Chapter Eleven

- Search Order -

"Larks! Larks!"

The Prime Minister looked up, expecting to see Jasne running through the wooden door, crying or vexed. He sat calmly, thinking.

"Larks!"

The door burst open, Jasne panting heavily from the short running he did from his room to to Larks's. He heaved himself to a nearby seat and plopped down violently, almost breaking the chair.

"I... want you... to... have the... knights... search for... Ridley..." he said, trying to collect breath between his words. His face was redder than usual, hair messed up and eyes somewhat swollen. Larks clasped his hands and kept a straight, expressionless face. He waited a few moments before Jasne spoke again.

"Larks! Have you heard me? I said I want you to have the knights search for my Ridley!"

Larks did not speak. He looked intensely at the round man, who was about to throw an outburst. Gently, he shook his head.

"What?!"

"I'm afraid I can't, Lord Jasne."

"And why is that so?" His voice was threatening, but Larks kept it straight.

"Lord Larks, the knights are held on hold. They can't be sent for a simple search order."

"But Ridley is gone!" Jasne fumed, smoke practically escaping his ears. Still, Larks shook his head.

"And I suppose you know why she's gone?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You should have taken my advice, Lord Jasne. You should have reconsidered your decision. Look at what it had brought to Ridley. Grief. Longing. She set out to find Jack, is she not?"

"You...!" he tried to say something threatening, but can't think of any. "You... I'll report to the king of your insolence!"

"The king will hear nothing of it." Larks said, calmly. "He doesn't entertain personal matters. You should think about your decisions. All of your decisions favor yourself. I take it that you've realized that you're the cause of all this?"

"Are you telling me... how to be a father?"

"Lord Jasne, I'm merely trying to make you see my point. And Ridley's. I have always watched her and Jack. And I know from the very start something special is between them."

"I... I'm not allowing that!"

"Hmm... Is that so, Lord Jasne? I suppose you won't allow Ridley to marry anyone? To like anyone?" he was calm and composed, but his words were stinging. Threatening. Trying to convince Jasne.

"I... There's Cross!"

"It's been days, Lord Larks. Cross is unheard of. He might have died of his overflowing arrogance."

"T-then I-I..."

"Pardon me for everything I've said, but Lord Jasne, you should settle this entire matter. This involved you and your daughter. Set things straight, Lord Jasne."

"I... I..." he was out of words. He didn't know what to say, he didn't know what to do. He felt like falling down. He felt like he failed as a father. It was true. Hard to admit it. The second time. Red-faced, he exited the room. Larks sat there, feeling satisfied. He tapped the wooden table.

"I hope I did my job right..."