Star Storm

Chapter Three (Part Two)

Betrayal

The second stop Kael made was to the servants' quarters. Soap bubbles filled the room, the scent of fresh sheets beckoning in those who wandered by the open door. Women and men of all races were tending to dirty laundry and dishes, whispering gossip, and throwing playful jokes back and forth while they worked. Much to Kael's surprise – and gratitude – the room did not quite as he entered.

"Might Myteor be here?" he asked the first maid who crossed his path. The girl's third eye blinked in response and she pointed him in the right direction.

Myteor was hiding around a corner with a pretty maid. Elector Lee, a small woman, was giggling under the guard's gaze. Their laughing ended abruptly when Elector caught sight of Kael hovering awkwardly nearby.

"Oh," she blushed, ducking from under Myteor's arm and bowing her head. "Prince Kael. What do we owe the pleasure of your visit? Anything you need, we'd be happy to do for you."

"I'm afraid I need to borrow Myteor," Kael said hastily. He had never asked anything of the staff aside from more hot water before. The very thought of what he was about to do made his insides quiver.

"What will it be then, boy?" Myteor crossed his arms. Kael hoped he did not upset either of them with his proposal for the guard would easily be able to snap him in half.

"Well, I-I," he flatted, embarrassed by his own plan.

"Spit it out."

"I wish to employ you to find my sister. Off the royal records of course. This would be a personal job."

Both Myteor and Elector were silent. They looked at each other with the same grim expression, then Myteor spoke softly, patting Kael on the shoulder.

"Let's take a walk," he said. Myteor was not angry or rude, but he concerned laced his voice.

They walked the halls of the palace in silence. Myteor kept his lips clamped tightly together and Kael copied the guard for fear of someone overhearing. The last thing he needed was someone reporting his actions to Telion. Locked in his room, Kael would be even less help to Nona.

Outside, the landing bay for cargo ships at the back of the place, was working at full operation despite the attack. Cargo ships from Uterca's furthest edges and from cities halfway across the galaxy dipped from the sky to land. Other vessels were moved into the hangers, the constant flow of traffic never stopping to mark the entrance of Kael and Myteor on the east side in the shadow of the bay's largest cruiser.

Kael fought the urge to cover his ears and turned to the guard. No one would hear their plots here. "I will find Nona," he pressed. "I can't live with myself knowing she's out there somewhere. She wouldn't want to be taken away, as much as she's joked about it in the past."

The big guard sighed, a hand going to his hips. The string of belts hanging there were bound so tightly they did not budge with the pressure of his hand. "That I know, don't you worry. And I'm glad you're determined to find her."

"So, you'll help?"

"Your mother has banned all guards from setting out to rescue Nona. She doesn't want any of us acting as a hero."

Without giving them much attention, Kael watched ships glide across the landing strip. The thoughts – the nightmares – inside his head stopped him from seeing things clearly. If Telion had forbidden the guards to start a rescue mission, then she would have ensured Uterca's private pilots for hire had been instructed in the same manner.