The Worker Prince (21 page)

“Where could he have gone?” Corsi asked, looking puzzled.

“Search the whole area! Quickly!” Bordox yelled.

Corsi winced and began issuing orders over the comm.

“He can’t be allowed to escape!” Bordox fumed as the men scattered. “You, too, Corsi! Go! Go!”

Corsi nodded, accelerating his skitter up a side trail.

Bordox cursed again and examined the ground. How could Xander keep slipping through his grasp? They’d tear every inch of this forest apart if that’s what it took. He had to be out here somewhere. He would not let Xander Rhii humiliate him again.

“Not this time Rhii!” he shouted. “You’re mine!”

O O O

As Davi and Nila pulled their skitters to a stop inside the cave, Tela rushed toward them.

As soon as Davi stepped off his skitter, she embraced him. “Thank God you’re back. We’ve had reports of LSP troops searching the forest.”

“LSP troops here?” Davi couldn’t believe it. His body stiffened with worry and his jaw tightened, his mind racing for a plan. “How’d they find us?”

“I don’t know, but we’d better be careful on the trails from now on,” Tela said.

Davi nodded. Tela was still holding onto him. He liked it. “So, does this mean we’re going public then?”

Tela rolled her eyes, letting go and looking around. Nila had already disappeared. They were alone.

“Is it that embarrassing?” Davi raised an eyebrow at her.

“No, of course not.” She sighed. “It’s complicated. We’re about to start a war. And since my father disappeared, I haven’t wanted to get involved.”

“Your father disappeared?” Davi hadn’t known.

Her face turned sadder as she explained. “My father was a scientist. He made some discoveries the Alliance deemed threatening. They sent him to the top-secret prison on Legallis. Another worker spy, they claimed.”

“Top secret prison on Legallis? Must not be too secret if you know about it,” Davi said.

She shrugged. “I have no idea where it’s located, but it’s known to exist. A secret prison there for workers declared a threat to the Borali Alliance.”

Davi’s mind started racing. Could his father be there? He had to make some inquiries. Maybe Yao or Farien could find something out for him. “How long ago?”

Tela shrugged. “I was a little girl. Twelve years, I think.”

“Your father is still alive?”

Tela’s eyes brightened as she nodded. “Before she died, my mother had contact with a man who’d been making deliveries on Legallis and encountered my father working at the dock. They sometimes use the prisoners for various projects, and then send them back to the prison.”

Davi’s heart pounded with excited thoughts about his father. He promised himself not to say anything to Lura until he’d had the chance to get more information. He turned and started back toward his quarters.

“What’s the matter? Did I say something wrong?” Tela called after him, but he didn’t hear her.

O O O

Xalivar timed his arrival at the Council chamber so he could make a grand entrance when the meeting was well underway. To increase the Council’s anticipation, he’d had Manaen send a message to Lord Tarkanius about Xalivar receiving shocking news of great import to the Council, which he would deliver in person.

All eyes fixed on him as he entered the chamber, and the session ground to an immediate halt. Lord Niger had been addressing the Council, but seeing Xalivar, he stopped and returned to his seat.

Xalivar smiled inside, his exterior expression remaining very grave. He could smell the tension of prideful men, their rivalries, bitterness, and drive for power, and it energized him as it always did when he entered their presence. All the more so when their every eye focused on him. “I apologize for my lateness to the proceedings,” he said, making his way to the dais.

Tarkanius nodded. “Your aide notified us you would be late. You have important news for us?”

“Yes,” Xalivar said, mentally preparing as he set his facial expression with the appropriate tone—a mix of shock, sadness, rage and worry. “I recently uncovered a shocking conspiracy against the Borali Alliance which has compromised the Royal Family,” Xalivar said.

He heard gasps and watched the shocked reactions from those present.

“The Royal Family has been implicated?” Lord Hachim asked.

Xalivar blanched internally at the choice of words but maintained his composure and nodded. “I’m afraid so. The conspiracy was led by my own sister, Princess Miri,” Xalivar said.

More gasps and shocked reactions.

“Princess Miri has been a loyal member of the Borali Alliance her whole life,” Lord Kray said, her eyes already denying it could be true.

Xalivar fought the urge to scowl. Kray always sided with Miri. They were the oldest of friends.
Well, let’s see her argue with this!

“I have uncovered evidence that my own nephew, Prince Xander Rhii, was adopted by Miri from workers.” He waited for the gasps and shocked reactions. “This illegal act occurred completely without my knowledge and remained hidden from me, until LSP forces, under my command, uncovered the plot during their search for the fugitive, Xander Rhii.”

“Your own sister raised a worker child in your household, and you didn’t know?” Lord Niger asked.

He saw others’ faces fill with a mixture of doubt, disbelief, and challenge.

“Not until now. I was quite shocked and disturbed by the revelation,” Xalivar said, ignoring Kray’s icy stare.

“He’s an officer in the Borali Alliance military, an Academy graduate … the entire Alliance may be compromised,” Lord Obed said, angrily fanning the flames. Since Obed’s son had written the report, Xalivar wondered how much he already knew.

Xalivar looked at the floor, forcing as much sadness onto his face as he could muster. “I fear it is so. My own men have informed me they are closing in on him now.”

“And what of the Princess? What does she have to say about this?” Tarkanius asked.

Xalivar knew Tarkanius was among those who had met with Miri in private, causing Xalivar to question his loyalty.
All will be brought to light soon enough, Tarkanius. And those who betrayed me will answer for it.

“She’s away from the Palace, but she will be found and brought to me. I rushed here to inform the Council as soon as the evidence came to light.”

“Your aide managed to come and go over twenty-five minutes ago,” Lord Obed interjected with an accusing tone.

“This is a very serious accusation you are making,” Lord Simeon said, ignoring his colleague. “We will initiate a full investigation.”

Another possible traitor heard from.
“I will assist you in any way I can,” Xalivar said.

“Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention, High Lord Councilor.” Only Tarkanius seemed to maintain his composure at the news. He nodded from the dais. “Your forthrightness before the Council exemplifies the honor with which you serve.”

Too little, too late, Tarkanius, my old friend. You’ve already proven where your loyalties lie.
Xalivar nodded back. This was going far better than he’d imagined. “Thank you, Lord Tarkanius.”

“As soon as the Princess and her son are found, they must be brought before the Council,” Lord Obed said, his face a cold stare.

“Of course,” Xalivar said. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have urgent matters to attend to.”

Tarkanius offered a sympathetic look. “Of course. Please keep the Council informed.”

Xalivar returned the look and smiled as he turned and hurried down the aisle again. Several Lords nodded warmly as he passed them. When the door closed behind him, he heard the room explode in chatter.

Good. Let them discuss it. Let them become distracted from whatever plans Miri set afoot. None can dare trust her now!
He smiled and quickened his pace. Despite Obed’s attempts, it had gone so perfectly. He didn’t even notice the bounce in his own steps.

O O O

To:[email protected]; [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: I am safe

Dear Mother & Yao:

I hope this letter finds you well. I want you to know that I am fine, but I miss you both and long for the day when I can see you again. I have been very busy with many activities I am not at liberty to discuss at this time. But I assure you, all will be revealed in time, and I am working hard to make you proud of me.

In the meantime, it was brought to my attention that many worker prisoners are being kept in a secret government prison somewhere on Legallis. I have reason to believe my biological father, Sol, is among those prisoners. There is also a man called Telamon, who would be there. I know the prison is top-secret, but perhaps you can make inquiries through channels for me. I would like to know its location and attempt to confirm the presence of these two men there.

Again, I cannot tell you what I plan to do with the information you provide, but hope that my past actions and behavior would serve to reassure you I will continue acting with honor in all I do.

Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

With love and fondness,

Davi

Davi clicked send and hoped the e-post would arrive undetected. His mother would be very worried about him. It had been too long since they’d had contact and she’d be relieved to get any message. He promised himself when things got better, he’d set aside extra time to spend with her. He treasured her love and devotion to him. It was something he never wanted to lose.

He wondered how Yao would receive his message. Yao knew of his heritage, and perhaps also knew by now about the warrant and his involvement with the workers. He hoped their deep friendship would supersede Yao’s loyalty as an Alliance officer. Yao had always been a free thinker, more sympathetic to his own sensibilities than the strict order of the law. Either way, the e-post had been sent through public servers with special encoding. It could not be traced to his location at the WFR base. Even if it did get intercepted or their sympathies for him had been tempered, he still bore little risk of discovery.

He’d asked around about the prison after his conversation with Tela. Many had heard the rumors of its existence, but few knew any facts. He’d concluded the only way for him to find out if his father lived would be to seek help through more official channels. He felt confident that Yao and Miri would be discreet and careful. If they decided not to help him, his inquiring of them would not raise great alarm.

He sat there for a few moments longer, before checking his inbox in a rush. Nothing. And then he realized how stiff with tension he’d become and chuckled.
Of course, they couldn’t respond this fast. Give them time on this, Davi. It won’t be easy to uncover information.

One of his greatest longings, ever since he’d discovered his true identity, had been to know his father. He’d never had a father and always dreamed about it. From what everyone told him about Sol, he was a great man. Davi longed to know him, and he knew Lura longed to see him again, too. At the very least, he wanted to know what had happened to him.

He said a silent prayer asking for God’s blessing on both his father and his quest. When had he stopped praying to gods and started praying to the workers’ God alone? He couldn’t remember exactly. He’d changed so much in such a short time. He’d never have imagined it when he left Legallis for Vertullis. He headed back to his classroom for another session with the simulators.

O O O

Lords Tarkanius, Kray, and Hachim convened in the back room of a lounge near the Council’s offices. Tarkanius had arranged this meeting after the revelations at the Council meeting earlier in the day.

“As you both know, disturbing facts were presented to us at the Council meeting,” Tarkanius began. “I thought it wise, given recent discussions, for us to have the chance to express how we feel about Miri’s request for our help in light of these new revelations.”

Both Hachim and Kray looked at him with uncertainty. They, like Tarkanius, were wrestling with what to do. Everyone on the Council knew Xalivar had never been a credible witness. He would lie about his own mother if it served his political ambitions. But at the same time, having read Bordox’s report after the meeting, they all knew the facts were not in question. Despite their uncertainty about Miri’s motives, she’d played a major part in the deception, and it didn’t bode well for the Alliance’s Royal Family to be infiltrated by a worker.

“I’m sure Miri had good reasons for her decisions,” Kray said, remaining loyal to Miri as expected. Tarkanius knew she above all had never liked or trusted Xalivar. And her reaction to his accusations in the chamber had confirmed that opinion remained unchanged.

“I’m sure the reasons seemed valid to her at the time,” Hachim said. “But that doesn’t mean her decisions were made with the Alliance’s best interests in mind. Given the facts, it would appear not.”

“Being born a worker does not make him a spy,” Kray said. “He may have just discovered his own heritage for all we know.”

“It is possible,” Tarkanius said. “His education and opportunities all came as a gift of the Alliance. I’m sure he has not forgotten. Davi is known as a man of good character, honesty, and integrity. But he’s also been questioning the actions of the Alliance toward workers, which, combined with his newly discovered heritage, makes him far more sympathetic to them than he might have been in the past.” Tarkanius wished the circumstances were different. He’d always liked the Prince, but he had to protect the Alliance.

“Maybe he’s right to question the Alliance’s actions?” Kray said. “Given the news reports of late, there’s much even the Council did not know and cannot approve of.”

“The recent revelations are disturbing. Even the public is beginning to voice their objections,” Hachim said. They all stiffened as they considered it. “But we, the Council, approved some of those actions; therefore, we will be held accountable for them as much as Xalivar and his troops.”

“We must protect the Council from further negative associations and minimize the impact,” Tarkanius said, agreeing with Hachim’s assessment.

“At the cost of betraying a loyal friend?” Kray said, clearly angered by the thought.