to gain by it? Rebellion against your parents, perhaps? Though I don’t see you as that type. I bet you always do what is expected of you, don’t you, your highness?”
She was trying to bait him into an argument. He kept his wits about him and refused to be provoked.
“Maybe you don’t see as clearly as you think.” A brow arched on his face and he couldn’t help the small sense of satisfaction he felt as her eyelids dropped in annoyance. Still, her body didn’t move. “Can you not get up yet? I did not think you would be subdued so long by my touch.” Then, just to irritate her, he added, “I must have a greater influence on you than you let on, bâobèi.”
Instead of answering, she said, “Adventure? Is that why? You see me as an adventure you have yet to try? A man like you would surely get bored here in the palace walls—so pampered and attended. The women here must not prove to be much of a conquest.”
Jin wondered if he should be insulted by her assumptions of his character. So what if they were partially true. Is that how he was seen? As a womanizer? A rogue bent on seeking thrills? What man of flesh and blood wasn’t like that to an extent?
“Oh, prince!” she mocked, her voice high and airy as she mimicked his people’s accent. “You are such a good lover. Yes, I’ll do anything for you, princey baby.”
He frowned at her sardonic expression.
“There is more to you, prince, than what I determined at first glance,” she admitted. “Pity I won’t be around long enough to figure it out.”
“We do not execute you for your crimes yet.”
“You will never execute me for my crimes. And, if you do, then the fault of it will be mine and I will only have myself to blame.” Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t deal well with being at fault.”
There was such confidence in her, and a touch of recklessness. What was it about her? Did she truly not care? Did she not feel fear?
“I agree,” Jin said, lightly touching her side as he ran his finger over her hip. “What happens to you does depend on your actions.”
“What? I pleasure you and I get to go free?” she sneered.
So much for seducing the information out of her. Pity. It would have proved to be very enjoyable for the both of them.
“You’re very clever, thief,” Jin admitted, pulling his hand away. “And you appear very well trained—well enough to know how to bait me into losing my temper. I can only guess your Wushu master was well versed in the art.”
Her mask shifted with a smile, but she didn’t speak as her jade eyes bore unflinchingly into his.
“Who trained you?” Jin continued, nonplussed. He made a show of leisurely walking about his chambers, gently running his finger over the back edge of a chair. “A student of Master Ming Bo? Of Master Chen Sun?”
“Those men are dead,” the woman said. “Killed by your family years ago. Who would be left to learn from them?”
“Killed by their own folly,” he corrected.
“Each wave has a different pattern, but in the end it is still a wave,” the woman said.
“So you know about the Wushu Uprisings. Evidently your teacher knew something of our history.”
“I’m not going to reveal a name for you, prince, so stop probing.” She let loose a long sigh. “Now, will you tell me? Why do you wish to marry me?”
Jin didn’t know how to answer that. It was clear she didn’t know about his grandfather’s interference and he didn’t feel like explaining to her. It was a delicate game they played and she seemed to enjoy it. How he could tell all this by only seeing her eyes, he wasn’t sure. There was just something about her. The puzzle intrigued him, and if he was honest with himself he would admit that it frightened him as well. “I was compelled.”
“And I’m compelled to say no to the decree, ài rén,” she whispered, winking coyly as she said the endearment. “I thank you for the kind offer, but I really must be going.”
Jin laughed. Raising his hands to the side, he motioned around him, turning as he looked around his chamber. “And where, bâobèi, would you go?”
She didn’t answer. Jin completed his slow turn. The smile froze on his face as he looked at the bed. The woman was gone but the perfect imprint of her body was molded into his covers. He glanced around. The door remained closed. There was no way out.
Moving carefully about the room, he looked everywhere she could possibly fit. The woman wasn’t on the ceiling or floor and she didn’t hide behind the furniture. Slowly crossing to his private bathing room, he frowned. Even the clear waters of the pool were empty. A growl caught in the back of his throat as he spun around to stare at the bed.
His bride had disappeared and he didn’t even get her name.
* * * *
There are all types of seductions. The seduction of the flesh is the most obvious. The rogue seducing the untried virgin even more so. But there is also the seduction of an object worth having. The seduction of greed, lust, hate. What seduces you, sweet Francesca? What is it you desire most?
Francesca took a deep breath, remembering the words easily. The prince’s light touch along her side had reminded her of the memory. Now, in her mind, she felt another caress—a caress from the past, moving along her naked hip to her breast.
How long since they were spoken and yet even the exact tone of voice that had whispered in her ear was perfectly clear. One didn’t forget a day like that—a day above all others.
She closed her eyes. A week ago the answer to that had been simple. What seduced her? Revenge. The Jade Phoenix, an object worth having.
What seduces you, sweet Francesca?
Francesca opened her eyes, shaking off the hold the past had over her. So long ago… Too long to dwell on it. And yet she did. She was a prisoner to the past, to her promise, to her loss.
Crouching on the stone ledge, she looked out over the palace gardens. The winged insects that had fluttered above the flowers were gone, and the petals had all shifted with the night until they were one solid form, outlined by the firelight of the torches that lit the paths. It was evening and no one would see her against the moonless sky. Out of all the planets she’d been to, she’d noticed one thing. Night was almost always the same. Sure the color shifted, but there was always darkness and always stars glittering inside that darkness. Just like a vault filled with jewels waiting to be plucked, or a safe with ancient coins, a treasure room buried leagues beneath the sand of a remote planet filled with a dead king’s gold. She’d stolen them all, and all was done on nights such as this one.
A cool breeze whipped around her, but she didn’t shiver. Instead, she took it in, letting the wind enter her lungs, filling her. Another voice drifted into her head. Prince Zhang Jin. She’d heard his name spoken as she slipped through the halls. The news of his pending marriage was spreading fast through the servants. Every time she heard them say it, the strangeness became all the more real.
I was compelled.
Compelled? He was compelled to claim her for a bride? It didn’t make sense. A prince would not take a thief as his own, let alone a strange woman who was not of his planet.
Francesca put her head in her hands, rubbing her temples through the mask. No. She’d scanned the room as she screamed at the guards who caught her. She saw everyone, everything.
Everything.
“Everything,” she whispered. “How did I miss it?”
She had assessed the threats, analyzed the personalities around her. Jin was with his brothers, standing as an arrogant prince stood, surprised by her interruption just as the others were surprised. The screaming had served its purpose. It had taken everyone aback, causing them to react in a way she could easily read.
She was never wrong about someone, not after she looked at them and made up her mind. Prince Jin should not have been a threat. He should not have said a word and he should not have gotten involved with the guards.
But he had.
“Why?” she whispered, as if the night could answer her. “Why did he speak?”
Nothing went as planned. In the event she was captured, she’d imagined she would have been dragged to the prisons and from there she would have eventually escaped. Even though the result was the same—escaping the Zhangs’ hold—the simple fact that he’d managed to surprise her threw her confidence.
Maybe I’m not ready for this. I needed more practice.
Then there was the second surprise, even more confounding than the first. Desire. Pure, hot, liquid desire. The kind that made her body ache and her concentration slip. The prince touched her and she desired him. He heated her blood until she couldn’t move. The control over her limbs had come back as she waited for him to visit her, but when he touched her that second time, alone in his room, the sensation had made her helpless once again. It wasn’t like the first, not a numbing drug that took away all feeling. No, it was more powerful than that. It was the kind of euphoria that rendered her helpless to all but passion.
Francesca took a deep breath, trying to reason through her confusion. She’d been frozen, waiting for him to continue his exploration. Part of her wanted him to pull off the mask, to peel the layers of clothing from her body.
It was something she shouldn’t want. The handsome prince was a complication she didn’t need. And yet he was the only thing she could think of. It had been so long since anything took her by surprise.
What seduces you, sweet Francesca? What is it you desire most?
“The prince,” she answered the memory, shamed even as she said it. “At this moment, I desire the prince the most.”
* * * *
“She’s gone,” Jin said, ashamed as he looked his father in the eye. Every inch of his body was wrought with tension. How could he let her get away? How did she do it? He’d studied martial arts for decades and couldn’t dream of being so stealthy.
“Wushu,” the empress answered her son’s silent questions, nodding sadly. They were in his father’s private chambers. His parents lounged on a low couch with a short wooden back. Smoke from a long pipe rolled over them as the emperor drew short puffs. “It’s why the practice was outlawed. Those who studied it became too dangerous, too powerful. There was no one left to patrol them. Master Ming Bo’s followers almost ended this empire.”
“Yes, Mother, I’ve read the history of it. Our armies barely defeated them,” Jin said. “After that, all practitioners were forced into the mountains to live out their days in solitude in a temple surrounded by guards and ancient Zhang magic so they couldn’t escape. Those who refused to comply died.”
“No,” the emperor answered, his tone gruff as he set the pipe aside. “Master Ming defeated our armies, save but one regiment. It was only by the aid of Master Chen Sun that he was in turn defeated. It was Master Chen who convinced your ancestors that all who followed Master Ming’s teachings had to be eliminated for the good of all. He led his band into the mountains where they lived out their days in solitude. Word was sent down when Master Chen died. The art of Wushu died with him.”
The empress lightly touched her husband’s arm. “We thought it died with him.”
“Yes,” the emperor agreed. “So we thought. One of Ming Bo’s rebels must have gotten away.”
“Or Chen Sun’s,” the empress added. “Not all of his followers were happy with the decision to live in solitude.”
“Why didn’t you say something earlier about Ming Bo’s victory over us?” Jin asked. “The scrolls state clearly that we defeated him. The peasants celebrate the victory with festivals. Is it all a lie?”
“We didn’t know the whole truth,” the empress said. “And it is not a lie. Ultimately the Wushu Uprisers were defeated. Only, they were defeated by their own kind.”
“Grandmother An only now told us of this.” The emperor grabbed his pipe and took in a long draw of smoke, only to let it roll slowly from his lips in a white, curling trail. Jin waited, recognizing the gesture. His father was contemplating the situation. “The history scrolls were altered for the sake of public relations.”
“History should not be changed,” Jin said, frowning. “How are we to learn from past mistakes if it is?”
“You do not have the burden of emperor, Zhang Jin,” his mother scolded, frowning at him. “There are many considerations.”
“Are you saying you’ve changed our history?” he demanded.
Neither of them answered for a long time.
“Father?” Jin insisted.
“No, but had I been emperor in the time of the Wushu Uprising, I would have. The way history remembers the deeds gives everyday people hope that they can survive against great odds. Why should they know the truth of it? That their beloved Wushu masters, who they respected and trusted, nearly killed their empire? It was bad enough that they tried.” The emperor paused for affect. “Or that Emperor Song’s ancestors would’ve taken over their half of the planet? Is it not better that they believe their Imperial Guard the victors? That it was their ancestors, ordinary people, who overthrew the Wushu? Do you know the hope that belief gives to people?”
“No one gains by lies,” Jin insisted.
“You will mind your place!” the emperor yelled, shooting to his feet. “Unless the gods will it, you will never know the burden of ultimate rule. There are things that must be done to ensure the family line and to ensure peace. Not everything can be as neat as you wish it to be. Not everything is noble and good. The galaxies are a hard place. Would you have outsiders invading our planet? Spreading their filth? Do you wish to see Lintian become another space port? Torn apart by other cultures until ours no longer exists? Our paradise sucked dry by greed until all we have left is a barren wasteland? That is what would happen if the people are not kept together, joined in one belief. That is why we must protect the public opinion of this empire and of this family. The scrolls were changed to protect our world.”
His mother was slower to rise during the emperor’s tirade. She placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “Jin, you have an honest and noble heart, but you are not meant to rule Lintian. There are things in this you will never understand. Considerations of which you will never be told. Your place is as a prince, brother to the future emperor. Your sound judgment will help to guide Haun and for that reason we would not have you jaded by such things as these. You have been raised in the traditions for that reason. That is the gift that was chosen for you.”
“But how can I help guide if I don’t know the truth of our past?” Jin did his best to remain calm, but it was hard. He was taken aback by his mother’s blunt words. Raised in the traditions for a reason? Groomed, not to think for himself but to help guide his brother? He’d always known he would never be emperor, but to find out that he was shielded from things just so his judgment in the old traditions would not be clouded with doubt?
“You are only told of it now because of this woman, your chosen bride,” his mother said, by way of an answer. It wasn’t much of a response.
Jin couldn’t speak as thoughts whirled in his head—thoughts of marriage, tradition and deceit.
“My life has been a lie?” Jin knew he said the words aloud, but he could barely hear them.
“A lie?” the empress repeated. “No, my loved son, not a lie. Your life has great purpose. When your mind calms you will see it. The Jade Phoenix blessed you with your path for a reason.”
“Your duty calls to you, my son,” the emperor put forth, preventing any coddling the empress might have in mind. “You must find your bride. We have decided not to put her on trial, as it might make her even harder to read. Haun agrees that the engagement should go on as planned. We’ll spread word through the guards that she was picked up for trespassing on palace grounds and that she was merely lost.”
More lies.
“Tomorrow, the astrologers will be here to read your future together. Perhaps they will have some insight into your grandfather’s actions,” his mother said. “Now go, find your bride and do not lose her again.”
“I have a feeling we’ll find her,” the emperor said. “Why don’t you go rest, Jin, and await word that she is found.”
It wasn’t a request. Jin placed his fist to palm and bowed to his parents. His life was spinning in circles around him and he couldn’t seem to catch his breath. In one day everything had slipped from his control. He was engaged against his will, told that his life was tailored only to help Haun rule and now he had to try and figure out the plot to protect an empire he wasn’t sure he knew.
How much of their history was a lie? How many scrolls had been altered? The questions he now asked himself shook the very foundation of his soul.
Without another word, he left them in their bedchamber. What could he say anyway? His father was right. Regardless of how he felt about it, he had his duty to perform. Only, somehow, duty didn’t sound as noble as it once had.