My Kingdom Come Book 1: The Saints We See (Complete)

Chapter 45: The Promise

667 standard years after the signing of the Alliance

Valenna stared at screen in front of her for the ten thousandth time. At the top of the screen ran the words, 'Happy birthday Hathu. I remember the field. The day you ran out to the hunt. I wish we could talk like that again, you're old enough now. I hope you're well.' The rest of the screen was filled with a gibberish of letters and numbers.

Valenna looked up. "I'm sorry, I had my people run it through every cipher we have in our system and they came up with nothing."

General Kahn let out a little growl of frustration and rubbed his forehead. "Shit. Well, thank you Valenna."

"Who is Hathu?"

"Hathu is the rebel leader's youngest son."

Valenna raised an eyebrow. "Is Hathu in your custody?"

General Kahn shrugged slightly. "He's...in custody of the emperor."

"Have you asked him about the message?"

General Kahn let out a frustrated sigh. "No. Why would I show him a message from rebels? That's clearly what they wanted to happen."

Valenna shrugged. "We aren't getting anywhere. You should ask. He might be willing to help in return for some concessions."

* * *

Hathu tried to focus on what the dean was saying, but he couldn't concentrate. She was furious with him. That much he could tell. She kept saying something about how bad his timing was.

Colonel Hira had been upset too. He had asked why Hathu hadn't told him he was having such a hard time with his prime. He would have tried to help Hathu figure out an alternative to the zarpan. Colonel Hira hadn't shouted, but the disappointment in his eyes made Hathu feel ashamed. In another few weeks that feeling would go away.

The dean slammed her fist down on the desk. "Dammit, Hira, couldn't you have waited one more week?!"

Hathu blinked. "I...my name isn't Hira, it's Fons."

The dean sighed angrily and rubbed her face. "I'm sorry. I forget you're not the colonel's blood son. He registered you at the school under his family name."

"He...did?"

"You didn't hear a damn thing I said. Did you?"

Hathu frowned. She was upset he hadn't waited anther week to...to take the zarpan, probably. "Yes I...I tried to wait another week, general. But I couldn't. I can't go anywhere but school and home, because of the..." He frowned trying to gather the words that were just out of his grasp. "I'm sorry, it's hard to remember words. I'm still on house arrest. I have so many restrictions, my options for dealing with my condition is very...it's very limited."

"I know. Getting you off the zarpan is going to be nearly impossible this time. Why didn't you talk to me, or one of your teachers? We would have helped you figure something out. That's what we're here for, Fons."

Hathu let out a breath. "I'm sorry. I'm not good at..." he waved his hand aimlessly trying to figure out what he wanted to say.

The general sighed. "Most good officer material isn't good at asking for help. I guess that's what makes us good officer material. We know how to figure stuff out on our own in the field. But sometimes..." she shook her head.

Hathu watched her look at him. He didn't know what she wanted from him.

She sighed again. "You had so much potential."