Come with me

Alex climbed into the spacious back seat of the waiting limo, and B'lail followed behind, sitting next to him. Facing Alex was a monitor with the words "CALL HOLDING" flashing on the screen.

B'lail said, "Are you ready? Remember, no matter what he's upset about, just let him rant; he always calms down at the end of it. Just don't get defensive. OK?"

Alex noodled, and B'lail pushed a button on the screen. Alex found himself looking at Prince J'fazil.

"Good evening, Father," said Alex, grateful he studied the father/son customs, despite the assurance that he wouldn't have to be having a conversation with this man.

J'fazil wasted no time. "Care to attempt to explain THIS?" He held up a series of photographs. At first they appeared to be just poorly-photographed remembrances of some college party. As Alex looked closer, however, he recognized K'han in the center of about half a dozen young women, all of whom seemed to be having a very good time. As J'fazil moved through the photos inn sequence, Alex saw clothing being cast aside, at first by one or two people, but finally by everyone, until Alex could see K'han standing, buck naked, surrounded by several similarly-nude girls.

The next few photos were predictable, as K'han seemed to take it upon himself to personally attend to as many of the young women as possible. Alex was amazed and impressed that his doppleganger had the sexual reputation and stamina that he had seen, but began to realize the nature of the Prince's call.

"K'han, when are you going to realize how risky your behavior is -- not just for yourself, but for the reputation of the whole kingdom? I understand being a young man and wanting to take advantage of the freedom of youth, but one little bitch with a camera in her mobile phone, and suddenly the whole world can see you waving your royal scepter at every whore you meet."

J'fazil turned his attention to B'lail and continued, coldly. "I wondered, at first, how this could happen with your faithful B'lail at your side. He is supposed to protect you from things like this. I wondered if you had left him behind... Or perhaps he was being negligent and bringing disgrace on the generations of his family that have faithfully served the royal line..."

Alex felt B'lail tensing beside him and heard him drawing in a breath.

"Then I realized I was being too hasty," continued J'fazil in a syrupy voice. "My son's loyal servant was, indeed, diligently searching everyone who was within reach of my son. At least, that what I am assuming you are doing here..."

J'fazil held up another picture. This one clearly showed B'lail, naked. Alex could see B'lail's backside, with two legs wrapped around it as he apparently was drilling a girl who was facing him, sitting on a bar. On either side of them were two nude women seated on barstools. B'lail had a hand between the legs of each of them, and the women had looks of drunken ecstasy on their faces.

"Tell me, B'lail... Did you, in your thorough search of these women, find the camera that captured all of these pictures? Do either of you have any idea how much this has cost me to keep these from being printed in every sleazy tabloid around the world? I was supposed to be inspecting a new shipment that was to come in today. Instead, I have spent the day buying off newspaper editors and tracking down the conniving little slut who took the pictures in the first place!"

J'fazil's face was fairly purple with rage, and Alex feared he was going to have a stroke.

"It wasn't that long ago, B'lail, that servants to the royal family were castrated to make sure they didn't violate the sanctity of the royal harem. I'm beginning to wonder if we shouldn't bring back an old, cherished custom, so you stop thinking with your dick and actually try to keep my son from situations like this!"

B'lail and Alex both cringed and involuntarily crossed their legs at the mention of the word "castrate."

"Of course," continued J'fazil, "in those days, it was assumed that the primary threat against the royal harem came from the servants. Who knew that we might need to consider castrating one of the royal princes, as well."

Alex gulped and felt a trickle of sweat run down his back.

J'fazil took a deep breath and tried to calm down. "Look, I understand that you have hormones. I was your age once, too. But K'han... You are nearly nineteen. It is time to think about settling down. Why, when I was your age, I already had three wives and twelve children. Real, legitimate heirs, mind you ... Not a brood of illegitimate bastards like you keep siring! How many is it now?"

Alex opened his mouth, but said nothing. This part hadn't been in the files he had studied. Fortunately B'lail answered for him. "Seven, Your Highness. That actress in Los Angeles ended up not really being pregnant."

"I have fathered seven kids?" Alex asked himself, incredulously. "No... Not me. It's that horndog, K'han. I can't even keep a goldfish alive!"

"Seven bastard children!" exclaimed J'fazil. "And each one costing me a monthly allowance! K'han, you need to stop this childishness and grow up!"

J'fazil turned his attention to a man who came up to his side and showed him a paper. While this was happening, B'lail whispered, "That's seven that we know of... I still think your high school principal's son looks a lot like you did when you were four."

Returning his attention to the call, J'fazil said, "I want you to come home at once. This nonsense has cost me a whole day, and I need to fly to Seoul for a conference. I want you to come and oversee this shipment."

"Yes, Father," replied Alex, grateful for how little he had been required to speak during this exchange. "You can count on me."

J'fazil growled, "I can count on you to deflower all of the virgins and cut their value in half. Keep your pants on. B'lail, keep your pants on. If there are any further problems, I'll do the castrations with my ceremonial sword, myself!"

The screen went blank, and both boys let out a sigh of relief.

"Well, that wasn't as bad as it could have been," remarked B'lail. "Still, K'han, your father has a point. At the very least, you should wear a condom. I know you don't like them, but it's not just the little K'hans that are running all over the place ... And he's right about that party. I wonder which one it was who was taking pictures. I'm just glad those are the only pictures your father saw. Can you imagine what he'd be saying if he knew everything that went on at that party?"

Alex tried to imagine what B'lail could be talking about and was so focused on the conversation with J'fazil that he didn't even notice the limo had been in motion from the time he entered. It was only as he saw the lights of the entrance to the airport that he realized they were no longer in the hotel parking lot. B'lail seems surprised, too, and looks at his watch. "That was fast. We will be home before sunrise." Grinning at you he says, "See what happens when you don't go back for seconds after a concert, K'han?"

Alex noted how B'lail switched so easily from being a formal, submissive servant in public, but immediately reverted to first name and best friend status when it was just the two of them. Alex thought it must be strange to grow up in a culture with such relationships. Then again, given what he had seen so far about the life of Prince K'han, he doubted if anything would surprise him anymore.

The limo pulled up in front of a luxury jet emblazoned with the flag of Bularia. B'lail opened the limo door for Alex and followed him up the stairway to the jet.

Alex looked around at the luxurious interior. Gone were the standard, cramped passenger seats. In their place were sofas, armchairs, dining tables, and a bar. B'lail noticed him looking around and said, "They got it cleaned up pretty well from the flight over. That was quite a party, and I wondered if the carpet would have to be replaced. Oh... The door to your bedroom couldn't be repaired here in London, so for now, it just has a curtain."

Alex looked in the direction B'lail was pointing and saw a curtain partially pulled back, revealing a small but comfortable bedroom.

"I could get to enjoy this," thought Alex.

B'lail asks, "Do you want to rest now, or are you ready for dinner?"