The Silver Isles Kingdom

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

"Alexis, may I speak with you a moment?" asked the Governor.

It had been three days since the storm, the town was nearly cleaned and a quarter of it rebuilt. She followed the Governor into his office. She was surprised to see that Jacque was already there sitting quietly, but when he saw her walk in he stood and bowed politely as she walked to the chair next to him. The Governor sat in his large chair behind a desk with papers that would wait until the community was back together.

"There is something you both need to know. I am the king's brother," the Governor said without hesitation.

"Yes, and?" asked Jacque.

"What!?" asked Alexis surprised, "You're my uncle!?"

"When I told you he was dead, I could tell you felt a loss in yourself, and figured you were related somehow," Jacque added.

"I have an Uncle!?" Alexis repeated, still surprised.

"I know it's hard to take right now, Alexis, but I am. I was first to be the next king, but I fell in love with Lo Bon and a young woman here. I told your father he could be king in my stead, I didn't want the responsibility but he did. So now you know. Jacque, I figured you knew, but, I have asked you both to be here-"

"But I never knew you even existed! Why would father keep this from me?" Alexis interrupted.

"I told him to keep my identity a secret until I was ready for you to know. I had planned to go to your eighteenth birthday celebration but I was unable to go because my wife had passed away. And now you're nearly twenty and I still had other things to do. I apologize for not showing myself all these years, but now it's as important as anytime. As the king's brother, and temporary ruler, it is my duty to see that you and everyone are protected. I need Jacque to inform everyone else of the kingdom's loss and to prepare them for invasion."

"Too late for that now your Excellency," Jacque said, "The six islands closest to Main Island are already taken over. They were taken, after Hagrath and Uthlia were sent to aid the king but were too late, and the hurricane didn't really help. Now our island, Loth, Sholm, and the Isles of the Four Sisters are all that still remain standing. And you know how small our armies are."

The Governor let out a sigh, "Then what can we do? If what you say is true, how will the kingdom stand? We'll all fall to the hands of our enemies."

"My father taught me how to not only to be a soldier but a thief and spy. John taught me all I need to be a mage, manipulator of elements. Allow me time to get to the six islands and free everyone to create the army we need for protection. It will take just one island at a time and the kingdom will be ours again."

"You're too cocky as always Jacque. What makes you think your plan will work?" the Governor asked skeptically.

"I don't, but it's all I can offer at this point. And I promised Alexis here that I would help in any way I could. This is how I can help. Free the prisoners and regain control of each island individually. If the enemy will stay where they are, I should have the islands back within a week or two."

"And should you fail, what then?" asked the Governor, "If the enemy advances to another island-"

"Which is why I must go now, if I can reach one of the six islands by tomorrow I should be able to reach the others within a day of regaining each one. But we can't just sit and wait to see if I'm right. You can send other messengers to our neighboring islands and have them create a blockade of ships, that should hold the enemy back long enough for me to get the needed reinforcements."

"But why go alone?" asked Alexis, "You need someone to help you."

"No, not really. The meditations I've done have allowed me to sense danger from all the elements of the world, and danger of any human or animal that could be a threat. I'll be fine on my own Princess."
"But I thought you were going to help me. How will you help if-"

"I said I would help... in honor of the kingdom. You'll be safer here. If you came along then there would be a chance you would get killed or captured."

"How did-?" Alexis began to question how Jacque knew her intentions of going with him but he answered without her needing to ask.

"My other gifts and talents are discernment and foresight. I can tell what one is about to say or what is about to happen before hand. It keeps me prepared and well aware of everything around me," Jacque explained.

"One thing I would like to ask... though you'll answer before I even ask-" the Governor began to say.

"Have I finished my meditating and training as a mage? Yes. Discernment and foresight, to their fullest extent, is all I needed to learn these past few days. With my abilities learnt and skill with a sword I should have the kingdom back in no time. Although I should refresh my memories on swordsmanship." Jacque noticed Alexis was deep in thought. "Alexis that is a horrible idea you're thinking of right now, I'll know you're following me before you even decide to."

Wide eyed, Alexis knew she was defeated. There was no way she would be able to follow or help without him knowing. Even if she did stow away or hide, any attempt to follow him would be foiled since he could use foresight, apparently more so than he could before. But then to her amazement the Governor spoke for her. "You'll need someone with you anyway Jacque."

"What the...? How'd you... oh... very clever. Fine, she can tag along. But she's staying in the boat and out of sight. We don't want to lose her."

"That's all I ask Jacque. The boat... well, you know where it is. Now as for you princess, I have spoken for you; all you need to do is what Jacque asks you to do. Whether you like it or not," said the Governor.

"Okay," she said confused, not knowing what all took place in the conversation, with missing pieces she couldn't follow. She wasn't too sure if she should go after all since the questions she would like to ask would be answered before she had the chance to say anything at all. "I just hope, Jacque, you know what you're doing."

"Trust me, not knowing is half the fun," Jacque said with a chuckle.

"And what I'm doing, I'm doing in your father's stead," added the Governor, "I am the temporary ruler of the Silver Isles. If you paid attention to your father's law that was added when he succeeded the throne which states, 'at any time should the king die, his rule shall temporarily be placed upon the Governor of Lo Bon, until the crowning of the heir to the throne.'"

"Which won't happen for quite some time." Jacque said, surprising both Alexis and the Governor.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Alexis.

"I don't know really. I suddenly had the strangest... well I can predict a few future events. Let's hope that this one is wrong. It seems to be... a painful event... more so for me though."

"Whatever you say Jacque. You were strange before, but now with everything you've learned to be a wise and powerful mage, I'm not too sure if we're going to like what will happen this coming week," said the Governor.

"Yes, well, one of my ancestors so happens to be one of the sages who had helped in the development of the potions and medicines from the kingdom. And that is essentially where my abilities to be a mage comes from."

"So now you know where your abilities come from?" asked the Governor.

"I actually already knew where each one came from, from meditating on each element and its opposite," Jacque explained.

"Very well. You may leave when you're ready. You're both dismissed," the Governor said with a wave of the hand.

After Jacque and Alexis left the Governor's office, Jacque turned to Alexis, "If for any reason you need me for anything, while we're separated on the islands, just stay put, I'll be by your side if you're in danger. Since I have the foresight ability I'll know when you're in danger and come to your side. And do try to stay on the boat... not that you'd listen to me anyway."

"And what do you mean by that?" asked Alexis confused. "Your predictions and the way you say things are very strange Jacque. If for my safety I must stay on the boat then I will," Alexis said frustrated.

Jacque let out a sigh, "For your sake, I hope you do."