Free The Far Bank of the Rubicon (The Pax Imperium Wars: Volume 1) by Erik Wecks Page A

trip.”
    “That’s all right. I’d be asking to see a Sadarian fort on Mt. Gauss, if I came to your home. I’d be happy to show you.”
    He stood and nodded his head in the direction of the media. Holding out his hand, he said, “ They will go away soon, and then we can both be more ourselves. Until then, we ought to mingle, or we are going to attract unwanted attention. We wouldn't want Laura Boyle writing tomorrow about how you failed your palace debut. Can you stand?”
    Sophia nodded. “Yes, I can.”
    For the next twenty minutes, Jonas guided his charge around the room, leading her through one banal conversation after another. All the while Sophia relaxed, even making him laugh once or twice. Jonas found himself believing, in spite of himself, that his weekend might end up being enjoyable.
    Eventually, he brought her to Aunt Dora and Charles Howard, the King's Prime Minister. They all had a polite conversation about Sophia’s music lessons. Jonas noticed that the Chancellor had been spending a great deal of time with Auntie Dora, and he made a mental note to tease her mercilessly.
    Sophia handled herself well throughout it all, without any trembling, but she continued to stay quite close to Jonas and, on a couple of occasions, used his arm to steady herself. It was expertly done and the media were none the wiser. Dora made eye contact with Jonas momentarily. He nodded ever so slightly to the cameras and the lights in the corner. The Princess excused herself and spoke to the King's private secretary Hughes. Five long minutes later, the media were escorted from the room.
    Sophia visibly relaxed when the door closed, and she became noticeably more talkative. She and the King had a long conversation about their shared preferences for the Samoan Camel, instead of the traditional Earth horse used by the aristocracy. Jonas' trained eye saw that the King took a genuine interest. Sophia gracefully exited, and the King gave Jonas a quick smile of approval. Jonas let his eyes sparkle just for a moment, so only his father could see.
    A few minutes later, Jonas' father welcomed Duke Malek and his family with a short speech that served as the cue for the beginning of dinner. Without hesitation or thought, Jonas offered Sophia his arm and began to edge through the crowded room toward the King. Leaning over, he whispered, “We are supposed to be near the front when we go to dinner.” With a sheepish grin, he continued, “Besides, you will miss some of what is coming if you are at the back.”
    When finished, the King led the party into the nearby throne room to a set of ornately carved doors inlaid with silver. As he approached, two attendants pulled the doors inward. Instantly, the smells of growth and a warm spring evening entered. Standing close behind the King, Jonas breathed the cooling air and then absorbed the delicate splashing sounds of water on pebbles.
    Following the King, they stepped out onto a small terrace of stone with a half-flight of stairs on the right. A waterfall cascaded from the upper garden a story above. It fell in a clear, thin sheet, surrounding the guests in a veil of water and screening their view of Grandfather's Terrace. The King's traditional ritual upon entering the rooftop garden gave little time for his guests to enjoy the water’s music. He walked briskly down the half flight of stairs which descended behind it to the garden below. Jonas, Sophia, and other dignitaries followed him. Finally, at the bottom of the stairs, the visitors emerged from behind the thin sheet of water, and Grandfather's Terrace revealed its glory to the King's guests. The King stopped on the dais at the bottom of the stairs, turned toward the garden, and took three or four loud, ritual breaths of the evening air.
    Standing close by the King, Sophia and Jonas were able to take in the garden, while those further behind were screened by the waterfall. Sophia whispered, “Oh, my. Wow! It actually lives up to its