An hour later, they all stepped out of Wacal's cell with Wacal in the background a drooling, dribbling mess in his chair. Dyson had untied his hands.
"You know, I should not feel any sympathy for what you put him through for the lives he took so casually, but to witness that. That was the most disturbing interrogation I have ever seen." Julia said to Jock.
"Interrogations are not meant to be entertaining. Your reaction is understandable, and commendable. It means you still have a sense of who you are. When people lose their capacity to feel that is when they lose themselves, and thus become forever lost. Just like that dribbling, misguided chap in that chair behind us." Jock said.
Dyson, Jock, Evony and Julia continued to talk while Tamsin decided to pull Julian slightly off to the side.
"Your Serene Highness, I didn't want to ask during the interrogation, but now that it is over what is Jock's Fae ability, may I ask?" Tamsin asked.
"My brother can enter a person's mind and manipulate one's terrors. He can create constructs the size of entire worlds, or ones as small as closets, and exploit any and every fear you may possess." Julian replied.
"In all of my Fae lives I have never heard of such ability." Tasmin said.
"Manipulation of the mind is not uncommon in the Fae world, but Jock does possess a unique ability to wield it." Julian replied. Tamsin looked long at Jock. Julian saw her concern.
"Do not think my brother callous. He is a loving, deeply philosophical, and spiritual man. Everything he does is centered on those tenants, and is fervently devoted to the protection of the Fae Realm, and those who lead it."
"Well, of course he would be. The Regnant and The Queen Consort are both your parents." Tamsin replied.
"It goes deeper than that. He believes because The Regnant is selected by Destiny, he considers that person, the role they serve, and the apparatus that is the Presidium divine. Therefore any threat to their Majesties, or their seat of power is a threat to the divine, and he is not alone in that view." Julian said.
"Is he a fanatic?" Tamsin asked.
"I would say a devotee." Julian replied.
"Do you share his philosophy?" Tamsin asked.
"Jock is my brother. Any threat to our parents, their seat of power and authority, and to security of the Fae realm I will defend with equal, like-minded devotion." Julian replied.
Tamsin nodded her head, "Understood."
Just then Antony walked in with Stasio. Dyson, Tamsin, Julia and Evony all bowed and curtsied.
"Grand Ducal Marquis, His Serene Highness just arrived, and wanted to observe the status of the interrogation." Stasio said. Evony nodded.
"Well?" Antony asked.
"That is Wacal." Jock said as he motioned to Wacal in the cell. "He was the Under Fae contract for hire that was supposed to meet with Mummy at the Warehouse, and was the one that killed the Catalog Team at the Warehouse. Mother was right. Wacal's orders were to capture Mummy then once done with whatever they needed her for, kill her."
"How did they know she was even here far enough ahead to stage such an attack?" Antony asked.
"Because they knew ahead of time, Your Serene Highness." Agent Chennai said as she walked in.
"Nadu." Antony greeted as she offered her curtsey.
"Your Serene Highness, perhaps we should discuss this in private?" Agent Chennai said. Antony looked around and surveyed the group carefully.
"I trust I do not have to convey the seriousness if the confidence of what you are about to hear is breached, and the consequences thereafter?" Antony said as he looked around at everyone.
"Your Serene Highness. We understand all too well the gravity of the consequence. We are dedicated to finding Her Majesty's attacker and bringing them before the justice of the Presidium." Evony replied for them all. Antony nodded his head for Agent Chennai to continue.
"There was a man at the back of the room during the meeting with the Elder Fae Council. Once everyone had settled in to discuss the particulars of the transition, he quietly slipped from the room. I followed him to his domicile here on this plane. He went into his domicile, and called his contact and reported on The Regnant and her movements."
"So he called Olan, and?" Antony asked.
"It wasn't Olan he contacted, Your Serene Highness." Agent Chennai said gravely.
"Who, then?" Antony asked.
"It was Jorakor." Antony looked at her as if she told him she was pregnant with his child.
"The leader of the Monoliths." Julian repeated gravely. "How stupid could he be? Why would he even attempt such an attack on the Sovereign?" Antony asked himself. He took a few moments to process something in his mind, then turned to Julia.
"What did this Engelram say to you again? To be aware of?"
"Some person named Kamu, Your Serene Highness." Julia replied. Antony shot a quick look to Evony who met his intentful look.
"May I ask, how are you able to know all of this?" Tamsin asked. Agent Chennai replied by disappearing right in front of them. Dyson, Tamsin, Julia all quickly looked around for her but could not see her. Then she reappeared right behind Dyson.
"Hello." Agent Chennai said as Dyson whirled around to face her.
"What are you?" Dyson asked.
"Can you detect me in any way?" Dyson sniffed the air.
"No."
"That is because I am a Ghost Fae." Agent Chennai replied.
"Handy." Julia said. Agent Chennai smiled.
"What I don't understand is what made them think Mummy would meet them at the Warehouse?" Antony asked.
"The Athenaeum." Jock replied.
"What?" Both Antony and Evony said at the same time.
"We thought the Athenaeum was lost! But it has been here? On this plane?" Antony asked.
"Apparently, it was part of this Engelram's collection." Jock replied.
"You are joking!" Antony said.
"They wanted to exchange the Athenaeum for the relic." Jock replied.
"The Athenaeum was bait." Antony said.
"Correct." Jock replied.
"Don't they have the Athenaeum already? In the midst of the chaos of the attack, one would think they grabbed it, and ran off with it." Julia asked.
"The Catalog Staff were killed because they would not reveal what all they had found to Wacal. You and Kenzi arrived soon thereafter so he couldn't do anything else but flee while the Basilisk pursued you." Jock replied.
"We have new staff there now. Can we check with them to see if they have found anything?" Stasio asked.
"Let me check." Tamsin said as she stepped off to the side and made a call.
"What is this Athenaeum, Your Serene Highness?" Dyson asked. Antony glanced at Evony who met his glance.
"The Athenaeum is a source." Evony answered.
"Meaning, Grand Ducal?" Dyson asked.
"Exactly that." Evony replied. Tamsin rejoined the group.
"Amazingly, it is still there. I told the staff to put it aside." Tamsin reported. Antony turned to Agent Chennai.
"I will see to its recovery, and return it to the Presidium, Your Serene Highness." Agent Chennai replied.
"Thank you, Nadu." Antony said. Then Antony's attention focused on Wacal who was still drooling and disoriented.
"We will keep him in this cell under close observation." Dyson said as he was about to step closer to Wacal but was stopped by a question from Antony.
"Have you extracted all the information you could out of this cretin?" Antony asked Jock.
Jock looked at his brother for a moment, and then replied, "Yes."
"Good." Antony replied. Then he went up to Wacal, seized him by the throat with his right hand, and lifted him out of his chair.
Dyson did not move, but instead called out, "Your Serene Highness! There are protocols to be followed!"
But Antony raised Wacal higher in the air as his shifted eyes shifted to the same reddish orange that Jock's did earlier. They began to swirl, and then reddish-orange beams shot out Antony's eyes, and into Wacal's, burning them out, and went on to drill into his brain, frying his head as well. When Antony finished Wacal's head was melted off his body. He dropped the body to the ground like sack of potatoes, turned and looked at Dyson.
"You were saying?" Antony said as he glared at Dyson.
Dyson met Antony's glare for second, but only for a second then bowed his head slightly. "Your Highness." Antony looked at Dyson's bowed head then walked off followed by his brothers, and Agent Chennai.
Dyson raised his head and looked after them as they left. Evony walked up to Dyson, Tamsin and Julia.
"Let us re-convene at the JFM." Evony said then looked at the carcass that was Wacal. "And see to that." And then she left with Stasio. Dyson looked at Tamsin.
"Let's go. I will have staff come and dispose of that." Tamsin said as she looked at Wacal as they left.
As Antony, Jock and Julian made their way to their transport, Agent Chennai halted their advance.
"Your Serene Highness, there is one more thing I did not want to mention in the company of outsiders." Agent Chennai said.
"Go ahead." Antony prompted.
"The man I followed made one more call." Agent Chennai reported.
"Where?" Antony asked.
"To the Presidium, Your Serene Highness." Agent Chennai answered. Antony glanced at his brothers.
"To whom?" Antony demanded.
"Primus Cocher." Agent Chennai replied.
XXXXXXXX
"It was the Monoliths all along." Antony reported back to The Queen Consort upon his return to the JFM an hour later as he, Jock, and Julian detailed to her, Bo, Trick, Elena, and Dakari what they discovered as Dyson, Tamsin, Julia, Kenzi, and Clio looked on.
When the finished The Queen Consort nodded to the Seneschal who went to the communications system and placed a call.
"There is something else." Antony said.
"What?" The Queen Consort asked.
"The Athenaeum is here." Jock replied.
"What?" Trick blurted out, incredulous.
"The Athenaeum is here." Jock repeated.
"All this time?" Trick said still incredulous.
"What is the Athenaeum?" Bo replied.
"A source of knowledge if you will, Your Royal Highness." Trick answered then looked at Jock. "Where is it?"
"This Engelram's Warehouse." Jock replied.
"Are you kidding me?! That…that…cretin! He had it all along!" Trick angrily said.
"Agent Chennai is recovering it now, and will return to the Presidium with it." Tamsin informed.
"And before they realize their agent is dead." Dyson added.
"Your Majesty, I need a word in private." Antony said to his mother. She nodded and he guided her outside, motioned Elena out the door as well, and shut the door behind them.
As they waited for The Queen Consort, Antony, and Elena to rejoin the group Trick fell back into a chair to reflect on all the latest news.
"The Monoliths. How stupid." Trick said as he rubbed his head.
"I take it their involvement was unexpected." Bo said.
"The Monoliths fought in the War of Five Ranas. They are one of the most ancient races within the Fae. Proud, noble history, but when the war was over, they were not on the winning side. Nevertheless, they were given an opportunity to prove themselves to the new Sovereign, and this is how they repay that generosity. With treachery and betrayal. And let us not even discuss the recovery of the Athenaeum." Trick replied.
"Yeah, what is that?" Bo asked.
"Athenaeum means 'Library.' So when I said it was a source of knowledge I literally meant that. That source has been lost to the Presidium for hundreds and hundreds of years. For it to be on this plane of existence, and right here under our noses." Trick shook his head. 'You have no idea the gravity of what has been recovered. But the good news is that it can and will play in our favor with the Presidium." Trick replied.
"Sounds like we are fortunate it was found here." Bo said.
"It is definitely negotiation currency that has no equal other than the life of The Regnant herself. We need to use that shrewdly to this planes' advantage if and when the time comes." Trick replied.
"So the Presidium owes us a favor?" Bo asked.
"A very, very, big one." Trick replied.
The Queen Consort, Antony, and Elena walked back into the room, and the Seneschal informed The Queen Consort that Regent Saladin was waiting. She nodded and the room shimmered to reveal the offices of Regent Saladin.
"Your Majesty, How is Her Majesty?" Regent Saladin asked.
"They are in the process of administering an antitoxin from Dakari. Ari had asked for Dakari before she fell unconscious." The Queen Consort answered.
"Then she realized she must have been poisoned." Regent Saladin deduced.
"Correct. We are hoping that Dakari's venom will help her fight the poison in her body." The Queen Consort said.
"Our devotions, Your Majesty." Regent Saladin replied.
Just then the door opened and Evony, Stasio, Reed, Julia and Sadie entered with a man between them.
"What is this?" Elena asked.
"This is Olan. My contact." Sadie said.
"How did this come about?" Elena asked.
"That would be me." Tamsin said as she waved. "When I checked with the staff at Engelram's Warehouse about the Athenaeum I had them keep a lookout for any suspicious personnel lurking about. After we left the Dark Fae dungeons, I informed Agent Chennai to be on the lookout."
"Clever." Elena commented.
"Your Serene Highness." Tamsin nodded.
"So you are responsible for all of this." The Queen Consort said as she walked up to Olan.
"You have no idea, no, wait a minute, you have every idea of what is coming!" Olan spat.
"How dare you address Her Majesty in such a manner! You miserable cretin!" Antony shouted as he advanced on Olan, but was stopped by his Mother's raised hand.
"This miserable cretin nearly did away with your Mummy!" Olan countered. That caused all of the children to advance with their eyes flared orangish-red. That made everyone in the room take a step back save for Evony, Sadie and Trick. The Queen Consort raised her hand again.
"I have one question. Why? Why betray the Realm?" The Queen Consort asked.
"Because it should have been us as the victors of the War, not Regnant Einiah and his benevolency! His benevolency made the Realm weak." Olan answered.
"How is prosperity weak?" Jock asked.
"Depends on how you define prosperity?" Olan replied.
"When was the vanquished from the War ever treated in a discriminatory fashion?" The Queen Consort asked.
"When we were limited in our prosperity as punishment due to our part in the war." Olan replied.
"You chose to align yourself with enemies of the Realm. The Realm has a responsibility to protect its interests so they are not compromised. Appropriate trust was extended in the expectation you would demonstrate your allegiance. You failed of your accord." Elena said.
"Define failure?" Olan queried with a snarky smile.
"We have both Her Majesty's life and the Athenaeum in hand." Julian replied.
"But not the relic." Olan countered. "As long as we have that relic we will not stop until we have The Regnant in hand." Then smiled again.
"You are at a loss for one final detail." Antony said.
"What detail is that?" Olan queried.
"We know of Jorakor's involvement." Antony said. The smile disappeared off Olan's face.
"I see that got your attention. You know what the penalty is for an attack upon the Sovereign's personage?" Antony asked. Olan said nothing.
"Let me enlighten you. Extermination. Of every living thing on your plane." Antony said.
At that The Queen Consort raised her right eyebrow and Olan's body suddenly lifted into the air. She then turned and faced Regent Saladin while the rest of the group watched as Olan started to struggle, grabbing his neck, seemingly gasping for air.
"Now we irrefutable proof who instigated this attack on Ari." The Queen Consort said to Regent saladin as Olan's body twitched in the air behind her.
"Idiotic move on Jorakor's part. We should have destroyed them all after the war." Regent Saladin replied.
"We were all following the benevolence of His Majesty Regnant Einiah. We were honoring his tenants." The Queen Consort replied as everyone heard the crack of bones in Olan's body as he gasped and struggled in the air.
"We shall tend to the Monoliths at once, Your Majesty." Regent Saladin said.
"No. I will tend to them myself." The Queen Consort replied while Olan's body expanded, his face contorting hideously as his bones cracked.
"What is your judgment Your Majesty?" Regent Saladin asked.
"Eradication." The Queen Consort answered while Olan's body expanded further, the color of his face changing as his bones continued to crack. Everyone could tell he wanted to scream but couldn't.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Regent Saladin said.
"I want this information kept at close hold until the action is complete." The Queen Consort ordered as the veins in Olan's face and neck burst within his body further discoloring his features.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will await your word." Regent Saladin replied.
"Speak with you soon." The Queen Consort said and ended the call. The Queen Consort turned, and faced everyone.
"Antony you will remain here with Mummy. Dakari, Elena, Jock, and Julian, you are with me." The Queen Consort ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty." They all said in near unison as every bone in Olan's body shattered, his body acted like a balloon to contain the blast of his own bones. Then body suddenly dropped to the floor like a sack of rocks. Everyone looked at The Queen Consort with terrified looks. Everyone except her children, and Trick, Evony, Sadie and Stasio who either looked bemused or smiled
Dakari, Elena, Jock, and Julian followed her out the door while the rest of the group stared at the sack that was Olan's dead body.
