Star Storm

Chapter Three (Part One)

Betrayal

Alone in the observatory, Kael looked to endless stars and rays of colour of space at the other end of the long vison-scope. The seat had long since pulled his body between the plush cushions. He thought little of his posture. His mind drifted as he directed the scope across the six planets which divided the regions of the known corners of the galaxy.

He often thought of those lucky enough to live on a planet. Those who could survive in an ecosystem based on a mass of floating rock must have led a life much different to his. He had heard of trees growing on planets and of their blue skies. Such places seemed like paradise.

The scope groaned as he adjusted the magnification dial to inspect a shooting star in the Grey Region out with Uterca's quadrant.

A strong disagreement with his mother had brought Kael to the domed room atop the palace. He used to enjoy watching the stars shoot back and forth with his father. Now he was forced to do so alone, and it left a hollow feeling in his chest.

Nona was gone. All his life Kael had taken her presence for granted. He had never thought a day without her was possible. Since their birth, only moments apart, they had been inseparable despite their differences. Yes, he had wished at times to be freed from Nona's loud company. But Kael had never truly wanted her gone.

Like space, Kael was dead and quiet, the cells in his body working without making sound.

The attack on Uterca had brought the Assembly of Nor into an emergency meeting only moments after the ambassadors had come to a decision about Uterca's expansion. The invaders had quickly announced themselves as the Sorii, people from a city at the other end of the galaxy.

Upset about the Assembly's plans Uterca's growth, the visiting Sorii had jumped upon their ambassador's ship and begun their hectic attack on the city. Ambassador Lezorith had claimed he was not involved with his people's decision. Without a rational reason for him to order the attack, the Assembly had let him be. Disgraced but still a free man, Lezorith had been left to hang his head in shame before the other politicians.

Kael had wanted to press the matter further. All but one of the ambassadors – and Lezorith, of course – had agreed with him. Telion had no time to hear his arguments and she had quickly sent him away to deal with the loss of Nona in solitude. A queen could not push her duties aside for personal matters, she had claimed.

Shimmering in the distance, a million miles away, the rocky planet of Meritha spun upside down. Kael watched through his vision-scope without paying much attention to the spectacular sight.

There would be no search party sent after Nona. No rescue operation or guard unit was to be issued with orders to bring her back. With the expansion of the city to plan, Telion had countless things to see to and the risk of war was simply too great.

Kael suspected his mother was only making excuses. Without Nona her life would be a lot easier, and she would not have to worry over who inherited her throne.

He hated Telion for her harsh ways, but Kael knew she would not brush the matter aside if she believed Nona's life truly was in danger. The Sorii must have shown the queen they had no intentions of hurting Nona. It was either that, or Telion was a much harsher woman than Kael thought her to be.

Still, Kael was not prepared to let his sister be taken to the other end of the galaxy. She might have been bothersome, but Nona was his closest companion. Even if she did not always need him around, Kael sure needed his sister. How would be battle his mother's wishes alone? Who would walk shamefully though the palace with him after being caught sneaking out past curfew?

No one. Kael was not proud of not having many friends – he often loathed himself for it. But he hardly had time or the chance to simply walk outside and meet others. He was schooled privately with his sister and those in the palace's employment were mostly far older than he. Besides, friendships were often dangerous. Kael could not afford to blindly put his trust in others with the crown of his city on the line.

So he sat alone, staring into space, as he plotted ways in which he could hunt the Sorii and save Nona. It seemed no one else was up to the challenge, but Kael was not like Telion. He could not sit back and simply hope Nona would be alright.

After King Platon had died, the observatory had been left unvisited by the royal family. The king had spent his time mapping the stars, plotting his new adventures, and scribbling over the wallcharts. Without the short man hurrying between the tables of equipment, the room was eerily quiet.

It was the lack of his father's presence that eventually forced Kael from the observatory. When he could no longer bear to be alone, surrounded by ghosts of a lifelong past, he went to visit his mother. She was resting in her chambers when he arrived at her wing of the palace, tucked between gold and ivory sheets of silk.

"Do not lay heavy thoughts on me before I rest. There is much to be planned tomorrow for Uterca's new building program," Telion warned as soon as he entered the room. Kael had hoped seeing his mother would spark a desire within him to stop worrying over Nona. He had hoped she would at least try to make him feel better.

But Telion's eyes were narrowed and hard. There was no flicker of emotion in them, no tug at her lips.

Kael invented an apology for his earlier behaviour and wished his mother a good sleep, switching her bedroom lights off on the way out. Not knowing where he could find the comfort he so desperately needed, he let his feet carry him through the maze of corridors until he was back in the main body of the palace.

Celestial Watch officers had taken up positions between the palace guards, their faces shielded by visors. The Assembly of Nor ordered more security to protect Uterca in fear of another attack. Telion had been touched by the gesture. There were no better guards than the officers of Watch and the Assembly of Nor rarely sanctioned the deployment of the Watch on city grounds.

Kael had once thought of joining the Celestial Watch's ranks and helping patrol space, enforcing the universal law of space travel, and capturing criminals. But they had been the reams of a small child. The only job Kael would ever hold would be king. He would rule Uterca as his ancestors had and then his children would replace him. Such was the price of carrying the Galtionie name.

A guard saluted to Kael as he rounded a corner a little to sharply. The stranger caught him in her arms before Kael toppled. "Everything alright, Prince?" The guard shook her head when Kael gave a small nod. "Alright. If you need anything, be sure to let us know."

He stepped aside to let the guard on her way, a thought growing at the back of his mind. It was a terrible thing, twisted and dark, but Kael gave into temptation and plotted a new course. Telion was not the only one who held authority in the palace, even if she bore Uterca's single crown.