The Portal

III 3.10 Traitor

Meeting Hannah at the hot spring tormented Noa throughout the night. He hadn't dared ask, but the suspicion that she might be waiting for someone hadn't left his mind.

Who would it be?

In less than a week, he had caught her going out two nights in a row. The first time had interrupted his moment with Christine. Now, he found Hannah alone in the middle of the night.

How could she have discovered this place so quickly?

But that wasn't all that troubled him. A person willing to take a horse and go out at this time of night was not concerned about safety. Facing the night alone on the verge of war... One had to be extremely fearless to take such a risk.

But she isn't fearless.

Noa remembered when he first saw her in Shailaja. She was covered in blood, clearly disoriented, she had even dropped her glass... She had been recently attacked. And not far from there.

How could she feel safe enough to go out like this?

Although... He didn't know if she was alone. There was no way of knowing. She could perfectly well be accompanied. She could be with someone who made her feel safe. Yes. That made more sense. She was with someone. When he approached, the person hid... No one in Shailaja was willing to make an alliance with Hannah openly. Anyone who did would be considered a traitor in the eyes of the Rariffs.

The theory took shape in Noa's head.

She had gone out in the middle of the night the other day. She was going to meet someone, as Christine hinted. Later, in the same week, she met that same person at the fountain. Upon his arrival, the guy went into hiding.

Who is she meeting with?

Noa rose from his chair in the office. For the last hour he had been leaning over the table trying to concentrate on an old book. But now his train of thought had evolved and he was determined to find the traitor.

Someone who was living under Shailaja's roof was taking the opportunity to build an alliance with his sworn enemy. And she, who looked so innocent, apparently was brave enough to do so. It was also a risk for her, for sure. But why meet with an ally in a hot spring in the middle of the night?

Noa had to admit, even though he was avoiding the thought, that yes, he had interrupted a romantic date. But it was still an alliance, a betrayal of the Rariffs.

Romantic or not, Noa didn't believe in the good intentions of whoever the traitor was. He had put Hannah at great risk by luring her out of the fortress at night. As much as the traitor ensured her safety, it would be nothing like Shailaja's guard.

He had left a lady unprotected.

But she wasn't just any lady. Her security involved political issues. It was a big risk for him too. Nothing could happen to Hannah. If she was injured or even murdered under his protection, his uncle would certainly face major upheavals in Palatials.

Ur wasn't worried about that, but Noa was. Since taking power, Ur had been surprised by the collusion of the palatials. The murder of the royal family had generated no revolts. The people had accepted the change of command without confrontation. The Rariff warriors dominated the lands, watched over the population, and there was no uprising.

Noa, who was a boy at the time, was always surprised when he heard this part of the story. Why was there no revolt?

Suspicious, he tried to do his own research for many years. But it's hard to get the palatials talking. Noa found only dead ends.