#9.
Javier
turned from his brother and seemed to be listening to the room at large. Ingrid
wondered if Javier’s new friend was here somewhere. Without knowing who it was
she would have to keep her eyes open. Ingrid’s curiosity got the better of her
as she watched the guards in the room. The only person not doing their duty was
Talon. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Javier. He looked terrified that
somehow Javier would realise he was there.
Ingrid
tapped Quinlan on the shoulder letting him know that she was leaving the room
for a moment. She indicted for Talon to follow her from the throne room as she
passed. For a fierce warrior, he looked at this moment as if he wanted the
floor to open up and swallow him whole.
“Are
you the one who’s has been sitting with Javier every day?” Ingrid asked. She
already knew the answer but she wanted him to confirm it for her.
“I am,”
Talon spoke quietly, “I meant no offense. He just seemed lonely.”
“Why
did you not talk to him? Why sit in silence?” She asked curiously.
“Because
I realised he’s a Prince, and I am not.”
“Yet
you kept him company anyway?”
“Yes.” Talon
looked her in the eyes.
Ingrid got the feeling he was trying to determine if
he’d done wrong.
“Javier is so beautiful. His skin is so pale and flawless. While
my own appearance can and often does scare people.” He indicated the scar running
down the whole left side of his face.
It started in his hairline and bisected
his eye going down over his cheek to end just below his jaw line. Ingrid knew
the wound had been a farewell gift from Talon’s mother, on the day she threw
him out of the family home, cursing him to hell and back for if she ever saw
him again. For a while the man’s life ran rampart with the gossips. Ingrid also
knew Quinlan had been the one to order the man be taken on as a sentinel.
“It
makes me curious as to why you would do that? What did you hope to gain from
such a friendship?”
“Because,
he cannot see me. My face and station in life doesn’t worry him. To the prince
I’m just a normal person. For just a moment each day I can pretend to look as
normal as everyone else.”
Ingrid
stared at him thoughtfully. “I think I have a new job for you.” She said with a
smile. “I’m promoting to chief bodyguard of Prince Javier. His life and
wellbeing now rests in your hands.”
Talon
inhaled sharply. “Do you think that wise? I’m already despised among our kind.
Why the hell would you wish me to be with the Prince where everyone can see us
together? Don’t you think that will make him an even bigger target once people
realise who he is?”
“Then
it will be your job to teach him to stay safe. Teach him to defend
himself. Javier is much stronger than
you would think.” Ingrid explained hoping Talon would read between the lines of
what she was ordering him to do.
“Why
me?” Talon asked.
Ingrid
like that the man stood up for himself even when he knew he shouldn’t be questioning
the word of King Quinlan’s head bodyguard. While she stood staring at the man
she watched as he fought not to lower his eyes.
Show no fear: that had been the motto for the sentinels since they were
first created into being.
In the
end she only said. “Javier likes you. He isn’t afraid of you.”
“Is
that the only reason?”
“No. I
chose you because you won’t treat him like he is broken. The prince doesn’t
need a carer. Javier needs a friend. You’ll teach him how being strong is a
product of both the physical and the mental. And I have chosen you for this
task because I trust you will die to defend him.”
Placing
a hand over his heart Talon bowed in her direction. “As you wish. Prince Javier
is now mine to protect.” Without looking back Talon walked back into the throne
room and took up his new position beside Prince Javier.
Ingrid
smiled at the look of determination on the sentinels face. In that instant she
knew he would do his job well.
**~*~**
Javier
turned slightly and inhaled. A smile crossed his lips when he realised his
silent friend was so close. His heart could finally begin to calm down from all
the new things being thrown at him all at once. Taking a small step Javier
relaxed even further when his friend didn’t move away. The man’s warmth was a
comfort.
“Quinlan,
Brayden,” Ingrid said as she rejoined them. “Talon Redfeather has been promoted
to Prince Javier’s personal bodyguard. Javier, now would be the time to say
something if you’re not satisfied with this arrangement.”
Javier
felt his face blush. Even though he couldn’t see them; he felt the weight of
everyone’s gaze upon him. “Am I now in danger? Do I need to be protected?”
“Yes,”
Brayden said.
Javier
stiffened when Brayden grabbed a hold of his forearm. Part of him was still
amazed he was no longer alone in this life. He now had a little piece of his
past he could cling to.
His brother’s
voice sounded like it was filled with sorrow as he again spoke. “You look too
much like me for there not to be any danger.” Brayden brought Javier’s hands up
too his face. Javier shivered knowing his brother was giving him the
opportunity to find out what he looked like.
“Someone
has put a price upon my head. I’ve only just found you. I don’t want to lose
you because you might be mistaken for me.” Brayden answered.
“Do you
also have a person guarding you?” Javier yanked his hands away. He knew he
sounded waspish, but he couldn’t help but feel he was being treated this way
because of his blindness. “I’m not helpless. I’ve taken care of myself for the
last ten years. Why now do I need to be guarded?”
Ingrid
snorted loudly. Javier knew she would be the one to put him in his place she
had done so for the past decade. “Javier, you’ve always been guarded. My family
has guarded you from the day we pulled you out of the burning ruins of your
parents transport. Do you honestly think we saved you just to watch you get
killed?”
Javier
dropped his unseeing gaze to the floor and trembled just a little. He knew they
all thought he was broken. This only proves what he had been thinking was right.
His body relaxed slightly as he felt a large hand gently touch the small of his
back. With his silent friend there Javier knew he could be strong.
“Fine.
I will consent to a guard.”
