Chapter 35, On a First Name Basis

Glitch paced outside the Queen's private library. He was still smarting from being so unceremoniously dumped by the Queen. He could not understand why she was being so uncharacteristically cold and uncaring to DG. He knew DG's words to be true. If even he could realize that, then why not the Queen?

TWEET! TWEET! TWEET!

He did not immediately respond to the chirping.

TWEET! TWEET! TWEET! "Time for dancing lessons! Time for dancing lessons!" The golden timekeeper was growing more insistent.

He reached in to his inside pocket and pulled it out. Then he took his other hand and gently closed its blue eyes. He stared at it for a moment before returning it to his pocket. Ambrose. The Queen called me Ambrose instead of Glitch. Why? Does she miss him?

He heard movement behind the door and he stopped to listen. After hearing nothing more he started to pace again.

But then a few steps away he saw something shiny lying on the tile. He walked over and bent over to see what it was. It was a picture disk.

To no one in particular he said as he stood back up, holding it up to the light, "Hey! This looks like the ones that Tudor was dropping for the mobats." Then he shuddered. Those horrible little mobats with their shifty eyes had given him nightmares even after the defeat of the witch. Then he turned somber. "The Queen threw one of these at DG. I wonder if she dropped this one?"

Glitch was so absorbed in staring at the picture disk that he never heard the footsteps behind him.

"AAYYEE!" he squealed and he abruptly turned around to see who tapped him on the shoulder. It was Meredith and Kyra on their way back from wherever it was that they were. They had to duck to avoid his flailing arms.

"Sorry 'bout that Glitch," Kyra replied. Her tone and speech turned very informal since she was not around true royalty.

Meredith piped up, "Yeah, sorry about that. We didn't mean to scare you."

He was noticeably relieved and retrieved a small handkerchief in order to wipe his brow. "Oh, it's just you girls," he said with another relieved smile.

"What'cha got there?" Kyra asked. She reached for it and Glitch had to pull his hand back away from her.

"It's just a picture disk. I think that the Queen dropped it."

Meredith playfully reached for it this time.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed and then laughed nervously. "Really, now's not the time for this sort of thing."

Kyra pouted her mouth and said, "Oh Glitch, that sounds so much like the old Ambrose."

"What?" He looked at her in confusion.

Meredith leaned closer to him and whispered in his ear, "Aren't you curious to see what's on it?" He smelled jasmine and it involuntarily made him shiver ever so slightly.

Glitch took his hand and as gently as he could, tried to push her away. "No…. No I don't think that's a good idea."

He turned to look the other way and there was Kyra leaning up against him. She whispered in his ear, "Maybe the Queen didn't drop it. Maybe the Provost Marshall did." He smelled strawberries emanating from her.

He took a quick step forward and turned sideways as he did so that he could escape from them. He laughed uncomfortably again. Then he stopped. As he cocked his head, he once again stared at her in confusion. "What do you mean the Provost Marshall? Is he here?"

Meredith and Kyra rushed to his side.

Kyra gently placed her hands on his arm and looked back over her shoulder. Then she whispered to him, "Maybe there's something on there that you could use to help the Princess Dorothy."

Glitch was now befuddled. "How do you know what was just said to DG?"

Meredith gently grasped his chin and made him look at her. He relented at her touch. She whispered, "We know that her highness said some terrible, terrible things to her. Maybe you can use this disk to help find the evidence that will help the Princess Dorothy."

He stopped and held out the picture disk in his outstretched hand. He stared at it. Then he quickly closed his hand around it. "No," he whispered. "It doesn't belong to me. It needs to go back to the Queen and to the Provost Marshall. And I need to wait here for DG." He paused, "Hey! How did you know that the Provost Marshall was here?" Did I already ask that question?

Kyra gently grasped his chin and made him look at her again. She whispered, "Maybe you can use it to help free your friend, the Major Wyatt Cain."

Meredith took a sideways glance down the hallway and finding no one added, "You'll be useful." She gently touched, and then rubbed his shoulder.

Those three words triggered a new emotion in Glitch. You'll be useful. Those were the magic words. The words You'll be useful… you can free your friends… you'll be useful… repeated over and over in his mind.

"I'll be useful?" he asked hesitantly. He opened up his hand again and looked at the picture disk. It briefly reflected a glint from the warm electric lamps lining the hallway. He forgot all about his question about the Provost Marshall. He forgot about his desire to wait for DG. "I'll be useful," he said more confidently. He continued to talk himself in to it. He could now actually do something rather than wait on something. "They won't ever suspect me will they? I'm just good old Glitch to them."

Kyra whispered to him, "You can do it Glitch. We believe in you."

Glitch looked at her and then at Meredith. She said, "We can help you… of course, if you want us to. We want to see justice served."

He took one parting glance at the door. Then he said to the girls, "There's an old viewer in my office. I think that I might even remember how to use it." He had a new air of confidence about him and it showed.

The girls smiled fondly at each other and all three together walked quickly down the hallway.

At one of the upper levels of the palace, located in an old spire, was Ambrose's office. On a clear day one could see the entire city and the valleys beyond it. Beautiful view or not, Glitch thought that his former self was insane for choosing such a remote location. A wide winding staircase that was dimly lit by old, shadeless lights was the only way up to the top. All three were out of breath once they reached the door.

Glitch reached in to one of his many inside pockets and pulled out a long brass key. It fit neatly in to the lock and with a satisfying click, the door opened. Glitch held it open for Meredith and Kyra and they walked inside.

The curtains had been left open. But without the sunlight the room was very cold and damp. It was not a good day for sightseeing across the city. The snow fell so heavily that one could barely see for just a few blocks.

It had been some time since Glitch was in his old office and a fine layer of dust covered everything. He walked over to a table that contained a square shaped box covered with a white cloth. He grabbed an edge of the cloth. Then he turned to the girls, exclaimed "TA DA!" and with a theatric flair removed the cloth.

It was a box marked BOOKS.

Glitch was stunned and turned beet red. Meredith and Kyra giggled loudly. "I thought for sure that was it," he mumbled. Then Meredith walked over to the window where there was another table. "Maybe it's over here Glitch." As he followed her, Kyra locked the door. Just in case. Then she quietly walked the few steps to where Meredith and Glitch were standing.

"Maybe it's under here," Meredith said as she removed the cover.

Glitch gasped and stumbled backwards, bumping in to Kyra. She stumbled and nearly lost her balance. But she regained her footing quickly and plunged a large hypodermic needle into Glitch.

"OW!! That hurt!" yelled Glitch. He stumbled around and finally got himself braced against his desk. He held his left arm with his right hand and asked loudly, "What was that?!"

Then he saw Kyra holding the hypodermic needle. A look of disbelief crossed his face. "Why did you do that?"

He went to take a step forward and his leg gave way beneath him. He stumbled to his knees and he knocked over the contents of his old desk as he tried to steady himself.

Kyra walked over to him and stood over top of him. She was not afraid of his self-defense abilities now that he had been drugged and its effect was beginning to take hold.

She looked over her shoulder and watched Meredith bring over what she had uncovered. She gently set the cage down on to a nearby table. It was filled with sleeping corobuses.

Glitch fell over on to his face. Kyra knelt down and struggled at first to roll him over but then managed to do it. He looked at her and all he was able to do was blink at her.

She ran her hand lightly down his cheek. "I'm sorry Glitch, but someone has to be the fall guy."

He blinked quickly and as hard as he could but she ignored him. She stood back up and went over to the door. Meredith gently and quietly unlatched the cage door and then walked over to join Kyra. She unlocked the door and they left.

The Queen's private library was empty except for her and Dr. Addison, and he was down on one knee in front of her.

His head hung low and he said in a quiet voice, "Your majesty, I am sorry that I gave the Princess Dorothy the sedative. However, I do not believe that I had any other choice."

The Queen looked down at him. She hesitated and then placed her hand briefly on his shoulder. "Rise Dr. Addison."

He did as he was told.

She sighed. "You spoke the truth Dr. Addison. After DG suffered her head injury you expressed concern that she may begin to exhibit signs of various types of delusionary behavior, including the persecutory as you described. She was growing increasingly agitated. Dr. Addison, you should not be the one that is apologizing. It is I who initially refuted your diagnosis."

He looked visibly relieved. "Thank you, your majesty."

The Queen changed the subject from one of apologies to the more immediate question of her daughter's future. "What course of action do you now recommend?"

"She is now resting in her chamber. I advise that she be kept there with limited approved visitation until she can be further evaluated." He paused, and then added hesitantly, "With your permission, there is a colleague of mine from the south, near Oradour that I would like to call upon for additional assistance. He has authored a few papers on the subject and is highly regarded."

"Of course Dr. Addison. Please invite your colleague to come to the palace." She started to walk out of her library and motioned for him to follow. As the door shut softly behind them she said, "Thank you again for your aid Dr. Addison. Your service to this royal house is duly noted and appreciated."

Dr. Addison bowed at her compliment. "Thank you your majesty for your kind words." He rose back up. "My nurse is currently watching the Princess Dorothy. She is quite competent and will be able to tend to her until I return. I am going to make the request and subsequent travel arrangements for my colleague."

"Very well, Dr. Addison." The Queen started to walk away. She was headed back to her private chamber in order to freshen up before leaving again to visit her husband and her other daughter.

"Your majesty?" Dr. Addison called out after her.

She stopped and turned around. "Yes, Dr. Addison?"

"In informal company, you may call me by first name if you so desire."

She paused at his words and said nothing for a moment. Then she gave him a slight smile and nod of her head. "Of course, Xavier."