As soon as Teal had finished eating, Jale adopted a brisk and determined manner. He led Teal down through several corridors of the ship, their destination unknown to Teal.

"We will join the Emperor for a mid-afternoon meal," Jale stated as they walked. "Our journey back to Dalenia will give you time to get used to being in his presence. He will expect that you can hold a decent conversation.”

Teal swallowed against the nervous lump that had suddenly appeared in his throat. What would he ever talk about to hold the Emperor's interest?

"But first, you are going to bathe," Jale announced, jarring Teal out of his thoughts. Jale stopped in front of an opened door and pointed for Teal to enter. "Apart from last night, whenever you are in the Emperor's presence you are always to present yourself immaculately. Your clothes must be tidy and clean, and your body bathed and free from any rashes, spots or blemishes." Jale gave Teal a kind smile. "The Emperor and I have both served in the imperial army. We know there are few options for bathing on the road, but palace and court life are very different."

Teal stared at Jale's broad shoulders and wondered how much Jale had changed.

"Fortunately, this river holds fresh water and there is ample of it," Jale said.

It was a small room, simple in design but with a tub large enough for a grown man to fully submerse himself. It was an even more luxurious fixture on the ship.

For the next hour, Teal endured being scrubbed and washed by an imperial eunuch who ensured that his hair was free from lice, his body soaped and lathered from head to toe, and his sore muscles massaged. If he had thought that the bathing was uncomfortable, it did nothing to prepare him for Nala and Jale’s inspection.

Naked, Teal spent the entire time looking at the ceiling while Jale stood, ink stink in hand jotting down Nala’s comments as she poked and prodded Teal’s body. He did not have any qualms with stripping off his clothes when he was in the forests to swim in the lakes near his home. Nor had he ever feared showing his flesh when he was with Cokrin, but it was not a habit of his to stand naked in a room of people and be the object of their full attention.

"Everything looks good. No wounds, scars, or obvious diseases," Nala finally stated. "He will take the weekly reviews?"

"Yes," Jale answered. “Come,” he said to Teal. “We need to get you some suitable clothes before we start our first lesson.”

A flutter of panic hit his stomach, but Teal didn't say a word. Instead, he turned and followed Jale ensuring the robe he wrapped around his body covered him suitably.

"I forgot to mention yesterday,” Jale began as they walked. “The Emperor prefers that you do not see to your own pleasure in your personal chambers. While it is a matter of opinion on the topic of whether it increases drive, the Emperor prefers self-restraint until he has first laid with you.”

Teal stopped short in shock. “Really?”

Jale turned back to him. “Rules are rules! That is what the Emperor desires so that is how it should be.”

Jale continued walking, and Teal had to jog to catch up so he didn’t miss any more instructions.

“Right, the room you woke up in this morning will be your sleeping quarters while you're on the ship,” Jale informed him. “This floor is allocated to all of the people who work closely with the Emperor. Galton, Delba, Nala, and myself all reside on this floor." He stopped in front of another door. "One of the maids is already working on a new set of clothes to ensure that you are always suitably attired."

A short time later, Teal was back in his room after having a dressmaker find him some suitable attire to wear. Sitting rigidly in a chair while he waited for Jale to start, he ran his fingers over the material. It was light, obviously intended to keep a person cool in the warmer weather that would be found in the capital, but the color and its weave still looked complex.

Jale spent the next hour going over the basic protocols of how to greet, speak and interact with the Emperor. Jale was patient, but he was persistent and demanded perfection. He corrected Teal's form with a prod or poke of his finger. "If I, who was once a common soldier, can learn how to behave in the Talbecan court, so can you."

"I saw your soldier tattoo. It's very impressive," Teal commented.

Jale held his arm out as if he had forgotten that it was there. When he spoke again, Teal knew that was far from the truth.

"Another life," Jale uttered to himself.

"Do you miss your old life?" Teal asked.

Jale's head snapped over to Teal, his eyes narrowed, and Teal feared that he might have angered him in some way. "No," he replied shortly, then seemed to gather himself. "Just a lot of memories."

"What do all the markings mean?" Teal asked softly. He stepped closer to gain a better view.

Jale glanced down at the tattoo again. "Many things," he answered vaguely. "The higher the tattoo on the arm, the more battles fought."

Teal stared at the length of the tattoo which continued up the inside of Jale's bicep. "You must have been in many battles," Teal remarked.

"Yes, I was," Jale said, not boasting, just stating fact.

They were silent a moment, Teal continuing to gaze at Jale's arm, and he couldn't stop his eyes from continuing up and over Jale's broad chest. There was a hint of hair at the top of his chest, soft brown swirls of it that almost blended into the brown of his skin.

Jale coughed and their eyes met, a reproachful but quiet message on his face.

Teal took a step back and looked away.

>>

At the end of the corridor, double doors were guarded ominously by two of the Emperor's guards. Dwarfed behind his two Purple Jade guards, Teal's heart pounded and his knees shook.

Jale stopped in front of Teal and gave him one last once over. Satisfaction filled his face.

"Now," Jale spoke softly, "follow my lead. The Emperor will most likely want to get to know you a little better. Do not speak until he is ready and speaks to you first, but do not be afraid to hold a conversation with him either. You, as a concubine, must always knock when you arrive to his quarters. One of his servants will let you enter."

Jale knocked on the door and true to his words, the doors were opened by a small, young man. Teal's stomach twisted, a feeling he didn't like. He really wasn't used to being such a bag of nerves. In his comfortable surroundings with his own friends and family, he was confident and comfortable in his own skin. He took a deep breath and followed Jale into the Emperor's cabin.

The Emperor was organized and neat. The room, while well lived in, was tidy with scrolls and parchments piled neatly at the desk where he was sitting. Books and other papers lined the shelves next to him, and the table in the center of the room was also clear and free from clutter. Teal couldn't stop his eyes from falling on the wide and spacious bed in the corner. It was neatly made with small cushions and a thin blanket covering its surface.

He jolted back to attention when the Emperor cleared his throat. Teal took in his form, the soldier uniform and armor that he had donned the day before was now gone, and instead, he was wearing a more relaxed affair of a short-sleeved vest and pleated shorts that came to his knees. He did not turn around after they entered but continued reading the document he held in his hands.

"Jale," the Emperor spoke happily when he had finished reading his last document. He rose to his feet, and Jale stepped forward taking the Emperor's hand in the same manner he had explained to Teal that morning. He kissed the back of it lightly. "How is Delba?" the Emperor asked.

"Still as green as ever," Jale responded, "and sends her deepest apologies. It appears that even the slight ripples of the river are enough to turn her. She was not made for travel on water."

The Emperor chuckled. "You're right. It does not run in her blood."

The Emperor turned to Teal. The leader of the Empire, the person who made all the decisions that affected hundreds of thousands of people, and who now also controlled Teal's life. With his heart beating fast, Teal lowered himself to the floor in a deep kowtow. The Emperor did not comment on his nerves once he had risen to his feet again, and instead, let his eyes slowly drift over every inch of Teal's body. Finally, they met Teal's, and Teal lowered his eyes.

"You look much improved," the Emperor said, sounding impressed. "Jale has informed me that you are interested in my offer to move into the Purple Jade Palace. This pleases me.”

Before Teal could respond, the Emperor abruptly turned and headed towards another door on the other side of the room.

"Come, we are going to enjoy a mid-afternoon meal," Emperor Rathner called over his shoulder. "We can discuss your new position out on my deck."

Teal floundered.

"Go on!" Jale urged when Teal remained rooted to the spot.

Teal charged after the Emperor, tripping over his feet when he crossed over the threshold and onto the deck. He pulled up quickly and looked around in astonishment. It was a private lounge at the stern of the ship for the Emperor to enjoy. There were benches along the back wall and thick cushions covering a large portion of the floor with hammocks on the other side.

"What do you think of the ship?" the Emperor asked, standing only a short distance away. Jale, Teal noted, had not joined them.

Teal looked around trying to build up the courage to speak. "It's incredible," he finally said. "It's the biggest ship I've ever seen."

"Ha!" the Emperor smiled. "This is nothing when compared to The Crael."

Teal frowned. He hadn't known that the Emperor had a ship named after the Empress, and the fact that it was bigger than this one, Teal couldn't imagine.

"Sit with me," the Emperor stated as he walked to the cushions. Anxious, Teal followed and lowered himself down so he was sitting on his knees, hands on his thighs. The Emperor sat comfortably and perfectly at ease, waiting for his servant who was standing at a table, to pour some wine. "I only come out here when I've finished my work," the Emperor said. "I would not get anything finished if I did otherwise."

"I can see why," Teal answered. "That hammock alone would be enough to distract me. I would fall asleep instantly if I lay on it."

"Yes, it's very comfortable and perfect for two people to share."

Teal stopped short at the comment. He didn't know if it was a fleeting statement or an actual suggestion. Either way, the gentle laugh that escaped the Emperor, informed Teal that the Emperor was well aware of what he had implied, and the fact that he was teasing Teal. "Relax, Teal," the Emperor told him. "We'll take things slow, hey?"

Teal managed a smile. He was relieved Jale chose that instant to accompany them. The Emperor kept to his word and moved the conversation in another direction.