Once they left, the musicians broke the silence. As up-tempo music filled the chamber, the crowd began to talk amongst themselves. Slowly, they filtered out, leaving Vaamick alone with a tune that just seemed to be making fun of his pain. He glared at the band, who got his message and shuffled off with their instruments. Truly alone, he sat at the edge of the dais and cried.
3 B.W.
Vaamick walked the halls of the temple grounds. He should have been sleeping, but that had been eluding him for much of the time since the wedding. Lorinth hadn’t been around since she and Jeef trotted out of the temple. Not only had the secret rendezvous at the shrine stopped, but she was also missing from services.
Was it better this way? Vaamick shook his head. He didn’t know which was worse. Her, completely gone from his life, or being around but just out of reach? He debated the question each night but was no closer to the answer than when he started all those months ago.
He stood before a statue of Bara, staring ahead with unseeing eyes. Vaamick was unaware of the passing of time until a page bumped into him. The boy dropped his communicator, on which he had been playing a game. Vaamick growled. The boy stuttered an apology as he scooped up his fallen device and left.
Along with the lack of sleep, Vaamick’s mood had gotten progressively worse since the royal wedding and most of the temple staff was afraid of him now. He looked around, watching as the temple was bustling with activity. He sighed. Another night passed without sleep.
Walking back to his office, he realized he still needed to write this afternoon’s sermon, but even that seemed beyond him. A knock on the door, pulled him out of his trance-like state.
“Enter,” he barked.
The same page from earlier opened the door. Trembling, he shuffled forward and closed the door behind him. He stuffed his hand in a pocket and pulled out a crumpled note.
“Th-this came for you, s-sir.” He held out the note and Vaamick snatched it from his hand. “It c-came from the royal p-palace.”
Vaamick’s eyes lit up. “Thank you. And, please, be more careful in the halls. There are a lot of priceless artifacts in the temple. You can go now.”
“Y-yes, sir.” The boy tripped over himself as he backed up to the door. Regaining his feet, he yanked the door open. Vaamick ignored him as he left.
He stared at the wrinkled paper as he tried to calm his nerves, shaking as he smoothed out the edges on his desk. A single fold kept him from the message. After several breathless minutes, he exhaled and opened the paper.
Dearest Vaamick,
After the wedding, I thought it would be best for us to separate. Some people were already beginning to suspect that I was doing more than praying at my frequent visits to the temple. If the truth came out, we would both be thrown to the surface.
So I’ve tried to stay away. But I cannot. I hate Jeef with every fiber of my being. I want you. I cannot come to the temple; he watches me too closely. But I could arrange to spend a spa day with Lig. If it were somewhere private enough and you happened to show instead of Lig, my idiot husband would never know.
Vaamick chuckled as he read her plan. It was audacious enough that it just might work. Now the question was whether Lig would agree.
“You want me to lie to the crown prince?” Lig asked. She sat on the carpet in her room playing with baby Lorinth.
“Shh,” Vaamick hissed. “She’s at the age where she will repeat anything.” He closed the door behind him. Some might consider it improper but anyone who would be in this wing would know better. And this was a conversation he didn’t want the wrong ears hearing. “And no, you don’t even need to talk to Jeef. Just send Lorinth a note inviting her to a girl’s day.”
“And you are just going to take my spot?” Lig asked. “What then? I’m just stuck in here?”
“No, no. Of course not,” Vaamick answered. “You are going to the spa. You are even going to spend time with Lorinth. Just that you just aren’t going to spend all of it with her.”
“What are we going to do with little Lorinth?” Lig affectionately patted her daughter on the head.
“Why don’t you set up a play date with one of the priestesses’ daughters here in the temple?”
“Say, that’s a good idea. I know Lorinth and Salaris like to play together. Let me ring Bima to see when she is available.” Lig got up and crossed the room. She snatched the communicator from her desk, tapped her ear lobe, and instructed the device to call the young priestess down the hall.
“Bima, how are you girl? You will never guess what just happened. Princess Lorinth just invited me to a spa day. Yeah, I know I haven’t heard from her in a while. I guess that she must have been busy breaking in the new Prince. Ha ha.” Seeing Vaamick frown, she turned away and continued her conversation. “Anyway, I wanted to see when you would be available to watch little Lorinth so Salaris and she could have a play date.” She listened to what the priestess was saying before she spoke again. “Okay. Let me check with the Princess, but I’m sure that next Fourth-day will be fine. All right, talk to you later…Yeah, yeah. Bara is good.”
Lig turned to Vaamick. “Will that work for you?”
Vaamick nodded. “Yes, that will be fine. Just make sure you don’t mention me when you contact Lorinth. We can’t be certain that Jeef won’t intercept her mail or try to listen in on her conversations.”
“Of course. Now leave. If I’m going to be seen in public with the princess, I need to start getting ready now!”
2 B.W.
Vaamick was working on paperwork when Lig opened the door to his office. “Lig, what have I told you…”
Lig’s face contorted. Tear tracks lined her face. Vaamick stood and hurried towards her. He put a hand on her shoulder and she collapsed into his arms. Her sobbing began anew. Vaamick held his now grown charge as she cried.
“Lig, what is wrong?” He asked as her heaving subsided.
“King Toorin is dead,” she choked.
“What?” Vaamick’s eyes widened. “That can’t be. Toorin was in excellent health. The doctors said he should live another Saturn-year.”
“He took ill suddenly and was gone in hours,” she sniffed. Vaamick handed her a tissue as he led her towards the overstuffed chair he kept in the corner.
“That sounds very suspicious to me.” Vaamick frowned. “I’ll send a letter of condolences. Jeef will have to let that through, it is an official state document. I suppose I won’t be invited to the funeral, but you will, and you will have my true letter for Lorinth. Meanwhile I’ll be making some inquiries to try to find out how he died. This doesn’t sit right to me.”
Vaamick wanted to collapse. Toorin dead. There was no way it was natural, despite what the hacks at the government house said. His limbs trembled with rage at the injury done to the woman he loved. Was Jeef really that eager to take the throne to have Toorin killed? He took a deep breath and willed his nerves to calm.
“Poor Lorinth. Now she is an orphan, like me.” Lig blinked as tears began to form in her eyes again.
Vaamick chuckled. “Lorinth is hardly a child. She’s married, even if it is to a royal jerk.” Lig snorted at the pun. Vaamick continued, “She isn’t an orphan, but how I wish she were a widow. And you shouldn’t consider yourself an orphan any more. You are an adult with your own child. Grow out of your past and embrace your future.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Lig said. “Still, I know how she is feeling. Do you think it would be too forward of me to just go over there?”
Vaamick shook his head. “Not at all, you are her best friend. She needs you right now. Go to her. Just give me a moment to write my own condolences for her.” Vaamick sat at his desk and pulled out a disposable tablet.
Dearest Lorinth,
I cannot imagine the pain you must be feeling, nor can words convey my condolences. Even though we will not be able to see each other during your mourning period, I will help you in any way that I can through Lig.
I am sure that you are a
sking yourself how this could have happened. Your father was too young to die the way that he did. I will have my people look into it. If foul play was truly involved, I will avenge his death for you.
Vaamick signed the note with a flourish and pressed his thumb to the screen to lock it. He stood from his desk and handed it to Lig. “Here, take this to Lorinth. I’ve locked the screen so prying eyes can’t see the message. If Jeef sees it, he will think it is your personal reading device.”
Lig reached out and took the tablet from Vaamick’s hand. As she did, he continued, “Now go. Lorinth needs somebody with her and I can’t go. Bara knows that Jeef won’t be a comfort to her.”
“We’ve stalled out on the investigation,” Kaarg said as he settled into one of the plush chairs in Vaamick’s office. “About the only thing I can tell you is that it wasn’t Jeef.”
Vaamick shot him a glare. He wanted to be upset at his employee’s familiarity with his office. But he found he just couldn’t be angry at such a small thing from someone who had worked for him for so long. He continued the glare for a moment more. He wasn’t angry about Kaarg helping himself to one of the chairs; he was upset about the message.
“I was certain that it would be him. Who else had as much to gain from Toorin’s death?”
“He just doesn’t have anyone that close to him to be trusted with such a task. Besides, I’m not sure that he’s smart enough to come up with a plan to make Toorin’s death look like natural causes.” Kaarg sighed. “Frankly, if I was looking at all of this from the outside, my guess would be that you killed him.”
“What?” Vaamick Vaamick’s eyes widened. “Why do you think that I am the prime suspect in my own investigation? How would I benefit from elevating my rival to the throne and making him the one mortal with any claim of authority over me?”
“Now that’s not what I’m saying.” Kaarg straightened in his chair. “If you revolted against Jeef, you stand a chance of overthrowing him. You would have never succeeded against Toorin. And a person could claim that you had a vendetta against the man who denied you your love.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Vaamick chuckled. “But that does give us an idea. What other suitors were vying for Lorinth’s attention? I know she only had an interest in me, but it is possible that the old man strung others along as well. Lorinth’s marriage was a political affair. If not with Biim, who else might it have been?”
Their conversation was interrupted by somebody banging on the door. “Let me in, you son of a bitch,” cried a muffled voice through the door. A thump and a muffled “oww” followed.
Vaamick snorted at the idea of somebody trying to burst through the foot slab. He looked at Kaarg and nodded towards the door. Kaarg stood slowly and took three steps to the door. He opened the door and was pushed back as it swung open, revealing Jeef and two guards.
“How dare you accuse me of killing Toorin?” Jeef shouted. “How dare you try to smear my name? I’m the King and I won’t have you making false accusations against me.”
Vaamick stood and shouted back, “You’ve been cleared. And why wouldn’t I suspect you. You don’t love Lorinth. All you wanted was that throne.”
“Don’t you dare tell me how I feel about my wife! You stay away from her.” He stepped towards Vaamick but Kaarg slid his bulk in between the two men. Jeef tried to push through but Kaarg restrained him.
The two guards reached for their stunners inside their belts. “Not so fast, gentlemen,” Vaamick warned. He held up a small box attached to a wire. His thumb hovered around a small red button. “Let’s not do anything hasty. If I press this button, the room will fill with a poison gas from which I alone have been inoculated against.”
The guards paused with their hands on their weapons but still holstered. They looked at each other. “Shoot him and this oaf,” Jeef ordered. “He’s bluffing. If he had the means to kill me so easily he wouldn’t hesitate.”
They started pulling out their weapons, but Vaamick responded. “That may be true, but it would kill my compatriot as well. I may not care about the two of you or your boss, but I hold Kaarg’s life in higher esteem. I wouldn’t kill him unless it were absolutely necessary.”
“Fine,” Jeef spat. “Let’s go.” He turned back towards Vaamick. “You stay away from my wife. I know she had a thing for you before we were married, but whatever you two had, it’s over. And I better not hear any more lies about Toorin’s death. I have my eye on you now, Vaamick. Whatever you’re up to, I’ll stop you.” He turned his back on Vaamick and walked out of the room. His guards followed closely behind, eager to put distance between them and the threat.
Kaarg gently closed the door behind them. “That’s some self-defense system, boss. Maybe I should get the antidote too, in case you get into some sort of pickle and do have to use the gas.”
Vaamick smiled. “What gas?”
1 B.W.
“What do you mean, you’re pregnant?” Vaamick shouted.
“Shh. People will hear you.” Lorinth jumped up to cover his mouth. He shook her off and started pacing.
“Does Jeef know? Is it his? Will he believe it’s his?” Vaamick shot off the questions in rapid fire without waiting for a response.
“Vaamick, will you stop doing that? You are making me nervous. Even more nervous than I am already.” She reached out to his arm and pulled at him to sit down. He resisted but she kept on tugging. He gave in and sat on the bench. “No, he doesn’t know yet. The baby isn’t his; it’s yours. Once I found out, I took measures to make it believable that he could be the father. I still feel dirty.” She looked down.
“I’ll kill him,” Vaamick said. “I’ll kill him and take my place by your side. Then we can raise our child together.”
“Don’t say that,” Lorinth answered. “I couldn’t love a murderer. Besides, it would cause a huge scandal.”
“But I can’t bear the thought of that man raising my child. Feeding him or her lies.”
"Well, you are going to have to," Lorinth snapped. "You aren't going to do anything to bring attention to yourself in relation to this baby. If we are lucky, Jeef won't find out and have you killed."
"I don't like it." He dropped his head in defeat.
"You don't have to like it, you just have to live with it. I don't like it either. But when we began our affair, we knew that there would be consequences. But I promise you that I will raise this child under Bara. And remember, while you may never sit on the throne like you wanted, your child will one day."
Vaamick sighed. "The child will never know, will they?"
"No," Lorinth responded. "Maybe one day, but they will grow up thinking that they are Jeef's. The risk is too great, otherwise."
"I suppose you are right. I still want to find a way to help you in this pregnancy. I don't want you to lack for any care."
"Vaamick, dear. I'm the queen of Bara. I have access to better doctors than you do."
“It just doesn’t sit well with me that you are going to have my child and I will have no part in it.”
Vaamick and Lorinth’s heads swiveled at the sound of someone gasping. Lig stood at the ajar door with her hand over her mouth.
“I’m sorry,” Lig blurted. “I just came to ask you when we should arrange the next spa day. I didn’t mean to overhear you.”
Vaamick stood so quickly the chair fell over. His face darkened. “What have I told you about opening my door without knocking,” he thundered.
“Don’t yell at me!” Lig shouted back. “You aren’t even supposed to be here. The king thinks Lorinth is here with me. So, don’t think that this is my fault. I didn’t knock up another man’s wife. I’m sure he’d love to hear that news.”
The color drained from Lorinth’s face. “You can’t tell him, sweetie. Jeef can never know. That would be a death sentence for Vaamick. Probably me as well. Jeef is very popular with the people, and could probably destroy the royal bloodline with the happy consent of the moon if this got out.”
; Lig ran towards Lorinth, giving Vaamick a cold stare as she passed him.
"Oh, Lorinth." She gave the older woman a hug. "I wouldn't do anything to hurt you. I just don't appreciate it when Vaamick treats me like a child. I'm a grown woman. I have a child of my own. All I'm asking for is a little respect; to be treated like an equal."
"I know, dear," Lorinth responded. "You just caught us at a bad time. Vaamick's only known about five minutes longer than you have. He's gotten a shock and isn't taking it very well." She looked at him and took a scolding tone with the last part.
Chastised, Vaamick edged closer to the two women. "Yes, I'm sorry, Lig. Lorinth is right. I'm not handling this very well. But that doesn't excuse me to take it out on my favorite sister."
Lig chuckled at the faux term of endearment. "Okay, you're forgiven. But considering you’re having clandestine encounters, I would think you would lock the door. What if I walked in on you two having sex? Eww." She scrunched her face at the thought, while Lorinth giggled and Vaamick let out a snort. "Anyway, what can I do to help?"
Lorinth shook her head. "There is nothing you can do. Only the three of us will ever know."
0 B.W.
“I’m retiring, Vaamick.” Kaarg shuffled from one foot to the other.
“What do you mean, you are retiring?” Vaamick asked. “You’re not that old. You have decades left.”
“I’m not retiring because I’m getting old. I’m retiring because I’m getting worn down by the job,” Kaarg responded. “I’ve done a lot of stuff that I’m not proud of. Jobs I’ve done for you. The regret keeps me up at night. I can’t do it anymore. I’ve got a family now. They need to be my priority.”
“I know we have been in some difficult situations. But you are one of the few that I can rely on,” Vaamick said. “You are my only confidant. The only one who knows all of my secrets. I told you things that I could never even tell Lorinth.”
The Fall of Saar (Once Upon a Saturn Moon Book 2) Page 3