Chapter Twenty-One

CHRISTINE

I had not felt this self-conscious since I was a teenager. Civilians and tourists alike rarely entered the royal grounds. Any pictures taken outside the main gates had the ever-present specter of frowning troops in the background. Somehow I found myself in the throne room of the legendary Urwanian palace. Now that I was in the presence of royalty, I had forgotten everything I knew about this planet. Should I curtsy or bow? Axl was my only reference. I copied his stance, standing with hands behind my back.

Empress Angkora sat on a magnificent throne wearing a gorgeous white gown with gold trimmings. Her skirt had a mosaic of colors painted by hand. The throne was a fantastic sight. Artisans had carved Zamoan gods and goddesses into the back. A handmaiden, servant, and pair of Urwanian soldiers hovered around the throne, looking straight ahead at no one in particular.

“Ms. Blackwood.” The Empress peered down at me, extending open palms. I glanced at Axl and he gave me a nod of encouragement. I walked toward the Urwanian seal engraved on the foot of the white marble steps in front of the throne and stood in its center.

“On behalf of the Urwanian Imperial Palace and all our citizens, we would like to thank you for helping to ensure the safe return of a pillar of Galzen.” The Empress looked to her right admiringly where the glimmering pillar sat on a pedestal.

“Of course.” I twisted the silver band on my finger. It was one of the props Axl and I had picked up at the wedding venue’s gift shop.

“The Department of Justice has informed me that you attempted to contact us a few weeks ago to verify Magnum’s identity. We couldn’t answer you because of the backlog of calls after the attacks. For that, we apologize.”

“It was completely understandable, given the situation.” I forced a smile, feeling uneasy being thrust into the spotlight. “I’m just glad it’s back in the right hands.”

“I understand you and Magnum have come to an agreement and will be sharing the reward money.”

“That is correct, your eminence.”

“I hope you will forgive the shortness of our exchange, but I am needed elsewhere, and I want to make sure you get your payment. Keoni?”

The servant shuffled to the back of the room and returned with a credit transfer machine. “Christine and Axl, you may approach the throne.”

We climbed the steps together. When our hands accidentally brushed, I felt my stomach flutter, and I ran my tongue along the back of my teeth. “After you,” Axl grunted, stepping aside.

I slipped my hand through the opening of the hollow cube and positioned my wrist over the scanning bed. The Empress held her hand above a glass board while the handmaiden’s fingers entered the transaction. When the machine beeped, she held out the chip in her palm over the scanner. The cube around my wrist flashed green.

“The transaction is complete. You may step aside.”

I mumbled a quick thanks and stepped back. As Axl took his turn, choosing to use the Magnum company card, the computer in my backpack chirped. I pulled it out from the side pocket. My heart swelled at the bank notification on the screen.

I opened the notification to give myself a chance to bask in the glory. Even though I knew it was coming, it took everything I had to prevent myself from swooping my arm under the soldier next to me and prancing around him in delight. The amount of money was enough to refurbish my ship multiple times over.

The most satisfying thing of all was that I could reimburse Aunt Meredith for every bit of my college tuition. Once that debt was taken care of, I would feel less guilty about cutting her out of my life.

“I suppose this concludes our contract.” The Empress rose from the throne. “Thank you both again for bringing back the pillar.”

“You’re welcome.” I reached forward to shake her hand.

The Empress stopped me. “Before you leave, Ms. Blackwood, a question has been at the back of my mind, and I was hoping you could answer it for me. How did you come into possession of the pillar?”

“It was a brilliant stroke of luck, I guess. I found it in a junkyard in Echiles.”

“In Echiles, you say?” The Empress parted her lips in astonishment. “I wonder how it could have ended up there. There’s a saying. That who chances upon these pillars is the Chosen One, the soul of a warrior and a symbol of hope, destined for greatness.”

“We don’t have that saying on Earth.”

“It’s a prophecy in the Sacred Scrolls,” Axl said from behind me.

“I see.” I still didn’t follow them but decided to be polite and nod along, anyway.

“All the best to you moving forward. May Zamos be with you. You are welcome to leave.”

As Axl and I prepared to go, a general in a decorated uniform and a flat-top hat entered the throne room.

“Boy, am I glad that’s finally over.” I glanced at Axl quickly.

“For us? Yes, it’s over.” Axl looked thoughtful. “The rest of Urwan now sits in the calm before the storm, thanks to the Empress and her court of jesters.”

I knew what he meant. Akuza could swear up and down that he would never talk, but at the end of the day, there was nothing to stop him once he returned to his father’s side. On the other hand, this wasn’t my battle. I wondered what Axl wanted to do now that he had finished his business with the pillar.

“I guess everything’s settled. We should head back to Earth, don’t you think?”

“Why would we go back there? Do you have another woman waiting for you or something?”

“Not exactly. But we’re still married, and you want an annulment.”

“Oh, right.” I fought back the blush emanating from my cheeks and waved a weak hand. “I knew that. I was just testing you.”

“Ms. Blackwood!”

Axl and I stopped at the Empress’ urgent cry. We were only three steps away from the main door. Empress Angkora rose from the throne and marched down the steps to meet us.

“We have a situation.” The Empress spoke without hesitation. “General Wasid has informed me that Akuza refuses to board the ship without you.”

“Which one of us is you?”

The general stared into my face. “Christine, Akuza has been continually insisting on your presence, but he will not explain why. He says that the only way he will keep the pillar secret is if you come with us to Makroi and are present at the exchange.”

“I have no desire to be part of this transaction.”

The Empress interjected herself into the conversation. “To keep the exchange as smooth as possible, we would like to invite you to take him up on his request as our guest. We will compensate you for the trouble, of course. Will one hundred thousand credits be a sufficient amount?”

“This is an outrageous request, even for you,” Axl growled as he glared at the Empress. “It is one thing to dismiss logic and lead a military party into a trap. It is quite another to put an innocent’s life in danger. What if something happens to her? Do you want EarthGov after you?”

“This does not concern you, Axl. What do you say, Ms. Blackwood? Your safety is our top priority. Our best people will serve as your private security detail.”

“If you make it two hundred fifty thousand, we have a deal.”

“Done.” The wrinkles on the Empress’s forehead faded in relief. “We’ll sign a contract and send you on your way.”

“That sounds perfect.”

Axl grabbed me by the elbow and hissed into my ear. “What are you doing?”

“Relax,” I whispered back. “I’ll only be there a couple of hours. After that, we can return to Earth. I didn’t want to ruin the surprise, but I’ll cut you in for half. I thought I could pitch in for the inevitable get-off-of-Urwan fund.”

Instead of taking me up on my sweet offer, Axl said something unexpected. “Tell your men to stand down. Magnum will go in their place.”

I ran my fingers along the edge of the bench and glanced across from me. Akuza leaned against the wall. He had one free hand clenched into a tight fist on his lap. The other hand was handcuffed to a steel post. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut but his erratic breathing made it obvious that he was awake.

“Are you hungry?”

Akuza did not budge, but I thought I saw some movement beneath his eyelids.

“You’re going to pop a blood vessel if you keep doing that.” I lifted my legs off the floor and folded them underneath me. “I know you’re not sleeping.”

Akuza cracked open an eye.

“They feed me quite well, thank you.”

“You refused to touch the sandwich Axl made for you yesterday morning.”

“I don’t want to get poisoned.” Akuza opened his eyes. He cynically cackled as he turned his nose up at me. “I’m not an imbecile. I know you all want me dead.”

“I don’t care if you’re alive or dead. In fact, I was about to go back to my homeworld when they said you were begging for me.”

“I wouldn’t put it that way. I made a request.”

“Okay, a passionate request. Are you going to tell me why it’s so important for me to be here?”

Akuza sank in his seat. He seemed reluctant to talk.

“I didn’t have to come here, you know. I’m sure a group of people thinks you and I are conspiring together. I’m not asking for a thank you. I just want to know why.”

He glared at me, jaw shifting from side to side, but he finally relented. “They would have had killed me before takeoff if you weren’t here. I needed someone I could trust.”

“I see. Well, that’s flattering, but I don’t think my presence would have made a difference. I’m not associated with Magnum at all. If they wanted to kill you, you’d be dead already. I would sit tight and try to enjoy the rest of the ride if I were you.”

“That’s not entirely true. What about that brute, Axl? He listens to you.”

“Ha.” I snorted and shook my head. “I wish he did.”

Akuza shook his hair out of his eyes, gazing despondently out of the window. I was determined to keep up the progress in conversation. I glanced at the rings on his right hand. The band on his middle finger caught my attention. It showed the demonic face of a dragon with spiral horns and green stones embedded in each of its three eyes.

“That’s a nice ring you’ve got there. That’s the Hazambul, right? He’s one of my favorite characters from Tampadawin folklore, too.”

Akuza looked down at his ring curiously. “As a matter of fact, it is.”

“I always thought he was underrated. The Hazambul is the classic underdog. He’s misunderstood for looking different and being weaker than everyone else. His saving grace was the eruption when he threw himself into the mouth of the volcano as a sacrifice for the entire village.”

Akuza finished the story for me as he stroked the ring with his thumb. “The villagers regretted all the torment and heartache, but by then, it was too late. As a final tribute, the leaders of the village vowed to paint the skies red at sunset as a symbol of the blood he shed.”

He visibly relaxed in his seat, finally looking me in the eye. “I have never met anyone apart from my tutor who has heard of the Hazambul. It seems that you know your history.”

“I should hope so,” I said, shrugging. “I majored in galactic archaeology. It’s a specialized field, and my education was expensive.”

“I have read about Earth’s educational system. The school you attended it is called a university, correct? Being surrounded by peers that share the same interest must have been a pleasant experience.”

“I’m not much of a people person, to be honest. I mostly kept to myself. After college, I took up a desk job in the archaeology department at the university. I never really clicked with my coworkers and decided to head into the field.”

“Now you explore for a living. It sounds like an exciting life.” Akuza winced as he touched his bruised eye. “I never thought I would be envious of a human.”

“This human is a kind soul who’s doing you a favor.”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t take you for granted.” Akuza smiled weakly. “I am a prince, after all. In my home, there is an infinite library containing all the books on Makroi and more wealth than you could ever dream of seeing, and yet I would give anything to walk a few steps in your shoes. You live a life of adventure. You are truly free.”

I poured a cup of water from my thermos and handed it to him silently.

“Thank you.” Akuza took a sip, his eyebrows drooping. “I never knew being alone could be exhausting. I’m not a fool. My subordinates only treat me with respect because of my father. I know they ridicule me when I am not around. If you want to hear something genuinely pitiful, this conversation is the most intimate talk I’ve ever had with anyone.”

Akuza’s words struck a chord with me. He stared off into the distance, and his eyes were tainted with shame. I laid my feet back on the ground and leaned forward.

“Listen, it’s not bad being alone. Who doesn’t get lonely? When I was a kid, I had an overwhelming desire to live in outer space and meet aliens. I still do. I never made a lot of friends, and I learned to be by myself. I love it and wouldn’t change a thing.”

“It isn’t only solitude.” Akuza’s voice wavered. “I’ve grown accustomed to being alone. I have the company of my books, and most times, it’s all I need. The problem is my father.”

“What about your father?” I had a feeling I knew what he was going to say.

“You saw the look he gave me.” Akuza angrily brushed a hand over his eyes. “He thinks I’m a disgrace. Everyone does. I’ve failed every task he’s ever given me, from sports to hunting. He called me an embarrassment to Makroid everywhere. Everything changed when I decided to join the military. I’ll never forget the look he gave me. I didn’t know what it was until later. It was pride.”

Akuza blinked back tears, moaning like a frightened lamb.

“I couldn’t even fire a gun at a human woman.” He looked up, adding quickly, “No offense.”

I refreshed his cup and handed it back. “Maybe it’s not my place to say this, but there’s no shame in having a conscience. Valuing a life is never a sign of weakness in my book. If your father did not care about you, he wouldn’t agree to give up all the kysum. Shouldn’t that count for something?”

“Thank you for coming with me.” Akuza nodded at me. “You were right. You had nothing to gain. If there is some way I can repay your debt, just ask.”

“Actually, there might be something you could do for me.” I screwed the cup back onto the empty thermos and put it away. “Promise me that you will not mention the pillar to your father.”

“Why would I do that?” Akuza looked at his feet.

“I mean it. If you talk, not even your father can protect you. The Urwanians will find a way to kill you. If you get in trouble, let me know, and I’ll try to come and get you.”

“Would you do that for me?”

“You said you trust me. Listen to your instincts.”

Akuza started saying something, but he was interrupted by a rumble in his stomach.

“I thought you weren’t hungry.” I grinned, rising to my feet. “I’m going to grab some food. Are you sure you don’t want anything?”

“Anything you could find would help.”

“There must be something around here. I’ll be right back.”

Shutting the door to the cell, I wandered down the hallway of the military vessel. I followed the sounds of music and chatter, which led me to the common room. Urwanian soldiers and Magnum crew members spread out across the space. Some sat in a circle drinking mugs of ale as they talked. Others busied themselves with games involving colorful shells, bottle caps, and beads.

I spotted the grave faces of Axl, Barthan, and General Wasid. They stood by one end of the food table, discussing something intently.

“We all know that there is no other alternative,” said General Wasid. “If we don’t get rid of him, he will say everything that’s on his mind. He can hide behind Ms. Blackwood’s skirt all he wants, but he’s not going to fool me.”

“I agree,” Barthan grunted. “Once they hand over the kysum, we should shoot him before he takes one step back to his father. We take those bastards down, grab the pillar, and get out of there.”

I set my plate of food back down on the table, feeling a twinge of panic in my chest. “Axl?”

Axl looked back at me quickly. “We’re kind of in the middle of something here.”

“Can I talk to you for a second?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Excuse me.” Axl followed me out of the common room and down the hallway.

“Tell them to back off. We don’t have to kill him.”

“I will do no such thing. Stay out of things that don’t concern you.”

“Trust me. I finally got him to talk to me. He’s not going to say a word. If you think about it, he’s innocent and hasn’t done anything against us.”

“The same could be said about the thousands of souls his people killed over the centuries!” Axl’s voice bounced off the closed walls of the hallway. “He is a Silas, and they’re all the same. A five-minute conversation isn’t going to erase the treacherous, vile blood running through his veins.”

“Goddamn it, Axl! I thought...I don’t know what I thought. Never mind. You are impossible to deal with.”

I picked up my plate again and headed back to the cell.

“I hope you’re not planning on talking to him again.”

“I’m not going to say anything.” I paused, looking at him angrily over my shoulder. “I’m staying out of this, just like you said. I don’t want to hear another word from you until the annulment.”

Fuming, I stomped toward the cell, blood rushing to my face. I spotted a flash of color outside the window, making me stop and look around. I thought I heard something flapping, yet after peeking out the window, I saw nothing but the black expanse of space.

Thinking nothing of it, I started towards the cell again after taking another look at the reflection of the empty hallway behind me.