by Platt, Sean
“What do you mean, undue influence?”
“For some time your father has been getting sicker. Not remembering things, prone to mood swings … more than usual, I mean. And he’s been making decisions that seem less in line with the King Zol I’ve known most of my life and more in line with the political machinations of Mason.”
“Examples?”
“The Hand of the Seven recently annexed Callen’s Bay, a clear violation of the Treaty, and an incursion upon our brothers there, taking their homes, forcing them to come here.”
“Here? They’re craftsmen and fishermen, not monsters or magick users. Why banish them here?”
“Yes, but there was a family of lycanthropes living in the community. Or was, rather, until The Hand chased them away. They then seized the land under the premise that the people had violated the Treaty by harboring non-Humkoers.”
“And what did Father do?”
“That’s just it. Nothing. Normally he would’ve sent me or Mason to negotiate, to argue on behalf of Callen’s Bay since they are our partners in trade. But he sent no one. Didn’t even ask for a meeting with The Hand.”
“And what of our esteemed Full Council? Did they not voice dissent?”
“You know that they’re too scared to defy the King — or in this case, Mason, who argued to myself and the King that we ought to leave it alone. Argued that the citizens of Callen’s Bay did, technically, break the terms.”
“Since when are they enforcing those rules? Hell, they’ve got half a city of vampires, magick users, and other freaks living under the Town of Jonah. Are they going to pretend that nobody knows they’re there?”
“I believe that exiles from here are given safe harbor.”
“Of course. It’s okay if they’re a thorn in our eye, but nobody else is allowed to live in a normal home? They’re going to close an entire town over one family of werewolves? Had they been attacking anyone?”
“Not that I’m aware of, my Prince.”
“So, why are you coming to me with this? What would you have me do?”
“It’s not this I’m worried about. It’s the future. If your father dies, I believe that Mason will make a play for the throne.”
“But it is my birthright! How the hell does he plan to do that?”
“I believe he is telling your father not to use the crystals so that he may seize them. With control of the crystals, he can claim the throne.”
“But why would he even do that? He is fat and happy in his empire of shit. He has no desire to fight our oppressors, or conquer Earth. Why seize the throne?”
“Because he is afraid of what you will do to this Kingdom once you take it.”
“He told you this?”
“Not in so many words. But I read between the lines when he speaks to your father. Now that you’re back, he’s scared.”
Jacob turned and looked out at the horizon, seeing the sun peeking over the trees in the distance, scorching the darkness with bright orange light. Soon it would bleach the remnants of night, and send his kind into hiding.
He really wished he’d brought Mr. Dark with him instead of telling him to wait on Earth to manage what was left of Harbinger. Jacob made a mental note to find another man, or woman, with his talents, so he could again enter the daylight fearless of death.
Jacob turned to Barron, eying the man so bold to approach him.
“How do you know I won’t boil you under the sun for treason?”
“Because I believe you are our Kingdom’s only hope of regaining our might. Because I have served your father forever, and it sickens me to see him wasting away, with someone exploiting his frailty. And because I believe you are the next King, and I will serve you faithfully, with my life if need be.”
“Again, what do you propose I do? Kill Mason and take control?”
“No, Mason has made too many allies within the community, and, more importantly, outside our city.”
“With The Hand, you mean?”
“Yes, my Prince.”
“So, what would you suggest as a course of action, Sir Barron?”
“I say we wake your father up.”
“Go on,” Jacob said, a smile spreading across his face.
Eighteen
John
They were down to six — John, Hope, Larry, Sanders, Emma, and one other, a forty-five-year-old Omega agent named Ralph Jenkins, a fireplug of a man they called Jenk. He was one of the toughest of the agents, as evidenced by his surviving the giant wolf attack. But he, like the rest of them, was shaken, bruised, and bloodied.
They stood in the cave’s mouth, catching their collective breath after tracking down supplies lost in the chaos and reassessing the situation.
“Well, what the hell do we do now?” Jenk eyed their pitiful remainders with a disdain he couldn’t disguise. “I vote we go back to Earth and regroup.”
Sanders nodded. “I agree. This mission is a bust.”
John watched Larry and Hope, trying to gauge where they were. While Larry definitely looked ready to go home, Hope did not. She was still taken by her visions with the creature, which now, in light of what Larry and Emma said, was likely a werewolf.
Emma was first to dissent. “We’re not leaving here without Logan.”
“We can’t go in and save him,” Sanders said. “We don’t have the numbers.”
“Fuck numbers. We had numbers, and now everyone else is dead or run off. You really think our odds will change if we come back with more troops?”
“Our primary mission has nothing to do with your brother,” Sanders snapped back. “We need to secure the target and retrieve the crystals. We can’t do that with just six of us.”
“So, what, Logan means nothing to you? You’re just gonna leave him here to die? I knew he shouldn’t have ever agreed to work with you people. The Agency doesn’t give a shit about anything but the almighty mission. Fuck the people who actually have to do the missions, right?”
Sanders, not used to such disrespect, let alone willing to take it from someone so young, got in Emma’s face. “Don’t you tell me what I give a shit about. We lost a lot of good people here today, and if you think that doesn’t weigh on my conscience, then you don’t know the first thing about me. Your brother knew the risks of working with us but believed in the mission enough to come anyway.”
“No, you all coerced him into helping you. Same as always.” Emma turned away, arms crossed over her chest. “You all can go back, but I’m not leaving Logan behind.”
“I’m staying, too,” Hope said.
John sighed. One of two things was apparently about to happen — they’d either split the team or all stay. Neither would work. Sanders was right: they didn’t have the numbers, and no amount of earnest pep talks would change that.
He looked at Larry to gauge his friend’s feelings, but Larry looked as defeated as John felt.
All eyes were on John, as if awaiting his vote.
“Well?” Sanders said, turning to him. “What do you think?”
“I think we’re screwed no matter what we do here. Why don’t you all return to Earth, and I’ll stay behind and see if I can rescue Logan.”
“If you go, I go,” Emma said, hands on her hips.
“Me too,” Hope added.
Sanders and Jenk both sighed.
Sanders said, “We’re not going back to the portal alone. I can’t leave you all over here.”
“Then I guess it’s settled,” Emma said. “We’re all staying.”
But John had an idea. “How about this? We find Logan and the others, learn what we can about Jacob, then get back to Earth, regroup, and come at this fresh?”
Emma nodded. “My brother is the only reason I’m here, so that’s fine with me.”
Sanders and Jenk traded glances, then Sanders nodded. “Okay. Sounds good. Can you connect with your brother, or figure out where he is?”
Emma closed her eyes, focusing to find him.
John looked at Hope, f
ound her gaze on the ground. He couldn’t tell if she was avoiding eye contact because she disagreed with the plan and didn’t want to go back without finding the key to whatever was locked away, or if she was simply lost in thought, and maybe remembering more. He’d have to tell her something about her past, and soon, before she remembered everything. He only hoped it wouldn’t erode whatever trust in him she now had. She was the only woman he’d ever loved, but for her, he was a relationship she had a decade ago, in another life. He was surprised she was still with him, but he knew he couldn’t push her too much without ruining everything.
“I can feel him,” Emma said. “We’re not far.”
“Is he okay?” Larry asked. It seemed like a good way to let the girl know that they truly did care about her brother’s welfare. John wasn’t sure if he was being genuine or not. Larry had a lot more room in his heart than John did, if so. John had too many other priorities to care about Logan other than for whatever info he could provide to them. No, John was too concerned with finding Jacob and the crystals, finding Caleb, and finding Abigail to be overly sympathetic to Emma’s sulking.
“Yeah, he seems okay for now,” Emma said, “but we need to hurry.”
Sanders looked at them all, likely with the same doubt John felt before the mission began, and nodded. “All right, let’s go.”
Nineteen
Jacob
Jacob stood outside Father’s chambers, lurking in the unlit hallway’s gnarled shadows.
The living chambers occupied the castle’s entire top floor and were limited to Zol’s chamber, his servant’s chamber, and Jacob’s. The remaining rooms were unused, though Jacob was certain that Viceroy Mason would love nothing more than full-time access to the King.
Jacob rarely saw his father since coming home. At the end of the night, or often sooner, he’d retire to his chambers and do who knew what. Perhaps his illness begged for sleep.
Or maybe he’s avoiding spending time with me.
He won’t evade me this time, though.
Jacob figured he’d risk approaching Father one final time before trying the tactic he and Sir Barron had devised a couple of days ago. Jacob felt this was the right thing to do even if it might backfire and lay even more distance between them.
He heard Father’s footsteps approaching from the other side of the door. The bedroom opened, and his father emerged in his robes, ready for his meeting with Barron and Mason.
“Father, may I have a word?”
Father’s face twisted in annoyance. “This can’t wait?”
“No, it can’t,” Jacob said, meeting Father’s eyes.
“What is it?”
“I’d like you to reconsider my suggestion.”
“Which one?”
“Using the crystals to reclaim our lands. Even if you don’t want to invade Earth, I believe there are some here who would see this as a sign of weakness.”
Accusing Father of frailty would anger him greatly. As expected, he snapped. “And how would anyone accuse me of weakness when they don’t even know of the crystals’ existence? Perhaps you should be more forthright in your accusations, Son. Admit that it is you who thinks I’m weak. The irony of you, who doesn’t have the courage of his convictions to bluntly address me, accusing me of being feeble!”
“I’m making no such accusation. But I know how these things work. It’s only a matter of time before people start talking. Some say they already are.”
Father got in Jacob’s face, eying him like a drunk in a bar searching for a fight. Despite the King’s frail frame, Jacob couldn’t help but see his father like he did as a child: bigger, stronger, crueler.
Jacob wanted to back down.
Wished he’d not started the conversation.
But now he was stuck, and didn’t dare flinch.
“They already are, are they? And what are they saying, Son?”
It was now or never. This direct approach wasn’t a part of his plan, and would likely make his plot with Barron even more difficult to execute, but Jacob couldn’t help himself.
“They’re saying that you’re old, that you’re dying, and making horrible choices. And that perhaps Viceroy Mason would make a better leader.”
Jacob knew that attacking Mason’s strength would only make his father stick by his right hand man all the more. But to paint Mason as a potential threat to the king, that could change the game considerably — if his father didn’t see right through the ruse.
“Viceroy Mason and not you?” Zol chuckled. “I bet that’s what has you so bothered, eh? That people know you’re not leadership material?”
Jacob bit his tongue then drew a deep breath.
“I’m just reporting what I hear, Father.”
“Yeah, and who’s talking to you?”
Here, things could get tricky. If the old man’s instincts were sharp, or his paranoia high enough, he might guess that Barron had been talking, and that could ruin their plans before they took flight.
“Nobody’s talking to me. But I hear things while walking the city.”
“You were never a good liar, Jacob. Let’s just come out with it.”
Jacob hoped he hadn’t revealed any edges of truth. He hadn’t felt the old man trying to pry inside his mind, and Jacob was far better than Father at telepathic warfare. No way the King could have sneaked in to find anything.
Jacob didn’t respond.
“You didn’t hear shite.” Father laughed. “This is you taking a shot at the throne by hoping to remove your competition, turning me against Viceroy Mason.”
Shit.
Jacob shook his head. “No. This is me worried about you. Worried that you don’t even see the snake slithering through your inner circle.”
“You’re talking about Mason?”
“Yes!”
“Envy doesn’t suit you, Jacob.”
“Envy?”
“Clearly, you’re jealous of him. Let’s not pretend otherwise. You’ve always been a petty child, feeling like everyone is always out to get you. And now you’re extending that paranoia to me.”
It was rich, Father calling him paranoid. This was a man who once executed his entire servant staff because someone had accidentally thrown out his kaikai berry shipment, claiming that the berries gave him vitality and that his staff clearly wanted him to fall ill.
“Just promise me that you won’t let those crystals out of your sight. Do not let Mason give them to Elder Ponson, or whatever else he thinks you should do with them.”
“I suppose I should just give them to you, right? You’ll take great care of them, I’ll bet. Only Prince Jacob could be the custodian of such power?”
Yes. That’s exactly right, you old fool.
“No, you keep them. You are the King, not me. If I wanted the power, I wouldn’t have returned home with the wizard’s soul. I would have remained on Earth and raised an army of my own. No one could have stopped me. And nobody can stop you, Father. You just need to see the possibilities. Stop being blinded by whatever Mason is doing.”
Jacob stopped short of giving the example of Mason not stepping up to save Callen’s Bay. He wasn’t sure how much was known beyond The Council, or even the King’s two most trusted advisers. Saying too much could reveal Jacob’s partner in what was to come next.
“Is that all?”
Jacob met the old man’s eyes feeling two things at once — rage that Father never listened, and pity that the man was blind to what was coming.
I tried to do the right thing.
I tried, but he refuses to let me.
So be it.
“Yes, my King,” Jacob said, looking down at the ground.
Father said nothing.
No thank-you.
No I’ll think about it.
Nothing.
He simply left.
Jacob stood in the shadows seething.
Oh well. I tried to do the right thing by my family. Now it’s time to do right by me.
Twenty
Zol left the hallway shaking his head, disgusted with his son yet again.
Something was wrong with the boy. Always had been. Even from early on, Zol knew it. He was soft, too needy of his mother’s affection, too jealous of his brothers receiving attention, and too stupid to realize his weaknesses, always blaming others for his failings.
Jacob was too much like his mother, whose name Zol refused to ever remember again. Why had she not taken Jacob with the other two? Why leave behind such a failure of a child who would grow up to be a sorry excuse for the family name?
Perhaps it was one final fuck-you to him.
The woman had never appreciated anything that he had tried to do for her. Never appreciated how hard he worked to maintain a kingdom even as the world around them crumbled. Never appreciated him choosing her from among dozens of young women in the Calladian Mountains to make his wife, to give the gift of eternal life as a Valkoer.
She’d always seen herself as a victim, never recognizing opportunity for what it was.
And Jacob, as much as he hated his mother for abandoning him, was just like her: a victim, always looking to blame others for everything.
He was clearly jealous of Viceroy Mason, and likely the time they shared. But Zol refused to apologize. Calbot Mason was a longtime friend, one of maybe three men he trusted.
Zol would rather spend time with Mason, Barron, or even The Full Council than even an hour alone with his ungrateful, whiny son.
Why didn’t he stay on Earth?
It wasn’t as if Jacob was doing Zol any favors by bringing the wizard’s crystals home. It was just one more problem to manage, a problem that Zol didn’t fucking need right now.
Zol ran his hand over the pouch around his neck, concealed beneath his robes and shirt. They buzzed, warm to his touch, ready to be used however he wanted.
But he didn’t need their power.