As soon as she landed in the building across from the palace, Juliet mentioned to Devin that they had acquired a new team member. The princess swung in behind her and recognised him instantly. “Sir Devin?” she inquired.
Devin was caught off guard. He paled. “My princess. This is… awkward…” He had always fallen victim to Princess Elena’s charm.
“So you are caught up in this too,” said Elena. “Is no one loyal anymore?”
In that moment Christel swept in through the window. His skin was red and flustered as he unhooked the tether and turned to the others. Devin caught him by the collar and spoke through his teeth, whispering so that Elena wouldn’t hear. “You brought the princess!”
“I couldn’t just leave her,” Christel said urgently. “More importantly, I have the gem. We need to get her back to the safe house.” He gestured towards Elena. “She’s part of this now whether we like it or not.”
They crept through the city under cover of the emerging night. The clamour of the crowded palace echoes all through the city. Despite their efforts it was hard to stay hidden, the city was brimming with activity, as if it had awakened at the setting of the sun. The princess watched in dismay. “Civil unrest has been building up for years. I never thought it would happen so suddenly.”
“This was no chance event,” Devin whispered, to avoid being heard by any strangers. “The spy rings and your attempted kidnapping were not likely organised by members of Surra. An organisation within the city was already mustering their forces to attack when we broke into the palace.”
The rabble had quietened down by the time they reached the safe house. Christel made Elena some tea to calm her nerves and left her downstairs to rest. He climbed up to the roof of the steel factory that the safe house was buried under and watched the palace from afar, smoking his pipe, and wondering if the commotion would drag on all night.
In the morning he explained everything to the princess, relaying everything about their struggle against Grey Skull and his quest to save Hazel. He told her about the power of the summoning stones and the plot to unleash Ludovic into Noveria. Elena listened quietly until he was done. “Josiah Avenberch was on my father’s council?” she said. “I must have been too young to remember. So you’re saying he started the war to put a strain on our armies while he prepared for his own advance, and he’s using your wife as leverage to get the final summoning stone… I suppose this justifies your actions, but are you sure there is no other way?”
“Once we have Hazel back there’s nothing stopping us from hitting Grey Skull with everything we have. We’ll be mustering all our assets to attack Grey Skull on the Island of Sorraya.” He stood up. “What will you do princess?”
“Though it is not what I wanted, I believe this revolution may grant us the opportunity to end the war. I must get to Surra. Professor Roland Smith is a good friend of mine – and there are others I must save – they will help find me an escort there. With any luck I can negotiate some kind of truce, after all this was my father’s war; he is a great man however I fear he values his crown more than his kingdom, and now both are lost to him.”
Devin and Juliet decided to part from Christel in order to help Princess Elena escape the city, and then meet up with him again on Sorraya, but before they left Devin pulled Christel aside to speak with him in private. “It’s already in the papers and I’m afraid it’s bad news for the princess.” He handed the newspaper to Christel; on it was a picture of the king in chains. Christel felt a lump in his throat. Devin went on. “They dragged him to the city centre and shot him.”
“Does she know?” Christel glanced at the princess, who was speaking with Ashley.
Devin shook his head. “She’ll find out eventually, but I don’t have it in me to be the one who says it.”
Christel trembled with guilt and placed his hand on his face. “I just can’t believe this happened.”
Devin placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Hey, all we can do is move forward. I’ll see you on Sorraya.”
Christel sometimes wondered why he had never spent more time on the Isle of Syndria; the water was clear and cool, the beaches white and sandy, and there were dozens of hidden coves where he could have hidden from his enemies for weeks on end. He waited in one of these coves for Devin and Juliet, and there they began to plan how the trade-off would go down. When their strategy was complete, Christel sailed alone for the main island of Sorraya.
The assigned location was a beach near a local fishing town. Grey Skull made a peculiar presence in such a lovely place; Josiah’s sinister golden mask drank in the sun while Petra’s attire of black and red made her a blight on the beautiful scenery. Germaine was nowhere to be seen. Christel pulled up alongside a small jetty and moored his boat. When he stood firmly before Grey Skull Josiah spoke. “I hear your heist lead to the king’s death, such a pity. Quite intuitive of you though to use the mob as a means of occupying the city guard, you truly live up to your reputation.”
“Where’s Hazel,” Christel said, impatiently.
Josiah inclined his head. “First, show me the stone.”
In response Christel handed him a pair of binoculars and pointed out to sea. Through the binoculars Josiah saw Devin and Juliet on a second boat, holding the Spirit Stone for him to sea. Christel took the binoculars back. “You can check that it’s the real thing after I see Hazel.”
Josiah’s expressionless eyes glared at him. “Not very trusting are you?” he said.
Christel shrugged. “I got the stone, didn’t I? Now can I please see my wife?”
“Very well.” Josiah gestured for Germaine to bring Hazel forward and they emerged from the bushes on the edge of the beach.
Hazel struggled against him, but the anger in her tired eyes dissipated when she saw Christel. He expression became stern when she realised that she was being traded. “Christel what are you doing?”
“What I have to,” he replied. “We’re getting you back.”
Hazel continued to pull herself away from Germaine. “You can’t! Take the damn stone and leave while you can!”
Josiah cut in. “I’m afraid your husband and I have already made a deal. We agreed to play fair, didn’t we? I like to think that there is at least some honour among thieves.”
Christel signalled for Devin to bring the boat in. He did so cautiously, and slowly he delivered the Spirit Stone to Josiah, watching his shadowy eyes for any sign of betrayal. When it reached Josiah’s hands it glowed immensely, surging with power as if it were about to explode. Germaine released Hazel and she ran desperately into Christel’s arms. Josiah turned away and for a moment they thought it was over, but then he turned back and spoke. “There may be honour among thieves,” he looked up towards the distant tree-line, “but assassins are another matter.” He shouted now, apparently at nothing. “Is Sam there with you as well, Arlandra?”
Arlandra, Sam and Ashley then emerged defeated from where they were hiding. With his hands raised Arlandra said, “We anomalies can do many things but hiding our presence from others is among the most difficult.”
“Don’t feel bad,” Josiah replied. “I believe our business is complete. Be sure to take them alive.” Suddenly a large number of armed men stormed the beach and surrounded the non-Grey Skull members. The others drew their weapons and prepared to fight but it was useless; Petra alone was able to subdue Christel and then Sam before the rest were forced to surrender.
Christel screamed at Josiah, writing in pain after being electrocuted. “How dare you! Have you no honour? Why must this persist?” His attempts were in vain and he feared that the end was near.
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