Silian watched as Amy sat at the table, her gun in pieces in front of her. Something was wrong. She kept telling him she was fine, but he knew it was a lie. Dizzy, not feeling well, hot flashes in the night.
He had already asked Prime to scan her, but she told him that only Amy could request medical assistance from her unless she was unconscious.
“You going to stare at me all night?” she asked, without turning to look at him.
“Have you been to see Prime?”
“Not yet. We have bigger things to worry about now, don’t you think?”
“Amy, there is something wrong. You need to have it checked.”
“Look, I know you’re worried about me, but I promise you, I’m fine. The days are longer here and sometimes it catches me off guard,” she said, turning to him.
“Amy, we have the technology to heal almost anything. To give you the energy you need for the day. There is no reason why you should be feeling like this,” he said, and dropped on his haunches next to her.
“I’ll make you a deal. We have four days of traveling ahead of us. When we leave, I’ll go see Prime. And when she tells me I’m fine, you will drop it. Okay?”
“Very well. You have a deal,” he said. He stood and left her to what she was doing.
Later, Silian was in the landing bay, on the top of the tower, talking with the guards. The Royal Guard went everywhere they did, and this was no exception.
He needed to make sure they understood what was happening and what was expected of them. Mikhlas came up and stopped next to him. The guards dipped their heads and moved away.
“Are we ready to go?” he asked.
“Yes. The shuttle is ready to take us to the ship. The old crew was more than happy to take command of the shiny new ship Izzy had built for you. Iry tells me the Raakin family have outdone themselves.”
“They are the finest shipbuilders in all the realm for a reason. I cannot wait to see it,” Mikhlas said.
“And so, we return to war, brother,” Silian said.
“Yes. But this time we are fighting for something good.”
“There is no such thing as a good war,” Silian said.
“We knew this day would come. Not so soon, but it was always inevitable.”
Silian shook his head and took a deep breath. “We are ready to leave,” he said, breaking the topic.
“I will go fetch Izzy and Amy. Get the guards together and ready the shuttle. I won’t be long,” Mikhlas said, and turned to the door.
He found Izzy in James’s bedroom with the boys. He waited by the door to let them speak.
“...Why not? You know we can take care of ourselves. This is more important than some stupid school trip,” James said, his voice angry.
“I know, honey. But it’s too dangerous. As soon as I know it’s safe for you to go there, I will have a ship bring you out, but until we can get Kyra under control, I don’t want you anywhere near it.”
“What if we stayed on the ship?” Lucas argued.
“It’s not safe, baby. You know who did this. And you know she will take every opportunity to get her hands on you two. I can’t go through that again.”
“But Mom…,” James started.
“I said no, James. I’m sorry, but that’s final,” she said more sternly. Mikhlas could hear the disappointed sigh from both boys out in the hall.
“So unfair!” He heard James say, and then he came stomping past Mikhlas. Lucas followed soon after, and when he looked into the room, he saw Izzy on the bed, her head hung low.
“They will understand. They will not be mad for long,” he said. Izzy looked up at him and her eyes were wet.
“I know. It’s not that. I’m leaving them. So far away, and alone. I can’t take them with me, and it’s tearing me up inside to think they will be alone out here.”
“They will not be alone. The guards will be with them, and if I heard correctly, Ali will be joining them.”
“You heard that?” she asked.
“Only a little of it. I heard your heart race and wanted to know what the issue was. I do not eavesdrop on your private conversations.”
“Will they be safe here?” she asked, standing up.
“The Academy is a collection of large ships, fully equipped to fight, run, or both, if needed. They are the only vessels in the sky that carry the most important cargo to everyone.
“The Director is a wise man. He knows how to handle an attack. They have many protocols in place to ensure everyone’s safety. Also, Prime will be watching over them.”
“We’d better go before I change my mind,” she said. They walked back to the landing tower in silence, and Izzy smiled when she saw the boys there.
“Be careful, Mom,” James said.
“Oh baby, come here,” Izzy said when the glint in his eyes was clear.
“I love you guys so much. And I’m so proud of both of you,” she said, holding them.
“We love you too,” Lucas said.
“Take care of each other. James, keep your brother safe, and Lucas, listen to him. Okay?” she asked.
Lucas nodded, and James grabbed her around the neck again. She held her children for a few moments and then stood, and the Princes went over to Mikhlas.
“Mikhlas, please keep my mom safe,” Lucas said. Mikhlas dropped to his knees to be at eye level.
“You have my word. I will not let her do anything too crazy,” he joked, and Lucas wrapped his arms around his neck. Mikhlas’s hearts melted at the gesture.
“Fear not, young Prince. Your mother has an army ready to die for her.”
“You need to be careful as well,” James said. Mikhlas gave him a small nod and put his hand on his shoulder.
“Try to enjoy this time at the Academy. It’s one of the most interesting trips you will go on.”
He stood, and the boys went over to Amy and Silian. Mikhlas took a deep breath. He felt incredibly sad suddenly.
The way Lucas held onto him gave him but a mere glimpse of what being a father would be like. He didn’t want to leave them either. They had become just as important to him as Izzy and Amy.
“Now you know how it feels,” Izzy said to him.
“What?”
“Leaving a child you love behind. I can see it in your eyes.”
“I don’t understand why I feel so much pain. This is the best solution to our problem. The safest. Yet even with all the risks, I feel like the only safe place for them is by my side.”
“Yip. No one will ever keep them safe like you can. No one cares about them like you do. No one would risk as much as you for them. Welcome to my world,” she said.
He met her eyes. “How do you live with this kind of fear in you every day?” he asked.
“You learn to trust them. That they know what they’re doing. That you raised them right,” she said.
They stepped onto the shuttle, and Mikhlas went to the cockpit with Silian. They didn’t need to fly the ships. Izzy had pilots coming out of her ears.
But Mikhlas only felt safe if he was behind the wheel. Once everyone was on board, he turned to them and spoke.
“Tonight, we will stay on the ship. As soon as the fleet is ready, we will leave. The journey to Earth will take four days. Once we get there, Izzy you will need to decide how best to introduce us. You know your people, you must find a way to convince them,” he said.
Izzy nodded and began twisting her fingers. He looked forward again, and saw the boys standing by the edge. They waved at him as the shuttle lifted.
Mikhlas turned the ship toward the sky and pushed it forward. They broke through the atmosphere, and his ship was waiting against the black sky. It looked a lot like the old one, only larger and cleaner.
The shuttle docked into the landing area of the ship, and when they stepped onto the platform, Mikhlas finally felt at home.
He loved living in the palace with Izzy and the boys, but this was all he has ever known. He smiled to himself for a moment. He missed this.
Iry, Miran and Igraak were standing above him, on the platform, waiting for them.
“My king,” Iry greeted and dipped her head to him.
“Captain Iry. It’s good to see you. Miran. Igraak,” he greeted.
“Thank you. If I may be so bold, my king, it’s not the same without you and Lord Silian,” Iry said.
Mikhlas smiled shyly. “Thank you. It feels good to be back.”
They went to the bridge and Mikhlas’s eyes lit up. There was a reason why the Raakin family were the best at what they did. This ship was stunning.
High tech, sleek, with just the right kind of edges. The latest in advanced technology from the Free City. A more modern design and a hint of luxury that was reserved only for Royalty.
“Whoa! This ship is insane!” Amy said, coming up behind him.
“Do you like it?” Izzy asked him. He turned to her and frowned.
“Did you design this?”
“Kind of. I don’t know any of the techy stuff that’s on it, but I did design the layout and interior,” she said.
He was speechless. No one had ever thought of him like this. He had never been given a gift of any kind, let alone one so beautiful. He stepped forward, and the crew were on their feet.
“At ease!” Izzy said, and took his hand. She pulled him onto the bridge, and he still had no idea what to say to her. She’d had this thing of beauty made for him. For no reason.
“Why would you give me something like this?” he asked her.
She looked at him questioningly. “Why not? Is it that strange to give someone you love a gift?” she asked.
“What?” he said. His mind went blank. Nothing. Only one word out of everything she said stood out. And it was flashing in his mind like a neon sign.
“What?” Izzy asked, her cheeks getting red. She quickly turned away and went to Amy. He couldn’t move.
“Brother. Are you all right?” Silian asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said honestly.
“You are very pale. Do you not feel well?” Silian said.
“She just told me she loves me,” he said quietly.
“What?” Silian couldn’t help but look over at the women. Izzy had her back to them, but the look on Amy’s face told him they were speaking of the same thing.
“Do you feel it in return?” Silian asked.
“It is all I feel. It has consumed me. I can’t even get angry properly anymore,” he said.
“Then why the panic in your eyes?”
“Because I know there is something coming that will tear it all apart.”
