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terrified to admit he
got a bad report card. So I did something that was probably against
all the laws and customs.
    I gave him a hug.
    At first he was stiff in my arms, and his
breathing quickened, his mouth opening and closing, probably to
tell me off or call for my beheading, but after a moment, as I
simply held on, murmuring quiet words of comfort, his whole body
sagged and he leaned into my embrace, trembling.
    We sat like that for a while, huddled in
front of the fire, his head resting on my shoulder like that of a
much younger child, his eyes closed peacefully, my chin on his head
and hand stroking his back. It was strange; I'd never experienced
much of a maternal instinct before. I'd always planned on having
kids someday, way down the line, after I'd saved the free world or
become president or something, but I'd never really interacted with
kids as an adult. When I was in college, I didn't really have
contact with anyone not my age or older, and working at Marduk
didn't exactly leave me the time or energy to volunteer at the Boys
and Girls Club. But at this moment, holding this awkward teenage
royal in my arms, I felt a surge of protectiveness and affection
wash over me, opening my mind and making me say the right things,
the things my own parents should have said to me when I was
panicked or frightened.
    Although I have never been a big believer in
fate or destiny, in that moment, holding the boy in my arms, I
thought I might have discovered my purpose in Solis.
    At last, he rubbed his head slightly on my
shoulder and pulled away, leaving me feeling strangely bereft. His
lovely violet eyes darted over my face apprehensively, clearly
trying to gauge my response to his breakdown.
    "Let's try this again," I said gently,
holding out my hand. "I'm Honey Sullivan, the new Halqu , from Earth."
    He stared at my hand, confusion furrowing
his brow, so I sighed and took his hand in mine, demonstrating the
proper way to shake hands. He was hesitant at first but then got
into it, a faint smile tracing his lips.
    "I am Tam. Ensi Tam
of the House of Ebab ," he said shyly,
voice low and melodious, startlingly deep for someone his age.
    "I take it Ensi means king?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light, knowing that
putting him at ease with me was the most important thing I could
accomplish today.
    He nodded eagerly and his timid smile grew
wider. "Yes, Ensi is my title, but I am
king." He hesitated a moment and then seemed to gain courage. "You
can call me Tam."
    I smiled, feeling warmth down to my toes.
"And you can call me Honey," I replied, pleased with how he seemed
to be losing some of his nerves around me.
    "Honey," he said, his voice gaining
strength. A red flush worked its way up his neck as he met my eyes,
and the childlike uncertainty in his expression made me drop a few
years off of my age estimation.
    "Well, Tam, I have to say, you're the first
person I've met to really make me feel better about dropping into
this world so unexpectedly," I said, knowing I needed to move the
conversation away from his probably embarrassing display of
nerves.
    He shot me a grateful look and then pulled
himself together as only adolescent royalty can; his entire bearing
spoke of breeding and a lifetime of training to be superior.
    "You are very welcome here, Honey. In fact,"
he swallowed anxiously, losing some of his regained color. "I am so
taken by your...beauty, that I wish to formally propose that you be
my...my..." he broke off, sweat beading on his forehead. I had a
sick feeling about what he would say next.
    "It's alright, Tam. Just spit it out."
    He gave me a puzzled look, probably trying
to figure out my charming American phrasing, and then stiffened his
shoulders again. "Yes, of course. I propose that you be my..." he
paused to clear his throat, giving me a last, desperate look. "My
consort," he whispered, voice filled with agony.
    My gut churned and I felt a sudden, intense
disgust for Efrim and whatever other advisors this poor