by A D Lombardo
Even though he seemed restrained, Kai was unsure how much time he had. Would the man from downstairs, this Keegan, be next through the door, swinging his two black swords? Gently he rolled over Nola and Cordelia; they were alive but unconscious. No cuts or bruises. Beside them lay Kendra. He removed her apron and tied Landon’s legs. Satisfied, he checked on Aaron and Seth. They were asleep. No injuries.
From the hall, he heard loud voices and boots rapidly stomping up the stairwell, then came the sound of dogs barking. Mryken burst into the room followed by Cazier, Dresnor, and two guards, all with swords drawn. Then Iver entered. Kai stood over Landon’s bound and gagged body. Iver crouched down to Nola and Cordelia, relief welling in his eyes. “Bless you, Kai. Are you alright?”
“I am fine,” Kai answered. “Landon used a silver ball and knocked them out. I was able to take him by surprise. He is still breathing, but he hit his head hard on the table when he went down. He is bleeding pretty badly.”
Still in shock, Iver looked over the scene. “I’m proud of you, son. How did you get here so fast?”
Kai ran his thumb around the corner of his chin and glanced at the Master General. Cazier’s stern look told him he needed to keep it simple. “I came upstairs to check on Smoke when I heard a commotion in the hallway. When I peeked down the hall, I saw Landon toss a silver ball at the ground. There was a flash, a loud bang, and a plume of smoke. Then all the guards fell to the floor, along with the Mryken. Landon ran to the nursery and I heard the same loud bang, and smoke rolled out into the hallway.” Kai placed a hand on his heart and continued. “I ran to the nursery and found Landon standing over Cordelia with a dagger. He mentioned a man’s name—he said Keegan wanted him to take Cordelia. He didn’t know I was there, so I slammed into the back of him. Fortunately, he clipped the table with his head, nearly knocking him out. The dagger landed somewhere over there.”
Kai stepped to the window seat and picked up the dagger. It had a twisted metal blade and a black leather handle.
Cazier stepped around Iver and retrieved the knife. “Dresnor, have one of your men escort Landon to the tower cells. I will question him later.”
Confused, Kai shook his head. He could not believe what just happened. “Father, what’s going on? Why would Landon do this? I’ve known him all my life; he grew up here. Sure, he is not the nicest person, but why would he do this? Who is this Keegan?”
Iver placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “We all have questions. Let’s take care of our family and then we can talk.” Iver lifted Cordelia and gently placed her on the bed. “Son, I will carry Seth. Please bring Aaron. We can take them to their room. Cazier, please put Kendra in her bed, there in the corner. Once you’ve secured the floor, meet us in my study. Dresnor, see to the guests. Double the guards on every floor. Question everyone before you send them away. Finally, instruct Dante to pull extra men back to the palace.”
Dresnor bowed, “As you command, Your Royal Highness.”
Chapter 20
Mariana’s Secret
The tension in the king’s study left Kai on edge. He sat on the sofa, staring into the fireplace, his father in a chair to his right. Lost in thought, he nervously waited for the Master General. How could this be happening? Nothing makes sense.
Cazier entered and took the vacant chair. “They found Marcone, under the stone walkway leading up to the palace entrance. He’d been stripped of his uniform, bound and gagged. It took him several moments to speak. Most of what he said was gibberish. We will get nothing of use from him tonight. We took him to Sigry.” The Master General shook his head in bewilderment. “I’ve never seen anyone so incoherent from what appeared to be nothing more than a minor head wound.”
“What of the palace?” Iver questioned. “The Maxwells, have they been secured?”
“Dante is seeing to all guests,” Cazier acknowledged. “We are getting them accommodations outside of the palace grounds. Those asleep are under armed guard in the great hall. The Maxwells are in their room, with armed guards securing the hall. I will see to questioning them myself once we are finished here.”
Iver nodded to Cazier and turned to Kai. “Son, we need to talk.” Iver looked to Cazier. “I have a story to tell my son, and you need to learn it too.”
Kai looked from his father to his cousin and back again. “What happened downstairs? As I left the great hall, I saw Landon arrive with someone. Was that Keegan, the one Landon spoke of? Why does Landon hate us?”
The look of anguish washed over the king’s face. “It’s a long story,” Iver began. “The Diu kingdom has a long history with the Milnos kingdom. The Bangloo empire once ruled Milnos. They tried to take Diu in a great war. King Nicholas Galloway made an alliance with Nebea by marrying his daughter Eden to Brandon Cazier. But they were still not enough to stop the iron city of Milnos. Bangloo supplied so many men. They wanted to devour our entire continent, piece by piece. Diu was simply an easy target.”
“My great grandmother Gianfranca called on the Katori to come to our aid. The Katori sent dragons to Bangloo. King Nicholas tricked Milnos and struck directly at the heart of Bangloo. He moved the war to a new front. Bangloo was not prepared to fight on two fronts. Over half of their warriors were here attacking us. They retreated home back across the sea to defend their homeland. The second wave of dragons finished the battle here in Diu. We drove Milnos back. Our palace burned to the ground, but we won that day.”
“I had no idea,” Kai astounded. “Our history books never go into this much detail.”
“In every story, various parts get lost or changed.” Iver agreed. “Details are forgotten. Anyway, the Penier family were once kings that ruled Milnos for generations, serving the king of Bangloo. When my King Nicholas Galloway made peace with Bangloo, Milnos surrendered the war. The Penier family pledged peace. They could no longer afford to fight.
“In exchange, they could keep their kingdom. Nebea and Diu remained close allies. When Bannon Penier, Landon’s father, became king, the relationship between Diu and Milnos changed. I remember my father saying the conversations between him and Bannon were awkward one minute and friendly the next.”
Taken back in time, Iver paused. The weight of the world seemed heavy on his shoulders.
“Wait—Landon is a Penier? Not a Maxwell?” Confused, Kai looked to Cazier.
“Yes, Kai,” Cazier responded. “Landon is a Panier, adopted by Regent Maxwell.”
“Years later, my father,” Iver drew them back on topic, “King Everett Galloway, and Master General Aerin Cazier, Adrian’s father, traveled through Nebea to meet with King Trenton Cazier. They were hunting at the southern end of Lake Eden, near the border between Nebea and Milnos, when they received word about an uproar in the city. King Bannon called for my father’s help to establish peace. King Cazier sent word to Nebea for more men, but he and my father continued onward to answer the call for help.”
“With two small armies, they went to Milnos offering assistance. King Bannon Penier welcomed us in with open arms. He assured my father the riots had stopped, and the city was secure. King Bannon was pleasant and welcomed both kings into the fortress.”
The more Kai listened, the less he wanted to hear. It was hard to hear firsthand how your ancestors lived and died. Somehow coming from Professor Greydon it seemed fictional and distant. Still, he listened, hoping to learn something, not in his history books.
“After a meal, they adjourned to King Penier’s study, as they had done many times before. Master General Aerin Cazier told us that King Bannon ran my father through the heart with a dagger from behind. In the fight, Trenton sustained only one wound, a shallow cut across the chest. Trenton managed to kill King Bannon before succumbing to a poisoned blade. Master General Aerin was wounded but survived.
“Reinforcements came from Nebea and Diu over the following days. They captured the fortress, Aerin at the helm of both armies. As the next in line as King of Diu, I traveled to Nebea. As my first act, I sent an emissary to
Bangloo for answers. Their young King Seibur said he had no knowledge of King Bannon Penier’s actions, nor did he have an interest in a war with Diu or Nebea.”
Most of this was not news to Kai. He knew his history well. Milnos was a massive city, five times the size of Diu. Nebea was its only equal. Still hearing it firsthand from his father wrenched his heart. The pain of retelling it showed on his father.
Taking a breath, Iver raked his hand across his face. He looked exhausted reliving the loss of his father. “Are you alright, father?” Kai asked.
“Yes,” Iver responded. “As you can imagine, we were all devastated by the treachery—the loss of two kings in one day, King Trenton Cazier of Nebea and my father, King Everett Galloway. My own mother, Bellamay, died of a broken heart—the loss of her husband was more than she could bear. King Trenton had no children, so the crown fell to Andrew Cazier, Aerin’s eldest son. He became King of Nebea, while Aerin Cazier remained at my side as Master General.
“At the time, King Bannon Penier’s wife was pregnant.” Iver looked away, unable to look at Kai or Cazier. “Unfortunately, she was found complicit in her husband’s plan to kill my father. Killing Trenton had not initially been part of their plan, but they were just as content to take his life. They all but relished in their accomplishment while in prison. She gave birth to Landon, and after his birth, she was put to death.
“Lucas Maxwell, a high-ranking Duke in Milnos, assumed the role as regent by local recommendations. We did our best to influence that decision given the outrage in Diu and Nebea—many people wanted us to divide the country and take its spoils, but Milnos is massive and we did not want another war or civil unrest with such a large country.”
“So, Landon was raised in Milnos,” Kai interrupted, “until he was five and then brought here for guidance and formal education.
“Correct,” Cazier acknowledged. “Duke Raebun reported Landon missing two years ago. I have no idea where he has been all this time or when he turned against us. After a skirmish near Fort Pohaku, Landon quit and left the naval base. One can understand his desire for revenge, even though he has lived here for most of his life.”
Kai was astonished, and he sat there, mulling over everything he’d just learned. “That explains Landon’s hatred. But what of this other man, Keegan? Who is he and why was he after Cordelia? What did you take from him?”
“Keegan is Katori,” Iver answered. “He said he wanted compensation for something he feels I took from him. I never took your mother. She ran away from him. Said she feared his ruthless nature.”
Kai’s eyes bulged. “Keegan knew my mother?”
Iver covered his chest with his hands. “I promised your mother her secret would never be told unless she told it. But I guess it’s time. Since she is not here to tell you, I will have to tell it for her. She would want you to know.” Leaning to one side, Iver rubbed his forehead with his hand. “This part Cazier does not know but needs to learn.” Iver’s voice faltered.
The room fell silent, except for Kai’s heart pounding in his ears. His stomach twisted into a knot. The seconds felt like hours while he watched his father struggle to assemble the words that were stuck in his throat.
Iver’s eyes welled with emotion. “Kai, I am not your blood father. Three years after I became king, I began to travel the world seeking alliances and establishing trade. On one such trip, I met and fell in love with Mariana, from the first day I found her lying on a beach, covered in seaweed and sand. Her ship was destroyed, and she washed up on the Bangloo shore after running from Keegan.”
“I never knew how you and my mother met,” Kai interrupted.
“Yes, well, according to your mother, Keegan wanted to rule Katori. Maybe even the world. She said her elders banished Keegan from Katori after he attacked a sacred gathering place. Weeks later he came in disguise and tricked your mother. To him, she was some sort of prize. She was someone important to their community. Mariana said they were friends once, but he became violent. She rebuffed his advances, but he would not take no for an answer. He pushed himself on her.” Iver recoiled at the thought and yet he relaxed in the unburdening of his soul.
The world swam in Kai’s head. This could not be true. None of this could be real. “But you are my father,” Kai insisted.
“In every way that matters, I am.” Iver shifted in his chair and resumed his story. “We spent time getting to know each other while exploring the world. After sailing around the Caprizian Sea, Mariana began to show her pregnancy. I hid her from the crew until we landed off Ahana. On their sandy shores, I promised to love her forever. I promised to be a father to her unborn child if she’d have me. We were wed that afternoon, and we returned to Diu. The Diu people were happy to see I’d finally taken a bride, and nobody ever questioned if the baby was mine. Everyone who met your mother loved her instantly.”
Kai sat there overwhelmed by the story his father had just shared. What does this mean? If Iver is not my father, who am I now?
Iver looked at Adrian. “I shared this with you so that Kai is not alone with this news, and because we are family. There is trust between us. There is trust between the two of you.” He looked at Kai. “You are still my son—I chose to be your father. Nothing changes. I love you, son. This man Keegan is bad. Your mother feared him. Now he has his sights set on us. On you. I believe he has come to take you away from me.”
“This is all too much to believe,” Kai whispered to himself. So many thoughts ran through Kai’s mind. Keegan was his father. Which meant Kai was full Katori, not a Half-Light. This explained all his power. They sat in silence for a few moments. None willing to utter a word. It was almost too much to believe.
Quietly Iver stood and pulled a chain from his pocket. “Here, son, I want you to have this.” Iver dangled a necklace in front of Kai. “This was your mother’s necklace. She gave it to me when we first met. I’ve always kept it close to me. It will protect you as it has me.”
Kai accepted the chain. The crescent moon and stone dangled in front of him. He was surprised his father was willing to part with such a treasure. “Thank you, father. I will keep it safe.”
“Father, what happened with Keegan downstairs?”
“The long and short of it—Keegan escaped. He called young Amelia to his side. Tolan tried to pull her back, but Keegan tossed a blade at her dress. She was not hurt, but the dagger tore the hem of her gown. He threatened the next would strike her heart. Out of fear, she complied.”
Kai gasped. “Where is she? Is she alright?” Fear welled in his heart.
“She is fine,” Iver patted his son's shoulder. “The party-goers outside had no clue there was any chaos happening inside the palace. Seems Kempery-man Decklar saw her and wrapped her in a hug as they exited. Keegan released her hand and disappeared within the crowd. We are most fortunate that Decklar is a hugger, and Amelia looks like his daughter. She is with her parents now.”
Iver’s study filled with Kempery-men, followed by the Grand Duke. Iver turned to speak with Dante, and everyone left for the king’s council chamber.
Overwhelmed by the news, Kai retreated to his room. He needed to think. His mother’s necklace felt warm in his hand. He slipped the long chain around his head and tucked it under his shirt for safekeeping.
Chapter 21
Helena’s Rescue
For days and days after the attack on the palace, security around Diu remained intense, and Iver was constantly in his council chamber. Kai spent any time he could attending and listening. He wanted to gather any useful information he could. There had to be more to Landon. More to Keegan. Yet everything he learned was basically useless. They knew no more than he did. Spy reports mentioned Caroco ships near the Mystic Islands, but Keegan was a ghost in the wind.
The Winter Festival events concerned Kai: Landon’s betrayal, Keegan’s ability to look like Marcone, and the worst possible outcome…Keegan was his father. With this failed attempt to make Iver pay, would he come at them again? Who wou
ld he look like the next time?
Then there was Nola’s incomplete sentence—I’m your—it festered in Kai’s stomach. Who was Landon to her? Kai needed to know. This was not something he could ask her straight out. He would need Riome. Maybe she could uncover the queen’s secret.
Locked away in a dark cell, Landon was interrogated by Cazier repeatedly. Landon refused to divulge any accomplices. He offered no clues and insisted that he did not know Keegan, nor did he have any knowledge of Keegan’s plans. All indications led Kai to believe Landon would rot in prison. The last of his lineage. And he feared Keegan would return in force.
Master General Cazier requested extra men come from Fort Pohaku to secure Diu. It seemed to Kai like a short-term fix. They would not stay forever. At some point, the influx of men would go home. Every spy at Cazier’s disposal was set to search for Keegan or news of his whereabouts and plans.
New faces reported daily to Dante and Cazier. Spy networks from Diu and Nebea came to provide any news they could discover. While no news was not necessarily bad, it was not necessarily good either. All reports came back empty; the man was gone. There was not so much as a rumor of how he came into the city or where he went.
It boggled the mind to wonder how Keegan had managed to look like Marcone. Kai knew it was unnatural to change your face, yet when questioned, nobody else saw him change. They all remembered Marcone in the great hall, but they were unclear about how this stranger came to be wearing the Kempery-man’s uniform.
Sadly, Marcone was now little more than a vegetable. He had no memory of what happened, and his verbal skills were reduced to that of a young child. Regrettably, he was their only witness, and his memories were lost forever.
The king’s council chamber continued to be a hive of activity. Iver walked with authority, back to his usual self. Nola, shaken by the events, had withdrawn with her children. She kept to the family floor, rarely going outside. She even took meals in her room or the nursery. As far as Kai could tell, she only ventured down if Iver insisted she stand at his side.