The Past is Prologue
Chapter 7: A Turner Family Reunion
"This will sound like a strange thing to say, but what I most remember about growing up on the Port was the music. Not out in the open, of course, but as long as we kept out of sight of proper Avaloran society, nobody really cared what we did. If you knew the right people, you could always find a warehouse or a basement tavern or a shipboard party where the laws of Queen Shuriki didn't quite reach. People from all walks of life would mix to hear the Avaloran guitar, Norberg pipes and drums, and the Northern Isles two-stringed lute to combine to make a music all our own."
-Doña Naomi Turner, chancellor for Queen Elena Castillo Flores, Grand Council member under Crown Princess Elena Castillo Flores. A People's History of the Reign of Queen Shuriki, compiled by Professor Catalina de Torres
Naomi leaned against her mahogany desk and watched her mother pace the floor of the Chancellor's office. She'd never seen her mom so agitated. Her normally cheerful dad's concerned expression as he looked at his wife didn't exactly do much to reassure the young chancellor either, or that the harbor master was even there at all. Her mom had come to report to the queen about Duke Cristóbal's escape since she was the admiral of the Avaloran Navy. Her dad, however, had no official reason to be here. It must be for moral support, Naomi decided. It was rotten luck that the snake's escape caused the death of her mom's old friends, the Fishers, and the disappearance of her parents' godson, David. Naomi hadn't seen the Fishers since she was ten, but had fond memories of playing with her "godbrother" when she was a kid. Scarlett Turner was probably desperate to look for him, but her duty to protect Avalor came first. None of that explained why Scarlett had insisted on speaking, of all people, with –
"Esteban is here!" Billy announced. Her short, red-haired secretary entered the cluttered office followed by Naomi's predecessor. The young chancellor hated to make Esteban come here, since it had at one time been his domain. Surprisingly, the Queen's prodigal cousin had shown no resentment at being replaced in a position he'd held for over four decades, but Naomi tried to be sensitive. It was just that her mother had insisted on privacy, and the Chancellor's office was the best place for that.
"Thanks, Billy. And thanks for coming, Esteban."
"Of course, Chancellor. Admiral. Harbormaster." The nobleman nodded to each in turn. Esteban was on a first-name basis with all of them, but he was nothing if not formal. "How may I be of assistance?"
"Please, have a seat. May I get you some tea?" Naomi was trying to be polite, but was also waiting for Billy Higgins to leave. Naomi might trust her secretary, but she had a feeling her mother didn't want to take Higgins into her confidence.
"Thank you, no. May I inquire what this is about?" Naomi jerked her head towards Secretary Higgins, and Esteban nodded, taking the hint. Higgins had been his aide long before Naomi hired the awkward red-head, and the queen's cousin was used to not divulging secrets in front of him.
Billy, meanwhile, was ingratiating himself with the other occupant in the room, who had been sleeping up until that point. "Look what I got for you! Some nice, yummy beetles."
"Thanks, pal," Tziloco said, and started chomping merrily away. Great. Now Naomi would have to find something to occupy both of them outside her office.
"Hey, Tziloco," she said to the crystal bat. "I have a mission for you. Flo's been awfully quiet lately. Could you make sure she's not getting up to any mischief?"
"You got it, boss," the creature said cheerfully. He flew in a spiral pattern towards the door, colliding with Esteban's head on the way out.
"Really? For old time's sake, I suppose?" Esteban snarled at Tziloco.
Naomi just sighed and shook her head at her pet's antics. About a year ago, the chancellor had found herself in need of the particular skill set possessed by the Everrealm's most wanted chiroptera. She'd arranged for a temporary release for Tziloco, who (after some convincing) had been instrumental in resolving that little issue in Puebla. Working with and getting to know the crystal bat had pricked Naomi's conscience about how magical creatures that were deemed threats to the realm were treated. She'd persuaded Elena that Soledad Island was a much more humane prison than jars on Quita Moz' shelves. Quita Moz said the flames were silent on the matter so he had no objections. Thus, Chatana, Pili, Kizin, Marimonda and several other creatures were released back into the wild, with the understanding that if they caused problems for humans or jaquins again or tried to flee the island, they would go straight back into the jars. All professed that Soledad Island was preferable. A new order of jaquin guardians was created to make sure the supernatural criminals stayed put, but otherwise left them to their own devices. So far the arrangement seemed to be working well for all involved.
Tziloco, however, didn't want to go with the others. Apparently Naomi was the first person to treat the crystal bat with respect, albeit with a healthy dose of mistrust, and had inadvertently won Tziloco's loyalty.
Convincing the others to let him stay at the palace was no easy task. Elena, Mateo, and Naomi's boyfriend Gabe (aka the Queen, Royal Wizard, and General), had all argued against it, saying Tziloco was far too dangerous to have around. After going back and forth with her friends on the issue, Naomi finally hit upon a reason they were all powerless to refute.
"But he's so cute!" In the face of such unassailable logic, the Queen reluctantly gave way.
There were two others who had raised objections. When Naomi first became chancellor, she had fully expected her predecessor to question her every move. Surprisingly, Esteban had stayed out of her way and had not challenged any decision she made – save one. When Esteban found out Tziloco would be staying at the palace, he protested vehemently. But he had no real power, and Tziloco had stayed.
Tziloco's most shocking opponent had been Flo. The animated alpacamundi had determined that the crystal bat was evil by nature and should not be allowed in the palace, and that he'd obviously taken advantage of Naomi's good nature. Flo had no real power either, but she had set herself the task of keeping an eye on Tziloco. Privately, Naomi suspected that Flo was jealous at no longer being the only adorable magical creature around, though the chancellor knew better than to ever voice that opinion out loud.
As for the rest of the denizens of Avalor City, they quickly grew accustomed to seeing their chancellor walk the streets with a crystal bat perched on her head. Far from causing trouble (except for Flo), Tziloco had proven an asset for Naomi.
To the matter at hand, though. "Billy, would you mind…"
"Keeping an eye on Tziloco? Sure thing, Chance."
"I was going to say give us some privacy. But I like your suggestion better. More diplomatic." Her secretary grinned and went on his way.
"'Chance'?" Her dad asked.
"Short for 'chancellor.' Kind of like 'cap' for 'captain.'" The harbormaster gave a short laugh. Her mother didn't react at all – a bad sign. Naomi sighed.
"I guess we should get down to business," Naomi told Esteban. "First thing you need to know is that Duke Cristóbal has escaped."
"What?" gasped Esteban. "That cannot be! Elena is in danger!"
"We're going to make sure she's not. I'm adding a few extra bodyguards to her retinue-" Elena had not been happy about that, but had seen the wisdom in it "- and assigned one to Isabel." Naomi was also thinking of assigning a guard to Esteban for his own protection, but the Queen's non-murderous ex-traitor cousin was likely to see it as a sign of mistrust, even though that wasn't the case. Naomi knew the real threat was the Queen's other cousin, murderous and still a traitor.
"How did he escape after all this time?"
"We don't know, but it looks like he had magical assistance. Olivia is doing research in Mateo's library, and Mateo, Gabe, and Elena are strategizing ways to hunt Cristóbal down. Mom – the admiral – has set up patrol ships in Nueva Vista and at the harbor here."
Esteban nodded slowly. "And you would like me to prepare a list of Shuriki's supporters who might be willing to aid that scoundrel?"
"Well, yes," Naomi's mom broke in. "That will certainly be helpful. But that's not the reason I asked you here." Esteban's eyebrow rose at that and he turned a questioning look to the young chancellor. He was obviously surprised that he wasn't here at Naomi's request. "I need to talk about your past." Scarlett had briefly sat down when Esteban had entered, but stood up to pace again.
The ex-chancellor's countenance turned wary. "Yes, what about it?" he asked coolly.
Naomi's dad stood up and put a hand on his wife's arm. "It's like you always say, love. If you must jump into cold waters, best to just do it all at once."
Scarlett smiled at him, but her unease didn't abate. "I didn't expect it to be this hard."
Naomi was completely flummoxed. So Esteban obviously had yet another secret from his past. Big surprise. Why would that make her mom uncomfortable?
"Do you remember a diplomatic trip you took twenty-four years ago?" Scarlett asked Esteban.
"I took many such trips," he responded in a guarded tone.
"It was to Hectoria. You booked passage on my ship." Naomi was startled by that. Esteban had booked passage on her mom's ship during Shuriki's reign? Neither had ever mentioned that before.
The Queen's cousin also seemed surprised. "I remember that trip well," he said carefully.
Scarlett then turned to her daughter. "It was before I met your father." Naomi was now thoroughly confused. What did that have to do with anything?
"Admiral," Esteban spoke up, "do you truly wish to discuss that here?" There was real concern in his voice. Concern for her mom?
"I have no secrets from Daniel," she answered softly. "And unfortunately, circumstances demand that you and Naomi know the truth."
"Uh, mom…"
"Scarlett, perhaps we should discuss this in private…" Naomi and Esteban spoke at the same time.
Scarlett held up a hand to silence them both. She looked at Daniel, who nodded. Taking a deep breath, she said to Naomi, "Esteban and I were once…close." Close? What did that mean? Her mom and Esteban used to be friends? That didn't make any sense.
Then Scarlett turned to Esteban. "And I never told you, but… you and I have a child. I'm sorry."
Naomi must have misheard what her mom said. What she thought she heard was just crazy.
Esteban's jaw dropped. "Are you saying…but…but," he sputtered, and then he turned to Naomi, and a smile broke out on his face. "…but that's wonderful! It explains so much!"
Naomi felt as if she were on a capsizing boat. "Wait, what?"
Esteban continued. "So then Naomi is my…"
"No!" Both of Naomi's parents shouted. Her dad came over to put his hands on her shoulders.
Scarlett continued. "You and I have a son."
"A son?" Esteban asked wonderingly. Scarlett nodded.
"Uh, just to be clear," the chancellor spoke up, "you're still my dad, right?" She looked at the harbormaster.
"Of course, Noams." He hugged her.
"I met Daniel two years later, and then we had you." She turned back to Esteban. "I couldn't…I didn't tell you because…"
"My reputation preceded me," Esteban responded drily. "I understand why you felt you had to keep the child a secret. If Shuriki had known, the boy would have been a living hostage to use against me. You did the right thing, Scarlett." He sighed. "Still, had I known, of course I would have offered to marry you. I did not mean to dishonor you."
"Don't worry. You didn't. Besides, I like my life the way it is." She smiled at Daniel and Naomi. "And I don't think you and I would have worked out in the long term, Esteban," she added in a wry tone.
Naomi couldn't wrap her head around what was being said. Her mom and …Esteban? Stuffy, formal Esteban, obsessed with protocols and manners, and her adventurous and forthright (to a fault, some said) mother, more at home on a ship in a storm than a fancy event on land? And when Naomi had been asked to serve on the Grand Council with Elena's cousin, neither he nor her mother had even hinted at a personal connection. "Mom… you and Esteban? How…? You have nothing in common."
Scarlett chuckled ruefully. "Well, Esteban could be charming when he wanted to be."
"This is true," the nobleman said, a small smile on his lips. Naomi wanted to roll her eyes.
"My ship had been attacked by pirates; my crew and I were trying to fight them; I told the passengers to hide below. Esteban refused, and turned out to be pretty handy with a sword. After we fought them off, well, I'm sure you know how things get after a life-and-death situation, what with that handsome general of yours and all." Scarlett winked at her daughter, who blushed furiously.
"Mom!" Anyways, she and Gabe had certainly never gone so far as to make a baby together. To get back on topic she demanded, "Why didn't either one of you tell me?"
"A gentleman never speaks of such things," Esteban answered mildly. "When next I saw Scarlett she was happily married, so it would have been inappropriate in the extreme to bring up our past acquaintance." He took a deep breath, and then asked, "What did become of…the boy, Scarlett?"
"I found him a good home in Norberg. He had loving adoptive parents, and I looked in on him from time to time without revealing my true relationship to him. He grew up to be strong, healthy, and honorable. I just thought he'd be safer outside of Avalor," she said almost pleadingly.
"You were right, of course. I do not reproach you for what you have done," Esteban told Naomi's mom. "I am the very last person to have the right to reproach you for the circumstances in Avalor I helped to create," he added bitterly.
The harbormaster spoke up. "Noams, we couldn't tell you because that would have disrupted Scarlett's son's life. We wanted him to have a normal childhood."
"That begs the question – why tell us now?" Esteban asked.
The admiral began pacing again. "Because I have no choice – he knows now, and might be coming to see either one of you, and you both deserve to be forewarned." She paused. "Noams, it's David."
"David? What do you mean?" the chancellor asked. "Wait…David as in David Fisher? David is my brother?!" They'd played together as children. Naomi had never suspected.
"Davíd," Esteban whispered. Naomi realized Esteban was hearing his son's name for the first time. She couldn't imagine what the Queen's cousin must be feeling right now.
"You say you kept this secret from Davíd. How did he learn the truth?" Esteban asked.
"The ship David was on with his parents capsized in the explosion caused by Duke Cristóbal's escape in Nueva Vista," the admiral said. "Both his parents," she hesitated on that word, "were killed. Rosie had left a letter for David to be delivered to him in the event of her death, telling him the truth about his parentage. He fled in a rowboat before I had a chance to speak with him."
"That's how he went missing," Naomi exclaimed.
"Missing? What? We have to find him!" Esteban cried out.
"We weren't that far out from Avalor City when David jumped ship. He has to be somewhere here." Scarlett motioned vaguely towards the city proper. "It's possible David will try to contact either one of you. He's all alone…"
"Don't worry, Mom," Naomi spoke firmly. "We'll find him."
Author's Note: A story cannot contain a song, of course. But if you would like one, imagine a rap battle between Flo and Tziloco as they fight their way through the palace, leaving chaos in their wake.