Thourad’s body crashed into the wooden table holding the refreshments and drinks. He lay there like a limp, unconscious animal drenched in fruits, vegetables, and wines.
Koroan then turned his attention to General Ochalt. “General Ochalt!”
Ochalt jumped up to attention from where he was laying on the floor. “Your Em . . . inence?”
“Take General Thourad to the brig. Maybe a few days in solitary confinement will help him see where his loyalties lie.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” said Ochalt, bowing his head. He walked over to Thourad’s unconscious body. He reached down, picked up Thourad, and placed him over his shoulders.
Celeste was amazed that the short, pudgy Ochalt could lift and carry Thourad. But she remembered that the average Gnol was five times stronger than the humans with whom she was spending most of her time.
Ochalt left the room and Koroan turned to face his daughter. “Celeste, please return to your quarters while I speak with Dorange. I will speak with you later. ”
“Yes, Father,” Celeste said as she walked out of the room, relieved that her father didn’t know.
**********
“You see, Dorange. I told you that she was trustworthy,” said Koroan as he sat at the head of his conference table with his computer open. “I really should be angry with you because you dare accuse her of being the spy. However, I have to admit, the evidence you presented to me was almost convincing.”
Dorange looked disappointed.
“Come now, Dorange, do not look so disappointed. You should be pleased that your future bride is not the spy.”
Even though Celeste had denied the accusation, Dorange would have loved to see her punished by her father. He knew that if she had cracked under pressure and admitted to being the spy, her father would not have killed her, but would have forced her to marry him.
He also knew that Koroan desperately wanted a son to inherit the throne, and Koroan had made it known, only to Dorange, that he was disappointed in having two daughters. When Dorange married Celeste’s older sister, he had high hopes of obtaining the rule from Koroan when he died. However, when Raqel died, Koroan gave the inheritance to Celeste only upon the condition that she marry a worthy Gnol, thereby voiding all the inheritance rights of Dorange.
Nevertheless, Dorange knew what he wanted, and that was to be heir to Koroan’s empire. So, being the resourceful and manipulative Gnol he was, he convinced Koroan that he was the best suitor for Celeste. Now, if he could somehow trap Celeste into marrying him.
“Why do you not speak, Dorange?”
Dorange was startled out of his thoughts by Koroan’s authoritative voice. “Oh, I am sorry, Father,” he said.
Koroan smiled. Dorange knew that Koroan liked to be called “Father” because Dorange was the son Koroan never had. Koroan, however, only allowed him to call him “Father” when they were alone, in order to show the other generals that Koroan didn’t have favorites.
Dorange continued, “I was just thinking about how I look forward to finally having revenge on those rebels, especially their leader, Adrian Palmer.”
Koroan grew serious again. The Gnol seemed to change moods more than a chameleon changed colors. “Yes, that is what I wanted to ask you about. You wanted me to put you in charge of the mission instead of Thourad, and I gladly did because I knew you would succeed, whereas Thourad would not have. But …”
“But what, Father?”
“I am curious as to why you have such a vendetta against this human, Adrian Palmer.”
“Father, I thought you knew.”
Koroan looked questioningly at Dorange. “You know I should know everything, so why do you not inform me of what I do not know?”
Dorange put on his best grief stricken face. “That day our precious Raqel died.”
“What about that day?” asked Koroan, as he gave Dorange a look that sent shivers down his spine.
Even though Dorange had learned how to sweet-talk Koroan, the very image of him angry made Dorange nervous.
Koroan continued. “You told me the day Raqel died that she had fallen down the steps of the wall that surrounds my city, and that is where you found her.”
“Yes, but I was suspicious of the accident.”
“You were? Why did you not inform me of your suspicions?”
Dorange was able to muster a tear and looked apologetically at Koroan. “I am sorry, Father, but I did not want to upset you even more with the grief you suffered from the loss of your oldest daughter.”
Koroan gave him a look of appreciation. “Yes, that was wise of you.”
“Because I did not want to upset you, I conducted my own investigation.”
“And?”
“And … one of my agents discovered that she did not die because of her fall down the wall steps.”
Koroan now seemed to grow inpatient. “Well, then, how did my beloved Raqel die?”
Dorange managed to look sad again. “She was murdered.”
“What!” said Koroan as he slammed his right fist down on his computer monitor. The monitor shattered into pieces. Koroan looked at his right hand as drops of blood began to drip from it. He ignored it. “Why was I not informed of this?”
Dorange backed away from Koroan. “I am sorry, Father, but I sent Captain Sartel to inform you of our discovery.”
“Captain Sartel never informed me of anything!”
Dorange now looked angry. “He did not? Well, for his insubordination, I shall have him killed immediately!”
“Yes, you must. In fact, I would very much like to see you be the one to kill him with your telepathic abilities.”
Dorange had to think fast. “Yes, Father, and I would love to demonstrate my power and ability to do so. But first, you must know why I seek revenge on the rebel leader.”
Koroan nodded his head.
“Through my investigation, I uncovered a plot designed by the rebel leader, Adrian Palmer, to have your family murdered one by one. I found documents left behind at the scene that had not been discovered when Raqel was found dead. On the documents were direct orders from Adrian Palmer to a secret infiltration group. This group was ordered to infiltrate our society and first murder Raqel, then Celeste, and then your wife. Their ultimate goal was to break your spirit, and in your grief, they had hoped you would let your guard down so they could murder you.”
Koroan sprang to his feet. He grabbed his chair and threw it crashing through the glass doors that led to the balcony. “Why was I not shown these documents?”
Dorange kept calm and tried to hide the smile that began to form at the corners of his mouth. Yeah right. You are supposed to be some so-called god, he thought. “Father, Captain Sartel had the documents in hand when I ordered him to report to you.”
Koroan had a look of revenge in his eyes. “General Gar! Two days from now, when you attack the rebel base, I want Adrian Palmer brought to me alive with his family. I will deal with them personally. Meanwhile, I want you to arrest Captain Sartel and schedule his execution, which you will personally see to, for tomorrow. But first, I must go and speak with Celeste.”
“Yes, Your Eminence. I will go and arrest Captain Sartel now,” Dorange said as he stood and bowed his head.
Koroan nodded his approval. “You are excused.”
“Thank you, My Lord,” Dorange said as he turned and walked out of the conference room. As he walked out of the door, Dorange’s mind was going a hundred miles an hour. There were a lot of things that he had to accomplish tonight before he supposedly arrested Captain Sartel and planned the attack on the rebel base. He also smiled, as he thought to himself, all too easy.
**********
Celeste paced back and forth in her room. She was impatient. She had to get to the base to warn Adrian that her father knew the location of the base and planned to attack in two days. She couldn’t risk sending an encrypted message through her computer or communicator. She knew with the intelligence teams her father had within the build
ing that such a message would be intercepted. No, she had to go in person.
She stopped and looked at herself in her mirror and adjusted her robe so that the black fatigues she wore underneath would not show. She wanted her father to think that she was going to retire for the evening.
The annoying beeping sound signaled, which indicated that someone was outside her bedroom door. She quickly sat in the chair in front of the mirror, grabbed her hairbrush, and began brushing her hair. “Come in,” she said.
Her bedroom door slid open, and Koroan, still adorned in his robe and cape, walked in. “Ah, there she is – my beautiful daughter.”
“Hello, Father,” Celeste said as she turned back to face the mirror and began to stroke her hair again.
Koroan stood behind Celeste and placed his hands on her shoulders. They just looked at each other for a few seconds in the mirror before either one of them spoke.
Celeste was the first to break the silence. “Father, why would you believe Dorange’s accusation about me being a spy?”
Koroan gave her a rare genuine smile. She was a little relieved that he seemed to be in one of his unfailing moods, but his moods changed so much that it was hard to tell. “Yes, that is what I wanted to speak with you about,” he said.
She turned and looked up at her father. As she looked at him, she yearned for the days before he was corrupt and maddened with power – the days when she was a little girl on Gnolom, and her father was a respectable farmer and warrior in the Girtheal tribe. But those days were gone.
Even though she had witnessed violence and bloodshed at a young age, her father was different. He had been kind and gentle, the total opposite from the Gnol he was now. Did she still love her father? Of course, she did; he was her father. Nonetheless, she had witnessed his tyranny against the Terrestrians and even her own people. She would never be able to forgive him for that.
“What are you thinking about, my dear?” Koroan asked.
Celeste stood and walked past him. She took another few steps, turned around, and looked him square in the eyes. “I will be honest with you, Father. I do not like the Gnol you have become,” she said, holding his gaze and her composure. It was a bold statement.
Koroan’s smile turned downward into a frown, and he furrowed his eyebrows. “Celeste, I have been patient with you. I have noticed your sympathy toward the Terrestrian slaves in our possession and have granted you a lot of freedom. I even trusted you when you told me that you were not the spy Dorange accused you of being. But, …” Koroan paused as he walked closer to Celeste. He grabbed her by the arms and squeezed. Celeste winced in pain, “ … but do not ever make a statement like that toward me again.”
He squeezed a little harder until Celeste apologized. “S-sorry, Father.”
Koroan let go and switched personalities again. “Good. Now, let me answer your first question.”
Celeste didn’t say anything. She just nodded. She had to be careful. If she made any more bold statements like that, which she often did, she could risk giving herself away.
Koroan continued. “I was suspicious of Dorange’s accusations because Lieutenant Vier was able to block some of my mind probe when he was tortured to death.”
Celeste hid her emotion. She had trusted and learned to love Malk like a brother.
“And as you know, Celeste, there are only four Gnols that possess the ability to block mind probes.”
“Yes, Father, but have you considered that fact that with nearly two and a half million Gnols on Terrest, there just might be another Gnol with the ability to block mind probes?”
Koroan gave Celeste another suspicious look and then changed it immediately to a smile. “Perhaps, but as lord and ruler of our civilization, I would know if that were true.”
Celeste managed a yawn and said, “Yes, Father. Now, if you do not mind, I would like to go to the first floor temple, worship our goddess of light and you as well, and then retire to bed. It has been a long day.”
Koroan seemed pleased that Celeste would pay homage to the goddess and especially him, which Celeste had known he would delight in. “Yes, my dear. I will leave you alone now to do so. I will see you in the morning. I want to have breakfast with you so that we can discuss this matter further,” he said as he walked out of Celeste’s room with the door sliding shut behind him.
Now, Celeste felt pressed for time. She looked at her digital clock on the nightstand next to her bed. The clock read 11:16 p.m. The rebel base was three hundred miles away. As a result, she would have to act fast if she was going to be back in the morning for breakfast with her father.
CHAPTER 9: ALLEGIANCES
As he made his way through a questionable part of Chast, Dorange looked down at the watch on his wrist. It read 12:10 a.m. He was in the roughest part of the city, the part where there was the most crime, despite Koroan’s heavy hand, and the section where there were the most bars. He knew that Captain Sartel would be in the one bar where Dorange always conducted business.
Dorange walked past two Gnols who had passed out from drinking too much. It was obvious that a lot of the citizens were celebrating after Koroan’s moving speech. Dorange rolled his eyes as he strolled into his favorite bar.
Once inside the smoke-filled bar, he scanned the room, ignoring the dancers on the stage and the drunken couple to his right. He noticed Captain Sartel at the back of the bar in a booth, with two scantily clad female Gnols who were all over him, along with empty liquor bottles on the table. Dorange grunted as he approached. He didn’t need his most trusted officer drunk at a time like this.
Sartel, who was laughing hysterically as the women mauled him, saw Dorange approaching. He quickly pushed the female that sat next to him on his left out of the booth. She fell flat on her back, but she didn’t notice as she rolled over in the fetal position and laughed. Sartel stood to attention and saluted, nearly falling over. He giggled his response. “Gen … General Gar! What an honor. Why don’t …” Sartel stopped as he fell over and caught himself on the table, “ … Why don’t you join us?”
Dorange walked to within inches of Sartel’s face and glared at him. It was obvious the Gnol was drunk. He looked him up and down. Sartel, who stood at five feet, ten inches tall, was just a few inches shorter than Dorange. His bright red hair was soaking wet with drink, his green eyes were glazed over, and his black officer’s uniform was filthy.
Dorange yelled, causing the crowd in the bar to turn their attention to the four Gnols in the corner. “Captain Sartel!”
Sartel stood at attention, again trying to control his giggling, but the two ladies only laughed louder. Dorange shot both of them looks that could kill. Seeing his face, the two female Gnols got the hint and scattered.
Dorange grabbed Sartel by his uniform collar and shoved him back into the booth. Then he slid into the seat opposite Sartel.
“What’s the deal, General? I thought you would enjoy the little party. As you could see, I had a girl for you,” Sartel said.
Dorange grabbed a half-empty bottle of liquor and splashed it in Sartel’s face.
“Hey! Wha—”
“You had better sober up now, Captain. I have a mission for you.”
Sartel laughed as he reached for another sip from his bottle. Dorange grabbed the bottle and threw it against the opposite wall. “I mean it, Sartel!”
“Okay, okay. What’s so important that I need to be sober for? I’ve completed most of my missions drunk anyway.”
Dorange looked around to be sure that no one was paying attention. Everyone in the bar seemed to have gone back to their drinks. He leaned in closer and spoke softly. “I need you to follow Celeste to the rebel base and record her with this,” he said, retrieving a mini digital recorder from his uniform pocket.
Sartel laughed. “Our lordship didn’t believe your accusation, huh?”
“Shut up, you fool! He didn’t believe my accusation about Celeste, but he believed my accusation about you.”
Sartel stopped giggli
ng and grew serious as he looked into Dorange’s eyes. “What are you talking about?”
Dorange leaned back in his seat and placed his right arm over the backrest. “Let’s just say that you failed to report and show our lordship the documents that attested the assassination of my lovely wife by Adrian Palmer’s special ops unit.”
Sartel gave Dorange a questionable look. “What are you talking about? There wasn’t any assassination attempt. You—”
Dorange quickly leaned over the table, grabbed Sartel by his ear, and pulled. “Listen, you little scumbag. If you want to live to see another day, I suggest you do as you’re ordered or our so-called god is going to turn your brain to soup.”
Sartel grabbed Dorange by the wrist and pulled his grip from his ear. Sartel gritted his teeth and seemed sober now. “You didn’t?” he said.
Dorange smiled and nodded his head. “Oh, I very well did.”
“You would sell me out like that? I’m the only one who knows about all of your little secrets. What if I just went to Koroan now and told him everything? Maybe I’ll even let him probe my mind just so he knows that I’m telling the truth.”
Dorange laughed. “You wouldn’t dare. The moment you walk into Koroan’s presence, he’d kill you. He partly blames you for my late wife’s death.”
Sartel now had the look of a caged animal. Dorange thought that he was about to leap over the table and attack, but he didn’t. He just glared at him.
Dorange continued, “Besides, if you do this, I promise it will be worth your while.”
“How so?”
“If you successfully record our dear princess as the spy, Koroan won’t kill her, but will force her to marry me.”
“You’ve got high hopes, General. There’s no way Celeste will marry you.”
“I beg to differ, Captain. The king couldn’t bear to lose another of his beloved daughters. So, what better way to keep an eye on her than to force her to marry his most trusted servant? He treats me like a son.”
Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1) Page 17
