A King Ascends, page 7
“Is the hidey-hole under the floor?”
“Yes, search for the seam. I know it’s in this corner,” she said in a tired voice.
“My lady, please sit and rest. I will look for you.”
She sent him a grateful smile as she sat down on a chair and cradled her injured arm to her.
Willem bent to inspect the seams, following the lines to see any gaps. The highly polished and tightly spaced floorboards caused him to make a more scrupulous inspection of the area. He looked at an area where the seam seemed to separate slightly, almost invisible.
As he ran his finger along the seam, the queen whispered, “Did you find it?”
“I think so. It’s so small,” he whispered back, as he got his knife out to pry the board. It was easier than he thought it would be, and the edge of the board slid out of its groove. After that, it was easy to remove the section of boards covering the opening. “That’s really ingenious,” he murmured.
“Yes, it is,” she murmured back.
He got down into the hole and used his wrist-light to inspect the area. The queen waited anxiously.
“It looks large enough and has a curve into an alcove. Do you want to stay here or look for another?”
I think I should do this now. I’m so tired, she thought. “I’ll stay down there and hopefully be unnoticed.”
He helped her down into the hole and to the little alcove.
“I’ll go get you some supplies, and any food I can find. My lady, I’ll do my best to get help for you as soon as possible.”
He turned to go but stopped and gave her the penlight. He hurried up into the rooms and grabbed whatever he could find to give her some comfort. Luckily, he found a kitchen area with water and food, but, before he could gather anything more, he heard footsteps. Two soldiers in Tariq uniforms came around the corner.
“What are you doing?” they demanded.
“I’m hungry,” he answered. One soldier looked into the large sack and snatched it from his hands. “Hey, that’s mine,” he yelled.
“Carry on,” the soldier told him, as the two men pushed past him.
He found another large cloth bag and quickly packed it full. He also gave her a knife to open stubborn packages, and in dire need, defend herself. On the way back, he grabbed pillows and blankets. He carried everything back to her, where he made a comfortable area so she could lie down, and he had grabbed some of the beautiful pillows to add to her comfort. He also put a low stool he had spied near her so she would have a place for her water and food.
“My lady, I’m sorry, but I need to put a pressure pack against your wound to help stop the loss of blood.”
She nodded reluctantly and bared her shoulder so he could work. It was soon done, and she gratefully pulled her clothes over her shoulder again.
“I must leave you now. Stay quiet and use the wrist-light only a little. I’ll return as soon as possible.” He left her and replaced the boards carefully, so the seam was barely noticeable.
CHAPTER 13
The impromptu team of Lu-zan, Phillip, and his son made good time considering Phillip’s injury. They stopped several times for breaks and for Phillip to check directions. The forest had little undergrowth, but with the growing darkness, Phillip was having trouble reading the compass. The wrist-light supplied by Lu-zan helped. He made frequent checks of the compass and made slight adjustments to their heading. The forest was mostly species of Earthlike tree growth, including tall oaks, maples, and a few evergreens, mixed in with many species from other planets. Lu-zan noted the lack of rocks and debris on the forest floor.
Lu-zan had updated Matt on the attack at the campsite, and the injuries and loss the family had sustained. He also told him that the cave was very close to the prison. Phillip proved to be a skilled tracker, and his son was a great help to Phillip when he became fatigued. After a small amount of backtracking, they finally came into view of the cave. Phillip, sore and tired, was happy to have made such good time. It pleased Lu-zan they had made good progress across the rolling hillside, especially through a forest. They had used little light except to check the compass, and the lack of undergrowth in this forest helped them. Lu-zan wondered what this forest would look like in the daytime. Too bad they were seeing it at night, he thought. Visibility was maybe five feet, so Lu-zan stayed very close to Phillip and his son for the entire trip.
“I’ll go in first. Dr. Michaels might be startled if Jon is still in the cocoon, or they might be sleeping.”
“Okay, be careful. I’ll wait a few minutes, but don’t take too long. I’m rather eager to see Jon for myself,” Lu-zan stated.
Phillip entered and turned on the flashlight once he was out of sight of the cave opening.
“Alexis,” he called softly. A slight noise reached his ear, and he slowed and called again.
Abruptly, a face appeared in the beam. It was bald and had dyed blue eyelids. “Yak…what?” he cried.
“Phillip?” came a calm voice.
“Dr. Michaels!” Phillip yelled to cover how startled he felt. “Are you alright?”
Alexis ducked around Jon and squinted as she faced the beam of the flashlight. “Could you lower that a little? Phillip, this is Jon. He doesn’t quite look like he did. The cocoon changed something in him. Are you here by yourself? Didn’t Matt O’Shea come with you?”
“Lu-zan is here. Matt had to cover the original attack site. I left him outside. Let me go get him,” he told her, as he hastened to the cave entrance. He shook his head as he sought to get his heartbeat back to normal.
Alexis and Jon moved back and lit more lanterns. They moved supplies around to make room. The three men came into the inner cave. They all stared at Jon, for none could understand or believe the changes that had occurred. Jon waited nervously for his friend to acknowledge that it was really him. He started to speak and stopped.
It came to Lu-zan that Jon was unsure of his reception. He moved forward and took the young man into his arms. The movement broke the tension that had developed in the cave. Jon grabbed onto Lu-zan and held on like his life depended on the contact. Alexis watched the reunion silently.
“What did you do to yourself? At least the new haircut suits you,” Lu-zan joked to break the tension, and he patted Jon’s shoulder. Jon broke off from Lu-zan and wiped his eyes.
“Don’t hug him so hard. We just got him healed up,” Alexis complained.
“Man, I’m so glad to see you guys. Do you have a plan for us?” Jon asked hopefully, as he looked at Lu-zan.
“Us?” Lu-zan asked in confusion. “Is Dr. Michaels coming, too?”
“I’m sorry, I assumed.” Jon turned to Alexis and asked, “Do you want to come?” He left unsaid, “With me?”
Alexis hesitated as she considered what she would be leaving. I have a job here, but I had been wanting to explore my options. Indecision ruled her as she looked at Phillip and Jon. This could get very dangerous. Do I want to put myself in that kind of danger? She weighed her obligations to the prison and her obligation to Jon as his doctor. We have talked about Jon’s family, and I think I understand, at least a little, what Jon is facing. In the end, she decided she wanted to be part of this.
“I’m coming with you,” she told Jon. Jon’s smile was her answer. She turned to Lu-zan and said, “Hello, I’m Dr. Alexis Michaels. Please call me Alexis.”
“Alexis, I am very pleased to meet you. Phillip had high praise, and I have some need of your skills. The prefect’s men attacked us at the campsite. They injured Phillip, and they killed their wonderful guard dog, Ashi. We need to move to make it back to the campsite by dawn. As Jon’s doctor, is he fit enough to travel fast through heavy forest?” Lu-zan asked anxiously.
Jon started to answer, but Lu-zan’s hand on his arm stopped him, and he also turned to look at Alexis.
“It’s hard to know for sure since I only have my emergency medical bag with me, but I think Jon’s okay. He’s still sore and lacking vitality, but with our help, I think he’ll make it. He has undergone physical changes, such as hair loss and a ridge going down his back, and some skull abnormalities. I don’t understand what those mean yet. It was scary. I still don’t know what the cocoon was, but when Jon came out of it, he didn’t have the visible scars he had before. I tried to palpate the areas of the worst injuries, and they seemed to have healed. When I get to some deep scan medical equipment, like a CT scanner or an x-ray, I will feel better. As for Phillip, let me examine him and see if he can travel.”
During the entire time she was talking, Jon watched her. He reached for her hand, and she let him. Phillip and Lu-zan exchanged looks. Maybe that’s the way it is. Good, thought Lu-zan.
“We need you to hide from the younger children. I think Stone will probably take Ashi as evidence of the attack. You are going to love Mari. She is very special.” Lu-zan continued. “The kids are young. Phillip’s eldest son is here to help, too,” he added, as he put his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “He has been a great help. Jon, can we talk privately somewhere? I have important news.”
“Sure, come this way.” Jon sent Alexis a last look as he led Luzan to the entrance of the cave.
“Jon…Jon, I don’t know how to tell you this.”
“What is it?”
“Jon, all hell is breaking loose on your home planet. Your family is in danger, and unexplained disappearances have occurred. So far, the list includes your father, your mother, sister, and two brothers, plus various ministers. The government claims a series of unusual freak accidents. General Tariq demands to know your location.” With each word uttered by Lu-zan, Jon turned into himself, seeming to grow smaller and smaller as his grief threatened to crush what little control he had left.
Jon’s grief-filled face turned from Lu-zan to look at the forest. An oppressive scent of pine teased the air as Lu-zan, equally worried and haggard, wondered how to tell him all that had happened in his home world. He took a breath and plunged ahead.
“But it goes further than that. We cannot contact any of your living relatives at all. We can’t get any information on the condition of your father. He has disappeared, and General Tariq claims to know nothing of his whereabouts. You’re the last one in your entire family, and now someone wants you. Why, Jon? Can you tell me what’s going on?” Lu-zan pleaded, wanting to know how to best help his friend.
Placing a comforting touch on Jon’s shoulder, Lu-zan could see the shimmer of tears and feel the tension in his friend’s body.
“Jon, do you know what’s going on?” he gently asked again.
“All of them, gone? I felt my father—you see? I had hoped…I know…my father is dead, but all of them?” Jon asked explosively. “Part of the changes in my body are because of the death of my father, but I hoped it might mean he was sick, or that others had survived. I watched my father go through the same changes when his father died, but I hoped.”
“Oh, Jon, I am so terribly sorry.”
With his arms clutched around himself and the ragged remains of his clothes, Jon turned his back to Lu-zan and stumbled away to collapse on the hard ground of the cave. Lu-zan saw, in the early dawn, the wide ridge that ran down Jon’s back and the two small projections growing from the base of his skull. Lu-zan didn’t know anyone else from the planet Tyrea, so he didn’t know whether the changes in Jon were normal or something unique to the ruling family. The traumatic changes were stunning, but the biggest shock was the loss of Jon’s hair—his long, flowing mane. If it weren’t for his friend’s unique eyes, even Matt would not have recognized him. The huge silvery eyes and their blue eyelids were the only feature that seemed the same. This is my friend, and I’ll do all in my power to help him through this, Lu-zan silently vowed.
“I wish I could give you all the time you need to grieve, but we have to get you out of danger.”
“I have to get home.”
“You’re kidding.” Appalled that Jon would even consider such a rash act, Lu-zan whispered, “You can’t go home. Didn’t you hear me? You’re in no condition to go anywhere, especially there.”
“Lu-zan, I have no choice…no choice. Look at me. I’m changing. You don’t know its meaning, but please take my word.”
“You’re right. I don’t understand, so make me understand. You can start with how you know your father is dead.”
Staring dully out at the darkness that surrounded them, Jon swallowed convulsively and rocked back and forth on the rough ground. After a minute, he spoke. Haltingly, then with more urgency, the words poured out.
“My planet…my home…binds my family in service. For centuries, we have served. The planet chooses the eldest in my family, man, woman, or child. The planet chooses the time. Usually, it only happens every 200 or 300 years. But always…it happens.” Jon struggled to get the words past his throat to explain. “It chose my father… twelve years ago when my grandfather died. We didn’t think it would call me. The one chosen is very long-lived, longer than our normal lifespan of around 150 years. That’s why I got to teach off planet. If my father lived, I would not change, but if he died, I would change and become king. My father didn’t want me to go, but my mother convinced him. Now…now they possibly are dead, gone, and I’ll never, never see them again.” The tears were flowing freely. “Now I must go. The planet calls.” Jon’s hands moved to Luzan’s arms, holding him as an anchor, his eyes pleading. “Do you understand? I must go.”
“I have a lot of questions, but if you need to go home, my questions will have to wait,” Lu-zan reassured him. “Somehow, we’ll do it. But Jon, if the planet chose you, why are all your relatives dying or missing? Why is the prefect trying to make you a prisoner? What’s going on? Is this a hostile takeover? What does Tariq have to do with this? He’s running the government right now. Where are the ministers?”
Jon’s grief-stricken eyes looked into his. “I don’t know. That’s part of the reason I have to travel home. There are people I can contact who might know. I have to at least try. People on my planet looked up to my father. I can find help.”
“Okay, but you’ll need to take a roundabout route to get there. They will watch the spaceports—especially any transports from this planet. We’ll work out a plan of our movements. I wish we had time for you to grieve, but we really have to move to keep suspicion low.”
CHAPTER 14
The prefect was in a towering rage as he stormed back to the charted ship. His guards tried to stay out of his way. He barricaded himself in his cabin and made plans on how he would tell General Tariq of his failure, and he wondered whether he would live through the experience. Somehow, he had to turn the blame on someone else. The obvious choice was the warden. Yes, he thought. I will place the blame entirely on the warden.
The guards gathered in their temporary onboard room. They looked at each other nervously. Losing their prey was a new wrinkle in their mission.
The sergeant turned to his adjutant and complained in a low voice. “He will turn on one of us for this.” His adjutant cringed and silently pointed to the youngest among them and then turned to the young man and pointed toward the door.
The young soldier shook, and the other guards sent him no sympathetic glances. Each of them wore the scars. Seeing he was not getting any support, Sugan got up and slowly moved to knock on the prefect’s door. The guards tried their best to ignore the screams that began to issue from the room. The screams lasted a long time, and the longer they lasted, the more they muttered among themselves. The prefect’s long-lasting rage had never been so brutal. Gradually, the sounds died away, and the prefect appeared at his door.
“Get rid of this trash,” he ordered, as he stalked away from the room.
The soldiers stared at their comrade. There was blood everywhere, and the tied young soldier lay draped over a wood chair. The sergeant stared in hatred at that chair. He once had been in a similar chair.
The man was barely breathing. Guards gently put him on a cart and took him to the ship’s medic. The medic just shook his head and did his best to patch up the results of another one of the prefect’s rages. He hoped he could do it again this time.
The sergeant later met with his adjutant privately in his quarters.
“This has got to stop,” he complained, as he paced the small space. “He’ll kill us all one by one if this keeps up.”
“Young Sugen might not make it. The prefect is getting more and more like Tariq,” the adjutant dared to complain.
“I know.”
“Are we just trading Tariq with someone like the prefect? There is barely any difference between them anymore. I don’t think this is worth the money he promised,” the adjutant muttered.
The sergeant narrowed his eyes as he studied the other man. “Careful,” he admonished. “We definitely do not want that to get back to him.”
“I still don’t like it. I want to get clear of Tariq, not install another one just like him in his place.”
The sergeant sent the adjutant a sly glance. After all, his own agenda called for the prefect to overthrow Tariq. For now, he needed the adjutant to be faithful to him, not the prefect.
A brutish man, the adjutant was big in stature but small in brain power, though he was loyal to the sergeant, who needed him to remain that way. He weighed his options. Was it too soon to reveal his own ambitions and risk that loyalty, or should he simply fan the man’s fanatical feelings against the prefect and Tariq? Yes, he thought. I’ll talk a little…it is a little safer.
CHAPTER 15
General Tariq surveyed his domain and liked what he saw, although there were a few loose ends to take care of soon. Returning his attention to the person lying senseless on the floor, he cherished the adrenaline rush he got when he saw the fear bloom on his face. He remembered the first moment he had felt it. It was that last scene with his wife. His young wife of two years had been after him again about having children.
