“Are you going to finish that?” asked Sheridan, pointing at Aya’s bowl of broth.
“Go right ahead,” said Aya.
Sheridan’s body trembled as he took the broth and downed it in one gulp. He licked his lips.
“So, why were you looking for me?” asked Falcon impatiently.
Sheridan licked the broth that had spilled on his fingers. “Oh, yes. Don’t go to our old dorm room we used to share on the student wing. We’re full-fledged Rohads now. We have been assigned our very own mercenary rooms.”
“That’s fine, I suppose,” said Falcon, failing to see Sheridan’s enthusiasm.
Sheridan clutched his chest. “It’s more than just fine. They have a cold box filled with any food you could think of. And if there’s something missing, all you do is have Fletcher - that’s the cook lady - bring it up to you. She doesn’t like me much because I keep on putting in special orders at midnight. But I can’t help it when I get hungry, can I?”
“You should learn to control your appetite,” said Aya. “On missions you don’t get prepared meals when it pleases you.”
“Ahhh, Nakatomi. So professional, as always. You have to stuff your mouth with what you have while you can.” He suddenly stopped talking and took off toward a student who was about to dump their tray of food in the trash bin. “Don’t waste that!” He picked up an untouched grilled drumstick and stuffed it in his mouth.
“Should we pretend we don’t know him?” Falcon asked. He jumped as Faith took a seat in front of him.
“There you are,” said Faith. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“I’m sorry, Faith,” said Falcon. “I got sort of sidetracked.”
She smiled. “No worries. Besides, I met some nice people.”
“Nice people in Ladria?” said Falcon. “That doesn’t sound like the Ladria I know.”
“Perhaps not for you, Hyatt,” said Sheridan. He took a seat beside Faith as he spat out a bare bone from his mouth. “You look like you climbed atop the biggest ugly tree in Va’siel and fell from it, and on the way down you hit every branch on the tree, quite hard I might add. But us good-looking folk have no problem making friends. I’m not saying is fair, but it is what it is.”
“Real funny,” said Aya. “Anyway, who did you meet, Faith?”
“Some guy inside the maze. He seemed really shy, but he was nice. He even asked me to the dance tonight.”
“Really?” said Aya, sounding much more interested than Falcon expected of her.
“I didn’t really want to go, but I felt bad for him. So I said yes.”
Falcon felt a jumble of emotions coursing through him. He wasn’t sure if he should be angry, happy, confused, or sad.
“Maybe you know him,” said Faith. “His name is Laars Masters.”
Everyone’s mouths fell open.
“What?” asked Faith. “Did I say something wrong?”
CHAPTER 8
“So let me get this straight,” said Falcon, as he walked into his new dorm. Faith, Aya, and Sheridan were with him. “Laars guided you through the maze and then came to rescue you from a guy called Delita?”
“Yes,” said Faith. “Though I wouldn’t really call it a rescue. Delita was simply a bit too friendly. Laars asked him to leave me alone.”
Falcon frowned. “And after all this, he asked you to the dance?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Falcon took a seat on the large bed.
“What did I tell you, Hyatt?” said Sheridan. He opened the icebox that rested on a counter and took out a tray of milk cream. “I told you the dorms were spacious.”
Being a full-fledged Rohad certainly came with its perks. There was an oversized bed, a bell to ring for food service, a chandelier with over a dozen candles, an icebox with plenty of food, silk curtains that adorned the two crystal windows, and an extensive library of books ranging from battle tactics to wielding history.
Falcon absentmindedly gazed around the room. It was rather impressive, and at any other time he might have been admiring his new accommodations. But at the moment he still couldn’t wrap his head around what Faith had told him.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Aya. “Why would Laars invite Faith to a dance? What does he have to gain from it?”
“He must be up to something,” said Falcon. “It’s the only explanation.”
“Why would he have to be up to something?” Faith asked as she admired a flower drawing that hung on the wall.
“Because that’s who he is,” said Sheridan. “He has always enjoyed tormenting Hyatt. I’m sure Masters knew that asking Hemstath to the dance would make Hyatt jealous.”
From the reflection in the small mirror, Falcon saw his face turn beet red. “I’m not jealous. I’m simply aware of how cruel Laars can be. I don’t want him to hurt Faith. It’s better if she doesn’t go with him.”
“Isn’t that her decision?” said Aya. “She is the one who got invited, after all.”
“Excuse me?” asked Falcon. “You know how Laars can be.”
“I know how he is. That still doesn’t change the fact that this is Faith’s decision to make.”
Falcon’s jaw dropped. How could she possibly entertain the idea of Faith going to the dance with that pompous brat?
“Aya’s right,” said Faith.
Falcon’s jaw dropped even more.
Faith continued. “I don’t know what sort of history you have with him, Falcon. But I gave my word that I would accompany him to the dance. I always keep my word.”
Falcon clenched his teeth. He knew Aya was right. He had no right to tell Faith who she could or could not go to the dance with. Nonetheless, he couldn’t help the uneasy feeling he got when he pictured Laars and Faith together at a dance.
That’s it. The dance!
The idea came to him like a sudden ray of light. There was a way for him to get close to the emperor after all.
Falcon got up and rushed to the door. The dance was tonight. He had to hurry if he was going to make it on time.
“Where are you going?” called Aya after him.
“To meet an old friend,” said Falcon, rushing out into the hallway.
He ran out the Rohad gates, through the buzzing flea market, past the pubs, and over the water bridges. He reached the city gates. The Rohad mission chart hung on the pie shop walls. He caught a whiff of baked apple as he read the names on the chart. Soon enough, he found the person he was looking for. According to the list, she was due to be back in less than an hour.
“How convenient,” he whispered to himself as he took a seat on the stone bench.
Moments later he saw her. Her wavy, chestnut-colored hair danced up and down. She wore a tight-fitting blue polyester suit. Falcon had never seen her wearing anything that wasn’t blue. He suspected it had something to do with her element.
She walked alongside two other girls. Her companions wore red Rohad uniforms, which meant they were fifth-year students.
“Hey,” cried Hiromy as she laid eyes on him. She dropped a wheat roll she had been eating and ran toward him. Falcon was used to Hiromy’s bursts of energy. But even he was caught off guard when she jumped on him and gave him a hug.
“Good to see you, too,” said Falcon.
She took a step back. “Sorry.” She ran her hands through her hair. “I shouldn’t get too excited. Daddy would kill me if he saw me. I'm simply so glad to see you. I thought something had happened to you since you didn’t return when you were scheduled to.”
“I got a little preoccupied,” said Falcon. “So, where are you coming from?”
“I just finished my first mission as a Rohad,” said Hiromy with pride in her voice. “I had to retrieve a stolen artifact from Wadsworth Village.” She motioned at her clothing. “This suit actually came in handy. It makes you quite nimble when you have to sneak past guards.”
“Really?” said Falcon, surprised. “I didn’t think your father would let you take on such a dange
rous mission.”
“He didn’t. As far as he knows, I was out on a mission getting some diplomatic scrolls signed. Can you imagine me sitting at another one of those boring political dinners?” She stuck out her tongue in disgust. “Yuck.”
Falcon had never given it much thought, but now that he focused on it, he supposed the life of the emperor’s daughter could be hard, too. The fact that her father was extremely protective of her probably made everything much worse.
“So what are you doing here?” asked Hiromy. “Waiting for your friend, Aya?” She said Aya’s name as if it was some type of deadly infection that should never be mentioned.
“I was actually waiting for you.”
Her eyes lit up. “Me, really?”
“I don’t know if you heard. Well of course you heard. It’s happening in your home. I barely heard about it myself. It’s no big deal. But maybe you could, or would want to…” He took a breath, surprised at how hard this was turning out to be. It was just a way to get close to the emperor, after all.
Hiromy smiled. “Relax, Falcon.”
He gripped his shirt with a tight grip. It seemed to release some of the stress. “I’m sure it’s a long shot. But would you consider going to the dance with me tonight?”
Hiromy looked back at her two friends, and back at Falcon. A wide grin spread across her face. “Yes! Of course.”
“But I thought you said you didn’t want to go,” blurted out one of Hiromy’s companions. “Something about your dad bugging you about attending events that you didn’t want to go to.”
Hiromy shot a look of disapproval at her outspoken friend, who quickly closed her lips.
“If you can’t go, I understand,” said Falcon.
“No. Miriem doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I want to go. I’ll see you at my dad’s palace tonight, yes?” Hiromy grabbed her friends by the hands and pulled them away. They were no doubt headed to the palace.
“Yes. See you there.”
Once Hiromy had walked out of view, he pumped his fist. He’d done it. He had found a way to get close to the emperor.
~~~
Falcon walked into the dance with Aya on one hand and Faith on the other.
Aya wore a glimmering blue dress. Faith, on the other hand, had donned a pink-and-brown dress. A flower rested over her right ear.
Falcon wore a simple blue suit with a white shirt underneath.
A giant chandelier with hundreds of candles hung from the domed ceiling. On the left side of the room, the Ladria orchestra played soothing classical music.
“There’s Laars over there,” said Faith, pointing at the bushy-haired student standing by the food table. “I’ll see you two later tonight.”
Falcon tried to suppress the anger in his voice. “Just be careful, Faith.”
Faith smiled. “Don’t worry. I will.”
“Stay focused,” said Aya. “Remember what we’re here for? We have to let Emperor Romus know what the Suteckh are plotting.”
“We? You mean me. You won’t make it anywhere close to the royal table, not without your parents.”
“I know. But better to be here doing something than back at the dorms doing nothing. At least I’ll get to dance with someone. You know how I love to dance.”
“Oh, yes. I know.” Throughout his years at Rohad, Falcon had attended more than one dance with Aya. The day after every dance, he would wake with blisters on his feet. They were some of the most painful memories he had at Rohad, but strangely some of the fondest as well.
“Good luck,” said Aya. “Tell me how it goes.”
“I will.” Falcon scanned the large palace hall for Hiromy. She was going to be hard to find in such a packed room. There were long tables along the right side of the wall filled with food. Everything from local foods like Bermuda steaks, grove juice, pichion meat, and dried berries to imported honey-dipped almonds, red bean buns, seaweed fish, and sweetened white meat.
A soft tap landed in his shoulder. He turned and found himself face-to-face with Hiromy. She wore a luxurious white-and-blue dress. Her hair was fixed in two hooped ponytails.
“You’ve been here long?” she asked.
“No, not really.” He handed her a blue rose.
“Oh it’s beautiful.” She grabbed his hand. “Follow me. I want you to meet Dad.”
Talking to the emperor might be easier than I thought.
But when Falcon got to the royal table, he quickly saw how wrong he was. Emperor Romus sat at the end of a long table. He was a short man with an untamed mustache. The table was filled with nobles, army commanders, and generals.
The emperor pulled out the empty chair on his right side. “Go ahead, my beautiful daughter.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” said Hiromy, taking a seat. She looked at Falcon. “You can sit in front of me.”
Falcon looked at the chair Hiromy pointed at. How does she expect me to sit there? There was a nobleman sitting on it.
The man held his nose up to the air. Falcon didn’t know who he was, but the fact that he sat on the emperor’s left side was a clear testament to his royal status.
Falcon stood behind Hiromy. “There’s someone there.”
“It doesn’t matter,” responded Hiromy, matter-of-factly. “Nobleman Loss was just leaving.”
Nobleman Loss’s eyes darted about the table. “I assure you, young miss, that I had no intention of leaving.”
Hiromy turned to the emperor. “Dad, wasn’t Mr. Loss leaving?”
The entire table went quiet.
“Nobleman Loss,” said Emperor Romus, pulling at his mustache. “Weren’t you just saying you were about to step out for some fresh air?”
Nobleman Loss’s shade of color changed a few pigments. “Oh, yes. I get an awful headache when I don’t get some fresh air at nights. It would do me much good to step outside for a moment.” He turned to Falcon. “Go ahead, you can sit here while I’m gone, Mister… I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
“Falcon Hyatt.”
A loud gasp made its way through the table. Obviously they hadn’t expected to be spending the evening with him.
“What?” hissed Nobleman Loss. “I have to give up my chair to the brother of the traitor?”
“You have to give up your seat for my friend,” said Hiromy, glaring at the nobleman.
The man raised his fist and opened his mouth. But then he brought it down and stomped away.
Falcon felt his face redden with heat. “Listen. I don’t want to cause any trouble. I just wanted to speak to you, Emperor Romus.”
The short emperor eyed him suspiciously. “Then why didn’t you set up a meeting with me?”
“I’m afraid that would take too long. I need to speak to you now.”
“That won’t do. As you can see, I’m hosting a party at the moment.”
“With all due respect, sir, this is not the time for parties. The Suteckh Empire is launching an attack on the capital cities of Va’siel. It’s highly likely that Ladria will be next.”
The emperor tossed a grape into his mouth. “Don’t waste your breath. Word has reached me of the Suteckh attack on Sandoria. And I fail to see how a conflict between those two backward cities has anything to do with Ladria.”
Falcon tried to keep his voice as respectful as possible. “It’s not only Sandoria that was attacked. I’m sure you are aware that the Suteckh Empire sacked the Asian city of Zhangshao. They have set their eyes on conquering the entire planet.”
An imposing man who wore a dark uniform with countless pins and ribbons on his chest stood. Falcon recognized him immediately. He was Chonsey’s father, the general of Ladria’s army. “Our army is more than a match for the Suteckh. Even if your story were true, we could take care of them with ease.”
“But it’s not only them,” Falcon countered. “The Suteckh have garnered the support of many of the outskirt clans. Including the Northern Barbarians, the Omega warriors, the Hollow Clansmen of the Lost Sea, and the Scaiths—”
“Do you have proof of these wild claims?” the general asked.
“Yes, the Ghost Knight himself told me.”
The table erupted in a fit of scornful laughter.
The general sighed heavily. “The Ghost Knight? That’s your proof? This is ridiculous.”
“Who is this Ghost Knight you speak of?” asked Emperor Romus.
The General’s voice boomed. “He’s a nobody who roams the land pretending to be a hero. His word is not to be trusted, sire.”
“That’s not true,” snapped Falcon. “The Ghost Knight is simply trying to help everyone, including you.”
“That’s enough!” shouted Emperor Romus. “I had enough of this conversation. Remove yourself from my presence at once.”
Falcon held up his finger. “But you must see the urgency of the matter.”
The emperor slammed his fist on the table. “Enough, I say!”
“Fine. Stay blind.” Falcon stood and stormed away. He should have expected as much from the leaders of Ladria. They had always been too prideful to listen to anyone but themselves.
As he headed toward the door, a bulky figure obstructed his path. “Going somewhere, traitor?”
“Get out of my way, Laars.”
“Don’t tell me you’re still sore because of the beating me and Delita gave you.”
Falcon pursed his lips. “I said get out of the way.”
Laars licked his thick lips. “Nice little dame you brought back from Asturia.” He looked over at Faith, who was sitting at a table speaking to the twin sisters, Drusilla and Elvira. “I would have taken my sweet time too if I had found a hot girl like that.”
“You better not do anything to her.”
Laars put up his hands innocently. “Relax. I’m simply getting her a drink.” He held up a cup of red juice. “Of course I might accidentally spill it on her dress. Then being the gentleman that I am, I will have to escort her to my room so she can change into something more comfortable.”
Falcon had heard enough. He clenched his fist and grabbed Laars by his collar. “I’ll teach you to—”
“Let him go,” said Hiromy, stepping in front of Falcon.
Falcon threw Laars to the wall.
Legacy of Chaos (The Void Wielder Trilogy Book 2) Page 6