Chapter One
?The knock upon the door did little to stop her from her work. "Come," she said, continuing to read over the reports in her hand.
"Good Evening E¡¯Khatifah Mahogany Alee."
Khat looked up to smile at the man before her. She removed her glasses, put down her pen and looked up to the newcomer. "And what do I owe the pleasure of you using my full name and not your favorite affinity for me Lachlan Aaron McCluran?"
Lachlan McCluran had been in the service of her father as a young man and had proven himself noble, wise and worthy. After years of his loyalty, it was decreed by her father, King Akeem Jaffar, that if anything were to happen to him before she was truly ready to rule, E¡¯Khatifah would be entrusted into Lachlan¡¯s care. And at such time Lachlan¡¯s mission would be to ensure that the precocious princess would be well train on everything she would need to be a proper queen.
Thankfully, through the wisdom of God, Akeem lived, despite numerous attempts to the contrary, to see Ema reach her seventeenth birthday, her graduation for boarding school [another strategic maneuver on Akeem's part] and all three years at the university. Unfortunately, her mother, Queen Lisa Jaffar would not live to see her teen years. Something the old solider still felt a tremendous guilt over.
Lachlan smiled "I am just amazed that your middle name is Mahogany."
She laughed then. "You knew my mother. You know how much she loved that movie."
"I know how much she loved Diana Ross," Lachlan chuckled.
"Which is why I am surprised my name is not Diana Mahogany or something to that effect."
He chuckled again. "May I sit?"
"Please," she said gesturing to the sofas.
"You look tired," he said as he came to sit on the sofa before the hearth to her right.?
"Do I?" she said picking up her pen to begin to write again.?
"You do,¡± he said pausing. ¡°Even soon to be queens need rest too, Ema," Lachlan said using his favorite affinity she had spoken of earlier. Her initials E. M. A. He was the only one that could call her that. Only a few people in her life had nicknames for her. . For the most part people called her Highness or Princess.
She smiled. ¡°I appreciate your concern, but I am fine.¡±
"You need rest, Ema."
¡°I am fine, Lachlan¡±
He frowned. ¡°There is no need for you to push yourself so hard,"
"Of course there is," she said looking up then. ¡°My father¡¯s legacy¡¡±
"Always trying to live up to your father legacy,"
"I know no other way," she countered, placing her glasses back on her face and picking up her pen again.
He sighed, "If you are always trying when will you ever see that you have, that you do?"
"Was there something specific that brought you in here this evening?" She said her voice tight as she continued to work.
He smiled. "Always changing the subject. You know it is my job to take care of you."
"Really, I thought that was Sunitra's job."
"Who do you think Sunitra reports to?"
"So you have a spy amongst me, do you?" She said looking up at him.
"I don't need Sunitra to spy. I come to check on you every night. Usually to find you asleep at your desk. How do you think you find yourself in bed each morning?"
"Lachlan,¡± she sighed. ¡°I have work to do. Is there something you need?"
He sighed then¡yes¡she was really good at always changing the subject. "Only for you to be well, E¡¯Khatifah," He said rising to walk to her. "And for you to care for yourself as much as others do. Your people need a healthy and fit queen as well as a hardworking one." With that he kissed her cheek and left her to do what she was doing.?
Chapter Two
Daniel Smith arrived at the Royal Estates of the Sovereign Nation of Zamunda He sighed heavily as he stepped out of the town car that had transported him here from the airport. As he looked up at the sprawling grounds, he knew this request would not go over well, but Lachlan had asked him to enforce the King's wish personally.
He was surprise to find the Lachlan wasn¡¯t thee to greet him¡that was until he was told where the old man was.
?¡°Take me to them please,¡± Daniel said.
?Khat sat in her first council meeting since the death of her father six months earlier and found that it was as it had always been--long, boring. Complete with obnoxiously boisterous men trying their best to win what they surely thought was a well thought out battle of wits and diplomacy, but it actually was a good ole fashion pissing contest [as her mother would say].
?To Khat, this display was just men¡¯s voices raised in inane chatter doing nothing to make any real difference. It was a descent into tedium and exercise in patience. E¡¯Khatifah remembered the very first time she had been forced to undergo one of these. She sat in a secret room behind the wall where the council met, listening to everything through an intercom system while watching through a one-way mirror. She was ten and she found these affairs even more boring back then. At first, she spent much of the time daydreaming or doodling little pictures on a pad.
?In the beginning, her mother Lisa had allowed her to zone out. The queen of course understood that it would be difficult for a child to attend for as long as these meetings went on, but as E¡¯Khatifah grew older, Lisa insisted she not only pay attention, but she take note and be prepared to discuss her thoughts on what she heard at length.??
¡®You may not see the importance of it now but as the future queen you will need to be well versed in the running of your country and how to head your state. As the only heir to the Zamundian throne, it is imperative because these men will pounce on any weakness you show¡¯, her mother would say.
?And as such Khat sat, listened, watched, took notes and discussed at length every weekly council meeting. She was trained to understand the goings on and thought processes of grown men. And if at any time it looked like she would nod off, or doodle or daydream Lisa would say, ¡®Pay attention Mahogany, there will be a test on this later.¡¯
And there always was. And she never did well.
?Lisa would sit and talk with her for hours about the items discussed at council meetings. Lisa would ask her daughter what she thought of her father¡¯s rulings and forced Khat to support her position with reasonable and rational thought. After discovering the circumstances of her mother¡¯s death, E¡¯Khatifah would grow to understand why Lisa was so adamant about her daughter learning and understanding what it took to be a good leader early.
?Although she appreciated it now, E¡¯Khatifah hated it then.
?It was funny; back then, she never did really have a clue as to what was going on or least, she never felt like she did. She wondered if she even had a clue as to what was going on now. Sighing her eyes went to Colonel Izzy. He had his feathers ruffled about something, but then again Colonel Izzy always had his feathers ruffled about something. Lachlan as always was Lachlan, the ever-present voice of reason.
?¡°I do not even know where you are here Captain,¡± Colonel Izzy said. ¡°You are neither a royal nor an ambassador.¡±
?¡°I am here at the request of the Princess,¡± Lachlan countered
?¡°Well, the Princess is about to be queen, surely she does not need her babysitter to speak for her here.¡±
?¡°Surely you should watch your words in the presence of your future queen.¡± Lachlan said
?E¡¯Khatifah cleared her throat and stood. ¡°Gentleman. You all make excellent points and I will take them all into consideration. Now, Shaheda has prepared a grand sampling of what will be served at this weekend¡¯s coronation, shall we retire to partake?¡±
?A good many of the council members smiled, nodded and clapped their hands together in delight. Shaheda¡¯s edibles were renowned in the kingdom for being the most delicious delights this side of the Atlantic Ocean¡the various Senators in the room were up and beginning to move out, however, the sound of Minister Fuquan stopped them.
?¡°Princess, if I may be so bold, I know this is the first time you have had to proctor a meeting, so you may not know that we do not break for lunch before all items have been properly dispatched.¡±
?E¡¯Khatifah smiled one of her most breathtaking of smiles, looking over to Minister Fuquan she said. ¡°Minister Fuquan, this is not lunch, but a sampling of exotic treats and delicacies. However, if the rest of the council objects¡¡±
?The men grumbled and continued to leave the meeting hall. No one would dare pass up the chance to partake in not only a break but good fare as well.
?¡°Good it is, settled,¡± E¡¯Khatifah said as she stood moving away from the table to the door. ¡°After you, Minister Fuquan,¡± she said to the man who tried not to huff as she left the room.
?E¡¯Khatifah smiled as she walked behind him. Well, that was her own little personal victory. As she stepped from the conference hall, she saw¡
?¡°Daniel¡±, she squealed and ran to him throwing herself in his arms in a great big bear hug.
Chapter Three
Daniel chuckled as he came down the hall, and suddenly found himself with an arm full of girl. He had been standing outside from nearly the moment the meeting started, knowing it would only be a matter of time before the princess either took a break, or had the other participants shot out of boredom. ¡°Hello Kittie Khat,¡±
?¡°When did you get here? Why did you not tell me you were coming? Lachlan did you know?¡± E¡¯Khatifah said to her guardian.
"Take a breath, lass. I cannot explain why I'm here if you pass out from lack of breath." Daniel teased; his grey/green eyes lit in amusement.
¡°She has always had a crush on you, my boy.¡± Lachlan said, hugging Daniel. Daniel was his middle brother. And Khat adored him.
¡°Oh hush, Khat blushed and turned her back to Lachlan. ¡°Don¡¯t be jealous. No crush¡Daniel is just way more fun than you. Now tell me, what brings you to my homeland, not that we are not happy to have you of course.¡±?
"I am so glad, will all the questions I was beginning to worry. As for why I'm here, it because of that sly ole fox," Daniel said teasingly to Lachlan. "He thought you might be in need of a friend or two at the Coronation, before these windbags bore you to death."?
"It is not all that bad really. My mother pretty much taught me how to deal with these things and these men.¡± E¡¯Khatifah smiled. Daniel's assessment of her situation wasn¡¯t very far off. "But having you here is always indeed a good thing. Thank you for coming,¡± E¡¯Khatifah said
Daniel pated one of her hands that rested atop his opposite arm. "You never have to thank me for showing my mug, you know anytime you or that old buzzard call," he nodded toward Lachlan. "I'll be here."
Khat nodded. ¡°With you and having one of the world¡¯s best chefs at my beck and call I simply cannot lose. If I remember correctly her tasty creations are even enough to make you smile." E¡¯Khatifah wrapped her arm around Daniel's, leading him down the hall to the parlor.?
"Aye, Shaheda's masterpieces would tempt a saint, that is certain. But such luxuries, I am sad to say, I must refrain from. A man in my line of work, cannot afford to become fat and slow."
"Fat and slow indeed. As if that were even possible. I have yet to see a Smith who didn't grow old gracefully. But I will concede to you. However, I do not think Shaheda will take it well when I tell her."
?E¡¯Khatifah had not seen Daniel since her world tour when she was seventeen. She was much younger then, na?ve. While she was gone her mother had been killed and that naivety turned to rage and anger at God for taking her mother from her, at the world for not understand her grief and at her father for not grief but making her continue with some stupid round the world trip so soon after Lisa lost.
?She had rebelled against everything and everyone. It actually took Daniel's to help her see that by behaving in the manner that she was, she was disgracing the legacy that her mother left for her.?
E¡¯Khatifah smiled, turning to kiss his cheek. ¡°Now if you gentlemen will please excuse me, I have some paperwork to prepared during this brief interlude. Daniel, have Sunitra move your belongings to your favorite room. I am sure she will be happy to see you. Prayerfully, I will see you both at the reception later tonight. Will you be staying long?¡±
?¡°As long as it takes, Kittie Khat.¡± Daniel said
??E¡¯Khatifah shook her head at the nickname¡she hadn¡¯t heard that in a good long while.
She kissed Lachlan's cheek as well and then moved away to the study with a wave.
??
Chapter Four
?
Lachlan sighed. "She has turned into a workaholic since her father's death. Rarely if ever sleeps, must be made to eat. Before his death she was constantly at his side learning and absorbing. Then Akeem was gone. Anyone with eyes can see his death has taken her back to the time when her mother passed. I worry for her. Unlike then, now she is trying to be so mature. Trying so hard not to crack. It is like she is trying so hard to prove to these arses that she can do this job that she is running herself into the ground."
?"Arses indeed, ¡°he said, his trained eye scanning each person within range. "Some of these are way worse than just being arse,¡± he said. "Oh, they smile and bow properly to her face, but look at them when her back is turned. It's in the eyes, the body language," he glared at one man who seemed particularly angry.
??"And I still haven't figured out what Robert has to do with any of this," Lachlan said. "I know his Majesty requested him specifically, but I do not understand why he did not remember the fireworks those two set off in each other?"
?Daniel smirked. ¡°yeah, me either,¡± he said with a rye smirk for the memory, however he did not take his eyes off of the man that was bothering him. "Lachlan, who is that?"?
?Lachlan turned to see Senator Kasim Setne and his lackeys were both in their line of sight. Lachlan had to literally swallow back the sneer that came to his eyes and the bile that rose into his throat. "Him..." he said turning his back to the Senator. "He is next in line for the throne. And since the king¡¯s death he can taste it. During council meetings, he gives her the most opposition, screams the loudest when she seems unprepared and in a word is a complete and utter asshole to her. He is the reason why she works like she does. Him, and all those like him. They are like circling sharks waiting to strike. If he didn¡¯t have an airtight alibi, I swear he was the one who shot Akeem."
?Daniel gave a smirk when the Senator felt the weight of his gaze and turned to look at him. He was no fool, he knew a shark when he saw it. And he would be damned if he let the jackass devour that girl as his next meal. Drawing his six-foot four-inch frame up to its full height, he met the man's gaze coldly, letting him know that he wasn't fooling anyone.?
"Lachlan, do you want me to shoot him?" he asked, only half joking. It wouldn¡¯t even have to be that obvious. Catch the wanker in his bedroom, slit his throat in his sleep. No fuss, no muss....and no more trouble for Kittie Khat. "I could make it look like an accident." He chuckled when the look of fear clouded the Senator's eyes. ¡°Oops, he must have heard that part. Oh well.¡±?
?Lachlan looked to the man who made him want to spit and all his cronies around him. He was sure Setne thought he would break the poor girl and be voted in as President as was customary in their laws. If he could prove to the council that Ema was an incompetent ruler, he would be the most logical of successors since Lord Semmi, King Akeem's most trusted of advisors now lived in America and had lived there for the past ten years, thus taking his name out of contention.
?Lachlan considered the thought¡how much easier would it be for his Ema if that arrogant viper wasn¡¯t around. "Do it," he said.
?"Do what?" Khat said coming up behind the men.
