A King Ascends, page 9
“When did you get here? What are you doing here?” he yelled. “Why tiptoe around the other room? Alexis could have fallen to her death.” He rubbed his hands over his bare head and down over his face.
Matt grinned. “We just didn’t want to wake you.”
“We?” Alexis asked him, as she grabbed a robe.
Lu-zan peeked around the doorway between the two rooms. “I sincerely apologize, my friends.”
“We came up with an alternate plan to get you to Tyrea. We found a small supply shuttle going to the surface from the space station. Lu-zan and I are to stop there as part of a standard tour of potential training sites. We can get you to the space station and then onto the shuttle. The problem is the shuttle is going to the southern spaceport. You and Alexis will have to travel overland to the capital alone, but your disguises should be foolproof.”
“How soon can we go?” Jon asked, already turning to grab their packs.
“Jon, first you need to rest. That’s why Lu-zan and I were trying to be quiet and not wake you. The transport leaves tomorrow at 10:43 a.m., and you will need to be at the port by 9:00 a.m. local time, which gives you time to sleep and eat.”
“Let’s get some sleep before the next leg of the trip tomorrow,” Alexis suggested, as she moved away. “Our ship leaves at 10:32 a.m., and we have to be at the spaceport by 9:00 a.m. That only lets us have six hours of sleep.”
Lu-zan came forward. “My son, you must do this. It is the most secure way to get to the planet’s surface.”
Jon reluctantly agreed. “Next time, don’t scare us like that.”
“Hopefully, there won’t be a next time.”
CHAPTER 17
For all of his blustering, the prefect was shaking as he walked to General Tariq’s office. His failure to deliver Jon was a complete disaster, but if nothing else, he was a survivor so far. He knocked on the door and waited for permission to enter. At least his troops would not witness his humiliation. They knew, and it had the bigger benefit that they viewed him as one of them.
General Tariq was sitting at his desk, pulling his hand up and down the staff he loved to use on people. The prefect watched him stroking that staff, knowing the enjoyment the general got when he applied it to someone’s back or legs. It’s ironic, thought the prefect, that we share the same enjoyment.
“Would you care to explain why you have returned without the cargo I asked you to pick up?”
The prefect watched as the general continued to stroke the staff up and down. He could feel his body yearning for it. He hated that part of himself, but the pleasure was so intense.
“Everything went as clockwork when we initially picked up the prince, but the ship developed a problem. We were lucky that it crashed on a prison planet. Several of us got injured, including him. I had to have him treated. The warden was not very cooperative. The prince somehow escaped, either on his own or maybe he had help.”
“Take off your coat,” demanded the general.
Trembling with fear, the prefect removed his coat and risked a quick glance as the general stopped stroking the staff. The prefect rushed on with his explanation.
“The warden refused to search for the prince, so I had to do that myself. I also had to search the grounds of the prison, and I tried to search outside the grounds, but the warden got the air patrol to stop the search. They even killed a couple of my men. It’s amazing I escaped with my life. I thought he would try to come home.”
“Strip all the way,” demanded the general, ignoring all the prefect’s excuses. Now he was shaking all over. Already he could feel the excitement and dread building in his body. “Take your clothes to the other room,” the general told him.
“Hmm, that is an interesting idea. If he came home, where would he go for help? Senator Aeneas’ name comes to mind, since he was an old friend of the family. I have been removing ministers whom I don’t like for some time now. Yes, he would probably go to the senator for help. Walk to the wall and turn around,” the general continued, as he calmly fastened the restraints to the prefect’s ankles and wrists. He also secured a belt around the prefect’s waist. Now he was really shaking.
“I can pick the senator up, sir,” he pleaded, eager to make up for his mistake.
“You will not be in any shape to do that. We will be busy for a while, you and I.” The general closed the soundproof door.
The prefect stood staring at the gray wall across the room, waiting for that first lash to fall. He hated the anticipation he felt, and he loved it also, but this time, he knew it was going to be especially bad. That was one thing he didn’t understand: why he loved the lashings so much and hated the one giving it. One of these times, I am going to break that cane. He sighed, knowing he never would. He closed his eyes and told himself it could have been worse. Yes, it could have been much worse. He could be dead and miss the pleasure to come.
“Shall we start?” asked Tariq.
CHAPTER 18
Tariq summoned Senator Aeneas to an audience. Aeneas was not a fan of Tariq. They had served together on the Planetary Board, but Aeneas couldn’t stand or trust him. Oh, he was nice enough, but Aeneas felt uneasy around him. He feared what he could want with him, especially since so many people had gone missing. The senator suspected the general might have something to do with it. Now he was about to see the man.
He turned to the guards that the general had sent to escort him. “I need my coat,” he said, hurrying down the hall. He was frantic to get to the kitchen and his daughter.
“Anya, come here, dear,” he whispered, so the guards would not hear. “Do you know where my blue coat is?” he asked in a louder voice, signaling to Anya to keep quiet by putting his finger across his lips.
Looking at him questioningly, she walked over to him. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I’m afraid General Tariq has sent his guards to take me to an audience with him. I’m wondering if I’ll return. Some senators are missing, and I am wondering if he is responsible.”
Anya looked alarmed.
“Pack some clothes and go to your cousin Yancey’s house. I’ll come to you as soon as I can. I love you. Hurry now.” He kissed her forehead and hurried out to the hall closet.
“Ah, here it is.”
The guards bundled the senator into the air car waiting out front. Anya hurried to a window to see him leave, then she rushed to carry out his wishes.
The senator watched the city speed by as the air car rose toward the palace and wondered whether he would live to see it again. His late wife had loved flowers in gold and blue hues and had planted them all over the estate that he had built for their family. The massive trees framed the expanse of the house and acreage beautifully. Now he doubted whether he would see them or his family ever again.
People below went about their normal lives, completely oblivious to how deeply their government had sunk. He would like to live to be part of the solution and end the madness of General Tariq. He remembered when Tariq had first appeared at the assembly as the representative from the Northern Military Alliance, which had always been more extremely militant and considered radical. The Northern Alliance was on the next largest island, separated from the capital, which was on the largest island on the planet. But something was happening here in the Eastern Alliance capital. Tariq was now taking control because some very important people had gone missing. Aeneas was sure that Tariq was making a grab for power, and it must stop, but no one was sure how.
The palace came into view, and he could feel his body tense. Did anyone else besides Anya know about this meeting? If he disappeared or was killed, would anyone even know? he wondered. He didn’t have answers for any of his whirling questions.
The palace gates flashed by as the air car prepared to land. They ushered the senator out of the car and through a side door. He looked around, noticing that in the cleared halls, no one would see him. That answered one of his questions, and he felt it didn’t bode well for his future. Soon they came to the general’s office, where they pushed the senator into a room, the guards taking up posts outside the door.
Aeneas straightened his clothes and looked around the room. Silently, he noticed other doors, placement of the windows—which he checked to see whether they were unlocked—and he especially looked for any type of surveillance equipment. He then quietly took a seat and waited and waited and waited. Hours later, General Tariq and the prefect finally came in the door.
Okay, point taken, thought the senator. I’m here at your leisure. He noticed the prefect seemed to limp a little as he passed him. The senator took a quick look at the prefect’s face, catching a grimace as the man moved. So, Tariq is also in control of the prefect. Interesting, thought Aeneas.
“Here you are,” Tariq said in a pleasant tone.
No title, another bad sign, thought the senator.
“I think you know the prefect.”
“What do you want, Tariq?” He purposefully ignored the prefect. “I have work, if you don’t.”
“Oh, you will do what I tell you.”
“What do you mean?” said the senator. Tariq was too sure of himself. What did he have up his sleeve? He glanced at the prefect, but no help came from him. The prefect looked ill, as if he were in pain. The senator wondered what hold Tariq had on the prefect to force him to comply. He, himself, had taken precautions because of the unrest. All the household staff had the week off. He had wanted them safe with their families. I hope Anya got out of the house in time, he prayed, to get to her cousin’s home outside the city limits.
Where are the king and queen? he wondered. Other ministers were missing. He didn’t know whether they had left at the beginning of the troubles or if Tariq had them in cells. He hoped the growing list of names did not include his—that he, too, would find himself soon inhabiting one of those cells.
“What I mean, Senator, is I need you to do me a favor. Just a little favor, among friends. A matter has come up, and you will be at the center.”
“What is it?”
“Well, I’m expecting a representative of the royal family, and I think they will ask you to bring them to the palace. I just need you to deliver him or her to me.”
“Whomever it is doesn’t need me to take him or her to the palace. They are welcome here. They live here after all.”
“You don’t understand me. Let me make myself clearer. I require you to lead him or them to ME. I do not wish anyone to know they are here.”
“What do you plan to do?” The senator rose out of his chair, and arms appeared from behind him, pushing him back down. He twisted to see who was there. Guards and the prefect had moved behind him. His heart leaped into his throat. Next, Tariq would begin his threats. He wondered what Tariq could come up with to threaten him. His wife had been dead for many years, and he had sent his daughter away. He had lived a long life with few regrets.
“Why do you think I’ll help you?”
“Let me show you.” He signaled to one of his soldiers.
Senator Aeneas looked around, fear gripping his throat. “Oh no,” he whispered in despair.
“Oh yes, my dear Senator. I have your beautiful daughter. I don’t want to harm her, and I won’t if you do what I tell you to do. Understand now?”
Aeneas looked at the terrified, but still defiant, face of his child. He knew he would do anything to keep her alive, including betraying the royal family. God forgive him, but he had to keep her safe.
Anya looked at her father and saw the defeat in his eyes. “Don’t do it, Father. He’ll kill us anyway.” She didn’t want him bartering with Tariq for her freedom, but she could see the fear and defeat in her father’s face.
He couldn’t take the chance. “Do you promise not to harm her?”
“I am a man of compassion. Ask the prefect, who failed at the small errand I gave him to do, and he is still alive. Isn’t that right, Prefect?”
“You are very compassionate, General.” The prefect glanced uneasily at the general as he spoke.
“Take her away.” Tariq waved the guard and prisoner away. Turning to the senator, he saw the defeated look on his face and could smell the fear.
Taking a deep breath, the senator slowly nodded his head. Looking up at Tariq, he pleaded and promised in the same sentence, “You harm her, I WILL make you pay.”
“Of course, my dear Senator, I don’t want to hurt a single hair on her head. Take him and his daughter back home. A guard will watch at all times, so don’t run or send your daughter to shelter. You will be sorry. Goodbye, Senator.”
The guards pushed him into an air car quicker than when he had arrived. He protested that his daughter was not with him. He worried that Tariq had lied, and he wouldn’t return Anya to him. The guards said nothing. He could have been a piece of meat that they were delivering. He wanted to kick or beat someone, preferably Tariq, or one of his guards. They arrived back at his home without his even being aware of the trip. His thoughts went round and round, worrying how he could betray his close friends and how could he not, because of Anya. He felt his upset stomach churn, and he hoped he wouldn’t embarrass himself. Better yet, maybe he could throw up on the guards’ boots.
When he opened his front door, it shocked him to find he was being squeezed to death. Looking down, he realized the person doing the squeezing was his beloved daughter. He put his arms around her and squeezed her right back. The guard quietly closed the door and stood waiting. The senator looked at him and took a step toward him, his hands clenched. Anya cried out and put herself between them.
“Father, Father, no, you don’t understand,” Anya cried, as she faced her father.
“What…what don’t I understand?” he demanded, as he continued to glare at the guard.
Anya looked sheepish. The guard had the grace to look at his boots. Visibly gathering her courage, Anya took the man’s hand and brought him closer.
“Father, Willem is here to watch us, but he is also my special friend. He has been very helpful to me but also to the queen.”
“Sir, I am no true soldier for General Tariq. He is truly an evil man. I have been part of his guard unit for the last six months. He has ordered some ministers imprisoned, intimidated, and murdered. Also, I found the queen trying to walk down a hallway. She was badly injured and was trying to find shelter. I got her to a hideout. The general has ordered the guards to find her. I hope she is disguised enough till I can get her some additional help. I want to do more. What else can I do?”
The senator eyed him and tried to gauge the truth or whether he could take a chance and believe him. He looked at his daughter’s hopeful face and sighed.
“Do you know what Tariq is doing? Do you know what Tariq threatened?” he demanded to know, as he glared at Willem.
“He hurt the queen. I haven’t been privy to everything, but I know enough that I had to step in today. Sir, I heard part of what he asked you to do. You can’t do it, sir. I feel Prince Jon is the key to our salvation.”
The senator was not willing to meet the eyes of his daughter. “I can’t take a chance with Anya’s life. I’m sorry I am not so brave when it comes to your safety.” His eyes pleaded that she understand. “I don’t know what to answer. With you here, I can at least try to warn whoever is coming from the royal family.”
“Father, the fight has come to us. We all have to do what we can. That includes me and Willem. We are young, but we still have to do our part.” Anya tried to make him understand. “Mother would have insisted she fight with you. Besides, Prince Jon might have a plan.”
“Sir, maybe we can plan something to help destroy the general’s plans. Meanwhile, I can try to discover what happened to the rest of the royal family. I hope the hideout for the queen is a shrouded enough place, but no one knows where the others are.”
“Wait, do you mean, except for Jon and the queen, the rest are all missing?” The senator could feel his panic rising. The king was an intrinsic part of the power grid for the planet. He didn’t understand how, but it always called on the royal family to manage the power of the core. When he became a senator, he was told about their special connection to the planet. This knowledge was privileged information and not something he could share.
“Let me think for a moment.” He walked away from the young couple. If Tariq was making a power grab, he would need to get rid of all the royal family and get control of the senators and ministers. They could have gone into hiding, or Tariq could have them in dungeons, or the third option, they could be dead. Is this a power grab by the Northern Alliance, or is Tariq making a play for power on his own? Well, we will deal with one problem at a time. Tariq had demanded that he bring the royal family member that is coming to him.
He knew all the royal family members—the king, queen, three sons, and one daughter. They were his friends. Jon, the eldest son, was off planet working as a survival guide or something, so it must be Jon who was coming.
“Willem, can you investigate what happened to the royal family? Or, at least, check the dungeons for them? I don’t know when this royal person will show up.”
Willem nodded. “But, sir, I’m supposed to stay here and watch you and Anya.”
“Will anyone relieve you, or do you need to check-in somehow?”
“I have to check in every four hours, and you and Anya have to be seen on-screen. I still need to check for listening devices in the other rooms. I already checked this room and closed the doors on this floor. They shouldn’t be able to hear us talking.”
“Okay, we will check in regularly and work on a plan. In the meantime, the household staff will be back next week, and maybe we can use their help without endangering them. Can you make an off-planet call without getting caught?”
“Yes, sir. I have off-planet access on my private phone.”
“Okay, let’s do this. Call the Intergalactic Police and report the royal family as missing. That should start a check on them. I’m surprised Tariq hasn’t cut your access, but I don’t think he wants to stir up the public yet. Since he has instigated more patrols and tighter restrictions on gatherings, the public is already on edge. At least, that’s a first step. We’ll figure out the rest as we go along.” The senator gripped Willem’s shoulder and gave his daughter a hug.
