The Half-Light

by A D Lombardo

  “Well, you’re clearly protecting someone and their second-hand information. Typically, my recommendation would be if you suspect someone has or is about to commit a crime come back when you have solid proof.” Cazier looked sternly at him and then continued. “Tell me this: do you trust this other person giving you this information, and do you believe their suggestion has merit?”

  Kai did not want to give a rash answer, so he took a moment to mull over the question. “There was a time, I would have said I trusted both the informant and the accused. No one has laid seeds of doubt in my mind—I have always felt there was something fake about the suspect and my own observances only confirmed their warnings.”

  Cazier nodded, and a smirk flicked across his mouth. “In your position, you have ample opportunity to observe. The young are often dismissed as distracted children, innocent and naive. I would like you to start spending time with Riome. There are tells people have when they are lying or merely hiding the truth. She can teach you to look for subtle clues, sense the tone of the room, and gather information without revealing your purpose. Her skill allows her to get information without ever speaking a word. Other times she must take a more…aggressive approach.”

  “You want me to become a spy? Yes, I would like that,” he said with enthusiasm. To him, it had been an impossible dream.

  Cazier chuckled. “A spy. Such a word.” His expression turned serious. “Espionage is an art. The best start as young children. Riome was about your age when she started. She is actually the one who recommended you. She says there is something special about you.”

  Had Riome been watching him? He had always fantasized sneaking into castles, stealing secrets and evading capture. “Really? Why?” Kai asked, surprised.

  “She said you notice things most do not. She did not elaborate, and I didn’t question. I trust her judgment. Plus, as a king in a foreign land, you will need to discern friend from foe. This type of training will be beneficial.”

  “I agree. Milnos is so far from Diu, and besides Amelia herself, I’ve never heard of anything good about the country. Unless you consider it’s formidable keep with iron clad walls and massive gate a good thing.”

  Adrian nodded. “I must also insist Professor Greydon expand on your Banglonese lessons. I know you’ve studied it in class, but I need you to become proficient with the accent, learn more than numbers and common phrases. If questioned, remind him of your future as the King of Milnos. Many there still speak it, and it would only be advantageous as a leader to know it.”

  “Yes, sir, I will ask tomorrow.” Kai took the previously offered seat.

  “Riome will teach you what she knows: weapons, hand-to-hand combat, and other implements of the trade. I will need to teach you our hand signals and our ciphers for sending coded messages. All this must remain a secret to everyone else. Yes, I want you to become a spy. There are secrets in Milnos, and so far, even my best, Riome has not discovered their truth.”

  A bit more seriously, Cazier leaned into him. “Now on the other matter at hand. Bring me proof or give me names, and I will set others to the task. Either way, our task is to protect the kingdom and our King, he comes first. Do you understand?”

  Kai’s smile slid off his face as he realized the gravity of his situation. He held it tight in his mind—information was power—and he had to be careful what he did with it. “Yes, sir, I understand.”

  “Good, you can get started tonight. I will teach you how to decipher a coded message; you can practice here. Rule number one: never take messages outside of this office. Please don’t practice creating any in your room. I burn them when I am finished. We never leave a note behind…ever,” Cazier said firmly.

  The Master General slid Kai a sheet of paper and three long slips of coded messages. “I have already translated these, and they are harmless. Now I want you to try.”

  Kai looked at the slips. Each one contained what seemed to be nonsensical letters, numbers, and shapes. “How? These are a mess. There are no real words here. Plus, there are symbols and numbers mixed in each line.”

  “Take the first strip. What shapes and numbers do you see?” Cazier asked.

  “A triangle with a circle inside and a two on the end of the first line. The next line starts with a one, and it has a circle with an X inside.”

  Cazier smiled. “Good. That means the first line shift is ten letters, and the second line shift is three. The triangle is three, and the X is a ten.” His cousin took a sheet of paper with the alphabet already written out and added a line of symbols with corresponding numbers. “Now decode all three. Let me know when you’re done.”

  Kai sat there for a moment studying the gibberish, and he considered the hints Cazier had given him. Pen in hand, he set to decoding the notes. While he worked, he took a few moments to glance at Cazier, who was busy reading messages and writing letters.

  This reminded Kai of his younger years, sitting in his father’s study. It felt good to be here and work in tandem with his cousin. The last one was the hardest because it had ten lines, but he managed to finish. “I’m done,” he said, sliding the paper back toward Cazier.

  “Let’s have a look.” The Master General lifted the paper. “Looks good, Kai, well done.” Cazier smiled, setting down the paper. “Now you need to memorize the symbols because not all messages come with cipher hints, and from time to time, we change the correlating numbers. Other things can be done to the paper or the style of the writing to tell you which cipher to use. We also use numbers for certain people, places, or actions that need to be conveyed quickly. I will teach those to you another time.”

  Cazier picked up the papers and handed them to Kai. “Now toss all these in the fire. Again remember, never leave any messages behind. It is better to destroy an unread message, then have it found by the wrong person.”

  “Yes, sir. I understand. May I be excused?” he asked, tossing the papers and watching them burn. “I should get back to my room before I am missed.”

  “That would be best,” he said, shifting back toward his paper-covered desk. “Wait, one more thing. Be sure to take the stairs back to your room. I know you’re coming through the secret passageways to get here.” He grinned. “I had your bedroom back in the day. I am the one who left it open for you to find the other night.”

  Kai tried to keep his face composed, but a little grin slipped out. He couldn’t help enjoying this secret with his cousin. Such an extraordinary man who made Kai feel important. “If you think it is important, I will. Should I always come up the stairs of the tower?”

  “I am sending you that way because the others saw you arrive. They may be waiting to speak with me upon your exit. Or they may just decide to watch you, understand your reason for being here, as they know I will give them none. Once a spy, always a spy. I would advise using the stairs from time to time over the next several weeks. I will be sure the tower guards know you are privy to come to the tower.”

  “Thank you. Goodnight cousin.”

  Back in his room, Kai felt the need to sit with everything he’d learned. He took a chair out onto his balcony. He relaxed under the stars before he closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. He took a deep breath and released it slowly, trying to feel each speck of air leave his lungs. He relaxed into the chair and let the day’s events drift away into the night. Any thoughts that threatened his focus he released and refocused on his breathing.

  Behind him, he heard a faint click and the whoosh of his bedroom door opening. With no sound from Smoke, he listened intently and realized Kendra had come in his room. She did not disturb him. He wondered for a moment why she’d come, but he let the concern go.

  Again, he refocused his breathing and relaxed into the nothingness. Even though he was aware of the wind tousling his hair and caressing his skin, he continued to concentrate. He had been practicing, sitting longer and longer each night. Once he let go and stopped grasping at expectation, he found it easier to sit. His thoughts no longer jumbled about
behind his eyes. He was comfortable in the silence. This peace took him deeper within, beyond his mind.

  Focused deep inside, Kai felt his heart and mind connect. He sensed tremendous energy within. He felt his soul. As the moment built, he saw the light within him flow outward. His mind saw the world anew. His soul emanated in a wispy white form. Everything had a glow. The trees and the ground pulsed with life. Animals below, he saw them all. Birds in the trees, night creatures scurrying along the ground, men walking the perimeter—their wispy glows larger than their forms.

  Behind him, he sensed Kendra sleeping on the sofa. A wisp of light, bright and robust. Her outline was very bright compared to the other men outside. Focused on her features, he noticed her face become clear. Bringing that same focus to mind, he was able to see the faces of the men below.

  For the first time, he had achieved an open, clutter-free mind. This is what it means to glean. Threads of light woven into everything. At their core, they were all the same. Raw power molded into a shape. He let a smile creep around the corner of his mouth. Pleased with himself, he focused on the stars. They beamed with power.

  A second click of his door handle opening broke his concentration, and he opened his eyes. Behind him, he heard tiny footfalls on the carpet, and he sat patiently as they got closer. “Kai, can I sleep in your room?” He heard Seth ask.

  What had him up at this hour? “Seth, let’s walk back to your room, and along the way, you can tell me why you are awake.”

  In the hallway, Kai noticed Yates walking toward them. “Is Seth alright?” Yates asked.

  “He hasn’t told me anything yet. Can you tell me why he is in my room, wanting to stay with me?” Kai held tight to Seth’s hand.

  “All I know is the prince came out of his room and went into your parents’ room. When he came back out, he was crying, and he ran down the hallway. One of the Mrykens chased him. They were not aggressive, just curious why he was running and crying. I sent him into your room to calm him while I dealt with the dogs.” Both Mrykens now sat at attention, focused straight ahead.

  Kai looked at his brother, desperately clinging to his arm. Kai sensed the dogs were calm. “Seth, are you afraid of the Mryken?” he asked, kneeling beside him.

  Seth looked at the large dogs. Their massive heads were eye to eye with his. “Maybe,” Seth squeaked, leaning into Kai.

  “Don’t be afraid. The Mryken dogs are here to protect us. Your distress made them chase you. Understand their nature and purpose. They are extensions of the guards. Are you afraid of Yates?”

  Seth’s face brightened as he looked up to Yates. “Of course not. He’s my friend.”

  “The Mryken are guards, too, only four-legged. They are the same. They cannot speak and ask you what you need. They must sniff and follow to learn. Do you understand?” Kai reached forward, extending his open palm to the nearest Mryken. The dog lowered its head into Kai’s hand. He gently ran his hand around the dog’s face and over its ear. “Seth, now you try.”

  Seth extended his open palm to the Mryken and smiled as the dog lowered his head. “He does seem nice now.”

  Kai stood and looked at Yates. “Thank you, Yates, I will take him from here.” Back at Seth’s door, Kai noticed Seth staring at their parents’ room. His brother’s tiny hand gripped tighter around his and didn’t relax until they entered the bedroom. “Can you keep a secret, Seth?”

  In a small squeaky voice, Seth answered. “Yes. I like secrets.”

  “Sometimes at night, I wake up. I hear things. Since I am only half-awake, they don’t always make sense to me. I find that if I talk with Kendra, she can help me make sense of things. Do you understand?”

  “You want me to tell you what I saw, don’t you?” Seth replied, climbing into his bed.

  Kai pulled the covers over his brother. “I do. Only go slow and think of it as a picture book. You are retelling something from a book. Nothing can hurt you now.” Kai tried to sound confident while Seth relaxed.

  “Well, I wake up sometimes because Aaron snores and I thought I heard singing in the hallway. I went to check, and I heard chanting coming from our parents’ bedroom.” Nervously, Seth stopped and pulled the covers up to his nose.

  “Remember, sleepy eyes can play tricks on us. It’s alright, now.” Kai lowered the blanket around Seth’s chest and rubbed his hands gently with his own. “You’re alright—I’m here.”

  Still, nervous Seth continued. “I went inside. Mommy was sitting on the sofa with father, holding his hand, and she was singing to him. When I tried to ask her if I could come in and sleep with her, she yelled at me.” Again, tears welled in Seth’s eyes.

  Kai tried to soothe his brother by holding his hand while he thought about everything he’d heard. He wanted an answer that would make sense to a little mind. “I am sorry you were afraid, and I am sure Nola didn’t mean to scare you.” He rubbed Seth’s hand while he spoke and kept his voice calm.

  From the corner of his eye, Kai noticed the light from the hallway waned. Someone had come into Seth’s room. Thinking it might be Nola, he continued. “You know father has a lot of responsibility being a king. I am sure Nola was comforting him to help him sleep.”

  Seth’s posture relaxed. “You’re right, Kai. Mommy loves me. I probably scared her by coming in, upset.”

  “Exactly, she was just helping father. She has a lot of stress with baby Cordelia. Are you ready to go back to sleep now?”

  “Yes, I think so. Thank you, Kai.” A smile crept across Seth’s face, and Kai felt a hand on his shoulder squeeze just a little.

  “Yes, Kai, thank you. Wait for me in the hall while I talk with my son.” Nola’s voice sounded soothing in his ear.

  Nervously Kai waited in the hall. His stomach twisted in knots. He did not trust the queen. The thought of being alone with her terrified him. What could she get me to reveal? What could she make me do? He feared observing her. There was a risk she would notice that she was losing his trust. At the very least, he knew he had to reassure her of his loyalty.

  The door to Seth’s room opened, and Nola stepped out. “Thank you, Kai, your words were very kind.” Her eyes were soft but tired.

  “It is good to see you are feeling better, and I was happy to help. I’ve had trouble sleeping most of my life—my father is lucky to have you.” Kai reached to touch her arm, and she took his hand.

  She rubbed the back of his hand in tiny circles. “I know I am not your mother, but you know I am here for you if you need me. We need to support each other.” She looked deep into Kai’s eyes. “Hear me, Kai. You must protect me.”

  Fog clouded Kai’s mind. He’d felt this before—he should not have touched her. Alone she could say or do anything. Nola sounded so reassuring, and Kai felt overwhelmed by her hypnotic tone.

  “Aaron is our future; you must protect him at all costs.” Trapped, he could not pull away. “I am your queen. Trust in me, confide in me. Tell me your secrets, Kai.”

  Her words felt like moles burrowing into his mind. Kai’s insides squirmed. He knew he had to free his mind. Repeating his breathing mantra, he eased into a meditative state. The fog began to lift. Nola’s words faded from his consciousness. The thump of his heartbeat drowned her compelling ideas, and his hand dropped.

  He was torn between the mother he thought she was and this new duplicitous woman he found before him. “I will always protect you, Nola. I know you are here for me, and I am glad.” He took a risk, stepping forward to hug her. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in tight.

  “Goodnight, Kai,” she said, releasing him. “You better get to bed, too.” She ran her hand over his head.

  “Goodnight Nola.” He forced a smile and walked away.

  Inside his room, he breathed a sigh of relief. He’d best not make that mistake again. With the warmth of his covers around him, he thought about his cousin’s plan. Could he really become a spy and serve the Master General? The bigger question now was how he could find real proof the queen was t
rying to manipulate him and most certainly the king? Proof he could show. His word against hers was not enough.

  Was this what he was meant to do? Questions exhausted what little energy he had left as he drifted off to sleep.

  Once again, he was caught in a horror he couldn’t face. Whenever he thought he was free, the nightmare returned—loud and intense and frighteningly detailed. Horrific sounds and vivid colors. His mother’s face, there one minute, gone the next. The dragon’s head loomed over him. He felt an unbearable loss. Again, he awoke, tortured by the death of his mother.

  He hated his nightmares. Blocked by the mind of a child, he was unable to comprehend the moment. There were times he wished he could see more, remember. Yet he was thankful his mind hid from him her final moments.

  Stretched out on the floor, he joined Smoke lying in the moonlight that spilled through his balcony’s glass door. Smoke’s quiet breathing soothed his heart.

  Chapter 14

  Bonds Are Forever

  The weeks of anticipation had been more than Kai could bear. He was up at dawn, pacing around the stables, nearly bursting with enthusiasm. Groomsmen Finlee and Weston offered him busywork while they finished preparing for the new arrivals. He gladly pushed a broom and folded blankets.

  Normally new horses only came in the spring; however, today three new horses were coming into the stables, requested specially by his father. He only wished he could be down at the docks when the boat from Chenowith arrived. He’d asked Haygan if he could go, but he was told it would be unwise.

  When Haygan crested the hill leading three new horses, Kai dashed in behind them with Smoke. Inside he watched Haygan take the measure of each new horse. The stablemaster checked their teeth before running his hands over their head, neck, and ears, and through their mane. Next, he went along the back of each horse, and down their back legs before putting them into the main paddock.