Deathstalker 07 - Deathstalker Return

just to see you.
    Have you no welcome for your new King?"
    Stuart let go of the door, and shuffled back into his apartment. Finn pushed the door open, stepped inside, and then carefully closed the door behind him. He looked unhurriedly about him, not letting his opinion show in his face. The room was a mess. Everything was just scattered around, as though Stuart had taken to dropping things where he felt like, and couldn't be bothered to pick them up. There was a close, fusty atmosphere, and the shades were drawn over the windows. Finn peered into the gloom, letting his eyes adjust. Stuart was sitting slumped in an oversized armchair, not looking at Finn. It was very quiet in the dark room. Finn pulled up a chair and sat down facing Stuart.
    "Tell me who your cleaning service is, and I'll have them shot," Finn said cheerfully. "Joke, Stuart. You know, you're looking…"
    "I know what I look like," said Stuart. His voice was quiet, flat, almost uninvolved. "I haven't been sleeping. Haven't been eating, either. Can't keep anything down, not after…" Stu…
    "You let them do that to me! They killed a man in front of me, and then made me eat his… and you didn't even punish them!"
    "They could still be useful to me," said Finn. "Once the fuss over Virimonde has died down, and it will…
    I know I can count on their loyalty. What about your loyalty, Stu?"
    Stuart smiled slowly. It wasn't a pleasant sight, and neither was the look that came into his dark, sunken eyes. "That's why you're here, isn't it, Finn? Not because you're concerned about me. I only matter when it affects you. Bastard."
    Finn sighed. "You were such a pretty boy once, Stuart. And now look what you've done to yourself.
    Why didn't you come to my Coronation? It was my big day. I wanted you there. I did send you an invitation."
    "Oh come on now, Finn. Someone like me doesn't belong in your new austere life. Your new Kingly image. I know too much about the real you. I've had a lot of time to think, sitting here in the dark.
    Waiting for you to come and see me. I don't like the man you made me into. I gave up honor and responsibility and self-respect, all for your love. Only to discover you don't know the meaning of the word. Look at what's become of me, Finn. All for you."
    "I never asked you to do this to yourself," said Finn. "If I'd known you were prone to hysteria and overreaction…"
    "Get out of here, Finn. I still have some pride left. I won't be your puppy dog anymore."
    "You'll be whatever I want you to be," said Finn, and then stopped, because Stuart was laughing soundlessly at him.
    "Or what, Finn? You'll make me eat human flesh again? You'll kill me and put me out of my misery?
    There's nothing left you can threaten me with."
    "Oh, I'm sure I could find something, Stuart. If I put my mind to it. I have a job for you, Stuart Lennox, and I am your King. You took an oath when you became a Paragon: to be faithful unto death to the throne of Logres. Are you an oath breaker now?"
    Stuart sat very still in his chair, his face unreadable. "What do you want of me… Your Majesty?"
    "The other Paragons are trapped in the Sangreal bar. It seems they cant take a step outside without being stoned, or even openly attacked. And I can't let them defend themselves, because then we'll have even more bodies on our hands. I need them to stay put and keep their heads down, until I can take steps to repair their reputations. But, just like you, it seems they're too preoccupied with their own problems to answer the comm. So I want you to take my message to them. They know you speak for me…"
    And he stopped again, because Stuart had lurched up out of his chair, and was standing swaying before Finn.
    "You bastard! I can't believe you'd ask that of me!"
    "Someone has to do it. And I'm not asking you, Stuart. I am your King, and I'm giving you an order."
    "Take your order and shove it, Your Majesty. Now get the hell out of my home. I can't stand to look at you anymore."
    Finn rose unhurriedly to his feet. "Ah, Stu; and we were so close, once. I really am sorry about what happened. But I have to see the bigger picture."
    "There is no bigger picture, Finn. There's only people, and how you treat them. Just… go. And if you ever really felt anything for me, don't come back."
    Finn left the apartment. He stood outside the closed door for a while, remembering, and considering.
    And then he nodded to the small group of armed guards he'd left waiting outside Stuart's