Chapter 84: Friendly Threat.

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Friendly Threat.

Bongo doesn’t overly look surprised to see them.

"Good evening," he greets pleasantly, nodding respectfully to each of them in turn. Including, surprisingly, Binny. "It’s a little late for visitors, don’t you think?" he asks meaningfully, taking in the grim expressions he’s faced with and making a point of planting himself a little more firmly in front of the heavy double doors that guard the way to the king’s private quarters.

"Prince Khobi wishes to speak with His Majesty," Vogrid explains stonily, silently, and firmly demanding that Bongo step aside.

"And it can’t wait until morning?" Bongo queries, just as firmly refusing.

"I’m afraid it can’t," he replies. One would think from the tension in his voice that Khobi had him answering at knifepoint, "Apparently."

"Is that so?" Bongo remarks dryly, and wavers somewhat when Khobi nods insistently, face like thunder.

Obviously he knows as well as Vogrid does --perhaps better, even --that, considering that Khobi is the kind of person to kick up a fuss, the easiest way to resolve the situation would be to just let them pass. "His Majesty won’t like being disturbed."

He’s not wrong, but he too, doesn’t seem overly surprised by Khobi’s presence there.

"Oh, well that didn’t take long," the king says wryly, rolling his eyes at his daughter and settling his teacup back into its saucer with resignation as the doors swing open.

"Bongo, forgive me, if I’m wrong, but isn’t the point of standing guard to prevent people from getting in?"

"My apologies for the interruption, Your Majesty," Bongo says, dipping his head respectfully, "He seemed...insistent."

"Of course he did," Gurdet sighs heavily. "Let me guess . He’s upset."

"That would seem to be the case," Bongo agrees solemnly, adding a touch reproachfully, "...I did tell you he wouldn’t be happy."

"You did, didn’t you."

"I am right here ," Khobi objects hotly, and gets caught on Bongo’s elbow when he tries to shoulder his way past him.

"No, no, let him go, Bongo," Gurdet says, waving away his guard with a sigh, "Since you’ve already let him in, I might as well hear his complaints." Bongo shrugs, as it to say I tried , and allows Khobi to barge past him.

"I’m not living with that guy," he declares aggressively, "I want my old room back!"

"We don’t all get what we want," the king titters with a light shake of his head, "Least of all, you."

"Father, what’s he talking about?" the princess asks, politely confused and clearly irritated at being left out of the loop. "What happened to his old room?"

"Nothing," her father answers with a reassuring smile, "...I just thought that your cousin could use some company."

The princess blinks, and draws in a sharp breath of disbelief as she pieces together the situation.

" Surely that’s not appropriate," she gasps, politely aghast. "Before they’re even married??"

"Oh, let’s not pretend that your cousin is some kind of blushing virgin," Gurdet snorts dryly, "What’s one more scandal?"

" --Just hold on a sec --" Khobi interrupts hotly, and Gurdet turns sharply to halt him dead in his tracks with just a look. It serves as a sharp reminder that he is, in fact, a king.

"I’m sorry, but you seem to think you have a say in this," he says, his smile as icy as his tone, and unsettling enough to send a shudder down Khobi’s spine.

All words die on his tongue, unbidden. "Your alternative is a cell, Khobi," he explains simply, just so Khobi understands, "For the rest of your life. A nice, dark, deep one.

Away from the training grounds, and the light. And I’ll make sure your uncle knows that you died there, waiting for him."

The threat of being thrown in a cell for the rest of his life doesn’t scare Khobi, and his first instinct is to tell him to go fuck himself.

But something stops him.

A thought, distant and old but still clear,a memory of the mountainside, and of his uncle sitting beside him, smiling at the world as it stretches out beneath them. It’s a peaceful memory. A happy one.

Home .

For a moment there Khobi can almost feel the wind again.

In the end, he says nothing. After all, he decided a long time ago that one day he and his uncle will stand on that mountainside again. Whatever it takes.

And if that means putting up with another asshole, then he supposes he can do that. He’s dealt with worse than Loac Trent.

"So we understand each other," Gurdet decides, taking his silence as assent and smiling approvingly as he watches Khobi’s fists uncurl.

"Very good. And don’t go thinking you can escape your fate so easily," he adds, almost pleasantly, as he returns to his tea, obviously aware that Khobi was already thinking of ways to do just that, "Just so you’re aware, if you’re found sleeping in the hallways, or anything of the sort, the castle guards are under strict orders to throw you in a cell and leave you there until you rot."

He pauses for dramatic effect, distractedly inspecting his tea as though the conversation were nothing out of the ordinary, "And any who turn a blind eye will be thrown in with you."

Khobi stares at him in disbelief then glances over at Bongo for confirmation when the king blinks back at him, smiling pleasantly.

"It’s true," Bongo grimaces reluctantly, sounding like he’s not entirely comfortable with his orders. But he’s a soldier, and it’s his duty to obey, "Sorry, Khobi."

"It’s fine," he mutters dismissively, and doesn’t shrug him off when Bongo lays a hand on his shoulder in consolation.

"...Will that be all?" Gurdet inquires, sounding politely strained, "It’s been a long day."

"That’s all, Your Majesty," Vogrid answers for Khobi, sounding a little smug as he dips his head towards his king.

And obviously he means for that to be the end of things, but there has actually been something that Khobi’s been wondering.

"Have you...have you heard anything?" he ventures, as Bongo pats him on the back as a cue that it’s time to leave. "...About Khnoji?"

The question makes Gurdet pause.

"...It’s early days," he replies cagily, shrugging, "There have been rumours, of course, but there always are."

That’s neither here nor there, but it’s clearly all he’s willing to share. Khobi has difficulty hiding his disappointment, even though he hadn’t really expected to hear anything.

Luminus had been searching for his uncle for nearly a decade, after all, with no success. He supposes it can only be a good thing that this new king hasn’t managed to find him so easily.

"Right," he says quietly, "I see."

"Don’t worry," the king chuckles, "When we hear something, you’ll be the first to know."

Khobi doesn’t trust this guy, but gods does he want to.

Gurdet smiles at him, and he has the feeling that he’s being dismissed.

"Back to your room, Khobi," he advises wearily, "Sleep well."

"Goodnight, Khobi," the princess says as Bongo wheels him back towards the door, and her smile is a whole lot more genuine than her father’s.