Keeping the reports and documentation at hand, Basil dismissed Mr. Pellidor and turned back to the observation screens. OX had displayed text across the computerized writing desk, and on the wall he projected a facsimile of the actual document. “This, Prince Peter, is the Charter of the Terran Hanseatic League. You must familiarize yourself with every amendment and all provisos.”

“I already studied that in school,” Raymond said, uninterested.

“Yes, but you must know it in your heart, understand the words and the concepts, give it a prominent position in your thoughts. This document is the basis by which you will rule as King.”

“Will I be given a test?” Frowning, Raymond looked at the words on his screen.

“No, but you may need to use pertinent quotations from time to time.”

The young man stood up and impatiently walked around the training room, but he found nothing else to capture his interest. “I thought you said I would never go out in public without my speeches written for me.”

“True,” OX admitted. “All of your public comments will be carefully scripted.”

“Then you can ‘carefully script’ any quotations you want me to use.” Rudely, he switched off the screen. “I want to do something else.”

Watching the young man’s behavior, Basil frowned in frustration, then became resigned. He remembered the debacle of the previous candidate, Prince Adam. Five years ago, that young man had seemed perfect, passing every test. The Hansa executive council had unanimously chosen him, yet the ungrateful youth had soured during his instruction, even threatened to expose Basil and the underhanded activities of the Hansa—as if anybody cared! So very foolish.

Basil had led an emergency meeting of the Hansa council, and the members had determined, reluctantly, that Prince Adam could not be salvaged. At any time during his staged reign, his intransigence might come back to bite them. They could not afford that. So, Basil had seen to it that the young man was quietly eliminated. Prince Adam had never made a single public appearance or been mentioned in any news release.

He had never existed.

Now, as he watched OX’s unsuccessful attempts to get his new student to participate in the assignment, uncertainty ate into Basil’s resolve. If “Prince Peter” did not work out, the Hansa had no time to start all over again.

He finished his coffee and convinced himself not to be overly concerned, even as he watched Raymond Aguerra trying to get his way. Simple petulance could be monitored and handled. This had happened before, and Basil should have expected it. “I have to stop being such an optimist when it comes to human nature,” he said to himself.

The candidate Princes always believed they could hold out and become their own masters … but they never succeeded.

84: MARGARET COLICOS

84MARGARET COLICOS