Of Blood and Angels (The Two Moons of Rehnor, Book 3) by J. Naomi Ay Page B

met you when you were just a young
boy,” Mrufe continued boisterously.  “I'm sure you don't remember me but
you…you are unforgettable.”
    “How do you do, Prime Minister?" I
said, trying not to glare at my husband who had lost all color from his face. 
He looked like he was either going to run from the room or fly out of there.  I
had a bad feeling about this too but at least I was making an effort to be
polite.
    “Do you know whom this is?”  Mrufe ignored
me and turned to the rest of the characters in the receiving line.  “This is
the MaKennah ka Rehnor, the Crown Prince of Rehnor.”
    The Andorians all muttered appreciably.
    “I thought the other fellow was the
Rehnorian Prince,” the woman standing next to Mrufe, presumably his wife, said.
    “No no,” Mrufe replied.  “The other one is
this one's uncle.  This is the one who will become the King.  Perhaps we should
speak to you about a trading alliance, Your Royal Highness?”  Mrufe turned back
to Senya.  “There is much we Andorians and you Rehnorians can accomplish
together.  We both have been little regarded by the Alliance and perhaps it is
time we formed a new partnership and expanded our joint resources.”
    Senya was staring across the room at
someone else and paying no attention to Mrufe.  His eyes were bright like
lasers behind his dark glasses.  I could see the object of his attention was a
large middle aged man dressed in an impressive uniform.  Mrufe, too, followed
his gaze.
    “Have you met my Chief of Staff, Lord
Srutow?” Mrufe said and waved for Srutow to join us.  “Shall we take a few
minutes away from this raucous crowd to sit down together and discuss the
possibilities?  I have approached your grandfather King Yokaa several times in
recent years but between you and me, he seems to have gone a bit dotty.  Your
uncle, Prince Akan has been very receptive to my ideas but I know that he is
not the one who will make the final decision.  We are indeed fortunate that you
have come to visit us today.  There is much we can accomplish.”
    “Minister Mrufe,” I interrupted.  “We are
here as part of the Allied delegation.  My husband is not representing the
Rehnorian government.”
    Mrufe again totally ignored me though
Mrufe's wife glared at me as if I had made a giant faux pas by daring to speak.
    “Excuse me,” I continued before realizing
that Senya was starting to sway on his feet.  Lord Srutow came closer.  I
grabbed Senya’s hand and held it tight, though it was now twitching.  Lord
Srutow was staring back at Senya with his mouth open in surprise and his pale
blue color turned a deep shade of violet.
    “There you are, Srutow,” Mrufe said. 
“Come meet His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of Rehnor.”
    “We have met,” Senya growled in a voice
that didn’t sound like his.
    Srutow stopped where he was.
    “Surely you are mistaken, Sir,” he said
shakily.  “We have never met.”
    “I am not mistaken,” Senya replied.  He pulled
his hand from mine and swiped it in the air.
    “Don't!” I screamed and leapt for his arm,
pulling it down.  I was too late.  Srutow went flying across the room and
landed on the buffet table, knocking all sorts of dishes onto the floor. 
Everyone scattered away from us in a big hurry.
    “I don't understand,” Mrufe stuttered. 
“What is the matter?”
    Senya shook me off and stormed across the
room to intercept Srutow who had scrambled off the table and was now running
for the door.  Senya waved his hand again and in his fist now there was his
knife; actually, his favorite fish gutting knife.  Senya chased after Srutow
and caught him by the door.  Srutow screamed but his screams were short lived. 
Senya plunged the knife into his gut and practically filleted him.  Blood
splattered on the floor and walls as Senya dragged Srutow’s body to the window
and tossed him into the glass.  The window shattered, shards flew and Srutow’s
body disappeared down the