by Renee Duke
“Find out if Citizen-In-Exile Drazok had any visitors while he has been on Prexath,” he ordered a Guardsman, who leapt to obey. “Specifically, Borelian visitors. And, if he did, contact the Superintendent of Prexath and have him run every test he can think of to verify his prisoner’s identity.”
The answer came back within an hour.
Prexath’s Citizen-In-Exile Drazok wasn’t former Crown Councilman Drazok.
Chapter Nine
“Summon the Supreme Council,” Taz told Verim. “Session Imperative. Attendance Mandatory.”
Ezrias had told me that meant something of grave importance or concern had arisen and everyone on the Supreme Council was to get to the Council Dome with all possible speed.
“We’ll have to be even faster if we’re to get there before them,” said Kirsty. “Like as not, the spectators’ gallery won’t be open to the public when something of this magnitude’s up for discussion. But if we hurry, we can scoot in just afore it’s closed off and duck doon oot of sight.”
Racing into the heart of Cholaris on air bikes and secreting ourselves in the gallery above Beom’s Chamber wasn’t something our guardians were likely to approve of, so I didn’t think Arlyne would come. But she did. Granted, she kept looking over her shoulder every two minutes, but she came. She was as anxious to keep abreast of what was going on as the rest of us were.
I hadn’t been to the Council Dome since we went there to address the Succession Tribunal, which had only involved some of the Council. The full Council was comprised of eighteen Sub-Rulers (ten male, eight female), sixteen Crown Councilmembers (eight male, eight female), Vostia, High Chancellor Verim, and three other people whose functions I’m not sure of, but they served Taz in some sort of important capacity.
We were able to view them as they entered by means of our pocket computers, which were being fed images by a wildlife observer attached to the top of the solidly panelled balustrade we were crouching behind. This tiny but powerful surveillance unit belonged to Mardis, who used it to study timid creatures who did not like to be studied. When Simon asked to borrow it, he let him, no doubt thinking it would be good for him to have something new to play with instead of worrying about Challa and Kadi.
Having little interest in state affairs, the prince rarely attended Council meetings, but he and Zovia were at this one. As were Ezrias, Chief Rupin, and Mr. Skoko.
The Supreme Council’s members were all aware of the current political unrest, and every one of them turned up, even Sub-Ruler Halid, who was well over a hundred.
“We should have thrown him off of Zerrix’s Ledge,” the old man growled upon learning Drazok was no longer safely incarcerated. “That’s what Beom and his early successors used to do to traitors. Or shot him. That came in later, after weaponry improved.”
“No form of execution is carried out on Cholar nowadays, Sub-Ruler,” a middle-aged Crown Councilman named Tebris said, tolerant, like all the Council, of its most senior, and most irascible, member.
“Well, it should be. At least for traitors. And people who steal little children. I’ll wager any amount Citizen-Not-In-Exile Drazok is behind the royal children’s abduction.”
“No,” said Crown Councilwoman Ophala. “It’s probably safe to assume he’s behind the recent revival of dissatisfaction with Taziol IV’s rulership, but he was not behind the abduction. The abduction is merely something he is making use of. He did not request a visit from his Borelian friend until after news of the abduction reached Prexath. A request immediately fulfilled because even those on Prexath are allowed contact with friends and family and Drazok had never requested anyone before. It must have been when he heard of the abduction that he got the idea of escaping and joining the anti-monarchist movement.”
“But why?” Crown Councilman Tebris demanded. “What can he expect to gain by it? Its lawyers are not going to find any precedents for attempting to change our current form of government. Even if they did, the people of Cholar would not stand for it. Supreme Ruler Taziol was duly crowned and is held in high esteem.”
“By most of the population,” said Tolith. “What of those who still resent the fact he rejected membership in the Association of United Planets and blackened its reputation?”
“A rejection which stands for all time,” Crown Councilman Tebris argued. “A few disgruntled opportunists cannot change that. The Supreme Ruler’s authority is absolute, his right to it confirmed when he presented the sacred Ring of Beom to the Succession Tribunal and the ring gave no sign of disapproval.”
“It is now being said it did not have the usual chance,” said Ezrias, who had been keeping an even closer eye on the political scene than the Supreme Council. “The presentation ceremony was, due to His Majesty’s physical condition at the time, not carried out in its entirety. It was, however, still well within protocol, and the ring did not do anything untoward during the coronation.”
“Exactly my point. He was accepted and now rules. Drazok will not be able to turn the majority of Cholarians against him.”
“He will not have to if he somehow manages to find the royal children before we do,” said Tolith. “He would not hesitate to use them to force the Supreme Ruler to abdicate.”
“If he were to harm them, the people would tear him limb from limb. Along with their abductors and anyone else involved.”
“He wouldn’t have to harm them. Although, believe me, he would. He’d think the mere threat of that would be enough to make their father give up his throne.”
“He has to have them in order to harm them and fortunately, at the moment, he does not,” said Verim. “The kidnapping did not go according to plan and they are still with their Quorlian abductors.”
“Have these Quorlians still made no attempt to contact the palace for a ransom?” a Crown Councilwoman asked.
“No,” said Chief Rupin. “They are probably still wondering how to go about it. They were being told what to do before. Now negotiations are up to them.”
Crown Councilman Tebris started up again. “And just how is it they have not yet been found? All of Cholar is looking for them, and Quorlians are not exactly inconspicuous.”
“I believe I can answer that,” said Mr. Skoko. “There is a good chance the Eth Thulos brothers and their captives cannot be found on Cholar because they are not on Cholar. I spoke with my compatriot, Dalgo, a short time ago, and after a little persuasion—nothing violent, with him bribery works better—he finally told me he brought them here on his cloaked ship and thinks they might have gone back up to it directly after the kidnapping.”
Vostia gave a small gasp. “A cloaked ship? A ship sitting up in orbit invisible to all around? Another ship could run into it at any time. With my babies aboard!”
Mr. Skoko shook his head. “It will have automatic buffers that subtly nudge approaching ships off course. So subtle the pilots of those ships will merely think their navigation equipment is malfunctioning.”
“For which we must be grateful, as it will protect the prince and princess too. If they are indeed on that ship, which does seem likely,” said Crown Councilwoman Ophala.
“Protect them from a collision,” said Vostia. “What about from their captors?”
“Quorlians are known to be quite tender with their own young,” Chief Rupin answered.
“They know how to look after their own young. What do they know about looking after Cholarian children?”
“I do not think they would deliberately hurt them,” Chief Rupin replied. “The same cannot be said for Drazok, and you may be sure he is looking for them.”
“At least he does not know about the cloaked ship,” said Crown Councilwoman Ophala.
“We cannot be sure of that,” said Taz. “The Superintendent of Prexath cannot say for certain whether Drazok’s request for that visit from his Borelian cohort came before or after they received word of the abduction. And, if it was before, it can only mean he has someone here on Cholar apprising him of potentially serviceable ev
ents.”
“If so, it can’t be a Cholarian,” said Crown Councilwoman Ophala. “The Ring of Beom would have warned you about a Cholarian spy. Just as it would have warned you of the abduction if the perpetrators had been from this world.”
“The Jorthoan, Brizerom?” someone suggested.
“He was working for the Ralgonian, Dalgo, and Dalgo was not working for Drazok,” said Chief Rupin.
“But would if he got the chance,” said Mr. Skoko. “I would keep a very close watch on him if I were you, Chief Rupin. If Drazok does happen to know about the cloaked ship, he might think Dalgo could take him to it.”
“Could he?” Chief Rupin inquired, no doubt thinking Dalgo could also take him to it.
“He claims not. He said the co-ordinates were not on his pocket computer, just on the computer aboard the connector craft the Quorlians would have used to get up to the spaceship. But you might want to have someone ask him about that again. Someone with a lie detector.”
The Council members waited while the chief contacted Dalgo’s holding facility. Both with that order and one for more guards.
Then Crown Councilman Tebris spoke again. “I will concede that the Jorthoan is unlikely to have been Drazok’s spy, but that just means there’s someone else in the palace who can’t be trusted. Another alien worker who must be apprehended before Drazok can learn of the cloaked ship. If he hasn’t already.”
“My men are re-questioning the entire palace staff, not just aliens,” said Chief Rupin. “But even if Drazok has been told about the cloaked ship he will not, without Dalgo, be able to find it any more easily than we can, so the finding of it must be our top priority.”
“Could you not try using the Ring of Beom for that, Taz?” Mardis asked. “As it protects and assists you in all manner of ways, I’m sure you have already asked it to locate the children. Obviously without result. But you would only have been focusing on Cholar. If you were to now direct its attention above Cholar, the results might be different.”
“I don’t think so,” said Ezrias. “The Ring of Beom apprises the Supreme Ruler of impending danger to his family by homing in on people whose perfidious intentions or unplanned missteps it can perceive. It does not home in on already endangered family members so that they may be removed from danger. For that we would require the Shield of Beom, which is supposed to have the ability to seek out and protect all who are of Beom’s line. With its help, his small descendants could conceivably be found and brought safely home.”
Taz gave a heartfelt sigh. “If I knew where it was, I would definitely call upon it. Unfortunately, I do not. But I still might get some kind of response from the ring if I do as my cousin suggests. I will make another attempt to commune with it after this meeting has been adjourned.”
When it was, Kirsty and Jip went back to the palace, but Simon, Arlyne, and I stopped off to go through Ezrias’s library again and see if there was anything on the Shield of Beom we might have missed. No longer just curious about it, we desperately wanted to find it.
Sadly, we had been quite thorough the first time and unearthed no new information.
“The most frustrating thing is not knowing what it looks like,” I fumed as we put the books back.
“Yeah, it could be sitting in a museum or private collection somewhere and no one would know,” Simon said plaintively.
“And that’s too bad, because it would be a big help right now. Not just in finding the kids, but in protecting them once they got rescued. Taz and Vostia wouldn’t even have to worry about them being taken again. The shield would do whatever it is it does and keep them safe.”
“We still don’t really know what it does,” said Simon. “Uses a special force within it to zap every attacker around, maybe.”
I nodded. “Or just to repel spears and arrows that can penetrate ordinary shields. Or, now that weapons have advanced, something like a liquidator blast.”
“It might…” Arlyne ventured, then stopped.
“Might what?” I asked.
“Oh…nothing. It’s getting late. We should get back at the palace before we’re missed.”
“Kirsty and Jip will cover for us,” I said. “But you’re right, we should be going.”
“I wonder if Taz has tried locating Challa and Kadi with the ring again,” Simon said as we made our way to the air bikes.
He had, but when we found him standing out in the nursery gardens with Vostia, one look at his face told me he hadn’t been successful.
“Perhaps those who still question my right to rule are correct,” I heard him say softly. “Perhaps the ring does no longer have faith in me. Why else will it not help me find our children?”
“Ezrias explained that. And in any case, they are innocents,” Vostia replied. “The ring points to the untrustworthy.”
“That’s right,” I said, coming up behind him and not caring if he knew we’d overheard them. “It’s designed to warn, not actively protect like the Shield of Beom could if you had it.”
Taz gave me and my siblings a sharp look. “And where did you hear about using the shield for that? Unless Ezrias has been talking to you since the Council meeting, he only spoke of it there. And I happen to know that, for some hours now, he has been conferring with a friend who has studied Quorlian psychology.”
I saw Arlyne’s face go red and could feel mine doing the same. Even Simon looked a bit uncomfortable. But only a bit.
“Oh, well, we…uh…” I faltered. “We…”
“Somehow managed to infiltrate the meeting. Well, I cannot be angry with you. I know you are fond of Challa and Kadi and wish there was something you could do to help. But I’m afraid there is not. Try not to worry too much. Leave that to us. Vostia and I are doing a good enough job of that ourselves.”
“And we do very much appreciate your ongoing love and support.” Vostia brushed away a tear. “You are good and loyal friends.”
Another tear appeared, and we slipped away so she could throw herself against Taz and weep with abandon like I knew she wanted to but wouldn’t while we were there. She was, after all, a queen, and expected to be in control of herself.
“It’ll be taking more than ongoing love and support to rescue Challa and Kadi before Drazok gets to them,” Kirsty said after we reported the garden conversation to the others.
“Indeed,” said Jip. “But someone might yet come up with a way to find that cloaked ship, and another for catching Drazok’s spy before he can pass on such information.”
Chapter Ten
The spy, who turned out to be a she rather than a he, was caught the very next morning. By the simplest of methods. Verim and Chief Rupin released some false information and when the spy, a native of the planet Lurgos, tried to transmit it to Drazok, the transmission was picked up and traced to the room of a housemaid. Lurgos was the Zaidus system’s leading AUP-member planet and this maid had once held the much grander position of personal assistant to Ambrose Ramsweir, that disgraced member of the AUP Directorate who lost his own grand position when the Horrible Cholarian Business revealed he’d been hand in glove with Drazok. Not that the Directorate didn’t know he was. They were just mad he got caught. Once he was out of a job, she was too, but had pleaded to stay on Cholar because Lurgos was AUP’s staunchest supporter in the Zaidus system and she said everyone there would shun her for having been associated with a failure like Ramsweir.
Keza was the one to tell us this, having heard all about it from someone who’d been on hand for the arrest.
Under questioning, the Lurgosian woman admitted — almost boasted, really — that she had only remained on Cholar because Ramsweir wanted her to. He believed if Drazok ever managed to regain even some of his old power, he and Ramsweir might be able to overturn that pesky Cholar-shall-never-join-the Association-of-United-Planets decree and re-open negotiations. Her job was to watch for anything that might help Drazok in that regard and relay the information to him on Prexath, putting the message in code and pretending it ha
d come from a friend. Which should have aroused suspicion right there, as I doubt he had any. Except his Borelian impersonator, of course. And he must have been a very good friend to agree to pose as Drazok on a place like Prexath. Or been offered a really, and I mean really, good reward.
The Lurgosian woman hadn’t been sure if Challa and Kadi’s disappearance was something Drazok might find useful or not but reported it to him anyway and was not remotely sorry about it.
“He should never have had to go to that awful place,” she declared, her eyes shining — Keza’s informant said — with fanaticism. “He is a great man. And Ambrose is a great man. Together they will rise above adversity and restore AUP to its rightful place as masters of the universe.”
What else she’d told Drazok she refused to say and was taken off to a mental health facility.
“Her arrest made for quite an exciting start to my young friend’s day,” said Keza. “Her brother had one also. He works in communications and took a message from the kidnappers late last night.”
“You mean there finally was one?” I asked, torn between relief and apprehension.
“A very short one. Just, ‘We nearby. We have children. We give children to them who give most money’.”
“But that’s awful,” said Kirsty. “It means the skellums are planning to sell them to the highest bidder.”
“I am afraid so. But Chief Rupin does not think it was planned. More that they are responding to an offer from another party.”
“Most likely Drazok.” I shivered. “Did the Supreme Ruler make a counter-offer?”
“Yes, but not knowing what the other party offered, all he could do was pledge to better any amount put forward.”
By late afternoon, the kidnappers’ response to this had still not been received. Leastways, not as far as we knew. Even though Taz hadn’t seemed annoyed about us listening in on meetings and conversations, he truly didn’t want us worrying and ordered us away in a kind but firm tone if he saw us hanging around when anyone brought him updates. We still did our best to keep on top of things, and it was fortunate he had not yet noticed us skulking in some bushes outside his private office when Verim and Mr. Skoko came to show him and Ezrias the contents of a package Mr. Skoko had received.
