The Dance of the Keepers

Chapter 22 Overcoming Fears

I managed to keep my cool on the motorcycle trip back to the apartment complex but the second Kyle turned the engine off and took my helmet from me, words came flying out in a jumble.

"What in the blue blazes have you gotten me in to!?"

Kyle held up his hands.

"I clearly misjudged the reason behind tonight's meeting."

"You think?!"
I exclaimed.

"I can't go traipsing around as this Keeper Amica, watching the King and reporting to your terrifying superior!"

"He's not really my superior."
Kyle interrupted.

"That's what you got out of that sentence?!"

"You're right, I'm sorry I got you dragged into this, but it's too late to back out now."

"Can't you say I was recalled to another post, that I finished my business here or something?"

"It'll be a dead giveaway. As a real Keeper, even if your other business finished up, you wouldn't leave town with an outstanding threat hanging over the King."

"Crap. Crap. Crap!"

"Calm down, it's not as bad as all that."
Kyle snapped.

"Not that bad? Really? I'm going to be impersonating a Keeper, sneaking out at odd hours to protect a King I have about as much respect for as a mosquito, and getting myself into who knows what else along the way!"

"You may not respect the King but would you really wish him dead?"

I wasn't sure I dared tell him the thought had briefly flown through my mind that I would have the perfect opportunity to assassinate the King myself, watching over him in the wee hours of the night.

"Not exactly."
I replied, deciding it best to keep my homicidal thoughts to myself.

"Then think of this as just starting your Keeper duties a few months early. Besides, it'll be good training for the arena."

"How exactly is watching a fat man sleep going to help me in the arena?"

"Surveillance skills, attentiveness to surroundings. And as you pointed out earlier, that's unlikely to be all you end up doing."

"You are going to be the death of me."
I growled.

"I'll help you put together a full persona for Keeper Amica, you can become an entirely different person when put on that mask."

"It's risky, Kyle."

"It's more risky to try and back out now."

I shook my head and sighed, out of options.

"Fine, since it looks like you haven't left me any other choice."

We started to walk back toward the apartment complex.

"Where did you get the name Amica anyways?"

"I had to think of something on the spot. Amica means friend in Latin. It seemed appropriate."

I frowned.