Unexpected

Chapter Six

KAI

"Be careful out there, Your Majesty," Nainsi insisted on walking her master to the door. "Are you absoloutely certain you don't want guards?"

Kai shook his head, smiling at his loyal android. "I'll be fine. I went there before, don't you remember?"

Nainsi sighed, a metallic drone that seemed to vibrate from her. "After your kidnapping, Your Majesty, everything's been very fragile. We can't risk you being out there without protection."

Kai glanced at the palace doors. "How did I survive last time?" he countered. "Even Torin agrees with me." No he didn't, in fact, he doesn't even know I'm heading out. "I'll be fine, Nainsi, stop fretting." Kai repeated.

The red light on Nainsi's frontier blinked warningly at Kai. He watched as Nainsi's retinal scanner obviously scrolled something. "Nope," Nainsi finally said. "You're not leaving without your chief advisor previewing you." she turned onto him, her metal plating glinting. Kai hissed out a breath.

Damn, she found out. Talk about disadvantages of sneaking out on an android.

"Torin will be alright with this." Kai covered up smoothly,  waving his hands as he took a step forward.

Nainsi was in front of him in a flash, blocking his path. "I highly doubt that, Your Majesty."

Kai stared at the android. "Stars, did you send a comm to him?"

A green light beeped on Nainsi's round plate. "Yes."

Kai slipped around the android, yanked the black hoodie over his face and took off, making sure to try to look as normal as possible. If only he could catch a small cab to the marketplace...he would be okay. Nainsi rolled down the ramp, her wheels turning as the android chased after him. Footsteps thumped down after Nainsi, hurrying and insistent.

"Emperor Kaito!"

A furious cry rung out over the courtyard. Kai winced, halting in midpace.

"Yes, Torin?" Kai sighed, turning back to face the advisor, jamming his hands into his coat pockets.

The advisor's face was red and flushes as he glared at Kai with eyebrows drawn together to create a very fierce look. Torin cleared his throat, straightening and adjusting the red cuffs around his wrists, then grunted at Kai as if expecting an explanation.

"I thought we made this clear," Torin said sternly. "you, Your Majesty, is not to be outside the palace-out of my sight until everything is under control, Eastern Commonwealth was bad enough when you were kidnapped, and we don't need anything else to rile up the citizens anymore," Torin drew in a breath before continuing. "so you are going to stay in the palace until this dies down."

Kai glowered at him. "I decide where I go. I can take care perfectly of myself, and I understand with everything's been going on things are tense, but this won't take long."

Torin's jaw locked. "I am trying to keep you safe, Your Majesty."

"I get that," Kai's tone softened. "and I appreciate it. But I can't think right now. I need to shake some things off-can't I have a few hours to myself?"

Torin's eyes cleared with realization. "You're thinking of Cinder, aren't you?" he guessed. "and I bet you're heading to the marketplace."

Kai nodded. "Yeah. I just want to see what her booth became when..." he trailed off. "when Cinder left it."

Torin sighed, shoulders slumping. Kai grinned. He could tell defeat when he saw it. "Fine," Torin muttered. "I understand. But I don't care what your interjection is-I'm sending you two of your best bodyguards with you."