AT THE SAME TIME
ZAVIER
It didn't take long, it never did. Michael stopped being 'the new guard' somewhere between his second sparring session and the third time someone important pretended not to look at him, because they were looking. Carefully,
constantly.
"I SEE EYES." Riko whispered.
"You are eyes." Ben replied.
"I AM OBSERVANT."Riko said.
"You are loud."Ben said.
"I OBSERVE LOUDLY."Riko said.
The courtyard felt normal which meant it wasn't. Guards training, servants passing, nobles walking just a little too slowly near the edge watching, not obvious, but not subtle either. Michael noticed it this time, you could tell the way his shoulders tightened, the way his movements sharpened. The way he didn't relax even between drills.
"He feels it." I said quietly.
"He should." Adam replied.
"It means he is paying attention."I said.
"It means he's becoming a target."Adam said.
"That too."I nodded.
"I ACCEPT TARGET STATUS." Riko nodded.
