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"Tell me again, madam, why you needed to come with me to inform Lord Chast of his wife's death."
Nichelle looked at the guard as they walked down the long, spacious corridor of the Chast family's living quarters to the elevator. The guard was nearly a foot taller than Nichelle and obviously more muscular. How am I going to do this? she thought.
"Madam?"
"Huh ? oh, I'm sorry. I am just upset about the queen's death and lost in my thoughts . . . sorry," said Nichelle. "What was your question?"
The female guard stopped and looked at Nichelle with suspicion. "I asked why was it you needed to come with me to inform Lord Chast of his wife's death?"
Nichelle thought for a moment. "Oh ? well ? um . . . Lord Chast also told me when I met with him that he wanted me to inform him as well. And ? since I am the daughter of Vlamer Kreuk, his lordship's high priest, it only makes sense that I am there as well."
The guard eyed Nichelle up and down. Nichelle worried for a moment that she did not believe her. Then she nodded and proceeded to the elevator again. Nichelle took a deep breath and tried to keep pace with the large guard.
Nichelle looked at the elevator as they neared it. I'll have to do it in the elevator, she thought. But when the elevator door opened, Nichelle's hopes of a successful mission began to fade quickly. There, along the back wall of the elevator, stood two palace guards. The male Gnols were dressed in the usual red battle fatigues that all palace guards wore. Rather than battle helmets, however, these two guards wore berets that indicated they were a higher rank than the guard Nichelle accompanied.
The female guard saluted the Gnol officers before she and Nichelle entered the elevator. The two officers saluted back, and the taller one on Nichelle's left - a large Gnol - spoke. "Private, what brings you and Madam Kreuk out this time of night?"
"Lord Chast wanted me to inform him of his wife's death, sir. She died a few moments ago."
The Gnol nodded and said, "Very well. You may accompany us to the thirty-fourth floor. Lord Chast has called an emergency meeting with all of his officers. Something about an attack on a planet called Earth."
"Thank you, sir," said the female guard as she stepped onto the elevator.
Nichelle followed and smiled at the two Gnol officers. They nodded back. There was no way Nichelle was going to try to kill the female guard now. She wasn't skilled with a weapon, and her telekinetic abilities were not even comparable to Celeste's, even though she knew that she was probably more powerful than each individual in that elevator. But combined, they would tear her apart.
As the elevator ascended to the thirty-fourth floor, the smaller officer spoke. He was about the same size as Nichelle. "So, what kind of spectacle do you think Lord Chast will make of his daughter's execution?"
"I don't know," said the larger officer. "But, I will tell you this much. She deserves everything that is coming to her. She is an embarrassment to our way of life; the way she befriended those animals. I mean, come on ? those humans don't even possess the slightest power we do. I am glad that Lord Chast is setting an example by executing her. It will just prove even more how he is the chosen one."
Nichelle rolled her eyes.
She, personally, had never had contact with a human. But from what Celeste had told her, she knew that the majority of them were genuine and true. They may not have had the power, strength, or intelligence of Gnols, but Celeste seemed to trust them. And Nichelle trusted Celeste more than she trusted anyone.
"What do you think, Madam Kreuk?" the smaller guard asked.
Nichelle turned around and looked at him. "What do I think about what?"
The smaller guard laughed and looked at his friend. "Oh, c'mon. It's common knowledge that you and the princess are best friends. You can't stand there and tell me that you agree with her execution."
Nichelle swallowed. The officer was right. She didn't agree with it. She would rather see Koroan and her own father die for their sins than her dearest friend. "You are right in one aspect."
"In one aspect?" the guard questioned.
"Yes. In one aspect, I do agree with her execution because she has betrayed the Gnols but, on the other hand, I do not want to see my best friend die. After all she has done to dishonor us, she is still my friend."
The smaller officer nodded and said, "That's an interesting way of looking at it."
Nichelle turned back around and saw that the elevator was about to stop. When it stopped, and the doors opened, she was astonished to see that the entire floor that housed Koroan's secretarial staff was packed full of various Gnol military personnel. This attack is certainly a big deal, she thought as she stepped out of the elevator.
The two officers followed Nichelle and the female guard out of the elevator, and then made their way to another group of officers. Nichelle followed the female guard to the entrance to Koroan's office. The two guards standing at the door stopped them.
"Lord Chast says he is not to be disturbed," said the guard on the right. "What do you need, Private?"
"Sir, Lord Chast requested that I inform him personally when his wife had passed away."
"Well, that may be so ? but Lord Chast gave us specific orders not to let anyone enter. He is in a private meeting with his generals and high priest, Vlamer Kreuk," the guard said as he looked at Nichelle.
The private looked at Nichelle as well, and then turned back to the guard. "Very well; we will wait."
The guard nodded, so Nichelle and the private walked to the chairs that lined the outside wall of Koroan's office, and sat. Nichelle was sweating and her stomach was in knots. Surely, Celeste had to be looking for her by now. She took a deep breath and tried to think of what to say when she encountered her father and Koroan. They obviously weren't expecting her, and what would she do if Koroan sent more guards back to the room with her and the private?
The door to Koroan's office slid open, and Dorange walked out first. He looked at the private and Nichelle and gave them a puzzled look. Koroan's two other generals, General Thourad and General Ochalt, came out of the office as well.
The private stood up quickly and saluted all three generals. They saluted back. "What do you need, Private?" Dorange asked as he continued to look at Nichelle with suspicion.
"Sir, I am here to notify Lord Chast of his wife's death."
Nichelle studied Dorange's face closely. She was curious to see his reaction to the queen's death. Rather than seeming grief stricken over the death of a noble queen, his face seemed to glow with anticipation. Nichelle noticed and allowed a glaring stare to land upon his eyes. Dorange noticed and glared back. He then turned back to the private. "Very well, Private. You may enter."
The private walked toward the entrance, and Dorange began to follow. Nichelle, however, hesitated. She did not want to see her father, especially with what was going on. The private noticed her hesitation, as did Dorange. Nichelle met their gazes and grew extremely nervous. They both had a look of distrust. She stood quickly and followed.
All three entered the room as the door slid shut behind them. Koroan was sitting behind his new desk with his back to them. He faced his newly repaired window as he stared out at the lights of Chast. He looked as if he was deep in thought. Nichelle's father, dressed in his usual religious garb, sat in another chair beside Koroan. His back was also to them, and he seemed to be lost in his thoughts as well.
Dorange spoke first. "My Lord?"
Koroan and Vlamer both seemed to be startled out of their trances and quickly turned around. All three dropped to one knee, bowed in their lord's honor, and then stood again. Nichelle looked up and made eye contact with her father. He gave her a questioning look.
"What is it, General?" Koroan questioned.
"The private has a message for you."
Koroan looked at the female guard. The private seemed extremely nervous in Koroan's presence. "Y ? yes, My Lord ? You wanted me to inform you of your wife's death."
"And?"
/> "She has passed on to meet the great goddess, My Lord."
Nichelle watched Koroan's reaction. She wasn't surprised. He showed no emotion whatsoever; no grief, sadness, or even happiness for that matter.
"Yes, thank you, Private," said Koroan. He then shot a look to Nichelle. "Nichelle, why have you come? I specifically told you to stay with Celeste at all times."
The private looked at Nichelle and stared. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something and then shut it again.
"Well?" demanded Koroan.
Nichelle looked at Koroan as she tried to hide her anxiety. "My apologies, My Lord. I must have misunderstood you. I th ? I thought that you wanted me to inform you of your wife's death as well. Please forgive me."
Koroan's eyes seemed to glaze over and boil with anger. He took a deep breath and was about to let out a bellowing yell when Vlamer cut him off. "Yes, my dear. You must have heard our lord wrong. For you know, he does not make mistakes." Vlamer then turned to Koroan, who was still seething with anger. "Please, My Lord, forgive her."
Vlamer's comments seemed to satisfy Koroan's ego. He changed moods again and walked to Nichelle. He gently placed his hands on Nichelle's upper arms. "Yes, you are forgiven. You must be distraught because of Celeste's pending execution?"
Nichelle nodded. "Yes, My Lord. I am. But I do agree with your execution order; for she has betrayed us and you most of all."
A smile grew along Koroan's face. He turned back to Vlamer. "Vlamer, my dear friend, you have raised a trustworthy and patriotic daughter."
Vlamer bowed his head and said, "Thank you, My Lord."
Koroan then turned his attention back to the female guard. "Private, inform the medical staff to take my wife's body to the morgue and prepare her for a proper burial. She shall have a funeral honorable of a queen the day after tomorrow."
The private bowed and said, "Yes, My Lord," and left the office.
Koroan looked at Dorange. "General, escort Madam Kreuk back to my wife's room. Take Celeste and prepare her for execution at dawn."
A smile, as large as Nichelle had ever seen, graced across Dorange's face. "Yes, My Lord," he said as he bowed. He looked at Nichelle and turned to leave the room. Nichelle began to follow as the fear within her began to spread throughout her body, causing her to tremble.
Just as they were about to exit Koroan's office, Nichelle heard her father. "Wait!" Dorange and Nichelle both turned around. Vlamer looked at Koroan. "My Lord, please may I go as well? I would like to pay my last respects to your wife."
Koroan smiled, walked toward Vlamer, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Yes, my dear friend, you may go."
Vlamer bowed his head. "Thank you, My Lord." He then followed Dorange and Nichelle out of the office. As they approached the elevator, Nichelle began to panic again. There was no way now she was going to escape. Her father and Dorange were probably the two most powerful Gnols after Koroan.
Thoughts raced through Nichelle's mind. They were about to walk into Ciminae's room, with Celeste missing.