Sabotage - Chapter Eight

                                        Chapter Eight



Early the next morning, the Royals sit in the study, trying to remain awake. Bersion stands with his back to them, gazing out into the courtyard. Everdron paces across the room. His figure casts a long shadow. "Explain to me what you saw again." he says. The cousins groan. "We told you. We woke up when Mondre` began ranting about a person being killed in the throne room. So we let him show us. We viewed a person standing over the body." Skreme says. "Then Marinae startled us. The person heard us and was about to attack, so we ran." Mondre` says. “That was when we met the lieutenant.” "Who di...." "Who did you see in the throne room?" Everdron says, interrupting Bersion while standing infront of Mondre`. Bersion gives him a sharp look. Mondre` looks to Skreme then back to Everdron. "We did not see who it was." he says. Bersion looks to Marinae, who fiddles with her hands. "And who did you see, Daemon Marinae?" he asks kindly. "I only viewed a person in the dark." she says. Everdron turns to Skreme, who glares up at him. "Who did you see...." Bersion clears his throat. Everdron folds his hands behind him and softens his voice slightly. "Your Majesty, who did you see?" he asks. "We viewed a person with blue eyes." Skreme says simply. "Did he speak?" Everdron asks. "We can not remember." Skreme yawns. Everdron turns away and walks past Bersion to the desk. "Wait. He did say something." Skreme says thoughtfully. Both Advisors face him. "What did he say, Your Majesty?" Bersion asks. Skreme smirks. "He said something similar to 'You are a fool'." he says. "No, it was 'What a fool'." Mondre` corrects. Everdron narrows his eyes at him. Skreme pretends to remember. "That is right. It was 'What a fool'." he says. "Did he sound familiar?" Bersion asks. Mondre` shakes his head. Skreme nods. "He sounded very familiar." he says. "Who was it, Your Majesty?" Everdron asks, sounding eager to get this situation over and done with. "You will not believe us when we tell you." Skreme says, relaxing back in his seat. "I will believe you, Your Majesty." Everdron says. Skreme looks up at him with a wicked smile. "All right then." he says. "Skreme!" Mondre` hisses at him, sitting forward. "It was you." Skreme says. Everdron’s face goes blank. "Excuse me, Your Majesty?" Bersion asks. "We heard High Advisor Everdron say 'What a fool'." Skreme says slowly. Everdron looks very confused. "If this is one of your tricks, it is not amusing." he says, staring hard into Skreme's eyes. "It is the truth." Skreme says. Everdron stands there, gazing hard at them then glances at the floor. Mondre`, Skreme, and Marinae gazes do not waver. He notices them staring and clears his throat. "Are you sure you overheard me say that?" he asks. Mondre` nods a little, along with Skreme. Marinae looks from one person to another. Everdron begins to seem worried. "Perhaps you should leave, High Advisor Everdron. I will continue to interrogate." Bersion says. "His High Majesty, Daemon High King of Veud, Gothron Daemonious. Her Highness, Daemon High Queen of Veud, Lithera Daemonious. Daemon Grand Duke Yorroe Daemonious of Klohmoi. And Her Majesty, Daemon Grand Duchess Katalin Daemonious of Klohmoi. They have arrived!" they hear from the main ballroom. The three teenagers hurry to the door. "We will continue this later." Bersion says. "Yes." they reply. The princes race down the corridor to the front doors. The doors are wide open, showing a pair of carriages stopping at the palace stairs. A man and woman step out of the first. Then the second Royal carriage door opens, letting out another couple. "Mom! Dad!" the boys cry, running up the stairs to their parents. They hug them tight, overjoyed to see them. "Good morning." Gothron says, patting Mondre`'s head. "You two have not been in too much trouble, I hope." Yorroe says. "No. There has not been too much trouble." Skreme says. The High Advisors walk up. Everdron is solemn. "Greetings, High Advisors." Lithera says with a slight bow of her head. The High Advisors bow low. "Greetings, Daemon High Queen." Bersion says. "Has anything been going on while we have been away?" Gothron asks. Everdron goes to say something, but Mondre` notices Marinae coming toward them. "Dad, the Marques' daughter is here." he says. "Greetings, Daemon Marinae. Welcome to Veud." Gothron says. Mondre` lets out his breath. Marinae smiles and curtsies. "Thank you, Daemon High Lord. It is a pleasure to be here." she replies politely. "Where are the Daemon Marques and Daemon Marquises? I would like to speak with them." Lithera says. "They are away in the city, Daemon High Lady." Marinae says. "Let us go to the dining hall while we wait for them." Gothron suggests. "Excellent idea. I am famished." Yorroe says, wrapping his arm around Katalin's shoulders. Everyone walks to the dining hall, talking of recent events. "Coming, Advisor?" Bersion says. He walks after the group. Everdron follows, grim faced. When they are settled down at the dining table, the boys ask their parents all sorts of questions. "How large are the Dragons?" Mondre` asks excitedly. "They can be as large as trees. The Dragoons are even larger." Gothron says. He had just finished telling the three about what the battle had been like. The boys were fascinated by the descriptions of the Fae Folk and Dragons. Marinae not as much. "I could defeat a Dragoon easily." Skreme says. Yorroe chuckles. "We are sure you can." he says, ruffling his son's hair. "Dad!" Skreme grumbles, pushing his hand away. He tries to flatten it back down. "It takes a great deal of strength and patience to bring only one Dragoon down." Gothron says. "We can do it. We are sure." Mondre` says confidently. The grown-ups laugh at his enthusiasm. The Advisors stand on either side of Gothron. Katalin notices the sour expression on Everdron's face. "High Advisor. Is something the matter?" she asks. "Yes, Milady, there is." Everdron says. They all turn around to face him. "What is it?" Lithera asks. "Would it be all right if the young Majesties left?" Bersion asks. Gothron turns to the boys and Marinae. "You need to leave." he says, suddenly serious. "But..." "Go." he orders. The teenagers get up from the table and leave the room. The door shuts behind them. "What do you think they are telling them?" Marinae asks. "I don't know. I can't hear anything in there." Mondre` says, pressing his ear to the door. "They probably have a sound bubble." Skreme mumbles. "Is it about what we saw last night?" Marinae asks. "Most likely." he says. Mondre` leans against the wall. "They didn't need to lock us out. We know all about it." he says. "Perhaps they know something we don't." Skreme says. "Why are you speaking as a peasant?" Marinae asks. “Maybe they're talking about the intruders.” Mondre` says, ignoring her. Skreme gazes at the door, a deep concentrated look on his face. "Come with me, Mondre`. Stay here, Princess, and keep watch." he says, hurrying across the throne room. Mondre` rushes to keep up. "Princess?” she mumbles then raises her voice. “What do I do if they come out?" "Act like nothing is happening." Skreme hollers back. She watches the two disappear along with a row of soldiers through a doorway. "You do realize she can't do that." Mondre` points out. "I realize." Skreme says. They move up a flight of stairs. “Are you ready?” he asks Mondre`. “Yes.” Mondre` says to him. They speed ahead, leaving the surprised guards behind. The guards hurry to catch up. “Someone sneaked into the palace?!” Yorroe says angrily. “Yes. A guard saw a young half breed in the laundry room.” Bersion says. “It sent his patroller into a vat of hot water before running into the palace. He was able to catch up, but one of it’s companions attacked him then he claims that they traveled. I have not been informed as to when the prisoner was released.” “Tauva informed me it was during the fourth tone.” Everdron says. “How many do you suspect there were?” Katalin asks. “At least three. And there is one other thing, Your High Majesty. The gift has been stolen.” Everdron says. Gothron listens, his facial features emotionless. 'Has my military slacked that much while I have been away?' he wonders. Mondre` and Skreme come to a door that has a dark blue-purple aura over it. 'What are we doing at High Advisor Everdron‘s room?' Mondre` wonders. Skreme holds his arms out at the door, palms placed together. A tiny beam of his dark, nearly black, green aura shoots into the barrier. He separates his hands, widening the beam. It grows, becoming a hole big enough for one of them to fit in. "Go." he says, looking down the hall. Mondre` opens the door and slips in. He then holds it open for Skreme, who steps in after him. Skreme closes the door and steps away, letting Mondre` release the barrier. They look about the room, which is filled with books and documents. A bed is set against one wall. Dressers are beside it with inkwells and papers on top. "What are we looking for?" Mondre` asks, nudging a quill around in an inkwell. "Everdron used a sword. We need to find it. Or the handkerchief he used to wipe it off with." Skreme says, searching a desk. “He would not hide it in his room. This would be the first place the guards would search.” Mondre` says, opening a drawer. “He would keep it here until they decided to search.” Skreme says. They find several small daggers for opening letters, but none look big or long enough for the stab wound they saw on the soldier. Mondre` looks under the bed and sees a hilt. "Skreme." he says, pulling it out. It was a sword taller than Skreme with a silver hilt bejeweled with rubies. "It couldn't have been that. It's too big." Skreme says. Mondre` slides the weapon back into place. "We need to go back. There's nothing here." he says. Skreme is on the floor, knocking on the floor boards for any secret compartments. "Fine." he mutters, standing up. He places one of the last daggers back in it‘s place between two books. They put it all away then slip out of the room. Soldiers appear out of the walls. "Daemon High Prince Mondre`. Daemon Prince Skreme. Come with us." one soldier orders. “Why?” Skreme asks. “The High King requests you come to the dining hall.” the soldier says. The boys decide not to argue. They let the soldiers escort them back to the throne room. Marinae is not at the dining room doors. The doors are opened when they come closer. The princes see their parents, including Marinae's, talking to the girl. The adults look up when the boys and soldiers step in. "Where have you been?" snaps Yorroe. "We were walking around." Skreme says. "You should not go anywhere without the escort. The High Advisors have informed us that someone has infiltrated the palace and murdered a soldier. Daemon Marinae was just informing us of what happened." Gothron says in a stern voice. "Do you understand?" Lithera asks. "Yes Ma‘am." the boys reply solemnly. "Now you need to tell us what happened." Katalin says. The boys tell them the same story they told the High Advisors. When they finish, Gothron nods. "You may go. Do not leave the escort." he says. Marinae follows the princes out of the room. The doors close behind them. "What did you tell them?" Skreme asks, facing the girl. "I told them the same I had before." she says. "So Everdron didn't mention anything about what Skreme told him?" Mondre` asks. "I am not sure. They only asked me what I witnessed." Marinae replies. They watch her fiddle with her hair, waiting for her to tell them more. "And?" Skreme asks impatiently. "I said I viewed a person in the throne room." she says. The soldiers walk closer to listen. Mondre` takes a glance back at them then returns to facing ahead. "Maybe we can figure out who really killed the soldier." he says to Skreme and Marinae. "Everdron is the killer." Skreme mutters to them as they continue to walk. "We don't know that for sure." Mondre` says to them. Skreme shrugs. "So you say." he says to them. They walk through the palace corridors with the escort, wondering what to do first. Marinae describes what they could do instead of looking for the murderer. Mondre` and Skreme walk faster to possibly escape. Mondre` notices something shining out of the corner of his eye when he walks into a corridor. Ryuu peeks out of a hallway, his earring catching the light. He waves when Skreme steps beside Mondre`. He backs away just as Marinae comes around the corner. She sees their tense expressions. "What is it?" she asks. "Nothing. It is just....I think I saw a giant rat." Skreme says. Her aura brightens with fear. "We should have the escort take care of it." she suggests. "No!" the boys cry. "No. Why not help the servants by removing it ourselves?" Skreme says. "Is that so?" Mondre` asks him. "That is all right. You go on ahead. We shall wait here." she says. "Very well." Mondre` says. He and Skreme run off to the hallway. The escort goes to follow them. Marinae turns and narrows her eyes, which become purple with green slits. "Do not go anywhere." she orders. They stop in their tracks. “Yes, Madam.” the captain gulps. Mondre` and Skreme come up to Ryuu and Ashla. "What are you doing here?" Skreme hisses. "We were worried when you did not return." Ashla says. "How did you get in?" Mondre` asks. "Tino let us in with Jaran and Debern." Ryuu says. He notices their outfits. "What are you wearing?" he asks. Ashla sees them too. She tilts her head. "Is that silk?" she asks. "We are wearing....the princes' outfits...to pretend." Mondre` says, thinking it up as he goes. "Oh. To pretend what?" she asks. "A game. Where is Debern and Jaran?" Skreme says. "I am not sure. Debern told us they were going to distract the guards." Ashla says. "So where are we going today?" Ryuu asks. "Not at the moment. We need to find Debern and Jaran." Mondre` says. "Did you get it?" Marinae calls. Ryuu and Ashla pause. "Who's that?" Ryuu asks, going to peek out. Skreme grabs his arm. "Someone who will tell on us if she finds out about you." he says. Ryuu backs away. "What do we do?" he asks in a whisper. They hear Marinae's footsteps come closer along with the escorts'. "Follow me." Mondre` whispers. He leads them down the hall. Marinae comes around to see no one standing there. 'Where did they go?' she wonders. The four run to a small storage room. They sneak inside. Mondre` takes a quick glance then shuts the door. "You two hide here until we return. We'll go search for Debern and Jaran." Skreme says. "We can help you." Ashla says. "No. You must stay here. We'll come back soon." he says. The cousins leave the room. Mondre` waves his hand over the door. It fades away, changing into wall. They dash down the corridor. They make sure to check every room. Servants move out of their way when they speed by. They arrive in the main ballroom then stop. A single soldier stands infront of two guards who protect the dining hall door, talking to them. Mondre` and Skreme turn to creep away. A guard points to the cousins. The one soldier swivels around. "Your Majesties!" he hollers. The cousins stop and turn back to see that it is Ivinin. "Yes?" Mondre` asks. Ivinin walks up. "The High Majesties have ordered me to accompany Your Majesties." he says. "I thought those other soldiers were going to keep being the escort." Skreme says. "Daemon High Advisor Everdron told His Daemon High Majesty of what happened last night. They wish for me to lead the escort and watch over you while the intruder is loose." Ivinin says. "Now how are we going to find Debern?" Mondre` asks Skreme. "Let me think." Skreme says to him. "Where is Daemon Marinae?" Ivinin asks, looking around for her. Mondre` sees Skreme smirk. It changes to a worried frown. "We do not know. We have not seen her since the meeting with our parents. She took the escort with her and vanished." Skreme says. "Where did you see them last?" Ivinin asks. "We witnessed them go down that corridor." Skreme says, pointing to a hallway. Ivinin looks back to the dining room doors. "We need to search for them." he says. "All right." the princes say. They follow him down the hall. "Daemon Marinae! Where are you?" Ivinin calls. His voice echoes through the corridors. He waits, but no one responds. 'They must be on a higher level.' "We need to go upstairs." he says, turning to the boys. They are gone. 'Oh no.' he thinks fearfully. He remains calm. 'They should not have gone far.' Skreme and Mondre` run through the shadows inside the walls. The halls zigzag in all directions. They leap across a corridor into another wall. A servant walking down that corridor hears something and turns, but nothing is there. "We need to find Jaran and Debern then take them and Ryuu and Ashla back before they're caught." Skreme says. They duck into the floor as twenty soldiers march through. Some soldiers' gazes wander when the boys stop. The cousins conceal their whereabouts. The soldiers march away. "Uncle Gothron was serious about searching for the killer." Skreme mumbles. "We could find them easier if we separate." Mondre` asks. Skreme frowns then nods. "All right. But if you find any one of them, don't say anything about what's happening. Just bring them with you to the room." he says. "I know." Mondre` says. The two head off in different directions, keeping to the shadows. Skreme searches the ground floor. Mondre` walks under a stairwell. Someone walks down the stairs. Mondre` keeps still as they step onto the floor. Tino looks about then walks out a door at the far end of the room. Mondre` steps from the wall and climbs the stairs. 'How did Tino get them into the palace without alerting the guards? And how did they avoid getting trapped by the barrier?' he wonders. He gets to the landing. A movement catches his eye. Someone runs up the next flight of stairs. "Wait!" he calls, racing after them.

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Copyright 2007