Page 1 of Jorhee

1

JOHREE

I knew it was coming, but it didn’t make answering the summons any easier. As I stepped out of the shuttle, I looked at my greeting entourage. Great. In addition to four palace guards, my eldest brother and his mate were also here.

“Jo-Jo!” Hulomin said, clapping my shoulder with a smile. “Why so glum? Anyone would think that you didn’t want to come see your family!”

Jusrvi gave her mate an indulgent smile. “Now, Hulomin, you know he dislikes it when you call him that.” She turned her attention to me. “We’re here to offer you moral support.”

I sighed, falling into step with the pair as they began walking from the private landing pad into the palace grounds proper.

“Thanks, and truly, I appreciate it, but I’ve been dreading this for days.”

She looked at me quizzically. “Why? Wait - do you think this is about that stupid poll?”

I blinked. “Isn’t it?’

My brother laughed. “Not at all! In fact, our fathers were quite amused. ‘Sexiest Eligible Dragonii’!” he guffawed.

“It’s undignified. And the colonial advisors were aghast. Talking about tradition and how my not issuing a statement about not being flattered by the attention was tantamount to making our colony a laughingstock instead of a dignified representation of traditional Dragonii lifestyle. I knew Grekl was going to get in touch with Father and demand he force me to do so.”

“Hmm,” Jusrvi hummed as we entered the Grand Hall. All around us, portraits of my ruling ancestors gazed down at us. I couldn’t help but feel they were judging me, finding me as lacking as Grekl and his cronies on my Colonial Council did. “He might have done so, but we’ve certainly not heard about it.”

“Nothing at all,” my brother reassured me, his vivid blue eyes so like mine filled with sympathy. It had often been said when we were kits that I was his twin born five years apart. We had the same silver hair and bright blue eyes framed by lashes of a darker blue, the same generous mouth and elegant nose, inherited from our Pata. Our other brother favored Father more strongly, with his amber eyes and sooty black lashes, nose slightly too long and thinner lips. We all, of course, had the royal metallic gold scale patterns and wings that allowed us to fly short distances and glide for even longer ones.

“In fact,” he continued, “I was given the impression that he wanted to discuss the new treaty with the humans and the Mylos with you.”

I paused midstep. “Oh? Is this about the higher education initiative? I’ve had several members of my Council talking about it. They’re particularly interested in the animal husbandry exchange program. Something about being able to go to Earth and work with livestock native to their planet, with the possibility of importing some of them later.”

My brother and his mate exchanged a look. “Well, it could be that,” he hedged, just as we reached the throne room.

“But?”

“Your Graces,” the chamberlain manning the door said, with a bow. “The King and Prince Consort have been anxiously awaiting you.”

“Better go on in, then,” my brother said, pushing me forward with a hand at the small of my back as if I was still a recalcitrant kit. “Mustn’t keep them waiting. We’re right behind you.”

“Crown Prince Hulomin, Princess Jusrvi, and Prince Johree,” the chamberlain announced.

Our fathers sat upon their twin thrones, Father looking solemn while Pata’s eyes danced, a welcoming smile gracing his face.

“It’s just us this morning,” Pata said. “Wurtz, close the door. This is a private audience.”

Wurtz nodded, exiting the room and closing the double doors behind him. That left just me, my brother, his mate, and the palace guard here with our fathers.

Father sighed. “While this is a private audience, I’m afraid it is an official one.”

I nodded, going down on one knee.

“Not that official,” he amended, a smile tugging at his lips. “Come closer. I’d rather speak to you father to son, but I need you to understand that what I’m about to tell you has the weight of a royal decree.”

I approached, and Pata pointed to the edge of the dias. “Go on, take a seat, all of you. Your father might as well get his business as king over with all at once.”

Father inclined his head. “What I am about to say affects all three of you. Johree, I am transferring your current governorship over to Hulomin, to oversee until Paxtil is of age. He’ll act as Regent Governor for him. The announcement will be made later this week during the celebration of Paxtil’s fifth birthday.”

I swallowed. “Is this because of the sexiest Dragonii thing?”

Father blinked at me in surprise, and Pata laughed.