Chapter 5 - The Father Beneath the Palace
Tomas Vale had been alive for eight years.
He survived in forgotten archive tunnels beneath the palace.
Old librarians and servants secretly helped him.
Elara was furious.
“Why didn’t you come home?”
“I wanted to.”
“That is not an answer.”
Tomas closed his eyes.
“Varro watched you.”
“And Mama?”
“Yes.”
“You thought he would hurt us?”
“I knew he would.”
“So you let me think you were dead.”
“Yes.”
He did not defend himself.
That mattered to Elara.
Then she remembered her mother.
“Varro has Mama.”
Everything changed.
Tomas led Elara through hidden corridors toward the palace.
By sunrise, proclamations covered every wall.
PRINCE CASSIAN ARRESTED FOR TREASON.
MARA VALE ARRESTED FOR SORCERY.
CAPTAIN ROWAN ARRESTED FOR MUTINY.
Elara’s hands shook.
“He’ll hurt Mama.”
“Yes.”
“Then we rescue her.”
“We need evidence first.”
Elara glared at Tomas.
“That’s what adults say before waiting too long.”
He stared at his daughter.
She continued.
“I’m not waiting eight years.”
They went to the old observatory.
The second Charter should have been hidden there.
It was gone.
A note waited instead.
YOU ARE ALWAYS ONE STEP BEHIND, TOMAS.
Below it:
BRING ELARA AND THE CROWN TO THE THRONE ROOM AT MIDNIGHT.
OR MARA VALE DIES AT DAWN.
Elara said:
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“He wants the crown.”
“He can’t touch it.”
Tomas looked frightened.
“Maybe he does not need all of it.”
He finally revealed another secret.
Beneath the throne room lay the Vault of First Kings.
The Star Crown was its key.
“What’s inside?”
Tomas hesitated.
“A weapon every ruler for five centuries agreed should never be used.”
At midnight, Elara entered the throne room.
Varro waited.
Mara knelt in chains.
Cassian and Rowan were prisoners nearby.
Varro smiled.
“The lost princess arrives.”
Elara frowned.
“I’m not a princess.”
Varro looked at Tomas.
“Another lie?”
Then he turned to Elara.
May you like
“Your father never told you what his real bloodline was.”
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