Chapter 15

Raylon

‘Grand Hall’

‘King’s palace’

‘Five Kingdoms’

After dancing with all my nieces, twice, I found a moment to break away from them and go outside. I stared at the sky, now growing dark, and the stars winking in the dark blue.

I heard someone approaching and turned to find my war commander behind me. “My Lord,” he said, “I have finished the scans of the Ful ship near the supernova.

“There are three life signs aboard. Two are confirmed Ful, the other is unknown.”

I went over to him and looked at the small screen in his hands. “If this is a scholar’s ship, then that third life sign is another of their experiments.

“Perhaps we should destroy them, and spare that poor being from torture.”

“Shall I give the command, My Lord?” he asked.

I looked back at the night sky, contemplating the question.

“My Lord?” he asked again.

“No. We gave the Ful people our word that we would not interfere in their business outside of our borders.

“We have peace, and one unknown being, from a distant planet, will not destroy that. Command the ships to return once the spectacle is over.”

“Yes, My Lord,” he said, and walked away. I looked back at the sky and wondered what horrible things they were doing to the poor creature stuck on that ship with them.

But why stop to witness something they had seen a thousand times? I had some of the research they’d given us. They had done extensive studies into events like this.

Fuls’ scholars were not ones to repeat quests, especially after they’ve learned everything there was to learn. So why witness another supernova’s birth?

My brother’s voice carried from the Hall, as he announced that the show was about to begin. I tore my eyes from the sky and reluctantly went back inside.

These thoughts remained in the back of my mind, but they were quickly hushed by the vision of the sun exploding on the wall-to-wall hologram in the hall.

I finally found my chance to escape the ball when everyone’s attention was focused on the images. I slowly backed out of the crowd and made it all the way to the door.

But Laylar stopped me before I could leave, asking, “Uncle, are you leaving already?”

I stopped and bowed my head. “Laylar, why are you not watching the show?” I asked as I turned to face her.

“I could ask you the same thing.” She raised her brow at me and stuck her arms on her hips.

“I have business to attend to,” I said.

“Any business you need to attend to can be handled from this room. My father is here, your war commander is here, and all the royal families are here.

“What business is this that does not involve them?” Too smart for her own good.

“Private business,” I lied. I could see she didn’t believe me, but she also knew there was nothing she could say that I would not have an answer for.

I wanted out of this room, and nothing was going to stop me.

She sighed and gave me a hug. “Very well, Uncle. Sleep well. I love you,” she said. I embraced her and returned her words of affection. She let me go, and I left the room.

Later in the evening, I climbed out of my bed. My thoughts had been keeping me awake most of the evening, and my dreams raised more unanswerable questions.

The Fuls’ ship, from tonight, puzzled me. There was something odd about it. Something different and strange. Something I could not make sense of.

I needed to walk, to think, and to clear my mind.

Obsessing over something I had no control over would drive me crazy. I needed to forget about that ship and its peculiar behavior.

I made my way down the quiet, dark halls, and descended the stairs. A faint sobbing came from the bottom.

I walked down slowly, and as quietly as I could, to find Laylar sitting on the balcony I had stood on tonight.

She was crying. My heart sank at the sight, but my body instantly went tense at the thought that she was hurt.

“Laylar, are you all right?” I asked.

My voice gave her a fright, and she jumped up off the floor. “Uncle,” she said. “I did not know you were awake.” She wiped the tears from her face.

“What happened?” I asked.

Her tears returned, and she fell into my arms crying. “Rein told me he cannot be with me any longer.”

I patted her back and hushed her. I thought this was for the best, but I said, “Be calm, dear child. If he ended it with you, then he did not love you like you thought.”

“He is a coward! He fears my father. He told me he loved me, and that he wanted to spend his life with me, but when I told him I was going to tell my father, he ran away.

“I never want to see him again!” She pulled out of my grasp and ran into the palace.

I felt relief that it was over. She was sad and heartbroken, but Rein was smart to fear Zasrus. He would have killed him had he found out.

This pain would pass. Quicker than the pain of knowing the one you loved is dead.

I made my way back to my bed slowly and settled in for the night.

The sun would rise soon, and my day was full. I needed to rest, but the moment I closed my eyes, all I saw was that puzzling Ful ship.