Between the Veil and Crown

Arvek 28

While putting a stop to the theorized conspiracy against his father was not something he could do in secret, much less command such an investigation, Arvek could still aide his brother in his mission to rescue Selim.
If Selim were returned, it would solve some of the issues, and make clear the path to fighting the invisible enemy.
When the brothers had a moment alone -which somehow happened to be Arvek's chambers- Cor's plan finally came to light. "Underwhelming" was the best word Arvek could think of when he heard it.
Yet Cor looked so proud of himself. So eager for Arvek to acknowledge the brilliance of his plan.
"Do you understand how childish this sounds?" Arvek asked.
Cor tilted his head slightly. "How so?"
"When you said you had a plan, I thought there would be something, I don't know, grander. But you're saying it's just that we break into the office and while you fiddle with the desk, I make sure our father doesn't arrive."
"I figure we could also have a diversion with the wedding plans to keep much of the servants away as well." Cor beamed at him.
Arvek slid his face into his hands.
"Do you have a better idea?" Cor challenged.
"Father keeps his office locked," Arvek said, face still pressed into his palms. "Do you have a way to get the key?"
"I know how to pick locks," Cor answered.
Arvek looked up sharply. "When did you learn that?"
Cor shrugged. "Selim taught me. He had to, because I caught him picking the locks to some of the kitchen's private stores. And since then, we would sneak out the night after every feast. Sometimes we would break into Father's office and pretend we were ruling. We had many things to say to the advisors we didn't like." He looked off in the distance, savoring the memories while Arvek processed the fact that he apparently did not know Cor as well as he thought.
"Unfortunately, that all stopped when Selim had to attend university," Cor said. "Regardless, I know how to break into Father's office. But you will need to keep a lookout while I go through the desk."
Arvek continued to stare at him, his mind playing images of Cor and Selim still wandering the night. When he realized Cor was expecting answer, he mustered out, "Right."
"We probably have a better chance at night," Cor said. He paused, a thought occurring to him. "In fact, while you keep a lookout, you could probably check the shelves. Perhaps Father left the letter there."
Arvek sincerely doubted it, having convinced himself of the theory that Masitof had completely done away with the letter. But as they had to be in the office anyways, he supposed there was no harm in searching for it all the same.
"Suppose we don't find the letter?" Arvek pointed out. "Do you know someone who can forge letters? And not just forge a letter- but be comfortable enough with forging a letter supposedly written by the king? Remember that these aren't just simple notes; if it's discovered to be a forgery, whoever was involved will be a criminal."
Cor was disturbingly ready for the question. He whipped out a piece of paper out of his pocket, a wide grin on his face. "I have a list of names of people who would be helpful to us."
Arvek stared at the note. This was for Selim, he reminded himself. This was all for Selim. Some measures had to be taken, as disagreeable as they might be.
Cor did not seem to notice the despair he was causing his eldest brother. Instead, he proudly looked over the note, saying, "It was actually quite amazing what I could find when I looked around Selim's social circles. If Father knew the kind of company Selim found himself in, I swear, he would make his disowning of him public."
"Are you telling me that Selim was caught among criminals?" Arvek asked, the strength in his voice failing him.
"If it is any consolation, I don't know of any criminal activity he's done himself," Cor assured him to little avail. "Unless you count our breaking into the kitchens. And as far as I know, these people haven't committed any crimes. Or at least they've never been caught. Their talents and skills are just not the kind a respectable king would normally be associated with."
Arvek stood up and headed to his balcony. He would have liked to say that he was processing everything, but all the words Cor just spoke swirled aimlessly around in his head. He gripped the railing of the balcony, staring out over the buildings, only visible by the shadows of lights that were still on. Somewhere past that vast expanse of city, tree, and land laid the Veil Forest. Somewhere in the Veil Forest was Selim.
Asleep? Awake? In pain?
In between them were towns and cities, becoming aware of Masitof's indifference to his own son and believing that it was a message about them.
What would Masitof do against Arvek? Even with the distance created between them over the issue, the king was not about to pass on the throne to either Cor or Veran. Should everything fall apart and Cor was caught with a forged letter of the king, wasn't it really just Arvek who could right the situation?
No, he couldn't look too closely to the criminal aspects of the operation. If he wanted Selim back, he would have to make compromises. After all, he was already going behind his father's back to help Cor's mission.
"The sooner we do this, the better," Arvek said, gripping the railing tighter as he steeled himself. "The sooner you go, the more time you have to find Selim. Find him before . . . ." He trailed off, his mind ending the sentence with all kinds of horrible imagery.
Cor did not let him linger too long in such nightmarish visions. Beaming, he said, "Right then! I was thinking that we could do it perhaps tomorrow, but if you're up for it now . . . ?"
Arvek pushed himself away from the railing and turned to face Cor. "Let's go."