The Quest for Nobility

by Debra L Martin

  “Sure, no problem. I’ll go back through the travel log and find out exactly how many times he’s gone to the Jortac Duchy lately.”

  “Good, that could be another piece of this puzzle we need.”

  “What puzzle?”

  “Helping Darius and Dyla clear themselves of these ridiculous charges, but I need to get a better picture of who benefits from their arrest and why.”

  “OK, I’ll let you know what I learn.”

  “Good, enough of business and intrigue. When do you get off duty?”

  “Not for another hour or so, but it’s such a slow day.”

  Ty moved closer to her. “Is it now?”

  “Whatever shall we do until my relief shows up?” she asked mischievously.

  “I’m sure we’ll think of something,” he said, pulling her into his arms.

  Excerpt from The Chronicles of Otharia during the reign of the First Vacancy:

  Division I – The Rule of Otharia

  Subsection III – Duchy Rule

  The machinations of disgruntled family members were something every duke looked out for. Depending on the line of succession, a duke would keep his heirs close at hand to ensure he knew of their comings and goings. The heir apparent was often by the side of the duke from the moment he became of age. Succession was not always through the death of a reigning duke. It was not uncommon for a duke to abdicate his throne to his heir so he might enjoy his later years in relative peace and quiet, while lending a helping hand to the newly crowned duke or duchess.

  Chapter 26 – Jortac

  Baron Avikar stepped through the portal at the city of Waterford’s portal station, in the Jortac Duchy. One of the duke’s servants was waiting to greet him.

  “Greetings, Baron Avikar, Duke Lucas awaits your arrival,” the servant said.

  Avikar preened at the reception he received from Jortac’s servant.

  “Lead on then. We should not keep the duke waiting.”

  Outside the duke’s private study, the servant knocked twice before opening the door and ushering Avikar inside.

  Lucas rose from his chair to greet him.

  “Baron Avikar, good to see you again. Please come in, sit down and make yourself comfortable.”

  Lucas waited until the servant had left before he sat down opposite Avikar at his conference table and continued the conversation.

  “Would you care for a drink, Avikar?”

  “Yes, thank you, my lord.”

  Lucas poured Avikar a goblet of wine from the decanter on the silver tray in the middle of the table, and handed it to him.

  Avikar took a hearty gulp.

  “Avikar, please, address me as Lucas,” Jortac insisted. “After all, that’s what all the other dukes call me.”

  Avikar nearly spit out the wine as the implication of that simple sentence seeped into his mind.

  “All the other dukes?” he asked excitedly.

  Lucas smiled.

  “Of course, Duke Avikar.”

  “Duke Avikar? What about Duke Darius? The boy has already turned eighteen and, even though he’s not here, he’s the official ruler of the duchy. And what about Dyla? She’s next in line to inherit the throne after her brother.”

  “Don’t worry. The Telkur line is dead or soon will be. That’s the reason I’ve asked you to come here today. At our last meeting, I told you to be patient, but now your wait is nearly over.”

  “Nearly over? What do you mean?”

  Lucas leaned back in his chair. “There’s one more thing you must do. You must declare the twins’ right to the throne forfeit, and claim the throne for yourself as the closest kin in line to rule.”

  “But, I thought the majority of the Grand Counsel must approve such an act. Are you saying we finally have the majority needed for approval?”

  “My dear Avikar, would I have summoned you otherwise?”

  Avikar could not contain himself and jumped out of his seat, his mind reeling.

  “Thank you, Lucas. I can’t thank you enough.”

  “Don’t worry; there will be many opportunities for you to show your gratitude. In the meantime, we must prepare the petition for the Grand Council. Be aware that it may take several months before the Council will hear the full petition, but, at the very least, we can start the process. And, Avikar, please sit down, your pacing annoys me.”

  “Yes, my lord. Forgive me.” Avikar quickly returned to his chair, trying hard to contain his rising excitement.

  “The first step is to establish the fact that the twins have abandoned their right to rule. You must send a petition to every duchy announcing their abandonment, and give them ten days to return and reclaim their rightful place.”

  “Is all that really necessary?” Avikar asked, disappointment clearly etched on his face. “They’re fugitives on the run. Why must we waste so much time waiting for them to return?”

  “Trust me, Avikar, it must be done this way or you will not win the support of the Council,” Lucas said, annoyance ringing in his voice.

  “Yes, of course, you’re right. I apologize for my outburst. Please continue, my lord.”

  Lucas rose from his seat.

  “That’s all. Do what I’ve told you and everything will fall into place. We’re finished for now; you may go.”

  “But, what happens if they return earlier?”

  “They will not.”

  Avikar stood up and bowed to the duke.

  “Thank you, my lord.”

  Avikar turned on his heel and left the room. The duke’s servant was standing outside the study waiting to escort Avikar back to the portal station.

  “My Lord, are you ready to leave now?” he asked politely.

  “Would I be out here in the corridor if I weren’t ready to leave?” Avikar snapped at the servant, as he strode past him.

  The servant flinched back like he had received a lash, momentarily shocked at Avikar’s vehemence.

  “Yes, my lord. I will take you to the portal station immediately.”

  ***

  Whoosh.

  Avikar stepped out of the portal, ignoring the technician on duty. He left the station and headed up the hill toward the Telkur manor. He was seething with agitation. He had hoped that Lucas was going to tell him that his petition could be brought forth at the next Grand Council meeting. Now, it could take months before the Council would hear it. Another month of waiting on those damn twins was intolerable.

  The fog was rolling in, and the dark blanket of night had quickly descended as Avikar made his way to the manor. He wanted to talk to Nils about his conversation with Lucas. He really didn’t trust the Duke of Jortac, and he wanted a second opinion. He only trusted Nils because Nil’s very existence depended on his largess and success, or so he thought.

  ***

  Floating through the murky depths of the harbor underworld, Nils moved silently and unnoticed. He had his favorite knife in his hand, and his intended victim in sight. She was a slight woman, bent and gnarled with age, but still spry on her feet.

  It had taken Nils a few moments to overtake her. She was one of a few people who had publicly spoken out against Avikar, seeding dissension among the rabble. She had been a benefactor of Levon’s program of enlightenment, the program that Avikar had quickly stopped when he became Regent. In her reasoning, the more discontent she could brew, the sooner her program would be reinstated, in order to quiet her. In Nils’ world, there was a much quicker way to shut her up.

  He was behind her, and now her throat was slashed. Nils made short work of her, leaving her body in a pile of trash to be discovered in the morning; just another hapless victim of the violent and unruly waterfront district. Some would realize that she had been killed to silence her, but there would be no proof to substantiate that claim. Her death would serve as an example to others who thought to speak out against the new regent.

  With his task finished, Nils made his way back to the manor, quietly slipping through a side door. He entered the main
hall to find Avikar pacing.

  “Where have you been?” Avikar demanded, impatiently.

  “My Lord, I’ve been out keeping your reign secure,” Nils said, bowing to Avikar.

  Avikar knew better than to ask about any specific details of Nils’s handiwork.

  “Oh, very well then.”

  “I’m here now, my lord. What can I do for you?”

  “I want to tell you about the conversation that I had with Duke Lucas earlier today. I don’t trust the man, and I want your opinion of what has transpired.”

  “Yes, my lord. I’m at your disposal.”

  The two men walked to Avikar’s private chambers on the second floor. Avikar related the gist of the conversation, and the task that Duke Lucas had laid upon him, to his chief security officer.

  Nils listened intently to Avikar’s discourse, committing to memory every minute detail for his later report to Vogdo. The Grand Duke would be most interested in the machinations that Duke Lucas was trying to employ; most interested indeed.

  Avikar slumped back in his chair when he finished his narrative.

  “What do you think?” he asked. “Does Lucas have a hidden agenda, or what?”

  Nils was quick to answer.

  “Duke Lucas always has a hidden agenda. Because we already know that, we can assume that there’s something more to his request of you than a simple notice of abandonment of duties.”

  “You’re right,” Avikar said nodding. “I knew he was up to something. I want my petition to be crowned duke heard at the next Council meeting. I don’t want to send out this other petition to the other duchies and wait a month.”

  “Before you act too hastily, my lord, this petition might serve you as well.”

  “What do you mean, Nils? How can it serve me?”

  “For you to be able to rule effectively, the Telkur Governing Council must be in agreement with your policies. Otherwise, you’ll be spending too much time fighting with them to pass the legislation you want. This has been the case since you were named Regent, is that not so?”

  “Yes, that’s true. Continue Nils.”

  “In order to win over the Telkur Council, they must believe that you serve the best interests of the entire duchy. The Council firmly believes that the Telkur family remains the ruling family. Even with the twins on the run, there are many who do not believe the murder charges against them. If you send out your petition, and Darius and Dyla refuse to come back to reclaim their royal positions, then the Council will have no other choice. They will have to admit that the twins have abandoned them, and name you as the rightful heir to the throne. With your own governing council supporting you, your petition before the Grand Council will hold more weight and will likely be approved quickly.”

  “Ah, yes. I see the logic of it now.”

  “I’m sure you would have come to the same conclusion, given time to think on it, my lord. I am only saying the obvious out loud.”

  Avikar looked at Nils and nodded. Yes, he is a good servant.

  “Nils, I have decided to send out the petition to the other duchies. We shall wait and see if the twins return within the allotted time. If they do not, then I’ll be the rightful ruler of Telkur and no one can dispute it. In the meantime, I’ll be keeping an eye on Duke Lucas. I’m not the pawn he thinks I am.”

  “As you wish, my lord; I will see to having the proper petition written up for your signature.”

  Nils bowed to Avikar and left the room.

  Avikar walked over to the long side table and poured himself some wine. He had done well today, he thought absently, rubbing his thumb over the engraved T on the royal goblet. He took a hearty gulp of wine, savoring the fruity blend.

  I know how to play these political games. No one is going to fool me.

  Once outside Avikar’s private chambers, Nils checked the corridor, making sure no one was in sight. Satisfied he was alone, he opened a portal to the secret room next to Vogdo’s private study. He had much to tell the Grand Duke.

  ***

  “My Lord, your plan is moving along well,” Nils reported to Grand Duke Vogdo. “Baron Avikar believes that Duke Lucas does not have his best interest in mind, and plots to undermine him.”

  Vogdo’s sinister smile reflected his pleasure.

  “I thought he would see it as such. Avikar is a weak-minded fool who will continue to move in dangerous circles to shore up his fledging power. He doesn’t realize that his rule depends on the goodwill of the people, not on the other duchies, or even the Grand Council’s consent. He’s blind to that simple fact, and he’ll continue to reap despair upon his people until they drag him down.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Nils, I have reservations concerning Lucas. He’s the only potential problem in my Grand Design that still nags at me. He could be the one with enough power to sway certain members of the Grand Council against me. I must either garner his full loyalties or, somehow, eliminate him.”

  “My Lord, you’ll need competent rulers in the other duchies once you’re declared King of Otharia,” Nils suggested.

  “Yes, of course, you’re right. I think it will be better to enlist Lucas rather than isolate him. It will make him a little less dangerous. Better the enemy you know, eh, Nils?” Vogdo said, offering one of his rare witticisms.

  Nils chuckled at the Grand Duke’s joke.

  “Still, I’m not quite sure when I’ll do this,” Vogdo continued. “I think it may be best to leave that decision until the moment Avikar is on the cusp of losing power, when his people become an angry mob and finally pull him down, and I’m forced to step in to restore order. That’s when the situation will be the most volatile, and Lucas the most dangerous. I must prevent him from making any move to assume power before me.”

  “Whatever your decision, My Lord, I shall be at your disposal,” Nils replied with a gleam in his eye.

  “Yes, I’m sure you will be. I’ll be depending on your support. By the way, how goes the dissension among the rabble? Have you sown enough discontent to ensure the Telkur masses will rise?”

  “I believe I have, my lord, and I actually added to that discontent tonight.”

  “The timing is critical, Nils. It must happen immediately after the Grand Council gives Avikar the Telkur throne. That way, Avikar will be the duke, albeit short-lived. You have plans for his sister, do you not? There must be no one left with any claim on the Telkur Duchy once Avikar is removed.”

  “Yes, my lord, everything is going according to plan.”

  “Well done, Nils. I shall leave you to your duties. Report to me immediately anything out of the ordinary, no matter how trivial it may seem.”

  “Of course, my lord.”

  “Nils, one more thing. How do you feel about long-distance travel?”

  “My Lord, I go where it pleases you most. May I inquire as to the nature of this request?”

  Vogdo stood up from his desk.

  “I have some business interests that may need some oversight when this Telkur business is finished.”

  “As you wish,” Nils replied, bowing slightly. “Good night, my lord.”

  Nils watched the Grand Duke leave the study. He walked over to the table, poured himself a glass of wine and drank deeply. The wine soothed him for the moment, as he pondered on Vogdo’s words.

  Long-distance travel is a strange choice of words, he thought, especially since he had already traversed the length and breadth of Otharia in Vogdo’s service.

  Nils fingered the exquisite crystal that hung on the heavy chain around his neck. Having his own 10K traveling crystal was the best perk thus far in his service for the Grand Duke. The crystal gave him unprecedented freedom to travel Otharia at will.

  Whatever the Grand Duke had in store for him, Nils would wait until Vogdo revealed it to him. Patience was one of his best attributes and it had served him well thus far. Never one to stay in one place too long, Nils drained the rest of the wine and opened a portal back to the Telkur manor. He had
business to attend to. He needed to find out how Trinity Kantos was spending her days lately.

  Excerpt from The Chronicles of Otharia during the reign of the First Vacancy:

  Division I – The Rule of Otharia

  Subsection IV – The Gypsy Nation

  The gypsies have PSI abilities much as the citizens of the other duchies have, but when they broke from the Kingdom, they lost access to the Otharian Institute for Paranormal Studies and the centuries of learning and experience it offered. Without access to the training offered at the Institute, the young PSI potentials never fully master their skills. They maintain the innate abilities they are born with, but none ever develop beyond a novice level. Compared with the graduates of the Institute, their abilities are child-like. They have come to value physical prowess and mental acuity, and look upon those with strong PSI abilities as mere oddities of nature.

  Chapter 27 – The Message

  A warm breeze blew across the deck of the Black Raven. She was the fastest ship in the gypsy fleet, and Lilly loved being part of the crew. She had surprised herself by adapting to sea life so readily. For the first time in more months than she cared to count, she was happy. The inner turmoil she felt since coming to the gypsies was lessening. Her empathic senses, still intact though her memories were gone, allowed her to feel the gypsies’ acceptance of her.

  She loved being on deck when most of the crew was asleep, because it gave her a chance to study the stars without interruption. A good sailor could navigate by the sun, but a captain needed to understand the nighttime sky, and Lilly wanted to master every job aboard the ship.

  “Lilly, what are you doing up on deck so late?” Sardel asked, coming alongside her at the rail.

  Lilly turned and greeted Sardel with a smile.

  “Hi, Captain. Just enjoying the quiet. It’s so beautiful out here at night.”

  Sardel wrapped his arm around her small waist.

  “Lilly, you don’t need to call me Captain when we’re alone.”