Kared's Children - Chapter 8

"We’ve met," Nartho said, shaking his hand. "When we were picking out the soldiers, Dox."

"Well, we haven’t." Shaerden, too, shook his hand. "You must be quite a soldier, Mr. Jax, if you’ve survived these two-and Dox has put so much trust in you."

"I do my duty, sir."

"I’m sure you do."

"Have you met the King?"

"I was honored to be subject to his review, sir."

"He’s outside," Dox said. "With Piskin and the soldiers."

"You left him just with Piskin?" Shaerden asked.

"He sent us in to introduce his Captain to you."

"Don’t you find it strange, Dox, that suddenly you’re watching Gerald so carefully?" Nartho asked.

"I’ve always watched him carefully."

"You have," Shaerden said appreciatively. "You’ve watched us all."

"I have followed the King’s orders as they were given."

"It just seems strange to me, I guess," Nartho said.

"If you serve under Dox," Shaerden told Croel, "You’ll have a high standard to meet."

"Actually-" Dox looked at the big soldier. "Would you rejoin the King, Captain?"

"Sir." Croel backed into the hallway.

Dox waited until the front door closed, then leaned against the doorframe near Nartho. The other two waited expectantly.

"Actually," Dox repeated, "Nartho, I was going to ask you to lead the Guard."

"What?" Nartho asked, surprised. "Why?"

"My duty is to Gerald. I’ll do as he says. But as we prepare to face whatever we’re going to face, I’ll be quite uncomfortable if my interests are divided between protecting the King and leading his Guard. You helped pick them out. You know what we need to get done."

"Yeah, yeah," Nartho said. "Flatter on. But let me ask you this: shouldn’t your two roles be identical?"

Dox shrugged. "Their goals are the same, but their functions are different. The one would require me to be near the King as much as possible. The other would require me to oversee men."

"You’re not so comfortable with people, anyway," Shaerden said.

"No."

"I think you’d do a wonderful job, Narth," Shaerden said. "If you’d want it."

"As time passes, the Guard will grow," Dox said. "Gerald can’t live here forever. Assuming we survive this journey, the Civic Hall, at best, is an interim site. In time, the King will need new quarters, new space. As more and more people learn who he is, more will want to see him. They’ll expect certain things from their King."

"He’ll need the security to provide them," Nartho said.

"You’re a good judge of character," Dox said. "Except maybe with the Alaran."

Shaerden laughed, then stopped. "Sorry, Narth."

Nartho scowled.

"You are a good judge of character," Dox said. "And men listen to you."

"You’ve already got experience guarding us," Shaerden said. "From the tavern."

"Exactly," Dox said. "Gerald will need more guards. He’ll need someone he trusts to oversee them, someone who can cull the best from the Karedian Guard and then demand the best from them."

"But what will you do?" Nartho asked.

Dox shrugged. "Protect the King. As time arises, I’ll ask you for soldiers, your best, to serve in Gerald’s Personal Guard. Already I’ve chosen eight of the fifty."