29

Timbella woke Deeter up in a manner he was most unaccustomed to. But he couldn't complain much. Afterwards he asked if she always woke people up like that.

"Well, when we're sharing the same bed, why not." She stood up. "Shower," she said, and disappeared into the bathroom.

Deeter sighed. He felt somehow wrong, and the only thing that he thought might help was more sex. So he followed her into the shower. Doing it standing up was a little tricky, but he persevered. Timbella didn't seem to mind too much, either, and afterwards she helped him soap up. Which sort of got him going once again.

"Damn, you really are young, aren't you?" she asked as they dried off.

He shrugged. "I suppose. I've never really had my stamina tested in this regard."

She giggled. "'In this regard.' Lord."

He didn't reply. Ever since finding out that he really was royalty, she'd gently mocked his way of speaking. He wasn't that bothered by it, but it was a bit tiresome.

They got dressed in relative silence, save for a quick smack to her bottom before her long pants were put on.

"So, what do you want to do today?"

"Breakfast would be favorite, to start. And then - well, what do you normally do on a daily basis?"

"I have class today, but I can skip it."

He frowned. "Are you really intending to come with me? Shouldn't you cancel the classes then?"

"Hmmm. Maybe so. I can make up some sob story and get incompletes."

"Well let's have breakfast by your classes, and then you can take care of the withdrawal."

She nodded, and they took their bags and left. On the way up to the train, Timbella said, "You know, maybe it isn't the best idea for you to come all the way to campus with me. I mean Mynog found where I live, he could find where I go to school."

"Hm. I don't think so, I think he just found where I traveled. As long as I don't do anything like that - unless you think the authorities are going to cooperate with him?"

"Ha! No, good point."

So they continued. Breakfast was quiet. Deeter wasn't sure what was going on. He didn't think Timbella should come with him for her sake, but for his sake he couldn't deny that he needed her help. And then there were the fringe benefits.

"So after I get everything canceled, I'll take you to the top of one of the tallest buildings," she was saying. He blinked, back to reality. "Sounds good?"

"Sounds fine," he smiled.

28

"What did he mean, 'not your religion'?" Timbella asked.

"Well, as I told you, the priests can't read the minds of the nobles. So there's no need for them in our services."

"What are the services?"

"Worship."

She rolled her eyes. "I wasn't raised with a religion, so I don't really know what 'worship' consists of."

"Oh, well, it's just honoring the ancestors, for us. The priests try to say they have power and can intercede on the behalf of people, but really no one can influence our world but ourselves." He reflected for a moment. "And the witches, I suppose."

She nodded. "So Mynog is like, an expert on your world?"

"It would appear to be the case," he agreed.

"I almost wish we could talk to him now."

Deeter shuddered. "Whatever for?"

"To pick his brain!"

"That sounds unpleasant," he muttered.

"Oh, you just say that because he wants to take you back to your home."

"Well, yes! Our interests are not at all aligned! Quite the contrary!"

Timbella giggled. "I like how sarcastic you get when you're mad."

He scowled at her. "Can we please just go to sleep now?"

"Can we do other stuff first?" She stroked his upper thigh.

"Not in the mood."

"Morning?"

He shrugged. "We'll see."

"So pouty." She went into the bathroom to get ready for bed. Deeter did likewise, alone, but she came out carrying two cups of steaming liquid. "I estimated a little less for you than me, since you've never taken any. It's really bitter so just drink it fast. I have a fruit drink for after, to get rid of the taste. And it'll kick in really fast, just so you know."

He did so. It was indeed bitter, so he gladly took the fruit drink. They kissed a little but before long he couldn't tell what he was doing. So they broke apart and just lay together in the bed while sleep stole over them.

27

"And the next time you saw him?" she asked.

Deeter sighed. The massage was over. "I really would like to just get to sleep, please."

"How can you sleep? Well, I mean, I've got that dope, we can use that later."

"What's dope?"

"A downer, I told you."

He shrugged, using both arms to indicate ignorance, smiling. Timbella rolled her eyes. "Do they have painkillers where you're from?"

"Yes, of course. Different plant tinctures do different things, a few of them kill pain."

"Well, on this planet, one of the painkillers also induces trances. The kind that are indistinguishable from dreams. You can't really move, and your brain works, but you're not quite awake. If you're already tired you can fall asleep pretty easily from that state."

He nodded. "Sort of like wine?"

"Except without the disorientation. I mean, I don't know about you, but if I drink so much I pass out, it's cos I'm super dizzy. But you mean wine only, don't you?"

"Ale doesn't get me as drunk."

"Distillation hasn't been invented where you're from?" At his blank look, she said "I guess not."

"My brother froze wine once to make it more potent. We felt pretty rotten after."

"How did he freeze - oh, you mean just outside."

He laughed. "Yes, not by use of magic. Or electricity."

"Anyway this stuff doesn't give you the headache the next day. Just a pleasant trip to dreamland. But first you have to tell me about - Mike?"

"Mynog."

~

After the first encounter, he was more cautious with the places he went. He still ran into Watchers, but only in the advanced civilizations. So he began to avoid them. Also, as Hypose had pointed out, his jewels went further in "backwards" places. Or, to Deeter, homelike places. He was still cautious and didn't stay anywhere more than three days.

He was getting ready for his second night in a small village. He had paid a farmer in jewels to stay in his barn, and for food. He finished speaking his diary entry, and blew out his candle, and the barn door blew open.

He jumped up. "Who's there?"

The farmer waved at him. "This is Father Fantal," he said apologetically.

Deeter could just make out the second figure. "Yes?"

"I need to speak with you about your immortal soul," the priest intoned.

Deeter sighed. Well, the man was built like a priest, so it was probably safe enough... "All right. Leave us."

The farmer complied, closing the barn door. Deeter sat back down. "Do you do this with every stranger to your village?"

"Not every one, but an angel told me to be aware of you. Or at least, a pale child with pale hair and pale eyes. Perhaps he did not mean you, but you are the only one I have seen in my lifetime."

Deeter frowned. "This angel didn't happen to resemble, say, a very very tall man, not quite as pale as I, with dark hair and dark glasses?"

Fantal gasped. "Yes! Save the glasses. He wore none in my vision."

"Really? What color are his eyes?"

"I - didn't notice. He is an angel, isn't he? Your guardian angel?"

"I don't think I would put it that way."

"No, you wouldn't. He seemed to want to find you, and you seem reluctant."

Deeter sighed. "I'm merely tired. Would you mind waiting till the morning?"

"I'm afraid not," he replied, and spoke an incantation that did not translate. The next thing Deeter knew, he was in a bed, tied up by torn bedclothes.

"What?" Fantal was sitting at a desk, writing with a quill. He turned to Deeter.

"I do apologize, but my instructions were quite clear. I cannot be detained by an unfaithful."

"You cast a drone spell on me? It's worn off." Deeter noticed his bag at the side of the bed. The spell obviously had not penetrated his mind deeply. A true drone would only take instructions literally, rather than interpret them, and he couldn't imagine a command to take his belongings.

"It was supposed to. Now just be patient. I have summoned the angel. You should try to get some sleep." Fantal turned back to his writing.

"Your god is not my god. I think you will be sorry for this."

He paused. "Quiet, please, or I'll cast a hush on you."

"Fine." Deeter had wriggled quite a bit while they spoke, and was quite loose. He didn't want to make any noise now, though, so he tried to simply relax.

It was not long before there was a knock at the door. "It is I, Mynog," said the voice that Deeter remembered all too well.

Fantal jumped up and let him in. "Your Grace," he said, bowing.

It was indeed the Watcher, wearing long white robes even more shapeless than the outfits of Akinal. And glasses-free. "Well done, faithful servant. Leave us for now."

"Yes, your Grace," he repeated, and ran outside, calling out "Be in the cellar!"

Mynog laughed. "Ah, priests. So gullible. Religion is truly a blight, isn't it?" He took the chair where Fantal sat.

"Not mine."

"No, not yours," he agreed. "But as usual, even on your world, the churches have perverted things, and only your people do without them."

"We attend church!"

"But not, I surmise, the same way the peasants do." He shook his head. "Damn, I really would love to have this conversation with you, but it will have to wait. We'll talk on the way back to Shringston, eh?"

"We will do no such thing," Deeter said in his most imperious tone, and pulled his arm out of the makeshift ropes. "I'm not going back."

Mynog groaned. "Not this again. What's wrong with you? Has the royal blood really been so diluted?"

Deeter pulled out his other arm and wriggled out of the now-slack knots. "Call it whatever you like. It interests me not at all." He stood up and picked up his bag.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"As if I would tell you!"

"Point," he conceded. "But you don't actually know either, do you?"

"A billion miles from you sounds good right now."

He snorted. "Good luck with that."

Deeter stared at Mynog, who stared back at him. Green, he noted; Mynog's eyes were green. With his eyes on his, he didn't worry about being seen digging in his bag. But he still felt he should talk. "So the peasants don't like your dark glasses here?"

"Well, they aren't really necessary."

Deeter carefully put one gem each in his hand, and hoisted the bag up. "This has been a delight, as usual, but I really must be going."

"In which case I will take the glasses out," he laughed. At the time Deeter was puzzled by this reaction, but he continued walking out. He didn't want him to see the portal, glasses or no glasses.

26

The hotel was not nearly as nice as Timbella's flat, but it took cash and asked no questions. Deeter was beginning to calm down, so he flopped down onto the bed, belly first. Timbella joined him, and began rubbing his shoulders. He made a happy little noise.

"So you met that guy before?"

"Mmmm, can we not talk about this?"

She stopped rubbing his shoulders. "Sure."

He sighed. "I'll talk if you keep on?"

"Start talking."

"My first few jumps were to planets more advanced than even this one. Ahhh. Mmmm. There I was often noticed quickly for what I was, and warned away. That's how I learned what I told you. But I didn't believe it at first, till I met Mynog.

"I had just replenished some supplies and was sitting in a small tree-lined area, on the ground, eating. He was dressed in what appeared to be local fashions, except more conservative, and wearing dark glasses. I remember being confused about that. He's quite tall, as you saw, and doesn't exactly blend in. So I noticed him from rather far away. I wasn't certain he was heading straight for me, but I had this feeling. I mean, I'll be honest, I thought he was simply another man I'd caught the eye of, so I just started to gather things up normally, and head towards more people."

"You get a lot of guys hitting on you?"

"Probably fewer than you would."

She laughed aloud. "Was that a compliment?"

It wasn't meant to be, but he said "It certainly sounded like one, didn't it?"

"So when did you figure it out?"

"Well, he must have seen me getting up, because he started to run, very fast, straight towards me. I still didn't understand then, and I stood extremely still with all my things at my feet. I managed to estimate his speed, and then right before he came upon me, I launched downward, as prone as I am now."

"Oh man. How many times have you made this guy fall down?"

"He didn't fall this time, just kept running, a little surprised. I went the other way towards a path, as I said, towards more people. But by then I had guessed that he was a Watcher. I still didn't really understand what that meant, though.

"He finally caught up with me, but I was in a crowd, and he simply talked to me as I walked quickly away.

"'You've already figured it out? Or did your father warn you as a child?'

"'You know my father?'

"'He sent me to bring you back. One missing son is enough.'

"'A pity I am not fit to take my brother's place.'

"'That's for him to decide, not me. I just do my job.'

"'A pity, then, that you have no free will or empathy.'

"This must have upset him, for he grabbed my hand. 'Don't you dare. I've lived over a century before you were born. I've wept tears for your people before your grandmother did. You're a child, even for a human.'

"His voice was soft, but a man dressed as he was, acting as he did, caught the attention of passers-by. A few people were gathered around staring, and he noticed, and he let go. 'Remember me. Mynog,' he said. 'The next time you're alone, I'll take you back.'"

"Creepy."

"Yes, I think people were staring more because he was speaking my own language, though. He didn't know about the translator, you see."

"Oh, that makes sense. He probably thought you wouldn't be able to cope anyway."

"Something like that. As soon as I could, I found a toilet enclosure and went to a new world."

"Did he follow you?"

"No, it was a different Watcher. The next time I saw him was on a world about forty million miles away. I think."

"Like four light-years?"

"Light year?"

"Oh man. Another physics lesson. Light doesn't travel instantaneously, just really really fast. Um, I think I learned it as a billion miles an hour."

"That seems quite fast. How can you tell the difference?"

"Oh there's lots of experiments and stuff. In school we timed it by using a gear with teeth set a certain distance apart from a beam of light at the other side of the school gymnasium. Since we knew all the distances we could calculate it. And of course you can use shadows from farther planets and stuff."

He almost thought he understood. "And a light-year is how far light travels in a year?"

"Yep. I never remember what it is though. Anyway. Nothing can go faster than light. At least not in this realm, I guess you are proof that there's another one."

He shrugged a bit. "You can stop if you like. It does seem the Watchers can go faster than light, if planets are light-years away from each other, and I've seen Mynog multiple times."

"I may have had it wrong. I'm pretty sure our nearest star is 5 light-years away, though."

"I've only been on the run ninety or so days."

She frowned. "I guess they can then. But still seems like they can't go that much faster. Wonder what the deal is."

25

Timbella was stroking Deeter's hair when there was a knock on the door. He pulled back and looked at her. She stared back, shrugged, then put her finger to her lips.

She crept to the door and looked. Whoever it was chose that moment to knock again, knocking firmer. She walked backwards to Deeter, and whispered, very softly, "Ready that taser."

He did so. Watcher? How would she know? At best, someone she didn't want coming in. At worst, someone she didn't know, and who else would it be, but a Watcher? He pulled out the taser and made sure it was switched ON.

She pulled him gently towards the door. It opened inwards, and she put him by the hinges. She stood where the door would open, put her finger on her lips again, and said, "Who is it?"

The knocking ceased. "Officer Mynog," came the reply. Deeter froze. A Watcher, and what's more, one he'd been captured by before. He hoped his look, and readying the taser, would be enough for her to understand.

"Officer? What are, crazy? This is Kwee City! I know my rights, you bastard."

"You're harboring a fugitive. You don't have many rights in this situation."

"A fugitive? Are you shitting me?"

"Cut the bullshit, woman. Open the door or I'll break it down."

She mouthed something too quietly for the translator to pick up, but he figured it meant "Get ready." He nodded at her, and she said "If that's what it takes," then unlocked the door. "Come on in."

He opened the door. "I hope you'll be reasonable about this." Deeter could only see the back of his head as he closed the door behind him without looking. He supposed it could have been another Watcher, but the voice, the significant height, and the dark greased-back hair all pointed to Mynog. "Where is he?"

"He must be in the kitchen," she said, and then Deeter pulled the trigger. The cartridge shot out and hit his locally-suitable suit jacket. He began convulsing and fell to the ground. Deeter turned off the gun, pulled the cartridge off Mynog's back, and hit the REWIND button. The cartridge wires wound back up, pulling the cartridge with it. It had taken less than a minute, and only after replacing the taser did he realize what had happened. He let out a shriek and almost collapsed, right next to Mynog.

"Crap! Deeter!" She slapped his face, albeit gently.

"I'm fine," he croaked. He took a deep breath. "Fine," he repeated in a more normal voice.

"I'm sure. We better get the hell out of here. If one can find you, another can."

He let out a weak chuckle. "Can't we tie him up and torture him a little first?"

"Sure, if you think that's more important."

"A joke. Grab some clothes and let's run."

"Although maybe tying him up isn't a bad idea." She went into the kitchen and came back with twine and scissors. "It's not much but it'll keep him occupied when he wakes up."

Deeter nodded. They split it up, him doing the ankles, her doing the wrists. Afterwards, she stood up and went to get a small bag. "It's already got a day's worth of clothing in it. Parents are demanding sometimes." She grabbed her purse and keys and led Deeter out of her apartment.

Once outside, she said softly, "We'll check into a hotel at the end of the train line, and then figure things out."

He nodded. He was still a bit faded from the attack. He couldn't believe that Mynog was still after him. Well, now he would be, certainly. Being knocked out could make one take things more personally...

24 - flashback ends

The place that Hypose took Deeter Zor to was not what he expected. He expected a shop like the map shop, with various types of empty books rather than... nothing. Not even some sort of "electrical" device that you could write on. Instead there were devices, slightly bigger than the bloodstones, which apparently you could talk into. Voice recorders. The one Hypose picked out for him was so small he didn't understand how it worked. And for once his translator failed him. The words were probably translated properly, but he still had no idea what they meant.

Hypose realized this, and tried to explain in a more basic manner. "Sound travels through air but also water and solid substances. The noise in your head when you speak is different than the noise everyone else hears. This will record that noise."

"But it has to be put in my head?" Apparently he had not misunderstood that part.

"Correct. Our surgeons are far more advanced than any physician you would ever have experienced, have no fear."

"I'm not afraid. What's to be afraid of, some perfect stranger cutting into my skull to implant some strange electric device," he muttered.

"You will be drugged and feel nothing. You can even be unconscious for the whole thing if you like."

Deeter considered. Was it worse to be awake or asleep, for this apparently routine procedure? This wasn't even a physician's office; merely someone who specialized in inserting these electronic journals. "Asleep, please."

Hypose told the specialist, and the man brought over a few small pills. "Take two," he said.

Deeter did so, and was then led to a back room. It was sparkling clean, and he lay on a white padded table in the center, face down. He began to feel relaxed, and more relieved and even happy. Floaty. "Oh, don't be alarmed if my blood is clear," he remembered to say before losing consciousness.

The next thing he knew, Hypose was forcing him to drink water. Or honeyed water. It was slightly sweet at least. He felt the back of his head. A small bandage was the only evidence. "Where is he?"

"He didn't believe you. I admit I wasn't sure if I should or not either."

"Believe what?"

"Your blood being transparent."

"Oh. That." He shrugged. "It runs in the family."

"That's amazing. You must not be fully human. There must have been some other race when your planet was seeded."

"I suppose. So was he so shocked he didn't perform the procedure?"

"He performed it all right. I reminded him that we paid in advance, and it would endanger his livelihood if he didn't."

Deeter groaned. "I still feel fuzzy-headed."

"That'll be the anaesthetic. We'll get some fresh air, and supper, that should help."

It did help. He felt better by the time they got to the restaurant, but he noticed Hypose was more stand-offish. So he continued to act fuzzy-headed, and Hypose stayed more formal. He did help him stand up, after they ate, but he left him at the door to the hotel, rather than his room. A kiss on the cheek, and he was gone.

His final words: "I'd like to see you again, but it's for the best if you are gone when I come back tomorrow."

23 - flashback continues

The city of Akinal was like nothing Deeter Zor had seen. He had seen all of the country his family ruled, but it couldn't have possibly prepared him for advanced civilization. Even something as simple as a map shop - something he'd seen before, in Shringston - overwhelmed him. He did his best to keep it hidden, and his years of diplomacy training helped.

Hypose paid for him, and when they left, Deeter spoke up. "I'm not destitute, you know."

"I know. You just don't have local currency, shall we say?"

In response Deeter pulled out a few of the crown's jewels that he had taken before fleeing. "These won't do, I suppose."

Hypose raised his thick bushy eyebrows. "Perhaps they will. But I must be honest with you. I know your secret."

Deeter stopped from sheer terror, dropping his jaw, but Hypose gently took his hand. "I know you are an alien," he said softly, "and if you aren't careful, the Watchers will find you."

This was not what he was expecting. "I - I don't think I understand," he said, taking back his hand.

Hypose explained about the Watchers. How they seeded many planets across the galaxy with humans. How they continued to interfere with them. "Some blasted 'prime' directive that says each planet must remain as it is, without interference. Their interference doesn't count, of course. I do not know how you managed to get here without alerting them, but I'm afraid you won't be safe for long."

At first he refused to believe him, although he was far too polite to say anything. "Then can you take me somewhere that I can get a bit of money? Just enough for today and tonight."

Hypose sighed but took him to a jeweler's. He took over the transaction, only selling a few of the jewels for more than Deeter thought reasonable. But then, perhaps jewels were relatively rare here. That would explain it, he thought at first, but they soon arrived at an inn. The price for one night was almost as much as the entire price of the jewels. He remained polite, however, until they got to the room.

"Are things truly so expensive here?"

Hypose laughed. "I suppose it seems so to you, doesn't it? This hotel is a cheaper one, actually."

"Incredible. Another good reason to leave."

He nodded. "If you can, find planets that are more like yours. Any kind of energy powering things beyond physical, the jewels you carry will not be worth much. Food at least is cheap here, relatively speaking at least. And you should get a bag, and a change of clothing."

All very practical notions. "I want a journal, as well," he said.

"Ah, now that's something else. You don't want one that could be stolen. I have just the thing. Wait here while I arrange it."

He waited. The hotel room was, like the rest of the city, unreal. White, white walls, an enormous, feather-soft bed, and huge windows of glass. Or perhaps not glass, as it sounded strange when he tapped it. There was a painting of a boy playing with some sort of animal. He supposed it was supposed to make visitors feel comforted.

It wasn't really that long before Hypose knocked on his door. The door flashed red, and showed a red Hypose on it, which was a bit startling. "Come in," he called out.

"You have to open it from the inside," came the reply.

Feeling like an idiot, he did so. "I didn't think I'd locked it."

"It locks automatically. You have the card?"

He held up the card that he had been given upon check-in. Hypose showed him to use it to open the door, and then they went to get his journal.

22

Deeter Zor was still panicked. He was feeling as if he'd just managed to escape from the Watchers again. He was beginning to calm down, but Timbella had inadvertently pulled out some issues that he wasn't able to cope with.

His life had been simple enough, a few months ago. He was the second son, and there was a place for him. He was little more than decoration, it seemed, and he was content with this. Anect bore the responsibilities, the title, the pressure. Nothing had pleased him more than to think about never being ruler. He could sit on a fur and stare at a fire and think about it for hours. Or walk in the woods, smiling and whistling a jaunty tune, thinking about not being the crown prince.

All that changed in short order. His only true friends, he knew, were Anect and Laerne, and they both seemed to disappear within a day of each other. He had found her immediately upon learning of Anect's disappearance, and she had told him that the searches that were sure to come would disrupt her life. The forest was her life, and too many people combing it for a lost prince would ruin it. So she left him and the forest, but not without the translator and hints of the other jewels.

It had been simple enough to find them. They looked like rubies on first glance, but there was something off about them. They sparkled too much. He was no gemologist, but he did have a little experience in precious stones, and these seemed like diamonds. That was enough for him, and he held one in each hand, and thought of Ariel. Ariel, who also ran away. Was it something in the family? She had born four children before leaving forever, he remembered thinking, just before the portal appeared.

The first time he saw the portal was only slightly more astounding than the other times. He felt incredible fear, and had no idea what he was doing, but he couldn't have stopped himself even if he wanted to. On the other side was a world like nothing he could have imagined. He wandered around in a bit of a daze, staring at the impossibly tall structures that gleamed in the sun like ivory.

A man took pity on him. He was old, almost as old as his father. Slender, almost his height, and balding grey hair. Like almost everyone else, he wore a simple tunic. Unlike everyone else, his was white and hung loose around his frame. His nose was enormous and his smile was sad. "You look lost," he said.

"I suppose I am at that." Deeter flashed a winsome grin at him, suspecting ulterior motives. "Could you possibly direct me to a shop where I can purchase a map and a diary?"

"Certainly. My name is Hypose." He gave a slight bow at this. Deeter returned the bow, stating his name, and they walked together to the store.

"Is this your first visit to Akinal?" Hypose asked politely.

"It's obvious, isn't it. I'd hoped to be less obvious, but it's too obvious."

He chuckled. "I'm afraid so."

"Yes, I'm really a rural character. This place is - well, it's more amazing than I'd imagined, in all honesty."

The shop was a map store. It sold maps of all manner and shapes. He bought a paper street map, except that it wasn't actually paper. Hypose kindly showed him how the flexible paper worked, by "scrolling" around using your finger.

He was slowly beginning to understand what had happened. Like all people of his world (or so he had supposed), he believed other planets existed - where else would you go after you died? - but it was shocking that they had people like him upon them. People who still appeared to be living, and who had advanced far beyond his culture. But some things never changed. He had learned how to politely divert the advances of both men and women - had to, since he was ten or so. If he didn't, or instead tattled, the person ended up beaten and imprisoned.

So he was genial to Hypose but not overly familiar. He would give him companionship but nothing else. He did need help, and would pay him back as much as he could, but that was all.

21

"You sure have a strange life."

Deeter Zor stared at Timbella. "Why, because I was raised as the second prince of Shringston, or because I travel the galaxy via portals created by gemstones?"

"Well, I was thinking of the former, actually. The traveling thing sounds super. I wish I could come with you."

Deeter hesitated. "I'm supposed to say that couldn't happen, but honestly it would make things much easier. Especially if we annoyed the Professor too much for us to use him."

"I don't think we did, but... are you serious?"

"Well, if I had a legitimate companion who could use her local identification and such, while I paid for things, we could do quite a bit better, than I could on my own."

Timbella was quiet for a few minutes. "Let's talk to the Professor one more time, he's coming over tomorrow, but just so we can use him to get contacts. I'm thinking we can rent a car and then use fake names at hotels and stuff. And if these Watchers come after you, we can make them sorry. Even if they just look human, they can probably be killed just the same."

"That's not exactly what I wanted to do..."

"Oh, sorry, I thought you were serious about not wanting to take the responsibility of the throne."

"I am serious." He bit his lip. "Ever since I was a child I had nightmares about .. that. My brother dying. I didn't just leave for - I can't... You don't understand... My whole life I was - I never was very happy, you see... But I could always say, It could be worse, I could be the crown prince... My father is still alive, I wouldn't be king for a while, that isn't it at all."

She put her arms around him. "Deeter, you're babbling. Shut up." Her hands felt hot against his shirt. He felt faint.

"I'm sorry. I just, I just wanted you to see, I know I didn't do anything admirable or honorable, I know I'm a coward, but I do know it, I know what terrifies me, and -"

He stopped talking because her lips were on his. "Shut. Up."

He tried to get into the kiss. It was difficult, his body was still reacting to that thought. "I'm sorry," he said again.

"It's ok. I was just trying to explain that killing a Watcher might be the only way to avoid that shit."

He shook his head. "I think that would just make it worse. There's clearly disagreement among them about me, but killing one would solidify their resolve. Perhaps they wouldn't even try to retrieve me, but simply would kill me in return and call it self-defense."

20

"A fucking prince," Timbella said again.

Deeter felt strange. He had never told anyone as much about himself before. He felt a sense of relief. But he was still shaking. "I was the second son. My path was to learn diplomacy. I didn't need much else."

"Yeah, throne insurance. We still have monarchy here but only a few countries give them any power. They mainly just have the inherited money from land grabs."

"Who has the power?"

"The people, technically. It's a little more complicated than that. Kwee City, for example, is supposed to be a democracy, but it's mainly run by a select elite. The same people whose ancestors created it, more or less."

He frowned. "I understand that my people are leaders because of the non-human parts. It's all legend but apparently it made us smarter and faster and stronger than the humans we conquered. I don't really know. I haven't really felt very smart or able since leaving home."

"So you really don't know what the non-human part of you is? Or even if you really are actually partly non-human?"

"Oh, I know that for sure. You have red blood, do you not?"

"Yeah..."

"We don't."

"No shit? What color is it?"

"Well, it depends." He shifted his legs underneath him. "I've only seen it during accidents, or when I was ill. Typically clear, but exposure to air and infections change it."

"Clear blood? Woah, no wonder you guys could conquer humans. I bet that would psyche people out, if they attacked you and couldn't really see the wounds," she exclaimed.

He shrugged. "I suppose. Our realms are rather peaceful at the moment. Anyway, there's a test that young royal children have to go through to prove they aren't, um, well, bastards. I'd forgotten about till you asked about the blood."

She raised her eyebrows. "They cut little kids?"

He nodded. "Simply a pinprick. The other part of the test involves the priests."

"I really am getting afraid now."

"It was somewhat frightening," he admitted. "I was only seven. I didn't understand what was going on. But they can read minds."

"Serious? Religious leaders can read minds? That sounds really frightening."

He smiled. "Not the minds of the royalty. Something about the non-human blood prevents them, and causes both the priest and the child great pain."

She pondered this. "That definitely explains a bit better why you guys are in charge, then."