“Who are you?”
He cleared his throat and looked at me. “Yes, well, forgive my lack of manners,” he said. “My name is Veshna.”
“That's great,” I snapped. “But who in the hell are you? What do you want with me?”
“That is a little more complicated to answer,” he replied. “Suffice it to say, you are a valuable piece of leverage.”
“I'm not a piece of leverage,” I hissed. “And when Jendrish finds you, he's going to kill you for what you've done.”
He spread his hands out wide. “And what have I done?” he asked. “Have you been mistreated?”
“You kidnapped me.”
“Only to ensure that Jendrish does not kill me or mine,” he replied evenly. “I am holding you in the interest of having an open and honest discourse with him.”
I looked at the man and he seemed sincere enough. But then, I wasn't familiar enough with Optorions to know when they were lying. Humans always had tells. Nervous twitches, a glance away – there was always some visual cue when they were lying. But Optorions – whom I found notorious for their lack of expression and emotion – were something else entirely. He could have been lying – and probably was – and I would be none the wiser.
But it was true enough that I had not been harmed nor mistreated. Other than being stuck in a cell with no way out, anyway.
“And what is it you want to have an open and honest dialogue about exactly?” I asked.
“About him abdicating the throne,” he said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “And leaving the rule of Optorio to those who truly care about its future.”
“And you don't think Jendrish cares about Optorio's future?”
A small, predatory smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “If he did, he wouldn't allow aliens to influence his decision making.”
I scoffed at him. It was still difficult to think of myself as an – alien. But here on Optorio, that's exactly what I was.
“I'm not influencing anything,” I replied. “And if – ”
“Optorio is for Optorions,” he snapped. “Humans or other life forms have no place here.”
I smirked at him. “So, that's what this is really all about,” I said. “You're a racist. Or rather, a species-ist, I suppose.”
“If that's how you need to think of me, then yes,” he said. “I suppose I am. But I would ask you this – how would you feel if I began to influence how your world was run? What would you think if I began encouraging your leader to create special rules and laws for me?”
“And is that what you think I'm doing?” I asked. “Tell me then, what special rules has he implemented? What special laws has he enacted on my behalf?”
“It's only a matter of time,” the man replied. “Once you get to feeling more – comfortable.”
I laughed and shook my head. “So you're not just a species-ist, you're a paranoid conspiracy theorist too. Charming.”
A dark look crossed his face. I was getting under his skin. Though, I did not know if that was a good or a bad thing at this point. I didn't know this man. Didn't know what he was capable of. But then, I figured that I was as good as dead anyway. Something in my gut told me that he was going to kill me – whether he and Jendrish had a conversation or not.
“You were behind the assassination attempt at the coronation, weren't you?”
He shrugged. “It was poorly executed,” he said. “We did the best we could with what we had. Which, to be honest, wasn't much. It wasn't my men. If it had been, your precious Jendrish would have been lying in a pool of his own blood.”
I looked at him and there was a cold, cruel glint in his eye. It was at that moment I knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that his intent was to use me to lure Jendrish into a trap. He wasn't interested in a conversation about governance of this world. He was going to kill Jendrish and then he was going to kill me. That was exactly how this was all going to play out.
And there was no way in hell I was going to help him do it. Even if it pissed him off and he killed me, I was not going to help him kill Jendrish.
“Tell me why he was sending you back to Earth,” the man said.
“What makes you think he was sending me?” I asked. “What makes you think I wasn't feeling a little homesick and just wanted to go visit some friends and family?”
He gave me a toothy grin. The kind of grin that said he was privy to information he shouldn't have been.
“I have it on good authority that Jendrish was sending you back to Earth,” he said. “I want to know why.”
“And I want to know why people are obsessed with the Kardashians,” I said. “I suppose we're both just going to have to live with not knowing the answer to something, huh?”
The man sighed and slipped a long knife with a wicked looking curved blade from his boot. He didn't point it at me or laugh maniacally as he waved it in my face. He simply sat there, not looking at me and spun the blade around in his hand – which made it all the more creepy and threatening.
“Let me ask you again,” he said, his voice soft. “Why were you going back to Earth?”
I didn't think he would actually kill me. I got the impression that he needed me too much for that. But I also had no doubt that he could cause me an inordinate amount of pain. I hadn't been mistreated to that point, but I was getting the idea that status could change in a heartbeat – and would if I didn't cooperate.
But there was no way in hell I was going to cooperate. Which left me with one option – lie. Make it appear as if I am cooperating. If nothing else, it might spare me a little bit of pain. But then an idea started to form in my head. I thought that perhaps I could spare myself some pain – and take away the man's leverage at the same time.
I sighed and did my best to look upset. “Because Jendrish is sending me away,” I said. “He's done with me.”
He finally raised his eyes to meet mine. “Done with you?”
I did my best to hold is gaze and appear convincing. “He said that he didn't want to be with me anymore.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea.”
He looked at me evenly – probably trying to decide if I was telling the truth or not. If he determined that I was telling the truth, he knew that it would damage his leverage. If Jendrish truly was done with me, he might not be as willing to make a deal with this creep. And he knew it.
“I've been told that the two of you were very much in love,” he said.
“Were. Past tense.”
“What changed?”
I shrugged. “Ask him.”
He nodded slowly. “I plan on it.”
Without another word, he stood up and left the room, the door sliding shut and locking behind him. I suddenly felt a stab of fear in my heart for Jendrish. There was something deeply unsettling about that man – Veshna. And I got the distinct impression that he saw it as his mission – maybe his sacred duty – to kill Jendrish and take the throne of Optorio for himself.
I was still really upset with him, but I didn't want to see any harm to Jendrish. My heart broke just thinking of something happening to him. I loved him still, and was going to help save him. Just as he'd saved me before. I wasn't sure how or what I could do at that moment, but I was going to figure something out.
I wasn't going to let that man hurt him.
Chapter Eight
Jendrish
“Ozul,” I said, calling up my AI biosystem. “Give me the names of every employee in the palace with connections to one of the Regents. I'm going to need you to dig as deep as you can on this one.”
“Accessing information,” Ozul said through the comm speaker. I needed to hear the voice rather than have the voice in my head. I was already having enough trouble keeping my thoughts in order.
I sat in my war room inside the palace trying to get some answers. I was feeling sick to my stomach. And I was feeling a dark rage the likes of which I'd never felt before. They had Riley. I was having a hard ti
me focusing and keeping my head straight knowing that she was in enemy hands. I loved her and would never forgive myself if something happened to her.
“You know that they aren't going to hurt her, don't you?”
I looked up to find Vink standing in the doorway, a lopsided grin on his face.
“What are you doing out of bed?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I gave it another day as you asked.”
I grinned and nodded. Though I did not like to see him still moving around so gingerly, I had to admit that I was glad to see him up and about. Even more glad to have him by my side once more. Vink moved into the war room and took a seat at the table across from me.
“I've already had my biosystem run that,” he said. “We have twenty-seven employees in the palace who have ties to the Regents. Worked on their household staff. Low level stuff.”
I nodded. “Cancel information request, Ozul.”
“Information request canceled.”
“No family ties?”
Vink shook his head. “I ran deep background and found nothing out of the ordinary.”
“We'll still need to question the twenty-seven,” I said. “Very thoroughly.”
“I already have men on it,” he replied. “Men I trust.”
I nodded. If Vink vouched for them, that was good enough for me. “Sounds like you've been busy instead of resting like I asked.”
He shrugged. “I expended minimal effort,” he said. “I'm healed and ready. Believe me.”
“Okay then,” I said. “I'm glad to have you back, my friend. We have work to do.”
“Looking forward to it.”
I leaned back in my seat and rubbed my eyes. I was exhausted.
“When was the last time you got some sleep?” Vink asked.
I shrugged. “I haven't been able to sleep since they took Riley.”
“I understand,” he said. “But you're not going to do her any good if you're so worn out you can't think straight.”
“I have to get her back, Vink,” I said. “If anything happens to her – ”
“Nothing will happen to her,” he said. “They need her to get to you.”
I nodded. “They know we'll be coming after them and they're going to use her as leverage. I've already thought about that.”
“The trouble is, we don't know who they are just yet.”
“And I don't know how to go about finding out,” I admitted. “If none of the employees we're questioning know anything – ”
Vink cocked his head as if he'd suddenly thought of something. “I think we're looking at this the wrong way.”
“What do you mean?”
“We should continue questioning the employees, certainly. We have to be thorough,” he said. “But we should also be looking at the employees we can't question.”
“The employees we can't question?”
He nodded. “The men who tried to assassinate you. The dead ones,” he said. “We should be looking at their ties to the Regents.”
It had not even occurred to me. I shook my head, feeling completely incompetent. Inadequate to the task at hand. If I had not thought of something so simple, how could I be trusted to make decisions for an entire planet? I mentally slapped myself. Now was not the time. First things first. And the first order of business was to get Riley back. I could debate about my worthiness to rule once we had accomplished that.
“What would I do without you, Vink?”
“Not nearly half as well as you're doing already,” he shot back.
“That is true,” I said. “Ozul, new search – ”
Ozul spoke, but it was not what I was expecting. “You have an incoming transmission from the prison complex. Do you wish to take the transmission?”
I looked at Vink. A transmission from the prison? Who would be contacting me from there?
“Put the transmission on screen, Ozul.”
The large monitor at the front of the room blinked to life. On the screen was the face of a man I'd never wanted to see again. He was the cause of the disease that had infected our world. The cause of so much suffering and deprivation. He was a man I should have had executed already.
“Varnu,” I said, my voice cold and emotionless. “What do you want?”
“And a good day to you too, your Majesty.”
He spat the word with as much disgust and contempt as he could muster – which didn't improve my mood any.
“Is there something you want, Varnu?”
“I don't suppose you would consider better accommodations?” he said. “The food in here is dreadful and my bed is a little too lumpy for my liking.”
I looked at Vink, feeling my anger surging. He motioned for me to calm down. I could see that he was curious. As was I. That Varnu would contact me out of the blue like this – and knowing how I felt about him – was an oddity. He obviously had something to say. Something he wanted to share – or at least, something he wanted to lord over me. And Vink was right in wanting to let him play it out. But that didn't stop my irritation from bleeding out.
“Speak your mind,” I said. “Or I will end this transmission.”
“No, you won't.”
“Oh? And why would I not?”
“Because you want to hear what I have to say,” he chuckled. “I know you're curious. You are many things, Jendrish. But stupid is not one of them. I know you know I would not contact you like this unless I had something to say.”
“Then say it and let us be done with this.”
He shook his head. “No. You will come to me,” he said. “You will come to the prison complex so we can have a discussion. Face to face.”
“That is not going to happen,” Vink said.
“If it does not, then you will never know what I know,” he replied with a casual shrug of his shoulders. “And the blood of your pet human will be on your hands.”
The mention of Riley set my heart racing and my anxiety into overdrive. “What do you know of Riley?”
“Come to the prison complex and let us talk about this like men,” he said. “I will be waiting.”
The screen went blank as he cut off the transmission. My hands rested on the top of the table but were balled into fists. I felt the familiar shooting pain in my head that I tended to get when I was under enormous strain. I took a deep breath and tried to relax my whole body.
“Jendrish,” Vink said. “I'm telling you this as a friend. Go rest. Go immerse yourself in the sea. Recharge your spirit.”
“We have to get to the prison,” I replied. “I can't afford not to. More specifically, Riley can't afford for me not to.”
“It can wait for a few hours,” he said. “They aren't going to do anything to her. Not yet. You have time. But you must take care of yourself if you hope to take care of her.”
There was wisdom in his words, I knew. But I was having a hard time pushing my rage aside and letting that wisdom in.
“Take two hours,” Vink said. “Immerse yourself. Rest. Get something to eat. You need to be fresh, focused, and ready.”
I looked at him as I continued trying to control my rage. But he was right and I knew it. Grudgingly, I nodded.
“Good,” he said and appeared to relax. “I will be going to the prison with you. I will meet you back here in two hours.”
“Two hours.”
Chapter Nine
We were rocketing toward the prison complex. Vink was piloting our shuttle with a deft, yet daring touch. He had been right. A couple of hours in the seawater pool in my chambers had done wonders for my body, mind, and spirit. I felt like a new man. And I was ready. Ready to get this over with and get Riley back.
“He's going to try and bait you,” Vink said. “Don't let him.”
“I'm under control, Vink,” I said. “I am feeling better. Much better. You were right to tell me to take some time. My thinking and focus are much sharper.”
He looked over at me for a long moment before nodding. “Good. I'm very glad to hear that,” he
said. “Because he is going to test you.”
“I expect that he will,” I replied. “And I'm ready for it.”
Vink set the shuttle down on the landing pad outside of the prison. Once he'd powered down, we got out and headed inside. The guards all took a knee and bowed their heads as we passed. That was something I would never get used to – and it was something I really wished people would stop. I wasn't comfortable with that level of deference.
“Your Majesty,” came a voice from behind us.
We stopped and turned around to find Borlan, the man in charge of the prison. He was a man I knew – or was at least acquainted with. He had been a Guardsman at one time, though I did not serve directly with him. But I recall that I had always gotten a good impression of him.
“Jendrish,” I said. “Just call me Jendrish. Please.”
“Very well,” he replied stiffly. “I have Varnu situated in one of our conference rooms. He is wearing sonic shackles on his hands and feet to minimize the threat to your life.”
“Excellent,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Would you like an armed escort?” he asked.
I shook my head and looked over at Vink. “I brought my own. Thank you again.”
We turned and walked down the corridor, turning left instead of right at the end. I looked into the small windows set into the doors that we passed, but I did not see Varnu. Not until we reached the door at the end of the corridor. Peering through the window, I saw Varnu sitting at the table, his hands folded on top of it, and a smug look on his face.
Taking a deep breath and exhaling, I opened the door and we stepped inside. Varnu looked up at us and smiled. He hadn’t been doing well for himself in prison. He'd lost a lot of weight – he looked gaunt and malnourished. And his eyes had lost some of that maniacal gleam that used to be in them. He looked like a beaten man – for the most part. As he looked at us though, I realized that beaten or not, he was a man with a card to play who was determined to play it to his full advantage.
Vink and I moved silently across the room and took a seat at the table opposite of him. He looked at us, his expression growing more condescending and smug by the moment.
“So good of you to come, gentlemen,” he said, nodding his head at me. “Especially you, your Majesty.”
Rocor (Dragons of Kratak Book 5) Page 50