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6: The Councilor
"Starsha," Adrianna's leaves rustled as she spoke to the princess from the other side of the room, "You've seemed troubled about something for the past three days – ever since that party. What is it?"
Starsha was silent for a couple of moments before she finally turned and said, "I just don't understand..."
"Don't understand what, princess?"
"What I'm supposed to do; who I'm supposed to be." Starsha replied.
"You are the royal princess of Iscandar. You are to be Regent when your sister ascends to the throne in the coming years. You –"
"No Adrianna." she interrupted, "I know what I'm supposed to be." she sighed heavily, "I've never had any reason to question that. But who am I supposed to be?"
"You are a child of Adonai Himself, mistress." replied Adrianna. "He will not fail to show you the way in which you should walk. Trust Him. He knows who you are and who you will become."
The princess sighed again, "I know... I know." she looked up at the leaves hanging out from Adrianna's pot. "I can see the end – the day we all will be with Adonai, but it is the time between now and then..." she let her sentence trail off.
"As it is with us all, princess." Adrianna replied. "We must entrust ourselves and our futures into the hands of the One who formed this universe – the One who knows the end from the beginning." then she added, "and everything in between."
The princess stood quietly, thinking about what her friend had just said. "I know..." she repeated. "But it is not the knowing that is so difficult; it is the trusting that is challenging at times..."
"Yes, Starsha, I know it is." said Adrianna. "And I also know that there is something else bothering you – something more specific perhaps? Would you like to talk about it?" she asked gently.
"No, not now." Starsha replied, fingering the pendant she wore. "I think I'll go for a walk."
"Very well, mistress." the plant replied and rustled a farewell with her leaves. "Have a pleasant time."
"Thank you, Adrianna." Starsha said to her friend as she stepped out the door of her apartment and into the palace halls.
Everything was lit by the afternoon sun at this hour. The brilliant red-golden light fell on everything, illuminating halls that would have otherwise been a bit dim. Everything looked as though it was alive. The only darkness that could be seen had been chased into sharp corners under furniture or beneath windowsills, trapped until the sun sank a bit lower in the western sky.
As Starsha walked through the all-encompassing light she thought about the conversation she and her sister had had with the new Leader Deun II of Gamilon.
The thought made her shiver again. The look in the young man's eyes had frightened her like nothing else ever had before. It was as if there was something evil deep down in his soul that was trying to devour her. And that Regent of his – Yeshin he had said his name was – was little better.
"At least I know that Mother and Father won't be accepting any marriage propositions from him." she thought with a tiny bit of short-lived relief. "All the good that'll do though." The anxiety returned in full force as she remembered that picture again – that strange painting that would not leave her memory no matter how hard she tried to expunge it.
Questions roared through her mind, crashing around, trying to understand what was going on: trying to discern what was reality and what was not.
Starsha walked without thinking through hall after empty hall. After twenty minutes of seeing no one she turned around to head back to her apartment and to Adrianna, but upon passing a particular doorway something within her urged her to stop. She obeyed.
The princess entered the lonely room and, through the afternoon light saw again the simple elegance of the room she had been in three days earlier with her sister and mother and the many guests who had come for the birthday celebration.
Unlike three days ago, columns of light poured through the skylights that surrounded the center of the ceiling, creating a ring of brilliance around the middle of the roof. The bright circle seemed to call to her, bidding her to come and look once again at the sight she had dared not return to since seeing the face of Deun.
But an odd urge continued to grow within her, compelling her to heed the call of the ring of light. She walked slowly across the bare marble floor, dreading what would meet her gaze when she finally decided to turn her eyes upward.
She finally reached the center of the circle. Staring down at her feet, she realized that this was not just a circle of light. The skylights were positioned so that the brightness coming down from the sky surrounded what looked like some sort of seal graven into the floor. There was an inscription imprinted in the marble just under her feet and she stepped back a bit to view the whole thing.
It read, "hn 'eal-kiapiaym, haqityk; hvmtayk ngdiy, tiamyd." (Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me.)*
"I don't remember seeing this before.." she ran her shoed foot over the engraved characters, but she felt no dips in the floor where the chisel marks were. Upon a closer examination she discovered that the indentations had been filled in with a clear sealant to prevent damage to both the words and the feet of those who might trip on them.
"But why was it put here, beneath that picture? Was it made before or after the mural? Is there even any correlation between the two...?" she asked herself.
"No." she decided. "It has to be a coincidence." she brushed it off.
Continuing to avoid the image hovering over her, she studied the workmanship of the words beneath her feet. Every character was perfect. There was not a single malformation in them – almost as if a machine had done the work.
However, that possibility was thrown to the wind when she walked the circumference of the circle and noticed the tiny, neat signature of the artisan who had inscribed the words. It was a name she didn't recognize, but underneath the signature was a notation: "These words, written by Isaiah, the prophet of Adonai, were graven here to remind all who gaze upon them that the Creator of this vast universe knew you before Time itself began, and He has a purpose prepared for you."
With the reading of those words some light that had been darkened within her spirit reignited in Starsha and with it returned her courage. She finally lifted her face towards the image that had haunted her these three days.
There it was, her own face and the face of the young man.
"Is this Your plan for me...?" she prayed, "To reach out to our sister-world – to this new Leader?"
"You okay?"
Starsha jumped. "Father!" she exclaimed, quickly jerking her head away from the picture, then continuing more calmly, "You startled me."
He chuckled, "I noticed. You didn't get enough of this room the other day?"
"Oh." she looked around, trying to think of what to say that wouldn't betray her inner dialog. "Have you ever seen this?" she pointed downward to the words on the floor.
"Many times," King Alexander crossed the room to where his middle daughter stood. "I come here sometimes to read them again – not that I couldn't just read them out of Isaiah's writings, but there has always been something about this place..."
"That's what Mother said..." Starsha replied quietly.
Alexander stepped into the circle of light with Starsha, joining her in in her study of the floor.
"When did you find out about what happened to the former Leader?" the princess asked.
"The night before your birthday." her father replied, "We thought it might be better to tell you what was going on after the celebration was over – no dark shadows to spoil the day for you and your sister."
Starsha nodded, "I understand." then she hesitated, unsure about whether or not she should continue.
"Care to share?" Alexander asked, seeing the torn look in his daughter's eyes.
With a sigh she continued, "Did Astra tell you about that call?"
Alexander nodded, "It sounds like the new Deun is a bit different from the old one. His father would have never behaved the way his son did." he looked at Starsha, "And, rest assured, unless some drastic changes take place, we won't be accepting any marriage proposals from him. You're too young anyway and so is he."
The princess let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
A comfortable silence fell between father and daughter as they continued looking at the floor for a moment before Alexander said, "Well, your mother and I have a meeting with the Galerans in fifteen minutes. I suppose I should be on time for it." he smiled.
"I suppose." his daughter replied. "Do you think Adrianna, Bahn or Silesia would like to join you? Ya'ar Jeshurun is their home after all."
"I'll ask them. Perhaps they'll do most of the talking so we won't have to."
"I thought you liked talking with strangers."
He shrugged, "I'm a king. Kings are expected to do such things. I do enjoy the conversation, but sometimes it is nice to just let someone else take the floor for a while."
Starsha nodded and smirked, "I can see your point."
"I must go." her father said, turning to leave, "But Starsha."
She looked at her father inquisitively, "Yes?"
"Don't try to figure out your whole life in one sitting, okay."
"Only half of it, I promise." she joked.
He nodded and left the room, leaving her to her thoughts once again.
Now unobserved, she turned her eyes upward again and stared into the face she had seen seventy-two hours before.
"Adrianna," said the tall, azure-skinned, older Galeran man when he saw the Jeshurunian plants being carried into the meeting room, "and Silesia!"
"Israel Kotlar." said Adrianna. "It is so good to see you again, old friend. When King Alexander said that you were here and that we Jeshurunians were welcome to come to this meeting, Silesia and I were more than happy to be here."
"Hello, Israel." echoed Silesia.
"Where is Bahn? I thought he would have accompanied you." Israel said.
"He would have, but he is conducting some important business elsewhere at the moment. He will join us when he is through." replied Silesia.
"Wonderful!" replied Kotlar, "It brings me great joy to be in the presence of such unique creatures as the Jeshurunians once again."
"The pleasure is ours as well, representative." said King Alexander, "We thank you for bringing them to us. They have been truly refreshing to have here on Iscandar."
"Indeed," said Queen Kara. "It is an honor to have them."
"And we are most happy to dwell here with you, my Queen." said Adrianna.
"Where would you like to be placed?" the queen asked the Jeshurunians.
"The end table will suit us just fine, Majesty." replied Adrianna, and Silesia rustled her leaves in agreement.
"We are not too picky." Silesia said, a bit of humor in her voice.
The servants who had brought the plants in set them down carefully on the table that had been indicated. The plants thanked their bearers and the servants left to complete whatever other chores were on their agendas for the day.
"I have always liked Iscandarian conference rooms." Adrianna commented to no one in particular. "They always seem so open and friendly. No gigantic table to plan wars; no dark curtains to draw over the windows so that others may not see in; no servants standing at our beck and call to send word that 'the politicians' have decided to make the citizens' lives more difficult; just a circle of comfortable chairs to be occupied by mutual friends."
"Indeed." agreed Silesia.
"And confidants," added Israel a bit ominously.
"And confidants." echoed Adrianna. "How are things on Galera, Israel?"
"The planet itself is thriving as it always has been. The people still work and live as they have for a long time – though perhaps with more sophisticated technology than they once had. Ya'ar Jeshurun thrives and is visited by millions each year. We accept thousands of immigrants every month – sometimes every day – from the Bolar colonies, Cometine space, and other outlying worlds. All in all, it is a pleasant, profitable community, but of course, there are always those who seek to thwart peace." Kotlar paused.
"Oh no..." said Adrianna, "there haven't been more incidents with the insurgents, have there?"
"No, thankfully not. Many of them have gotten tired of being thrown in prison and have left Galera to find new places to cause trouble." the representative replied.
"That is a relief." said Silesia.
"I thought you would be accompanied by at least two others, Representative Kotlar." said Alexander inquisitively.
The Galeran suddenly looked like a rebuked puppy, "They... were not able to come, Sire."
"I assume there was a particular reason for their... inability to accompany you?" said Kara.
"You are perceptive, my Queen." said Israel, his eyes darkening and his face clouding with anxiety.
"You seem concerned, Kotlar." the king dropped the title upon seeing the other man's distress.
"As I should be, Sire." he replied, sitting down in one of the many chairs that had been arranged around the loose circle, the king and queen copying his gesture. "There are things happening on our throne world of Gamilon that we have no control over – things that we are very much concerned about," he continued in a lower tone of voice, "things that must never reach the ears of our new Leader."
The Iscandarian looked sidelong at the Galeran.
"It is... something... difficult to explain." Kotlar faltered, "But it is vital that you hear me – more vital than you will ever know."
"You are not here officially, are you, Israel?" said Adrianna quietly.
"No... I'm not." he replied. "And if the Leader or his 'Regent' discovered why I am here it would cost me my life."
"I'm listening." Alexander leaned forward to hear everything the representative had to say.
"About six hours ago, during my transit here to Iscandar I received a message from Gamilon, but it was not from the palace or the government. The only identification mark that was on it was a signature line that read, 'The Light of Adonai will guide you.'"
"Is there something significant about that?" the king asked, not understanding.
"Not in and of itself, no. And if I had not been involved in the war we Galerans call, the 'War of Rea Atid*' I would have seen no significance in it either." Israel chuckled to himself, "It was the perfect signal to any and all who were meant to understand it."
"Would you care to enlighten us?" Alexander asked.
"Oh, yes of course. That is why I have come." Kotlar bowed his head for a moment, took a deep breath, then continued, "The 'Light of Adonai' is not literally the guiding light of the Almighty. It refers instead to a woman a number of we veterans of Rea Atid knew. She was a close friend to our beloved Queen Talonka before her death and she seemed to disappear after the queen's passing." Israel sighed again, more out of the heaviness of the subject than out of nervousness, "This woman was once a servant in the palace on Gamilon many years ago, then she was promoted. No one ever knew what department she was transferred to, and now, no one can find out; the records have been sealed by someone with either the authority of the Leader, or the hacking skills of a genius."
"When were they sealed?" Kara asked.
"Four days ago." replied Israel, a strange look in his eyes.
"The day Leader Deun's health reportedly declined." said Alexander thoughtfully. "You think it was not a coincidence?"
"I know it wasn't." the Galeran intoned. "Those records should have been reopened by the new Leader, his son Deun."
"But they weren't." filled in Alexander.
"No, indeed. In fact, they were further encrypted – so much so that only the one or ones who did it can decrypt them again." replied Israel.
"What would this... woman... have to hide?" asked Kara.
"It was not the woman who encrypted the files, Majesty." Israel replied. "It was a Mossad agent, aided by one other person whose identity we we can only guess at this point."
"Mossad?" Adrianna and Silesia whispered to each other with twin rustles of surprise.
"Yes, my friends." Israel said to the Jeshurunians. "There is no question about the involvement of at least one member of covert operations."
"How do you know this...?" Adrianna asked.
"In addition to the signature line, there was a number written at the end of the message I – and others – received, '71612*.'" Said Kotlar.
"But that could be anything." said Alexander, "What makes you so certain it's a Mossad ID?"
"Because I know the agent, Sire."
"You know this '71612'?" asked Kara, still unsure that Kotlar had read this strange message correctly.
"Very well, my Queen. He is one of the best." the Galeran replied. "If he is dealing with this... problem... then there is something truly amiss on our homeworld. Seeing his number at the end of this message means that there are dark days ahead of us all..."
"Who is this man? Why have we never heard of him?" asked Alexander.
"His existence is known only to those in and connected to Mossad – or to the agent's father, my good friend, Admiral Raymond Talan."
"But –" The Iscandarian king's brow furrowed, "But – the Admiral only has one child... scarcely two years older than my own daughters, Starsha and Astra."
"Indeed." replied Kotlar with a bitter smile, "For reasons unknown to anyone outside the palace, the Admiral's son was appointed an agent of Mossad almost six years ago. He may appear young and naïve at times, but he is far from incompetent."
"How did he come to be in their service?" asked the king.
"I have asked everyone I trust and none of them have an answer. Only the Admiral seems to know, and he is unwilling to tell me..." the Galeran said thoughtfully, "But, in any case, this message implies that all is not as it seems with the new Leader." A strange look crossed Israel's face, "It implies that there may have been... foul play involved in the recent demise of the former Leader Deun and the rise of the new one."
The monarchs carefully hid their shock, but their dismay was clearly seen in their eyes.
"If that is true," said Alexander, lowering his voice even more, "Then the crown would no longer be Deun's..."
"Yes." said Israel, "It would pass to the nearest of kin."
"His brother…" Kara whispered.
"What… did you say, my queen?" Kotlar asked, something faintly like hope igniting in his eyes.
Kara looked from Kotlar to Alexander, then back at the Galeran and replied, "Deun was not the only son born to the Leader and his Queen." The Iscandari woman said. "Deun is the elder, yes, but there was – is – another son."
"Rumors that Deun was not the only heir born to Leader Deun and Queen Talonka have come to my attention, and I was going to ask your help in uncovering the truth of them…" Israel stopped, his face betraying the question growing in his mind. "How do you know of him, my Queen?"
Kara didn't say anything for a few seconds, looking away from the Galeran. She took a breath, then answered, "Talonka and I were good friends, Israel. She shared much with me that I never told anyone else. The birth of her younger son was one of those things. She confided in me that she had not given birth to one, but two sons – twins. The Leader wished to keep the existence of the younger boy a secret, so… I agreed never to reveal him except in dire need. I believe now would qualify as such a circumstance."
Both Alexander and Israel stared at the queen.
"You… couldn't even tell me?" Alexander asked his wife, a bit hurt that she hadn't seen fit to confide in him this piece of knowledge.
"I haven't thought about him for many years." Kara replied, "And I never could have known that any of this would come about." She reached out a hand and laid it on her husband's arm, "I'm sorry I never told you, but I promised Talonka that I would guard her secret. I couldn't tell you without breaking that promise."
Alexander nodded slowly, "I... understand."
Israel continued to stare at Kara, stunned at this abrupt revelation.
"Israel?" Alexander tried to pull the representative out of his stupor.
The Galeran turned his glazed expression over to Alexander as the King continued, "We must see that the true king again sits on the throne of Gamilon."
Kotlar finally shook off the haze of astonishment that clouded around him. "First, we must confirm or deny the rumor of Deun's treachery." said the Galeran, "If there is any way you can find out for sure that Deun was involved in his father's demise, it would be invaluable to us."
The king looked at his wife and she silently gave him her whole-hearted support. "We will do everything we can to help you. Where should we start?"
"Find the 'Light of Adonai.' Her name is Eliora. She will be your eyes and ears on Gamilon." Kotlar chuckled again, "After all, since her records were sealed, she practically doesn't exist. She can move about at will."
Alexander held out his arm to the Galeran. Israel grasped the king's forearm and Alexander gripped his in return, saying, "May Adonai be with us all."
* Isaiah 49: 16
* Rea Atid – literal translation is "bad future"
* 71612 – A reference to the Epilogue from the previous book, The Guardiana; Masterson Talan's Mossad ID number