Walls Have Ears
POV: Lucien
Alexandra sat in front of me in my tent in Kastilidan Glades, dumbfounded by my declaration that I needed to discuss her behavior. She seemed to be confused as to what I was talking about so I crossed my arms, “Do you want to tell me some of the mischiefs you’ve been up to? I’ve had a report that is pretty upsetting. I want to give you an opportunity to refute them. Some of them seem awfully uncharacteristic of you so I want to hear from you. ” I stared at her and she didn’t seem to change her expression on her face, “If you spoke with Elder Edgar and the General, they would say I’ve been a model citizen out here. So I don’t know what behavior you’re speaking of, Your Majesty.” The sting of the way she said that last part could be felt and I knew she was upset with me for even entertaining the idea of questioning her about this report. I clenched my jaw and leaned forward, “So you didn’t go climbing around the ruins of Kastilidan manor? The reporter seemed to think it was very inappropriate for you to be doing so.” She sighed, “I was helping to clear away the rubble. I didn’t think it would be such a bad idea to be most useful.” She had a point but the anonymous report that had reached my desk said something very different. I narrowed my eyes at her trying to assess if she would have any reason to spare me of the details. I leaned back in my chair, “Okay but even so. Why would you risk injury by doing something so rash? I specifically remember asking Edgar to keep you from doing anything rash.” I could see a small vein starting to pop out in Alexandra’s neck but she spoke calmly, “I wanted to help the best I could.” I sighed, “And no one stopped you?” She shook her head, “I had Derek with me. We found the younger Kastilidan lady together. I wasn’t at much of a risk of getting injured and even if I did, the medical care out here is excellent. Doc is very good at what he does.” I tapped the desk, “Even so. Would you take the excellent medical care from the people who needed it first just because you were being reckless?” She opened and closed her mouth a few times until she finally flung herself back in her seat and folded her arms, “You have a point. I think that is probably why Elder Edgar denied my request to help clear rubble today.”
I pulled the letter out of my coat pocket and handed it to her, “You can see the rest of the accusations. The only one I thought was plausible was the one I led with. It seems to me that someone out here is trying to get you disqualified in other ways. They sent this to the council that is choosing the Queen and myself. One of them is out here with me to observe you and speak with Edgar. Fortunately for you, they sent Enzo. He is the one they all trust to have the best judgment.” She took the letter and read it. Every once in a while she looked up at me and shook her head, “This wasn’t how that went down. I was taking a break at the advice of Doc and with permission from Edgar. I wasn’t slacking off, I went to get a snack in the mess tent and Alita Baltiliard gave me some energy dust.” I nodded, “I’ve never known you to be one to slack off in your duties. It makes me wonder who could have reported you. Do you remember anyone around?” She snapped her fingers, “Melody came into the tent as I was leaving. If anyone would have reported me, it was likely her.” I sighed, “Any means necessary it seems. How about the other accusation?” She plopped the letter on the desk, “It’s not completely wrong.” I sat up, “You would throw around accusations about another noble family like that? You know that is a dangerous practice, Alexandra.” She scrunched up her face a little, “I have an eye witness to their misdeeds and the General is looking for the physical proof right now. My brother is in those documents as well so if they have anything to do with his disappearance then I have a grievance with them, Lucien.” I looked up to the ceiling of the tent, frustrated that she would give anyone a reason to suspect her of a grave offense, “You realize that if the General doesn’t find proof, you’re looking at treason against the crown?” She shot up out of her seat, “What?! That’s ridiculous!” I slammed my hand on the desk, “That’s why you need to watch what you say in a larger company, Xan. I cannot protect you against these accusations and it seems now the General can corroborate the story this anonymous accuser has levied against you. You will not only be disqualified from the competition but you will be tried and found guilty. You are not in Terre anymore and you need to understand and adapt to the fact that the walls have ears!”
Just then one of the guards out front poked his head in the room, “Sorry to disturb, Your Majesty but Lord Malinus and Elder Edgar are here to see you.” I looked over at the soldier, “Let them in.” He bowed, “As you will it, Your Majesty.” The two men entered the room and bowed, “Your Majesty.” I beckoned them to sit next to Alexandra, “We need to discuss the accusations. No doubt you have heard about them from Elder Enzo by now, Elder Edgar?” He nodded, “All but one accusation is a little ridiculous, Your Majesty. As for the last, there is merit to it but I spoke with another patient who heard the conversation between Ms. Celia and Her Grace. The accusation isn’t without merit based on what this patient said so she has another witness to the dark dealings of the Count and Countess. We just need the General to find the physical evidence. Enzo has said he will go to the General and speak to him. If he finds that evidence then we can investigate who sent that letter, if it is from a fellow candidate, the council has agreed that she will be automatically disqualified.” Malinus looked at his cousin and patted her on the shoulder, “The fact that someone thinks it was a good idea to do that and thought it would be something to get away with is just atrocious.” She sighed, “Well I have theories but to avoid any further issues, I’m going to keep it to myself.” Edgar shook his head, “I think all of the company believes the same thing. You need not vocalize it, young one.”
The soldier poked his head in through the flap again, “Your Majesty, the General is here to see you.” I told the soldier to let him in and he came in carrying a large box, “Your Majesty, we found something pulling the rubble from the manor. This is a box of records and contracts that corroborates what Ms. Celia told Her Grace.” Alexandra leaned forward, “Did you find anything about my brother?” He looked at her and shook his head, “We didn’t go through it just yet. I just verified that this was what we were looking for.” She sat back in her chair and sighed, “I didn’t think we’d find anything right away. I’m just curious about why his name is in the records.” The General nodded, “I’m curious about that as well which is why this is my priority to find it.” I looked over at the Elder, “What do you think about the proper punishment for the Countess?” Edgar looked over at Alexandra, “I think it would be up to the Batiste family if the Citadel finds that they were affected in some way by their dealings.” Alexandra looked at the General, “That reminds me. You also should find something about my uncle Talon in there. I think the burden of punishment, now that I think about it, should fall on Lucien. You might find something about what happened to your father in there.” I looked at her and furrowed my brow, “What do you mean?” She sighed, “Celia said they supplied the men that took a dragon egg from her nest, broke it, and smeared the scent on the tower. They caused the death of your father and in the chaos stole and brainwashed my uncle.” I whipped my head at Malinus and he nodded at me. He immediately took the box and started to go through it.
I sat back in my seat and placed my hand over my eyes and sighed. Alexandra looked up at me, “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, I didn’t mean to bring up a painful past but I thought you should know.” I pulled the hand away from my face and shook my head, “No, you were right. We’ve been trying to find out what happened for years. If we can find some evidence, that will provide some measure of closure to me and my family. If anything, I am grateful to you and Ms. Celia for exposing the truth. Edgar chimed in, “Well it is all hearsay, for now, Your Majesty. Lord Malinus will need to find something in that box to help back it up.” I got up from my seat and started to pace, “I’m just wondering why they thought to go after the King.” Alexandra cleared her throat and looked down, “I think I know.” I stopped my pace and looked at her, “Well?” She sheepishly said, “It was a few policies he put in place that they hated. I’m assuming some of that was by the influence of my own grandfather.” I walked around the desk, kneeled to her side, placed my finger under her chin, and made her look at me, “Never apologize for your grandfather’s ideals. My father agreed with him, his policies were just and the policies that I will come out to enhance them will be just as well. The only ones to blame are his murderers.” I got up and resumed my pacing behind the desk as the General joined in on sorting through the papers. The General grunted as he pulled out a document, “Your Majesty, look here.” He handed me a document that detailed the two servants that they sold to The Order, details on what it was that they were to do with the tower. There was another page attached to the document: “Additional orders to the servants: kidnap Talon Esperanza and bring him to the Glades. Upon servant arrival, they will be eliminated to silence any witnesses.” I looked at Alexandra, “You need to write to your mother about this.” I handed her the document and she clenched her jaw and furrowed her brow. She then handed the papers to Edgar who read the document and said, “This is grave indeed. The only survivor of this family is the Countess but her signatures are nowhere on these documents. I hardly think she was ignorant of this.” I nodded and sat down, “I think in this case, I will discuss with Talia Batiste and we can determine her punishment. She would be most appropriate being the sister of the victim. She may very well be the mother of another victim and it is very likely the only other aggrieved noble other than myself. I cannot place myself above others if there are more victims. I will also speak for the commoner victims.” Alexandra grunted, “I wonder if I should jump in and help sort the documents. I feel kind of weird just sitting here waiting and helpless.” Edgar reached over to her hand and patted, “You are anxious, I understand so perhaps it would be a good use of your time to help out.” Malinus held up a document and said, “No need, fair cousin, I think I found something.”
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