Resolution

by Douglas E Roff

  The Lady Eene objected, “He has forbidden us to call him by his titles: he refuses the title King. What shall we do?”

  “He may be our King and the Chosen One. But he is mightier and more powerful than the Prophecy portends, and far wiser in all matters than we can understand. Though he is our King we, you and I, Eene, must guide and help teach him the Way and the Balance as we have come to understand it. He doesn’t yet understand the Way and the Balance and all its ramifications nor his importance to us, our peoples, and all who inhabit this world. His acolyte wives are trying very hard, but failing, so they too must be taught immediately too.”

  “How?”

  “I will inform him; he is ready to begin his new journey though he doesn’t know it yet.”

  “And us?”

  “We shall begin upon his return. And what is this French Toast he makes that you all so love, with butter and something called Maple syrup?”

  “You will taste it tomorrow, when cook, whom he has taught, makes it for us.”

  “Our Lord cooks?”

  “Yes, and wonderful meals at all times of the day and night. His evening meals are magic and rich. Even I must now run to balance my size. He is as no man as we have ever known. His wives find him so loving and kind they call him their wife. And directly to his face!”

  “Does he punish them for impudence? Beat them?”

  “No, he laughs and hugs them, showering kisses upon them as if it were all great fun. He’s difficult to understand. No, impossible.”

  The Lady Cia simply said, “He is not the Chosen One, Lady Eene. He is the Chosen of Chosen.”

  “Have you informed him yet?”

  Lady Cia said, “No, not yet by name, only by power, strength and wisdom. But I shall, soon, within days after his return. He must know; he must understand who and what he is.”

  “How?”

  “The Lady Kendra must be informed first and shown a world that his family does not yet know exists. Then, the gods willing, our Lord’s family will be instrumental in assisting us in helping him understand the knowledge he has and needs, and the manner in which to control it.”

  Lady Eene looked at her muddy friend smiling.

  “Shall I bathe you Lady Cia?”

  Lady Cia said, “I shall thrill to your touch.”

  “As will I to yours. It has been so long that we have waited, and in one brief day, we need wait no more.”

  Lady Cia smiled, and asked, “Shall I obey all your commands my Mistress? You are, after all, senior to me in this Household.”

  “Unless you wish punishment, which I shall have to mete out with firm resolve.”

  Chapter 45

  Aboard the jet bound to Athens, Kendra leaned into Adam and asked, “Did you attend to the that matter we discussed? I would’ve asked before, but in your state …”

  “What state? And no, I thought you would attend to that.”

  “Liar! And coward. You were afraid to tell her. To tell her what she must do. She now stands proudly with the Queen, Lady Eene and Lady Cia, and they’re all at risk. She will gladly give her life for you, but we both know this cannot be. What are your orders, my Lord?”

  Adam looked at Kendra, annoyed, but knowing she was correct. “First, stop calling me that.”

  “Do you prefer Chosen One? Master? Giver of Pleasures? Hunky Dunky?”

  “I shall … I shall …”

  Kendra interrupted and said, “Then call now and order what you should have already ordered. As we discussed.”

  Adam dialed his secure phone and was connected to the Queen.

  “My love, you call so soon. Is all well?”

  “It shall be. Please send a runner to fetch Akira and I will call back in an hour. Prepare Liesl for immediate departure. I’m sending a helicopter to remover her. She is in danger as are, therefore, you, the Lady Cia and the Lady Eene. You will all leave with her immediately.”

  “Akira is here now, but you know we cannot leave our people. Liesl, yes, but Eene, Cia and I must stay, as will Akira.”

  “I know, my Queen, but you, Akira and the Ladies must leave with Liesl as will all the town folk and Villagers. Planes are on the way and you will be settled for as long as you wish in Paraiso. Now, please let me talk to Akira.”

  Caroline paused, “But how?”

  “I love you and it is done. We need discuss no more, need we? You have much to do in the City of Light. Please help me begin. We much desire the counsel of Akira and the steadfastness of the Town and Villages. They are kind and can become the healers we shall need. There are plans for the evacuation of all the Gens Germania from the Black Forest. Speak to Helena and Bella once you are arrived and settled.”

  “My love? Will you still desire me once I am no longer Queen but a commoner?”

  “You shall always remain Queen, my Queen, and your line shall not perish. You will bear me children and be much loved among our people. And little Liesl? She is your distant cousin sent to Dietschberg for safety many seasons ago. Fear not my Queen, except for the wrath of your consort kept waiting to speak to Akira.”

  “I await your gentle discipline upon your return, whenever that may be. Here is Akira.”

  Adam and Akira spoke a great long while. Akira felt an obligation to his fellow clans to remain behind, but Adam assured him they too would soon be in the City of Light. In the end, disgruntled, he assented to the plan.

  ***

  The plane landed in a small airport outside of Athens; the men and Kendra disembarked. On the tarmac waiting to greet Adam were Misti, James and Raoul, Francois and Octavio. He instructed Octavio to accompany the Gens warriors into the hangar, while he asked the others, plus Chel, to accompany him into the airport control center.

  “They are all gathered and bound?”

  “Yes,” shouted James and Raoul in unison. “And two standing guard over them; both new recruits from the Eight Families.

  “Please convey my thanks should I forget.”

  As they walked forward, he took Misti aside. “I understand that you and Alana remain in contact without my knowledge or permission. Is this so?”

  “It is. So, what? You don’t command me or them. We are your consorts, not your servants. Remember that, oh Chosen One.” She began to walk away.

  “Pick up your pack and leave, Misti. You are not my servant, but it is I, not you, who is in command. Please leave now.”

  Misti grabbed her pack, mounted her motorcycle, and left.

  He dialed Paraiso and asked for Alana and Noki. They came on speakerphone.

  “Is everything in preparation?”

  “It is,” they said tonelessly.

  “Alana, I understand that you have been in communication with Misti without my knowledge or consent. Against my express orders.”

  “She needed our help. We desired to give it.”

  “This is not over. Your disobedience grows.”

  ***

  Adam entered the control center at the small airport in Athens. “If you cooperate, this will all be over soon, and no one need get hurt. If you don’t, all of you, your family and kin, will soon be dead. I would never even contemplate such action; it is horrific and inhumane. To call me a monster wouldn’t begin to describe what I am. But understand, my family has been kidnapped in order to draw me out. They, like you, are innocent in this matter and someone or some few of you know what happened here and may even know where my family is.

  “I only want my family back. Those who have perpetrated this crime are terrorists. They will be punished but I need your help now. Please find it in your heart to help me.

  “We have collected your identification and it appears only two of you, a certain Cestos Andropolis and Nikko Pastoro, have passports and a large sum of cash in their brief cases. I suspect that I shall speak to them first.

  “Sir!” A voice rang out from the back of the crowded room. “Let me speak first. I know something; something that may be useful. No one need die here today. Not for these two any
way; you may do what you please with them.”

  Adam asked the man to be brought forward. “Speak.”

  “The plane which the two women boarded arrived here from Rome. But it originated in Switzerland, according to the flight plan that I saw.”

  Another man, a technician, said, “He’s correct. And the outbound flight plan is almost identical. Athens, Rome then Zurich. But that will be changed in flight, and they will go to Milan, or some city nearby, as it has many times before.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “The plane belongs to the wealthy businessman, Dr. Federico Musso. He lives near Lake Como; he was here himself with his wife and two children. They spoke to the two women, who were quickly bound and shackled. They were wheels up within minutes after that.

  “Andropolis told me to mind my own business when I asked; that it was a police matter. Even I knew he was lying. Your arrival here doesn’t surprise me.”

  Adam ordered the workers freed, except Andropolis and Pastoro. The tech approached Adam again.

  “I might restrain these three folks too,” who he pointed out. “They are close friends with the two you have. I’d keep these five bound and kept together. Apply a little, you know, physical persuasion to Andropolis and he’ll squeal. He and his lot are all cowards and are easily bought.

  Adam called out to all his men and Kendra to board the four-propeller transport charter. “Take these five along for the ride; I wish to speak to speak to them as soon as we are airborne.

  The ground crew went back to work. The techs stood by the office, cell phones still in a pile on the table. “Go back to work and no calls out. You can have your phones back at the end of the day.”

  A man yelled out, “You have no right, no authority!”

  “I have this, a gift from the man we met.” It was a new Swiss semi-automatic rifle, with several clips.

  “You’ll never use that. You’re bluffing.”

  “Which is your car, Stavros.”

  “The blue 2016 Renault. Why?”

  The tech unloaded half a clip on the car. He handed the shocked man a card. Send the bill to this company. The man said his firm will pay for any damages. My cousin just told me he knows the man and he’s good for the damages. He also said it’s a very bad idea to fuck with him.”

  ***

  Adam huddled with James and Raoul in the back of the cargo hold, not far from where the five prisoners were being held. All looked terrified, as Adam had told them that those who didn’t cooperate would be tossed outside the plane without a parachute.

  “James, Raoul please explain, how did this happen? You are with them at all times.”

  “It was deception, sir. Deception.”

  “By who?”

  “I’m sorry to say, it was the ladies themselves.”

  “What?”

  “After the call from you, or whoever impersonated you, the ladies told us to go to the opposite end of the City, take the elevator down to the valley floor and wait for a helicopter. Someone was coming in of great importance and we were needed to guard them and bring them to the Great Hall. We got there and waited but no one came. After two hours, we returned to the Tech Center, but the ladies were, by then, gone. Left by jet for Athens to meet you, or so we were told.”

  Adam bowed his head, “Damn, damn, damn. This could only be the Black Shirts. But who’s this Musso fellow the tech spoke of?”

  Adam reflected for a moment.

  “Francois.”

  “Oui, Adam?”

  “Call that tech at the airport and bring him and his cousin to us in Rome, Brindizzi Airport. Double quick. Get them picked up and have them leave from the airport where the tech is now. Have Nasrulla and Tensa pilot whichever jet is available.”

  “As you wish.”

  Chapter 46

  “Are they coming?”

  “Yes, they’re already in the air. I asked if there was anything they wanted.”

  “And?”

  “Jobs as techs at YVR airport in Vancouver and papers for them and their families.”

  “Lend me your phone. I need to call Ottawa.”

  ***

  The meeting in Rome was brief, but fruitful. The men had details about Dr. Musso and his family, and rumors from the people of surrounding villages of “unusual” goings on. Most wasn’t good, and the locals preferred to keep their distance. Deliveries, though infrequent, were made by men from out-of-town.

  Most importantly, the men delivered a map of the local countryside and exact details of the Villa grounds. Ingress, egress and the layout, though old, of the interior of the residence.

  “How do you know any of this is real? Have either of you ever been to the Musso Villa and Estate?”

  “Nope,” said the tech who had spoken up first. “Even better. My cousin is a surveyor in Como. Big firm, lots of work finding exact boundaries and proving title and ownership. Old records to verify and, in the past, a marker might be a tree or a rock. He’s actually been to the Musso Estate, though he had to get a court order to do so. The good doctor didn’t want any visitors. He thought the Musso’s were odd, very odd. So, he did his work, informed the Musso’s that everything was in order and left. That is, he left with pictures and photos of everything on the grounds. My cousin said he’d email them to you along with his sketches and reports if you come through for me, my friend and our families, as promised.”

  Adam informed the men that their request had been granted and they were on their way to Vancouver, Canada. Due to the potential for danger, they were asked to go home, collect their families and be ready to board an Air Canada flight, first class to Vancouver, two days hence. They shouldn’t worry about homes, clothing or other necessities. They would have apartments waiting, cash in the bank, some help with English if necessary and enrollment in a job training program run by BCIT, a local aviation tech campus just minutes away from YVR itself. After that, they would be on the YVR payroll, with a stipend from a grateful St. James Family Trust in the meantime.

  Adam and his crew now knew much more about Musso and exactly where this monster lived. The transport made a beeline for Lake Como District.

  ***

  At the airport in Athens, Vera and Hannah verily dashed off the plane, expecting to see Adam and Kendra on the tarmac. Instead they saw a well-dressed family of four, two parents and two children in their early-twenties.

  The man stepped forward. “Hello Miss Vera and Miss Hannah, my name is Dr. Federico Musso. This is my wife, Marta, my oldest, my son Rene and my younger daughter Heidi. Unfortunately, Adam and Kendra are unavailable and have asked us to meet you here instead. So please, step this way and prepare to board our jet. We’re off to Lake Como where Adam and Kendra await your arrival. I think you’ll like it there. We certainly do.”

  “We’re not going anywhere with you. If Adam and Kendra said we are to meet them here, then here they would be. We will not leave this airport with you or anyone else.”

  “Sadly ladies, you will, at least Miss Vera will accompany us. She’s security for a transaction involving a friend of mine, and unfortunately bait of some sort involving the good Drs. St. James. Your ride, Miss Hannah, I see has just landed. You are going home to America. How pleasant. I understand you are from the Pacific Northwest. That’s where you are headed, generally, though beyond that I am not privy.”

  Uniformed men, armed, appeared from Musso’s jet who then cuffed and manacled the two women, who resisted strenuously.

  “Resistance is futile. I heard that from an American TV show once. It happens to be true in this case. Behave yourself, Miss Hannah and you will survive this ordeal. Your options are nonexistent anyway.”

  Hannah was led off.

  Musso turned to Vera, and said, “On the other hand, you Miss Vera are a different matter entirely. Fail to obey my commands in the tiniest manner, or cause me any irritation, and I will turn you over to my son and daughter. They will be restrained from their worst inclinations, but they are accomplishe
d at inflicting pain which doesn’t leave a mark or permanent damage. I hope you understand what I’m saying.”

  They boarded the plane, with Musso and his wife forward and reading local newspapers. The son and daughter were a few rows back, one on each side of Vera.

  The children both came forward to speak with their father.

  “May we play with her just a little? Heidi so wishes to touch her and feel what lies beneath. And I have some frivolity that will not harm her in the least. Just some innocent fun. Mother may wish to watch; she so enjoys our games of cat-and-mouse with our prey. Please Daddy? Please?”

  “The answer is no. Bring her forward to sit beside me. Mother, you sit behind me, and you kids go back to the rear. I wish to speak to Miss Vera alone.”

  ***

  “Now Miss Vera, I’m glad we will have this time to chat amicably. I can keep you from that lot, my family, or I can allow them to play with you while we journey to Como, and afterward, if that is my wish. My instructions are to not kill you, mark you or harm you in any way. That includes terrorizing you in any way or rendering you unable to be able to lead a normal life, whatever that means. We shall assume, you and I, that I do understand my instructions, at least for the moment. That can change at any moment, and quite possibly will.

  Vera said nothing.

  “Good. While that covers a lot of ground for our short duration relationship, it doesn’t cover everything. I can assure you of that. There are two questions, and only two questions, I wish you to answer and, if you do, we shall have a pleasant flight for the next two hours. Otherwise, I will return you to the care of my children and wife. Do you understand?”

  “I do.”

  “First, where are Adam St. James and this Kendra Boles woman?”