Field Mice
9. He of Little Faith
At long last, Auberon left in a huff; upon reflection of the bitter display and his being saved by the power of illusion, Hein decided to push his luck.
"That was awfully nice of you."
"We're neutral," Nova stated, her tone flat "If I had let him have you, it would not be very neutral, now, would it?"
Hein imagined that it was also a way to get back at him... to rise above, despite her preferences, and proclaim I'm better.
Or maybe she had, long ago, and he was only being paranoid. He did not know.
"You can wait elsewhere," the sovereign growled, "I've never been fond of looking at you, and now I'm sick of it."
On cue, the avian humanoid, or one similar, appeared. As they were led from the chamber, Tyler sidled up beside the commander and asked, dreadfully curious now, "How old are you?"
Hein narrowed his eyes and swatted at the younger man.
---
"Have you decided?"
"Decided?"
"Yes… or I think so."
"And you worry?"
"They'll understand, right?"
"Are they your friends?"
"Yes."
"Then they will understand."
---
"What's taking so long?"
After a rousing game of Guess Commander Hein's Age with Sara, which ended abruptly when the commander got annoyed enough to admit he was old enough to have seen real Phantoms, Tyler was bored. He was also worried about Elijah. And in discomfort, as the room seemed to be inclined towards that purpose.
"Who knows?" Hein grumbled.
"I do," replied a dusky blond man, appeared out of nowhere. "You should go. There's only a little time now before they start casting their nets outside our border to catch you."
The peculiar of the Citadel was fast becoming normal.
"What about Eli?" Tyler asked, "We can't leave without-"
"It isn't a suggestion, Tyler," Hein said. The stranger nodded in agreement.
"No... Jennifer will not be pleased if you are underfoot for any length of time. She might even... you know, turn you into a newt, or something. And this could take quite a length of time. If he so desires, he may return to you when we are finished, but until then..."
"Whatever it takes," Hein sighed, "And ... tell her 'Thank you,' for me."