Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1)

CHAPTER 9: ALLEGIANCES

  As he made his way through a questionable part of Chast, Dorange looked down at the watch on his wrist. It read 12:10 a.m. He was in the roughest part of the city, the part where there was the most crime, despite Koroan's heavy hand, and the section where there were the most bars. He knew that Captain Sartel would be in the one bar where Dorange always conducted business.

  Dorange walked past two Gnols who had passed out from drinking too much. It was obvious that a lot of the citizens were celebrating after Koroan's moving speech. Dorange rolled his eyes as he strolled into his favorite bar.

  Once inside the smoke-filled bar, he scanned the room, ignoring the dancers on the stage and the drunken couple to his right. He noticed Captain Sartel at the back of the bar in a booth, with two scantily clad female Gnols who were all over him, along with empty liquor bottles on the table. Dorange grunted as he approached. He didn't need his most trusted officer drunk at a time like this.

  Sartel, who was laughing hysterically as the women mauled him, saw Dorange approaching. He quickly pushed the female that sat next to him on his left out of the booth. She fell flat on her back, but she didn't notice as she rolled over in the fetal position and laughed. Sartel stood to attention and saluted, nearly falling over. He giggled his response. "Gen ? General Gar! What an honor. Why don't ?" Sartel stopped as he fell over and caught himself on the table, " ? Why don't you join us?"

  Dorange walked to within inches of Sartel's face and glared at him. It was obvious the Gnol was drunk. He looked him up and down. Sartel, who stood at five feet, ten inches tall, was just a few inches shorter than Dorange. His bright red hair was soaking wet with drink, his green eyes were glazed over, and his black officer's uniform was filthy.

  Dorange yelled, causing the crowd in the bar to turn their attention to the four Gnols in the corner. "Captain Sartel!"

  Sartel stood at attention, again trying to control his giggling, but the two ladies only laughed louder. Dorange shot both of them looks that could kill. Seeing his face, the two female Gnols got the hint and scattered.

  Dorange grabbed Sartel by his uniform collar and shoved him back into the booth. Then he slid into the seat opposite Sartel.

  "What's the deal, General? I thought you would enjoy the little party. As you could see, I had a girl for you," Sartel said.

  Dorange grabbed a half-empty bottle of liquor and splashed it in Sartel's face.

  "Hey! Wha-"

  "You had better sober up now, Captain. I have a mission for you."

  Sartel laughed as he reached for another sip from his bottle. Dorange grabbed the bottle and threw it against the opposite wall. "I mean it, Sartel!"

  "Okay, okay. What's so important that I need to be sober for? I've completed most of my missions drunk anyway."

  Dorange looked around to be sure that no one was paying attention. Everyone in the bar seemed to have gone back to their drinks. He leaned in closer and spoke softly. "I need you to follow Celeste to the rebel base and record her with this," he said, retrieving a mini digital recorder from his uniform pocket.

  Sartel laughed. "Our lordship didn't believe your accusation, huh?"

  "Shut up, you fool! He didn't believe my accusation about Celeste, but he believed my accusation about you."

  Sartel stopped giggling and grew serious as he looked into Dorange's eyes. "What are you talking about?"

  Dorange leaned back in his seat and placed his right arm over the backrest. "Let's just say that you failed to report and show our lordship the documents that attested the assassination of my lovely wife by Adrian Palmer's special ops unit."

  Sartel gave Dorange a questionable look. "What are you talking about? There wasn't any assassination attempt. You-"

  Dorange quickly leaned over the table, grabbed Sartel by his ear, and pulled. "Listen, you little scumbag. If you want to live to see another day, I suggest you do as you're ordered or our so-called god is going to turn your brain to soup."

  Sartel grabbed Dorange by the wrist and pulled his grip from his ear. Sartel gritted his teeth and seemed sober now. "You didn't?" he said.

  Dorange smiled and nodded his head. "Oh, I very well did."

  "You would sell me out like that? I'm the only one who knows about all of your little secrets. What if I just went to Koroan now and told him everything? Maybe I'll even let him probe my mind just so he knows that I'm telling the truth."

  Dorange laughed. "You wouldn't dare. The moment you walk into Koroan's presence, he'd kill you. He partly blames you for my late wife's death."

  Sartel now had the look of a caged animal. Dorange thought that he was about to leap over the table and attack, but he didn't. He just glared at him.

  Dorange continued, "Besides, if you do this, I promise it will be worth your while."

  "How so?"

  "If you successfully record our dear princess as the spy, Koroan won't kill her, but will force her to marry me."

  "You've got high hopes, General. There's no way Celeste will marry you."

  "I beg to differ, Captain. The king couldn't bear to lose another of his beloved daughters. So, what better way to keep an eye on her than to force her to marry his most trusted servant? He treats me like a son."

  "Yeah, I've noticed."

  "So, Captain Sartel, when Celeste is forced to marry me, who will become next in line to the throne? And, where will you be as my most trusted officer?"

  A wry smile spread across Sartel's face. He nodded, grabbed the recorder, and scampered out of the bar.