The Last Praetorian Read Online Free Page B

word.  Every eye in the room was fixed on the blade that was
hanging above the young man’s neck.  The sword of Damocles ready to fall. 
Finally Jon’s gaze fell upon Princess Aurelius, gazing unflinching at the scene
in front of her.  Jon was suddenly consumed by an all-encompassing fury that
this foolish young man had to die because of the Princesses’ impetuous
actions.  Glancing down at the youth who was still on his knees, not having
uttered a word, even though Jon knew he must be in excruciating pain… he
ultimately decided on a different course of action. 
    Stepping around the youth, sword still in hand Jon
approached the Princess and raised the sword towards her throat.  For a brief
moment Jon allowed himself to be completely immersed by the gaze of the Princess. 
Although she had a sword hovering inches from her throat she showed no trace of
fear; trying to read her gaze Jon finally settled on the emotion of …regret. 
She seemed disappointed in him, and the course of action that he had decided
upon.  Not in the least bit unnerved by the sword.  Tearing his gaze away from
Sofia, he glanced at the youth still holding his hands to his profusely
bleeding nose.
    With a slash of the sword he swung at the Princess - neatly
cutting the shawl that was draped across her shoulders.  Using the point of the
sword he picked up the severed shawl from the ground and hovered it in front of
the bowed face of the young man. 
    In a clear voice Jon exclaimed to the room, “I understand
that in the past, on Old Earth, Princesses used to offer their knights a token
of their gratitude for defending their honour.  I think in this case you
justify the reward.”
    Surprised the young man raised his head to glance at the
scrap of fine cloth draped across the sword, glancing up at the Commander in
disbelief and with a spark of…hope he gently reached out, taking the offering
from the Commander.  Sheathing his sword the Commander offered his hand to the
younger man with the explanation.  “You showed an uncommon amount of courage
boy; one that seems to be lacking in the fleet these days…” Jon cast his gaze
around the room, but nobody would meet it.  “Those qualities would make a fine
officer… one day.”  With that, as way of an explanation Jon helped pull the
younger man to his feet and towards the exit.
    “Let’s get you to Medical so the doctor can have a look at
that nose…we can work on a story on the way of how you shed blood defending the
honour of the fair Princess.  We will just be a little vague on whose blood was
shed…I am sure the doctor will find the whole business extremely entertaining.”
    Just before the doors to the officer’s lounge slid shut, Jon
glanced back at Princess Aurelius, standing alone in the space left by their
exit, with a faint smile on her face.
    *****
    Having dropped the young man off at the medical bay and
having been assured that he would make a full recovery, Jon was peering into a
mirror observing the bruise that was starting to form.
    “Stupid!  Stupid!  Stupid!” Jon cursed loudly.  “You can
never walk away from a fight and damn the Princess for, for…” Jon was not
entirely sure what to blame the Princess for, but was sure that there was equal
blame, somewhere…  A chime from the door interrupted his self-castigation, with
somebody requesting permission to enter.
    Glancing at the chronometer in his quarters Jon muttered,
“It’s three in the morning, this had better be very important!  Come!” He called. 
As the door slid open a figure quickly glided into the room and the door slid
smoothly shut.  The visitor was shorter than Jon and wearing a white cloak that
masked his or her features.  However a glance of red hair and green eyes
peering out from under the hood started to give Jon a horrible premonition. 
    “Do you always greet your guests shirtless?”  Princess
Aurelius inquired pushing away the hood from her face.  Jon could only stare