Chapter Twenty-Nine #4
She’d given birth to her twins in secret and left them with a trusted friend on Verdara, visiting them as she was able.
That was also when Madelaine found out the biggest secret the Cabal had kept from her—that her family was no longer in Alienn, and hadn’t been for years. They had fled to Ichor Delta after she had been inducted into the Paladin Courier program.
When Madelaine disappeared after accepting her “opportunity,” her father did some digging and found out just how ruthless the Paladin Cabal could be.
He knew Natalie was next in line to take on the legacy of his first wife’s family.
He hadn’t found out in time to save Madelaine, so he did what he had to do to keep Natalie safe.
If they’d not gone into hiding, her father feared the Paladin Cabal would bring Madelaine’s family to Alpha-Prime as hostages to ensure her good behavior.
Now that the primary purpose of the Paladin Courier had been fulfilled, Veida was content to return to Alpha-Prime, resume the title and train her daughters to take on the legacy.
“I wanted you to know that I appreciate your sacrifice,” Veida said as she and Madelaine walked from her rental property to the Paladin Seeker. “And I’m sorry it was needed. I’m sorry I had to play dead so they would let you assemble the Solution.”
“How did you find out someone wanted to kill you?” Madelaine asked.
Veida laughed. “It was pure dumb luck. I had just learned I might be pregnant.
I have four sons who are older than my twins, so I knew what the symptoms were.
I was supposed to be in the training room at an important mandatory lecture, but had slipped out.
I was in the private gardens, hiding behind a wall and trying not to retch into a bush.
“Two highly-placed members of the Paladin Cabal came out to discuss their plans for me and the conspiracy to stop the next Paladin Courier from succeeding with the help of Dirk Zandis, a true believer loyalist.
“Once I knew what they planned, I couldn’t think of another way to foil them.
I didn’t know who else was involved. I didn’t know who I could trust. I didn’t know how much time I had before they carried out my assassination.
But I knew that if I faked my death, I’d be able watch over you.
I knew I’d be able to trust you, Madelaine. ”
“As the Observer,” Madelaine said.
“Yes.”
“And it worked.”
“Yes. It did, thanks to you and the choices you made. I had planned to insert myself into the process if you’d married Dirk, because I knew he was untrustworthy. When you selected Jack, you made my job much easier.”
“Truer words were never spoken.”
They stopped in front of the ship’s descending ramp. Veida looked at Madelaine, sorrow in her eyes. “I know five years is a high price to pay, Madelaine. I’m truly sorry for the sacrifice you had to make.”
Madelaine hugged her cousin tight. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say sorry to me. It all worked out just the way it was supposed to.” She pulled away from the hug. “Are you sure I’m free? And that Natalie is free?”
“Yes. I promise. The Paladin Cabal will be reformed under new leadership. A few more members were trying to change a hundred years of planning to suit themselves, grabbing for power like greedy, unreliable crust fish. The best news is that Quell-don will be in charge when the new cabal takes form.”
Madelaine nodded. “Quell-don was good to me. I’m glad he was on our side.”
“Indeed.”
“Are you certain you want to take back the role of Paladin Courrier? And have your daughters be next in line?”
“Yes. It is my life. Maybe not the one I chose, exactly, but it is all I know. I took pride in being in this family legacy program.
“My mother was the Courier before me, as her mother was before her. My grandmother was the daughter of the original Courier, Cassandra Crowe. She loved Bravo Elroy, the scientist creator of the device, Mechanism and Solution. That’s why he made her DNA part of the Solution, so that a female from her bloodline would always be part of the greatest thing he’d ever produced.
He wanted her to be immortal, even though they could not be together. ”
“Why not?”
“Cassandra was in an arranged marriage. But she had a keen mind and worked with the scientist on the project to save the galaxies. I love being part of the Solution with the very blood that circulates in my body.”
Madalaine nodded. “I don’t regret being the Paladin Courier. Even though I was conscripted into training, it taught me the importance of what I was doing. In the end, I wanted to make a difference for the greater good. And I did.”
“Yes. You did. I’m glad you aren’t bitter. You have good character.”
“Runs in my family,” Madelaine said with a smile. “And I hope we’ll still get to see each other from time to time, now that our galaxies have been saved.”
“Of course. You can visit me on Alpha-Prime anytime you want and if I’m ever in the Milky Way Galaxy, I might just drop in on you.”
Madelaine and Veida said their goodbyes and Madelaine went directly to find Jack.
Her one. Her only love.