“When you know, you’ll know. Until then, don’t ask.” Heaven Langley.

Besh sat across from Sam in the King’s private room. Sam looked into the face of a male steward standing at attention in a blue jumpsuit. Besh was comforted by the padded chair after his tussle with Heaven. He still found what happened impossible to believe.

“Trincen oa,” said the King.

As the steward left, Sam turned back to Besh and said, “It’s an Orlainese tea.”

“What just happened?” asked Besh.

The King answered, “Two things, my friend. One, I needed to know the extent to which your Pirini would lead you. Tomorrow, you deploy. There is no time for training.”

“Oh,” said Besh seeming at a loss.

Sam continued. “The two of you seem indivisible; you need only trust your Pirini.”

Besh looked into Sam’s eyes and asked, “I passed?”

Sam answered with an easy smile. “With flying colors.”

Besh sighed. “Sam, I have to tell you, I have a bad feeling about this mission.”

Sam straightened in his chair, his face registering concern. “Me, too,” he replied.

The door slid open, and both men turned to see the steward enter with a tray. The steward stopped before the King and bent to give Sam access to the tray. Sam took his cup of tea, and the steward turned to Besh and lowered the tray.

“Sir,” said the steward.

Besh took the tea and watched the steward leave. He sipped the tea and nodded approval to Sam’s delight. Besh held the saucer on his knee with one hand, and his cup above it in the other hand. He looked at Sam, blinked, then remembered.

“What was the second thing?” asked Besh.

Sam answered through the visible steam from his cup. “Heaven was pissed,” he answered. “She needed to blow it off.”

“At me?” asked Besh.

Sam answered, “You had been with the Lieutenant Colonel. She was greatly disturbed. I told her of my plan to have you fight someone, and suggested she volunteer.”

“Yeah, but,” Besh stammered. “Why not have her fight the Colonel? I mean, I was a victim of the Colonel’s predatory sexual prowess.”

Sam laughed, then guffawed.

Besh continued in earnest. “I was overpowered. I got bad advice from the Pirini. Wait. Is Heaven jealous?”

Sam leaned forward in his seat, placing his tea on the small table beside his chair. His mirth lingered at the corners of his lips as he answered. “More like offended. You have to know that you are the prize of a seven-year quest. A shining golden apple.”

Besh replied, “You said that before. What does it mean?”

Sam sat back and took a breath. He sipped tea as he composed his words. “It comes from Orlainese folklore. It is the equivalent of the Golden Fleece in human myth.”

“Oh,” said Besh. He shook his head; it was all too much for him.

Just then, the door opened and Raul rushed in. He stopped short of his father with clenched fists. Sam set his tea aside and stood to face his son.

“A private room suggests privacy,” said Sam.

Raul’s complaint came a bit too loudly, his voice a petulant whine. “Commander Eshandar put me out of the weapons terminal.”

Sam placed a hand on his son’s shoulder and said, “ Eshandar has a job to do. Actually, I was thinking to let you sit there tomorrow. We’ll be near enemy territory, and I’ll need your flair.”

“Really?” asked Raul. Sam nodded.

Raul took a breath, and relaxed. Then, he lowered his face. He looked up with an apology and a sheepish grin. He said, “Lo siento, padre Capitán.” He turned to Besh and said, “Don Besh. I’ll just leave, then.”

When the door slid shut, Besh laughed in an embarrassed manner and said, “A big fan of your tech.”

Returning to his seat, Sam said, “Don’t get me wrong; he’s good. I will definitely see his worth tomorrow.” Sam sighed. “A work in progress.”

Besh had an early dinner with Sam. The conversation turned to memories of their adventure. They were pleasant recollections for Besh, not so much for Sam.

Sam complained, “If anyone ever deserved a swift kick, it was the Prince.”

Their time together came to an end; the King was required elsewhere. Besh was surprised when Sam threw his arms around him and hugged him tightly. He stood and looked Besh solemnly in the eye.

“I will not see you in the morning,” said Sam. “Come back to us safely.”

Besh made his way to the mess in search of Heaven. He felt a real need to apologize, to set things straight. Heaven was a grown woman; Besh had seen her at her best and at her worst. Her loyalty to the King of Pendragon was admirable, and her talents were stellar. The fact that she could kill without remorse troubled him. Still, Besh was uncomfortable that he caused her distress.

In the mess, a group of junior officers sang an Orlainese song. The Elite team was absent, with the exception of Olaf Sweeney. He sat at a wall table in quiet conversation with Shi’nese. Besh walked to the table and cleared his throat.

Olaf looked up with a smile. “Looking for the Colonel?” he asked.

Besh gasped. “God, no!” he said. “Just wandering around. So, everybody back in the rooms?”

Olaf scratched his head. “Maybe Heaven,” he answered. “The others went to train.”

“Oh,” said Besh. “Well, I guess I’ll let you two talk. Sorry I interrupted.” 

Besh found Heaven alone in the lounge. He sat in the seat behind her, his back to hers. She shifted in her seat, and Besh could feel her anger. He cleared his throat.

“Heaven,” said Besh. “I’m truly sorry if I’ve caused you any pain. Sam set me straight. I really hate being such a big disappointment.”

“Stop,” said Heaven.

Besh fell silent waiting for her next words. It felt very much like his apology had been rejected out of hand. Besh lowered his face and steeled himself for a well-deserved tongue-lashing. He was surprised and comforted by her soft response.

“You’re fine,” she said. “You did nothing wrong. I pulled Driscoll’s ear, and she pulled mine, but we settled the matter.”

Besh said, “I felt really guilty.”

Heaven gave a short laugh, a sound barely heard from the back of her throat. “What were you thinking?” she asked.

Besh sighed. “I got some bad advice from my parasite.”

Heaven giggled. “I’ll have to sit him down and set him straight.”

Besh cleared his throat. “So, are we good?”

“We are,” answered Heaven. “By the way, I was really surprised with your agility.”

Besh was feeling better. “You and me both,” he said.

“I was worried about you going on this mission,” said Heaven. “Not so much now.”

Besh answered. “I’m still worried. A little.”

Heaven said quietly as if confessing, “What Sam said was true.”

“What’s that?” asked Besh.

“You are my golden apple,” said Heaven. “I feel overly protective.” She sighed loudly, stood, and turned. Besh stood and faced her. Hazarding a brave smile, she said, “Get some sleep. We’ll be shipping out early.”

She turned and walked stiffly to her room. Besh could sense her self-consciousness, and was glad it was not just him. He watched the door close and waved belatedly. Besh smiled to himself and went to his room, where he fell wearily into bed. Warrior laid beside him with attentive eyes.

“Get some sleep,” said Besh.