Free He Who Dares: Book Two (The Gray Chronicals 2) by Rob Buckman Page A

left, but after that, the party slowly wrapped up as the children fell asleep in their mothers, or nanny's arms, as one after the other people said goodnight and drifted off to bed.  Mike stifled a yawn, and made his farewells, finding he was nodding off to sleep.  He needed a cold shower if he was to stay awake, when, and if the Princess came.  The shower did wake him up, and he slid under the warm covers to wait, but that was his undoing.  He closed his eyes for a brief moment to relax, or so he thought, and that’s how Ann found him twenty minutes later, sound asleep, his tired face relaxed in sleep.  The Princess Royal sighed, but didn’t try to wake him, as much as she wanted to.  Instead, she snuggled down beside him, cradling his head in her arms, and just held him.  He murmured softly in his sleep as she stroked his forehead, and seemed to relax even more, his arms sliding round her body.  It was enough, and she contented herself with just being close, holding him, smelling him, and listening to his gentle breathing.  There was always tomorrow night.  When he awoke late the next morning, he looked around, groaning, mentally kicking himself for falling asleep.  Had she been here?  The dent in the pillow next to him said yes, and the faint traces of her perfume told him she had.  So why she hadn’t woken him?” The breakfast room was empty when he arrived, but the chief steward nodded as he came in and motioned towards the table. Mike sat, yawning.
     
    “Good morning Leftenant Gray, sleep well?”  The steward placed a pot of coffee at his elbow after pouring the first cup.
     
    “Yes, great, sorry I’m late.”
     
    “Think nothing of it, sir.  Everyone is late this morning, so we have kept breakfast going, probably into lunch by the look of it.”
     
    “Thanks, this is just what I need.”  Mike spooned sugar into his cup and added cream.
     
    “What would you like for your breakfast this morning, sir?”
     
    “Egg, bacon, sausage, a mountain of fries, and some toast, if I can?”
     
    “No trouble at all, sir.”
     
    “Thanks.”

 
    “Good Morning, your Majesty.”  The Steward bowed slightly and continued walking to the sideboard.  Mike shot to his feet as the King came in.
     
    “Good morning, your Majesty.”  He greeted; grabbing his napkin before it fell to the floor.
     
    “I’ve told you about that before Michael, you will hurt yourself,” he laughed, “sit down and relax my boy.”  The King chucked and sat.
     
    “Yes, sir, sorry, force of habit.”  The King nodded in understanding and took the chair beside him, instead of the one reserved for him at the head of the table.
     
    “How the work on your ship progressing?”  Mike froze with a forkful of food half way to his mouth.
     
    “Very well, sir, but we do have a few problems.”  Mike gulped a mouthful of food in surprise.  Wondering how on Earth the King knew about it.
     
    “Anything you can’t handle?”
     
    “No, sir, we are finding ways to work round them.”
     
    “Good, glad to hear that.”  He doubted Mike would tell him if he did have a problem, unlike some others who’d take advantage of the situation.
     
    It was a bit of a shock to Mike.  The King obviously knew about his ship, and his estimation of the importance of the project went up a notch.  He almost broached the potential trouble with the Inspector, but thought better of it.  He didn’t want the King to think he couldn’t handle the assignment.
     
    “Seaford tells me you volunteered to spar with him.  Did you tell him how good you are a sword?”  Mike felt himself go cold.  That was something he didn’t think anyone knew about, outside people on Avalon.
     
    “No, sir, I’m not anywhere near as good as he is, I suspect.”  He answered carefully.  King knew a little more about his background than he thought, but did he know the truth?
     
    “I did a little checking up on your home world, Michael, and it makes