Chapter 41
They had agreed to meet in the port room, although he wasn’t sure why; none of them had used the platform to come over to Solrelm. He was starting to accept the advantages of just being able to port without using a device of any kind, but if he was questioned by his father about it, he planned to deny it. What kept popping into his head was why had none of them ever ported before they knew other realms existed? It wasn’t like he’d never thought or wished to be somewhere else. He knew it was strange to think about, but did it anyway.
The Solrelm King came in with Bastian and Trendan. Abe glanced at the door to see if Liri had changed her mind. She had come over and then gone to her aunt’s sitting room to wait it out with her mother and father.
King Osbert looked around at those present. The prince’s two guards were there, but the rest were his family from Alterealm. Uncle Troy, Victor, and Arius were here with Crissy, Kara, and Paisley. Abe had promised his uncle Rafael he would keep an eye on his mate so that she didn’t overdo it. He hoped she didn’t because stopping any of his aunts from doing something was a task he didn’t ever want to try doing.
“How is this to work exactly?” The King asked.
Before Uncle Troy could answer, Bastian stepped into the middle of the group, “The little seer will point out any that need further investigation,” he grinned at her, “and Miss Kara can hear what they think, and if that’s not enough, King Troy can see inside minds.”
King Osbert’s expression made Abe smirk as families went. His could never fall into a category of normal or plain.
“Well, that should suffice.” He nodded, “any that we suspect we check their quarters?”
“We thought that would save invading personal space,” Trendan informed his father.
Bastian snorted. “Because getting into their head isn’t personal at all.”
King Osbert looked at Paisley. “And her special skill?”
Uncle Troy smiled. “She can stop them from running,” he looked at Uncle Arius, “and my brother can render them compliant with a thought.”
The King looked at Trendan. “Remind me not to upset the Alterealm Royals.”
Bastian laughed, “And you wonder why I spend so much time away from home.” He cleared his throat, “shall we get this hunt underway? I have a feeling today is going to change everything.”
Abe wasn’t sure what his place was in all of this, but Liri had warned him that he may just be the diversion because every resident would be distracted by his soul. Apparently, their souls being blended would stand out to any from this realm. Still, he hoped he could do more than just that.
***
So far, they’d done two buildings, and other than a few in holding that were questionable. They hadn’t found anyone directly involved in the lies Bastian was determined to find answers to.
As they reached the upper floor, they heard a commotion at the end of the hall. Tor and Ulric moved by him, heading quickly to the other end of the hall. Abe hurried after them, hoping it was something fruitful to their quest. When he reached the end, he was surprised to see it was Liri arguing with Elyas.
Liri saw him and came over to stand beside him. “Elyas, this is who you’re asking about. Meet Abraham, my other.” She smiled up at Abe, “My mate.”
“What is the meaning of this?” Elyas glared at Trendan. “She’s shared her soul with someone, not from here?”
“Son,” the king moved to stand in front of Liri, “let’s go inside your quarters and discuss this.”
“What is this inspection?” He looked at a tall man with black hair in a ponytail. “Yale has had me standing outside my rooms for over an hour.”
“We’ll explain it all.” His father motioned to the door.
Elyas looked over at Abe’s uncles and gave his aunts a curious look. “Very well.” He opened the door to his quarters and went inside.
The king looked at the guard standing with Tor and Ulric. “Wait out here, please.”
Abe followed Liri in. There was no way he was leaving her to be insulted any further. He stood inside the door along with his Uncles Arius and Victor. The women went in without so much as a hesitant step.
Elyas walked to the other side of the sitting room, stood there with his hands on his hips, and watched his father.
Abe had to hide the smirk when his Aunt Crissy got into his space and stood there looking up at him. The amusement ended when she turned around and gave his Aunt Kara a very overstated look. Kara touched her wrist and then moved closer.
“I’m Kara, by the way,” she smiled up at him, “Princess Kara, mate to Rafael.”
Elyas inclined his head. “I know of your mate.” That was all the attention he gave her. She stepped back and stood there looking down at the floor.
A knot grew in the pit of Abe’s stomach. The girls acted as if this realm's prince had something to hide.
Kara touched her wrist, then went over to Uncle Troy and quietly said something.
“Is anyone going to explain what is going on?” Elyas looked at his father and then Trendan; he didn’t even give Bastian so much as a glance.
Bastian looked from his brother to Abe’s aunts, and then his brows furrowed, and he came over to Uncle Troy. “It can’t be.” He said softly.
Abe watched King Osbert’s expression sadden. “Sit down, Elyas.” He went over and sat in the chair and watched his son.
Bastian nodded to Uncle Victor and gave Abe a brief glance. They were to search his quarters. Abe caught the look on Liri’s face and was torn between comforting her and looking for evidence.
“Is there something you need to tell us?”
That was the last thing Abe heard King Osbert say as he followed his uncle into the prince’s office. “Are we turning it upside down or—” he looked around at how neat and orderly everything was and felt bad just thinking about messing it up.
“Start with things out in the open. He is part of the royal family, so he likely feels secure in not having to hide things.” His uncle went over and opened a door on the other side of the room.
Abe nodded and then blew out a breath and went to the opposite side. Why would a prince be deceiving his own people? It was impossible that he started it if the age of Arwan was any indication, but to do it in any way was something he couldn’t wrap his head around.
He walked slowly by the shelves lined with volumes of leather-bound books. Nothing looked like it shouldn’t be here. Stepping back, he gave it a once over and then went over to look at the cabinet behind the desk. It looked like it had antique ornaments in it, an odd collection for a prince to have. Then again, Abe admired antiques too, mainly because he missed their being in use. Opening the tinted glass door, he stopped and stared at the object in the middle of the shelf. There were ornate bottles arranged around it and a small glass decoration in the center of it. It was a ceramic dish, and it was green.
“My uncle wants me to go and get Aunt Ama.”
He turned to see Liri standing behind him, but before he could answer, her eyes darted to the dish, and then her eyes watered. He put out his hand, and she took it. Giving her a brief hug, he kissed the top of her head. “Take Tor with you. I don’t want you wandering the halls here without a guard.”
She nodded, wiping a hand over her face. “Do I say anything to Aunt Ama?”
Abe shook his head. “You won’t need to; she’s going to take one look and know.”
“Okay.” She backed up, her eyes on the dish, “there’s got to be a reason, right?”
“I’m sure there is.” He didn’t have the heart to tell her it may not be one that everyone was going to want to hear. He watched her leave before he turned around, put his hands on his hips, and looked at the dish again. “Uncle Vic, can you come here?”
He heard his uncle walk across the room. Abe didn’t have to point it out. Victor just reached in, picked up the dish, and turned it over. He studied the bottom for a moment and then nodded. “It is Veiltide clay.”
Abe blew out a breath and rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “Aunt Paisley might have to hold Bastian down.”
“I will reserve judgment until we have all the facts.” He spun on his heel and walked out of the room.
Abe stood there; the weight on his chest was so heavy that he struggled to breathe for a few seconds. They’d wanted to find the traitor, but no one had thought it would be someone this close to the throne, with the power and privilege to walk through their realm without questions.