Conspiracy (19 page)

Haslane and Camille were absent. They had sifted to some undisclosed location and I could only presume they were not enjoying the honeymoon they had anticipated. The death of King Orleon was not unexpected, but the manner in which he had died had shocked everyone.

The small, tight knit group I had come to see as my family—my Elven family—sat pensively around a small library room just off the royal bed chamber. Queen Eimile, Ian, Tony, Viv, Heather, and I stood or sat in various locations within the room.

In the adjoining suite, oblivious to his bandaged wound, Gregor assisted his mother, Queen Cassandra, and her servants as they tended to Orlean’s body. Gregor was now the king, or would soon become so.

As I sat quietly next to Ian, leaning back against his body, I watched Heather, who was seated in a chair next to the window. I squeezed Ian's hand, turned my head and pressed my lips against his cheek, then rose, crossing the room to sit next to my sister.

“Has Gregor spoken with you?” I asked softly.

She looked up at me from her silent reverie and smiled gently. “Only with his eyes,” she said. “He’s been with his mother since they took his father into the suite.”

I could see the tears forming in her eyes and the sadness reflected on her face. Heather was deeply in love with Gregor, and I knew without asking that even her own emotions confused her. Why? How did it happen so soon? Were his visions prophetic? Was my sister going to become Queen of the Southern Realm?

As these questions ran through my mind, I knew they had been foremost in Heather's thoughts as well.

“Ian, Viv, and I will be taking Tony back to DC soon. Ian believes this was the
Olc
s’ last gamble. Gregor told him that the man who stabbed him was Senain, a man he knew from the Eastern Realm. It's most likely they were behind the plot.”

“I’ll stay here,” Heather said.

“Of course,” I responded. “You should. Gregor needs you.”

Heather reached out and took my hand. “What about Dad?” she asked.

I nodded, understanding her concern. “I’ll make something up. I’ll tell him you went on a research trip for school and will be back in a week or ten days.”

Heather continued crying and I knew her grief was deeper. “It’s Mick’s death, isn’t it?”

“He didn’t deserve to die,” she lamented.

“None of them did except the attackers,” I replied. “Ian is holding it inside right now, but I know he is deeply troubled as well. Michael was the peaceful brother or so Ian has told me on occasion.”

“What will you tell Dad?

“I’ll think up something.”

“Just remember, Dad’s not a dummy.”

“I know, but Ian and I are going to be in the DC area, and I'll make it a point to spend some time with Dad. What about you and Gregor, here in the Realm?”

“If you're asking about a wedding,” she said, “I have no idea, but I think Gregor will have a lot on his plate for the immediate future.”

I squeezed her hand and tried to smile. “You’re the main item on his plate, Heather. The rest is duty. Gregor is a man who accepts his responsibility and does his job, but you are the woman who will fill the remainder of his life. Be patient with him and be the support he needs.”

At that moment, the door to the adjoining suite opened and Gregor entered the room. I turned to look in his direction and he made eye contact with Ian and Viv and the others, then crossed and came to sit in the chair across from Heather and myself.

“My mother is a very strong woman,” he said. “She is, in all respects, a queen.”

Heather reached out her hand and grasped his. “Is there anything I can do?”

They sat for a moment, silently speaking with their eyes. Then Gregor rose, crossed the room, and shook Ian’s hand. I could not hear what they said, but as Gregor reentered the royal residence, I turned to Heather.

“What did he say to you?”

“He said, ‘I love you.’ He said, ‘I must tend to my mother and my people.’” Heather grew silent for a moment, turning her gaze out the window to the fields and flocks that lay beyond the royal residence. Then she turned back and looked deeply into my eyes. “And he said that I should prepare to become queen.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Washington D.C.

Reagan

As the four of us sat around the table in the kitchen of Viv’s apartment, it was absolutely impossible to fathom how much had transpired since we had sifted out of this location only moments before. Viv and Tony sat opposite each other across the table, with Ian and me at either end. Immediately upon return, I had activated my throat mike and contacted the external security team, just checking in as normal. To them, seconds had elapsed. To me, and certainly to Tony, the world had changed.

Everyone was silent for several long moments, the impact of the trauma we had witnessed deeply embedded in our minds. The Southern Realm didn’t exist—not in this world. None of the Secret Service agents surrounding this building, sitting in a car on the street, or in the corridor mere feet away from our location had any idea what had transpired. The vice president of the United States had been whisked twelve thousand miles away and been subject to an attack by unworldly creatures who sought to take his life. It was, quite simply, unbelievable.

Tony broke the silence. “This is a hell of a way to resume our date, Viv.”

As beautiful as ever, Viv smiled back at him. I knew she was hurting. She had failed to protect the ruler of the Southern Realm, Gregor’s father. That would play in her mind forever. Physically or mentally, no one had left that wedding ceremony unscarred.

I looked across the table, and Tony actually smiled at me.

“Well, Mr. Vice President, I’m an employee again, and we’d both better get used to it.”

Tony nodded, reaching across and patting my hand. “Nothing will ever be the same, Stinger. But I understand the protocol that’s required. Agent Maitland,” he said to Ian, “I think you and Agent Sullivan can alert the team that we’re prepared to go. I'll say goodnight to Viv, and then we’ll see what’s happened to the world in our absence.”

I stood and activated my throat mike, alerting the team. Ian and I moved to the front room and gave Tony and Viv a moment alone. When we walked through the door, it would be business as usual, and for one fleeting moment, I wanted to go back to the Realms. Despite the trauma, the killing, and the potential danger from the
Olc
, the faerie world was becoming my home.

Two weeks passed without contact from anyone in the Realms. Despite the Secret Service regulations against fraternization, Ian spent most of that time at my apartment. I didn’t want to lose my job, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Ian had become my life. We both felt a strong sense of responsibility to protect Tony, but we also felt that there was limited chance the
Olc
would attack again. Their leaders were dead. Most of their best warriors were dead. And although we had no idea who ruled the Eastern Realm, we assumed that Alisha was at least temporarily in charge. I was not going to be taken by surprise if they continued to pursue their objectives. One evening after work, I raised the issue with Ian.

“I think you should check with Eimile to be certain she’s all right.”

He looked at me for a long moment, considering my suggestion. We’d spent hours talking about Mick. I learned that elves suffered grief the same as humans and despite their lengthy life span, were repelled by unnecessary death or killing. Ian’s brother had been killed, and he in turn had killed his cousin.

“I think you’re right,” he responded. “Do you want to come?”

I shook my head in the negative and he seemed a bit surprised. With just the raise of an eyebrow, he questioned me. I didn't want to answer him, but I knew what he was asking.

“I don’t think I’d be willing to come back to D.C , Ian,” I said, refusing to meet his eyes. He walked toward me and without a word, took me in his arms, pulling me close against his chest.

“We agreed it was important to stay here and protect Tony. That hasn’t changed. With this new understanding of who he is, everything is out in the open. It’s made our job a great deal easier, don’t you think?”

“I do, but I’ve lost the fervor for the job. The irony is that Tony is much closer to me now. I care for him. I even love him, like a brother, but when I see him in that light, he’s no longer just the vice president.”

“I still think we need to stay and be of assistance to him until he determines what he’s going to do. Has he given you any idea?”

“He said nothing,” I replied, “but he’s going to run for the presidency. You can bank on it. I think Viv is partially responsible.”

Ian released me from his embrace and moved to sit on the couch. “I checked the logs at the White House,” he said, “and he’s been with her every day this past two weeks.”

“Does that surprise you?”

“No, but why do you think she’s contributed to his decision to run for the presidency?”

“Because with his newfound heritage, his understanding of the Elven chronology, and his pressing need to be in charge, I believe he’s come to understand that he can have it both ways. He can be president of the United States for the next four or eight years, and then be the ruler of the Eastern Realm for the next five hundred years and perhaps ruler of the Western Realm as well.”

“I've thought the same thing,” Ian said. “But Eimile will not give up so easily.”

“And I don’t think Tony will actually challenge her—I know he has a great deal of respect for Eimile. Perhaps he'll be content to rule the Eastern Realm with Viv at his side.”

“What about Alisha?” Ian asked.

I hung up the towel I was using to wipe the kitchen countertop and walked over and sat down next to Ian, leaning back and laying my head on the cushion. “Maybe we should ask Tony if he’d like to have a chat with his sister.”

“To what purpose? Alisha probably sees herself as the natural selectee to rule the kingdom. She was raised there, and by all rights and purposes, is heir to the throne. Certainly that’s how her people would see it. As far as we know, they don’t even know about Tony.”

“Let’s just take it one day at a time. Tony may be exactly right. He can be president and eventually king. That choice is his. Actually, I’m far more concerned about Heather and Gregor.”

“That, my darling Reagan, is a foregone conclusion. But perhaps you’re right. It’s time for me to speak with Eimile, and perhaps to visit the Southern Realm and see Gregor.”

Ian watched me closely for a moment after his comment, and I knew I couldn't hide my thoughts from him. “Yes, I will. I mean, I do.” He knew I wouldn’t let him go to see Heather without me.

“So be it. I'll go visit with Eimile, you take a shower or a nap, and I'll be back to join you.”

I laughed and stepped closer to this man who was so important in my life. “In the shower, or for a nap?”

“Perhaps we should take the nap before I go see Eimile,” he said, standing and reaching for my hand.

“Then I'll have my shower.”

“You’ll need it.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Reagan

The warm sand squished between my toes as I stood a few yards from the water’s edge. Not long ago, I had sunbathed on this same beach, ogling a hot lifeguard while on vacation with my sister. At the time, I had been running away from feelings I was developing for a persistent co-worker and now, here he was next to me, watching my sister marry the love of her life.

After the tragedies that occurred during Haslane and Camille’s wedding, Heather believed that Gregor wouldn’t want another wedding that would remind everyone of their losses. She was partly correct. Gregor didn’t want to put his family through a big celebration while his Realm was in mourning, but he couldn’t wait to make Heather his wife.

We flew to the beautiful Australian beach Heather and I had visited months ago and Gregor arranged a simple, but beautiful wedding on the beach. He brought our dad in for the occasion and I could see my father was a little worried about what appeared to him as a hasty wedding. However, it was so obvious how in love Gregor and Heather were that the worry lines on his face were gradually decreasing. Seeing me and Ian together was also a shock for him. Dad wanted the best for his girls, and Gregor and Ian were quick to ease his mind with their respect and courtesy.

The wedding we were watching now was nothing like the vision Gregor had seen. Heather was dressed simply in a blue strapless dress and Gregor was casual in a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up and khaki pants. We were all barefoot in the sand in a circle around the couple. The ceremony was a combination of the Elven traditions we had witnessed and a human marriage. With Dad present, a celebrant had been brought from the Southern Realm to perform the ceremony to give it more of an official air. I silently hoped that my sister and her husband would be able to have one of the beautiful Elven weddings at some future point.

Heather and Gregor recited their vows, holding hands and watching each other with so much love I felt my eyes tear up. Ian squeezed my hand and I smiled up at him.

Soon, the wedding was over and I hugged Heather. “I can’t believe you’re married. My little sister, queen of the Southern Realm!”

“I don’t even want to think about it right now. I just want to enjoy my honeymoon before learning about all the responsibilities At least I’ll have Gregor to help me.” She smiled over her shoulder, watching the three men talking a few yards away.

“I’m really so happy for you, Heather. I hope I’ll be able to visit you often,” I said.

She looked at me seriously. “So have you decided if you want to make that final crossing?”

“How can I not? I love Ian the way you love Gregor. I can’t imagine ever leaving him, and one day he’ll replace Eimile. I want to be by his side through everything he does. He’s been wonderful about my wish to protect Tony through his run for president, but after Tony is finished in office, it will be my turn to follow Ian.”

Heather smiled. “I’m so glad. I can’t imagine living in the Realms without you.”