Satner's insides rumbled with worry and suspicion. This was the first time he had ever been asked for a private audience with the Emperor and it was directly after the incident at the Summer Palace. There had been occasions he had been asked to attend meetings where the Emperor had been present to discuss matters of security and training, but Satner wasn't the leader of his department. He was one of fifty teachers and trainers in the Empire's defence. Even his leaders who answered to Galton, would struggle to gain an audience on their own. In the grand scheme of things, Satner just wasn't high enough or important enough to be considered to be asked to eat with the Emperor, and for this, he was concerned. The only way he would be asked is if he had done something wrong, and Satner was completely aware that he had messed up.

Satner's insides twisted with nervous energy and he shivered despite the heat of the day. He swallowed against the fear in his throat that was making him think he was going taste the food he had eaten that morning again. Was the Emperor so furious with him for putting Lana's life at risk, he was about to be sentenced to death?

Another horror. Maybe they knew? Maybe they suspected him of his misguided affections. A flash of optimism, maybe he just couldn't think straight because he had been up all night helping the Emperor return to the palace and all of this was needless worrying. That in itself was a ridiculous thought. Of course, it wouldn't be that simple not after what had happened.

The Emperor's day servant bowed in respect to Satner's social position and without having to wait, the servant opened the door and Satner stepped through. He took a moment to gather himself and took a deep breath. It would be fine, he assured himself. He had not acted on his desires.

Emperor Rathner was seated around a table in his day meeting room on the third floor below the tower in which he resided. It was a simple room with a large table for discussions with ample windows that led out onto a balcony. The Emperor's head lifted and Satner took some peace in the fact that his face appeared calm and collected.

He reached a respectable distance then went to his knees and kowtowed before lifting his head and resting back on his knees.

"Just in time," the Emperor said in response. "Satner, stand and join me for our midday meal out on the balcony."

Surprised, Satner quickly rose to his feet and followed after the Emperor who was already on the other side of the room. The invitation to sit with the Emperor to eat was unheard of. Only members of the court and his consorts, and important guests ever had this opportunity. Satner followed hesitantly, the dread building up in his chest. No matter how splendid the food, Satner had a feeling he was not going to be able to find his appetite.

He waited for the Emperor to sit and then, he sat in the spot that the Emperor designated, a cushion only two feet away. They sat in silence while two servants laid out a variety of meat, bread, fruits and vegetables.

Satner dared to break the silence first. His nerves preventing him from following the correct protocols of allowing the Emperor to start the conversation. "How is Lana?" his voice trembled.

"She fares well," the Emperor responded, eyeing Satner for his question. "She is resting in her chamber."

Satner let out a long breath of relief. "I feel this is all my fault," he didn't dare lift his eyes, to see the possible accusation on the Emperor's face.

"You were entrusted with the task of ensuring our safety at the palace," the Emperor agreed. "And yes, while the attack would have happened whoever was in charge, I am more concerned about where you were when the attacked occurred, or more importantly, where your attention was."

Satner's stomach dropped. It was as he feared. He wasn't stupid and neither was the Emperor. The Emperor had gone straight to the issue at hand.

"Teal has made great progress in his training, thanks to you," the Emperor started.

"He is learning very quickly and his ability to move, his speed, he is incredible," Satner answered, trying to keep his voice steady and his body movements natural to help portray his innocence. He was only guilty of the thoughts inside his head, he tried to tell himself. Although, he shouldn't have been distracted when he was at the summer palace.

"Hmm, yes," the Emperor nodded, watching Satner closely. "The way Teal moves is very beautiful."

Satner didn't know how to respond to the Emperor's statement. He braved to make eye contact but had to look away; the Emperor's eyes were piercing and accusing. His thoughts suddenly went to Jale. If this was how the Emperor was looking at him, he also had to fear the ramifications from Teal’s lover. Satner had heard stories of how Jale worked sometimes, and he was one of the very few who didn't need to fear any consequences from the Emperor.

"I didn't know that you also enjoyed the pleasures of men as well," the Emperor said quietly.

The silence hung heavily between them. Satner closed his eyes briefly and decided to face this situation with honor and strength, after all, it was all he had left now. There was going to be no escaping this.

"Yes," Satner responded, "I do. I have enjoyed many different partners, but I have never acted on my desires to try to encourage Teal," he added breathlessly.

"I know," the Emperor responded. "But you let them distract you."

Satner's hands were now shaking and he dropped his gaze to the table again, the food in front of them still untouched. "I never intentionally sought to desire him," he confessed. "It just happened. Teal doesn't know and he's never shown any interest," Satner added suddenly fearing for his friend. "Jale must be so angry."

The Emperor chuckled. "Fear not of Jale. While he is suspicious, you answer to me."

A silence fell between them and when the Emperor finally spoke again, his voice was calm. "The heart can not control who it desires and I know that you have never tried to act on those desires. While that is important, it does not allow me to forgive you for not fulfilling your duties. There should have been someone on the balcony. They could have fought off Lana's attacker."

"I beg for your forgiveness," Satner blurted. "I know I was distracted by Teal when I should have been monitoring the Summer Palace. It was my responsibility. Maybe if I hadn't been following Teal, I might have been able to have protect Lana."

"What ifs are useless," the Emperor responded. "You are young and you will learn from your mistakes. Take this as a warning and a time for us discuss how we're going to stop your desires from causing someone's death." The Emperor kept his gaze trained on Satner. "Eat some food," he instructed.

Satner's eyes moved to the food and as he believed earlier, he held no appetite. "Is this to be my last meal?" he asked quietly.

The Emperor let out a laugh, so loud and clear it caused Satner to lift his head in shock.

"No, but you are going to be demoted," the Emperor said seriously, leaning into Satner for emphasis. "From tomorrow, you will no longer train Teal. You will discourage your friendship with Teal. If he approaches you, be polite but inform him that you are busy and must leave. Do you understand?"

Satner nodded quickly and while he was flooded with relief, disappointment sat in his belly as well. Disappointment that he knew he must hide.

"Tomorrow morning, you will ride with myself, Jale and Prince Salren to stop what happened yesterday from happening again. Eat," the Emperor ordered.

Satner nodded and leaned forward to pick several items for the empty plate before him. His heart was still racing and his insides a mess, but to appease the Emperor, he would try to eat some of the food. Water was placed before him. He waited though for the Emperor to begin first.

They ate in silence until they had both eaten a good portion. Emperor Rathner placed his cup onto the table, and Satner could sense that he was about to talk again.

"You may leave now, Satner and trust me," the Emperor said, his voice stern and serious again. "If you had acted on your desires, this would have been a very different conversation."

Satner nodded his head vigorously again. "I know," he whispered.

"Wine," the Emperor ordered as soon as Satner had left. The servant ran forward and filled the empty cup with wine. "Happy?" the Emperor asked to the open, empty balcony.

Jale stepped out from where he had been standing. "Yes," he confirmed.

>>

Late in the afternoon, a mixture of hunger and concern for Lana caused Teal to stir only to find that the mat beside him was now cool. She must have already risen and tended to her own needs. Sensing no need for concern in her absence, Teal stretched taking in the view out of the window to gain an idea of what time of day it was. There would be some time before the sun would set but not too long. With sleep taking some of the blurriness away, Teal's thoughts went to Jale and the Emperor. He was still annoyed that they had refrained from telling him what they knew.

He stretched, deciding food was going to be a good idea for his empty stomach. A yawn escaped his lips and then, he heard the muffled sound of a sob. Teal sat up on the sleeping mat and listened. It hadn't been Lana. Quietly, he rose to his feet and walked out of her chamber to stand in the corridor.

"Stupid! Stupid!" he heard Jale hiss so viciously it shocked Teal. "I don't know if I can fix this, Delba!"

"Are you going to tell him?" she cried.

From her raspy voice, he could tell that Delba had been crying for some time, and he imagined her eyes red and blotchy, real tears falling down her cheeks.

"Of course, I have to tell him! You might have ruined everything! How could you be so stupid?"

"I didn't mean to," she cried. "Really, I didn't."

Jale remained silent, and Teal pictured him trying to reign in his patience, the only sound that reached Teal's ears was Delba's sniffling.

Wearily, Jale spoke again, "I need to think on how to best approach this. I will have to tell the Emperor. He has a lot on his mind at the moment and this might tip him over the edge."

"I was only doing it for him. He has to know that!"

"But it is the way in which you did it! Behind his back!" Jale said, the anger returning to his voice. "This could count as betrayal, Delba. How do I know you are being completely honest with me now?"

"Because I am telling you," Delba sobbed, and Teal ached at the sound of pain in her voice.

"Only because you are concerned he is already suspicious of you," Jale said with disgust and contempt. There was silence until Jale gave a long sigh.

"You know I could never betray either of you, not after what we've been through, Jale," Delba said.

"I need to think, Delba. Do not tell anyone else. Do you understand me?"

Teal heard Jale’s footsteps walk from her chamber into the hallway, and Teal skirted off into one of the adjacent rooms and out of sight.

Musing on what he had overheard, Teal headed towards the Emperor's private training courtyard. It was strange walking through the palace grounds without his usual accompanying guards. There was still a sense of caution however, and servants and others in the palace either stepped out of his path, skirted back or changed direction when they saw him. News of how he had rescued Lana must have spread. Feeling confident, Teal walked at a leisurely pace with his hands in his pockets, a soft whistle on his lips. His ambles across the grounds however, failed to find Satner.

Teal approached one of the barracks' men, a man Teal recognized as being one of the few that Satner answered to. "I was hoping to find Satner."

The man, tall, bald and with a nose that took up most of his face, glanced down at him. "Satner is no longer available to you," he replied in a gruff voice.

"There must be some sort of mistake," Teal returned.

The man shrugged, but he eyed Teal from the corner of his eye, as if he was waiting for Teal to suddenly react in a negative way. Ready to retaliate or even run in the opposite direction, the man dared to add, "He has been assigned to another duty." He turned then and quickly moved away, deeming another task far more important than risking his life before the Emperor's shape-shifting concubine.

Teal looked over his shoulder to the way that he had just come. Without uttering another word, he turned and left, this time purposely.