Truth Between the Lies

By: Sinead

Part Five

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Grandmother turned away politely as I threw the blanket over Dinobot’s shivering, new mode. I sat by his head, and pulled it to my lap gently, reaching over to grasp his hand, and hold it in my own. No sooner had the new mode settled in than he had collapsed. I had managed to lower him to the floor as gently as I could, but he was heavier than I had thought at first, so . . . he didn’t have all that great of a landing. His eyes opened, revealing them to be dark green, with an edging of blue around the pupil.

They barely opened, revealing how exhausting the process must have been. I brushed long, dark hair away from his forehead, and whispered, "It worked."

He sighed, and squeezed my hand once. "I’m tired."

I smiled at his new voice, as he looked up at me in confusion. It was as smooth as his other voice was gravelly and snarling. He blinked slowly, and I said, "If you can get to your beast mode, then it would be easier to explain why you’re in my arms."

He nodded slowly, but hesitated. I blinked, and he tugged my hand, causing me to come a bit closer to him. I chuckled, shifted slightly, and leaned over to kiss him lightly. "There. Now get to your beast mode. At least I know roughly what sizes you’ll wear."

Dinobot managed a weak smile, and released my hand. Soon, his hands were the taloned weapons of death I knew them as. I held one again, and he shivered once more. Rattrap ran in with guards, we had it all planned out, and came close. "Is he okay?"

I blinked at him, then sighed, and replied, a semi-distressed looked evident upon my face, and in my voice, "He’s exhausted himself. I . . . I think that he’s caught something."

Rattrap blinked at me. "A love bug?"

Dinobot snarled a few choice words in the Cybertronian dialect, and I blinked at him. I didn’t know he was awake. "Wash your mouth out. I’ll get him for that. You even think about it, and I’ll sit on you."

He growled something incoherent, and I sighed, as if I knew what he was saying. "I understand. Rattrap, would you mind taking his place while he recovers?"

"Me? Decline the company of a beautiful queen as yourself?"

"Nevermind, I’ll have Cheetor."

"Kiddin’! Jeesh."

Optimus ran in with Silverbolt, and I smiled. "Dinobot’s fine. A bit sick, but fine. He should recover soon, hopefully."

Rhinox was blinking at me. "I assume you’ll want a close eye kept upon him?"

My grandmother chuckled. "No, considering all that Dinobot’s done for my granddaughter, I have the distinct feeling that she’ll want to keep her eye upon him, to try to make up for it all."

I blushed, and replied, "Plus, he’d try to insist that it’s his duty to keep guard over me, no matter what his condition may be."

"Slagging . . . straight," he mumbled. "It’s cold."

Optimus sighed, and picked him up, blanket and all. "You’re getting to a bed, and now. That’s an order."

"Don’t take . . . orders from you . . . anymore . . ."

"That’s right," Grandmother replied. "You take them from myself, my granddaughter, and Optimus."

We all looked to each other, and said in one voice, "You’re getting to a bed. That’s an order."

His growl was semi-audible, and he sighed. I rubbed between his eye-ridges, and said softly, so only he could hear, "Please. Sleep. I’ll be beside you."

Dinobot’s nod was barely perceptible, but there, nonetheless. I sighed, straightened, and looked to the guards. "Please obey every command that Primal gives you. He knows what he’s doing." I looked to one. "Name, please."

"Tamock, Majesty. Barry Tamock."

"Find the Minister of Internal Affairs, and tell him I sent you. Tell him to reschedule so that no more suitors arrive, and that everything will centralize around my quarters’ courtroom. I will not go too far from my bodyguard while he’s in this state." I looked to Grandmother, and she blinked slowly. I looked back at the man, thankful that Grandmother had affirmed my assumption. "What shift do you have?"

"I take the evening shift, and at the moment, I am covering a sick subordinate’s shift."

"Which one?"

"Graveyard."

I looked to Optimus. "Cheetor has time on his hands. Have him fill in Graveyard." I sighed. "All right, let’s get Dinobot to a bed."

 

"Dinobot!"

"Nnnggghhhrr . . ."

"You know perfectly well that I can’t pick you up! C’mon, Dinobot, wake up!"

"What. The slag. I’m comfortable where I am, Rebta!"

"You’re on the floor. You rolled out of bed. And you interrupted a meeting by doing so."

I was crouched upon the floor by his head. I knew that the other officials had followed me, and was looking in though the door. Dinobot growled something in Cybertronian, and I replied, "If only I heard that, then you’d be in some big trouble. Do you want me to get Rhinox?"

"No, I think I’ll stand."

"That’s better."

Rattrap and I managed to get him back into the bed we had set up in an extra adjoining room with my receiving-room. Rattrap had been in here during the day before he had the mode installed, and thus had touched it up. I walked in that night, and had to stop and blink at the surroundings. It genuinely looked like something Dinobot would live in.

We got back to the meeting, and I sighed. "Right. Sorry about that."

The Secretary of Offense smiled at me kindly. "Does he have a habit of doing that? You know, just so we can be forewarned."

I shook my head. "Once in a while."

"He sounds, uh, heavy."

Rattrap blinked as I caught the double-meaning. I’d play it dumb. "Cybertronians have no average weight. Rattrap here is about three, four times my weight." I looked to him, and said, "Dinobot’s twice your size, but . . ."

Rattrap nodded. "Different alloys." He stopped, and thought. "Actually, for me, da alloys I’m sportin’ are heavier den his. I can take more damage. So . . . I’d say he’s lighter den me, now. So mebbe . . . two-an’-a-half times your weight?" He chuckled. "Used ta be dat I weighed less den you, an’ dat’s sumthin’ ta boast about in spy circles!"

I smiled. "Yeah, I can only bet." Looking back at the High Judge, I asked, "How are those two cases going?"

"Investigations have proved that what Dinobot accused was, in fact, correct. The former minister had a complete file upon all those related to him, which was only encoded once. A Cybertronian code-breaker took one look, and snorted. It was too simple of a job."

"And of Itsumoso?"

"He will be held in prison for a while until we can schedule a hearing. The press is having fits about this. They seem to finally have a hold upon the slippery character. His children are being sought out–"

I glared at him, then to the new Minister of Foreign and Public Affairs. "Get to the kids first, fund their passage to here, if their mothers want to, and protect them from the media. I do not want them to have a horrible childhood because of who their father is."

The young man nodded solemnly, and wrote a note down in a separate language. I blinked, then asked, "May I see that?"

He nodded, still silent, and handed it to me. I looked the notes over, and nodded, handing them back to him. "Good. You’re keeping track. I was hoping that you’d keep up with our fast-paced conversations."

His voice was quiet. "Thank you, Majesty."

I smiled, nodded once to Rattrap, who was tapping his wrist, and said, "Right. We’ll finish this later."

They all rose, bowed, and started to leave. The young Minister was the last one out, but Rattrap caught his arm and steered him back to me, where I was resting my forehead upon the table. I didn’t move from that position as I spoke. My headache was still pounding strong. "Tell me how you know the shorthand version of written Cybertronian so fluently."

"I would, but I fear that we may be overheard, Majesty."

"Rattrap, if you would . . . ?"

"Already done. I planted dem when you were asleep dis mornin’, in case you wanted a private chat with someone."

"Activate them, please." There was a click, and then the distinctive hum of the bugs powering up. I raised my head up off of the table. "And I have no energy to have many chats today, anyway."

Rattrap grinned, shrugged, and lounged in a chair. All of these ones have been reinforced subtly for just that type of situation. The first time Rattrap fell through a chair, it was hilarious for me, embarrassing for him. After that, though it only got annoying. The Transmetal yawned. "Well, kiddo? Tell us about it."

He sighed, and set his stuff upon the large desk in my "small" receiving-room, also called my courtroom. Then, within a blink of an eye, his black robes of office swirled to become the black wings of a small dragon. He transformed, and stood there. I shrugged, and smiled. "You know I’m not impressed, Naqatha Strache."

He seemed a bit embarrassed. "Please, just call me Nightscream."

I nodded once, then asked, "So why the dragon beast mode?"

"They didn’t think a bat would be a good idea for a primary beast mode for one who would be trying to protect the Queen from behind the scenes."

"You wanted a bat beast mode?" Rattrap asked. "Man. I don’t pity ’ya. I can’t stand heights. Ask Primal! ’E knows ’bout how much flying annoys me!"

Nightscream smiled, and tugged on a strand of synthetic hair hanging over one eye. "Yeah, well, that’s the way some people are. They wanted something imposing, but they got me."

"Amateur?" Rattrap asked, portraying the equivalent of cocking an eyebrow.

Nightscream blinked at the other bot. "Think what you want."

I sighed. "Who sent you?"

"Maximal Elders," he replied, taking his attention off of Rattrap, and placing it upon me. "Rhinox spoke to them, saying that Dinobot was soon going to leave." He stopped, and indicated the room. "Can he hear us?"

I looked to Rattrap, not wanting to lie. Rattrap shrugged. "Dunno. Dese are new experimental models I’m workin’ with, here. I can’t expect dem to preform perfectly."

"So you mean–"

"Da range, Kiddo. I know dat dey work, but I dunno what da exact range is. I had to work with overlappin’ da sound-fields. Dat’s a tricky job."

"Oh."

I stood, and walked over to the fireplace, where water was boiling over an open flame. "What were you saying, Nightscream?"

"Oh. Right. Rhinox said that Dinobot was showing signs of stress. You know, him being more harsh, less open to new people and ideas."

Rattrap nodded. "Yeah, but da Choppuhface’s always been like dat."

I looked to the short Maximal. "But he has been a bit more irritable lately. I can’t see how blind I’ve been towards his condition." I sat, and sighed. "I’ve been too preoccupied with everything that’s been going on to see that he was straining beyond his limits."

"Rebta, look. Dino-butt’s just like dat, though. He won’t show his true condition easily until he collapses. I mean, look at ’im. He’s caught himself sumthin’, an’ it’s got ’im on ’is back again." I looked at my hands, and Rattrap sighed. "So who’s gonna take his place?"

I shook my head. "Dunno. I hope that he’ll stay until I get married, though."

"Won’t that be a tough transition, though?" Nightscream asked. "I mean, you’ll be losing and gaining someone in a short amount of time."

I shrugged. "We’ll see when that time comes."

 

The day was over, and Rattrap saw me to my rooms. "See ’ya tomorrow, Rebta."

I nodded, and yawned, walking into my rooms. Rhinox was waiting there for me. "New kid came to me, and told me that you saw through his disguise."

I sighed. "Poor front, and easy for someone like me to see through. He was writing in shorthand Cybertronian."

"He said that you read it, and was wondering how you knew it." He smiled. "I told him that Icefire had seen to your education. I wasn’t lying, but I wasn’t answering him directly. He doesn’t need to know what happened." Rhinox’s hand touched my shoulder. "Get sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow."

As soon as he was gone, I walked in to Dinobot’s room, and said, "You heard what the new kid said."

"Idiot," he muttered. "The boy knows nothing."

"And that’s how we’re planning to keep it."

"Why?"

"He obviously has a human mode and a beast mode. Rhinox knew that it had been done before." I looked at Dinobot. "You’re a public hero, Dinobot. You can’t tell him what you have been up to, and neither can the rest of us."

"So we’re keeping him in the dark."

"Yes."

He sighed, and I crawled into the bed up by his snout, and lifted it so that it was resting upon my lap. I bowed my head, and leaned back against the wall. I must have drifted off, since the doors leading into the room I was in were all slamming open. Frantic shouts were all over the place. I walked to Dinobot’s open door after setting his head upon a pillow. The Minister of Foreign Affairs stopped inches from me, then back up a step. "My Queen . . ."

I looked at the other Ministers and Secretaries, who were all behind the spry younger man. I looked at him again, frowning. "What?"

"Please forgive me for being the bearer of this hard news."

I was instantly worried.

"But . . ."

"Spit it out!" Dinobot roared, limping to my side. "You’re slagging scaring her, boy!"

Naqatha, as he was known in this mode, looked at me. "Your grandmother’s dying."

 

Dinobot had kept up with me, running with me as I went to Grandmother’s quarters. I went to her bed, where she was surrounded by the remaining ministers who had served with her. All the other Ministers were behind Dinobot and myself. Optimus had met up with us half-way there, but I couldn’t accept a ride from him.

I reached my grandmother’s side, and took her hand in mine. She looked up at me, and smiled warmly. "I . . . would have liked . . . to see . . . your wedding, Rebta."

"Gramma . . ."

"Hush, now." She smiled our secret smile, that meant only the two of us knew what was going on. But she shared her thoughts. "I . . . I know of the young . . . man you’ve . . . been seeing secretly . . . Rebta."

I couldn’t fathom what she was saying.

"I’ve met with him . . . spoken with him . . . and have seen . . . what you see in him. He’s like what your father was . . . before he died." She smiled. "And I . . . approve of him."

Looking at our joined hands, I whispered, "I didn’t mean to keep it from you."

"No . . . you did the . . . the right thing. You got to . . . know him . . . all on your own, without any . . . interference. I have found out . . . that he is eligible. . . . He will be."

"Grandmother . . ."

"He will be the Duke of Miernal. See to it that the process is . . . finalized with . . . your Ministers and Secretaries."

"Yes, Gramma . . . I will."

"Will you . . . love him?"

I nodded, whispering, "Until I die."

Her eyes closed, as she smiled, falling deeper into herself. Her voice was a whisper, "And, my fine young man . . . will you . . . love her . . . forever . . . ?"

Her hand fell limp, as her eyes opened one last time, and focused upon Dinobot. I looked to him. He was nodding slowly, solemnly. I rested my Grandmother’s hand upon her chest, and sat, resting against the side of the bed, too numb to even shed tears. Optimus and Rhinox came over, with Dinobot limping slowly behind them. I looked at them, then at the Minister of Internal Affairs. "Sorha, please inform the public. Naqatha, please inform the world. High Judge Forht, prepare the legal documents of property transfer, as well as the death certificates. Optimus, prepare the guard. Secretary Grieth, if you would please check the funds and such. See how much we can spare."

He looked at the book he always carried, and said, "Plenty, Majesty."

"See to it that we do the best we can. If we have to do without for a short time, so be it."

"Majesty," the Secretary of the Treasury said softly, "what was this about a wedding? Who is this person you’ve been seeing?"

"You’ll meet the man soon enough," I replied softy. "Please start planning the budget for the wedding as soon as you are able. There are a lot of things to be planned for."

"Yes, Majesty."

The Ministers of Affairs left with the Secretary of the Treasury. That left me with the Secretary of Defense, Thorien Jaran, and the Secretary of Offense, Roant Haranst. I looked at the two, then sighed. "Secretary Jaran, see to it that all guards are on their highest alert. Assassination plans like to take place around a death. Secretary Haranst, please have the Marines draw in closer to the city. Have the Royal Navy and Air draw in closer to the mainland. Both of you, please hang the flags of mourning at their half-mast."

They nodded. I sighed again. "Should I be doing anything? I don’t remember clearly what happened when my parents were killed."

One of the old ministers, the ones who served my Grandmother, said, "You should prepare a speech upon how the Queen Mother was. You should include her last words, but I wouldn’t introduce him quite yet."

"After the period of mourning passes, should I?" I asked.

"Proper timing would be two weeks after, for the public. However, for the panel, I would suggest that you introduce him to us within the next two weeks, if possible."

I sighed. "He’s off somewhere, right now. He had to go and find someone or something, but he said that he’ll be back as soon as he can."

Optimus touched my shoulder. "I’ll go find him, and tell him that you need him."

I looked up at him, and nodded silently. Dinobot looked to Rhinox, and said, "I shouldn’t even be up, judging by that look upon your face."

I answered for Rhinox. "Get back to bed. I’ll be fine here with Optimus and Rhinox. Rattrap will be in to make sure you don’t try to get up again."

"Yes, Rebta."

"I’ll come and see you when . . . if I get a chance to get back to my rooms." I looked at him, and said, "Get better, please. Take your time."

He nodded, and limped off. I looked at my hands, and sighed. "Ministers, if Optimus says that he’ll find him . . . my lover . . . then he will. And he’ll be back as soon as he can."

The ministers nodded, and one said, "Then I suggest that you get moving, Optimus. Things will have to move quickly. The wedding will need to be planned for as soon as we can. Your Grandmother took precautions that you never knew about, in order for you to be safe from suitors that could have pushed through, and tried to take you as an unwilling wife."

I nodded. "This is going to wreak havok on the Treasury."

"She already set aside numerous funds for you," a tall man said, his eyes sad, but a small smile was upon his face.

I looked at him. "I know you from somewhere . . ."

"Aye. And I know you too, Majesty. Ever since you were a child, I knew you."

"Who are you, then?"

"Your banished uncle. It’s me, Rebta. Meridane."

I ran into his arms, and clung to him, sobbing, able to let my tears flow. He brushed his hand over my hair. "Quiet, now. I’ll be helping keep all those boys away from you. Has this lover of yours proposed yet?"

"No . . ." I whispered.

"He will, hopefully, soon. He has to, if he’s serious. Otherwise, you might encounter some problems."

I nodded, and looked at the form upon the bed. I walked over, leaned over her head, and kissed her brow, tears still falling. "I’ll never forget you, Gramma."

 

I woke up, and saw that Rattrap was touching my shoulder gently. "Hey, kiddo. I got dem."

I groaned, remembering the last two-and-a-half weeks of what could only be described as hell, and sat up. "What time is it?"

"Nine in da mornin’."

"Great. I overslept."

"Da new kid said dat you were up around two dis mornin’, dealin’ with some slag issue, so nobody expected ’ya to get up early. Your breakfast is ready. An’ dat stuff is in some compartment."

"Where?" I whispered. He replied in Cybertronian exactly what he had gotten, and exactly where it was. I sighed, nodded, and sent to check in upon Dinobot. He was sitting up, in his robot mode, and awake. I sighed, and leaned against the doorway. The Ministers and my uncle were all there, in the main room, which was the first you entered. I made eye-contact with Dinobot. He sighed. I looked away. "I can tell that you’ll be leaving soon."

He made an affirming noise, then replied, "Possibly as soon as tonight."

"Are you insane?!" my uncle roared, surprising both of us. "She cannot go without a bodyguard until her lover arrives!"

Dinobot blinked slowly, recovering quickly. "Rattrap, Silverbolt, Cheetor, Rhinox and Optimus will be here for her. She knew that I could only do this temporarily."

"Optimus is out looking for the young man Rebta will be hopefully marrying!"

"Oh. That’s right," I replied. "Still. You know how formidable Cybertronians are. One is usually enough. Four is excessive. Six is beyond usual reasoning."

Meridane looked at me, incredulous. "You’re releasing him from his duty?"

I nodded. "In place of Optimus, who Dinobot answers to in matters like these. Rattrap will be taking his place."

"Majesty, if you’ll allow me to speak freely?"

I looked to Kieva Forht, who was the High Judge. "Of course."

"I don’t understand. He was the one who was specifically hired my your Grandmother. Why are you letting him go? Why would you cut all ties with your Grandmother this easily?"

Dinobot answered for me. "Because my time is up. I have responsibilities to return to, and I cannot wait much longer. This was only temporary."

The High Judge sighed, and said, "Rebta, on behalf of all of us, take the day off. We can manage. You don’t have to worry. If something comes up that is serious enough, then we’ll come to you. You’ve been working as hard as two people, and you’re deserve the rest."

I nodded. "Thank you. After breakfast, I’ll be out in Icefire’s old gardens all day. I have some maintenance to keep up with there."

Sorha Morit, Minister of Internal Affairs, said, "I’ll have lunch sent there. But remember: There is a feast tonight, with quite a few high-ranking guests coming to say their regrets at our losing your Grandmother. There will also be many men looking for a dance, and . . . other favors."

Rattrap’s comm-link hissed to life. "Optimus to Rattrap."

"Rattrap. Yeah?"

"I’m back for a small rest. Tell Rebta to meet me in Icefire’s place when she can. I have something for her."

"Will do, big cheese. Rattrap out."

He looked at me, and I smiled tiredly. "Yeah, I’ll be there in a while. He always does treat me like a daughter." I looked to the humans in the room, still talking to Rattrap, thinking about what it was that Optimus had for me. "Wonder what it is, though. . . . Anyway, Ministers, I’ll get back in touch with you right before the feast. Meet me at the upper balcony a half-hour before the feast is scheduled."

They nodded, and left. Rattrap powered up all of the bugs as soon as the door closed. I sighed, and looked to Dinobot. "You need help? Mental, preferably?"

He glared at me, and I laughed, then went to my own room, jumping into comfortable clothing. I walked out, crossed the main room, and went into my storage room. It had all different gowns, many of which had never been worn before. I called out, "What color are the formal clothes, Rattrap?"

"Blue! What else?"

"Great. Lemme see . . . I have to dress formally . . . Dinobot! You have to find a name!"

He walked out of his room, and walked into the room I was in. "I already have." I smiled up at him, and he leaned against the doorway. "Donathan, I think."

"Nice. Last name?"

He blinked, and sighed. "Slag. I didn’t think that far."

"What of Mienqa?"

"What does it mean?"

"Sword’s-man, in the old language."

"Mmph."

"Fine. It’ll be your middle name. All nobles have three."

"Yet you have four?"

"Five, by the time we’re married."

"Da kids will be beautiful!" Rattrap called in.

I laughed, and then found the dress I had been looking for. It was golden, with traces of royal blue trimming it. I pulled it out, and put it on a mannequin to get the wrinkles out of it over the course of the day. I pulled out everything else that I needed, and then sighed, looking over one necklace. Dinobot’s hand closed over my own, concealing the necklace from sight. "Rebta, I have to get going, so that I have time. What Optimus meant by him having something for you, was me."

I nodded. His other hand pulled me closer, in a friendly embrace, nodding once to Rattrap. They shut the bugs off. His hands rested upon my shoulders, holding me out from the embrace gently. "I’ll come back to visit you every so often. Hopefully, that McCartha boy will understand that we’ll need time alone to catch up."

I looked away, and then back up at him. "Donathan will understand. He always has before."

Dinobot looked to Rattrap. "Behave, and keep her out of trouble. Otherwise, you and I will be having a long talk."

Rattrap nodded, and Dinobot looked down at me once more, before kissing my forehead. "You’ll do fine."

 

I walked out of the room one hour after Dinobot did, and was nearly run down by a few maids. They were shocked. "Majesty!"

I shook my head. "What’s wrong?"

They blushed. "Nothing, Majesty. But I thought you knew!"

I looked from one to the other. "Knew what?"

"Your lover’s at Icefire’s old cottage."

I began running, full-tilt, towards the cottage, with Rattrap keeping pace beside me. Maids and all the others were in the gardens, peeking through the bushes at Icefire’s cottage. They made a path for me quickly, seeing how fast I was running. Rattrap slowed. The door to the cottage burst open, and I ran into Dinobot’s . . . Donathan’s arms.

He held me close, whispering, "Finally."

I nodded, and he bowed his head, resting his forehead against mine, his hair falling forwards to hide his smile. I brushed part of it up, settling it behind one ear. He smiled gently, then changed it to one of mischief, as he indicated with his eyes the bushes. I smiled, and he dipped me backwards, kissing me amid cheers and cat-calls. I laughed, and he pulled me back up, to hold me against him protectively. "I’m sorry I’m late."

I smiled up at him. "Never apologize, D-Donathan."

He smiled, and rested his forehead against mine once more. Someone cleared a throat, and we looked at the terrace. My uncle stood there with the ministers. I smiled, took Donathan’s hand in mine, and led him forward. "Uncle Meridane, I’d like to introduce you to Donathan Mienqa McCartha. Donathan, this is my uncle, Meridane Srisabin, my mother’s brother."

"Hmm . . . he’s the one your Grandmother wanted to become the Duke of Miernal, then?" Meridane asked, looking him over.

"Yes. And he’s attending tonight’s honor feast."

"Does he . . . do you have formal clothing?"

Donathan nodded. "Of course. They’re in the cottage."

"So you got word of this?"

"Optimus told me about a few events, yes." He blinked, then nodded once, as if remembering something, and smiled to me. "One of which is quite potent upon my mind."

Uh-oh, I thought.

He got down upon one knee, and held a box up, his face kind, caring, protective, and everything that I could wish to see . . .

I dunno what exactly he said, but I remember nodding, trying not to cry in happiness, as he put the ring upon my finger, and then held my hand. Cheers were breaking out again. The Minister of Internal Affairs was having fits, glaring at the media, who had somehow snuck in. My uncle ushered us inside, and chuckled. "He is exactly like your father, like your Grandmother said. Do you know, that’s exactly how your father proposed to my sister?"

I couldn’t answer. Optimus was laughing quietly. Cheetor shook his head. "Man, you two really are sappy."

"Watch it," Donathan warned playfully. "She’ll recover soon enough, and you’ll be sorry for that comment!"

I looked to the kid. "You wait until you’re gonna get married."

Uncle Meridane indicated to the Minister of Internal Affairs to hand him something. Rhinox closed the door after him, and then walked over, to look at the papers my uncle was placing upon the table. His optics locked upon my finger, which held upon it the ring. "Well, now. This is a new accessory, Rebta."

I grinned evilly. "So’s he."

The bot laughed at the look at Donathan’s face. He reached own to take my hand, to look at the ring. "Mmm . . . I think that you spent more than enough. But . . . my sister would have been proud to see that you cared about Rebta this much."

Donathan nodded, and Rhinox blinked once at me, then to the other Ministers. "So what’s all this about?"

"The Queen Mother’s last wish was that Donathan inherit the Miernal duchy. We’re putting that through now," Naqatha replied, as he entered. "Well, the world knows, but you have to tread carefully at the feast tonight. There will be many disgruntled young men there who would have liked to have placed their ring on that finger, Majesty."

I nodded. "I know."

"And Donathan has to go through the panel tomorrow. The wedding should be in one year, exactly. Hopefully, the weather will hold," the High Judge said.

I looked at him. "What do you mean, exactly one year?"

"Well, that’s what your parents, your grandparents, and your great-grandparents all had done. Why not continue the tradition?"

I sighed, and looked up at Donathan. "Don and I will decide upon when the wedding will be. Until then, we should just prepare, and not have anything solid for another two, possibly three months."

The High Judge nodded. "What of the priest?"

"Dunno. We’ll figure that out later."

"Will everything be later, Majesty?" the High Judge asked, exasperated.

Donathan looked up. "Well, what she might accept as custom, as well as you, may not be what I’m used to. So we have to talk about a few things."

The man sighed. "Right, right, I forgot. You’re not from around here, are you?"

My . . . my fiancé nodded, grinning. "That’s correct."

"Where will he sleep?" the Secretary of Defense asked.

I blinked at Donathan, and then to Optimus and Rhinox. "What would you two suggest?"

Rhinox looked to the door, which had opened to admit Rattrap, and promptly was slammed shut by the short bot after he was fully in the kitchen with us. "Rebta, ’ya ain’t gonna believe me when I tell ’ya dis . . ."

His voice was low, angry, and somewhat scared. I turned him to face me gently. "Rattrap, what is it."

"The kid who killed Icefire is out dere. He escaped. He’s also demandin’ dat you tell Donathan t’ slag off, an’ ta marry him."

Donathan put down the pen, and whipped around to snatch a sword from the swordrack. He looked at me, and then tossed the sword to me. He remembered that it was the one I had received from Icefire as she died. I snatched it out of midair, and then said, "Third down."

He nodded, took the sword off of the hooks, and then drew it. "You and me?"

I looked to Rhinox. "Did you want to go after him?"

He paused. "No. I . . . Rebta, you take care of it. I know that you’ll do the right thing. I can’t trust myself."

I nodded once, and then gripped the hilt fiercely. "Out the back door, and then through the bushes. We’ll get him from behind."

"And we’re waiting for what, now?" Donathan asked, his voice low.

Grinning, I walked to the back door, opened it silently, and looked around. I went through the tall evergreen shrubs, startling a pair of lovers who were in the midst of a romantic moment. I bowed my head. "Sorry."

Donathan followed me, as I ran through another line of tall shrubs, then across a garden, through another line of shrubs, and turned the corner, to see the maids and footmen backing away from the entrance of the small enclosure. Donathan and I ran through the trellis, and took him by surprise. Donathan dug his sword into the ground, and used the momentum to swing around, kicking the back of Itsumoso’s left knee. I followed up with a light hit from the pommel of the sword, to the back of his head. Itsumoso toppled, groaning.

I stood over him, with Donathan upon the perpetrator’s other side. His eyes opened, and he looked up at us. I glared down at him. "How dare you. How dare you try to ruin my engagement day. You have no right to do something like that, and furthermore, there will be repercussions for escaping from the penitentiary."

"But . . ."

"You have no right to speak after what you’ve done to this kingdom."

His face reddened with rage. "You love me, deep down. You know that you do. You always have, haven’t you?"

I snorted, and replied, "If there is one person I love to hate, then you’d be that person."

"So you are fond of me!"

"As fond as the fly is of the spider."

Guards came, and took him away. The captain looked at me. "One person couldn’t have hit both places so quickly, Majesty."

I pointed my thumb at Donathan. "He’s as talented in swordsmanship as I am. Possibly even more than I am. Please put Itsumoso in the highest security level compound we have."

"Will do, Majesty."

Donathan took my hand again, and led me back into the cottage, to finish signing the papers.