“You have strange ideas for a woman,” smiled Kapla. “You think of everything as an investment. Do you look at me as an investment too?”
“Of course,” laughed Cherri. “I intend to invest a lot of time in you too,” she grinned. “I intend to marry the next Katana, and I do not mean Alazar.”
Kapla laughed and then turned deadly serious. “You do not want to cross that man, Cherri,” he warned. “Do not even think about it. He knows everything that goes on and what everybody is thinking. I wouldn’t mind being the next Katana, but I do not want to get involved in trying to depose this one.”
“I would do nothing of the sort,” assured Cherri. “I am a patient person. We may have to spend many years together waiting for Alazar to die, but when he does, we will be ready. That is, if you think you would care to spend those years with me.”
The Minister of Defense froze with a forkful of meat before his open mouth and stared at the buxom blond in the tight blue gown. Slowly he closed his mouth and put his fork down. “Do you mean it?” he asked. “Are you serious? We barely know each other.”
“I know ways that we can become better acquainted,” smirked Cherri. “I miss the days at court,” she pouted, “and you are a wonderful man. I have been watching you from afar for some time now. I knew that one meeting was all it would take to make sure about you. That is why I went to court last night, to see you. Do you not feel the same about me?”
Just then, there was a loud banging on the front door and Cherri jumped in her seat. She caught a flash of StarWind running from the kitchen to the front door and listened tensely. StarWind cracked the door and stuck her head out. She did not even get to finish her question before the door was flung open and six Monitors poured in. The lead Monitor shouted instructions and the invaders split up to search the house. It all happened so quickly that Cherri was frozen for a minute and then she leaped to her feet. Swiftly she tried to follow the departing Monitors as they started searching the house. She saw StarWind being held by a Monitor at the front door. StarWind did not resist, but appeared to be awaiting a signal to fight as the Monitor was looking around the room as he held her. Turning, Cherri saw another Monitor heading for Fisher in the kitchen. Nervously, she wondered if the Khadoran possessed any survival skills if it came to a fight for their lives.
Minister Kapla rose and wiped his chin with the napkin again as he stared at the commotion. Cherri heard someone trying to forcibly open the locked door to her private garden. She turned to Kapla and asked, “Why are you letting them do this?”
“They are just doing their job,” the fat Minister answered. “They must check every house in the city. They will be done quickly and we can resume our dinner.”
The lead Monitor and another entered the dining room and it was obvious that the leader recognized the new Minister of Defense. It was also obvious what he thought of Cherri as his eyes widened and one eyebrow rose dramatically. Cherri fought to keep track of the movements of the Monitors as they searched the mansion, bitter that Kapla had not intervened on her behalf. She had thought for a brief moment that Kapla’s presence would save her from the search, but neither Kapla nor the leader of the Monitors seemed to be so inclined. She tensed involuntarily as she tried to anticipate which of the Sakovans would be the first to attack. She even thought that Malafar might start blasting magic around or Fisher might try to break free and run.
Cherri knew the location of five of the Monitors and listened intently for sounds of the sixth. All she could hear was the Monitor still trying to gain access to her private garden. Then she saw the last Monitor heading for the staircase to the rooms upstairs. She watched in slow-motion horror as the Monitor climbed step after step, knowing that when he reached the top, Master Malafar would be found.
Cherri looked quickly at StarWind and saw the Sakovan spymaster ready to spring into action. A quick glance at Fisher showed that he was calmly leaning against the wall as if casually waiting for a signal for the next course of the meal to be served. She envied his calmness as she tightened her hands into fists and felt stark terror rip through her body.
Just as the Monitor placed his foot on the top step of the stairs, Cherri could hold it no longer. “Stop!” she screamed.
Everyone turned towards her and she strode out of the dining room, pushing the lead Monitor out of her way. She halted in the entryway and pointed an accusing finger at the Monitor at the top of the stairs.
“You,” she shouted, “get down here. And you,” she swiveled to the Monitor trying to break open the door to her private garden, “Get away from those doors before you break them.”
Nobody moved and she turned furiously to face Kapla who had followed her out of the dining room with the two Monitors in tow. “I will not be treated like some common tramp in my own home,” she shouted caustically at the Minister of Defense. “If this is an example of how much I mean to you,” she berated, “then take your men and get out. I will not have my integrity questioned by being forced to submit to a house search against my will.”
Kapla started fidgeting and the Monitors looked to their leader for guidance while he was looking at the Minister of Defense for instructions. Cherri did not give them time to think.
She spun around to the Monitor holding StarWind and pointed at him. “Get your hands off my servant,” she screamed. “If you need to molest women, go down to the docks where the rest of the dirt resides.”
The Monitor reflexively released his grip on StarWind, still holding his hands next to her arms. Kapla’s hands were shaking as he approached Cherri to try and soothe her. She spun away from his grasp and folded her arms around herself and pouted. Kapla turned to the lead Monitor with a shrug, but the leader was already walking towards the man holding StarWind. The two men conversed quietly and then the leader returned to the Minister of Defense and whispered something to him.
Cherri fought down the fear that they might have already been discovered and continued her charade. “Get the Minister’s coat,” she ordered StarWind. “I wouldn’t want him to unintentionally leave it behind.”
Minister Kapla stepped alongside Cherri and held up his hand to halt StarWind. “That will not be necessary,” he instructed. “The Monitors will be leaving without me. I am sorry, Cherri. I had no idea that you would be this upset. You should have said something to me.”
The leader of the Monitors signaled his men and they gathered at the front door. He walked over to Cherri and stood before her. “I am sorry Cherri,” he apologized. “We take our job very seriously and we are searching for a very dangerous man. Perhaps our manners should take into account people that are above suspicion, but it has been a long day for my men and all I can do is apologize. I hope you will accept it.”
He stood in front of Cherri waiting for an answer and Cherri forced tears to her eyes before looking up at him. “I guess I understand,” she sobbed, “but I felt so violated. It was like I had lost control of my very self, that I did not matter anymore and anyone could come in anytime they wanted.”
“I understand,” consoled the lead Monitor. “I am sorry for interrupting your dinner.”
He spun on his heels and led his men out the door. StarWind quietly closed it and locked it. Kapla put his hands on Cherri’s shoulders and she cringed at his touch.
“I didn’t even think it would disturb you,” the Minister explained. “It is a very normal procedure. I just thought everyone would know to expect it. I will make it up to you somehow. Please do not be upset with me.