Pawn of the Crown

by Cheryl Oblon

  Faldar looked me in the eye. “You’re serious. You don’t care about your parents?” he asked.

  “He’s a traitor who let my mother be murdered. I could’ve been killed. He murdered a member of the Queen’s Guard. He’s plotting against Lazrel. I thought you’d understand.” I dipped into Faldar’s mind.

  He’d been threatened. His father had challenged his loyalties.

  Faldar crossed his arms. “They’re my family.”

  “So, you’ll marry some poor woman and have sons and a fake life?” Nemal asked.

  “I thought we could trust you.” I dug further into his mind. Fear of his father, not hatred for us, ruled.

  “You can. I won’t tell him about you hunting your father. I don’t care about some traitor fool my father is manipulating. I swear, I appreciate all that you’ve done for me. I wish I could have you as in-laws.” Faldar’s breathing grew heavy.

  “But?” Remmy asked.

  “Maybe we should give you two some privacy,” I said.

  Remmy put his hand on mine. “No. You went out on a limb for us. It’s real. It’s love, I know it.”

  Faldar smiled. “Yes, it’s real. That doesn’t mean I can have it. Being away from my family has been heaven because I didn’t have to worry. I could be myself. That doesn’t mean I don’t love my siblings and my mother. Even my father. Look what’s happened since I’ve been gone. Tantil cut himself.”

  “That’s not your fault,” Remmy said.

  “It wasn’t an accident. Maybe it was too much pressure on him here without me. I just left him with our father, who is demanding and aggressive. He’s hard on his sons, and he’s only had Tantil to push and make an example of.” Faldar buried his face in his hands.

  “This isn’t your fault,” I said.

  “Really? My sister begged me last night not to leave. My mother is more tense and terrified then I’ve ever seen her. We’re not avoiding war with this arrangement. It’s not making things better.” Faldar poured himself more tea.

  Remmy looked at me and then his brother.

  “You can’t deny who you are. That stress and depression will eat you alive,” I said.

  Faldar sighed. “It’s my life. My country. My family. Not everyone can turn on their family.”

  Nemal stood. “That’s enough.”

  Remmy stood. “Calm down, both of you.”

  I crossed my arms. “Faldar, if your father attacks Lazrel, will you fight with him?”

  Faldar turned pale.

  “You need to leave this room,” Nemal said.

  Remmy hugged Faldar. “Calm down, Nemal. He’s freaked out because of his brother. You’d do anything for me.”

  “We have, but we’re not going to trust him if he’s been lying and spying on us,” Nemal replied.

  “He’s not. I know he wasn’t before. This is a reaction to the family separation. I’m not saying he should stay. He’s not clear on his loyalties. We can’t count him on our team,” I said.

  “Sorry,” Faldar said. He left quietly.

  Remmy glared at me.

  “I’m sorry, but family is a hard attachment to shake,” I said.

  “I see. Maybe you could’ve had your dad weeks ago? Maybe you can’t shake that attachment?” Remmy stormed out.

  “Great. He’s going to give it all up for Faldar? We can’t let him,” I said.

  “No. He won’t. I won’t let him. Johey and I will drag him home if we have to.” Nemal hugged me.

  I kissed his cheek. “If I have to kill my father, I will. That sounds terrible.”

  He frowned. “No, he’s not the man you thought he was. Even if he was distant or cheating on your mother. He’s a traitor. That’s far worse than a rebel.”

  Mentally, I knew I should and could kill a traitor. Emotionally, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do it because he was my father.

  “I hope Johey gets him.” I tried some of the cake, and it seemed to help settle my stomach.

  Nemal nodded. “We’ll get him and drag him to the relocator. Then, we’ll have a romantic dinner and come back to do the formalities of leaving.”

  “You make it sound so easy.” I wanted to believe him.

  “What really happened with Tantil? No guy is going to cut himself there. Not by accident. Even on a dare,” he said.

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” I took a long drink of tea.

  “I would. I’d believe you.” Nemal was dead serious.

  “Thank you. But I don’t think it’s good to share this secret. I don’t have any proof except his word. He’s claiming his parents did something awful to him as a child, and it might not be that. He might just feel…I’m not sure of anything. He believes what he believes, but we can lie to ourselves, too.” I hated that I couldn’t crack my way into my father’s mind without him shoving me out or knowing.

  “You’ll tell me when you’re ready. I have my theories, not that I care. We need to get home.” Nemal sighed. “I’m going to shower and get dressed. Then, we’re on the hunt.”

  “I’ll head across the hall. Meet you there?” I picked up my cake.

  “Definitely.”

  My father remained free for another day. Nemal and I had a private dinner, but I was on guard. If I sensed my father, I'd be ready, and Johey was always on call.

  “Did Johey check on Remmy?” I asked as we split dessert.

  “I guess the guys made up.”

  “What does that mean?” I threw my hands in the air.

  “I don’t know. As much as I like Faldar, we can’t trust him exactly the way we’d hoped. What about Tantil?” Nemal asked.

  “I haven’t confided anything to him. He’s not a problem.” It wasn’t the exact truth, but Tantil had nothing that could hurt the Lazrel. I didn’t know what Remmy had confided to Faldar.

  “Just tell me,” he said.

  I’d promised not to tell, but he wouldn’t use it against Tantil. In fact, Nemal might be able to help and take my side if Tantil needed more assistance from us. Not telling Bachal people I understood, and I wouldn’t, but we all needed allies. “If he’s right, he was born with both reproductive organs, and in order to have another son, his parents had the doctors change her to a him.”

  “Who would do that to a baby?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure how young he was when the procedures were performed. Or if they were. He could simply feel female, and his body is male. We have people who do that. Their parents did nothing wrong. It was a chemical misfire during pregnancy. Brain chemistry versus hormones creating the sex organs. I’m not ready to blame the king for that yet. But Tantil is,” I said.

  “He cut his…really? On purpose?” Nemal shuddered.

  “Very traumatic. I wish I could help.”

  “What did you suggest?” Nemal asked.

  I pressed my lips together.

  “Don’t tell me you said nothing. You can’t help yourself. You want to help,” he said.

  Smiling, I loved how he did know me and didn’t hate my bad habits. “I told him he could get the surgery. Still dress like a warrior, and no one would know.”

  “These warriors live in very close quarters,” Nemal said.

  I frowned. “But he’s a prince. He may go to battle, but he’s not one of the masses. He’ll have more privacy if he wants. Go with a small chest and bind them back. Or he defects to another country.”

  Nemal rubbed his eyes. “Great.”

  “Not us, necessarily. He could go to Fairyland.” I smiled.

  “Don’t get me started on that. Minnette is really there? She’ll never leave,” he said.

  I got up and poured myself a cold glass of water. “How would you know what Fairyland is like? It’s all rumors.”

  Nemal’s forehead furrowed. “My mother wouldn’t send her there if she wasn’t sure. Safe and pampered, but able to leave when needed. Surrounded by magic and happiness. Minn?”

  “Sh
e’ll run away.” I laughed.

  He shook his head. “She’ll be treated like a queen.”

  “Your mother had her reasons.” I wasn’t about to question the queen.

  “Any signs of the traitor?” he asked.

  I reached out with my mind. “Nothing within reach. That corner where he was talking to the king is really far. There is a limit to my reach. We could take a walk.”

  “Let’s go,” he said.

  The farther we wandered, the more I tried to pick up. Nothing on my father. He was far away. “The king is angry,” I said.

  We heard shouting and cursing as we approached the throne room. The masses had been cleared away. Only close advisors and friends were in the room. We were intruding.

  I grabbed Nemal’s hand and led him away. I mentally poked around the problem in their minds. Damn it, Remmy! He’d been caught in Faldar’s bed. I bit my lip. We headed back as if going to our rooms. Anela rushed toward us as we hit the hallway to our rooms.

  “You didn’t see the king?” she asked.

  “No, he’s angry. We avoided him.” I locked the door behind us in my room.

  Nemal sat. “She wouldn’t tell me what the problem is.”

  Johey was there, as well. Marel and Zoma looked sick.

  “Is it that bad?” Nemal asked.

  “The king or one of his lackeys found Remmy with Faldar. In bed. The king knows why Faldar wanted to stay. He’s raging over it.”

  “At least it’s out there,” Zoma said.

  “We need to regroup and make an exit plan,” I said to Johey.

  “Grab your dad, and we’ll go now,” he said.

  “If we find him, that’s a good plan. But not all of us need to be in danger over my traitor father. I want you to take Marel, Zoma, Anela and her mother home. You can go tonight. Say Marel’s mother is sick, and I didn’t want her going alone. They have us. It won’t cause a panic.”

  “Me and my mother. You’re serious?” Anela asked.

  Johey cleared his throat. “Would you be missed?”

  She shook her head. “I sleep here. Work here. Until she leaves, I’m here.”

  “Her mother is ill and homebound. She won’t be missed. Get them out tonight. My droids can manage the work here.”

  “Are you sure?” Marel asked.

  “I’ll feel better with fewer people to keep track of and protect. Once we have my father, we’ll need to move fast. He’s smart and strong with too many allies. That man knows how to charm and slither his way out of anything.”

  “I’m not going.” Zoma crossed her arms.

  “No? You came as my attendant, but you’re refusing an order?”

  “No. I think you might need me. To work the relocators. I can do that for tonight’s group, too. And you might need help containing or restraining your father. My technical skills are good for that as well.” Zoma sat up straighter.

  “She’s got a point,” Nemal said.

  “Fine. But when I get him, we leave. And if something happens to me or Nemal, you get out immediately.”

  “Not if I can help,” Zoma replied.

  “Immediately. The queen needs to know if something has happened to us. If we’ve failed, been injured, or been taken—we need her to know.” I pointed at her. “You must be our messenger.”

  “Yes, Royal Seer.” Zoma bowed.

  I knew she was half mocking me, but I didn’t care. “Good.”

  “Do we tell the queen about Remmy?” Marel asked.

  “That the king knows about it? Yes. Hopefully, you can take him with you tonight,” I said.

  “You missed a piece of information, Lady Kimess,” Anela said.

  “What?”

  She fidgeted. I turned to Johey.

  “Remmy and Faldar are both restricted to their rooms by order of the king,” Johey said.

  “He’s being held? In his rooms?” I pointed in the direction of the hall.

  “Not those rooms,” Anela said.

  I stood.

  “Not tonight,” Johey said.

  “Why not? He’s your nephew, and we need to get him out of here.” I scanned the castle with my mind. “He’s in a cell in the dungeon.”

  “So was your father,” Zoma said.

  I glared at her. “Our queen is humane. This king is not. I’ve seen it.”

  “Not tonight, please! The king is so angry. If you want to get your father and prince home, you must lie low,” Anela pleaded.

  She wanted to get out, and I couldn’t blame her.

  “Is he being tortured?” Nemal asked.

  “What?” I snapped at him.

  “Is he being tortured or harmed? You can feel it,” Nemal said.

  Closing my eyes, I zeroed in on Remmy. He was scared and cold. There were some aches and bruises, but not the kind of pain torture causes. “No, he’s chilly and could use food and fresh water, but they haven’t tortured him.”.

  Nemal said, “Fine. Then, Johey will take Marel, Anela, and her mother back to Lazrel tonight. Update the queen with only what is necessary. I don’t want her to panic over Remmy.”

  “Nemal,” I warned.

  “We’ll ask to see him first thing in the morning. Play dumb. We knew nothing. We were fooled. But in our culture, this is not offensive. I can take Remmy and go home. I’ll deliver him and come back for you. Or we’ll have Zoma babysit him back to the queen, and she can return. The king won’t want this to be a big problem or people might find out about it.” Nemal sounded so rational and calm.

  “You’re right. He’ll want it proven wrong. Poor Faldar,” I said.

  “There goes that romance,” Marel said.

  “Be kind to Remmy. We need to get him home and over this. Whatever it takes, he goes home,” I said.

  The group murmured in agreement.

  Johey clapped his hands together. “Okay, everyone who’s going tonight needs to pack. Anela, we’ll fetch your mom now. Zoma, on the relocator, please. With all the rage going on in the castle, I think it’s a great distraction.”

  “I agree. Go. Things will be different, tomorrow.” I hugged Marel.

  They all headed off in their own directions, and I looked at Nemal. “I’m sorry. I thought Remmy and Faldar could make it work.”

  “You’re a romantic.” He kissed my temple.

  “Hardly.” I snuggled to him.

  “You’re spending your nights with me, despite Minn’s disapproval.” He winked.

  I grinned. “She’s in Fairyland. I think I’m safe.”

  He laughed. “That’s not forever. LeFawn will approve. It’s the queen I’m not sure of.”

  I shrugged. “I’m not too worried. She likes me.” Still, I had the gnawing feeling that if I didn’t bring back my father and watch his execution, I wouldn’t be deemed loyal enough.

  But I loved Nemal, and I wasn’t giving him up.

  Chapter 21

  “Wake up, Kimess,” Zoma said.

  I clutched my pillow and didn’t want to move. It couldn’t be morning. Not yet.

  Sleep had been nearly impossible until I knew Zoma was back, and everyone had made it home safely. After that, the dreams or visions were endless. The visions of a daughter in my arms freaked me out.

  I sat up straight in bed. “What?”

  “You didn’t want to wake up,” Zoma said.

  “I’m tired. Sorry. Weird dreams.” I looked at the clock and knew I had to get up.

  Zoma grinned. “Anything fun?”

  I shook my head. “Crazy stuff, mostly. I had a baby. I was sitting on the throne of Lazrel wearing the queen’s crown. War and…I don’t know. All my fears.”

  “A baby is a fear?” she asked.

  “I’m going to be seventeen. Right now, yes.” I took the cup of tea she offered. “Thank you.”

  “Technically, you might be pregnant.” Zoma studied my stomach.

  I pulled the sheet tighter over me. �
�Please, I’m sure it takes a while for that medication to exit your system.”

  “The implants are completely effective, but I’m not sure about your theory. But you and Nemal have…Please tell me…Have you been using something else since that thing was taken out of your arm?” Zoma drummed her fingers over her lips. “They could’ve given you something to reverse the effects of the implant. You never know what they did when they put you under.”

  “No, and the doctor who did it is dead. It doesn’t matter, anyway. I can’t undo it.” I’d felt violated before. Now, I felt stupid for not using something with Nemal. “The rest of my dreams were nonsensical fears.”

  “War isn’t nonsense,” Zoma said.

  “Did the queen send back any messages?”

  “Johey came back. She said get back here, forget your father, and she wants everyone home now.”

  “Forget him? No, he had the king’s backing for something. He’s going to try to hurt Lazrel, and he can get back in. No, we’re not leaving him.” I sipped my tea.

  “You’ve been trying for weeks. We need to go home. Especially if you and Nemal are expecting.” Zoma poked my hands.

  “What?”

  “You might be a tad puffy,” she said.

  “I’m sleep deprived, and the food here is awful. It’s probably too much salt. I’m not going to any doctors here.”

  “Of course not. We’ll get you home today. No risks, though. Just in case.” Zoma smiled.

  “Stop it.” I nudged her with my feet until she moved. Slipping out of bed, I knew I was forgetting something. “I’m starving.”

  “Johey brought back some muffins. They’re on the table,” she said as she set out a dress for me.

  “What am I forgetting? We need to get my father.”

  “And Remmy. We can’t go home without him.” Zoma picked shoes to match.

  “Damn!” I rubbed my forehead. “Either they gave me something to slightly sedate me, or I am…”

  “If you are, it’s only a couple of days, so don’t become overly dramatic,” Zoma said.

  “You’re right. They probably gave me some long-acting medication for pain. I bet they dosed me with too much to block my gift as much as possible.” I sighed.

  “Drink lots of tea, flush your system. Since we boil the water, it has to kill whatever is weird in their water,” Zoma said.