by Kyle Larson
Kelvin watched her look up nervously at Riz, who was watching the exchange like a hawk.
“I hope you can get this done soon…the Traditions of Service. The Nine Kingdoms are in trouble, Kelvin, and we’re going to need you. That’s all I can say now,” Evet said, as she leaned in to give him a hug that felt very uncharacteristic. Kelvin figured she was doing it just so she could whisper this warning.
Before he could respond, Evet turned away and vanished into a nearby corridor.
“What was that about?” Riz said. He stood directly behind Kelvin.
“Just wished me good luck. She’s done this too, you know,” Kelvin said, choosing to keep what Evet told him. Riz’s demeanor seemed tense and suspicious, something Kelvin had not seen before in his guardian. This was a moment Kelvin noted to himself to remember, as he was now sure there was a lot he would have to learn about the Nine Kingdoms before he took the throne. He wasn’t sure how much he trusted Evet, but he didn’t doubt the apprehension in her voice.
“When did you two get so friendly?” Amelia joked as Kelvin returned to the procession toward the Monarch.
“Tradition…I guess,” Kelvin shrugged.
Most of the city Titan still slept, as it was very early, so the crowd gathered to see Kelvin off was a small one. He waived and posed for a few pictures the onlookers snapped with their mobiles for the Tube or their PicutreFaced profiles. Before long, he was back inside the Monarch, on a small floating platform, whisking him to the bridge along with Riz. Amelia and Holloway took a separate craft to return them to the Royal Cottage.
“Lord Kelvin, I would like to apologize for my harsh words about Queen Evet last night. It was not my place, and as your protector, you need objective counsel from me,” Riz said, thought Kelvin could tell it was an apology out of reluctance. He wondered if Holloway had a word with Riz before they departed. “This book she gave you, the Atlas of the Antioch Belt. There is no way we would be able to navigate the belt without it. It represents hundreds of years of her people’s exploration and bravery. I can’t believe she gave it to us.”
“She really wants us to find the pirates,” Kelvin said. In his head, he kept thinking about the disturbing idea his sister may be their prisoner. The anxiety it stirred in him was real and Kelvin began to get a taste of the pressure kings and queens in the Nine Kingdoms felt when a life was at stake. The crown wasn’t even his and Kelvin already felt anxious about the life he needed to save, the villains he needed to stop, and the lives aboard the Monarch that would all be at risk.
“Lord Kelvin, with your permission, I’d like to present you an outline of a plan I strategized with the other commanders of Earth Navy last night. It is a plan of action to accomplish two things: capture the Pirates of Mercury and find your sister. Since we received the data from Queen Evet about where the Pirates of Mercury are known to have frequented and how it corresponds to your where your sister might be, we will set a course to go straight for those coordinates.”
The platform stopped at the large doors to the bridge and Kelvin stood contemplating what Riz told him. Suddenly, everything that was before him became very real, and everything seemed much more daunting than it had been.
“Riz…” Kelvin started. “Has this ship ever done anything like this before?”
Riz smiled.
“There are stories, Lord Kelvin, but those are for another day. Let’s just say the Pirates of Mercury have never faced a ship like the Monarch. This crew and every person onboard this ship has been training for this voyage. We are more than ready for any dangers the Antioch Belt could throw our way.”
The doors parted as Riz continued, and eventually, Kelvin followed. The entire crew stopped what they were doing and stood in salute. Kelvin waved his hand for them to be at ease and continue their work. He still wasn’t accustomed to every person stopping and standing at attention when he entered the room, but acknowledging their show of respect and suggesting they keep doing what they were before he was in their presence was almost instinctual.
Riz and Kelvin made their way to a corner of the circular bridge that had a small workstation. Riz offered the chair to Kelvin.
“This is your workstation, your majesty,” Riz said, as Kelvin took a seat in the high-backed chair. “You can continue your work on the radio monitoring and Holloway has agreed to let you log school time from this station for part of the day. She still wants you in her class for the morning sessions, but your afternoon assignments will all be forwarded to this station. The workstation next to you is available to Ms. Chapman, if she’d care to log some time on the bridge.”
Kelvin didn’t know if he was more excited to tell Amelia she could work on the bridge or if he was excited for his own workstation. This would certainly beat the simulators Amelia spent her time in. Kelvin knew she was nervous about asking Riz to be a part of the bridge crew and he couldn’t wait to surprise her with this.
“Sir, Mercury Planetary Space Control has authorized our takeoff. Docking clamps are retracted and moorings cleared. The Monarch is ready for departure at your command,” a young pilot announced.
“Set a course for the Antioch Belt and engage,” Riz said.
The largest view screen in the bridge came alive with a stunning visual of Mercury’s capital city and the rolling mountiains beyond it. The Monarch rose quickly above the clouds and through the atmosphere, with the Solar Disks quickly coming to meet it as it blasted away from Mercury toward the Antioch Belt. Once again, the stars were all anyone could see. Kelvin felt a familiar, sinking feeling in his stomach as he dreaded the wait for their journey to the Antioch Belt. He just wanted to get it over with and he feared it would be days before they reached the edge of the belt.
Riz was now fully attentive to the operations on the bridge, having moved to his own workstation at the center of the bridge. Riz was the true captain of the Monarch, as he conferred with other officers on board. Kelvin turned back to his station and picked up the large pair of headphones that hung on the edge of the keyboard in front of him. The workstation was much more elaborate than the tiny board he’d been operating in the Radio Lab on the other side of the ship. He didn’t know what most of the buttons and monitors at his station were for, so he decided to focus on the ones he could understand.
The headphones fit snug on Kelvin’s head and when he put them on. The work station came to life and a voice spoke to him.
“Greetings Kelvin, I’m Mara, your digital assistant,” the female voice said.
Kelvin jumped in surprise. When the shock of the voice faded after a few seconds, Kelvin got very excited. His first digital assistant was a big deal. He turned and looked to Riz who smiled back and gave him a thumbs up. Kelvin glowed as if he’d just opened a birthday present. A digital assistant was a big deal, as the one you were given would be with you for the rest of your life. They were tailored to know almost everything about you and eventually became like a member of your family. It was not known to Kelvin if he would ever get one, as no one in his family had one, and his mom was always reluctant to give him more technology.
“Hi Mara,” Kelvin said, a little bit nervous.
“Before we get started setting up your workstation, you have an incoming transmission on the royal/diplomatic frequency,” Mara said. “Would you like to receive it? It’s only a message, so you won’t be able to respond.”
“Umm…sure, who is it from?”
“Princess Aren and it was sent ten seconds ago.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
QUEEN ELEYN DESCENDED from her shuttle, this time on an unmanned space station called the Aman Station that was trapped in a decaying orbit around Earth. Within the next fifty years it was predicted to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, so it was just left floating there in case anyone ever needed to use it for an emergency landing. There were dozens of older space stations, just floating around Earth, waiting for their eventual death in Earth’s fiery reentry point to the atmosphere. Queen Eleyn had chosen this one because h
er brother would know which one it was.
This time it was Earlos alone, without the Moon Lords present. He did not expect his sister, the queen, would be well when they met. Her son and possibly only living child had been sent into one of the most dangerous and uncharted parts of the Nine Kingdoms. Queen Eleyn was composed, but her eyes were tired from a sleepless night. She appeared to him as strong and stoic as Earlos remembered – this gave him great relief.
“We saw the news, sister,” Earlos said, trying to provide relief to the always tenuous situation of who says the first word. “We are ready to depart. Lord Brother Raige has a sister high in Mercury’s government. We’ve been provided a detailed map of where the Monarch is going. Our ship is prepared and will provide more than adequate back-up.”
Queen Eleyn said nothing at first. She just stared into the darkness of the stars, beaming in through the enormous window at the other end of the hangar. It was large enough that one felt like they were standing in space.
“Thank you, brother, but I come on official business,” Queen Eleyn began, nervously. “My husband, his majesty King Erelm, has decreed you and the other Moon Lords are to leave Earth’s satellite and never return. You have one-month to gather what you need and be gone from here. Failure to do so will result in your arrest and deportation to Earth’s remote prison in the Kuiper Belt.”
“Then tell him he can arrest me when I and the other Moon Lords return from saving his son, my nephew,” Earlos said. “The king’s business with me and my lord brothers can wait. I assumed you were here to wish me luck or even bring good news from the king, but that was my mistake.”
Eleyn came very close to him. Behind the crown and the ceremonial garb, Earlos saw his sister again. The look in her eyes told him more than words could that she was his ally.
“What’s happening with Kelvin…Earlos, it’s killing him. He’s really losing it. I’ve put in a delay of his order with the courts, but I promised him I would come tell you myself. Because he’s descended from the Sellwood line, he has final say, unless the courts override him like I’ve petitioned. If he challenges that, then I will put in a motion to have him temporarily removed from power until he gets a hold of himself. I’m done trying to protect people from that irrational man. I love him, but I can’t watch him drag others down with him.”
Eleyn stepped back and went rigid again.
“Earth wishes you and the Moon Lords a safe voyage. Wherever the stars take you, be well, brother,” Eleyn said, her voice loud enough to echo through the hangar in case King Erelm was listening. Eleyn hated doing this, lying to her own family, but she knew the king was not well and needed looking after. If not for himself, for others.
She climbed aboard her shuttle, the Diamond Dagger, an old warship the queen made her own and motioned for the pilot to take off. Eleyn looked out of the nearest porthole, at her brother, who did not move, only stood in respect for her to depart before he moved. Eleyn went to her office and left her aides behind. She could tell they were worried about her, but she didn’t have the time or the energy to reassure them.
Eleyn took a seat behind her massive, oak desk that dominated the room. A monitor and keyboard rose from the surface of the desk, coming to life as soon as Eleyn locked eyes with it. The monitor displayed her schedule and all the meetings that waited for her back on Earth. Queen Eleyn had been taking care of all Earth affairs that required royal attention – a duty she used to share with her husband before their daughter disappeared. Eleyn had risen above the grief and often wondered if she’d even been allowed that when her daughter went missing.
The memories of her and her brother fought to get her attention, but she wouldn’t let them. Now was not the time for sentiment. Not only was her son at great risk, she had asked another member of her family to go out looking for him. She wished she could order the Diamond Dagger to turn it’s thrusters toward the Antioch Belt instead of asking others to make the sacrifice. Eleyn knew she couldn’t – the law would not allow it and her son would resent her if she did not allow him to complete his task. The Moon Lords were independent of Earth, so if they assisted the Monarch, it would not reflect Kelvin. Their ship – the Lunar Gale – was almost as legendary as the Monarch, if not as elusive. No one had seen it in decades and no one knew where the Lunar Guardians kept it. If the Monarch looked like a butterfly, the Lunar Gale was like a shark. Large, sleek, and sharp at almost every point.
It made Eleyn feel better – for at least a moment – that the Lunar Gale would be nearby to protect her son. She checked to see if Kelvin had tried to message her or call, but he had not. Eleyn wanted to reach out to her son, but knew the Monarch was already well underway and did not want to distract him. Eleyn knew her husband had not paid Kelvin the same respect and imagined her son must have been rattled after the call with his father. Sometimes parents acted selfishly out of love and concern, but Eleyn promised herself she would not.
The chime on her computer beeped with a new notification. The Earth Navy commander was calling. Commander Raha Enner had been the High Commander of Earth Navy for the past twenty-years. Her voice came through with the strength it always had. Commander Enner was a rock for Eleyn and had served as her advisor for a very long time. Enner no doubt knew the queen had just been on a barely operable space station, halfway between the moon and Earth. Her concern was most likely what prompted the call.
“Your majesty, I was not aware of your flight plan to the Aman Station. Is everything okay?”
“Just some business with my brother and the Moon Lords. I spoke to you about it a few days ago, before this nightmare with Kelvin heading to the Antioch Belt.”
“Ah, yes, your majesty. Very good,” Enner said. She couldn’t discuss it further over the frequencies, in case someone else happened to be monitoring, but Enner knew exactly what Eleyn was talking about. She helped the queen come up with the plan. “Lord Ristep just sent a communication, confirming the Monarch was getting close to the Antioch Belt. All of their defensive systems are online. If and when they encounter the Pirates of Mercury, they’ll be ready.”
Eleyn smiled and looked to the nearest porthole, back out into the stars. Commander Enner was right…they were as ready as they could be. It was up to the stars now.
Earlos felt his stomach drop as the turbo-elevator shot him and the other Moon Lords thousands of feet below the surface of the moon. The Lunar Gale waited for them, with a full crew of bots, all warming the engines and preparing to sail into the stars. Aside from his brief visit to Earth during Kelvin’s coronation, Earlos and the Moon Lords had not left their home in over ten years. They had no intention of ever leaving unless it was a return to Earth, but they knew that would never happen under King Erelm – and now he had pushed their exile even further out.
“Lord Earlos…this must work. I will not allow my family and I to be taken off this moon. We will not leave our home,” Raige said, sternness in his voice the other two Moon Lords had not often heard.
“Nor will I, lord brother,” Rewill seconded. “This foolishness with your sister’s husband–”
“He is the king and that is how we refer to him. Whatever problems you or I may have with the man, we still respect the crown,” Earlos interrupted. The relationship between Earlos and King Erelm had been strained for many years, but Earlos was a man of civility and etiquette, and disrespecting any crown in the Nine Kingdoms was not a proper way for a Moon Lord to act.
Rewill didn’t seem interested in sharing the same level of propriety.
“The king has no right to declare sovereignty over our moon or the people here. If it is something we need to go to war over, we will demonstrate the Moon Lords are capable of a war with this voyage of the Lunar Gale,” Rewill snapped.
“Lord brother is right, Earlos. You are my friend and a lord brother, but we will not be pushed around by the king and queen,” Raige added.
“My sister had no part in this. She came to warn me. I told you, she’s fighting this in the courts
. She’s on our side,” Earlos defended.
“If she were on our side we would be resting comfortably in our estates on Earth, not plunging below the cold surface of a dead rock. I understand you excuse her indifference because she is your sister, but she has forsaken you, lord brother. She could have fought Erelm’s decree to exile us from Earth the first time he banished us to this moon.”
“This moon is our home!” Earlos shouted, taking the fight our of both Raige and Rewill.
For too long, Earlos had heard Raige and Rewill complain about the moon. They drove themselves crazy pining for the climate of Earth and their old lives. Hearing their gripes about everything bad that befell them so many years ago. It frustrated Earlos that his lord brothers would act sanctimonious about why the three of them and the population of Moon City had been exiled.
“The king and queen have their reasons. The three of us knew the risks. We knew what could happen. You may feel the punishment is harsh, but we knew the risk. We can not undo what was done, all we can do now is try to protect our king and protect our future. Now, more than ever, our people depend on us.”
As Earlos looked down at the Moon Lords he towered above due to his unusual height, he saw them remember. The three Lunar Guardians remembered why they were banished to the moon. Earlos could sense Raige and Rewill remember when they tried to take control of Earth’s government. Not to control Earth’s people, but to end the monarchy, a system they feared gave too much power to too few people. Earth and the rest of the Nine Kingdoms did function as democracies, but the rulers of each planet were the final deciders in any vote. It was the reason queens and kings went through the Traditions of Service or the highest education – so that they could be as informed as possible.
Earlos, Raige, and Rewill had proposed Moon City separate from Earth, unless Earth abolished the powers of the monarch. They still wanted the royal family to serve as ambassadors, but they felt Earth Council should have authority over Earth completely, as well as the other councils of the Nine Kingdoms controlling their own planets. The Moon Lords took their crusade high into the Earth Council, until its members turned on them, and King Erelm accused them of trying to overthrow the government. Queen Eleyn didn’t feel it was quite that severe – but she felt great betrayal since her brother kept it secret. Earlos considered his dishonesty to his sister one of his greatest mistakes.
