CHAPTER 10 #2
Nodding, Axel let silence fall between them. He didn’t want to give his friend something to worry about. Unfortunately, if he was right, it would be better to know.
“Otto,” he finally said. The guard immediately fixed his eyes on him. “I know it was two against one, but shouldn’t street thugs have given you little trouble?”
Otto’s eyes narrowed. “That is correct. They were remarkably skilled for street thugs.”
“I believe I only survived my fight because my methods were unconventional,” Axel agreed. “My opponents seemed quite comfortable with their weapons.”
They studied each other for several moments. “We weren’t on a scheduled route. Street thugs looking for an opportunity is the most reasonable explanation,” Otto said slowly.
“But street thugs usually avoid armed confrontations,” Axel pointed out. “Because they desire an easy mark and possess little skill.”
“What do you think happened, then?”
Looking down at his sleeve as he fiddled with it, Axel replied, “A little over a month ago, Lord Ulrich expressed concern about the succession.” He saw Otto’s start out of the corner of his eye.
“Please don’t worry Katy with that knowledge,” Axel hastily added.
“Anyway, it was waved away as irrelevant due to the health of the current king and his heir. A couple of weeks later, you and I were on the receiving end of an attack by skilled opponents. Then today, Lord Ulrich informed me that today’s council session will include a discussion of the imminent peril to my life. ”
“Quite the coincidence.” Otto’s shrewd eyes gazed at him. “Perhaps you should watch your back more closely.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Axel grimly replied. “But I wanted to confirm with you first that I wasn’t imagining things about our attackers.”
“It has bothered me for the last three weeks,” Otto admitted, pursing his lips. “I had convinced myself that we were simply unlucky to run across such a gang. But with your information…”
“We still don’t know how they found us. It could all be a coincidence.”
The guard shook his head as he rose to his feet and began to slowly pace. “Best not to assume that.”
Silence descended again as Axel studied his hands. “When you’re cleared to train, will you teach Katy to use a dagger?”
Otto’s bare heel squeaked on the stone floor as he spun to face him. “You think she needs it?”
“If one of my lords is hatching plots against my life, I’d prefer she have that skill.” He shrugged and tried to look casual. “I would teach her myself, but my instructional methods leave much to be desired. One of us would be joining you in the infirmary before ten minutes passed.”
“You have a point. On both counts.” The guard smirked at him. “I remember when you taught her to read music.”
“It is not nice to rub people’s noses in their failures, Otto,” Axel complained. “And she did learn.”
“Eventually.”
Grinning, Axel pushed off the wall and started for the door, but Otto’s voice stopped him. “Speaking of Kat, don’t think I missed the part where you asked me to lie to her.”
Axel slowly turned. “I didn’t ask you to lie.”
“You asked me not to tell her something. She’ll see it as the same thing.”
“I’m not—” Axel rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “If she asks about it, you can tell her. But please don’t volunteer the information. She has enough pressure already when it comes to having a baby.”
Otto looked at him steadily. “She can handle it, Axel. She’s strong.”
“I know she is. But this—Is it wrong of me to want to protect her?” he pled. “Five years, Otto. Five years of expectations. I want to spare her this if I can.”
“And I thought you were intelligent,” Otto muttered under his breath. Tipping his head back, he said, “She would prefer honesty to this kind of protection, and you know it.”
Instead of responding, Axel rubbed the back of his neck and turned toward the door.
“One more thing, Your Highness. About the day of the attack.”
“I wasn’t aware you were on duty, Otto,” Axel replied lightly. “Why the sudden formality?”
The guard stood as straight as he could with his still-healing injuries. “The red-haired man was speaking with someone wearing a dark cloak with the hood pulled down over her face. She was standing in the deepest part of the shadows.”
“She?”
“The person’s boots appeared to be feminine in style, and a lock of long, red-auburn hair hung down her front.” Otto’s demeanor was rigid, and he spoke in the style of delivering a report.
It made Axel uneasy, but he tried not to show it. “Assuming the person is indeed female, it sounds to me as if she did not wish to be seen speaking with our mystery man. But why tell me now? Do you have reason to believe you know her identity?”
Otto pursed his lips and looked down before answering. “You were seeking someone who hides her face and stays in the shadows.”
For a moment, Axel blinked at him, but then understanding dawned. Indignation rushed through him. “You think it was Lotti.”
“I do not have enough information to form a conclusion, Your Highness.”
“No, but you have a guess.” Axel clenched his fist before uncurling it and stabbing a finger toward his friend. “I won’t believe it, Otto. Not unless I hear her voice.”
Then he stormed out of the infirmary, leaving the door open in his wake lest he slam it in his anger.