The Glass Weaver | A Novel #Wattys2018 #Wattys2019

Chapter 18

As we disembarked the ship, I kept an eye on Lacey. I knew that she only could understand bits and pieces of Enderian. It was a complex language to learn, with its many symbols, characters, and pronunciations types that can mean different words. Once inside the building, I looked around at the tech-savvy building. Lights scanned us and let out an error sound. 

"Let's show these scum that they are below us." One of the guards behind us spoke in a low voice.

I anticipated a sudden motion, but the other one, the one behind Lacey, spoke, "Do you want to have your title revoked again? You got lucky the first time around when you pulled it off, but do you want your family to suffer?"

"I don't have a family anymore after these godsdamned Aquariusians took them from me a year ago."

"Felix, don't even think of it. If you bring it up, I'll have to report it to Commander Ellis and she won't be happy with your attitude."

"Oh shut up Cordelia. I am still a higher rank than you. You are nothing but dirt beneath my feet."

"Felix..." Cordelia warned.

"It doesn't matter anyway! It is not like they can hurt me anymore. They took my family, they took my home. There is nothing left to lose."

"Felix, there is always something to lose. You can lose your life, your status; you could lose it all." Cordelia stopped him in his tracks. In response, both Lacey and I stopped. 

I cautiously looked over at Lacey and spoke in Aquariusian, "It seems that they are arguing. I don't want to risk it here when we don't know anything about this place."

Lacey nodded, "I understand. If we were near a main room, maybe. Can you read any of the signs?"

I flicked my head to my right and saw a sign. It wasn't that I couldn't understand, but it was certainly a dialect of the language they never taught me. Some symbols were unfamiliar, others made sense such as bathroom and office numbers. Turning my head back, I slightly shook my head, "I can sort of read the signs. There are characters that I have never learned. Likely a dialect of characters within the language."

"Does it say anything of importance?"

"Not really. They are more so directions. Nothing that I would rely on to get us out of here."

"Alright. I guess keep listening to them?"

"I'll let you know if I hear anything," I replied, returning to silence.

Cordelia still seemed to be arguing with Felix, which wasn't a surprise. She didn't even notice us watching her. Even other officers walked past yet didn't say a word. Felix seemed to not back down, raising his voice with each phrase spoken. It took some concentration to listen to it, but it didn't give anything of importance.

In my boots were two daggers, sharpened for situations such as this. But this was not the time nor the place. There were hundreds of cameras nearby, or at least in this part of the building. Then I heard people shriek and getting out the way. It seemed like a person of importance, or at least of a higher rank than most.

"Private Cordelia! Private Felix! What in the Leader's name is making you argue like beggars?" A voice called out, cutting through the noise.

Cordelia bowed her head and shrunk behind her skin, "Forgive me, Marshall. Private Felix had wanted to do awful things to Sir Algernon's unmarked property."

"Sir Algernon? He is not here." The marshall took a few steps closer. 

From the corner of my eye, I saw Lacey shake with fear. I wish I had something to calm her, but for her to be this scared, I am not sure what would fix it. Maybe she knows the marshall? Each limb was trembling. There seemed to be a hint of tears forming in her eyes, evident by the small droplets that adorn her face.

Cordelia responded to the marshall, "His son, ma'am. He has reappeared and Commander Ellis stated that we should report to Regular Horatio to have them be given temporary identification cards."

The marshall took a few steps over and looked at Felix with disgust, "I should have known that you would be causing issues for Cordelia. Felix, you are hereby ordered to report to my office after delivering these Aquariusians to Horatio. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Marshall." Felix's voice was strong, almost as if he was not afraid of the marshall. 

"Good. Cordelia, I will pass on your loud behavior this time. Next time, try and find someone to settle the dispute. You are up for promotion, after all." 

With that, I heard the marshall's footsteps go the opposite way of us. There was a thick tension in the hallway after the marshall had left. Now, I just wanted to get this done and over with. These two guards seemed very familiar to me. I couldn't place it. Maybe they reminded me of a time of what used to be. When Lacey and I approached a large room, I took note of several potential exits should things go awry. The two guards guided us into a smaller room. A large man, clearly Enderian, sat at a table behind a desk.

Private Cordelia walked up to the man behind the desk and spoke in Enderian, "Sir? Commander Ellis requested that these two unmarked Aquariusian maids be given temporary markings. They belong to Sir Parker Algernon."

"Parker Algernon? The son of that son of a bitch is alive?" The man boomed, standing abruptly.

I eyed Lacey and worded out what he had said. I hoped that she got most of it. The man walked over to Private Cordelia and spoke, "These are unmarked, huh? How in the world did he manage to get away with this sort of stuff?"

Cordelia responded respectfully, "I am unsure, sir. You would have to talk to Commander Ellis on that."

"Show me your hyper-con, so that I can see if it was actually my nephew. And that Commander Ellis was not just played by a fool of a man."

Nephew? Oh, gods what have we gotten ourselves into...