Private Drinking dark whiskey and telling white lies

[Declan Durinson]

"What do you think they got the cheese from?" He asked the man sitting next to him as he tossed a chunk in his mouth. Whatever beast it had come from by the gods was it strong, his eyes watered at the corners and he ate another bite of cheese and two slices of cured meat whose origin was also a mystery to him, washing it all down with a full glass of sour red wine that was filled almost before he had a chance to set the empty container down.

This was easily the swankiest room Declan had ever been in while having the capacity to take advantage of its swankyness. It was huge, with a five thousand credit rug on the floor and the most spectacular view of the cityscape of whatever planet this was.

"Karim. What did they say this was again, shark-cooter-y?" He asked, sounding the last word out to the best of his recollection. Karim was not exactly Declan's friend but he wasn't exactly not his friend either. The man had helped save Dec's skin not too long ago and Declan had sworn to repay him, he swore it over and over again as they had spent the last four days…well last four nights together drinking and well they did other things too. Last night that chance to pay Karim back had shown itself in the form of Archduke Davos Bazelgog.

A door near them slid open and in swept Davos Bazelgog self proclaimed Archduke of some
karking back water place or another. He was dressed head to heel in the finest and flashiest clothes credits could buy certainly hoping that every conversation he had would eventually turn to where he got his pointed reek leather boots or his gaudy ruby cufflinks, or the gold monocle he insisted on wearing even though it was clearly without a lens but the thing that surely got the most attention was the cape that he made sure would flap and flounce with his every movement.

"Gentleman apologies for the wait." The Archduke flounced over and laid a pair of kisses on each of their cheeks as Dec had stood and signaled for Karim to do the same. Declan was dressed simply, a plain white long sleeve v-neck T-shirt, dark slacks and boots, no visible jewelry at all, a contrast to the pencil thin caped man standing across from them.

"You must be Karim, a pleasure." Archduke Bazelgog took Karim by the hand and kissed that too. "He is exactly as you described him, Declan." He had at this time slid over and laid a soft hand gently on Dec's chest as he sighed his approval of Karim.

"Has Declan told you why I invited you two here?" Davos asked Karim in a lilting voice.

"Only that you had a proposition for us Archduke." Declan told the man who leaned his head back to look up at Declan. Most everyone had to crane their necks to look Dec in the eye as tall as he was, more than six and a half feet.

"That I do." The Archduke wilted into a seat of his own and motioned for the two men to sit.

"For forty generations my family was Archduke of Hujiz 4. Oh do not worry if you haven't heard if it." He said with a dismissive wave of his flowery ring covered hand.

"Forty generations!" He continued now fired up.

"Until they took it from my father. They broke into our home, dragged him from his bed and strung him up in the streets!" There was a silence as Davos Bazelgog fumed after a moment he regained his composure and continued

"That was thirty years ago or so and now the usurper's whelp is in charge and has extended to me an invitation to return to my home and meet with her under some guise of peace or some such bantha poodoo." His anger flashed back for a moment

"If I am to return home it will be as Archduke, as the rightful ruler! And to do that I require something, my father's flagship, the Elegantress, which that queen has her grubby hands on."

"What I ask from you." The Archduke leaned forward in his seat.

"Is to go and get my ship. Declan was so kind as to point out that my face is unknown now that I am a man grown and as such, I could send a decoy and keep my oath to not return unless I was once again recognized as ruler. Declan was also kind enough to recommend you to be the one to meet Contessa Vadel Lorianne posing as me, Karim." The Archduke paused and stared at Karim looking to see how he would react to such news.

Declan cleared his throat loudly to cut through the silence.

"I do not ask for charity." Davos said. "One-hundred-fifty-thousand credits would be paid to you. Fifty now and the rest upon delivery. What do you say?"

Karim

 

[Karim]

It'd been a while since Karim found a job that could actually be almost fun. Declan Durinson had filled him in on some of it, but now, listening to Davos, well. He was just all grins and smiles. Staying quiet, listening in. Waiting for his turn to speak, not that he was particularly eager to. Not at first. But as the subject changed to exactly what the job was the Lupo just smiled and nodded. Sat up straighter.

"Sounds delightful, I think. When do we start?"

 

[Declan Durinson]

“Oh Excellent, Oh wonderful! Oh perfect!” The Archduke sprang to his feet and his cape flapped behind him. “You do house Bazelgog a service this day.” He laid more kisses on the now standing pair of Declan and Karim.

“We begin right away my dear boy.” Archduke Bazelgog said to Karim. “Of course, you will need to dress the part to be sure.” The Archduke clapped his hands together twice in quick succession and the door he entered from slid open and in came three Jawas who brought with them a floating wardrobe and a large durasteel case on a repulsor lift.

“You leave in the morning, you will be taking my ship The Waiting. Good day gentleman, the next time we meet will be on The Elegantress!” The Archduke made an extravagant bow and swept from the room.

The Jawas squeaked something in that language of theirs before two of them hustled over to Karim and began poking and prodding, trying to take his measurements. It seemed that the little guys were The Archduke’s tailors. The third Jawa it seemed was his jeweler as the large case from earlier had been opened revealing itself to be full of rings and bracelets and necklaces and all sort of other gaudy accessories.

“You hear that!” Declan said to Karim as he browsed through some of the jewelry. “Fifty-thousand credits for doing kark all. I told you, I told you I’d pay you back.” Dec said as he pocketed a couple of rings behind the Jawa's back.

“Am I good or what?” Declan asked with a cocksure grin.

Karim

 

[Karim]

"Oh I never doubted you'd pay me back for a single moment, Declan. But for it to be this fun, though." Karim just grinned over to Declan Durinson , lifting his arms in the process to allow the Jawas the time they needed to presumably tailor a suit. Though, honestly, he wouldn't mind whatever they decided to put him in. Fifty thousand credits? Yeah, that could set him up for a while.

His gaze drifted, glancing to where the Archduke had disappeared to. The person he was meant to impersonate, huh?

"So what's your plan. My bodyguard? My date? A mix of both?"

 

[Declan Durinson]

A bark of laughter flew from his face as Declan watched the Jawas stack themselves on top of one another. They stood three Jawas tall now as the jeweler jawa got wrapped into helping the two tailors try and take the measure of Karin's shoulders.

The Jawas poked, prodded, and pulled at Karim still stacked on top each other yelling in that silky little language they had, though Dec could not tell if they were shouting at Karim or at one another. His confusion was solved when the Jawa on the bottom of the stack decided he'd had enough and just walked off, sending the other two crashing to the floor. The bottom Jawa doubled over laughing and Declan joined in.

He laughed even harder when one of the fallen Jawas, the one from the top of the stack he was pretty sure, jumped up said something in Jawa and bonked the laughing one over the head with a closed fist. The Jawa wasn't laughing anymore instead he made some weird sort of half growl half whine and rapidly wiped his face with his hands before shoving the Jawa that had just hit him. The Jawa that was shoved tripped over the one that had yet to get up and went crashing into the still floating chest of jewelry knocking it over and sending valuable bobbles skittering across the floor.

The Jawas were in a big pile fighting amongst one another and didn't bother to see Declan pick up a handful of expensive pieces.

"So what's your plan. My bodyguard? My date? A mix of both?" Karim asked as Declan stepped over the fighting pile of Jawas to come closer to his partner in this venture.

"Hm, I like the sound of being both. Declan stepped behind Karim and began to put one of the pieces he picked up around the man's muscular neck. Maybe the simplest necklace of the bunch, just a thin strand of rose gold. Declan ran his thumb along Karim's jawline down to his chin and savored the feel of the stubble growing there.

"Someone needs to protect your body and warm your bed. I suppose, I'd be equally qualified at both. You know he did say the ship leaves tomorrow, perhaps we could take the night to get into character?"
-——————————————————————-

In the morning a selection of some of the most ostentatious outfits imaginable were left tailored to Karim's fit as the two of them were escorted to The Waiting where they were greeted by a Cosian butler whose ears would scrape the ground every time he bowed, which was often.

It was going to be a couple days trip through hyperspace so they had sometime to come up with a plan.

"Got any plans for those credits?"

If they wanted to.

Karim

 

[Karim]

The next morning was all about getting the suit done and finished. Karim adjusted it here and there himself, mostly to suit his own taste, but let the Jawas handle the rest. He was all grins at this point, glancing to Declan Durinson as he adjusted the last of his jacket. Presentable. Slick. He could get used to wearing suits. Not his usual rough and tough spacer, but yeah. He could swing this.

"Truthfully? I've no idea. .. There's someone I need to go check on, though. Maybe I'll use the credits to help her out some."

 

[Declan Durinson]

“Someone special back home?” Declan asked. He knew almost nothing about Karim and his life, the two had not exactly spent much time playing twenty questions.

Declan snapped his fingers and made a gesture for the Cosian to come over.

“We need drinks. Three fingers of dark whisky for me.” the cosiian gave Declan a look of loathing, clearly not happy at being given orders by the help.

“And what will the master be having?” The butler asked. By the gods how old was this guy? He actually thought that Karim was the Archduke.

“Dry martini.” Declan answered for Karim.

“Very good.” The butler said and turned to walk away

“Wait... three measures of Gordo's; one of vodka; half a measure of Kinza Lillet. Shake it over ice, and add a thin slice of lemon peel.” Declan told the old alien who scurried off to make the drinks.

“So. Tell me about her then, this woman who has captured your generosity.” Declan asked Karim as their drinks arrived.

Karim

 

[Karim]

Karim scoffed. A friendly sort, but mostly at the drink. Dry martini? Well, maybe this place would be worth that much. He never had a drink at a richer place before, so maybe that meant it'd taste better? Worth a shot then. Though Declan Durinson went off on a full drink order. At least one of them could play the part of snobby rich folk when it came to drink. When the drinks arrived he took a sip. Eh. Olives. Not his thing, but it wasn't bad at least.

"Just a young kid in a similar situation I grew up in. I hope the money helps her out."

 

[Declan Durinson]

"Cheers to that then." Declan said, raising his glass in a toast to the mystery girl before taking the whole glass down in one swallow. The deep cedar colored liquor burned all the way down and set a cozy little fire in his chest.

Declan made no further attempt to question Karim about the girl or his plans for credits. He was not one to pry and nor it seemed was Karim. They had spent some time together, rather closely for some of it and there was no way Karim hadn't picked up on it, Declan had sussed it out within a minute of meeting his savior. Neither of them were mere men, they were wolves in men costumes. Both were members of a race hunted to near extinction at the hands of humans and their Gods, forced to flee or fight or die for no other reason than they existed.

Declan had not had the courage to ask Karim what clan he was from nor did Karim seem to care to ask Declan about his own past, both of them seemed content to play the role of scoundrel and that was more than enough for right now.

"A thought occurs to me." Declan said rising to his feet after instructing the butler to bring the bottle of whisky and a second glass over. He saw Karim sipping at his first drink more out of politeness than joy.

"It occurs to me that we are going to a ball and that means we may have to dance. Do you know how?" He asked Karim with his arm outstretched to pull the other man to his feet.

They would be arriving soon and should take the time to enjoy themselves before the work began, he thought as a slow rhythmic music began to play over the ship's speakers

Karim

 

[Karim]

"I know a couple dances." He flashed a smile. Well, a grin. It wasn't hard to guess where Declan Durinson was going with this. The man reached up, taking the other's hand. Letting himself get pulled up, swept away in the moment. Karim hummed softly, following along with the tune as he let Declan lead the dance at the slower rhythm. It certainly wasn't hard to keep up with.

"So, what about you? What do you plan to do with your credits?"

 

[Declan Durinson]

"So, what about you? What do you plan to do with your credits?" Karim asked as Declan led him through the music. Soft rhythmic steps and a hand around the other man's waist to pull him close.

Long forgotten memories came flooding unbidden to his mind. His father's smoky long hall was full of music and joy, Declan was holding onto Malinda much in the same way he now held Karim. He was thirteen and it seemed all of The Winter Lands had come to celebrate his first change. Malinda's fierce blue eyes, the smell of hearth-smoke, lilac, and sweat from her shining blonde hair tied in an intricate braid a sparse few strands sticking to her face, the taste of honey and beer on her lips, all clung to his memory as he continued to take Karim across the floor.

It had been some number of years since he had thought of that day but more and more as he spent time with Karim, Declan found himself remembering the days when he was home when he was happy when he was a wolf.

"You are not the only one to whom I owe a debt." He answered just as the music picked up in pace and so did their movements. His mind once again turned to events of the past.

"I'm sorry Rara. I'm so sorry." He had said impotently before. A flash of bright silver and he had been drowned in the tempting metallic smell of blood, watched the look of horrific realization on the face of a girl far too young to know she was dead. The laugh of a man he once thought was a friend. A tender touch that once set his heart to flutter. Now his blood boiled.

"Aerðs goð khief. Ek blooð ór durin, swear never til rest þar til blooðinn ór sero valrel flows yfir minn tungokr hans flesh fills minn belly!"

The words had exploded from him in an eruption of fury, frustration and finality. The bonds that bled him trapped in the chair of his captains seat strained and groaned as his oath taking became more than words and were instead themselves an act and declaration of violence all at once, his eyes Turing from brilliant emeralds to to burning pools of molten hate. He swore this oath to the God-chief, Master of Vengeance. He swore it on his own life blood that caked and crusted his face, swore on the blood of his crew who had looked to him for protection, and he swore it on the blood of his enemy.

He'd sworn it so loud and so furiously, the heavens that hung outside the viewport of his ship shook with fear in their witness of such a thing. No sooner had he sworn his oath the words just from his lips when Karim had found and rescued him.

Back in the present, the music had stopped and so had the two men. Declan's chest rose up and down quickly, more from the effort of remembering than from their physical movement. He stared hard into Karim's eyes and with lips parted he went in for a kiss, one devoid of kindness and full of passion. He would chase these memories away by making new ones.

The next day they were roused as they made their descent into the atmosphere. Declan pulled on his clothes, simple as they were and poured himself another glass of whisky to break his fast The ship landed directly at the palace's personal landing bay.

"Here we go." Declan said under his breath as the ramp lowered slowly and the door to the ship flew open drowning him and Karim in sunlight. Bright purple and white shapes danced over his eyes as they adjusted to the sudden assault of natural light. At the bottom of the ramp waiting to greet them, no, waiting to greet Archduke Davos Bazelgog was a throng of leering, looking and cheering people behind a set of velvet ropes and being watched closely by a dozen guards in decorative military garments, though the blaster rifles in their hands seemed less festive. Flashbulbs fired off and shouts came from the other side of the barrier for the Archduke to look this way and that. It must have been quite the news story that the son of the deposed leader had come to such an event.

When they reached the bottom of the ramp a man in servant's clothes greeted them, introducing himself as their escort

"If you have any weapons please place them here." Their escort said with a smile, indicating a large durasteel container.

"I'm his bodyguard." Declan responded in a gruff snarl doing his impression of a gruff protector.

"Please, place your weapons here." The escort said, raising his voice but never losing the smile. The man's raised voice caught the attention of two nearby guards who looked over at the scene with all too unhappy looks on their faces. Declan got the picture. He put in the container: four blaster pistols, two large hunting knives, three much smaller hidden knives, two sets of knuckle dusters and a garrotte. The serving man never lost his pleasant smile as Declan deposited his items all the while being assured he would get them back at their departure. Declan waited for the lid of the container to be closed but opened it remained as their escort continued to stand next to it.

"Your weapons, please." The man said this time to Archduke Karim. Declan had no clue what, if anything Karim had on him. Between the whisky, the dancing, the um other things, they had forgotten to discuss whether or not Karim, as the Archduke, should come packing heat.

After getting that sorted, the escort and two fancily dressed guards led them inside. They traveled down a marble floored corridor, Declan's boots clacking with each step. Twice he found himself either falling too far behind Karim and the escort or moving too quickly and nearly stepping on the heels of the serving man while his attention was drawn to the immaculate and lifelike statues that would appear between the marble pillars that were along the corridor's edges.

After a short time they were in the ballroom proper. It was stuffed with rich hobnobbers who all seemed like they thought themselves too good to be at this party they chose to attend. Over the murmur of dozens of separate conversations Declan could hear the soft sound of some sort of string instrument being played but he did not see anyone dancing save for a rodian dressed in motley who flung their limbs wildly out of tune with the music. Every so often if someone was not careful and they ventured too close to the rodian, the alien would reach out, pull them out onto the dance floor, and flail wildly at them refusing to let them leave until the harassed party made some sort of effort to "dance" with the fool.

"Wait here a moment while I tell the Contessa of your arrival." Their escort said before pushing through the throng and making his way to a young girl who stood on the edge of the dance floor and laughed wildly with joy each time the rodian was able to snare a new victim. She stood nearly as wide as she was tall and she did not happen to be very tall, a brilliant crystal tiara sat on her head, a perfect compliment to the soft baby-blue gown she wore. Sheen and soft with a plunging neckline that showed off the Contessa's ample, uh, chest and a necklace with a rather large blue amethyst pendant.

Someone next to them cleared their throat loudly. Declan looked over to see a man who stood a whole head and a half shorter than Karim or Declan with a long mustache that fell down to his overstuffed belly, making Declan think of the brimir'muðr'kyr from back home, a serving tray covered in cured meats, cheese, and cakes piled high in his thick sausage fingers.. He cleared his throat again with a loud phlegmy sound.

"Well met! I am Magnus Morton. Earl Magnus Morton and you are?" He asked once he was sure he had gotten their attention.

"This is Archduke Davos Bazelgog." Declan announced for Karim in the same low growl he had decided to use for the occasion. Earl Magnus Morton's bushy grey eyebrows raised at this news.

"Truly then?" the Earl asked as he still tried in vain to clear his throat. "Mighty…civilized of you to come back here. Didn't her family organize a coup that resulted in your father's death and your exile? I grant you that the contessa had nothing to do with it, not being born and all but still, if it were my family butchered and displaced you could be sure the only way I'm coming back here, is with an army at my back and righteous vengeance in my hand." The Earl told Karim as he stuffed a cake in his mouth. Declan for his part was just able to turn a derisive snort into something passing for a snarl of agreement.

"As a matter of fact, the only reason I came at all was that I'd hoped to see someone but it doesn't look like they are choosing to attend." the Earl continued. "Have you ever heard of a place called Islimore?" Declan had not been expecting that one and could not hide the look of shock from his face, Earl Magnus seemed to think it a look of confusion, if he had paid any mind to Declan at all.

"No? I thought not." He continued. "Lovely place really. In a bit of a down turn as the rumors go, I've been invited by the queen personally through correspondence to come and meet her daughter, the princess Ceri, as a potential suitor no less. Talk is the girl is quite the handful and her mother has had one hell of a time finding her a match that suits her station." Earl Magnus Morton tried once more to clear his throat before stuffing a handful of cheese in his mouth and continuing.

"More like the girl is dimwitted or unruly and keeps chasing away proper matches and now the queen over extends herself to make a match that will benefit her family. Whatever the case, if she's slow or uncouth, a royal marriage will suit me and chastisement will suit her where it is needed, and The Father and The Mother know, the Sabathians could use some chastisement." Earl Magnus belched and a shower of crumbs flew from his mustache.

"There were rumors years ago that their youngest child was part beast, you know? Of course those rumors stopped once the queen heard them but that didn't make them sound any less true."

Before Declan could wrap his mind around that last bit of information enough to ask a question, he and Karim were called over by their escort to go and introduce themselves to The Contessa.

Karim

 

[Karim]

Everything was going by in a haze for Karim. People, too many to count, walked past him and Declan as they arrived at the estate in question. Cameras. He let out a deep breath as he wandered forward, doing his best to avoid the paparazi's gaze no matter what they said. This wasn't his life, after all. He was just posing as the Archduke. Ah, the tabloids that would rise from all this, especially when it was revealed Karim was indeed not the Archduke.

A tomorrow problem, for sure.

He shook his head to the guard as they passed through. He had no weapons. Never felt a need for them, in his whole life at that. The Wolf was the only weapon he needed. Grant it, that meant a pat down. He flashed the guard a rather seductive smile, but otherwise stayed quiet.

Really, he didn't want to say a word. It was one thing for his face to be on display. Knowing nobility, they'd probably try to use his voice if they got it. Even if he himself wasn't their target. Another headache he wanted to spare. Karim did a good job at it, too. Staying quiet. Even as the Earl so abruptly introduced themselves. Rudely, at that. And immediately started spouting rumors and tall tales as if they were fact.

Was this how nobility acted?

"There were rumors years ago that their youngest child was part beast, you know? Of course those rumors stopped once the queen heard them but that didn't make them sound any less true."

Karim raised a brow. And a fist. In a flash he'd punched the Earl across the face. And smiled. He kept an air of politeness despite the literal punch. So much so even the Earl himself seemed stunned.

"Ah, apologies. Peskiness of being part beast, sometimes it just, rears out. I'm sure you understand." Thankfully they were pulled away. Karim kept the kind smile until the Earl was well far enough away. Then the smile faded.

"He's more the beast than these others. I've always hated nobility."

 

[Declan Durinson]

Gasps rang out through the ballroom, so much of the room inhaled at once, it sounded like an airlock on a starliner had been punctured, the one sound that pierced over the rush of air was a loud shrill yelp from the Contessa herself, Declan could not tell if she was appalled or elated. A stark heavy silence filled the enormous room the only noise was the somehow still off rhythm dance of the rodian.

Tap-rap-tap-tap. Rap-tap-tap-rap-rap-tap-rap.

The Earl was unmistakably appalled. From his newly found seat on the floor, the beady eyed man looked around at those who stood staring at him, his over large mustache quivering so much from the man's shocked sputters it looked like the brushes of SrvoTech premium cleaning droid.

So much for subtlety. He thought, unable to not be impressed at the effectiveness with which Karim had shut the fat man up but also unable to stop himself from realizing with a cheeky grin that their mission just got exponentially harder.

Two large plainly dressed humans began to approach Declan and Karim who were now surround on all sides by gawkers as two more struggled to help the Earl to his feet. These were clearly the Earl's security team and it seemed these two were eager to exact some kind of retribution on behalf of their patron in hopes that he would forget that they let him be struck in the first place.

"Hold on boys, I don't suppose we can just chalk this up to a drunken mistake?" Declan asked as he intercepted the two men before they got any closer to Karim. While yes these two were big for humans neither was as large as Karim or Declan. Both the humans had dark black hair, one had a neatly trimmed mustache and soft green eyes, while the other's eyes were blue and his face was clean shaven making it even easier to observe his hooked nose.

Neither man said a word, they just continued walking toward Karim. "Kark." Declan swore under his breath. Hook nose was the first of them to try and step past Declan. He learned quickly that was a mistake when one of Declan's boots came slamming down on the instep of hook nose's foot with a crack that filled the silence of the room followed by a cry of pain that ended after one of Declan's elbows went crashing into the side of the screaming man's head. This all happened so fast, Mustache had to do a double take at Declan and his now unconscious partner on the ground.

A look of silent resolve came over Mustache and he approached Declan with his hands raised ready to fight. Declan gave the man a knowing nod and put his own hands up. The two behemoths circled each other, in a dance far more violent and threatening than had taken place on the dance floor earlier, each man was taking the measure of the other searching for an opening that would put an end to this encounter as quickly as possible.

The whole room continued to hold its breath, every eye focused on what was happening, surely none of the attendees had dreamed this is the sort of thing they would be witness to. Finally after what seemed like minutes but was hardly more than a few heartbeats, the two men went at one another like a pair of bull rancor during mating season. Fists flew at one another Declan's punches were vicious but wild, Mustache was more composed and so he was the first to land a real blow.

Declan's knees buckled and blood immediately began to flow down his face from a deep angry cut that had opened above his eyebrow. The world around him was dark and Declan was only vaguely aware of sticking his arms out like a mummy trying to grab hold of the man in front of him. His body moved but not for any conscious thought Declan put into it. Declan was hit again, a bruise starting to form on the right side of his face and suddenly the world snapped back into stark focus.

Declan shook his head like a wolf that just got whacked on the snout, droplets of blood went flying in all directions. Mustache went to punch again, Declan ducked under the strike and threw his body into Mustache. Both men went crashing to the floor and in the scramble Declan ended up on top of his foe, pinning the man's arms underneath him. A grotesque thud emanated from the pair as Declan wove his fingers together and slammed both his hands down on his opponent like a hammer. He struck him again and a third time, it didn't matter that Mustache had quit fighting after the first blow or that now the movements his body made were a series of involuntary twitches. Declan was prepared to end this for all and good.

"Enough!" "Enough!" "Freeze!" A series of voices shouted and Declan looked up to see three or four of the palace guards surrounding them, rifles pointed at Declan. His chest heaved as he calmed himself. After a moment or two it was clear that the guards were going to allow Declan to remain with Karim. They scooped up the two unconscious men and dragged them from the now very noisy hall as Declan made his way back over to Karim who had been joined by The Contessa.

She was pretty, Declan noticed and young, still a teenager if he had to guess.

"Wooow!" The Contessa exclaimed. "That was…flipping insane! I thought my eighteenth name day party was going to be so…blah! Bazelgog, you have to tell me where in the galaxy did you find such a wild man for a bodyguard!" She looked to Karim and batted her eyes, talking to him like they had known each other forever and were as close as could be and not like her grandfather was responsible for the death of his father, as was the truth when it came to the real Archduke. Declan also had the feeling that striking the Earl may have led the Contessa to seeing the Archduke or Karim as something or someone to infatuate over.

Karim