Even though Usan and Ardes had taken care of whomever had been at the top, Brandt still held his breath as he climbed the ladder. He blinked against the bright light of the room as Ardes reached down, grabbed his arm, and hauled him out the last few lengths.
Onnar and Usan had Councilman Pavel facedown on the floor, his wrists tied together behind his back. He’d always disliked the councilman but could never put his finger on the why. He’d just had a gut instinct to never reveal too much in the man’s presence. Brandt—happy his instincts had been right all along—glanced around the room and, upon spying a stack of packed bags, started laughing.
“Your haste was not quick enough, Pavel.” Brandt glanced at Seraphina, who nodded at him even as she was already calling for the Royal Guard to come collect Dagr’s minion.
Sekvyntsked as he slouched over Pavel, his arms crossed and shaking his head mournfully. “Such a waste, but at least now King Bjorn can officially put Svandis on the council.”
“What!” Pavel screeched, flopping around, eliciting a chorus of snickers from Brandt and the other Drakken. “He can’t.”
Sekvyn laughed, slapping his thigh, the pitiful demeanor of a tarran ago long gone. “Yeh, he can, since you’ll be in the dungeon alongsideyourking, you’ll no longer have a voice on the council. Bjorn will be thrilled, and Vidarina Svandis will be pleased to work alongside your father in a more official capacity.”
“Win, win.” Brandt clapped his hands as he crouched down beside Pavel letting the smile fade from his expression to become a hard line. “Now tell me where they went.”
Pavel sagged, going limp under the pressure of Usan’s booted heel. “I don’t know.”
“I don’t believe you.” Brandt poked Pavel’s forehead.
Pavel squirmed. “Stop. I’m telling you the truth. Dagr set me up in this house thirty sun-cycles ago, and it wasn’t until Tore showed up two days ago that I remembered the escape tunnel. Truthfully, I’m glad I’d forgotten about the tunnel and didn’t try to reach him.” Pavel shivered. “Tore lost two men down there. The screams…” Another shudder rippled through his body.
Brandt gripped Pavel’s hair and jerked his head up. “You expect me to believe that all the while he was here, you overheard nothing of their plans?”
“They weren’t here much. Mostly just his men. They mentioned the skipan has a ship, but never gave its name.” Brandt tightened his grip. Pavel whined, tears streaming from his eyes. “I swear, Vidar! They never said.” Brandt let go, and Pavel’s head hit the floor with a thud.
Brandt rose to his full height, drawing in a deep breath as he ignored the moans coming from the ex-councilman. A glance around revealed the others searching for possible clues, but Brandt doubted they’d find anything.
Sekvyn came in from outside. “A neighbor saw them leave and head east toward the landing dock.”
“Orm.” Ardes turned in the doorway where he stood guard. “They are here.”
“Good,” Orm replied. “Sseraphina? Anything?” She shook her head. “Head toward the dock. We will catch up. Call if you ssee them. Do not engage.”
Seraphina sauntered closer to Orm, placed a hand on his chest, and rose up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Of course.” She slipped out the door just before a mixed contingent of city officers and Royal Guard entered.
It wasn’t but a few tarrans more before they followed.
Manning
Both Bjorn and Manning slowly panned to look at Svandis upon hearing about Councilman Pavel’s treachery and smiled.
“I mean,” Bjorn said, “I wanted her on my council officially, but I wasn’t expecting your mother to gain her seat this way. Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”
“Wasn’t hearing any complaints, brother,” Manning countered as he gripped Bjorn’s forearm where it rested on the table between them. “I’m thrilled to have a reason to keep her planet-side.”
“Papa-moon! Papa-moon!” Reykos and Raisa shouted as they burst into the conference room, running full out to reach him.
Manning slid off his chair to his knees and opened his arms. They were quickly filled by his children, who hugged him hard, stealing the breath from his lungs. “Omph. Easy on the Drakken strength there, my loves.”
They kissed his cheeks and, in trying to press closer, knocked him onto his ass. Raisa sat on his lap, and Reykos knelt beside him.
“Grandpapa ssaid Father iz misssing, and Papa-ssun went to find him.” Reykos bit his trembling lower lip. Raisa buried her face in Manning’s shirt.
“Grandpapa told you the truth. Uncle Orm and Aunt Seraphina are helping, along with Usan and Ardes and some new friends.”
“I like friendss,” Raisa said, her voice slightly muffled by cloth.
“Me, too. Uncle Ivar is monitoring their progress through the coms.”
Reykos peered over at Ivar, who patted his thigh. Abandoned by his son, who went quickly to sit on Ivar’s lap where he could overhear what Seraphina was relaying, Manning focused on comforting Raisa.
