"Like this."
Jeefol blazed to the point of enveloping their ship and those of their enemies in his magic, then encased them all in a gigantic sphere before exploding all ten ships.
It was so impressive and blinding that the other three had to shield their bodies to resist this extraordinary force.
When it was over, the two Aedor natives could hardly get over what had just happened.
"Jeefol, you're extraordinary," the queen could only say to him, while Roune devoured him squarely with his gaze, throwing out over and over again, "my hero."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Her Majesty turned her head to the master of the Gournouk, who was scratching his chest and who still had the nerve to ask "what?".
"Jeefol, how could you let this...being become your master?" She asked again, unable to overcome this fact.
The subordinate shrugged, sneering.
"I'll only say that Master Zeron needed help and I was the most qualified to provide it."
"You're telling me." she retorted. "Zeron, eh, such a sublime name for...this?"
"This," rebuffed the subject of the discussion, "I'll have you know I'm here!"
"I'm not about to forget it," Aidine noted scornfully, "But more importantly, do you know how these people managed to find my shelter?"
"Because there's a traitor." the Gaazal immediately pointed forcefully. Again, Aidine rolled her eyes.
"I know there's a traitor! And I even know his name, it's Duke Cauldron Vreik, but what I want to know is how he found my shelter."
"That's what I'm saying," Zeron insisted, "thanks to another traitor!"
Aidine had to admit that this theory held water, but she couldn't take it into acDuke now, or at least not show it, and besides, it annoyed her prodigiously that it was this being, this common Zeron who had relieved her. He finally had some good in him, in addition to his beauty, but that was all. Which was a pity. She studied him again and guessed that deep down, he must be aware of his total lack of talent and appeal, but he seemed to have found some way of mitigating this terrible, unchangeable truth while living in reality. And Jeefol, with his charisma and power, must have been a big part of that way.
Aidine could have felt pity for him, but it was impossible, for he was able to accept and exist with his weakness.
She pulled herself together and saw that he was still talking.
"You're going to love the city. Of course, it's not the main Yzvalthes, but in a way, it's better, the Oderes city is nicer and less stifling."
Aidine felt as if she'd been stung with poison.
"You just said Yzvalthes?"
"Yes." confirmed Zeron, surprised by her reaction. "That's where the principal is, along with your teacher and other important figures, and who would inform you of everything they know."
But the Queen only half-listened to him, really only taking in the fact that they were heading for the planet of the people she hated most. The winged ones. The cowards who had abandoned her father without remorse or regret, condemning him to certain death.
"Turn back," she ordered in a queenly tone.
"I beg your pardon!" exclaimed Zeron as Roune regarded his mistress with distraught eyes.
"I won't go to Yzvalthes, even if I'm dead!" she insisted forcefully.
Everyone understood that she meant what she said; unfortunately for her, she didn't really have a choice.
"But why?" inquired Zeron, looking at her as if she were some kind of sick creature.
"I'll never go to those people who are responsible for my father's death."
"What!"
"Majesty." tried to intervene Roune, but she commanded him to be silent.
"The winged ones didn't kill your father!" the young Gaazal refuted furiously.
"But they might as well have."
"My father needed them and they went off without looking back, leaving him to die at the hands of their enemies!"
"That's absurd!" shouted Zeron in turn, animated by the same anger, "never would the winged people have done that!"
"And yet they did!" insisted Aidine before regarding him with suspicion, "and besides, for what reason do you Zeron, who are a member of Gaazal, defend these people and their emperor so much."
"It's because..."
But his Gournouk interrupted him.
"That's enough of that. Both of you!" he ordered in a sharp voice that calmed them at once.
"Catch your breath."
Aidine took a deep breath, and Jeefol continued.
"I can't say how you feel, Princess, or even if you were right, about this abandonment."
"Jeefol!" his master shouted, but he ignored him.
"However, any answers that exist to this day, you'll only get in Yzvalthes."
Aidine turned away and gazed unseeing into infinite space. She was upset, worse tortured by hatred and helplessness, but the Gournouk was right, she needed answers and support. And right now, she could only find them in this hated empire. She had to go there, and along the way she'd see what it was all about. She was Queen of Aedor now, even if she was still on the run. Above all, she had to act for her people. And her professor had trained her well enough for that. All that study, conviction and time was not to be wasted. She sighed and nodded.
"Yzvalthes it is."
"Let's go Jeefol!" exclaimed his master happily.
"Oh majesty, I'm so proud!" added Roune, crossing her paws.
Aidine ran her tongue over her lips.
"I'll never understand, Jeefol, even to support him, that you could remain under the orders of this person."
"You repeat yourself too often, Your Majesty." This person replied, and merely flashed her a sarcastic smile while his gournouk laughed, amused.
Their ship landed on the terrace of one of the tallest buildings in the city of Oderes, and they quickly moved into the penthouse.
The sight of Master Foyne, wounded and bandaged but clearly waiting impatiently for the young sovereign, his face contorted with worry, almost got the better of Aidine, but she quickly pulled herself together. She was a queen, she reminded herself, and she could no longer behave so emotionally. So she simply smiled warmly and let him bow slightly to her.
"Ah, what a relief, Majesty. Forgive me, but I really thought the worst."
"So did I, Foyne, when I saw you hadn't arrived on time."
The professor shook his head.
"You must be angry with me."
The sovereign was surprised.
"But for what?"
"For not coming to your rescue too."
The significant sound Zeron made just behind her almost made her lose her temper.
"Hold back, hold back," she encouraged herself as they all moved into the next room. And there Aidine met Zeron's master. He introduced himself as Zeitok and wore a garnet suite that suited him to perfection. He was accompanied by five members of the Gaazal, whom she guessed to be the elite of the elite, and themselves accompanied by their gournouks, who looked incredible but were no match for Jeefol.
The elites and their companions bowed at the queen's entrance, admiring Jeefol deeply and despising his master with equal intensity, but they dared not show too much of this contempt for fear of the blue beast.
"Majesty, I'm glad to find you safe and sound."
Aidine curtsied.
"I thank you, your subordinates have accomplished their mission, at least one of them."
The elites couldn't help but sneer, which drew a fierce growl from Jeefol.
The two leaders settled around a rectangular table, sitting opposite each other, surrounded by Foyne, Roune and the Gaazals. The young queen was offered a magically invigorating drink that dispelled much of her fatigue.
She straightened up and faced the master of Zeron.
"Well, I thank you all for what you've done for me, but now it's time for me to know everything."
"I understand." remarked Zeitok, "alas, I can only inform you of what I know."
"That's better than nothing," affirmed the sovereign.
"I don't suppose you've ever heard of the organization bearing the name Ridius."
She shook her head.
"It's an elusive yet powerful shadow organization that was formed a decade ago. Its power lies in its members, who are so loyal you'd think they were fanatics. The leader, a total mystery, carefully selects members based on their personalities and history, but above all on their power, usually lost souls with great power who aspire only to belong to a clan. He's got more than you'd think, otherwise the organization would never have grown so big. He offers Ridius roof in exchange for unconditional loyalty."
"I see. And that's a very interesting tale, but what does this Ridius have to do with me and Aedor?"
"It's Ridius who's supporting your traitor Duke Vreik from behind."
"What?"
Zeitok nodded gravely.
"Ridius has managed to infiltrate members everywhere and in case of failure to make outsiders obey by means that are difficult to discover."
"For the Duke, it's not very difficult. I bet it was even he who approached that foul organization to take over our kingdom."
She let her anger and impatience subside for a moment before continuing.
"And so, how did this Ridius manage to find my shelter...?"
Despite the urgency of the situation, Aidine was still loath to ask the inevitable question since it would inevitably lead to a most disturbing and dangerous subject.
"Since there were only a handful of people who knew of its existence."
"And I must admit, it was a damn good idea to place him on Aedor. What beings, especially villains, would think of looking for their enemy in their lair."
Aidine no longer restrained herself and turned to the object of her deep annoyance.
"The person who came up with this damned good idea is my godmother Tarias also known as the Red Marquise."
Zeron chuckled a little.
"Obviously. Only a woman would have come up with such a...schemes."
"That's true, and I'm rather proud of her. No man, and certainly not a small talker with no magic like you, could have come up with such a scheme from an empty head."
A magic screen appeared not far from them, on which appeared the red Marquise.
"Godmother!" exclaimed Aidine joyfully.
"I'm so glad you're well, my darling."
"I'm here too, Lady Tarias," Roune advanced shyly with a good smile.
"I know, And you've managed to accomplish your duty, against all odds, very good job!"
Roune bulged his chest, which reopened his wounds, so one of the elites took him to be treated.
"Ah, what an idiot," Zeron remarked with a disdainful shrug.
"And you're the one who says that!" replied Aidine with the same contempt.
They stared at each other for a moment, then the young Gaazal smiled in satisfaction.
"Majesty, you said that only a few...trusted people were in the secret of your shelter. And all these people are now gathered here in this room, though certain, virtually speaking, and one or more of these same people are traitors who sold you out to Ridius and the Duke, I wonder which."
"What?" exclaimed Foyne and Tarias all at once.
"My dear, you don't mean that!" cried the Marquise with a scandalized expression.
"Of course not, godmother, it's just that we're considering all the options. You can't blame me for doing it."
"But suspect us!" insisted the professor, his face flushed with indignation.
"I know, and I'm certain that Ridius obtained the information in a way that puts any treachery on your part out of the question."
"Ah, you're telling me." sneered Zeron, crossing his arms and leaning against his beast, which was displaying a bored expression.
"Maybe it's you!" advanced Aidine, exasperated by his insufferable manner.
He straightened up in his turn, furious.
"Of course, and to perfect my cover, I went and risked my life to save you on Aedor!"
"It was Jeefol who risked his life, not you, you, you did nothing!"
"Since you're repeating yourself, I'll do the same. Jeefol is my gournouk, so that's like saying I'm your savior!"
"No. You didn't lift a finger when your gournouk fought against that galactic mercenary Tirom!"
$Chapter