In Enemy Hands Chapter 9

Chapter Nine
The next morning Adlar showed Varo areas in the palace not restricted to him. Adlar avoided planetary defense, communications, and other important hubs. Varo had no business there without him.
But there were other areas that would entertain Varo, like the art gallery and a well-stocked public library. The gardens were magnificent too. There were workers who tended them who would do tours and lectures.
As they walked down a hallway, they noticed a group of palace guards making their way outside. Seeing Varo’s interest, Adlar took Varo to the guards training grounds which were divided into sections. As luck would have it, several of the palace guards were already there training one of the numerous obstacle courses.
“Does any of those look familiar?” Adlar asked as they walked closer to the courses.
“We use many of the same type of methods, yes.” Varo pointed to some equipment on the closest course. “We call that the slide of life, and that over there? It’s the incline wall. The belly crawl is always well hated too.”

Other guards were sparring with swords or bots. Several paused and bowed to Adlar as he and Varo passed. He returned their greetings with a nod and a wave of his hand. Not a one acknowledged Varo.
“Well, well. Look at what the batar dragged in. Would you like to join us, Adlar?” One of the older guards, Tomack, yelled.
“Yes!” His younger partner added, his voice excited. “Show these old men how it’s done, your Lordship.”
The older guard smirked as he glanced at his sparring partner. “Pup, don’t make me put you on the ground in front of Adlar.”
Adlar grinned at the younger guard. Tomack was Captain of the Palace Guard and certainly no slouch. The male had earned the title. Adlar glanced at Varo. Tomack might be older, but he was still a prime specimen and his experience wasn’t to be ignored.
He was so tempted to strip off and show Varo that he too was… Good gods. What am I doing? Trying to impress Varo with my skill? Or my body? The answer was a resounding yes to both, which mortified him even more. He wanted to see admiration and lust in Varo’s gaze… not the creeping desperation he’d noticed lately. Varo hid it quickly, but he’d still saw it.
“Sorry, Captain Tomack. Not this time. I’ve prior plans. ” Adlar gestured toward Varo. “This is—”
“Prince Varo,” said Tomack as he moved closer to them. “Yes, your Lordship, we’ve heard of the Yesri prince.” Captain Tomack blanked his face as he turned to Varo. He didn’t bow, but he did nod his head in Varo’s general direction. “Greeting.”
Adlar noticed the slight, but didn’t call Tomack on it.
“Greeting to you,” Varo answered. “I was just telling Adlar we have some of the same obstacles on our courses too, but I noticed a few I’ve never seen. They’re very impressive. The logs in the water caught my eye immediately.”
Surprise flashed across Captain Tomack’s face. “Ah… thank you. I’m the one who came up with that. I call them the balancing logs. It’s great for balance and endurance. And the water they are in? Well, that little pond is ground fed and incredibly cold too.”
Varo stared at the pond, and then suddenly laughed. “Brilliant. The shock of the cold water takes your breath away, yes?”
“Oh, yes, most definitely.” Tomack nodded, a wicked grin creeping across his face. “That’s the endurance aspect of it.”
“Our captain has a bit of an evil side,” Adlar joked.
“Ha! Let him fool you not. He’s the one with an evil mind.” Tomack slapped Adlar on the back.
“I’m aware,” Varo agreed. “Would you mind if I took a closer look? Maybe see how the logs are used?”
“Sure.” Tomack waved at two younger men milling around. “Since these two seem to be at loose ends, they can demonstrate.”
Both guards groaned, but walked to the logs. Varo looked to Adlar. With a nod, Adlar told him to go.
Tomack and Adlar stayed where they were as the young guards made their way onto the log. Varo stood at the edge of the pond, his questions drifting back to them on the breeze. They could hear his interest, and more importantly, his respect as he spoke to the guards.
Adlar waited.
Finally Tomack spoke. “He’s not what I’d expected.”
“No?”
“No. I thought he’d be more… spoiled, I guess. Arrogant like the rest of his kind. ”
“Oh, believe me, he can be.” Adlar watched as the guard’s started spinning the log with their feet while still trying to stay standing. “It’s not as bad as it was in the beginning. He’s like a small child in some ways. He wants, so he thinks he should have. Make no mistake, he’s very smart. He has a starship captain’s rank.”
“But he’s not…” Tomack frowned as the also stared at Varo.
“Cruel is the word I believe you want. Having his freedom restricted, being forced to consider viewpoints he’d never considered before, and seeing us has been an eye-opening experience for him. We were the enemy before. Now he sees us as a people. People with needs, desires, and wants.”
Tomack turned to face Adlar. “You… respect him even though he wears a slave collar.”
Adlar chuckled as he too watched the guards on the log. Others had joined to watch and the taunts and encouragements flew. “He may wear that collar, but he’s no slave. He’s too sure of himself. Confident. Able.”
“You haven’t tried to break him, then.”
“No. And I won’t.” Adlar scowled at the group watching the two males on the log. There were quite a few, and it was hard to see Varo in the mist of them. “There’s good in him, and I plan to bring it out.”
Tomack narrowed his eyes at Adlar. “Oh, frack me running. You care for him.”
“I do.” Adlar took a step toward the pond. Was there shoving now? Where was Varo? “It’s more than care, actually. Much, much more. He takes up every spare thought I have. I enjoy his company. I’ve even gone easy on him because the idea of activating the collar leaves me cold. I don’t wish to hurt him.”
Tomack sputtered. “Are you telling me you love him?”
Suddenly the fun and game atmosphere had changed, and Adlar strode toward the pond, uneasy. Tension had filled the area. “I’m not exactly sure what it is I feel for him, but—”
A yell came from the group and a splash sounded.
“Oh, frack.” Tomack took off behind Adlar. “Oh fracking frack.”
Laughter sounded around the pond.
Adlar shoved two males out of the way. The guards were still on the log so that wasn’t the splash he’d heard. No, in the ass-tingling, chest-high bitterly cold water stood Varo, bright blond hair dripping. A harsh, violent growl sounded and the males nearest him stepped back in fear.
“Who?” Adlar demanded to the group. The face of several terrified males looked back at him. “I asked who ? Who dares to touch what is mine? Who wishes to feel my blade? I’ll skin whoever did this alive. ”
“Um, hey, Adlar?”
Adlar jerked his furious back gaze toward Varo, who waded over the side of the pond, teeth chattering.
“I, ah, slipped and fell in. You know what a klutz I am.” He held up his hand. “Can you help me?”
Adlar gaped at Varo. And he knew then, beyond a shadow of a doubt, he’d just fell in love with the hardheaded male. No one spoke a word as Adlar pulled Varo out of the water. Still glaring, Adlar searched the crowd which was quickly disbursing, looking for anyone who appeared overly guilty. No one would make eye contact, which was probably just as well.
“Can we, um, return to your rooms? It’s rather chilly out here.”
Tomack came running with several towels. “Here. Adlar, I promise I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Varo used one of the towels to wring the water out of his hair. The other one Adlar draped around his shoulders. “There’s nothing to get to the bottom of . I slipped and fell.”
Adlar grasped Varo’s chin and stared into those lovely brown eyes. “You slipped.”
Varo stared back. “Yes.”
“Are you sure that’s how you wish to play this?”
Varo didn’t flinch from his course, nor did he drop his eyes. “I’m not playing anything. That’s what happened.”
Still holding Varo’s chin, Adlar whispered, “Such grace in your actions. It will be as you say then.”
“Thank you,” Varo breathed softly, moving closer to Adlar as a shiver racked him.
Adlar dropped his hand, but not before tracing the soft skin of Varo’s jaw. “Come. Let’s get you out of those wet clothes.”
Varo turned to follow Adlar, but stopped as Tomack stepped in front of him, bowing low. “It was a pleasure and an honor to meet you, Prince Varo.”
Surprise flashed across Varo’s face. “T-thank you.”
Adlar nodded at Tomack, pleased at the sign of respect he’d shown Varo. One was supposed to bow low to royalty, and Varo was royalty… even if he did wear a slave collar.
Adlar led Varo back to his rooms. Varo took a quick shower to get the stink of the pond water off him and warm up. As Varo showered, Adlar received a message from his brother inviting them to the final meal. Varo walked in the main living area, dressed. He had a towel he used to dry his long hair.
“Omori has invited us for the final meal in his chambers again. It’ll be just us.”
“Oh, okay then. That sounds nice. Do you and your brother spend a lot of time together?”
“When we can. More often than not we have too many responsibilities that pull us this way and that. We can’t spend the time together like we used to when we were younglings.”
“At least you and your brother get along.” Varo shrugged. “Do you know what he’s serving? Maybe we should bring a wine or something to go with the meal?” Varo headed to the bathroom. “Let me dry my hair and I’ll be ready.”
Adlar watched Varo leave, his thoughts returning to the training field. The Varo he knew would have shrieked loudly enough to wake the dead when pushed into that cold water. He’d even expected it.
Fact was, he really couldn’t blame Varo if he had reacted in such a way. He had. He’d been furious. The ones who pushed Varo were lucky not to feel the kiss of his blade. While he’d reacted with anger, Varo had reacted with calm. Had even denied someone pushed him. Of the two of them, Varo had acted more maturely.

Gods, how had that come to pass?
TBCSorry I got a little behind on this. Last week I spent worrying about a damn bruise being a blood clot, and yeah, it messed with my head. It's not a blood clot, thank goodness, so all is well lol. ~M