The Englor Affair by J.L. Langley
Authors: J.L. Langley
Tags: Red Hots!, Gay-Lesbian Romance
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Marine Sergeant running toward him. What was his name? He’d shown Payton the grounds earlier today, after he and Nate had gone to lunch.
The sergeant was a native Englorian who had just gotten out of the IN and started his service with Englor. Lewis? Yes, that was it. Danny Lewis. His father owned a millinery in Mayfair across from Hyde Park. He was close to Payton’s age, but he seemed younger.
He was so animated when he spoke it brought to mind an excited puppy. Payton liked him. “Lewis, where are you headed?”
“The commissary, to pick up a few things. You?” Lewis closed the gap between them and started walking in the same direction as Payton.
“The gym.” A gust of wind assaulted them, blowing leaves around their feet and whistling through the buildings. Payton shivered.
“Brrr… It’s supposed to snow tomorrow evening.” Lewis stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I hope it does. Last year we had a huge snowball fight in the courtyards outside the mess hall. It was great. Colonel Hollister and Colonel Eason even took part.”
“Were they the only officers to take part?” Payton fished.
“No, of course not, but they’re both titled and most of the titled lords don’t associate with us peons.” Surprisingly, there didn’t seem to be any animosity in the statement, just fact. “Colonel Hollister is our prince. He’s heir to the throne of Englor. Colonel Eason is www.samhainpublishing.com 41
J.L. Langley
heir to the Duke of Amberley.” His voice held an awed tone, like even he couldn’t believe the men would engage in a snowball fight.
Payton digested that for a second. It spoke positively of the two men. Even on Regelence some of the lords in service didn’t interact with the commoners any more than they had too. Payton had never understood that holier-than-thou attitude. The lords were there to serve and protect their people, they were responsible for giving the common man a voice in government, not the other way around. Maybe Hollister really was as wonderful as everyone claimed.
“Here’s your stop.” Lewis stopped in front of a two-story red brick building. “Have fun working out. Maybe we could have a drink together sometime while you’re here?”
“Sure. I’d like that.”
Lewis strode off, ducking his head down further into his coat. “See you, Lieutenant.”
“Good evening.” Payton waved. Dust, his hands were like icicles and his toes were numb. He glanced up at the gray sky. The weather changed so quickly here on Englor. It had been sunny this afternoon. He couldn’t wait to get back to the more constant weather on Regelence.
The tiny set of lights above the door flashed to green as Payton approached. He averted his attention away from the lights and continued on toward the door. No one else would even think about the lights, but because he’d had to tape his own tag on, he couldn’t help it. The IN injected the tiny chip into the shoulder of new recruits and could track anyone who had ever served, even those now retired from service, as long as the building they entered had a sensor. Since, like Regelence, men had to go into service with the IN first for training, the Englor Marines and the Regelence military branches also had dog tags. Well, everyone except those only pretending to be soldiers. He had the urge to reach back to make certain his tape was still there. But he knew it was, the green light on the building had meant he was being logged in.
Giving himself a mental shake, Payton walked through the automatic doors and into the lobby of the gym. He followed a sign all the way to the locker room, spine straight like it was no big deal, but his stomach decided otherwise. It felt like the butterflies were 42
www.samhainpublishing.com
The Englor Affair
trying to break their way out. Come on, Pay, you can do this. You’re a lieutenant. They’ll expect that you’re used to dressing in front of other men. Only someone forgot to give his body that memo.
The sergeant was a native Englorian who had just gotten out of the IN and started his service with Englor. Lewis? Yes, that was it. Danny Lewis. His father owned a millinery in Mayfair across from Hyde Park. He was close to Payton’s age, but he seemed younger.
He was so animated when he spoke it brought to mind an excited puppy. Payton liked him. “Lewis, where are you headed?”
“The commissary, to pick up a few things. You?” Lewis closed the gap between them and started walking in the same direction as Payton.
“The gym.” A gust of wind assaulted them, blowing leaves around their feet and whistling through the buildings. Payton shivered.
“Brrr… It’s supposed to snow tomorrow evening.” Lewis stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I hope it does. Last year we had a huge snowball fight in the courtyards outside the mess hall. It was great. Colonel Hollister and Colonel Eason even took part.”
“Were they the only officers to take part?” Payton fished.
“No, of course not, but they’re both titled and most of the titled lords don’t associate with us peons.” Surprisingly, there didn’t seem to be any animosity in the statement, just fact. “Colonel Hollister is our prince. He’s heir to the throne of Englor. Colonel Eason is www.samhainpublishing.com 41
J.L. Langley
heir to the Duke of Amberley.” His voice held an awed tone, like even he couldn’t believe the men would engage in a snowball fight.
Payton digested that for a second. It spoke positively of the two men. Even on Regelence some of the lords in service didn’t interact with the commoners any more than they had too. Payton had never understood that holier-than-thou attitude. The lords were there to serve and protect their people, they were responsible for giving the common man a voice in government, not the other way around. Maybe Hollister really was as wonderful as everyone claimed.
“Here’s your stop.” Lewis stopped in front of a two-story red brick building. “Have fun working out. Maybe we could have a drink together sometime while you’re here?”
“Sure. I’d like that.”
Lewis strode off, ducking his head down further into his coat. “See you, Lieutenant.”
“Good evening.” Payton waved. Dust, his hands were like icicles and his toes were numb. He glanced up at the gray sky. The weather changed so quickly here on Englor. It had been sunny this afternoon. He couldn’t wait to get back to the more constant weather on Regelence.
The tiny set of lights above the door flashed to green as Payton approached. He averted his attention away from the lights and continued on toward the door. No one else would even think about the lights, but because he’d had to tape his own tag on, he couldn’t help it. The IN injected the tiny chip into the shoulder of new recruits and could track anyone who had ever served, even those now retired from service, as long as the building they entered had a sensor. Since, like Regelence, men had to go into service with the IN first for training, the Englor Marines and the Regelence military branches also had dog tags. Well, everyone except those only pretending to be soldiers. He had the urge to reach back to make certain his tape was still there. But he knew it was, the green light on the building had meant he was being logged in.
Giving himself a mental shake, Payton walked through the automatic doors and into the lobby of the gym. He followed a sign all the way to the locker room, spine straight like it was no big deal, but his stomach decided otherwise. It felt like the butterflies were 42
www.samhainpublishing.com
The Englor Affair
trying to break their way out. Come on, Pay, you can do this. You’re a lieutenant. They’ll expect that you’re used to dressing in front of other men. Only someone forgot to give his body that memo.
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