Messenger

Chapter 15

 The dining hall was near silent and void of life except for one person. The tall windows lining one of the walls with upper colored panes flooded the area with light in warm hues, but it couldn't erase the chill of a single dictator sitting alone waiting for a teenager to show up. Flower's stomach turned in nervousness and she was sure that Piko was having a similar experience. No sane person could dismiss the looming gray in the space over them.

Maika and Yohio had essentially pushed them into the room because King Howard wanted to speak and "get to know" Flower more. She had genuinely wanted to barf at that. Truthfully, she knew way too much about this guy already and the last thing she wanted was to know more. At least they couldn't get rid of Piko even though he can't really interfere. It's better than nothing.

"Good afternoon, princess." The King had sat himself at the head of the table almost as a challenge and a test of his borders despite the fact that no one was a fan of this particular person testing his border. The kingdom's outer residents could attest.

Flower took a moment to swallow her thoughts before speaking in the knowledge that they'd creep into her voice. "Good afternoon."

"Wouldn't you like to sit down? I'm truly sorry for my behavior earlier." Sure...right and Len is the most disciplined person in the castle.

She nodded stiffly and took a seat in her usual spot, not at the seat next to the head, but three or four spots down where she didn't feel as trapped in. Similarly, Piko sat down in the chair next to her causing a critical look to linger on King Howard's face. It was true that a bodyguard probably shouldn't be chilling on the job, but Flower could care less about correcting it.

"Well, I know so little about you. Your parents rarely get into personal things." She really tried to shove back the slap of her family, but it still pulled at her composer in rebellion. This was not the time. "Would you mind telling me more about yourself?"

"I am working on becoming experienced in the workings of this kingdom and learning my duties." Prim, proper, and painfully rehearsed.

The king smiled in a way that put both Flower and Piko on edge as if he had rehearsed that action as well but to an even more uncomfortable degree. "Do you have any hobbies?"

"I enjoy horse-back riding."

"Interesting. I noticed a very nice stable on the advisers' tour. Shame you weren't there to explain in detail." I would have been there if you didn't yell at my kids, she mentally remarked.

Still not the time. "Truly."

"She's very skilled." Piko added. He meant well trying to not let the barely functioning conversation fall dead, but 'guard' is kind of a silent role.

King boy most certainly noted that one, but didn't acknowledge him. Why speaking with someone quote on quote lesser? That good ol' urge to gag was back. "Any hobbies of yours?" Flower asked back. Yep, that had to be one of the least genuine things she's ever said and she apologized to the Chancellor before. Thinking about it, those two would get along stupidly well. A terrifying thought right there.

"If you'd like to know," She didn't, but go ahead. "I've been known to help with the training of new recruits in the royal guard."

Piko tightened up, clearly not liking the implications of that statement. "That's...nice."

Never in the history of the universe have two people wanted to leave a room with no immediate danger in it. Seriously, what are you supposed to talk about? 'Hey, so I heard that you were burning down and pillaging the outer villages of my kingdom. How's that going?'

"I have been meaning to ask, you seem very close with your guard. Any particular reason?"

A dry swallow resonated in Flower throat. What kind of question is that? "When someone has to be around you as much a bodyguard would, you tend to get to know each other." Flower tried to explain away casually. She could tell what he was trying to get at, but there was no way that she would give up information that could be used against them. Especially something that would directly hurt Piko. The last thing Flower wanted to do was cause him more trouble than she already had.

King Howard wasn't buying it and frankly, Flower didn't have much to sell it in the first place. "What's your name?" Niceties were starting to drop.

"Piko." Flower gave his leg a little kick under the table. "Sir."

"Would you mind if I had a few words with Piko?"

Danger. Yeah, Flower did not trust that in the slightest. This guy is most definitely planning something and it was not good and only an idiot would think otherwise. She could try all she wanted to keep a straight face, but a small bit of her true reaction peeked through and it could only be described as fear and 'aw heck'.

Piko met her eyes with a little bit of pleading and a lot more of something that looked to say 'Please trust me. I don't want to do this either, but we don't have a choice.' He's right, but if Flower finds out that there was some sort of threat made against him on top of what happened with the twins, then King Anger-Issues should prepare to be strangled with an obnoxiously frilly skirt.

So that just left one pale twig and a king with a pension for not respecting others. Piko could already tell that this was not about to go in his favor. "How long have you been doing this job?" His tone flipped on a dime.

"Ummm... not too long." There's no way that Piko could lie, but he couldn't let it out that he'd only had this job for about two weeks. A vague answer was the best he could go for.

"That would explain your...casualness. How were you picked for this work?"

Piko knew an insult when he heard one, but he wouldn't dare defend himself. "Princess Flower was allowed to pick her own guard."

"Then that explains it. You were the youngest options, I'm guessing." Technically, I wasn't an option, Piko thought to himself.

He nodded not wanting to dig himself into a deeper pit.

"She seemed to be more rebellious." Kind Howard grinned in a manner that sent a chill down Piko's spine and made him want to warn Flower of the amount of creepiness being aimed at her. "Though her choice in protection is questionable at best, I hope you at least understand your duty."

"I'm knowledgeable about my duty and I think anyone's choices are up to their own judgment."

A flicker of rage flashed onto the King's features before being rangled back. "Don't be getting smart with me. The Princess's decisions are up to her discretion, but that doesn't mean that she isn't affected by other... aspects."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Piko knew that this wasn't the best thing to do, but this whole insulting people thing wasn't something he could just let happen. He was related to Fukase after all.

"I'm sure you would understand more than me."

Actually, he didn't fully know but also didn't like what was being inferred. "I don't see how this conversation is relevant right now." Or at all for that matter.

King Howard chuckled sending a feeling both mocking and ominousness. "That will be clear soon enough. It was actually that adviser's idea." He mused. "Simply don't try to stand in my way."

Stand in his way? What does he think Piko can do? More importantly, what does he think he can do? Worry started to cloud over Piko's mind akin to the crackling air that appeared before a storm.

"Also, if you wouldn't mind keeping this little chat between us?"

So, I had a really good idea for the next arch of this story and we'll be going back to Fukase and Miki soon. I haven't forgotten about them, I swear. Also, I'm working on an updated version of World Domination: How To on my AO3 account and I'll probably put something up when that's done. Though the original will be untouched here. I just thought those earlier chapters could use some polishing up. So, that all for this episode of Minecraft Story Mode. 

-TheLavenderNarwhal