by Cheryl Oblon
“Don’t try to charm people. This is it. We’re going.” I looked at our bags and wished the night would arrive faster.
He sighed. “You’re letting these people push you around. Remmy came here. Stupid. He slept with the crowned prince in this castle. Doubly stupid. He got caught. Why are you trying to rescue him?”
“He’s our prince,” Zoma said.
“No, don’t engage him. Go check if you can get a relocator online to take him back, then find Nemal.” I pointed to the door.
“All the relocators are offline. No power to them at all. I checked on the way back here,” she said.
“Check again. Go. And send Nemal in with laser restraints.” I folded my arms.
My father sat at the table. “I’m not leaving my little girl. She’s going to be queen. And I’ll be there to help her every step of the way.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Faldar will choose his father and you over Remmy. You saw what they’re doing to Tantil. He’ll be a man all they want just to avoid that again.”
“You were following me?” I asked.
“No, I know my daughter. You care about people. That’s nice. It’s better when they are your children, and they will rule the world one day. Your children can do that. Marry Faldar, have boys to rule here. Have girls to rule Lazrel when we win the war. Or one unified country. Either way.”.
“Really, you need mental help. I’m not staying here. I hate it here.”
“I know. You love Nemal. You are content to be a seer. That’s what was wrong with your mother. She accepted her place. I don’t hate women in charge. I hate weakness. She could’ve been queen.”
“It’s a monarchy. It goes by line of succession.” I’d play his game to stall things.
“Sure. But there is oversight. You don’t want a crazy seer killing people so there is a contingency plan. Same with the queen. If a queen is making dangerous or radical choices, or if she’s too ill, the counsel can remove the monarch.” He played out his scenario with his fingers on the table. One hand toppling another. The glee was evident on his face.
“Our queen is not crazy.” I relaxed my hold on my father. If he went for the door, I’d grab him again, but the energy drain to constantly keep him contained wouldn’t help me.
“But she was so young when she came to power. A teenager. They let her. Your grandmother could’ve voted to put another ruler on the throne. A more experienced one. You call it an acting monarch, but once you’re in…Any of the five families’ rulers can sit on the throne. That’s the point of gaining experience by ruling a family and advising the queen. If someone’s family is wiped out in a war or illness, others can step in. The country goes on.”
“That’s why you and grandma never got along?”
“I wanted you to be a queen. Our queen is fine, but Minnette? She’ll be cruel and high-handed on a nice day. You don’t like her. She doesn’t like you. You’d be a much better queen.” He pointed at me.
“Before, you wanted me to be queen here. Now, it’s Lazrel. If the queen wasn’t going to execute you, I’d have a doctor examine your mental health.”
“You want Minnette as queen? Good. Fine. The Bachal will win because she needs too much approval. She needs to be married first. Jealous of Remmy. Of you. Power comes from within, not from a title or a tiara. You know that. You’ve always had it. That’s why she hates you.” He spotted cake on the counter and cut himself a slice.
“You have interesting theories, but it’s all for nothing. You’re a traitor, and you’re going home.”
“You’re as tenacious as I am, so I guess I am. I’ve tried everything to help you. You could be queen of two countries. But you’re content to be a seer. To have your daughter be a seer—your boys, nothing. You could have princesses and princes. You could be so powerful no other country would dare oppose you.” He swung his arms out. “Queen of the world.”
I laughed. “You’re diabolical. I’m not power hungry. You’re up to something else.”
“What else do I have? What else is there for me to live for but you?”
“You have a sister. Rebel friends. I don’t know.”
“My sister wants to live in the castle. She wants to be the fussing and doting aunt to the queen. Your mother didn’t have the fight for it. I see that now. Your grandmother could’ve handled it, but your mother wasn’t a tough enough person. You are.” He shoved a fork full of cake in his mouth.
“I didn’t have a choice about being seer this young,” I said.
“True. You had to grow up. Step up. That’s what makes a leader. Minnette is a wimp. I heard she ran away to Fairyland. She’ll lose the war, and she’ll only fight because you convince her to.”
“You sounded like you were siding with the Bachal, anyway. At least, until today.” I had to put all of his crap out of my head or I’d never think straight, again.
“Easier in. Faldar is a wimp, too. If he’d turned on Minnette, at all, you’d be screwed because they’d be a great sham couple and rule both. But you could handle Faldar. Rule the country through him. Take over Lazrel. No problem. I didn’t realize you and Nemal were so serious.”
“I won’t be queen either way,” I said flatly.
“Don’t count yourself out yet. That queen here did you a favor. No contraceptive means princess possibilities. You could have the first female grandchild of the queen. You’re right on the top of the list of counsel members.” He kept right on eating.
“The queen is fine. Minnette and LeFawn are quite healthy.” Keeping him talking was better than letting him get bored and try to leave.
“Healthy. LeFawn never thought she’d be queen, so she’s not ready. She never will be. She doesn’t want it. LeFawn wants to be a princess not a queen.” He waved off the idea.
“Minnette doesn’t want her mother to die, but it will happen one day. If Minnette has a couple of daughters, LeFawn is off the hook.” I needed to find Minnette a husband to lock in the succession.
“That’s your best bet. Minnette dies young and you are made regent. You take over.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’d never do that.”
“You’re a fool. If Minn has a daughter, you’ll be her aunt and her seer. Of course, you’ll be made regent.” He pointed his fork at me.
“You really are crazy.”
He shook his head. “You were born into power and potential. You’re a leader and smart. You can move up. You should. Look at me, I was born a nobody. Just a few magical powers in my brain. Look how far I’ve come. I married one of the most powerful women in the land, and my daughter is one. Don’t be content where you are, with what is handed to you.”
“You don’t take a throne.”
“I thought your grandmother taught you extra history lessons? Yes, you do. Seize the opportunity, or you’ll be counseling and serving all your life.” He stabbed the cake. “You’re better than that.”
The door opened, and Nemal grinned. “Great.”
Zoma walked into the room, as well. “The relocators are not great. I can’t get power to them."
Nemal slid laser cuffs on my father’s hands. “We didn’t check those by the ships and weapons hall or the dungeon.”
“Okay, well, relocators are the first choice. A ship is our backup plan.”
“You think you can escape that way? Please,” Father said.
“Do you have a better idea?” Nemal asked.
“Don’t,” I said.
“Don’t engage him. He’s crazy,” Zoma added.
Father laughed. “I’m not crazy. I want the best for my daughter. That’s all. You’re pretty good.”
Nemal looked puzzled. “Thanks.”
“I mean it. You love her. You listen to her. You’re smart, but loyal. Not some egomaniac. I approve.”
“I don’t need your approval.” I latched the shackles to his legs. He could walk in them or even run, but we could stop him with the push of a
button, causing a lot of pain.
He grinned. “Of course not. The queen will approve, though.”
“He is crazy,” Nemal said to me.
“I want to travel light.” I sorted through my bags and ignored most of the clothing. I could get more of that. I grabbed my tiara and a few personal items. Then the dagger I’d gotten off the guard.
“I did have one problem when I was checking the relocator,” Zoma said.
“What?”
“One guard found me. I tied him up and knocked him out pretty hard with a stun blast,” she said.
I stopped and smiled. “That’s great.”
“It is?” Nemal asked.
“Yes. Zoma and Nemal, we’re taking that guard to medical.” I knew how to get Tantil free.
“What about him?” Zoma pointed at my manically happy father eating cake.
“Okay.” I pulled out my tablet and texted Johey that we needed him here for a while. “Johey will be here soon. Then, we’ll grab Remmy and go.”
“Go?” Father smirked.
“Go home. One way or another.” I glared at him. “That’s probably your last meal.”
He shrugged. “Life is about risk. Own your choices. Follow your heart, and you’ll have no regrets. I did what I thought was right for my daughter.”
Nemal frowned. I shook my head at him.
“I love my daughter. No matter what anyone thinks. You don’t know why I did what I did.” Father pointed at Nemal.
“No one does,” Zoma said.
“Don’t engage him,” I said.
Nemal sighed. “He seems so genuine.”
“Crazy people are the best liars,” I replied.
There was a knock on the door. Johey entered.
“Don’t engage him. Don’t let him wander around the rooms. Don’t let him leave. No weapons. No communications,” I said.
“Johey!” Father got up and hugged him.
“Sit down, Galdar.” Johey took the remote controlling my father’s restraints from Nemal.
“Fine. I’ll play nice. Good cake.” He took another bite.
“Oddly cooperative this time,” Johey said.
“I tried everything. My daughter doesn’t want to be queen.”
“He may have finally cracked up. We have to do one errand and we’ll meet you here, then all head down to get Remmy. No one else in or out. Keep the attendant in Nemal’s rooms. Droids, too. Father might reprogram them. I’m taking one droid.” I grabbed my essentials bag and headed out.
The queen was gone when we arrived. I knocked out anyone close enough to do anything in medical. I hoped no alarms would go off.
“You’re going to swap the men out. That’s pretty mean,” Zoma said.
“That’s why I brought you. Can you figure out a way to make the machine look like it's running without it causing pain? It’s hurting him a lot. I don’t want anyone to go through that.” I began stripping the guard.
“I’ll try,” Zoma said.
Nemal helped me with the guard, but his frown worried me.
“What?”
“First, your father. Now, Tantil. Are you sure this is smart?”
“If you want to kill my father, go ahead. I’m taking him back to the queen one way or another. Tantil will have a choice. He can stay or flee. We’re not forcing him to do anything. I just need to get him off of that machine before it fries his brain. The pain is too much.”
“Fine,” he said.
“You want to let him be tortured?” I asked.
“You can’t save everyone, Kimess. Faldar is proof of that.” Nemal turned to check on Zoma.
“I’m not suggesting we take Faldar. He’s the one I’m fine with leaving here.”
“I think I have it powered, but the probe laser off,” Zoma said.
I slipped into Tantil’s mind, and the pain was gone. He was tense out of fear it’d return. “Good, free him with that blue button.”
Zoma tripped the big blue switch, and the restraints opened. The droid lifted Tantil from the bed, then put the guard in it. Zoma arranged his body and set the restraints. It looked like he was being treated just like Tantil.
“It’s okay, Tantil. It’s over,” I said.
He opened his eyes. “It’ll never be over. They’ll catch me and drag me back. It’ll be worse. Faldar knows it. They made him watch me all last night.” Tantil tried to sit up, but his muscles were tight.
“Relax. It’s up to you,” I said.
“What is?” he asked.
“We’re leaving tonight. You can join us if you want. But it’s up to you. We won’t claim we know you’re there. You’re not a prisoner or a guest. We’ll help you get started, but the king can’t know. Understand?”
He nodded.
“You don’t have to go. It’s your life,” Nemal said.
Zoma ran a scanning device over Tantil. “He might be able to help us get home if we can’t use the relocators.”
“How is he?” I asked her.
“He’ll be fine in a minute. No permanent damage.” She injected him with a spray in his neck.
“With Faldar here, they don’t need me. My mother cares, but she can’t change anything. I’ll go. You don’t need to protect me. I can survive on my own.”
Nemal handed him the guard’s clothing. “Then, get dressed. We need to get my brother and get home.”
With everyone else trying to rig a relocator to work two halls over, I approached the dungeon with a droid. The guards let me in. Remmy looked scared, but better than earlier.
“Let’s go.” I pointed to the droid, who helped Remmy stand.
When we tried to leave, three guards blocked our path.
“The king said he needed more time, but we could take Remmy out of the cell later. It’s later.”
“We don’t have that order,” the guard said.
“I do.” I waved, and all of them were unconscious.
“Love that,” Remmy said.
“Old trick.” I leaned out and looked into the hall. Any guard within reach was unconscious.
The droid picked up Remmy, and we ran for the relocator.
Zoma had blood on her knuckles and a scowl on her face. “No way.”
“We can get a ship. Just need to get rid of the guards,” Tantil said.
“That’s my specialty.” I walked ahead and sent out a mental shockwave.
“My little girl has more power than all of the first family.”
I turned to him and mentally knocked him out.
“Thank you,” Nemal and Johey said in unison.
“He’s too unpredictable. Carry him.” I pointed to a droid, who picked up my already bound father.
Tantil ran ahead and picked a small enclosed ship. We had some cover and someone who knew how to fly this thing. I smiled at Nemal, who seemed to figure out why I wanted Tantil on our team.
“Head for the border. Just get us across,” I said.
Tantil shook his head. “The shortest route is good until we get near the border. I’ll veer off and fly over a rough place to cross.”
“If you need a break, I know how to fly. Show me the controls,” Nemal offered.
Tantil nodded. The engines engaged and lifted us off the ground. The men started working together.
“Hold on,” Tantil said.
The forward motion began. Off balance, I sat next to Zoma. She was at a control panel scanning.
“You okay?” I asked.
“No ships in pursuit. I think we got away.”
“Great. Relax,” I said.
She shook her head. “I should’ve figured out that damn relocator.”
“It’s foreign technology. It’s similar to ours, but not exactly the same. We can’t blame ourselves. Let’s just get home. You’re a huge help.”
“Thanks. I don’t need to travel again, though.” She hit the same keys again. There was a blip. “What does this mean?”
Tantil looked over his shoulder. “Dragon. Looks like a Pegasus, too.”
“We have weapons?” Remmy asked.
“You rest. I got it,” Nemal said to his brother.
“Minimal weapons. They aren’t fully installed here,” Tantil said.
“Access hatch?” I pointed to the ceiling. A droid opened it and gave me a boost.
“Kimess!” Nemal yelled.
I tried to knock them out. They were too big or too far away.
“Johey, I need help,” I said.
He joined me in the opening. “Hit the dragon with ice, and I’ll try to knock out the Pegasus.”
He waved and sent ice spears at the dragon. The ice stabbed the midsection, and the dragon screeched. Fire flew from its mouth, but Johey sent a huge ice stream up. The fire melted part of it, but then the dragon was coated. The wings frozen solid, the animal fell from the sky.
I focused on the Pegasus, which had no weapons, but could follow us and report back. I’d never worked on an animal brain, but this was a shifter. A person. He felt familiar. Was it Spetor? I couldn’t find the right mix to render him unconscious.
“Kill it,” Johey said.
I hesitated, and it got closer. Finally, I focused on its neck and used my strength to snap it to the side. The shifter fell from the sky.
“Good work,” Johey said.
I stood there, frozen. I knew him. “I killed him.”
“Doesn’t matter. We need to live,” he said.
Nodding, I climbed back down, and Johey followed, closing the hatch.
“I don’t see any more,” Johey said.
Zoma said, “We’re good, for now. I’ll keep watch.”
“I’m keeping it low so we’ll be off any radar sensors until we’re at the border. Another half an hour, at least,” Tantil said.
“By now, the guards will be awake. They’ll be pursuing us soon,” I said.
Johey stared at the control panels. “Rest up. Our weapons are pretty good.”
I smiled and took a seat.
Chapter 23
As we closed in on the border, Tantil had a harder time avoiding guards.
“Do they really need to keep people in?” I asked.
“Would you want to stay?” Tantil asked.