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10: The Confidant
"Not now! Please, not now!" Elisa pleaded fruitlessly with her soon-to-be-born son.
"Something like this would happen to us." the prince commented quietly to Masterson. "But I suppose we have to wait for them, don't we."
"You know we have to, Sir." Talan whispered back. "The zealots will soon discover that their former automaton now has a will of his own again, and you know they'll kill everyone they find with him."
The prince sighed, "Yes, Talan." then he looked from Frakken, to David, to the inn-keeper, and his wife, then back to Masterson and said, "I'll be outside."
Masterson choked back a laugh, "Of course, Sir."
The prince left the room saying, "I'll watch for any of Frakken's 'friends.'"
No one paid him too much mind as he left, though when Masterson turned to go, Elisa stopped him.
"Please, don't leave. David will run for whatever we need," her words were interrupted by a contraction, then she continued, "You saved our lives. Please, help us, just this once more?"
The woman grimaced and her husband helped her into a mostly-comfortable position.
Masterson nodded, "Anything I can do, just ask."
"Thank you..." Elisa replied, then said to everyone in the room, "I don't think we'll have to wait very long."
Desslok stood out in the inn's lounge area by himself. Well, he was by himself until the ruffled Juji decided to waddle into the room and interrupt his solitude.
"What do youwant?" Desslok asked the creature.
"Squawk." said Juji, hopping up and down in front of the prince.
Desslok leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms, "I see." he said. "You really aren't afraid of much, are you?"
"Chirrup." said Juji, waddling in a circle before flapping his wings and making a strange yodeling noise which made the prince almost smile.
"You are the oddest creature I have seen in a long time – you're even stranger than Masterson." he raised an eyebrow at the bird.
"Squawk."
"Don't take too much offense to that. Talan means well." then he added a bit more quietly, "If only he wouldn't adhere so strictly to that religion of his... But I suppose you don't have the particular difficulty, now do you?"
Juji titled his head, making his vertically divided beak look normal – until he turned his head upright again. The bird examined his webbed feet, suddenly interested in an itch he had developed.
"At least you don't have to wonder whether or not your caretakers are plotting your demise. You don't even have to think about the zealots and their Gehenian* friends."
Juji stopped chewing on his foot and started preening the feathers under one of his wings.
""You don't even know what I'm saying... Why am I talking to a bird?" the prince chided himself.
"Chirrup?!" Juji stopped his preening and looked at the prince indignantly.
"Alright, perhaps you do know some of what I'm saying." he relented, still feeling silly talking to the avian.
"Chirp." said Juji, almost triumphantly before going back to preening.
"The only problem you really have is being locked in your cage when you want to be free." Desslok watched the bird, "I've been thrown from one cage into another – my own brother wants to see me dead."
The teenager and the bird were silent for a while, the prince thinking, the bird preening. Then Desslok abruptly left the lounge and went back into the main lobby of the hotel. Juji noticed and waddled after him.
The prince looked out the windows, trying to see if there were any unwanted visitors outside – perhaps anyone who had been sent to observe Frakken and had happened to see his confrontation with the now-former assassin.
"Incoming transmission."
Mintra'el's voice startled Desslok and he immediately reached into his pocket to silence the A.I. He pulled the device out.
"Turn your volume down, Mintra'el." the prince hissed at the tiny computer.
"My apologies, Sir." the A.I. said in an attempted whisper.
"I am no longer, 'Sir.' Call me 'Deuel' until I instruct you otherwise."
"Ah, a secret identity – very good Sir – Deuel."
The prince sighed, "What about that transmission?"
"It comes from the capitol – the signature reads, 'The Light of Adonai.'"
"Eliora?" the prince asked in surprise.
"So it would seem, S – Deuel."
Desslok looked around quickly to make sure everyone was still with Elisa. Seeing no one, he said, "Play the transmission, Mintra'el."
Suddenly Juji hopped up onto the prince's shoulder to see what the curious talking thing was. As soon as the bird had alighted on Desslok's shoulder, Mintra'el began to play back the message she had received.
"Leader Desslok – for that is who you truly are, Sire – there is something I must give you. I am sorry that I could not give it to you before, but it is of utmost importance that you return to Rapha'owr as soon as possible to get it. I would come to you myself, but I cannot leave the city without questions being asked.
"Do not acknowledge this message. It has been encoded so that only Mintra'el can receive it, but any reply you send will be noticed. The usurper – your brother – is watching everyone and everything he can. Thus far, of those of us who remain on Gamilon, only Admiral Talan, his wife and I have remained unnoticed. Baruch hashem!* The few others who knew of Deun's treachery have been either killed or imprisoned. That we are still free is only by the hand of Adonai.
"Come quickly. May the rightful heir to the throne occupy it once more, Leader. And may Adonai go with you."
The message ended and Juji chirruped at the little computer and reached out to take it out of Desslok's hand, but the prince held it out of the bird's reach.
"No." he chided the animal. "You may listen, but you may not have it." he looked pointedly at the bird.
Juji, a bit downcast at the rejection looked sidelong at the prince.
"Looking at me that way will not change anything."
Juji chirped.
"The answer is still 'no.'"
The bird resigned himself to not being able to examine the strange talking disc.
"Thank you." he said to his feathery companion, then thought, "Now how in the world are we going to get back into the capitol?"
Masterson knelt on one side of Elisa, and Wolf on the other, lending their encouragement to her as she went through the seemingly endless process of pushing.
In between her efforts she said, "I am so thankful we prepared for –" she gave another push, "this a while ago."
"So am I." her husband replied from his place at her feet.
"It is such a – " she pushed again, "blessing not to be able to feel any of this."
"Believe me, we are too." Wolf put in, "Otherwise whoever comes after me would hear us before he saw us."
"You are so kind, brother." Elisa quipped.
"I try." he said.
"We're almost there, Elisa." Dommel said, a smile starting to ease its way onto his face. "Just keep going."
"Oh, don't worry about me." she said, breathing heavily from the exertion. "I want this to be over with just as much as you do."
Dommel almost laughed, but under the circumstances, he didn't think it was the best thing to do, so he just nodded, "I know. One more. Just one more, that's all we need."
Elisa gave one last energized push and it was done. She let out a sigh of relief, thankful for the end of this particular nine month journey and glad to begin a new journey – hopefully one that would last well beyond her own lifetime – with her son.
The next moment she heard her newborn's healthy cry.
"Deror." Elisa said.
"His name?" asked her brother.
She nodded, "We thought it fitting when we chose it... And it is even more so now, I think."
Masterson looked at the woman quizzically. "Why do you say that?"
Elisa looked at the young man, the beginnings of a tiny flame of determination starting to flicker in her eyes, "Have you not heard? Three days ago Leader Deun died, and his son took his place."
"Yes..." Masterson answered carefully, not sure where Elisa was going or why. "I've heard something about it."
"Word is that – even after only a few days as as our sovereign, this new Leader has proven to be iron-fisted and tyrannical. And he has made a pact with the very ones who would destroy us – the zealots!"
"Has it already come to this...?" Wolf despaired, "Is this what I have been enslaved to... all these years?"
Elisa put a comforting hand on her half-brother's shoulder, "I am sad to say that it is, Wolf... Our own ruler has fallen prey to the will of the Guardiana followers..."
"So you name your son for the freedom we have lost?" Frakken challenged, something in him flaring up.
"No, brother – not for the freedom we have lost, but for the freedom we may yet regain." Elisa's energy began to flag now, but her confidence seemed to have grown, and it continued to do so as Dommel handed her son over to her and she held Deror for the first time.
Masterson suddenly realized that, if this one woman harbored hopes for the overthrow of Deun, that there were surely others who felt the same. At that moment, an idea began to form in his mind, but before it could finish its development, he was interrupted.
"Masterson." the voice of Desslok pulled his attention away from the scene before him.
"S – Deuel. It seems everything has gone well here." he indicated Elisa holding her son and Dommel, Wolf and David crowding around the mother and child to get a better look at the newborn who had settled down a bit now that he was cleaner and warmer than he had been a few minutes before.
"I see." said the prince, then he lowered his voice and said, "But all is not well for usit seems."
"Sir?" Masterson whispered back.
"We've received a message. From Eliora." Desslok said, "I must return to Rapha'owr."
"I'll come with you."
"No. You must go with these thr – four. Ensure their safety as you have mine these many years."
"I cannot do that, Sir." Masterson whispered. "If you go to the capitol, I go as well."
"It will do us no good to try to whisk two in under Deun's nose when one could accomplish the same feat more easily."
"I will not let you go alone." Masterson insisted. "They can take care of themselves, so long as they leave as soon as Elisa is able to travel. They've made it this far on their own, they can make it into those mountains as well."
Desslok stared back at Masterson, "You are still infuriating, Talan. I cannot convince you to stay with them, but can I not at least convince you to let me go the first two days on my own. They'll need protection during those first two days more than I will. No one even knows we're here, much less that we've heard from Rapha'owr."
Masterson thought about it for a moment and before he gave Desslok his answer he prayed, "Oh, Adonai, give me wisdom... I cannot leave him for fear of him losing his life... But I know that there will be times that I must entrust him to Your care, my Lord... Is this one of those times...?"
Silence fell between the two interrupted only by the sounds of the joyful conversation surrounding Elisa and Dommel's son.
"So be it..." Masterson finally replied. "Two days. No more than that. On the third day I head for Rapha'owr as well."
"So what's so interesting, you two?" David suddenly appeared behind them and the teenagers nearly jumped.
"We – I will be leaving as soon as you are able to get underway." the prince said, keeping back as much information as he could.
"Oh." David said, "Alright."
"I will be going with you part of the way." Masterson told David. "Do you know precisely where you'll be going?"
"I don't know..." David replied, then asked his brother, "Where are we going, Dommel?"
The inn-keeper looked up from watching his son, "I have a friend who lives farther back in the mountains. We'll find him. He'll at least give us a place to sleep."
Masterson nodded.
"Why? You're coming with us, aren't you?" Dommel asked.
"Not quite..." Masterson replied, "We have some... business we need to take care of. I'll be joining you for the first two days, then I must leave, but both Deuel and I will return to you when we've finished what we need to do."
At this revelation everyone except Deror looked at the teenagers strangely.
"You two seem awfully competent in fights – and everything else. Perhaps there's something you're hiding from us?" Frakken challenged, suddenly looking suspicious.
Masterson fished for an answer, "We too have secrets – just as I am sure you do." he looked back at Frakken, "To tell you everything now would put you in greater danger than you are already in." he turned his gaze to Elisa, "We mean you no harm... I trust we have already proven that to you."
The woman looked at her husband who was staring at the strange pair, trying to discern whether or not Masterson's words rang true.
"Very well..." Dommel relented, "But of any harm comes to my family because of your secrets, you will answer to me."
"Of course." Masterson bowed his head to the older man. "I would expect no less."
"So when do we leave?" Frakken put in, looking to Elisa for an answer.
"Tomorrow," the woman replied, that determination that Masterson had seen before now growing brighter. "I'm not going to let a little thing like having a baby get in the way of us getting out of here." she smirked.
"But that's too soon." her husband protested. "We can wait a few da –"
"Shh." Elisa reached out and placed a finger over his lips, "Hundreds of thousands of women have gone through a much worse delivery than this and been well enough to get around the next day. We've progressed beyond the days of traumatic births. Both Deror and I are fine. All I need is some time to rest, plenty of water and a good meal. I may not be able to move quickly tomorrow, but I will be able to travel – with a little help."
Dommel relented, "Alright..." he rubbed her arm affectionately, "I'll be right beside you every step of the way..."
Elisa smiled, "I know. Thank you." still holding on to her son with one arm, she found his hand with her unoccupied one.
"Do you have a way to contact this friend of your before you get there?" Masterson interrupted the moment.
"No." Dommel replied, "I haven't seen him for many years."
"Are you sure he's still there?" Masterson replied.
Dommel laughed, "If you knew Zimring, you'd understand. Ninety years' worth of dirt under his fingernails and enough bull-headedness to outlive every creature that's ever tried to break down his door. I wouldn't say he hates the world, but he certainly doesn't go out much. I wouldn't be surprised if he lived to be three hundred."
"So he isn't well known, then." said Masterson.
"Not particularly." Dommel replied. "Does my choice meet with your approval, Masterson Turov – if that's really your name."
"Indeed it does." Masterson nodded, "And I never said it was my name – only that that is what you could call me."
It was Dommel's turn to bow his head to Masterson, "Well played, my young friend. And thank you," he turned his gaze to Desslok, "and you for saving all of our lives."
"And for giving mine back to me." Frakken added.
"Thank Adonai." Masterson replied, "I have no power except that He gives it to me, and I certainly cannot save anyone."
Frakken's eyes quickly left Masterson's to find something that made him less uncomfortable.
"Let's get ready what we can." said Dommel. "We leave tomorrow." he looked pointedly at Desslok, "You should leave tonight. Get through whatever territory you can as fast as possible. Whoever they send after Frakken will be coming quickly. If you leave now, you can evade him. He won't even know you're crossing his path."
After a moment the prince nodded, "I'll be going as soon as I can get together what I need."
At that the group split up to go their separate ways and prepare for the day – or night – to come. Dommel and David helped Elisa get into a more comfortable position up on the bed, instead of the floor which she had previously occupied. Frakken left the room – probably to look for something to eat. Juji, who had followed the prince back in now tagged along behind Wolf with an happy yodeling-quack.
Masterson and Desslok left after Juji and Wolf, heading back to the two rooms they had rented.
The young men walked down the long, dark hall in silence. It was still night outside, but dawn would soon be approaching. There was just enough time for the prince to leave under the cover of darkness.
The two went into the prince's room, and as soon as the door had closed behind them, Masterson said, "Sir, I still don't think you should do this."
"Your opinion is duly noted, Talan." the prince dismissed as he gathered together the few things he had brought with him to the inn to begin with.
"You won't change your mind, will you." Masterson shook his head.
Desslok stopped what he was doing, "You know better than to think that I will."
Masterson sighed and nodded. "These past fourteen years – at least, those that I can remember – I do not recall a single occasion of you changing your mind, but, as the anecdote goes, 'There is a first time for everything.'"
The prince smirked, "Perhaps, but I'll not be changing my mind today." With this Desslok went back to packing. A few minutes later he was done. He turned to leave, casting one more glance around the room to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Finally, he looked at Masterson one more time. The look on his friend's face made him stop, "You wish to say something, Talan?"
"If you would allow me, Sire... I wish to speak with Someone on your behalf."
Understanding what Talan meant, the prince rolled his eyes, "If you must, Masterson."
"I must." he replied, ignoring the prince's attempts to hide his discomfort with another overt showing of Masterson's Faith. "I do not speak these words lightly, nor do I speak them as many of our people have in the past, as empty recitation. I speak them to Adonai, as a sincere prayer for your well-being. Whether in my presence, or absence, it is, always has been, and always will be Adonai who will preserve or take your life."
"Do what you will." the prince said.
Masterson stood in front of Desslok and placed one hand on each of the other young man's shoulders, closed his eyes and raised his face towards Heaven.
"Yehi ratzon milfanekha, Adonai Elohai, shetolikheini l'shalom
(May it be Your will, Adonai, My God, to guide me in peace)
vetatzideini l'shalom vetatzileini mikol sakanah bederekh.
(and direct me in peace and keep me from all dangers on the way,)
Vetishlach b'rachah bema'asei yadai utvieini v'shalom el beiti.
(and bring blessing to the work of my hands and return me home in peace.)
Adonai yishmar-tzeitkha uvo'ekha me'atah v'ad-olam.
(Adonai will guard your going out and your coming in, from this time forth and forevermore.)
"She'elohim yihye itkha*, my friend. Until we meet again." Masterson let his hands drop from his friend's shoulders and took a step back. "Now... go."
* Gehenian – from Hell
* Baruch hashem – Thank God
* She'elohim yihye itkha – May God be with you