The Knight (The Heir #1.5)

6. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

T he months moved by in a blur. Seeing Emma at school with her bloodshot eyes and vacant expression made my heart ache. I needed to fix it; I had to talk to Glasson. I needed his help more than I wanted to admit. I was haphazardly finishing up my homework, hating every moment of doing the meaningless work of school work that made me appear to be the seventeen year old boy that I needed to try to be, when the door to my house opened up.

"Ryker," I turned to see Glasson, standing in my doorway. He walked inside and sat down on the couch.

"Oh, well, make yourself at home,” I offered, closing my English notebook; the essay could wait.

"Your door was open. Do you want me to leave?"

"Most people knock,” I shrugged. I’d asked him to come. It wasn't actually a conversation that I was looking forward to having. I stood up tall and cleared my throat. “I must report that Prince Lamont and his wife Ara are dead. I am not sure if you've heard."

His head shot up. "Dead?" he asked, folding his arms, his brow furrowed. “No, I had not heard that.”

"Yes."

"This isn't good, guard," he growled. I clenched my jaw; “guard” was a term used to demean an unworthy Torren Knight. He must have been truly upset. I didn't blame him; I deserved to be called that—even worse.

"Yes, Highness. I am aware."

He frowned but continued to watch me as I walked over to the door to close it. "So who did it? Who found them? Was it Prince Tarick’s men?"

"I wasn't there, but I am sure that it was Tarick’s men. Knowing him, he would stop at nothing to kill off his brother's line and any other challenge to his right to the throne.” I folded my arms across my chest, not ready for the chastisement I was about to receive from the rebel-Prince knight.

"You weren’t there?” he scowled at me as he stood up. I knew that I had gone against everything a guardian knight vowed. I knew I had messed up. He shook his head and moved on, but I knew that he would come back to it at some other time. I was surprised that he did not mention my failings right then. It was his duty, after all, to make sure that all of his people took their oaths and vows seriously. He placed a hand on the back of the couch as if that realization had shocked him so badly that he needed help to stand. “So what do we do? This realm isn't safe for her anymore if they know about her. I wish I had a crystal for her."

“We are doing the best we can at shielding her now.”

“Emma’s melody is so strong.”

"I'm looking into finding a crystal,” I added.

“She is so loud. Anyone could come here and find her, so easily. We have a target on our backs.” Glasson paced, seemingly not paying attention to me.

“Lamont and Ara were always able to suppress her melody. I didn’t account—“

“Account for their deaths ?” he frowned, moving away from the couch to pace, for a few strides, across the floor. His feet left imprints in the plush, grey carpet, marking each step.

I gulped, unable to think for too long about the fact that I never had accounted for the possibility of their deaths that night. I nodded.

“We need a crystal.”

“I agree,” I said, leaning against the back of the brown couch in the living room, watching Glasson’s uncomfortable movements.

“How will you find one? There are no more left here in Roseville. The best crystals from Roseville's small mine were excavated long ago,” he added, pausing in his pacing in order to look at me.

“There are the Terran colonies up North. I want to check them out.”

"Okay, yes; that might work." He rubbed his jaw and then his face with his hands.

I tried not to look at him. I was sure that the feelings which I had for Emma would be clearly visible in my eyes. I didn’t need any more disappointed looks from him if I could prevent it.

"Next thing—" I started.

“I can’t be of much help. My charge is very—“ He pulled his phone out of his pocket and signed. “She’s a handful.”

“ You have trouble with your charge? So it is possible that you are not an actual Ancient, in the flesh."

“I’m the Crown Prince of Torren, head of the guardian knights as you are well aware, guard. Do not question me.” I watched as he rubbed his eyes. He looked tired and worried.

"I’m going to figure out what happened. I’ll talk to the police; we have a sketch—" I voiced my plan.

"You think they will know anything about things from our realm?"

"The first person on the scene was a cop sent from the 911 call for an ambulance. He may have some info. They do have eyes."

Glasson rolled his eyes. I knew he didn't trust humans with his life, especially agents of government.

"Ashlyn is being moved. I can try and relocate her here to Roseville." Ashlyn had been his charge for the longest time, which was rare for a royal heir to follow the guardian knight’s life. But Glasson was a guardian knight to this Ashlyn person. I had never met her, although I did help him locate her once, a long time ago when she ran away.

"You will make sure Emma is safe," I commanded, which, I understood, was rather bold to speak so to my prince, well, the prince of my people. Lamont would always be my prince, the prince I served.

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"I don't know, but you can hear her melody, can’t you?"

He shrugged.

"Just keep an eye out; that is all I am asking. You know if it was Tarick's men who did this, you and I will need to stick together."

"I will watch her—and be discreet. How long?"

"Two months."

"Two months? I have to keep watch of Ashlyn, too. If Tarick’s men are on the loose and doing his bidding, then I need her close by."

"I leave in a week. Is that enough time to figure out Ashlyn’s situation?"

He furrowed his brow, and I watched him as he thought about my question. I was desperate.

"I’ll get it done. I’ll have her enrolled at your school for next year," he finally answered.

"Okay—" I didn't know why he was giving me that information.

"You need to help me keep her safe after your return."

"I'll do my best."

He nodded and turned to walk out the door. "I have to say, I am surprised at you, for leaving your charge. Perhaps, the corruption of this realm has already begun to muddle your soul."

"I'm not leaving her, and she won't see you, will she?" I chose to ignore the corruption remark. There were a lot of things that I was, but corrupt was not one of them.

"Of course not," he answered.

"Good."

"But it's still odd,” he replied.

"Everything is odd right now. Desperate times—"

"I get it, I do—but, you should really unshield your soul. You aren’t of any use if you become corrupt.”

“I am fine,” I assured him.

“I wouldn’t bet on that.”

“I let out my melody often enough, Glasson.”

“Well, I don't think I could do that to Ashlyn, just leave her—no matter how irritating she is." He turned and walked out the door.

And just like that, I had a plan, and I would figure out who had murdered my prince and protect Emma no matter the sacrifice or the cost, even if that meant leaving her for a time.