A sweetheart

“You need to know that Mary is one of the quickest learners I have known” his mother added.

“I’m really not that good” Mary objected.

“Yes, you are my dear, don’t deny it. I have heard you speak Salamis. Your pronunciation is spotless after hearing it spoken two or three times.”

At the praise a blush kept up Mary’s face, and Tenac couldn’t help but smile. She wasn’t at all what he had expected.

There was a knock on the door.

“Sir Teeran to see you my Lady” the guard announced.

“Let him in” his mother said and Tenac stood up. Despite knowing Kopa his whole life and seeing him as a grumpy uncle. Kopa was his superior and he demanded respect without asking for it.

As Kopa entered Tenac saluted him and Kopa responded quickly and then he turned to Mary and Tenac couldn’t believe his eyes when the grumpy man cracked the biggest smile.

“Are you ready to go Mary?” Copa asked.

“One moment please Kopa, I have something to tell you” his mother said and Tenac saw Kopa focus on her. His smile had faded, and he had his usually stern look.

“I have given it some consideration and I think Mary would benefit from having someone to show her around the city, someone her own age. I have asked Tenac to help her” his mother said and Tenac saw Kopa turn towards him.

The look Kopa gave him was something Tenac had never seen before. He had always had respect for Kopa, but under the look he was getting, he was actually afraid of him for the first time.

“Do you expect me to let Mary go out alone with a man, an unwed man?” Kopa said quietly and Tenac saw his mother smile.

Tenac wanted to tell his mother that this wasn’t the time to smile. Not while Kopa looked like he wanted to squeeze the life out of Tenac. Tenac saw himself as brave and had faced more than one dangerous situation without panicking. But he was close to panic at this moment.

“Kopa, it’s Tenac. You have known him his whole life, you have trained him, and you know he’s a good man. Mary will be safe with him.”

Kopa just continued to glare at Tenac.

“Kopa, it’s all right. If Tariana says we can trust him, then we can trust him. You know she would never put me in a situation that I couldn’t handle” Mary said and Tenac saw Kopa finely averting his gaze from Tenac to look at Mary.

Kopa didn’t look happy, but he nodded and then took two steps toward Tenac, bringing him almost nose to nose with him.

“That’s my daughter, I like you Tenac, but that’s my daughter. If anything happens, if she gets a bruise or if she cries for any reason, I will kill you. You know I can, and you know it doesn’t have to be quick or painless” Kopa almost whispered to Tenac, that could only nod.

“Anything else?” Kopa then said to Teac’s mother in a normal tone.

“No, I think Mary can fill you in on the rest. It was such a treat to see you again Mary, we have to have dinner soon” his mother said, sounding positively cheerful.

“It was lovely, thank you for all the information and for getting me some help” Mary sounded sweet and Tenac wanted to look at her, but he restrained himself. With Kopa in the same room, his eyes were safer looking at his mother.

“Come on little one, Bettina will have dinner ready” Kopa said holding out a hand.

Mary stood up, went over to Tenac’s mother, and gave her a quick hug before giving Tenac a nod and then walking up to Kopa. Kopa placed his had at her back, both as a protective measurement but also to guide her.

The room was quiet for a while until his mother gestured for him to sit. Tenac moved back the chair he had brought to the table and sat down in the chair Mary had been in.

“Did he say Mary was his daughter?” Tenac wondered.

“Ah yes, I think I forgot to mention that. He and Bettina has applied to adopt Mary. It’s mostly a way to make Mary to feel secure that she is permanent a part of their family”

“I didn’t believe you when you told me about the connection Kopa has with Mary. But after this, you made me a believer.” he said, still in chock over what he had experienced. His mother just laughed.

“You need to understand that Mary is fragile at the moment, she is the strongest woman I think I have ever meet. But she has had a tough life, especially the last years. And she doesn’t have a lot of confidence in herself, she has a hard time trusting people, especially men I would think.” his mother explained.

“My mission for you is to make sure that she gains some of her confident back and to teach her that people can be nice” she continued.

“I don’t even know how to do that” Tenac objected. His mother waved her hand.

“It will come on its own as she learns more and more how to live here. I see the brave girl I first got to know peeking through now and again. She just needs a push or two.”

“And I’m suppose to do that without Kopa killing me?” Tenac whined.

“Leave Kopa to Bettina, Mary and me. He feels like he failed to protect her once and he is determined to keep her safe from now on.” his mother brushed his concern off. “What did you think of her?”

“Of Mary? She was… sweet” he said.

“Yes, she is a sweetheart” his mother said with a smirk looking at him.

Tenac knew that look in his mother eyes. It meant she had made a plan that was so complicated and involved so many steps that no one but her could see the end goal. He had a sneaking suspicion that he was playing a part in her plan. It would drive him nuts trying to figure out what she was planning.

His mother filled her teacup with more tea. Tenac’s mind wondered back to Mary. She really was beautiful, her green eyes seemed to pierce his soul. But at the same time, she didn’t have the personality of someone as beautiful as she was. In his experience, most beautiful woman was entitled and expected the world to always be at their feet.

But Mary had been sweet, almost shy. There would be no flirting, and definitely no kisses stolen during their lessons. Not after the way Kopa had looked at him. Tenac groaned inwardly when he realised that he would need to keep other men at bay as well. This was going to be tough, if not impossible. His wondered if Kopa would teach him his death stare.