Proditor : Book 5 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  Emily turned when Quinn started up the fireplace and then moved to the bed. She hesitated again, and then sat down, but pushed the covers to the foot of the bed. She didn’t want any part of the bed that she couldn’t see.

  Emily sat cross-legged on the bed and watched the fire as the heku whispered in the corner. She screamed when someone touched her arm and jerked away from him, then calmed down when she saw a familiar heku servant with a cup of coffee in his hand, and finally took the coffee from him.

  “Sir,” Kralen said, coming into the room. “We’ve cleared the room.”

  Emily glanced out the door as four pillow cases full of squirming snakes were taken out of her room. She saw Silas sitting beside her bed, grasping his arm, and she could tell from the look on his face that he was in pain.

  “Any idea who?” Chevalier asked angrily.

  “Not yet, Sir. Some of those snakes aren’t even native to this continent, but they’ve all been removed,” Kralen reported.

  “I find it hard to believe that her being poisoned, finding heku in her bathroom, and the snake incident aren’t related,” Chevalier growled. “Find out.”

  Kralen nodded and left the room. He met up with Silas in the hallway, and they disappeared.

  “I’m not safe here anymore,” Emily whispered, still watching the fire.

  Chevalier turned away from her. He didn’t want her to see how furious he was. Quinn walked over and sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand.

  “We’ll figure this out,” Quinn said.

  “When? After I’m dead? Maybe I should go back to New Mexico,” Emily said, turning toward him.

  “I don’t think living as a mortal is going to be your best bet right now. I know it doesn’t seem safe here, but this is the safest place for you, I promise.”

  “We can take her to Thukil for now,” Darren suggested. “At least throw them off of her track.”

  “Em, do you want to try Thukil for two weeks?” Chevalier asked her.

  Emily nodded, “Yes.”

  “Bring her back in two weeks for her doctor’s appointment, and then, if we haven’t found the culprit, we’ll either send her back to Thukil or maybe try Powan,” Quinn said.

  “I don’t want to go to Powan,” Emily frowned.

  “I’ll make the arrangements. We should be able to leave in thirty minutes,” Darren said, and left to call Lord Thukil.

  “We’ll send Alexis, Silas, and Kralen,” Chevalier said.

  Emily frowned, “Not Kralen, send Mark.

  Chevalier sighed, “He has training.”

  “How long will it take? We’ll just wait for him,” Emily asked.

  “It’ll be a while.”

  “Fine, I’ll take Kralen,” Emily said, and crawled out of bed. She walked into her bedroom, skirting the bed, and grabbed a bag, then disappeared into the closet and came back out to throw an armful into the suitcase.

  “We’re ready,” Kralen said as he and Silas came into the room.

  Emily walked up to Silas and took his hand in hers, and then inspected his arm, running her fingers lightly over where the snakes had bitten.

  “Are you ok?” Emily asked him.

  Silas looked over at the Elder nervously, “Yes, I’m fine.”

  Emily put his hand down and looked at Kralen, “Are you?”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Kralen told her.

  Darren came in after talking to Thukil, “Lord Thukil has put the Ranch on lockdown, and posted the Cavalry inside the mansion. Not one servant will even be in the palace, Lord and Lady Thukil and the Cavalry will be the only ones inside.”

  “Is that really necessary?” Emily asked as she shut her suitcase.

  “Yes, I think it is, Commander,” Darren said.

  “Give me a moment, please,” Emily asked, and the heku all left her room. “Chev?”

  Chevalier shut the door and walked over and kissed her softly, “Yes?”

  “Come with me.”

  “I can’t, I need to find out who did this.”

  Emily nodded, clearly not wanting to be away from him.

  He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, “I wouldn’t send you to Thukil if I didn’t know you would be safe.”

  “I’m not worried about attacks. I just don’t want to be away from you.”

  “Do me a favor, be good, ok? Stay in bed and take the pills.”

  Emily nodded as she started to tear up, and she kissed Chevalier, putting her hands on his face. He lifted her slightly and wrapped his arms around her again.

  Chevalier pulled away from her and looked into her eyes, “Do those for me.”

  “I promise,” Emily said, and he put her back on the ground and picked up her suitcase, then took her hand and walked her up to the waiting helicopter. He lifted her up into the helicopter after kissing her softly, and then backed away and watched the helicopter lift off and head for the jet that would take them into Texas.

  Chevalier turned to Mark when he walked out, “I’m sorry, Sir.”

  Chevalier grinned, “I know… it’s good.”

  Mark grinned, “Extraordinarily so.”

  “Thank you, again.”

  “Just doing my job… what now?” Mark asked.

  “I want everyone that was in the palace tonight to report immediately to the council chambers, and then put the palace on lockdown. No one is to be in here unless they are in the chambers. Call Zohn, get him back immediately, and bring in the entire Cavalry,” Chevalier said, and headed back into the palace as Mark blurred down the stairs.

  Before Chevalier had gotten to the council chambers, the alarm sounded and heavy steel bars were dropped down to cover all of the doors as the windows were sealed with sheets of metal. He stepped into the council chambers and sat in his chair beside the others. Zohn and Kyle were still missing, but he was told Zohn would be back within the hour.

  “No one is to leave until we finish with this,” Chevalier said as the servants and guards filed into the trial area, filling it quickly.

  ***

  “Commander?” Darren said, touching her arm lightly.

  Emily screamed and pushed at his hand, jumping up quickly.

  “Sorry, sorry, it’s just me,” he told her.

  Emily grabbed her chest, “It’s ok… damn snakes.”

  “We’re here. Lord Thukil wants your arrival to be a secret, so we’re not taking the helicopter. The limo will take us into the mansion quietly,” he explained, and opened the door to the jet for her. Silas carried sleeping Alexis into the limousine while Kralen got all of the bags. Emily slid into the car and sat back for the ride into Thukil.

  When the limousine pulled into the underground garage of the mansion, Emily saw over twenty of the Cavalry standing around the garage, scanning the area and watching defensively.

  Darren helped Emily out of the car, and she was immediately greeted by Lord Thukil, “Commander, it’s so good of you to come.”

  “Good of me to come? I’m sorry I’m being a pain in the neck,” Emily said.

  “No, no! We owe you. This is minor compared to what you have done for us, come. I’ll show you to your room,” Lord Thukil said, and held his hand out for her.

  Emily took his hand and he led her into the mansion. There were Cavalry members everywhere she looked. They all seemed to be on guard and highly aware of their surroundings. She felt pangs of guilt at what they were going through for her stay.

  Emily disappeared into her room. The fire was lit, and the room was warm and cozy. Alexis ran off to her room with Silas, and Emily could hear Kralen talking to Darren outside of her door.

  ***

  Zohn sat down in his chair and turned to Quinn after looking at the full trial area, “What’s up?”

  Quinn filled Zohn in while Chevalier watched the Cavalry block both doors, several heku deep in case of runners. When the Council was all filled in, Quinn stood up to address the guards and servants.

  “We pride ourselves on the safety of
the palace, and how our rules are followed without question. Lately, things have gotten lax, and it’s unacceptable. Things are going to change, and we’re starting with punishments for whoever is orchestrating attacks on the Winchester,” Quinn said angrily. A murmur ran through those gathered.

  “We all know the importance of keeping Emily as part of this faction,” Quinn continued. “If she was to go to another faction, we could find ourselves wiped out as she’s done in the past to both the Encala and the Valle, in the name of the Equites. She brings children to this palace that are unique and powerful, another reason we strive to give her a safe environment.”

  “Over the last 24 hours, Emily has been attacked twice. First, by three heku hiding in her bathroom, and the second, when her bed was filled with thirty two deadly snakes, one of which actually bit her. I’m not going to stress how dangerous this is and how it puts the faction at risk. When we find out who did it, they will be severely punished.”

  Quinn sat down while Zohn was given time to scan the crowd. The Chief Interrogator, Richard, stood up to address those gathered, “No one is leaving until we get to the bottom of this, so this is how the trial is going to go. Each of you is going to step forward, one at a time, and will tell us your exact whereabouts and jobs for the last 24 hours.”

  “When you are called forward, state your name, your age, and how long you have worked in the palace,” Richard said, and sat back down.

  Chevalier pulled out the list of employees gathered and passed a copy down to each member of the Council.

  ***

  Emily took her spot back on the bed, sitting cross-legged, and grabbed her book. She was already bored with this room and was only on day 2. The Thukil Cavalry had been making her food, and so far, she’d had boxed macaroni and cheese and some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

  She decided that in two days, she was going down to make a decent meal for Alexis, whether she was supposed to or not. Until then, she kept her promise to Chevalier and stayed in bed and took her pills when they were due.

  Just after dark on the second day, Darren came in with a box that made Emily grin, “Pizza!”

  “Yeah, we figured you could use something other than sandwiches,” Darren said, and sat the pizza down.

  “Alexis, come eat,” Emily called out as she took a slice of pizza.

  Alexis sat down on the bed and looked at the pizza, “I don’t want pizza.”

  “She didn’t eat breakfast either,” Silas said, frowning.

  Emily felt Alexis’ forehead, “You’re not hot. What do you want?”

  Alexis shrugged.

  Emily’s shoulders fell, and she looked over at Silas, “Do you think… she… wants…”

  Silas sighed and shrugged, “I don’t know.”

  “What?” Darren asked, concerned.

  “Do you have any blood in the house?” Emily asked Darren. “Like in a bottle?”

  Darren nodded, “Yeah, we have some for emergencies.”

  Emily fought back the tears, “Bring it to me please.”

  Darren called for some, and a member of the Cavalry brought it in and left. Emily took it from him, drank the milk in Alexis’ glass, and poured the blood into it, then handed it to her daughter.

  Alexis smelled the contents and looked up at Emily. Emily had to turn away. She desperately needed her daughter to be fully human. Emily’s body tensed when she heard Alexis drinking and then the soft hiss escape her small body. Emily got up and ran into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She sat down on the cold floor and curled up into a ball as someone refilled the toddler’s glass.

  ***

  A red-haired heku stepped forward. He stood a little shorter than most, and his uniform was dirty and worn, “I’m Pavel, I’m 478 years old, and have been in Equites the entire time. I started in the palace 52 years ago. Twenty four hours ago, I was in my small home in Council City. I live alone. I came in to work at 7am, and have been doing laundry since. I wash clothes, I don’t gather or deliver, I just wash.”

  “Did you know about the heku in the Elder’s bathroom?” Zohn asked him.

  “No, I did not,” Pavel said.

  “Did you know about the snakes in the bed or the poisons?”

  “No, Sir, I did not.”

  Chevalier nodded and wrote something down. He checked his phone when it rang, “I need to get this.”

  Quinn and Zohn nodded and Chevalier left the council chambers before answering.

  “Good evening, Silas,” Chevalier said.

  “We have a… situation…” Silas said hesitantly.

  “Like what?”

  “Emily hasn’t eaten in two days, and hasn’t been out of bed either. She’s locked the door and burns anyone who tries to open it,” Silas said nervously.

  Chevalier frowned, “What happened?”

  “I’m… not sure I should say. Can you call her?”

  Chevalier answered him by hanging up the phone, and he immediately dialed Emily’s phone.

  Emily opened her phone, but didn’t say anything, she just listened.

  “Em? What’s going on?” Chevalier asked when he heard only silence on the phone.

  Emily’s voice was almost too soft to hear, “I’m alone.”

  “I can be there in a few hours,” Chevalier said.

  “She’s drinking.”

  Chevalier thought, “Who’s drinking?”

  “Stay there. Tell them to just leave me alone.”

  “Who’s drinking, Em?” he asked again.

  “Alexis,” she said, and broke down crying again.

  Chevalier thought for a moment and then his eyes grew wide, “Is she really?”

  Emily heard the excitement in his voice, and shut her phone, then threw it at the door, where it broke into pieces.

  Chevalier dialed Silas, “Is she really drinking blood?”

  Silas’ voice was amused, “Yes, she is. I think Emily just broke her phone.”

  “This is great news!” Chevalier said. “Just leave Em alone for now. She got used to Allen, too. It just takes time.”

  “Ok, not that we have much of a choice,” Silas said.

  “I’ll call to check on her tomorrow,” Chevalier said, and returned to the council chambers. Zohn and Quinn turned to talk to him, and their faces lit up when he told them about the development with Alexis.

  The Elders turned back to the trial area, where one of the fourth-floor guards stepped forward, “I’m Yaing Lee, I’m 899 years old, and have been an Equites the entire time. I’ve been working in the palace for 77 years. I started out in laundry, and am now a fourth floor guard. During those 24 hours, I was working a double. I was on the first-floor from 3am until 9am, and then I moved to the fourth-floor from 9am until I was called to this meeting.”

  Richard looked up at him, “Did you know about the heku hiding in the Elder’s bathroom?”

  “No, Sir, I did not.”

  “Did you know about the snakes or the poison?”

  “No, Sir.”

  Richard glanced at Zohn quickly, and then back to Pavel, “Guards, take him to the conference room.”

  Four of the Cavalry entered, and took the heku from the room, and then put him in the Council’s conference room with a few other heku.

  “Next up,” Zohn said, aggravated. He hadn’t expected so many of the palace employees to lie to the Council, but the numbers were growing.

  ***

  Kyle stepped into the palace, having just arrived by helicopter. He was surprised that the door guards were gone. He listened and heard no noise from the servants, and no footsteps anywhere in the palace. All he heard was a single voice from the council chambers.

  He walked into the council chambers and took his seat, then frowned as he looked at the gathered heku in the trial area.

  “Welcome back,” Quinn said.

  Kyle nodded, “What’s going on?”

  Quinn filled Kyle in while Zohn called up the next heku. In the past ten days, they had hea
rd 127 heku try to defend themselves, and in that time, twelve of them lied about something and were waiting in the conference room.

  “I’m… I’m Jaques, I’m 1,928 years old, and was unfactioned before joining the Equites 1,644 years ago. I’ve been in the palace for 298 years. Most of the time I was on fifth-floor cleaning duty, but when Lady Emily was moved here, I became one of the morning chefs. I spent most of those 24 hours at home. I had only been in the palace for 3 hours when we were called in here.”

  “Did you know there were heku in the Elder’s bathroom?” Quinn asked.

  “No, Sir.”

  “Did you know about the poisons or the snakes?”

  “No, Sir.”

  The Chief Interrogator stood up, “You may go.”

  Jaques bowed and quickly left the room while the council members all turned to their papers.

  “Next,” Richard said, and sat back down.

  The last heku left in the council chambers stepped forward, “I’m Stanton, I’m 453 years old, and I’ve been an Equites the entire time. I have worked in the palace for 52 years. During that 24 hours, I was on cleaning duty on the fifth-floor the entire time, pulling a double.”

  “Did you know there were heku in the Elder’s bathroom?” Quinn asked, bored.

  “Yes”

  The Council all looked up from their papers, shocked.

  “You did?” Richard asked, and stood up.

  “Yes, Sir, I did,” Stanton said.

  “Did you know about the snakes?”

  “Yes”

  “The poisons?”

  “Sure did.”

  “Did you put the snakes in Lady Emily’s bed?” the Chief Interrogator asked.

  “Yes, I did.”

  Chevalier growled, “Why?”

  Stanton shrugged, “To get rid of her, obviously.”

  Richard motioned for Chevalier to stop, and then turned to Stanton, “Did you work alone?”

  “Yes”

  Richard smiled at Zohn and turned back to Stanton, “You’re lying to us… did you work alone?”

  “Yes,” Stanton said again.

  “You’re taking the fall for everyone involved, so that we don’t find out this was some type of conspiracy?”