| Chapter 31 Nick and Rowland quietly walked down the hall heading to their morning work out session. The suns had just risen, and everyone was still sleeping from the party the night before. As they passed Brian's door, they could hear muffled giggling. Nick smiled. "It seems your friend is quite taken with Miss Lapool," Rowland whispered. "Yeah, I'm happy for him," Nick replied. "They make a good couple," Rowland said. "That they do. Seem made for each other," Nick said. "I just wish they'd be a little more quiet," Kevin said, stepping out of his room. Nick laughed, "You're the one that wanted the room next to his." Kevin ran his hand through his hair, "That was before I knew he wasn't staying by himself." Nick and Rowland laughed. "Hey, where you off to so early?" Kevin asked. "Work out," Nick said, "Wanna come?" Kevin smiled, "Sure. I could use a work out." Nick and Rowland glanced at one another. "Um OK Kev, but our workouts are a little intense. You might just wanna watch," Nick said, as the three continued down the hall. Kevin glanced at his young friend, "I think I can keep up with ya." Rowland laughed, "You aren't gonna tell him are you?" Nick shook his head, "He'll find out soon enough." "Um do I need my translator?" Kevin asked. "No man, you're good," Nick said as they entered the elevator. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin wiped the sweat from his forehead, "I feel much better." He, Nick and Rowland had been exercising for about forty-five minutes. Nick smiled, "Yeah, it's amazing what a little exercise will do for ya." "Hey, I tried to tell ya," Kevin laughed. "Your highness, swords or staffs?" Rowland asked. "Both," Nick replied. Kevin watched as Rowland retrieved the weapons handing Nick his. "Kev, this is where you're gonna want to sit out," Nick said. "Oh uh OK," Kevin said, taking his water and moving to the side of the room. He sat down and watched as Nick and Rowland strapped the swords on, then took up the staffs, facing each other. Rowland moved first, trying to sweep Nick's legs out from under him. Nick jumped over the staff, countering with his own move, that Rowland barely blocked. The two fought as if their lives depended on it. Kevin watched in amazement, he'd never seen anything like it. Rowland managed to knock Nick's staff from his hands, sending it across the floor. Nick quickly pulled his sword, blocking the next blow. Rowland drew back, discarding the staff for the much preferred sword. Kevin cringed as the two exchanged blows. Rowland again relieved Nick of his weapon. Kevin ducked as the sword flew over his head and clanked against the wall. Rowland had Nick backed into a corner, "You must learn to keep your weapons in your hands." Nick smiled, watching his friend closely. He knew the session wasn't over yet. "Nick!" Kevin yelled, as Rowland lunged at him. Nick jumped straight up, letting Rowland run underneath him. On his way down he reached out, the sword flying across the room into his hand. As soon as he landed, he brought the sword up, blocking Rowland's blow. The two fought viciously. The sound of metal hitting metal filling the room. Finally Nick disarmed Rowland. "Very good your highness," Rowland said, trying to catch his breath. Nick sheathed his sword and walked over to Kevin, grabbing a drink. Nick had to laugh at the look on Kevin's face. His eyes were beyond wide, and his mouth was slightly open in awe. "I think that was our best one yet," Nick told Rowland. "Now if you can just stop losing your weapons we'll have it made," Rowland teased. "I dunno, I thought I did pretty good," Nick said, "What do you think Kev?" "That was ... just fucking amazing," Kevin said. Nick laughed, "Oh he's impressed. He doesn't say fucking unless it's really bad or really good." Rowland nodded, "I see." "Nick, how did you do that?" Kevin asked. "Remember those extra abilities I told you about? Well fighting is one of them," Nick explained. "And the Jedi stuff?" Kevin asked. "Jedi stuff?" Rowland said, confused. "Yes that too Kev," Nick answered, "We have movies on earth where people can move things without touching them. In the movies those people were called Jedi." Rowland furrowed his brow, "I would like to see these movies sometime." Nick smiled, "We can do that. I'm sure Brian still has his with him. Only thing is, we'd have to have a player." "Oh we can find a player," Rowland commented, heading out the door. Kevin grabbed Nick's arm, "What else can you do?" "Well um, I can tell when another Angel is near. I can fight, which you saw, and move things. I can kinda communicate with the animals. I can make you hear me in you head without verbally saying anything. Sometimes I can see visions. Some are the past, and some the future. That's how I knew the accident with Brian was gonna happen. And there's one more," Nick said. Kevin's mind was reeling, "What's that?" Nick held out his hand, palm up. A tiny ball of light appeared, just hovering over his palm. The ball grew to the size of a marble, the light getting brighter as it did. Kevin marveled at it, amazed at how it seemed to be spinning at a great rate of speed. "Wha..what does it do?" he asked. "This," Nick said, moving away from Kevin and throwing the ball of light across the room. It hit the opposite wall with a loud explosion. When the smoke cleared, there was a hole in the wall roughly the size of a mans head. "Holy shit," Kevin said, looking back at Nick. Nick smiled at him, "Cool ain't it?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian stretched, rolling over. Marie smiled at him, "Morning." Brian grinned, "Morning. What time is it?" "Late," she answered, "The others have already gone down to the council session with Nick." "Oh man," Brian said, "I wanted to go." Marie laughed, "You still can. But you needed your rest." Brian sighed, "I'm fine baby." Marie raised herself up on her elbow and ran her other hand down Brian's chest, gently touching his ribs with her finger tips. Brian jumped. "You are better, you aren't completely well yet," she said. Brian sat up and ran his hand through his hair, "I'm OK." Marie laughed, "You certainly are stubborn aren't you?" He looked down at her and smiled, "I'm determined." "Oh that's what you call it," she laughed. Brian grabbed a pillow and flung it in her direction, then quickly got out of bed and headed for the shower. "Brian?" she called. He turned around, seeing the pillow floating in front of his face, "Uh oh." Marie laughed as the pillow smacked him in the face, Brian grabbing it and tossing it back to her, "If I wasn't late, you would soooooo pay for that." Marie sat up and grinned at him, "Is that a threat?" Brian smiled, "No baby, that's a promise." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick sat on his throne biting his nails. He had been listening to possibly the hardest case he'd seen so far as king. He honestly didn't know what to do. The case had gone through every court, finally reaching the council. It was the last day of the council sessions, and they had held this case until then, simply because they didn't want to deal with it. There was no quick fix to this problem at all. Nick glanced over as Brian entered the room and took his seat with the guys. He mouthed the words, Sorry I'm late. Nick smiled, It's OK, but I need help with this one, he thought, seeing Brian nod. "OK guys," Brian whispered, "Fill me in." Kevin and Howie told Brian what had happened up to that point. It seemed there were two families fighting over the same child. Both families claimed the child was their's, and each had evidence to prove as much. No DNA tests could be done because all Angels carried the same DNA, it wouldn't prove anything. Nick sighed as the testimony finished and everyone looked at him. He glanced over at Brian. Brian motioned that he wanted to talk with him. "Give me a few minutes to consider," Nick said, getting up and walking over to the guys. "Help," he said, "I have no freakin clue what to do here." Brian smiled, "I do." Everyone looked at him. "You guys should read your bible more," Brian laughed, "This is just like a story in there." Nick looked over at the council. All three were staring at him, wanting to see how he and his new �advisors' were going to handle this. "OK Bri, tell me," Nick said. Brian quickly told him the story. Nick took a deep breath, "OK, I dunno how this is gonna fly but we'll see." He walked back over to the council table, "Do any of you have any suggestions?" "I'm torn between the two," Count Marcave said. "As am I. They both have convincing stories," Count Dumal offered. "Uncle, do you have anything?" Nick asked. Mason glanced at the two families, feeling the entire case was a waste of time. "Why not just pick one and be done with it? This case doesn't merit our time," he said. Nick raised his eyebrows, "And why is that? Because these families are of a lower class?" Mason shrugged. Nick glared at him, "Need I remind you that you work for the people. That doesn't just mean the high class. You represent everyone in your provinces, from the high class down to the lowest. Every Angel deserves the right to justice, no matter what class they were born into." Mason stared at his nephew, angry and awed at the same time. He didn't think Nick would pick up the responsibilities of king as well as he had. So far, he hadn't messed up. He said everything he needed to, and everything that was right in the eyes of the people. Nick turned around and headed back up to his throne, sitting down. He looked over at his mother. She shook her head, "I have no words to help. I am torn between them." He nodded, looking back out at the crowd in the room, "I have made my decision." The room quieted down, everyone waiting. Nick stood up and walked to the head of the platform, "Bring the child here." A guard took the child from its nanny and handed her to Nick. Nick held the little girl for a moment, then lay her down at his feet. "Since both families can not come to a compromise, I will make one for you. The child is to be cut in half, and a half given to each family," Nick announced. There was a collective gasp in the room, followed by the frantic and angry cries of the two families. "Your highness, you cannot do this!" Count Dumal called. "It is barbaric," Mason added. Nick turned to them, "This is my decision and it is made." Nick reached out and one of the guards swords flew into his hand. He stepped over the child and raised the sword. "Wait! Stop please!" one of the mothers called. Nick looked over at her. "Please don't hurt the child. Give her to the other family," the woman cried. Nick lowered his sword, staring at the woman, "You would give up your fight to save this child?" She nodded, "Yes your highness. Please don't hurt her." Nick tossed the sword to the guard he took it from then bent down and picked up the child. He walked over to the woman who had just given her up and gave her the child. She looked at him confused. "Only the child's real mother would give her up to keep her from harm. Take your little girl and go home," Nick said. The mother was so overwhelmed she pulled Nick into a fierce hug. Several guards moved towards them, but Nick held his hand up. "Thank you," the mother said, after she let him go. Nick smiled at her, "You're welcome." The throne room started to clear, and Nick turned toward the council. "Now that the sessions are over, I would like to visit your provinces." Count Dumal smiled, "We would be honored to have you visit, my king." "Thank you Joseph," Nick said, "I've not seen beyond this city. I'm looking forward to seeing my kingdom." "I know you will love the mountains," Count Marcave said. Nick smiled, "I'm sure I will love them all. I'll call and arrange a visit with each of you soon. Give your families my greetings." The counts nodded, leaving the room. "I must say, that was impressive," Mason said, falling into step with Nick. Nick glanced at him, "Thanks." "How did you know that would happen?" Mason asked. "I didn't. But I can't think of any mother that would wish harm to their child just to win a fight," Nick noted. Mason nodded, "I may have underestimated you, nephew." Nick stopped walking and stared at him. "Have a good time on your trip," Mason said, then turned and walked down the hall. Nick watched him go, wondering what that was about. LaDonna joined him, "Don't let him get to you my son." "I'm not, but he just did a one eighty on me," Nick said. His mother gave him a confused look. "He was just the opposite of how he's always treated me. He was almost cordial," Nick explained. LaDonna sighed, "Watch him. He want's something, I can tell." Nick nodded, continuing down the hall, "Yeah, and I have a feeling its my crown." Chapter 32 |