Chapter 55
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Like most buildings on this side of town, the Edith household was a modest structure. Brown and gray and a bit worn down, it still retained an air of warmth to it, perhaps due to the potted plants in the windows or the handcrafted wind chimes by the front door.
Gina rubbed her face, trying to press the anxiety out of her expression. Her hand absently went to the compact pistol in her purse. She really didn't want to use it, but she wasn't especially confident in her ability to convince an entire family to suddenly drop everything and leave the city with her.
She rang the doorbell. It was a rather long wait, but just when she was about to ring it again, the door opened, and a burly man stood before her.
Her eyes widened.
He was easily twice her size, if not three times, and though he had a large belly on him, his arms were certainly not lacking in muscle, easily filling out his pale blue sweater. A broad, clean-shaven face looked down at her with big, hazel eyes. "May I help you?" he said.
And Gina had to stop and blink, because the man's voice did not match his face or stature at all. It was actually quite airy and soft, not the least bit intimidating.
The man waited patiently for her to answer, though he did turn his head slightly to show his concern.
"Ah!" she said. "Are you Mr. Edith?"
"Yes, I am."
"I have news about Lynnette."
And the man gasped, rather lacking in composure. "Is she okay?!"
"I believe so, yes, but--um. Well, it's difficult to explain. Is the rest of your family home? I'd like to tell all of you at once. I know this is very sudden, but it's something of an emergency, you see."
"Yes, please come in!"
She entered, frankly surprised at how smoothly that had gone.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Gina," she said, following him into the den.
The mother and sister were watching television together, both fixated upon the news. Gina might have liked to join them if matters weren't already so pressing. Hector hadn't bothered to explain exactly what happened at the castle, but it was obviously big enough to get him on television again. Twice in one day was a new record for him.
"Honey, this is Gina," said the man. "She's come to tell us about Lynnette. She says it's an emergency."
And immediately, Gina could tell where Lynnette had gotten that penetrating gaze from. The mother's hair was darker, but she had the same sharp cheekbones.
"First of all," Gina started, "allow me to tell you that Lynnette is safe."
Mrs. Edith's expression was more rigid than relieved. "Where is she?" she said.
"In an underground bunker. I actually came here to take all of you to her."
They exchanged looks. Mrs. Edith seemed to be their designated speaker. "It's been almost two months since we last heard from her. Where has she been all this time, and why has she not come to tell us these things herself?"
"After the first attack on Belgrant Castle, Lynnette had to flee the country with the Queen and was traveling with her for a while. She didn't want to risk contacting you for fear of putting you in danger, but that's changed now. You are in danger. She is unable to come to get you herself, which is why I'm here."
"How are we in danger?"
"We suspect that her enemies might try to use you to get to her," said Gina. "Please, I know this is sudden, but I really need you to come with me right now."
Lynnette's father seemed ready to believe her, but Mrs. Edith did not budge. "What enemies are you referring to?"
"There are very dangerous people trying to overthrow the Crown," she explained. "Lynnette is on the Queen's side, which means the Queen's enemies are also her enemies." Her eyes went to the news program, and she pointed to it. "That was Lynnette's doing. She rescued the King, which drew attention to herself and is why she's afraid they'll come after you next." Hector hadn't explicitly told her that last part, but after listening to the radio reports on the way here, it sounded pretty accurate.
Mrs. Edith folded her arms. "I want to speak with her," she said. "Call her now."
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And Gina hesitated. Lynnette did have her own cellphone now; she'd picked one up over the course of the week just in case. But Gina had been trying it on the way over, and Lynnette hadn't been picking up. "I'm not sure if... ah, but I'll give it a try."
She placed the call, and to her surprise, someone answered.
<"Hello?">
Gina recognized it as the voice of the King. "Your Majesty?"
<"Who is this?"> said the King.
"Ah--" Gina fumbled a moment, eyes shifting between the family of three. And she laughed nervously as she said, "I'm Gina. But, aha, you wouldn't actually know who I am, would you? I helped Hector and Lynnette rescue you, but um, I really need to talk to Lynnette right now. I've got her family here, and, um. She is there, isn't she?"
There came a long pause. <"Yes, she is here, but she is currently quite unconscious. She was very tired.">
Gina's expression shriveled up. "Mm. Ah. Okay. Not the greatest timing on that. You're the King, though, so--" She put him on speaker for everyone to hear. "Could you please help me convince these nice people that I really am Lynnette's friend?"
Another long pause. <"...She may have mentioned your name, yes. Gina, was it?">
The family was not looking especially convinced. Even the father seemed rather doubtful now.
Gina tried a smile anyway. "There you see? It's the word of the King. Trustworthy, yeah?"
"That voice could belong to anyone," said Mrs. Edith.
Her smile spoiled.
"You will take me to her," said Mrs. Edith.
"Of course," said Gina. "Let's all hurry, then."
"No, I alone will accompany you. My husband and daughter will wait here for the time being."
"Ah--no, please, you all have to come. You're all in danger."
"Not until I confirm your words with my own eyes," said Mrs. Edith in a voice that brook no argument.
And Gina grimaced. The mother was clearly not going to budge. Time was limited. Options were dwindling. She knew it was a bad idea, but Gina's eyes turned down to her purse, and she went for her pistol. She looked up at the family again, gun in hand, and was about to apologize when she realized that she no longer saw three people before her. There were only two. The mother was missing. And before Gina could even turn, the woman reappeared from around the corner to her left.
With one hand, Mrs. Edith grabbed Gina's gun arm, forcing it up and away, and with the other hand, she held a sword to Gina's neck.
Gina's eyes widened and a squeaking whimper escaped her lips. "Okay," she said quietly, heart in her throat. "I give up. You win."
"Who are you really?" Mrs. Edith took Gina's pistol for herself but did not move the blade away. "Why have you come here?"
"No, no," rushed Gina, "I actually was telling you the truth. And the gun--aha--I was just bluffing. It's not even loaded. You can check for yourself. In fact, please do. I wasn't really going to hurt anyone. I've never even fired a gun before, so--"
"Stop talking."
Gina did so.
Mrs. Edith handed the pistol off to her pre-teen daughter instead of her husband, and the girl checked it for her.
"She's telling the truth, Mom. No bullets."
Gina tried to smile, but it didn't come out quite right.
Lynnette's father took a step closer. "Honey, please. The poor girl is terrified. Put your sword away before you get blood all over my carpet again."
The woman sheathed her weapon, though her glare lingered.
"I'm really sorry," said Gina. "It's just--I don't know how much time we have, so I'm assuming it's not very long at all. If I leave any of you here, you'll probably die or be taken hostage."
"Fine," said Lynnette's mother. "I suppose you've demonstrated your conviction well enough. But if you are lying, I will ensure that you regret it."
"Aha... ah..."
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Hector saw the familiar skyline just as evening began to arrive. He stayed away from downtown Brighton, however, circling around it instead. Apparently, his mother had chosen a hotel that was nowhere near their house. He supposed it made the most sense. The media would have probably still found her if she stayed somewhere close by.
He pulled into the parking lot and chose a space near the exit. A deep breath, and he dismounted. He decided it would be best to keep his helmet on until he absolutely had to take it off.
Garovel led him through the front entrance and up to the fifth floor. Hector would have preferred to just make a giant platform and sneak in through a window like he'd done previously, but there were too many people around this time. They soon arrived at his mother's room.
He tried to muster the courage to knock but found himself lacking.
'Perhaps I should check on her first,' said Garovel
Hector gave a small nod, and the reaper phased through the door. He waited for the report.
'...She's lying in bed and watching the news.'
He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting.
'Ah, it's about you. "Darksteel Soldier abducts King." As expected. Can't tell what your mother thinks of it. Hard to say if she's even paying attention or not.'
Hector had no response. He stared vacantly at the door in front of him, just waiting, dreading the moment that he knew was coming.
'They're talking about Lynn, too, though they don't seem to have identified her yet. Probably just a matter of time. I wonder if they've given her a nickname, also.'
He looked down the hallway on both sides. A number of people were walking past or standing in doorways chatting. Several of them were giving him odd looks. Still, it was better to have them wondering about the motorcycle helmet than to have them scrambling to call the police. Or the army. At this point, he wasn't sure who would respond.
'Hector, we can't drag this out. We don't know how much time we have.'
Another deep breath. He knocked on the door with the back of his gloved fist.
'She's getting up.'
More waiting. Then he heard her voice.
"Who is it?" she said from beyond the door's peephole. Her voice was not strong at all. He hoped it was just the helmet playing tricks on his ears, but he doubted it.
He still couldn't quite get a word out, so he lifted the visor of his helmet instead.
A long spell of silence followed until she finally just said, more haggard than angry, "Go away."
"I can't," he said, a bit more vigorously than he expected of himself. "Please. Mom."
More silence.
Then, to Hector's surprise, he heard the door unlocking. It opened, and his mother was already shuffling back to her bed by the time Hector entered. He closed the door behind him.
The room was noticeably dimmer than the hallway. With the heavy curtains drawn over the window, only a small lamp by the bed offered any light. Hector had to remove his helmet and tuck it under his arm.
Then he saw his mother's face. He almost didn't recognize her. She was so gaunt. She'd always been a rather slim woman, but now she looked unhealthily so. It hadn't even been three weeks since he last saw her. He didn't understand how she could have changed so much.
"You stopped shaving your head," she said. "Trying to make yourself less recognizable?"
He ran a hand over his hair. Finding words was difficult again. Everything he'd discussed with Garovel on the way here was slipping away. Apologize, maybe? For what? Everything?
She tilted her head at him. "Did you really abduct the King?"
That at least had a straightforward answer. "Yeah."
"Why?"
"He was being held hostage... and tortured. By the same people who ran the Queen out of the country."
"So you rescued him."
Hector couldn't respond to that.
"These people," said his mother, "are they the same ones who killed your father?"
"No. But they are... related."
Her frown deepened.
"I..." His expression hardened. "I already killed the person who murdered Dad."
She returned a flat stare. "Good," she said. "At least you did that right."
He averted his gaze. The "compliment" cut deeper than any wound he'd suffered today.
"So are you going to tell me why you're here, or do I have to guess?"
"I... I need you to come with me. You're not safe here..."
"Ah. So you've put my life in danger now, too."
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't waste your breath on meaningless apologies, Hector. I honestly don't care how bad you feel." She stood from the bed and began packing her bag.
Hector waited in silence, occasionally throwing a humiliated glance at the reaper. The whole thing felt somehow worse by having someone witness it, even someone as understanding as Garovel.
Before she finished packing, however, there came a knock at the door.
Hector looked to his mother again. "Were you expecting someone?" he whispered.
She shook her head.
'I only sense one soul waiting on the other side of the door.' Garovel grabbed Hector's shoulder, sending fresh waves of vigor through his body. 'It's not someone we've met before.'
Hector set his helmet down and moved toward the door. Through the tiny scope, he saw a man in a black cap and coat. Not someone he'd seen before, just as Garovel said. He held up a hand for both his mother and Garovel, a silent request to stay where they were. He cracked the door open and looked through.
"Hello," the man said, "my name is--" His eyes widened as they lingered upon Hector's face. Metal clapped around his mouth, and Hector grabbed him by the collar to pull him into the room.
The door eased shut again, and Hector dragged the man into the bathroom and forced him to sit on the toilet.
"Who are you?" Hector said lowly. He annihilated the iron so the man could answer.
"I'm just a courier! The prince told me to ask the woman in this room to come see him! I don't know why! Oh, goddess! Please don't hurt me!"
"The prince?" Hector's brow lowered. "Which prince?"
"Prince David! Here!" He retrieved a cellphone from his coat. "Call him! You'll see! It's the number at the top of the list!
"Calm down," said Hector. He tried to make his voice sound gentle, but the man only seemed to go paler. "As long as you don't try anything... I'm not going to hurt you. Please... just relax." He couldn't tell if the man believed him or not. He backed up toward the bathroom's entrance, keeping the courier in sight, and found the number in the phone. After a couple rings, the prince answered.
<"Is it done?">
Hector glanced between the courier and the reaper.
'Don't just hang up,' Garovel advised him. 'Tell him who you are and that you have his man hostage. See what information you can get out of him.'
Hector put the phone on speaker and then said, "Prince David... your courier is unharmed... for the moment."
<"...And to whom am I speaking?">
"Sir... please tell me... what were you planning to do with my mother?"
There came a very long pause.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
David put his fork down, suddenly forgetting about his buttered duck and chanterelle mushrooms. He shot a heavy look across the table.
Duchess Jezebel had already taken notice and stopped eating as well. Instead of asking what was wrong, however, she smiled and kindly told her maidservants to leave the room.
He hated being caught off guard, but it seemed a running theme of late. He disregarded the pit in his stomach and tried to assess the situation intelligently. If nothing else, he decided that ignoring the young man's question about intent would be unwise. "You probably won't believe me, but truly, I was attempting to ensure your mother's safety."
<"...You're right. I don't believe you.">
The ice in those words gave the prince a chill. He clenched his jaw. "I wish I could prove it to you. You seem like one of the few people who understands the dire circumstances facing Atreya."
No response.
David tried again. "I won't claim to know what your goals are, but I have met the people against whom you've been fighting. I've seen their atrocities first-hand. I expected they would attempt to reach your loved ones sooner or later, but I see you are a step ahead of me. And them, it would seem. Your diversion was quite impressive. I was very pleased when I heard that you had stolen my brother-in-law away. If you had arrived at the castle earlier, I would have been there as well, and perhaps we would have met in person."
<"...You sure like to talk, don't you?">
"Aha! That I do. I would be most interested to talk about how I might be able to help you. That is why you are bothering to speak with me, yes? Information in exchange for my courier's life?"
<"...Y-yes.">
David cocked an eyebrow at that, but said, "What manner of information do you require?"
<"...Anything you can tell me... about Abolish's plans... would be helpful. Specifically... how they intend to trigger war with Rendon.">
"Ah. Well, I imagine your recent exploits have torpedoed whatever their previous game was. I will do my best to learn what their next strategy is, but they don't like to discuss such things with me." The prince paused, meeting Jezebel's gaze as he conceived a question of his own. "By the way, how did you know that they were going to be in Harold today? Even I didn't know of that."
Hector remained silent.
David was beginning to see a pattern here. "Fine. I suppose you have no reason to tell me."
<"...Do you know what they were going to do in Harold?">
"I could guess, but no, I don't know for certain. I could try to find out, if you prefer."
<"They were going to destroy the entire town.">
Worse than he'd expected, though not by much. "I wish that wasn't so easy for me to believe."
<"They wanted to make it look like Rendon was responsible.">
"Of course. I see why you had the town evacuate."
<"...Did it actually work?">
The prince blinked. "You don't already know?"
<"I've been... busy.">
"Ah. Indeed, it worked very well. I don't think they could have fled any faster. And as there's been no news that Harold was destroyed, I believe it's safe to assume our Abolish friends were unable to stage their massacre properly."
More silence. David expected some sound of relief, perhaps, but there was nothing.
Wanting to keep the conversation alive, David concocted a fresh question. "Why are you fighting Abolish, anyway?"
<"...What do you mean?">
"Well, you're a criminal, aren't you? The worst this country has to offer, according to the media and the police."
<"...You really believe that?">
The prince smirked. "I don't. Or rather, I'd prefer not to, but I think hope might be affecting my judgment."
<"...And I hope I can trust your information.">
"Of course. You'll kill my courier if I lie, won't you?"
<"...No.">
David's brow lowered. "No?"
<"Your courier hasn't... he hasn't done anything wrong. Even if you lie to me, I won't... I won't hurt him.">
"But you said before that my help was in exchange for his life."
<"No. You said that.">
The prince chortled. "Then you're admitting to me that you have nothing to leverage for my information."
<"...I'm admitting no such thing.">
"Then how can you be sure I'll cooperate?"
<"...I said I wouldn't hurt your courier. I didn't say anything about you.">
David opened his mouth but no words came out. He abruptly remembered that he didn't know how Hector had learned about Harold. Some other source of information was undoubtedly involved, which could serve to check whatever intel David offered. Furthermore, he remembered that Hector hadn't actually denied being a mass murderer.
<"So please, Prince David... don't try to trick me.">
The reports all said that Hector Goffe was only sixteen, but at the moment, David was having a hard time believing that. These didn't strike him as the words of someone so young. There was a certain caution in Hector's voice, a carefulness in everything he said. The boy even laid a kind of trap for him. As long as that other source of information was in play, David couldn't just tell any old lie in order to gain Hector's trust.
Of course, David had no intention of lying, but still, it seemed clear now that Abolish had underestimated this person. And David did not want to do the same.
"I would promise not to trick you, but I fear it would sound rather like something a trickster would say."
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Like most buildings on this side of town, the Edith household was a modest structure. Brown and gray and a bit worn down, it still retained an air of warmth to it, perhaps due to the potted plants in the windows or the handcrafted wind chimes by the front door.
Gina rubbed her face, trying to press the anxiety out of her expression. Her hand absently went to the compact pistol in her purse. She really didn't want to use it, but she wasn't especially confident in her ability to convince an entire family to suddenly drop everything and leave the city with her.
She rang the doorbell. It was a rather long wait, but just when she was about to ring it again, the door opened, and a burly man stood before her.
Her eyes widened.
He was easily twice her size, if not three times, and though he had a large belly on him, his arms were certainly not lacking in muscle, easily filling out his pale blue sweater. A broad, clean-shaven face looked down at her with big, hazel eyes. "May I help you?" he said.
And Gina had to stop and blink, because the man's voice did not match his face or stature at all. It was actually quite airy and soft, not the least bit intimidating.
The man waited patiently for her to answer, though he did turn his head slightly to show his concern.
"Ah!" she said. "Are you Mr. Edith?"
"Yes, I am."
"I have news about Lynnette."
And the man gasped, rather lacking in composure. "Is she okay?!"
"I believe so, yes, but--um. Well, it's difficult to explain. Is the rest of your family home? I'd like to tell all of you at once. I know this is very sudden, but it's something of an emergency, you see."
"Yes, please come in!"
She entered, frankly surprised at how smoothly that had gone.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Gina," she said, following him into the den.
The mother and sister were watching television together, both fixated upon the news. Gina might have liked to join them if matters weren't already so pressing. Hector hadn't bothered to explain exactly what happened at the castle, but it was obviously big enough to get him on television again. Twice in one day was a new record for him.
"Honey, this is Gina," said the man. "She's come to tell us about Lynnette. She says it's an emergency."
And immediately, Gina could tell where Lynnette had gotten that penetrating gaze from. The mother's hair was darker, but she had the same sharp cheekbones.
"First of all," Gina started, "allow me to tell you that Lynnette is safe."
Mrs. Edith's expression was more rigid than relieved. "Where is she?" she said.
"In an underground bunker. I actually came here to take all of you to her."
They exchanged looks. Mrs. Edith seemed to be their designated speaker. "It's been almost two months since we last heard from her. Where has she been all this time, and why has she not come to tell us these things herself?"
"After the first attack on Belgrant Castle, Lynnette had to flee the country with the Queen and was traveling with her for a while. She didn't want to risk contacting you for fear of putting you in danger, but that's changed now. You are in danger. She is unable to come to get you herself, which is why I'm here."
"How are we in danger?"
"We suspect that her enemies might try to use you to get to her," said Gina. "Please, I know this is sudden, but I really need you to come with me right now."
Lynnette's father seemed ready to believe her, but Mrs. Edith did not budge. "What enemies are you referring to?"
"There are very dangerous people trying to overthrow the Crown," she explained. "Lynnette is on the Queen's side, which means the Queen's enemies are also her enemies." Her eyes went to the news program, and she pointed to it. "That was Lynnette's doing. She rescued the King, which drew attention to herself and is why she's afraid they'll come after you next." Hector hadn't explicitly told her that last part, but after listening to the radio reports on the way here, it sounded pretty accurate.
Mrs. Edith folded her arms. "I want to speak with her," she said. "Call her now."
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And Gina hesitated. Lynnette did have her own cellphone now; she'd picked one up over the course of the week just in case. But Gina had been trying it on the way over, and Lynnette hadn't been picking up. "I'm not sure if... ah, but I'll give it a try."
She placed the call, and to her surprise, someone answered.
<"Hello?">
Gina recognized it as the voice of the King. "Your Majesty?"
<"Who is this?"> said the King.
"Ah--" Gina fumbled a moment, eyes shifting between the family of three. And she laughed nervously as she said, "I'm Gina. But, aha, you wouldn't actually know who I am, would you? I helped Hector and Lynnette rescue you, but um, I really need to talk to Lynnette right now. I've got her family here, and, um. She is there, isn't she?"
There came a long pause. <"Yes, she is here, but she is currently quite unconscious. She was very tired.">
Gina's expression shriveled up. "Mm. Ah. Okay. Not the greatest timing on that. You're the King, though, so--" She put him on speaker for everyone to hear. "Could you please help me convince these nice people that I really am Lynnette's friend?"
Another long pause. <"...She may have mentioned your name, yes. Gina, was it?">
The family was not looking especially convinced. Even the father seemed rather doubtful now.
Gina tried a smile anyway. "There you see? It's the word of the King. Trustworthy, yeah?"
"That voice could belong to anyone," said Mrs. Edith.
Her smile spoiled.
"You will take me to her," said Mrs. Edith.
"Of course," said Gina. "Let's all hurry, then."
"No, I alone will accompany you. My husband and daughter will wait here for the time being."
"Ah--no, please, you all have to come. You're all in danger."
"Not until I confirm your words with my own eyes," said Mrs. Edith in a voice that brook no argument.
And Gina grimaced. The mother was clearly not going to budge. Time was limited. Options were dwindling. She knew it was a bad idea, but Gina's eyes turned down to her purse, and she went for her pistol. She looked up at the family again, gun in hand, and was about to apologize when she realized that she no longer saw three people before her. There were only two. The mother was missing. And before Gina could even turn, the woman reappeared from around the corner to her left.
With one hand, Mrs. Edith grabbed Gina's gun arm, forcing it up and away, and with the other hand, she held a sword to Gina's neck.
Gina's eyes widened and a squeaking whimper escaped her lips. "Okay," she said quietly, heart in her throat. "I give up. You win."
"Who are you really?" Mrs. Edith took Gina's pistol for herself but did not move the blade away. "Why have you come here?"
"No, no," rushed Gina, "I actually was telling you the truth. And the gun--aha--I was just bluffing. It's not even loaded. You can check for yourself. In fact, please do. I wasn't really going to hurt anyone. I've never even fired a gun before, so--"
"Stop talking."
Gina did so.
Mrs. Edith handed the pistol off to her pre-teen daughter instead of her husband, and the girl checked it for her.
"She's telling the truth, Mom. No bullets."
Gina tried to smile, but it didn't come out quite right.
Lynnette's father took a step closer. "Honey, please. The poor girl is terrified. Put your sword away before you get blood all over my carpet again."
The woman sheathed her weapon, though her glare lingered.
"I'm really sorry," said Gina. "It's just--I don't know how much time we have, so I'm assuming it's not very long at all. If I leave any of you here, you'll probably die or be taken hostage."
"Fine," said Lynnette's mother. "I suppose you've demonstrated your conviction well enough. But if you are lying, I will ensure that you regret it."
"Aha... ah..."
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Hector saw the familiar skyline just as evening began to arrive. He stayed away from downtown Brighton, however, circling around it instead. Apparently, his mother had chosen a hotel that was nowhere near their house. He supposed it made the most sense. The media would have probably still found her if she stayed somewhere close by.
He pulled into the parking lot and chose a space near the exit. A deep breath, and he dismounted. He decided it would be best to keep his helmet on until he absolutely had to take it off.
Garovel led him through the front entrance and up to the fifth floor. Hector would have preferred to just make a giant platform and sneak in through a window like he'd done previously, but there were too many people around this time. They soon arrived at his mother's room.
He tried to muster the courage to knock but found himself lacking.
'Perhaps I should check on her first,' said Garovel
Hector gave a small nod, and the reaper phased through the door. He waited for the report.
'...She's lying in bed and watching the news.'
He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting.
'Ah, it's about you. "Darksteel Soldier abducts King." As expected. Can't tell what your mother thinks of it. Hard to say if she's even paying attention or not.'
Hector had no response. He stared vacantly at the door in front of him, just waiting, dreading the moment that he knew was coming.
'They're talking about Lynn, too, though they don't seem to have identified her yet. Probably just a matter of time. I wonder if they've given her a nickname, also.'
He looked down the hallway on both sides. A number of people were walking past or standing in doorways chatting. Several of them were giving him odd looks. Still, it was better to have them wondering about the motorcycle helmet than to have them scrambling to call the police. Or the army. At this point, he wasn't sure who would respond.
'Hector, we can't drag this out. We don't know how much time we have.'
Another deep breath. He knocked on the door with the back of his gloved fist.
'She's getting up.'
More waiting. Then he heard her voice.
"Who is it?" she said from beyond the door's peephole. Her voice was not strong at all. He hoped it was just the helmet playing tricks on his ears, but he doubted it.
He still couldn't quite get a word out, so he lifted the visor of his helmet instead.
A long spell of silence followed until she finally just said, more haggard than angry, "Go away."
"I can't," he said, a bit more vigorously than he expected of himself. "Please. Mom."
More silence.
Then, to Hector's surprise, he heard the door unlocking. It opened, and his mother was already shuffling back to her bed by the time Hector entered. He closed the door behind him.
The room was noticeably dimmer than the hallway. With the heavy curtains drawn over the window, only a small lamp by the bed offered any light. Hector had to remove his helmet and tuck it under his arm.
Then he saw his mother's face. He almost didn't recognize her. She was so gaunt. She'd always been a rather slim woman, but now she looked unhealthily so. It hadn't even been three weeks since he last saw her. He didn't understand how she could have changed so much.
"You stopped shaving your head," she said. "Trying to make yourself less recognizable?"
He ran a hand over his hair. Finding words was difficult again. Everything he'd discussed with Garovel on the way here was slipping away. Apologize, maybe? For what? Everything?
She tilted her head at him. "Did you really abduct the King?"
That at least had a straightforward answer. "Yeah."
"Why?"
"He was being held hostage... and tortured. By the same people who ran the Queen out of the country."
"So you rescued him."
Hector couldn't respond to that.
"These people," said his mother, "are they the same ones who killed your father?"
"No. But they are... related."
Her frown deepened.
"I..." His expression hardened. "I already killed the person who murdered Dad."
She returned a flat stare. "Good," she said. "At least you did that right."
He averted his gaze. The "compliment" cut deeper than any wound he'd suffered today.
"So are you going to tell me why you're here, or do I have to guess?"
"I... I need you to come with me. You're not safe here..."
"Ah. So you've put my life in danger now, too."
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't waste your breath on meaningless apologies, Hector. I honestly don't care how bad you feel." She stood from the bed and began packing her bag.
Hector waited in silence, occasionally throwing a humiliated glance at the reaper. The whole thing felt somehow worse by having someone witness it, even someone as understanding as Garovel.
Before she finished packing, however, there came a knock at the door.
Hector looked to his mother again. "Were you expecting someone?" he whispered.
She shook her head.
'I only sense one soul waiting on the other side of the door.' Garovel grabbed Hector's shoulder, sending fresh waves of vigor through his body. 'It's not someone we've met before.'
Hector set his helmet down and moved toward the door. Through the tiny scope, he saw a man in a black cap and coat. Not someone he'd seen before, just as Garovel said. He held up a hand for both his mother and Garovel, a silent request to stay where they were. He cracked the door open and looked through.
"Hello," the man said, "my name is--" His eyes widened as they lingered upon Hector's face. Metal clapped around his mouth, and Hector grabbed him by the collar to pull him into the room.
The door eased shut again, and Hector dragged the man into the bathroom and forced him to sit on the toilet.
"Who are you?" Hector said lowly. He annihilated the iron so the man could answer.
"I'm just a courier! The prince told me to ask the woman in this room to come see him! I don't know why! Oh, goddess! Please don't hurt me!"
"The prince?" Hector's brow lowered. "Which prince?"
"Prince David! Here!" He retrieved a cellphone from his coat. "Call him! You'll see! It's the number at the top of the list!
"Calm down," said Hector. He tried to make his voice sound gentle, but the man only seemed to go paler. "As long as you don't try anything... I'm not going to hurt you. Please... just relax." He couldn't tell if the man believed him or not. He backed up toward the bathroom's entrance, keeping the courier in sight, and found the number in the phone. After a couple rings, the prince answered.
<"Is it done?">
Hector glanced between the courier and the reaper.
'Don't just hang up,' Garovel advised him. 'Tell him who you are and that you have his man hostage. See what information you can get out of him.'
Hector put the phone on speaker and then said, "Prince David... your courier is unharmed... for the moment."
<"...And to whom am I speaking?">
"Sir... please tell me... what were you planning to do with my mother?"
There came a very long pause.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
David put his fork down, suddenly forgetting about his buttered duck and chanterelle mushrooms. He shot a heavy look across the table.
Duchess Jezebel had already taken notice and stopped eating as well. Instead of asking what was wrong, however, she smiled and kindly told her maidservants to leave the room.
He hated being caught off guard, but it seemed a running theme of late. He disregarded the pit in his stomach and tried to assess the situation intelligently. If nothing else, he decided that ignoring the young man's question about intent would be unwise. "You probably won't believe me, but truly, I was attempting to ensure your mother's safety."
<"...You're right. I don't believe you.">
The ice in those words gave the prince a chill. He clenched his jaw. "I wish I could prove it to you. You seem like one of the few people who understands the dire circumstances facing Atreya."
No response.
David tried again. "I won't claim to know what your goals are, but I have met the people against whom you've been fighting. I've seen their atrocities first-hand. I expected they would attempt to reach your loved ones sooner or later, but I see you are a step ahead of me. And them, it would seem. Your diversion was quite impressive. I was very pleased when I heard that you had stolen my brother-in-law away. If you had arrived at the castle earlier, I would have been there as well, and perhaps we would have met in person."
<"...You sure like to talk, don't you?">
"Aha! That I do. I would be most interested to talk about how I might be able to help you. That is why you are bothering to speak with me, yes? Information in exchange for my courier's life?"
<"...Y-yes.">
David cocked an eyebrow at that, but said, "What manner of information do you require?"
<"...Anything you can tell me... about Abolish's plans... would be helpful. Specifically... how they intend to trigger war with Rendon.">
"Ah. Well, I imagine your recent exploits have torpedoed whatever their previous game was. I will do my best to learn what their next strategy is, but they don't like to discuss such things with me." The prince paused, meeting Jezebel's gaze as he conceived a question of his own. "By the way, how did you know that they were going to be in Harold today? Even I didn't know of that."
Hector remained silent.
David was beginning to see a pattern here. "Fine. I suppose you have no reason to tell me."
<"...Do you know what they were going to do in Harold?">
"I could guess, but no, I don't know for certain. I could try to find out, if you prefer."
<"They were going to destroy the entire town.">
Worse than he'd expected, though not by much. "I wish that wasn't so easy for me to believe."
<"They wanted to make it look like Rendon was responsible.">
"Of course. I see why you had the town evacuate."
<"...Did it actually work?">
The prince blinked. "You don't already know?"
<"I've been... busy.">
"Ah. Indeed, it worked very well. I don't think they could have fled any faster. And as there's been no news that Harold was destroyed, I believe it's safe to assume our Abolish friends were unable to stage their massacre properly."
More silence. David expected some sound of relief, perhaps, but there was nothing.
Wanting to keep the conversation alive, David concocted a fresh question. "Why are you fighting Abolish, anyway?"
<"...What do you mean?">
"Well, you're a criminal, aren't you? The worst this country has to offer, according to the media and the police."
<"...You really believe that?">
The prince smirked. "I don't. Or rather, I'd prefer not to, but I think hope might be affecting my judgment."
<"...And I hope I can trust your information.">
"Of course. You'll kill my courier if I lie, won't you?"
<"...No.">
David's brow lowered. "No?"
<"Your courier hasn't... he hasn't done anything wrong. Even if you lie to me, I won't... I won't hurt him.">
"But you said before that my help was in exchange for his life."
<"No. You said that.">
The prince chortled. "Then you're admitting to me that you have nothing to leverage for my information."
<"...I'm admitting no such thing.">
"Then how can you be sure I'll cooperate?"
<"...I said I wouldn't hurt your courier. I didn't say anything about you.">
David opened his mouth but no words came out. He abruptly remembered that he didn't know how Hector had learned about Harold. Some other source of information was undoubtedly involved, which could serve to check whatever intel David offered. Furthermore, he remembered that Hector hadn't actually denied being a mass murderer.
<"So please, Prince David... don't try to trick me.">
The reports all said that Hector Goffe was only sixteen, but at the moment, David was having a hard time believing that. These didn't strike him as the words of someone so young. There was a certain caution in Hector's voice, a carefulness in everything he said. The boy even laid a kind of trap for him. As long as that other source of information was in play, David couldn't just tell any old lie in order to gain Hector's trust.
Of course, David had no intention of lying, but still, it seemed clear now that Abolish had underestimated this person. And David did not want to do the same.
"I would promise not to trick you, but I fear it would sound rather like something a trickster would say."
Like most buildings on this side of town, the Edith household was a modest structure. Brown and gray and a bit worn down, it still retained an air of warmth to it, perhaps due to the potted plants in the windows or the handcrafted wind chimes by the front door.Gina rubbed her face, trying to press the anxiety out of her expression. Her hand absently went to the compact pistol in her purse. She really didn't want to use it, but she wasn't especially confident in her ability to convince an entire family to suddenly drop everything and leave the city with her.She rang the doorbell. It was a rather long wait, but just when she was about to ring it again, the door opened, and a burly man stood before her.Her eyes widened.He was easily twice her size, if not three times, and though he had a large belly on him, his arms were certainly not lacking in muscle, easily filling out his pale blue sweater. A broad, clean-shaven face looked down at her with big, hazel eyes. "May I help you?" he said.And Gina had to stop and blink, because the man's voice did not match his face or stature at all. It was actually quite airy and soft, not the least bit intimidating.The man waited patiently for her to answer, though he did turn his head slightly to show his concern."Ah!" she said. "Are you Mr. Edith?""Yes, I am.""I have news about Lynnette."And the man gasped, rather lacking in composure. "Is she okay?!""I believe so, yes, but--um. Well, it's difficult to explain. Is the rest of your family home? I'd like to tell all of you at once. I know this is very sudden, but it's something of an emergency, you see.""Yes, please come in!"She entered, frankly surprised at how smoothly that had gone."What's your name?" he asked."Gina," she said, following him into the den.The mother and sister were watching television together, both fixated upon the news. Gina might have liked to join them if matters weren't already so pressing. Hector hadn't bothered to explain exactly what happened at the castle, but it was obviously big enough to get him on television again. Twice in one day was a new record for him."Honey, this is Gina," said the man. "She's come to tell us about Lynnette. She says it's an emergency."And immediately, Gina could tell where Lynnette had gotten that penetrating gaze from. The mother's hair was darker, but she had the same sharp cheekbones."First of all," Gina started, "allow me to tell you that Lynnette is safe."Mrs. Edith's expression was more rigid than relieved. "Where is she?" she said."In an underground bunker. I actually came here to take all of you to her."They exchanged looks. Mrs. Edith seemed to be their designated speaker. "It's been almost two months since we last heard from her. Where has she been all this time, and why has she not come to tell us these things herself?""After the first attack on Belgrant Castle, Lynnette had to flee the country with the Queen and was traveling with her for a while. She didn't want to risk contacting you for fear of putting you in danger, but that's changed now. You are in danger. She is unable to come to get you herself, which is why I'm here.""How are we in danger?""We suspect that her enemies might try to use you to get to her," said Gina. "Please, I know this is sudden, but I really need you to come with me right now."Lynnette's father seemed ready to believe her, but Mrs. Edith did not budge. "What enemies are you referring to?""There are very dangerous people trying to overthrow the Crown," she explained. "Lynnette is on the Queen's side, which means the Queen's enemies are also her enemies." Her eyes went to the news program, and she pointed to it. "That was Lynnette's doing. She rescued the King, which drew attention to herself and is why she's afraid they'll come after you next." Hector hadn't explicitly told her that last part, but after listening to the radio reports on the way here, it sounded pretty accurate.Mrs. Edith folded her arms. "I want to speak with her," she said. "Call her now." Find authorized novels in Webnovelfaster updates, better experiencePlease click www.webnovel.com for visiting. And Gina hesitated. Lynnette did have her own cellphone now; she'd picked one up over the course of the week just in case. But Gina had been trying it on the way over, and Lynnette hadn't been picking up. "I'm not sure if... ah, but I'll give it a try."She placed the call, and to her surprise, someone answered."Hello?"Gina recognized it as the voice of the King. "Your Majesty?""Who is this?" said the King."Ah--" Gina fumbled a moment, eyes shifting between the family of three. And she laughed nervously as she said, "I'm Gina. But, aha, you wouldn't actually know who I am, would you? I helped Hector and Lynnette rescue you, but um, I really need to talk to Lynnette right now. I've got her family here, and, um. She is there, isn't she?"There came a long pause. "Yes, she is here, but she is currently quite unconscious. She was very tired."Gina's expression shriveled up. "Mm. Ah. Okay. Not the greatest timing on that. You're the King, though, so--" She put him on speaker for everyone to hear. "Could you please help me convince these nice people that I really am Lynnette's friend?"Another long pause. "...She may have mentioned your name, yes. Gina, was it?"The family was not looking especially convinced. Even the father seemed rather doubtful now.Gina tried a smile anyway. "There you see? It's the word of the King. Trustworthy, yeah?""That voice could belong to anyone," said Mrs. Edith.Her smile spoiled."You will take me to her," said Mrs. Edith."Of course," said Gina. "Let's all hurry, then.""No, I alone will accompany you. My husband and daughter will wait here for the time being.""Ah--no, please, you all have to come. You're all in danger.""Not until I confirm your words with my own eyes," said Mrs. Edith in a voice that brook no argument.And Gina grimaced. The mother was clearly not going to budge. Time was limited. Options were dwindling. She knew it was a bad idea, but Gina's eyes turned down to her purse, and she went for her pistol. She looked up at the family again, gun in hand, and was about to apologize when she realized that she no longer saw three people before her. There were only two. The mother was missing. And before Gina could even turn, the woman reappeared from around the corner to her left.With one hand, Mrs. Edith grabbed Gina's gun arm, forcing it up and away, and with the other hand, she held a sword to Gina's neck.Gina's eyes widened and a squeaking whimper escaped her lips. "Okay," she said quietly, heart in her throat. "I give up. You win.""Who are you really?" Mrs. Edith took Gina's pistol for herself but did not move the blade away. "Why have you come here?""No, no," rushed Gina, "I actually was telling you the truth. And the gun--aha--I was just bluffing. It's not even loaded. You can check for yourself. In fact, please do. I wasn't really going to hurt anyone. I've never even fired a gun before, so--""Stop talking."Gina did so.Mrs. Edith handed the pistol off to her pre-teen daughter instead of her husband, and the girl checked it for her."She's telling the truth, Mom. No bullets."Gina tried to smile, but it didn't come out quite right.Lynnette's father took a step closer. "Honey, please. The poor girl is terrified. Put your sword away before you get blood all over my carpet again."The woman sheathed her weapon, though her glare lingered."I'm really sorry," said Gina. "It's just--I don't know how much time we have, so I'm assuming it's not very long at all. If I leave any of you here, you'll probably die or be taken hostage.""Fine," said Lynnette's mother. "I suppose you've demonstrated your conviction well enough. But if you are lying, I will ensure that you regret it.""Aha... ah..."-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-Hector saw the familiar skyline just as evening began to arrive. He stayed away from downtown Brighton, however, circling around it instead. Apparently, his mother had chosen a hotel that was nowhere near their house. He supposed it made the most sense. The media would have probably still found her if she stayed somewhere close by.He pulled into the parking lot and chose a space near the exit. A deep breath, and he dismounted. He decided it would be best to keep his helmet on until he absolutely had to take it off.Garovel led him through the front entrance and up to the fifth floor. Hector would have preferred to just make a giant platform and sneak in through a window like he'd done previously, but there were too many people around this time. They soon arrived at his mother's room.He tried to muster the courage to knock but found himself lacking.'Perhaps I should check on her first,' said GarovelHector gave a small nod, and the reaper phased through the door. He waited for the report.'...She's lying in bed and watching the news.'He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting.'Ah, it's about you. "Darksteel Soldier abducts King." As expected. Can't tell what your mother thinks of it. Hard to say if she's even paying attention or not.'Hector had no response. He stared vacantly at the door in front of him, just waiting, dreading the moment that he knew was coming.'They're talking about Lynn, too, though they don't seem to have identified her yet. Probably just a matter of time. I wonder if they've given her a nickname, also.'He looked down the hallway on both sides. A number of people were walking past or standing in doorways chatting. Several of them were giving him odd looks. Still, it was better to have them wondering about the motorcycle helmet than to have them scrambling to call the police. Or the army. At this point, he wasn't sure who would respond.'Hector, we can't drag this out. We don't know how much time we have.'Another deep breath. He knocked on the door with the back of his gloved fist.'She's getting up.'More waiting. Then he heard her voice."Who is it?" she said from beyond the door's peephole. Her voice was not strong at all. He hoped it was just the helmet playing tricks on his ears, but he doubted it.He still couldn't quite get a word out, so he lifted the visor of his helmet instead.A long spell of silence followed until she finally just said, more haggard than angry, "Go away.""I can't," he said, a bit more vigorously than he expected of himself. "Please. Mom."More silence.Then, to Hector's surprise, he heard the door unlocking. It opened, and his mother was already shuffling back to her bed by the time Hector entered. He closed the door behind him.The room was noticeably dimmer than the hallway. With the heavy curtains drawn over the window, only a small lamp by the bed offered any light. Hector had to remove his helmet and tuck it under his arm.Then he saw his mother's face. He almost didn't recognize her. She was so gaunt. She'd always been a rather slim woman, but now she looked unhealthily so. It hadn't even been three weeks since he last saw her. He didn't understand how she could have changed so much."You stopped shaving your head," she said. "Trying to make yourself less recognizable?"He ran a hand over his hair. Finding words was difficult again. Everything he'd discussed with Garovel on the way here was slipping away. Apologize, maybe? For what? Everything?She tilted her head at him. "Did you really abduct the King?"That at least had a straightforward answer. "Yeah.""Why?""He was being held hostage... and tortured. By the same people who ran the Queen out of the country.""So you rescued him."Hector couldn't respond to that."These people," said his mother, "are they the same ones who killed your father?""No. But they are... related."Her frown deepened."I..." His expression hardened. "I already killed the person who murdered Dad."She returned a flat stare. "Good," she said. "At least you did that right."He averted his gaze. The "compliment" cut deeper than any wound he'd suffered today."So are you going to tell me why you're here, or do I have to guess?""I... I need you to come with me. You're not safe here...""Ah. So you've put my life in danger now, too.""I'm sorry...""Don't waste your breath on meaningless apologies, Hector. I honestly don't care how bad you feel." She stood from the bed and began packing her bag.Hector waited in silence, occasionally throwing a humiliated glance at the reaper. The whole thing felt somehow worse by having someone witness it, even someone as understanding as Garovel.Before she finished packing, however, there came a knock at the door.Hector looked to his mother again. "Were you expecting someone?" he whispered.She shook her head.'I only sense one soul waiting on the other side of the door.' Garovel grabbed Hector's shoulder, sending fresh waves of vigor through his body. 'It's not someone we've met before.'Hector set his helmet down and moved toward the door. Through the tiny scope, he saw a man in a black cap and coat. Not someone he'd seen before, just as Garovel said. He held up a hand for both his mother and Garovel, a silent request to stay where they were. He cracked the door open and looked through."Hello," the man said, "my name is--" His eyes widened as they lingered upon Hector's face. Metal clapped around his mouth, and Hector grabbed him by the collar to pull him into the room.The door eased shut again, and Hector dragged the man into the bathroom and forced him to sit on the toilet."Who are you?" Hector said lowly. He annihilated the iron so the man could answer."I'm just a courier! The prince told me to ask the woman in this room to come see him! I don't know why! Oh, goddess! Please don't hurt me!""The prince?" Hector's brow lowered. "Which prince?""Prince David! Here!" He retrieved a cellphone from his coat. "Call him! You'll see! It's the number at the top of the list!"Calm down," said Hector. He tried to make his voice sound gentle, but the man only seemed to go paler. "As long as you don't try anything... I'm not going to hurt you. Please... just relax." He couldn't tell if the man believed him or not. He backed up toward the bathroom's entrance, keeping the courier in sight, and found the number in the phone. After a couple rings, the prince answered."Is it done?"Hector glanced between the courier and the reaper.'Don't just hang up,' Garovel advised him. 'Tell him who you are and that you have his man hostage. See what information you can get out of him.'Hector put the phone on speaker and then said, "Prince David... your courier is unharmed... for the moment.""...And to whom am I speaking?""Sir... please tell me... what were you planning to do with my mother?"There came a very long pause.-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-David put his fork down, suddenly forgetting about his buttered duck and chanterelle mushrooms. He shot a heavy look across the table.Duchess Jezebel had already taken notice and stopped eating as well. Instead of asking what was wrong, however, she smiled and kindly told her maidservants to leave the room.He hated being caught off guard, but it seemed a running theme of late. He disregarded the pit in his stomach and tried to assess the situation intelligently. If nothing else, he decided that ignoring the young man's question about intent would be unwise. "You probably won't believe me, but truly, I was attempting to ensure your mother's safety.""...You're right. I don't believe you."The ice in those words gave the prince a chill. He clenched his jaw. "I wish I could prove it to you. You seem like one of the few people who understands the dire circumstances facing Atreya."No response.David tried again. "I won't claim to know what your goals are, but I have met the people against whom you've been fighting. I've seen their atrocities first-hand. I expected they would attempt to reach your loved ones sooner or later, but I see you are a step ahead of me. And them, it would seem. Your diversion was quite impressive. I was very pleased when I heard that you had stolen my brother-in-law away. If you had arrived at the castle earlier, I would have been there as well, and perhaps we would have met in person.""...You sure like to talk, don't you?""Aha! That I do. I would be most interested to talk about how I might be able to help you. That is why you are bothering to speak with me, yes? Information in exchange for my courier's life?""...Y-yes."David cocked an eyebrow at that, but said, "What manner of information do you require?""...Anything you can tell me... about Abolish's plans... would be helpful. Specifically... how they intend to trigger war with Rendon.""Ah. Well, I imagine your recent exploits have torpedoed whatever their previous game was. I will do my best to learn what their next strategy is, but they don't like to discuss such things with me." The prince paused, meeting Jezebel's gaze as he conceived a question of his own. "By the way, how did you know that they were going to be in Harold today? Even I didn't know of that."Hector remained silent.David was beginning to see a pattern here. "Fine. I suppose you have no reason to tell me.""...Do you know what they were going to do in Harold?""I could guess, but no, I don't know for certain. I could try to find out, if you prefer.""They were going to destroy the entire town."Worse than he'd expected, though not by much. "I wish that wasn't so easy for me to believe.""They wanted to make it look like Rendon was responsible.""Of course. I see why you had the town evacuate.""...Did it actually work?"The prince blinked. "You don't already know?""I've been... busy.""Ah. Indeed, it worked very well. I don't think they could have fled any faster. And as there's been no news that Harold was destroyed, I believe it's safe to assume our Abolish friends were unable to stage their massacre properly."More silence. David expected some sound of relief, perhaps, but there was nothing.Wanting to keep the conversation alive, David concocted a fresh question. "Why are you fighting Abolish, anyway?""...What do you mean?""Well, you're a criminal, aren't you? The worst this country has to offer, according to the media and the police.""...You really believe that?"The prince smirked. "I don't. Or rather, I'd prefer not to, but I think hope might be affecting my judgment.""...And I hope I can trust your information.""Of course. You'll kill my courier if I lie, won't you?""...No."David's brow lowered. "No?""Your courier hasn't... he hasn't done anything wrong. Even if you lie to me, I won't... I won't hurt him.""But you said before that my help was in exchange for his life.""No. You said that."The prince chortled. "Then you're admitting to me that you have nothing to leverage for my information.""...I'm admitting no such thing.""Then how can you be sure I'll cooperate?""...I said I wouldn't hurt your courier. I didn't say anything about you."David opened his mouth but no words came out. He abruptly remembered that he didn't know how Hector had learned about Harold. Some other source of information was undoubtedly involved, which could serve to check whatever intel David offered. Furthermore, he remembered that Hector hadn't actually denied being a mass murderer."So please, Prince David... don't try to trick me."The reports all said that Hector Goffe was only sixteen, but at the moment, David was having a hard time believing that. These didn't strike him as the words of someone so young. There was a certain caution in Hector's voice, a carefulness in everything he said. The boy even laid a kind of trap for him. As long as that other source of information was in play, David couldn't just tell any old lie in order to gain Hector's trust.Of course, David had no intention of lying, but still, it seemed clear now that Abolish had underestimated this person. And David did not want to do the same."I would promise not to trick you, but I fear it would sound rather like something a trickster would say."
