Page 12 of Dark Princess Emerging

"I want in," she said without having given it much thought. "Maybe that could get me out of this stupid punishment." She gestured at the history book she'd left open on the table. "I'd rather fight any day of the week and twice on Sunday than read another page of that boring book."

Hopefully, Pavel had learned that human phrase and didn't ask her to clarify.

It seemed that he had because he reached over and picked up the book. "What is it about?"

"Human history. That's Parker's idea of justice," she grumbled. "He's making me read all these boring books, and then he will test me on them. As if I need to know any of this."

Pavel began flipping through the pages. "My English reading skills could use improvement. Perhaps we could read these books together to help me get better at it? In the Guardian training, we are assigned reading about technical stuff. You know, guns, rifles, grenades, ammunition, and many other things, and it takes me forever to get through it because I read so slowly."

Drova kept staring at him. "Reading about guns and ammunition is exciting. This is the most boring stuff you can imagine. Why would you want to read about human history? It had nothing to do with us."

"I value education." He ran a hand over his sleek, long ponytail. "It's the greatest equalizer. It doesn't matter who you are born as, if you educate yourself, you can best the most highborn prince or princess. By rejecting it, we Kra-ell doom ourselves to be as ignorant as the Doomers."

A laugh burst from her throat. "Ignorance will doom us to be dumb as the Doomers? That's one hell of a tongue twister but so apt."

Pavel grinned, and Drova's heart did that annoying flutter again. "Exactly. I don't want to be as dumb as a Doomer."

She leaned back to get some more distance between them. "Jade says that the Doomers are breeding for brains instead of brawn now, so they won't stay dumb forever."

It was obvious that the clan had spies in the Doomer camp, but Jade either didn't know who they were or didn't want to share it with her untrustworthy daughter.

"I guess so. But I'm sure they are not teaching their warriors history. They might teach them physics and chemistry so they can make better weapons, but I bet they won't teach them any of this." He tapped the book. "I think that by learning about the mistakes of others, you can avoid making the same mistakes yourself. Also, reading manuals about strategy written by successful generals has a lot of merit."

"I suppose," she conceded.

"Think about it," he said. "The clan has been influencing human development for thousands of years. Don't you want to know how they did it? What worked and what didn't?" He tapped the book again. "This isn't just about what humans did. It's about how gods and immortals shaped their progress."

Drova hadn't considered that angle. "We are not immortals or gods, and we can't do what they have done, but I get what you are saying."

Having won the argument, Pavel looked smug. "It doesn't matter that we are neither. We're living among gods and immortals, and we should understand their past. Know what shaped them."

"Yes, you are right," she conceded, not because she agreed with him but because it had occurred to her that if she appeared to do so, Pavel might come over more often to study with her. "We will need to find a way to work our study sessions into your training regimen and my shadowing sessions with my mother. She thinks I will learn about governing the Kra-ell by trailing her and watching what she does."

"There is no better way to learn." He grinned. "We will figure out something."

8

ARU

The stark room in the office building across from the keep felt almost too ordinary for such unusual circumstances.

As it turned out, the clan had several such spaces reserved in the various office buildings they owned that were intended just for meetings like this one.

Aru sat behind the desk with Negal and Dagor flanking him, facing the three men Turner had selected and vetted. All were recently retired Special Forces veterans with excellent service records and a thirst for carefree travel after years of service.

Their military bearing was still evident even in their civilian clothing. Time would soften their postures, though, and would make them a little less rigid.

Aru and his teammates had gone through a similar metamorphosis.

"I understand Turner has explained the basics?" he asked.

The oldest of the three, who'd introduced himself as Marcus, nodded. "Minimum of a three-year commitment, extendedtravel assignments, all expenses paid, and specific locations to visit. He was light on the details."

"That's because some aspects of this assignment are unconventional." Aru chose his words carefully. "We'll need to implant tracking devices to monitor your progress and the locations you visit. You will be provided with an itinerary, but you don't have to follow it strictly. As long as you visit the general vicinity, that's fine with us."

He watched their reactions closely, but none showed alarm. If anything, they seemed curious and somewhat amused.

"Is this some kind of a reality show?" asked the youngest, Jake, his eyes moving between Aru, Negal, and Dagor. "You guys look like actors."