Crown Phoenix: Night Watchman Express

by Alison DeLuca

Chapter 17

  More Plans

  lthough Kyoge and his men searched the Palace, there was no sign of Atol. It was as if the king had simply melted into thin air. The tall guard came back into the ballroom, which had been cleared of all guests. There Weko and his family perched on the steps before the throne, still in their dark robes.

  Mana sat on a simple, straight-backed chair to one side of the dais, writing something. She looked up as Kyoge strode into the room and remarked, “I see that you have had no luck with your search.”

  “Why are you sitting there?” Kyoge demanded, coming up close to her. “As Queen of Lampala, you should be on the throne.”

  “I am the queen in name only until I can bring the Glorious Corona back to the islands,” Mana said.

  Kyoge raised one finger as if he were about to admonish her, when he was interrupted by Riki and Neil, who ran into the huge room. “News!” Riki puffed, collapsing onto a step near Mana. “Gosh, this place is big. Machi has escaped!”

  “What!” Kyoge picked up his spear and shouted, “Fobeta! Reni! Somebody explain this to me this instant!”

  “I wish you would calm down a bit, Captain Kyoge,” Mana said. “Obviously, Atol worked things out so he could make his escape in just such an instance as this. He must have been afraid that he would eventually be deposed.”

  “And he left with a large amount of money,” Neil said, sitting beside Riki and propping one elbow on her knee. “The Palace clerks are checking the accounts now.”

  Kyoge opened his mouth, but Mana stood and put one hand on his chest. “That was only to be expected, Captain,” she said. “Don’t worry about these details now. We must decide on a plan of action as quickly as possible.” She looked around as her voice echoed in the huge room and added, “This isn’t the most comfortable room to work in. Is there somewhere we can sit and talk, and work something out?”

  “The state room?” Kyoge suggested.

  “Oh, no, not that drafty, dreary hall,” Mana said. “I remember my father complaining about it when I was a child. How about the library? It does still exist, doesn’t it?”

  Kyoge bowed. “Follow me, my Queen.”

  Mana rose. “I wish you would simply call me Miss Postulate, or even Mana,” she said, beckoning to Weko and the family to follow her. Taking Kyoge’s proffered arm, she swept out of the ballroom with everyone in tow.

  “Heh heh,” Riki cackled, and she nudged Neil with one elbow. “I think he likes her.”

  Neil curled his lip. “Grow up, can’t you? They are simply being noble and brave. I hope he’s going to help us save Miriam and Simon. Gosh, just imagine what Mrs. Marchpane would say, face to face with Kyoge!” The mental picture, thus outlined, came to mind, and he began to snort.

  “Yes!” Riki cried, her enthusiasm firing. “Yah! Take that!” Stabbing the air with an imaginary weapon, she ran after Mana and the tall guard.

  The library was a large room lined with windows on the wall that overlooked the lagoon. Books covered the other three walls, and a table was dragged into the center and surrounded with a motley collection of chairs.

  “Perhaps the children should go to another room while we make plans,” Kyoge suggested.

  Riki’s mouth immediately opened in protest, but Mana cut her off by saying, “I think it would be best if they stayed. After all, I wouldn’t be here at all if it weren’t for them.”

  Neil and Riki sat down, a little way from the main table, and she nudged him again. “Think we’ll go to war?” she asked. She was wearing a huge grin.

  “Must you keep poking me?” he complained. “Your elbows feel like they’re made out of iron.”

  “Oh, sorry – but do you think so? Wonder if they’ll let me lead a battalion? I’ve always thought I’d be good as a general. What do you think?”

  “I highly doubt that Lampala will attack the mainland, so the answer is No,” Neil responded.

  “Stop chattering, both of you,” Weko said, frowning at them. “Now, Mana, where do we begin?”

  “Queen Manapalata, you mean,” Kyoge said.

  “See, Papi; I always have to remind you,” Riki countered with spirit.

  “Let’s dispense with all that at present,” Mana said. “I was thinking that we must go back to the mainland with as much resources at our disposal that we can spare, and with some people that we can trust. It should be simple enough, now that the passage is open.”

  “Not too many, though,” Kyoge said. Sitting opposite, he stared intently at her. “I find that a small group in delicate situations is better than a large army. Smaller numbers are better for reconnoitering as well as gathering intelligence.”

  Mana nodded in agreement. “Just what I was thinking. Well, who better than the group in this room?”

  “But not you, Queen,” Kyoge replied. “You are needed here in order to get things organized.”

  “I’m going,” Mana responded, holding his stare. “I’m going to ask Weko and Chichilia to run the government while I am gone.”

  “Ipa! How about you, Papi? Ruler of Lampala!” Riki crowed. “Wouldn’t you love to see Mandayala’s face when she hears?”

  “Mana, it’s very kind of you, but we can’t accept such a responsibility,” Weko replied.

   “We have an extremely important job to do – one that impacts a country, a company and several families. We will not get that job done if we allow false modesty and good manners to sway our judgment. Weko, you are the very man for the task – you have a high position with the company, everyone knows that you are a hard worker, and you are well-trusted on both islands.” Mana nodded with determination.

  Weko sat back, but he couldn’t help looking pleased.

  Riki began to bounce on the seat. “And what of the expedition?” she asked.

  “I’m going with you,” Kyoge announced.

  Mana, however, merely nodded and said, “It will be a relief to have you near, Captain Kyoge, and with whatever men you feel you can trust.” Kyoge crossed his arms and also sat back. “Now, Neil, I know that it’s time for you to return to your family. However,” she continued, holding up one finger to cut off his protests, “I also think I’ll need your help for a while longer. You’ll have to come with me as well.”

  Riki nudged him again, but Neil felt too pleased to mind. At last – he could now look for his friends, and with adult help. As much as he had wanted to act on his own, it had been a lonely proposition most of the time, except for–

  “When do we leave?” Riki asked.

  Weko stood and pointed at her. “Oh, no,” he said. “Absolutely not. Your time of spies and plans with Neil is over, daughter. You have been a big help, and you have done a wonderful job, but now it’s time for you to return to household duties.”

  “Papi!” Riki said. He looked at her, and she said, “Look, Papi, I’m not going to scream, or whine, or cry. I don’t behave like that anymore. But I must stay with Neil and help him.”

  “Neil agrees with me,” Weko replied, shooting Neil a straight look from under his heavy brows. “Don’t you, Neil?”

  Neil, feeling like someone who has to order a friend to either cut off a finger or to drink poison, nodded slowly and turned to face Riki. “Your dad’s right, Riki,” he said. “It’s going to be very dangerous. And I promise I’ll come back soon – Riki, wait!”

  She had gotten up and backed away as he spoke. “I’m not afraid of danger. And you’re not as effective without me, nor am I any good without you. That’s just the way it is.”

  “Riki – I’ll be back! As soon as I can!” Neil repeated. It was too late. Riki, her head held high, left the room and closed the door behind her.

  “Oh dear,” Chichilia said. “Still, she did seem much more mature, didn’t she? The old Riki would have screamed and thrown a tantrum.”

  “She has improved greatly,” Weko said. “That is due to you, Neil. And thank you for protecting her from danger as you did just now; I know it must have been difficult.” He stood
up and offered a large hand to Neil, who, after an instant’s hesitation, took it.

  “Yes, Neil. I and Kakujife thank you as well,” Jirili said.

  Neil cleared his throat and asked, “What are we going to do on the mainland, Mana?”

  She reached for the little book she had been writing in earlier. “I think we’ll rent a house in the City in order to have a base of operations. We can start to discover what we can. But the first order of business is to reassure your parents that you are still alive.”

  Neil nodded, dropping his eyes. Base of operations! Order of business! Riki would have loved all of this.

  Mana got up and put one hand under his chin, tilting it up so his eyes met hers. “She’ll see you again soon,” she said, “and you can make her understand.”

  “All right,” Neil said. He tried to smile back at her, but found that he couldn’t.

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