Coming to stand at the bottom of the
dais, Saris bowed respectfully. “Saris Chattan, as requested, High Ruler.”
“Ah yes, the good
doctor,” the High Ruler replied.
Saris nodded. He tried
to ignore the dribble of red wine falling down the man’s chin and concentrated
on finding out why he had been summoned. “Yes, High Ruler.”
“I have heard of your skills in aiding the brüter during birth. Your superiors have
nothing but good things to say about you.”
“Thank you, High Ruler,” Saris
replied. He swallowed past the lump in his throat. Okay, so the king had heard
of his healing skills. So what? That didn’t explain why he had been summoned
to the royal palace. The High Ruler had his own physicians.
“It seems that I am not the only one
who has heard of your skills,” the high ruler said. He waved his hand,
gesturing for someone to come forward.
The breath that Saris had been trying
to keep steady in his chest flew out in one aroused whoosh when he turned to
see the man that stepped up beside him. In all of his years of learning
different species and training to care for them, Saris had never encountered
one so magnificent.
The man’s features were neither cat
nor man, but both. A layer of fur covered what skin Saris could see. Most of
his body was covered by black leather, from the tight leather pants that
hugged his long legs to the black leather vest type shirt that covered his
muscular chest.
His hair was blond, but not sunlight
blond, more the color of a reddish sunset. Small pointed ears came out the top
of his head and he had a small protruding nose like a cat. Saris would just
bet that he had a pink tongue and long shape canines to match.
Saris felt
his face flush when he looked up to encounter deep black eyes. They seemed to
be assessing him just as much. Trying to hide his reaction to the man, Saris
turned back to the High Ruler.
“It would seem that others have heard of your talent and you have been
requested to assist in the birth of Demyan Rai, mate to the High Ruler of
Katzmann,” the high ruler said. As much as that surprised Saris, the gleam in
the Hugh Ruler’s eyes made him nervous.
“I would be happy to assist in any way that I can, High Ruler.”
“Yes, I thought you might say that.” The high ruler sat up straighter in his
chair. He waved his hand and another man stepped forward. It was his chief
adviser, Toc Jerell, a man hated by the population of Elquone nearly as much
as the high ruler.
The man leaned over close to the high ruler’s ear, listening as the high ruler
spoke to him. His eyes kept coming back up to Saris, time and time again as he
nodded. Finally, the man stood. The smirk on his face sent a cold shiver down
Saris’s back.
“Saris Chattan, it is my understanding that you were chosen as a brüter? Is
this correct?” The High Ruler asked.
Saris
nodded. It was true. He had been chosen to be a brüter due to his genetics. It
was something that drove Saris crazy. Just because he had delicate looking
features, long limbs, and blond hair he was chosen out of the many on his
planet and considered more desirable.
Personally, Saris thought it was a load of crap. He wasn’t any better or any
worse than anyone else. Thoughts like those were one of the things that had
gotten him kicked out of the brüter program.
“It is also my understanding that you were removed before your training could
be completed.”
“I was never officially removed, High Ruler. It was decided that my talents
could be used in a better manner,” Saris replied.
“As a doctor to the brüter?”
“Yes, High Ruler.”
The High Ruler stared at Saris so long, Saris started to get nervous. He
wondered where the High Ruler was going with all of his questions and why it
was so important for him to know about Saris’s brüter training.
And he
wondered who the man was that stood next to him. Saris could still see him out
of the corner of his eye. The man had an impressive bearing. He would dominate
any room he stood in. He certainly seemed to be the center of attention in
this room.
“So, it is
my understanding from your words that you have never been officially removed
from the brüter caste? Is that correct, Chattan?”
Saris
nodded. “Yes, High Ruler, even though I am not officially a brüter I am still
part of the caste. I’m just on the medical side of things.”
The High
Ruler nodded. “Very good, very good.”
Saris
watched with curiosity as the chief advisor leaned over and whispered in the
High Ruler’s ear. The High Ruler nodded a few times then waved the chief
advisor away. His eyes turned back to Saris.
“High Ruler
Chellak Rai as made a request of Elquone, one that I cannot in good conscience
ignore. Therefore, as Trajan Varl is the representative of High Ruler Chellak
Rai, I am signing over your brüter contract to him.”
Saris felt
his blood run cold at the High Ruler’s words. Having his contract sold was one
of Saris’s biggest fears. Having learned to be a doctor for the brüter, he had
thought he would be safe. Guess he was wrong.
“Henceforth, Saris Chattan, you will be the property of Trajan Varl, until
such time as he releases you from your contract or you have completed your
duties,” the High Ruler decreed. “Is this understood?”
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