Return Of The Neverseen - A KOTLC fanfic

Chapter 6 - Keefe

We have them. Send the Moonlark and my son if you ever want to see the children again. Don't underestimate me. From, Lady Gisela.

Keefe couldn't believe it. He refused to - but the message only confirmed his worst fears. His mother had escaped prison. The note to the counselors sounded almost identical to the note he had privately received. That could only mean that the note he'd received was real. And he'd kept quiet, wanting to keep Sophie safe, wanting to keep the wrinkles of stress off her forehead. Now he sat next to her, knowing there was nothing he could do.

"And", Councillor Emery continued, "When Gisela's cell in Luminaria was checked, we found she was nowhere to be seen. Someone had hacked the camera feed and made it look like she was still inside. The last time the goblins opened the prison to give her the week's food and water rations was a little over 3 days ago, so we know she's escaped for less than 3 days."

Everyone sat stunned into silence, while they digested those huge reveals. Keefe remembered that he had received the note only a few hours after she'd supposedly escaped. He'd just come back from work and went up to his bedroom to get some files. As he entered the room he noticed a small piece of paper on his pillow. He picked it up and unfolded it, and the moment he got a glimpse of the terrible symbol he felt so scared. Heart thumping in his ears, he slowly unfolded it and found the unmistakable handwriting that belonged to Lady Gisela. Meet me in the place where we first fought. Bring the moonlark. ~Lady Gisela. No. No. No. This wasn't real. This was not his reality. His family was safe. He had managed to convince himself that the reason he didn't tell Sophie was because there was no reason to.

"Just her?" Bex asked the council.

"Yes", responded Emery.

"What about Grethen, Vespera, and Ruy?"

A councillor with shoulder-length strawberry blonde hair, a simple opal crown, and striking indigo eyes rose from her opal encrusted throne to answer, "Councillor Ramira and I checked their cells in Exile, and everything seems to be in order." Her name was Councillor Armiarelle, the newest councillor, who took over after Veila stepped down. By coincidence, she was also a guster. Armiarelle narrowed her eyes at Bex, and said, "It seems the day you were in charge of security, Lady Bex, that our criminal escaped."

Bex stood, unintimidated by the councillor's stature and glared daggers at her, "I was in the war too," Bex seethed icily. "You mean to tell me this is my fault?"

"It was your day in charge." Councillor Armiarelle retorted. "I'm not saying you were the one who helped her escape, but this happened under your watch. My fellow councillors and I agree she had to have had an accomplice. Clearly, you have had a traitor in your midst."

"I am not the only one in charge. Both Lord Alden and Lady Evelangie have their own days at Luminaria security."

"Don't bring my father into this!", Fitz grumbled from behind Bex. "He only checks in once a month."

"As do I," Bex replied, "If anything you should be talking to Evelangie Raildien."

"We interrogated her yesterday," Emery told her.

"And?"

"Nothing." Armiarelle huffed.

"Did you try searching her mind?" Bex asked.

"Do we look like idiots to you? Of course we did!", Alina responded indignantly.

"And the rest of the workers?", Bex pressed.

This time Bronte answered, "I myself am taking care of that. It is a work in progress. However, we are losing sight of why we called you here. We will worry about the offender later, but right now we need to worry about getting Gisela back in prison. And getting those children back safely. We all know what she's capable of. This is not a time to be jumping at each other's throats."

"Bronte is right. We need to take care of her first." Sophie agreed, speaking for the first time.

"What we need is a plan." Stina said, looking at Sophie expectantly.

Sophie looked to the council, "When do you want our plan?"

Emery responded, "We will have a strategic meeting tonight, once we have more information for you. However, we would like you to return home for the rest of the day, in case Gisela decides to drop off a note, as she has often done to individual's residences. Goblin and Ogre assignments will be as follows, Princess Romhilda and Sandor will be assigned to Lunar Springs Meadow, Grizel and Irrelamire will be assigned to Crystal Falls, Lovise and Wolitzer will be assigned to Sunset Haven, Fillibeth and Rirdornian will be assigned to Rose Valley, only Grithella will be assigned to guard Lady Bex and Lord Jensi's apartment in Atlantis as the city already has a goblin regiment assigned to it, Sratarmie and Grillian will protect Lady Stina's property, Mythansphere, Lord Wylie's apartment in Eternalia will be assigned to one of the goblins from the Eternalia regiment, however, the assignment will change every week as the magsdian experiments are of top clearance, and Starlae Canyon will be the responsibility of Miaayarellaen and llianiraina. "

Sandor spoke next, "Councillor might I suggest something?" Emery looked in Sandor's direction and nodded. Sandor continued, "There should be additional goblins deployed to Lunar Springs Meadow, as that is the location where Gisela will most likely strike. Both her son and Lady Sophie are her most common contact points."

Oralie stepped in, "We did consider this, however, we found that too much security could ward off clues. In addition, Sophie and Keefe are powerful enough should they need to protect themselves."

"You're right," Sophie agreed, "but we have kids. I will not put them in danger to get a couple of clues."

The house wasn't safe. The note was evidence that the security was no match for Lady Gisela. So Keefe felt so relieved when Biana suggested, "Maybe it would be better if your kids stayed with me and Dex at Sunset Haven." She smoothed out her dress as she stood up. Then she added with a slightly forced smile, "Ayla and Kenric would love to have a sleepover, at which they will most definitely not sleep." Although said as a joke, the tension in the room quickly killed any sense of humor.

Sophie tentatively replied, "Biana I appreciate the offer, but who knows how long it'll be before-"

Oralie cut in, "We'll only wait for a week, even you have your limits, and I have no doubt this will keep you up at night. A week is the most we ask from either of you"

Sophie sighed and squeezed Keefe's hand, and quietly whispered, "Thank you." She had never sounded so relieved.

With that, Councillor Emery rose from his throne, tried very hard to smile, and said "That adjourns this meeting, we will meet again here tonight at nine."

Everyone defeatedly rose from their seats, the councilors headed off stage. Keefe put his arm around Sophie's shoulders and Ro and Sandor followed not too far behind as the four of them leaped back to Lunar Springs Meadow.

As they entered the warm and familiar house, Sophie noticed a small slip of paper fall out of the pocket of Keefe's jerkin as he pulled it off.

She caught it just before it fell to the floor and quickly read the note. "Keefe?" Sophie asked, not even able to form a single sentence.

"Sophie I-"

"Were-were you going to tell me about this?" She seethed, her voice dripping with venom. Her features twisted into a look of betrayal and shock

"I was going to, I promise," Keefe stuttered, sounding desperate.

She looked at him like she was going to kill him.