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She was still asleep when Drake woke, so he left her in bed to answer a call from the man he’d left inside the main door. Sawatel had returned from a mission searching for General Vass. They’d found nothing but even that was good news.
He sat facing the young mauleon in Calliope’s living room where he’d held a meeting the day before. The hovering of her bot, Sassi, reminded him of the mess they’d left and he okayed it to clean up and organized a breakfast to be set up outside, on her balcony. It was time to talk to her about what she’d done.
“So. Before you leave, Sawatel, tell me something of the years when you helped follow the princess through the city.”
“Now?” Sawatel looked surprised. “I did tell you, many times.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Again then.” It was true he’d listened on disconnect every time in the past. He hadn’t wanted to hear of what she did when obeying her father, so long as she remained safe.
“Yes, Lord. She used to visit the hospital a lot. Maternity ward. Though I had to stay back I looked too obvious there. The babies, you know. Humans.” He laughed softly. “The infertility problems make them baby crazy.”
Mauleons had mutation problems, so it was even. Drake knew this. Sawatel it seemed did not.
“Huleon babies?”
“Sometimes.” Sawatel shrugged. “Truthfully, apart from the anti-mauleon league, most of the humans don’t care. I’ve picked up my fair share of fucks wandering about in the upper city.”
Drake grunted. “Keep going. She likes babies...”
“I guess. And has a friend there at the hospital. Shree, also a male nurse called Bron. I’ve followed her down streets to markets, shops. She just wandered sometimes, talked to people.”
“How many knew who she was?”
“The princess? I’m not sure, but maybe half? It was a joke among those I asked. They like her being all common.”
“I see.”
Something to bear in mind. Something that actually stirred admiration. She wasn’t just a sadistic fuck, like her brothers and General Vass had been. Though he’d figured that out already, really.
He listened to more of her story but eventually dismissed Sawatel.
Yesterday, she’d been looking for proof he lied? And had tried to reverse the effects of the torm? It was enough to make most men and mauleons despair of training her, except he was no ordinary mauleon. And he wanted her, no matter how long it took to make her see sense.
Breakfast was served on the balcony, as he’d directed.
She was well enough today, to listen.
