Cabel, one of my elite guards who was recently married, moves in our direction. "King," he says when he draws closer. His eyes remain down while his wife stops about ten feet behind him and stays there.

"How's married life, Cabel?" I don't look directly at his wife, just keep her in my peripheral vision. The last thing I want to do is kill Cabel if he attacks due to his recent mating. He's my size, but I have no doubt of the outcome if we battled and he wouldn't be walking ...