room.”
Silence reigned in the room for several tense seconds before Jael grabbed the arms of several males next to him and after giving Isis quick bows, they headed out to get the ladders. Another group went to move the furniture. While several stood next to Kaspar, who hadn’t moved.
“Is there a problem Master Kaspar?” Isis asked, her eyes narrowing on the unmoving males.
“ No, my Lady,” Kaspar replied.
“Good, so since you forgot to bring the necessary cleaning supplies with you, why don’t you and the males at your side go retrieve them. That way they will be available for those that are doing as I requested.”
“Yes my Lady, ” Kaspar said through clenched teeth then giving her only the slightest of bows, spun on his heel, storming from the room quickly followed by three other males.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Oryon stood hidden in the shadows of the upper corridor that overlooked the entrance hall, his eyes following Kaspar. He had trusted that Vali would see to his mother’s safety but still… he needed to make sure for himself and the private corridor that led from the Lord’s Wing to his command center was the perfect location to observe from. The corridor allowed a Lord quick access to his command center in times of trouble. It also allowed a Lord to see and hear who was in his hall without being observed. Over the years, Oryon had learned a great many things this way, such as Kaspar’s barely shown respect for his Lady.
He would have to keep an eye on the male, for while Kaspar had been with House Rigel for many years, he was known to have a short temper and didn’t take criticism well, especially not from those he felt were beneath him.
Oryon had tolerated him because he had believed Kaspar ran House Rigel well, now he would have to rethink that with Isis pointing out things he had missed. Perhaps it was time for a change.
Seeing Vali look his way Oryon realized his second male had known he had been there all along. Vali was good that way. He trusted his senses. Turning Oryon proceeded onto his Command Center confident Vali had everything under control.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Kaspar couldn’t believe he was following the orders of a female .
Lady of House Rigel or not.
He was Warrior Kaspar, Master of House Rigel. He had been making sure this House ran efficiently for years . That this female thought, she had the right to criticize how he carried out his duties was an outrage! She had ordered him to fetch the cleaning supplies as if he were a train …
Lord Oryon should have gotten rid of her years ago, after she presented him with a second male, for after that, there was no reason to keep her. If he had, Kaspar might have been able to secure a female of his own but no female would consider him, no matter what he had to offer, because she was in this House.
Returning to the hall, Kaspar forced a benign expression on his face, one that he had perfected over the years that masked his inner rage because he knew that the time would come and this female would pay for all the lives she had ruined.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Isis smiled as her gaze traveled around the entrance hall. The windows now sparkled, letting in so much light that the energy crystals set in bowls along the walls could be conserved for night use only.
Betelgeuse’s sunlight revealed every scratch and scar left on its ancient floors by generations of warriors crossing it to warm themselves at the freshly cleaned fireplace. Isis loved every imperfection for it showed this room was used, not just a decoration.
Turning her eyes to the furniture that had been polished to a high shine her smiled turned into a frown. Moving to the closest chair, she inspected it closer.
“Master Kaspar!” Isis shouted over her shoulder. “Come here, please.” While she added the please no one doubted it as an order, including Kaspar.
“Yes my Lady?” Kaspar forced his voice to remain pleasant.
“Why is this
Gail Z. Martin
Nicholas Olivo
Louise Erdrich
Jamie Buxton
Grace Draven
Jaye P. Marshall
Mario Acevedo
Traci Harding
Cathy Glass
Penny Jordan