Story notes: I feel like I've written a lot and I've only written four chapters. This is shaping up into a wonderful story. It has quite a way to go yet. I'm excited to publish the next few chapters and I'm sorry if my upload days are different. Given the year that this story is set, I decided to add something when Olek and Tintin are talking about the Syldavian throne and comparing it to another Monarchy.
Chapter Summary: Tintin receives news from ZEPO HQ, about their suspect.
Suggested Music
1. Suite for Strings - Le Grand Cahier IX - Accusations - Litvinovsky
2. Pray for Me - Max Richter
3. 2nd Piano Concerto (Rachmaninov) - HAUSER
4. My Confession - Kamelot
X
By the Time Tintin rose from sleep and readied himself for the day, Haddock had already left to go to HQ. He couldn't see the man cooperating anytime soon, but they were hopeful something would come eventually. As he made his way down to the ground floor one of the members of Staff stopped him.
"Mr Tintin, there's a telephone call for you,"
Tintin took the phone. Placing it to his ear, he hoped for good news. As Haddock's voice echoed through his ear, something made his hair stand on end.
"Tintin, we've got a problem,"
"What's wrong?" Tintin asked, lowering his voice slightly as other members of staff passed him going about their daily business.
"That guy ZEPO arrested yesterday. He's been found dead."
"What?"
Great Snakes... how...
This is not good.
"He got out of the cell through the window,"
"Did he fall?" Tintin asked, hoping it was just an unfortunate accident.
"No. Someone stabbed him. They have no idea how it could have happened. Only the four ZEPO agents and the boss knew he was here.. did you manage to tell Muskar?"
"Yes, his sister and brother were present. They were the only people I told.. how could this have happened?"
"I don't know lad.. but we've lost our lead,"
X
"How could this .."
Muskar fell back into his chair in disbelief. Tintin couldn't imagine what he was going through. All the hope that he'd found last night had disappeared.
"I'm sorry, sire... ZEPO are still trying to work out what happened. They think that the man escaped and someone was waiting for him,"
Muskar didn't face him, worrying Tintin slightly.
Muskar briefly cast his gaze, trying to hide his disappointment.
What Tintin needed to say next probably wouldn't aid the situation either. He feared his words would only exacerbate and ignite the problem even further.
"Only a few people knew that ZEPO had someone in custody.." Tintin began quietly.
Muskar suddenly met his gaze and stood up, straightening himself as he did so.
"What are you implying?"
Tinitn held his composure as Muskar's tone changed completely and penetrated the false invisible wall he had built around him.
"Sire I'm not implying anything, I'm ... concerned that someone may have let the news slip or .."
"or what?" Muskar snapped.
Tintin built his bottom lip. Muskar seemed to know where the statement was going. As he thought about his words, Olek's presence at the ZEPO HQ flashed in his mind.
What was he doing there?
Here goes, This isn't going to be easy...
"Sire, I'm not proposing this lightly but it could be possible .. we can't rule out an insider,"
"Excuse me!"
Muskar's sharp tone cut through him like a knife through butter. He'd never felt so nervous in front of his friend.
"Muskar.."
"You expect me to believe that the perpetrator is someone within my household! That is preposterous! My staff are loyal!" Muskar exclaimed defensively.
Tintin knew the staff had been changed since the incident with the spectre to avoid any more incidents but someone had exposed the suspect. He had no doubt ZEPO would require an investigation as to why the death occurred in their custody. As a serious incident, they had to consider all the facts.
"I understand this is a lot to take in, but only a handful of people knew about the man. It's the only lead I have,"
Muskar turned, avoiding his gaze as he placed a hand on his head.
"Please leave... I need to be alone,"
"Sire...
"Please!" Muskar raised his hand to stop his enquiry. Tintin immediately backed off. He closed the door behind him and leaned against the wall. As Snowy joined him, they wandered down the corridor and into an empty room where Tintin finally took the chance to exhale shakily, trying to calm himself after the encounter.
What have I done... I've made such a mess...
Suddenly the door slammed behind him, forcing him to spin around, almost knocking one of the vases off the table.
Prince Dymitr...
Tintin straightened up as he spoke.
"It looks like my brother has seen sense at last," Dymitr smiled, but the smile brought no comfort to Tintin.
"Prince Dmymtir... please excuse me,"
Tintin stepped towards the door determined to remove himself from the Prince's presence, but Dymitr immediately stepped in front of him preventing him from leaving. The Prince stood tall over him, glaring from his towering stature. The intense glare made him avert his gaze as he tried and failed to contain his trembling hands.
He's a member of the Syldavian Royal Family, do not snap... keep your composure Tintin, he told himself, repeating it like a mantra even though the Prince's actions made his skin crawl.
"You have good manners ... for an amateur," He grinned. "So tell me, how does a 'kid' like you catch the attention of the King?"
Tintin flinched at the word Kid.
I'm not a child!
He refrained from snapping back and swallowed the lump building in his throat.
"I aided Muskar previously .."
"Ah yes... the sceptre... " Dymitr interjected, interrupting Tintin's quiet statement. "Just in time if I recall the events correctly. Still, one successful action doesn't guarantee victory in another,"
"That may be so ..."
"You are after all 'just' a reporter. You have no place in these halls,"
Tintin squirmed as Dymitr started to herd him towards the wall like cattle. As the prince slowly approached him with gripped fists, he stepped back to avoid him, aware he was about to hit the wall.
"Muskar asked me to be here," Tintin managed a little louder,"
Dymitr ignored him. Snowy started to growl, but Tintin immediately motioned for him to stop. Thankfully Snowy listened to his master but he still grumped beside him, clearly unhappy with the situation.
"Why are you so convinced the answer is located in the hills? ZEPO have leads,"
"The leads are wrong,"
"Who are you to claim that?" Dymitr accused. "You are young and impressionable. Why can't you accept the simple explanation,"
"It's baseless!" Tintin snapped, unable to control himself. His chest heaved as the Prince's stare intensified, sending chills down his neck. As he hit the wall, Dymitr didn't stop.
"You learnt nothing from your so-called suspect. Because of your insistence, my nephew and his family are still missing. Who else could be responsible But the Bordurian Government? The Bordurians are ruthless. If anything happens to them I will hold you personally responsible. You are providing nothing but a tasteless distraction,"
Tintin flinched as the prince leaned into him. He squirmed as hot breath lingered against his ear but he didn't dare push him off. His stomach stirred, twisting and turning as Dymitr spoke.
"You have no authority here so do us all a favour; step back and leave this to the professionals," One of Dymitr's hands gripped his shoulder tightly, enough to leave a bruise. "There's a good boy,"
As Dymitr backed off and slunk from the room, Tintin breathed in relief.
How can they be brothers? They're complete opposites!
After a few deep breaths, Tintin finally regained his usual composure and stroked Snowy. Although the action comforted him Prince Dymitr's voice echoed in his head.
All the leads in the moors and Mountains had dried up...
Am I distracting them... have we reached the end of the search?
All I have is a claim based on what I know, with no evidence to prove it.
X
Tintin started to head back to his room, worried he may have possibly lost the King's trust after the suggestion. Olek appeared, seemingly happy to see him and he walked up to him.
"Ah, Mr Tintin.."
"If you wish to see the king he's in his study," Tintin quickly stated, preempting the question.
"It's you I wanted to see,"
Interesting... Especially after what I've seen.
"Oh. I'm not sure if I can help you.."
"Could you walk with me?" Olek asked quietly. As he followed Olek, he couldn't help but wonder why he wanted to speak to him. "I heard about what happened with the man they arrested. Strange business. I also overheard the ZEPO may not be returning to search,"
You know more than you are letting on, Tintin thought, trying to absorb the last statement.
"They can't just abandon the search!" Tintin exclaimed.
"I agree with you, they could stop just short of finding them. The longer Prince Kristofor remains missing, the more delicate this situation becomes,"
Tintin frowned, not quite understanding his conclusion.
"I don't follow,"
"What do you know of Primogeniture?" Olek asked as they made their way up a flight of stairs.
"I know it's what controls the succession of the crown. What's this got to do with King Muskar?"
"In some countries, it doesn't matter which gender can receive the crown. The heir apparent in The United Kingdom is Princess Elizabeth. It doesn't work like that in Syldavia. The succession only passes through the sons. If something were to happen to them .. it doesn't bear thinking about but .."
Great snakes, that would mean...
"There would be no heirs," Tintin finished, suddenly realising the immediate threat to the crown the situation posed.
"The only person left after that is Prince Dymitr, but he has no legitimate male heirs.."
"This is more serious than I thought... Could this mean the end of the Syldavian Monarchy... what could happen.."
Olek stopped walking and turned to Tintin, looking him straight in the eye as he spoke.
"I think Bordurian officials would jump at the chance to invade. Tintin... you need to find him...Ariadna, Wojtek. I have complete faith in you,"
After what he'd seen he wasn't completely sold on his motives, but he wasn't wrong about the critical situation and he hadn't lied to him, yet. Tintin nodded, deciding to be careful and pay attention to everything Olek said and any particular actions.
Tintin quickly glanced around his surroundings. Olek had led him to a completely different part of the Palace. He could only see two doors, One large and reaching quite far up the wall and the one that Olek had just unlocked.
"Where are we?"
"That's the ballroom.." Olek stated, motioning to the larger ornate door. "I want to show you this room. It's the study that King Muskar XI used during his reign."
Olek opened the other door and they all walked in to find a remarkable find. Although sheets covered some of the furniture, the writing desk next to the window remained remarkably preserved. Tintin could still see the fine detail etched into the wood. The lack of light made it impossible to see everything, but even the feel of the room sent shivers running down Tintin's spine. As he stepped further into the room, Snowy started to sniff his way along the floor.
"Wow... it's been remarkably preserved.."
Snowy sneezed from under the table, making Tintin and the Aide laugh.
"That's not the only perk, watch this," Olek replied, moving to the wardrobe. Tintin frowned wondering what in the world he was doing. After a little pressure, the wardrobe gave way at the back. A chunk in the wall disappeared with it.
"A secret Passage?"
"This one goes up to one of the bedrooms. There's even a sneaky passage into the balcony room, from the king's study. There are secret passages scattered all over the palace,"
So someone could hide anywhere... including Olek.
He still couldn't erase the feeling that something was amiss, despite the genuine help he'd just given.
"Fascinating.. it must be a good place to hide.."
"Muskar, Marianna and Dymitr know these passages as well as the palace. I've heard they used to play hide and seek when they were children,"
Footsteps drew their line of sight to the door, as Prince Dymitr walked past. Out of the corner of his eye, Tintin noted Olek grimacing slightly and avoiding the Prince's gaze.
It's not just me he had that effect on.
Olek quickly readjusted himself as he heard another door shut.
Something else is going on here...
X
Muskar did not wish to retire to bed just yet. He knew he would only toss and turn and wished to spare himself from yet another sleepless night. Night had long since swept in from the horizon, enveloping the city in an inky blackness. The night also brought a tremendous deluge.
He dragged his hand across this forehead, musing over the events of the day with great regret. He didn't mean to snap at Tintin.
After another series of coughs, he rested his elbows on the desk.
I can't do this for much longer.
I'm lying to my family... I'm snapping at the people I need the most...
He replayed Tintin's words in his head, trying his best not to shake off his friend's concerns.
Even in all his years of Kingship, He'd never been so conflicted until now.
He briefly cast his mind to the incident with the sceptre, and how his aide had betrayed him and conspired to force him into abdication. Had It not been for Tintin's determination, today would be very different.
I have Tintin to thank for everything... He didn't deserve to be dismissed like that...
Could anyone .. No...
He shrugged off the theory once again, but now the thought was present he couldn't eradicate it.
I can't...
I don't know what to think.
X
Kristofor kicked against the thick wooden door again and again, desperate for it to give way. The Cellar room had pale and peeling walls and a single lightbulb hanging from a scarred and cobwebbed ceiling. Ariadna held Wojtek as close as she dared. She tried to control her breath as a series of pains spread across her 8-month bump.
"Please! Just stop!" She begged. "We've tried that,"
Kristofor quickly gave in and sat back down next to his wife, wrapping his arm around her. It hurt him that the event happened so quickly.
I still can't understand why someone would do this.
"Mama, I want to go home," Wojtek pleaded.
Tears came to Kristofor's eyes at his son's words.
"Me too love. It's going to be okay" Ariadna soothed, as Kristofor took her hand and gently kissed it.
He recalled the last conversation with his father before they left, and a ghastly thought entered him; What if that was the last time I'll ever see him...
Please... find us...
anybody.. please
Arianda clutched her baby bump, wincing loudly. Kristofor pulled her closer and gripped her hand. The grip she returned was even stronger. He dropped down in front of her, placing his hand on top of hers and the unborn baby.
"Ariadna, what's wrong, is it the baby.."
The thought of her giving birth in this ramshackle of a cellar made him shiver.
Please, not now...
"It's just a twinge, I hope,"
A clunk of metal echoed as the captors removed the lock from the door. The door swung open with a squeak, hitting the adjoining wall then someone walked in, someone they knew.
Kristofor sprang to his feet, staring down at his captor.
"How dare you! You traitor!"