A Tale of Two Kingdoms Read Online Free

Duff's inappropriately modern and decidedly boorish behavior.
    At first it had annoyed Duff that Grieve jumped in his chair whenever Duff opened the door to the outer offices and spoke to him. Grieve had been appointed by his father without giving the prince any say in the matter. Whatsoever. As usual. But eventually he came to terms with the fact that there was an odd little bespectacled man sitting just outside the entrance to his suite of rooms. He managed this internal resolution largely by appreciating the humor of the thing.
    Grieve's display of shock had become part of Duff's day to day reality and one that he'd come to look forward to. In fact, he imagined that, should Grieve develop nerves of steel, he, Duff Torquil, Prince of the Scotia Fae and heir to the throne, would be forced to devise ways to deliberately create surprises, simply for the pleasure of seeing Grieve jump, gasp, and clutch his chest.
    With that thought, Duff lowered his chin into his chest and chuckled while Grieve got himself together.
    "Grieve," Duff repeated.
    "Aye, your Highness."
    "Please send an additional reception invitation to an Istvan Baka at the Black Swan Charitable Corporation offices, Charlotte Square."
    "But, sir, there are no odd invitations left to offer."
    "Are you goin'?"
    Grieve pushed his glasses higher on his nose. "Oh, aye. My presence is expected."
    "Do you want to go?"
    Grieve hesitated, mouth open, while trying to decide whether it would be in his interest to speak plainly or not. "I, ah..."
    "The truth, man."
    "No' particularly."
    "There you have it then. Problem solved." Duff ducked his head back into his rooms and began to close the door.
    "But, sir, your father..."
    The prince opened the door and reappeared, but without his customary affable and approachable expression. He was clearly not pleased and might even have been scowling, although it could be hard to tell on such a beautifully smooth and youthful face.
    "Who do you work for, Grieve?"
    "You, sir?"
    "Is that a question or an answer?"
    "An answer, sir?"
    "Hmmm. Well. I understand that my father hired you."
    "Aye, sir."
    "But he is no' in a position to oversee the minutia of my affairs every day. Do you no' agree?"
    Grieve nodded. "Aye, sir?"
    "Well, then it seems you must make a choice. Is your loyalty to the one who appointed you or to the one whom you serve?"
    Grieve paused for only a moment before standing and pulling his shoulders back. "My loyalty is to you, sir. You can rely on me."
    Truly, Duff was half joking and had not expected the equivalent of a chivalric vow of service, but seeing that the little man was serious, the prince was touched and decided not to dismiss it as a jest.
    "Thank you, Grieve. I will treasure your declaration and count on it, from this day forward."
    Looking like he had just experienced the best moment of his life, Grieve smiled like he'd just been knighted.
    Duff withdrew and closed the door, but stowed away in his heart the knowledge that allies could be made from something so small as a little respect and recognition.
     
     
    Baka would have loved to skip the prince's reception, but Elora had asked him to go and take Aelsong. So he was standing in front of the bathroom mirror in a blindingly white pleated shirt, trying to tie his black tie. He was just glad his tux came with pants instead of the kilt that most of the male guests would be wearing beneath their formal jackets.
    Fresh from the bath, Heaven came up behind him with a towel wrapped around her. She pressed into his back and rose to her tip toes to peek over his shoulder at his reflection in the mirror.
    "Hmmm. Handsome."
    Baka gave her his best debonair smile. "Bond. James Bond."
    She giggled. "Here." She urged him to turn around so that she could finish the tie. He could have used a clip-on, but the extra trouble paid off. While she was doing that, he casually unfastened her towel and let it drop to the floor. He pulled her closer with one hand while the other found