Nanny For The Alien General by Athena Storm
Serafina
It takes every muscle in my face to keep the mask in place. I will not let this room full of strangers see me cry or break down. I’m hanging on by a thread.
But why is Keilon suddenly smiling? I am not the only one baffled by his response to the accusations being thrown at him, but even I can’t fathom why he has reacted this way.
My mind is a torrent of questions. Why is this man, whom I thought was a butler, challenging Keilon and threatening his crown? And why - or how - did this man round up the villagers of Telleli?
Guilt drowns me as I realize that I provided him with the information to find the village. Yet again, I have betrayed my people and sealed their fate. Telleli will surely be no more. I try to stare off into the middle distance. The sight of the appalled Kiphians and the disappointed and betrayed humans of Telleli are just too much to bear.
It all comes down to Keilon.
Though he may not be King much longer, his words may make the difference for us humans. Will he deny us to save his throne? Will he condemn us?
A great schism within me takes place. My heart screams that there is no world in which Keilon would abandon me, and by extension, my people.
But my mind says otherwise. Logically, it would make sense that a great leader would play politics to save his own ass. I may as well accept it now. Keilon will not step up for a group of rag-tag humans over his own people…
My soul in tatters, I notice that a new hush has fallen over the room. Keilon, still smiling, waits until every pair of eyes looks to him. Then, regally and royally, he stands, his eyes flashing.
“Leaders of the Territories. What my…cousin reports to you is true. But he has mischaracterized it. As well as omitting a few key details.”
Whispers and murmurs once again ping about the room.
“The humans you see before you are the proud inhabitants of Telleli, a village that treasures the land and takes care of it like a child. They are true heroes. Heroes that saved your king and heirs!”
Shocked pride zooms through me. The defeated heads of my fellow villagers look up in surprise at his words.
“They did not have to save my life. They chose to. In fact, my life would never have been endangered in the first place had it not been for the sabotage of Teraed, a man so bent on stealing power that he was willing to kill for it!”
Another wave of noise.
“I say to you, Leaders of this great land, that this man, who possesses no morals or ethics, deliberately sabotaged my boat, and infested the waters of Fogfrost lake with starving Mizonz, in an effort to stage an accident that would have claimed my life and my children’s lives. Had it not been for the efforts of these brave humans, I would not stand before you today.”
His voice drops an octave, “And your new King would not be worthy to shine your boots.”
Teraed, fury coming off him in waves, releases my wrist and steps forward.
“I demand proof of these outrageous accusations!”
The smile returns to Keilon’s face. “Certainly. Staja, if you would.”
The kindly Kiphian who escorted the children to the transport back at Magun’s Inn steps out from behind a wall of leaders at the door of the Great Hall. It is obvious he is a good man and that Keilon trusts him implicitly.
The crowd parts to allow the light blue Kiphian with a slight build walk calmly towards his King. He turns to face the assembly.
“I have it on good authority that this man, Teraed, paid to have the ion stone in the King’s vessel, shattered so it would provide just enough power to take the King out on the lake, but not to allow him to return.”
Teraed begins to sputter.
“A witness will come forward to corroborate. And to bring the instrument by which the ion stone was tampered with.”
Teraed, shrinking slightly, closes his mouth.
“Furthermore, I have conclusive proof of the sale of a crate full of starved and illegal Mizonz by Teraed to infest the waters of Fogfrost Lake. Not only was an effort to further endanger our King, it has now upset the balance of the ecosystem of Fogfrost. A crime, I need not remind everyone here, that we take very seriously.”
No one argues this point. The Kiphians of the Lake Kingdom do not mess around when it comes to their waters.
“I demand further proof!” Teraed shrieks but it’s clear his confidence in his own plan is waning.
“And you shall have it!” Keilon replies. “Rest assured, this whole assembly will have the proof they need. I, in my capacity as a King and as a Kiphian of compassion, concealed the village of Telleli because they were fulfilling the letter of the law by caring for it as we care for our own. I stand by this decision. Teraed, however, has failed on all of these counts.”
The tension in the room has begun to shift. I feel a wave of loyalty and pride move in the right direction - to Keilon.
But, apparently, he has not finished speaking.
“Lastly, this relation of mine, has accused me of sullying our palace by bringing a human female with me. She has not sullied a thing. In fact, we should be honored to be in her presence.”
I feel as if I’m floating above myself, not quite sure if I’m hearing the words right. Is he talking about me?
“That woman you hold prisoner is no ordinary person. Release her at once! Your King demands it!”
“On what grounds?” Teraed taunts.
“On the grounds that she is my fated mate. Free her. Now.”
The room erupts around me but I barely hear it. My eyes lock on Keilon. And his on me. In that moment, we only see each other.
I have no idea what a fated mate is or what it means, but my heart soars. It was right all along. Keilon would never abandon me. My mind knows that now too.
