CHAPTER 36
Sitting cross-legged in front of the small chest, sweat coated Alora’s palms. She wiped them on her pants and placed her fingers along the box’s edge. Eagerness warred with her trepidation, and with a quick push, she slid the lid off the container.
An old ball, sports trophies, and several picture frames filled the box to the brim. Memories of Mitan, his smile, his laugh, his terrible jokes, flooded her mind. Her chest constricted even as she let loose a stifled laugh. Tears threatened to fall, and she blinked them away.
She withdrew one of the frames. The picture was of Mitan when he was a mid-youth. Dark hair, cut short, accentuated the deep brown of his eyes. His smile, along with his strong jaw, had made many a young female weep. “Oh Mitan, you always were a handsome one.”
She set the picture aside and retrieved another from the depths. Mitan with a curved bow in his hand, a hat on his head, and the look of sheer determination lining his features. How Mitan had loved to hunt, especially rhondo beasts.
As Alora drew the last frame from the pile, her breath caught in her throat. It was a picture of Veromé, Mitan, and Zedron wearing their formal graduation suits. They’d become friends while attending classes at the academy. She’d met Zedron and Veromé after the trio had graduated. Not long after, they’d both courted her.
She focused on the empty space above the dresser. How long ago that seemed, yet it had only been a few years since she’d bonded with Veromé. She exhaled and set the picture aside. After removing the two sport trophies, she peered into the box.
A disk, similar in size and nature to the ones she used in her visus bacin, sat in the chest’s corner. She gripped the small device and held it up to the light. The round orb shimmered. “Mitan, what were you doing with one of these?”
“Find something interesting?” Carine leaned against the doorframe. The ends of her blue hair sparked as they twirled around her shoulders.
“This box contains some old photos of my deceased friend Mitan, along with this.” Alora held up the disk.
Carine pushed away from the door, her eyes wide. “Hey, isn’t that a recording device for a visus bacin?”
“I believe so.” Alora glanced at the visus basin next to the old dresser. A sense of excitement tripped over her nerves. “Let’s find out.”
Alora rose from the floor and dashed to the scrying bowl. She held the round orb over the smooth water. She released the object and the disk slid below the surface with a soft plop.
Carine strode behind Alora. “You’ve piqued my curiosity. I can’t wait to see what’s in there.”
“Me, too.” Alora spun her hands over the water’s surface. The water bubbled, roiling into a frenzy before quieting.
Situated in a Rolmdew tree, Mitan’s familiar home came into focus. On the massive deck, Alora’s childhood friend placed his elbows on the deck railing, his brow furrowing over his intense brown eyes.
Alora leaned forward, her chest expanding with sweet melancholy at seeing her long-lost friend once again.
“Is that Mitan?” Carine asked.
“Yes, that’s him. Based on his age, I’d say this image of him is not long before he…” She swallowed.
Carine squeezed Alora’s arm. “I’m sorry. You must miss him.”
Alora nodded. “I do. He was—”
Zedron, wearing one of his custom suits strode onto the deck. A chilling smirk formed on his lips.
Mitan turned around and crossed his arms. “Zedron. I told you never to come here.”
“Oh, Mitan. You’ll come around, you always do.” Zedron’s menacing smile revealed his perfect set of white teeth.
Alora tensed.
“I won’t be a party to your plan to win Alora’s hand. She’s my best friend from childhood. Once she finds out you intend to tarnish Veromé’s reputation, she’ll never bond to you.” Mitan’s eyes flashed with bits of silver.
Zedron trailed his finger over the back of a deck chair, toying with the cushion’s ribbon. “Perhaps I should tell the council that a member of the neutral faction colonized a planet, a little blue one with a single sun.”
Mitan pushed away from the railing. The wood creaked from the pressure. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Alora’s pulse rose. Mitan had colonized Earth? That couldn’t be.
“Oh, I would.” Zedron tsked. “Neutral faction families don’t support free or slave parties, so your actions are scandalous. I know how much pain that would bring your council member father. He’d lose his seat in disgrace.”
Mitan’s nostrils flared, and he clenched his hand into a fist. “Alora won’t love you, not like she does Veromé. That’s something your money and power could never buy.”
Alora took in a deep breath, her lungs expanding with pride that Mitan would stand up for her.
“So, you’re telling me you won’t cooperate?” Zedron strode forward, that frightening smirk back on his face.
Mitan stepped into Zedron’s personal space. “No, and better yet, maybe I should turn you in. I’m sure the council would be very interested in how you acquired this information. Spying is a capital offense.”
Zedron’s arm shook with fury. He cried out, seized Mitan’s shirt, and shoved him.
Mitan stumbled and landed against the wooden rail. The wood groaned from the impact.
Alora gasped, and Carine gripped her fingers.
Mitan pushed away from the rail and bolted toward his rival. Zedron slammed his fist into Mitan’s chin. Alora’s childhood friend crashed against the railing once again. Wood splintered and slipped over the edge.
“Goodbye, Mitan.” Zedron curled his lip, and he kicked Mitan in the gut.
The railing gave way.
Mitan yelled and disappeared over the edge.
Growls from rhondo beasts, eager to claim a meal, echoed from below.
The horrible vision faded.
Alora brought her fists to her mouth, sealing in her scream.
Carine tugged on Alora’s arm, turning her around then wrapping her in a comforting embrace. “I’m so sorry.”
Alora held on to her friend for a long moment, soaking up the comfort. “I can’t believe it. Zedron killed Mitan.”
Murderer… The ramifications flitted across Alora’s mind. She drew away from Carine and paced between the visus bacin and the large bed. Her shoes tapped in rhythm with her pounding heart.
Alora stopped and glanced at her friend. “Do you know what this means?”
Carine shook her head. “Not entirely.”
“Zedron will go to jail for murder, as he should, that Kasard.” Alora curled her hand into a fist.
“And you’ll win the war.”
Alora took a deep breath and forced her fingers to relax. “Yes, I suppose that will be the natural outcome, except it sounds like Mitan found Earth first. If that’s true, I don’t know what the council will do.”
Carine glanced at the visus bacin. “Do you think the disk will show us?”
“Let’s find out.” Alora darted to the large scrying bowl then spun her hands over the water.
The water in the surface remained still, the small disk visible underneath.
Frustration flared in Alora’s chest, and she swirled her hands with more force. “Show me.”
Not a ripple materialized, but a few words scrolled across the water. Enter password.
“Mitan password protected his file. Something must’ve happened to it to get stuck on that one scene.” Alora furrowed her brow. “I wonder what his passcode was…”
“You knew him pretty well, didn’t you? Give it a try.” Carine peered into the bowl.
Alora tapped her finger against her mouth. Would he use one of his parent’s names? “Password, Desmond.”
A light blinked over the water, and the words reappeared. Enter password.
Frustration had Alora clamping her jaw shut. “Password, Tanya.”
The light blinked faster, and this time, new words appeared. Failed attempt two. Disk will lock permanently after three failed attempts.
Alora pounded her fist against the stone edge, again and again. “I don’t dare try again.”
The image of Mitan on the deck reappeared. As he leaned over the railing, his dark eyes furrowed. The recording device had reverted back to the original scene. Alora swiped her hand over the picture, unwilling to see his death again.
Carine placed her hand on Alora’s arm. “Perhaps we should tell Radnor about this, see if he knows the password.”
“Good idea.” Alora shoved her hand into the cool water and retrieved the precious disk. Gripping it tight, she shook off a few drops of water from her fist and headed out the door.
As she hurried into the living room, her breaths heaved from her excitement. “Radnor!”
Her voice echoed around the empty space.
“Hey, it looks like he left you a note.” Carine pointed at his desk.
Situated on one of the corners was a slip of paper, her name etched across the top.
She picked up the finely crafted page and read. “Alora, I didn’t want to disturb you as you looked through Mitan’s belongings, but I received a call and needed to leave. I’ll see you at the council meeting in a few hours. Don’t be late.” Radnor’s elegant signature graced the bottom of the page.
“Sounds like your meeting will be one to remember.” Carine exhaled. “Do us both a favor, bring Zedron down.”
Alora tightened her grip around Mitan’s recording device. “I shall. Oh, I shall.”
Despite her conviction, her stomach knotted. Zedron was no fool.