Chapter 10 Duel

Henna checked on Bill, Roth and her mate Mikos, she loved her mate with all her heart. Shaking her head she knew there would hell to pay when they all awoke. Then a thin smile crossed her face, she’d just get the King elect’s mates to explain that it was her duty. Let’s see them argue with that!

It was several hours later that Roth’s eyes flickered open. Knowing better than to just bolt upright, he waited a few moments to let the sedative wear off more. Damn it! How he hated doctors! Especially one as experienced as Mikos mate was. Sitting up slowly he thought he’d better prepare for when Bill awoke. He actually had the strength to rip most of them apart!

It was another hour later when Mikos’s eyes slowly opened; a groan escaped his lips as he felt the sedative slowly receding from his body. His mate was as smart as she was tricky that was for sure! Looking over he saw that the King elect’s mates were all on guard around him. Then he saw that they were also around his mate, what was going on? That’s when he saw a distraught Roth standing nearby his sword drawn.

Sitting up slowly a moment later Mikos drew his sword and slowly advanced upon Roth. Whirling suddenly Roth had Mikos sword flying to the wall as it was easily twisted from his hand! Then Queen Niaco’s sword was blocking the killing blow that Roth was about to deliver. “You should really recover more before attempting to make such a stupid mistake!” Roth snarled at him.

“I’ll try and remember that, what is going on? Why is your sword drawn?” A now even more concerned Mikos asked.

“Your mate put all of us out with an injection!” Roth snarled as he backed away from Mikos turning his heated glance upon Henna. “She interfered with the sworn duty of a first Knight of the realm! I intend to see that she is punished!” With a roar Roth lunged at Henna only to be blocked by Twitty, then Glenna. Slashing away he stopped suddenly when he felt Queen Niaco’s sword at his throat.

“I may not have the skill of you Sir Roth, I will end you if given the chance!” Came a low growling female voice behind him.

Dropping his sword Roth quickly took a knee before her. “I could never hurt you my Queen!”

“That’s good,” came a low raspy voice from the bed. “I would really hate to have to execute you just after making you a Knight.” Looking at Henna he stated, “Thank you Doctor, I am glad you have kept up with all the old poisons.”

All of them turned to see a pale but much better looking Bill looking up from the bed.

“MATE!” Came three excited female voices as they all rushed toward Bill.

Henna stood between them and Bill, “Not yet he is still weak, let me examine him before you throw your bodies at him!” Shaking her head at the crestfallen looks on the three females faces, she then smirked at Bill when he got a large grin on his face.

“You must be an excellent Doctor to have incited Roth to such anger. I think you more than pass Henna Mikos.” Bill’s rapidly growing stronger voice said.

Henna began to blush at the praise that Bill was showing her. Faltering only a moment she started to check all of Bill vitals. “I do the best I can,” she replied. “I have no hard feelings toward you Sir Roth.” She stated as she looked at the still bowed male. “I think you should check the mandates set down by King Tomco.”

“The mandates?” Roth said, suddenly his interest peaking.

“Yes, I think that you will find that he enacted a law. A law, that was put in at the insistence of his first Queen. I believe that it states: In the event that any in the palace, staff or otherwise are in any way injured. Then the attending palace doctor’s orders cannot be superseded nor expunged. The palace doctor will be designated as the attending named palace doctor or another that has been called in.” Smirking at a wide opened mouth Roth she continued. “Since it was the Queen that ordered me here, I think that in this instance you are in the wrong, Sir Roth.”

Roth tensed up a bit only to turn toward Bill, looking at him like he was crazy as he started to laugh. “I seem to remember something of this with father. I also remember that the first Knight also reacted the same way. Ah! Such memories from long ago!”

“You mean to tell me that this insane law actually exists! That is the most ludicrous law that I have ever heard of!” Roth growled out.

“Perhaps,” Bill continued, “As I remember it actually saved father’s life a few times, as it did the first Knight. I also remember the first Knight thanking the doctor, I believe his name was Tonaco.”

Roth made a sign in the air with a gasp. “I remember him, he was the finest that was ever in the service of the realm. I can only aspire to be like him. Though I never remember hearing of his death.” Roth was almost whispering his face with a look of awe on it.

Bill was nodding a look of distant fond memories that were flooding his mind. Yes, Tonaco was still alive. Bill thought he might be, well, he was five years ago when he left Xendra. He had respected the retired Knight’s wishes not saying a word about him still being among the living. No, he wouldn’t break that word even if Bill needed him. As far as Bill knew he was on the furthest out planet of the realm. What had been the name? Tandra? Scratching by his whiskers he wasn’t sure he’d have to wrack his brain to remember.

Henna had paused a moment to allow Bill to finish with his musings. She might have the last say but really didn’t want to get the King elect against her also. A few moments later Bill turned to look at her sitting there waiting.

“So, you are as smart as I thought. You have passed more than you thought Henna Glac.” Looking at a grinning sheepishly Mikos, Bill continued, “You chose a highly intelligent mate Mikos.”

“Thank you sire, though I can’t claim that. I was decidedly set in my career I had no desire for a mate.” Here Mikos smirked a moment, “I was approached by the leader of the Chartreux clan. It was her father, he advised me that I was of an age that I was required to take a mate. His eyes got wide when I told him I had no time for a mate. This young Chartreux clan female suddenly approached me, then after looking me over told the leader. He will do father. She then boldly walked to me laid a paw on my chest and claimed me!”

Bill and his mates started to chuckle, his mates already knew that Henna was a strong female. “So I take it you refused?” Bill said a wide smile on his face.”

“Refused?” Mikos said with apparent shock on his face reliving the memory of quants ago. “Sire I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t speak! This of course, she took as refusal as did her father! It wasn’t ‘til he’d drawn his sword that I was woken out of my stupor. Well it was that and the near miss the leader sword made of my chest. I fought him for three fourths of a toton before he declared a draw.”

“I am unfamiliar with the Chartreux clan law Mikos.” Bill interjected.

“Yes sire I was allowed to leave, though I would be shunned somewhat by the clan. The fact that I hadn’t actually been in the clan for almost a quant didn’t bother me that much. I had started to turn to go when I heard a wailing of a female. I looked back and saw Henna on her knees begging her father for another chance. Her father still had his sword drawn, pointed at her throat.” Here Mikos sighed.

“You went and claimed her.” Bill said nodding he could see that in Mikos character. Mikos wouldn’t have allowed another to die because of his actions.

Mikos nodded, “The rest is as they say history, though,” here he looked at a blushing Henna “you know sire at times I still feel I was set up! Even now after all these quants! Hmmmmm.”

Henna blushed even more as she quickly turned her face away. Uh huh Bill thought so the whole thing HAD been staged. Trying his best not to laugh Bill stated, “You do have to admit Mikos, she was and is the perfect mate for you.”

A huge smile lit up Mikos face as he nodded, “Yes Sire, she is that and more!”

“So, it appears that I owe my life to the both of you. Perhaps even twice to you Mikos having risked your life at the start of this.”

Henna’s face showed shock. Her mate had said nothing of any of this! She had to tell her father, the honor that this would bring the clan was beyond compare. Then there was the fact that Mikos had done it not once but twice! Purring she rubbed against her mate, she was starting to find him more and more attractive. In fact this latest development was starting to change her mind about having kits for him! Smirking she thought then maybe her father would leave off with the snide no kit jokes!

“Sire I think you should be able to get out of bed tomorrow, though nothing that strenuous. I am afraid if you do you’ll be right back here for another half minton. I just thank the great Feline that I made it in time. I am detecting no damage to your heart, lungs, stomach. Though I am afraid it will be almost another whole minton before you have your whole strength back. I am sorry sire that’s the best I can do, the poison acts fast but takes time to flush completely from the body.”