Chapter 11 Friends

Duncan stared in astonishment at his king. He didn't know what to say. How could he explain that He-Man was simply not available? He bit his lip. How was he going to explain that in the long run? He-Man wouldn't show up for any battles until Adam was ready to take up the mantle again. "Don't you think people might find that a little... odd?" he said slowly. "After all, He-Man doesn't usually stay around very long, and he isn't actually one of your retainers."

Randor gave him a perplexed look. "Of course I know that's not reasonable," the king said, "it was more a joke than anything. Actually, Adam's made a few suggestions."

In the face of Randor's reaction, Duncan felt rather foolish. He hoped the king would put down his babbling to the stress of the day. "Suggestions?"

"Yes, and I wanted to run them by you before calling on them. He suggested Raon and Felinar. I'm sure you know both young men and their records."

Duncan nodded. "Yes, of course I do. What did you want to know?"

"I just wondered if there was any reason, anything less than appropriate –" He broke off, shaking his head. "Hell, that's coming out priggish and idiotic. What I mean is, does Adam think that he can get away with things with them, or has he taken them along on his . . . outings?" He bit his lip. "I'm not explaining this well."

"I think I gather your meaning, though, sire," Duncan said a shade heavily. What does Randor think the boy gets up to? Carousing in town? Duncan considered that a moment. No doubt he does . . . hell! "No, I don't think that's why. Both young men are sober, good workers, and I doubt very much that Adam could persuade them to do anything you would consider out of line."

"And I know Adam is likely to feel comfortable with Raon, and he seemed to think he'd feel comfortable with Felinar."

"Are you thinking in terms of one guard or two?" Duncan asked curiously. "There are twenty-four hours in the day, and the man will need to sleep."

"Perhaps three, then," Randor said. "That way none of them is on duty for more than eight hours." He nodded and stood up. Opening the door to the outer office, he called, "Jenkins?"

"Yes, sire?"

"Please send for Guardsman Raon and Guardsman Felinar." He turned back to Duncan. "Which shifts are they on?"

Duncan thought for a moment. "Felinar is on the morning shift, so he's been off duty for about six hours. Raon is on the evening shift, so he's currently on duty. I think you'd do better with a different schedule, though. How about three men on twelve hour shifts, two days on and one day off. We don't know for certain how long this is going to last."

Randor nodded. "I see your point. Well, we'll need to come up with a third man then. When was the last day off for each of these two fellows?"

"Not sure off the top of my head, but surely you have a duty roster here."

Randor sorted through the papers on the top of his desk and found the requisite document and peered at it. "Felinar was off yesterday, and he's been off for six hours since his eight this morning . . ."

Duncan was now looking over the king's shoulder. "It looks like Raon's last day off was several days ago."

"Four, to be precise. Hmm . . . Do you have any suggestions for the third man?"

"Well," Duncan said, stroking his chin. "I think we should get a trio that can work together, even though they won't be on shift at the same time. They'll need to be able to communicate. I can think of several candidates." He pointed to the names on the roster. "But let's see what they come up with." He grimaced. "If they even agree."

"Why wouldn't they agree?" Randor asked irritably. "It's not a plum assignment, perhaps, but there's nothing shameful about it."

"Randor, I –" Duncan shook his head, at a loss to know what to say. He hoped now that both young men would agree without argument. Randor was being touchy, no doubt from a combination of fatherly concern and fatherly guilt.

There was a knock at the door. "Come!" Randor called. The two young men came in. Felinar had clearly been caught out of uniform, for he was wearing the tunic and trews that were traditional for his people. Raon was in full uniform, having been called from his duty post. Both men bowed and waited for the king's response. Duncan stood behind Randor, and he could see both of their eyes flick to him as it to see if he know what was going on. His expression, he hoped, said only that it a serious situation. Their eyes flicked back to the king's face immediately. "I have a very serious assignment that I would like to offer you. I want to make it clear from the outset that it is voluntary. If you don't wish to do it, there will be no negative consequence."

"Yes, sire," Felinar and Raon murmured in near-unison.

"What I am about to tell you must be held in the strictest of confidence, whether you take the assignment or not," Randor said. Both men nodded. "Adam has . . ." He paused, and Duncan looked down at him, concerned. "Adam is not . . ." Both Raon and Felinar started looking very alarmed. "He's become very depressed," Randor said, finally getting a sentence out. His voice was oddly wobbly. "He's very . . . well, last night, and this morning . . ." He paused again, and Duncan stood stolidly behind him despite the way both guards were now looking at him for advice and explanation.

Duncan put a hand on his king's shoulder and Randor seemed to take strength from it.

"Adam attempted suicide last night, and again this morning," Randor said.

Raon felt as if the floor had dropped out from under his feet. Adam had attempted suicide? Twice? But why? Raon cast his mind back on the last few times he'd seen Adam, and he couldn't think of any signs of that kind of depression. They hadn't talked much in . . . Raon bit his lip. In months. Maybe years.

Felinar beside him seemed just as sftunned. Ordinarily he was very taciturn, but he burst out with, "But, sire, why would Prince Adam ever do such a thing? He's never – I never got the impression –"

Man-at-Arms cleared his throat loudly and both of them came back to strict attention. Randor nodded. "Yes, I know. I was blindsided by it as well," he said. "I don't think anybody expected this." Raon had never seen the king so devastated in his life, and he'd lived at the palace since he was eight. "But that is the situation." Randor stopped speaking abruptly and turned away. Raon had the strangest impression that he was actually crying.

He glanced at Man-at-Arms again, wondering what the king was telling them all this for. He could see that Duncan was keeping his silence and his counsel, so he returned his eye to the front and waited. After several moments, the king regained his control.

"I'm sure you're wondering what it is I want from you," Randor said, turning again to face forward. "Adam must have someone with him at all times, someone who is willing and able to stand up to him if he should make another attempt, one who is capable of pinning him to the ground if the need arises." Raon blinked. He wondered if the king knew just how strong his son really was. He suspected that Randor and Adam hadn't engaged in many wrestling matches in the last five or so years. Jarvis, one of the other guardsmen, was assigned to work out with Adam, and he'd talked about how strong the prince was. Jarvis might be exaggerating, but Raon wasn't sure. The king was going on. "But it needs to be someone Adam feels comfortable with as well, someone who is worthy of the trust that this secret requires, and someone who will be able to spend a great deal of time with Adam without finding it problematic." He paused. "Does either of you feel that this is beyond your capabilities?"

Raon stepped forward. "No, sire, I don't."

At the same moment, Felinar said, "No, your highness."

Randor took in a deep breath and sighed. "I very much appreciate your willingness to volunteer for what is, admittedly, an unusual task. Now, I need your help. Can you, either of you, think of another man among the guardsman who fits all those qualifications?"

Raon bit his lip thoughtfully, and glanced at Felinar. The Quadian tilted his head. "I can think of several who might. But the one who seems most likely to be able to help the prince become more lighthearted is the man from the south called Nalineph."

Raon nodded. "Actually, Nalineph is the one who came to mind for me as well," he said. "I know he likes Adam, and he's spent as much time around him as I have lately." He flushed, realizing that if he had spent more time around Adam in the past year or so, he might not have had this problem. "And he's a very cheerful fellow, very loyal and I know he's trustworthy. I've spent some off-duty time with him, so I know him fairly well."

"Though he is, perhaps, a bit high strung," Felinar said. "I do not think it would detract from his ability to carry out this task, however."

The king looked up at Man-at-Arms who nodded. "Then perhaps I should send for him as well."

"Nalineph is currently on a sleeping shift," Duncan said. "Why don't I fetch him and bring him up to date on Adam's condition?"

"Of course, Duncan, that sounds like an excellent plan."

"And you might mention the blood pressure issue as well, your highness," Duncan said. Bowing, he left. Raon returned his attention to the king, his brows knitting.

"Ah yes," Randor said, "Adam's blood pressure." He took another deep breath and closed his eyes briefly. "Dorgan also is concerned that Adam's blood pressure is sufficiently high that there is danger of stroke."

Raon gulped. Stroke? That can be fatal! He tried to keep his reactions under control, but he could see that the king saw it. Far from annoying him, though, it seemed to reassure him. Felinar's ears were twitching wildly, a sure sign of distress in a Qadian.

"As a result, he has been restricted to the infirmary for a week, and his bed for a few days – until Dorgan says otherwise. That will be part of your job. To ensure that he remains in bed until he has permission to be out of it. To see that he behaves himself in terms of his health."

"Of course, Sire," Raon said. Felinar nodded next to him.

"And, since he will not be permitted weapons of any kind, you will need to be prepared to defend him against any attacks."

They both nodded and Felinar said, "Are you expecting any attacks in specific, your highness?"

"No, Felinar," the king said. "I'm trying to think if there's anything else in particular you need to be aware of. I think I'll wait to discuss the schedule with you until Nalineph arrives."

"Of course, sire," Raon said.

They were all silent for a long moment, and then Felinar said, "May I ask where the prince is now, your highness?"

"He's in the infirmary with his mother and Teela."

"Shouldn't one of us go take up our duties at least temporarily to relieve the queen and the captain of the guard?"

"I don't think it's necessary just yet. Though . . ." The king looked thoughtful. "Please, both of you, wait here. If Duncan and Nalineph arrive while I'm gone tell them I'll be back shortly."

The king left them alone and they both stood still for a moment. Then Felinar said, "You have known Prince Adam since you were both small boys, have you not?"

Raon nodded. "We used to play together as children."

"I see." Felinar stood silently. Then he cleared his throat. "I would not have expected this sort of a reaction. Does it make any more sense to you than it does to me?"

Raon shook his head. "No. I would never . . . I don't know what to think."

"He has always seemed to me to be rather a cheerful man, very concerned about the feelings of others. He took care to make certain that I and all the other Qadians who arrived with me were comfortable in our quarters, and I'm sure he was not assigned to do so because the quartermaster came out after he had already seen to things and was surprised to find that all had been dealt with."

"That sounds like Adam, all right," Raon said. He felt sharp stabs of guilt that Adam could have fallen into such a deep depresssion without his noticing. He wondered what had sparked it. He hadn't thought things could be precisely easy for the prince, but Adam had always carried off what few duties his father assigned him with such flair that it had never occurred to Raon to look beneath the surface.

The tension between Adam and his father had to have been hard to bear, but he'd never shown much sign of difficulty, and Raon began to wonder if that hadn't been a sign all on its own. The universally cheerful and happy prince . . . The king had always seemed unhappy enough with the situation.

Raon sighed. This was getting him nowhere. He shouldn't be mentally bemoaning the past, he should be considering ways to improve Adam's present.

The door opened and Man-at-Arms came in with Nalineph who looked unwontedly serious. "Where did the king go?"

"I believe, sir, that he went to visit Prince Adam," Raon said. "He said he would return shortly."

Man-at-Arms nodded. "I see. Well, the schedule Randor and I have discussed is a very simple one. Each of you will serve a twelve-hour shift, two days running, then have a day off. Right now what matters is getting someone with Adam as soon as possible, and frankly, I'm not sure which of you is freshest."

"I've only been on shift for a couple of hours," Raon said. "I could certainly finish out the night with no difficulties.

Nalineph yawned. "I can do it, I know. But I've only been asleep for about three hours, so I think I had better excuse myself from the first shift if there are fresher men."

"Very good," Duncan said. "And Felinar?"

"I have only had one duty shift since my last free day. I should think I could go on duty now or in the morning without trouble."

The door opened and the king entered. Raon stood just a little straighter and was aware of both Felinar and Nalineph doing the same. Man-at-Arms never seemed to relax, though there was something about him that allowed one to relax in his presence.

"Ah," Randor said. "Nalineph, has Duncan told you the situation?"

"Yes, sire."

"And you are willing to take on this duty?"

"I am, sire."

"Very well. Has there been any discussion of the schedule?" the king asked.

"Yes, we were just talking about that now," Man-at-Arms said.

"Any objections?" Raon shook his head as did the others. "Good."

"Sire?" Man-at-Arms said. The king looked at him. "I believe we had just about settled on Raon for the current shift and Felinar for the morning."

Randor looked at them. "Is this acceptable to you?"

"Yes, sire," Raon said.

"Completely, your highness," Felinar said.

"And then Nalineph, do you think you could take the evening shift tomorrow? I thought perhaps shift change could fall at seven."

"That suits me," Nalineph said.

"Very well. Nalineph, Felinar, you are dismissed. I'll want you to report to me in the morning before going on shift, Felinar, and Nalineph, at some point during the day tomorrow."

Both of them saluted and Randor sat down as they left. "Raon, take a seat."

Raon did, but sat at attention. "Here is the thing I want you to understand. You are not acting as a bodyguard, so the rules you have undoubtedly been taught as a bodyguard are not in force." Raon nodded. "I want you to be friendly and open with Adam. If he talks to you, talk back. Sit with him, chat with him, eat with him. He doesn't merely need a person with him to prevent him from doing himself an injury." The king shook his head, seeming uncertain how to further express what he wanted.

"Sire, I'm his friend," Raon said, when the king's pause lengthened. "I think I understand what you're saying."

"That's it exactly," Randor said. "Be his friend. I think it would be better for him to feel that we got three of his friends to volunteer for this task than that three guards are dutifully standing watch over him. Since it is true that all three of you are his friends . . ." Randor sighed, visibly tired.

"I understand, sire," Raon said. "I will do my best."

"Thank you, Raon." The king stood. "Let me take you to him, then."