CHAPTER FIVE
“That’s because it is. Impossible, I mean,” said Nicolai.
“Nicolai, good morning,” said Hex. “Please come in. Are you feeling well?”
“I’m feeling better than I have in months. Your people are the most generous and kind I’ve ever met. I’m clean, shaved, fresh haircut, fresh clothing, and I am definitely overfed,” he smiled.
“You said it was impossible to find or prove. How do you know?” asked Luke.
“My father, his father, his father before him, and so on, have been trying for centuries.
Long before DNA was even a word in our language, someone was searching to prove that my family was directly related to Alexander.
If they had, there is no doubt we would have ruled all of Greece.
Instead, we were relegated to our small island.
“Honestly, I was happy with my little island. We didn’t have much. Some ancient ruins of temples, a solid fishing industry, tourism, amazing food,” he smiled. “But I had no delusions of becoming the next king of a country that has a government in place. Although it’s not a very good one.”
“You have had your issues,” said Luke with a small grin.
“Yes. Too many issues if you ask me. But my island was removed, forgotten and we liked it that way. The morning of,” he stopped and swallowed, shaking away the images, “the morning of the attack it was like any other. Warm, beautiful sea breezes. My wife and I were having breakfast on the terrace.”
“Do you have children?” asked Eric.
“No,” he said shaking his head. “We were not blessed with children. The men came from nowhere. I didn’t see them arriving by the sea and I should have. The other side of the island is extremely unforgiving terrain. It would have taken highly skilled men to climb the cliffs and come via that route.
“They said nothing. They shot my wife, my dogs, the staff, and then took me into custody.
I was told to renounce any connection to the throne or I would be killed.
As they were transferring me from one location to another, there was a protest in the square and I was able to escape the hold of one of the guards and flee.
A kind fisherman took me to a cargo ship owned by his brother-in-law and I was transported directly here, to New Orleans.
“I’ve tried to contact the embassies, your president, anyone who would listen but it seems no one wants to listen to an old man. An old man whom others believe is mad.”
“You’re not mad,” said May squeezing his hand. “I don’t know that we can prove your lineage to Alexander the Great but it won’t matter. You are who you are. You have a direct line to the throne, which shouldn’t even matter any longer since it’s a parliamentary government.”
“It is a weak government,” said Nicolai. “I was openly distrustful and critical of how our country was being run. I should have just kept quiet. What’s happened to my island? To my people?”
“We’re trying to find that information right now. None of this was publicized on the news. Why do you think that is?” asked Cam.
“I’m of no consequence, young man,” he said staring at Cam.
“Although, something inside of me tells me you are older than you appear. It doesn’t matter about me.
Truly it does not. If they said I was no longer a prince, then so be it.
I would just want to continue to live and help the people of my island. ”
“Nicolai, it’s been my experience that when someone conquers someone else, or a country, or island, it’s because they are trying to hide something or they need something you have,” said Luke. “Did the island have any minerals? Oil, gas, anything along those lines?”
“I don’t believe so. We never mined for it. The Greek islands are very rocky and have been transformed over the centuries by massive earthquakes, the shifting of earth. I have to believe if that were present, we would have found something.”
“Regardless, there is something on that island they want, beyond you. If they only wanted you to renounce any claims to Greece, they would have killed you as well. You didn’t have children to carry on. Siblings?”
“No. I am the last of the line,” said Nicolai.
“Nicolai, you have no reason to trust us or believe us, but we can help,” said Luke. “This is what we do. We solve problems, mysteries, and we are very, very good at stopping the bad guys.”
“How do we know who the bad guys are?” asked Nicolai. “I saw no faces.”
“No but you stood before someone who wanted you to renounce your claims. That person is identifiable.” Nicolai shook his head.
“No. His face was covered like the others. I did not see him.”
“So, we’re not sure this was instigated by the country?” asked Eric. “That’s important, although the Greek authorities didn’t seem to come to your defense.”
“My island is insignificant to them. None of this makes any sense.”
“I beg to differ, sir,” said Hex. “Something about you, or your island, is significant. That’s what we need to find out.”
“So, you’re going to help me?” he asked with surprise. Luke looked at the others and nodded.
“We absolutely are going to help you.”