Chapter 51
51
Z erbe entered one of the smaller kitchens in the palace and went straight to Shaveer, the chef that ran it. The shorter Muiraran saw him approach and bowed. “Judge, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Zerbe did a quick visual sweep of the kitchen. There were a couple of cooks at work and one doing dishes. He gave his attention back to Shaveer and spoke in a low tone. “I need to speak with her.”
Shaveer blanched. “Now?” He glanced toward the back of the kitchen. “She is in the cold rooms below, working.”
“Take me to her.” Zerbe glanced around again. No one paid them any mind. Due to the kitchen’s location in the palace, Zerbe wasn’t the only high official to enter and ask for a meal to be prepared.
Shaveer bowed then led him to a door behind some shelves of dishes. He unlocked it from a ring of keys at his belt, led Zerbe through, then locked it from the other side. That done he led Zerbe down a series of stone steps to a landing, unlocked another door, and went through the same procedure.
Zerbe shivered. The lower they went, the colder it got. When they reached the bottom of the next set of stairs, Shaveer unlocked a third door and led Zerbe inside. The room was huge, its shelves lined with fruits and vegetables of all kinds, along with jars and barrels of different food stuffs.
Shaveer led him across the room to yet another door and unlocked it. When he opened this door, a white cold mist escaped. It was the freezer. Inside were blocks of ice which served to preserve the haunches of meat, fowl and fish hanging everywhere. A lone figure stood at a table wrapped in layers of clothing, holding a clipboard.
“Lazy bones,” Shaveer called to the figure. “Someone is here to see you.”
The figure turned around, but was so bundle up, Zerbe couldn’t see a face. Only a pair of wide, blue eyes. “Leave us,” Zerbe said.
“As you wish, Judge. The door will be unlocked.” He cast a worried glance at his worker. “That lazy bones is chained. There’s no chance for escape.”
Zerbe looked at him. “Unchain her.”
“What?!” Shaveer’s jaw went slack.
“She will not try to escape,” Zerbe said with the utmost confidence. “She enjoys living too much. Not to mention your company.”
Shaveer laughed. “I don’t know about that.”
“Release her,” Zerbe ordered again.
“Oh, all right, but I don’t like this.” He went to the woman, unlocked the manacles around her ankles, and stomped to the door. “Do not say I didn’t warn you, Judge.” He left, closing the door behind him.
Zerbe stepped forward. “Hello, Julia.”
The woman pulled off her knitted cap, unwrapped the scarves from around her face and neck, and smiled at him. “Hello, Judge.”
He went to the table. “Shaveer has you taking inventory, I see.”
Julia Dawson rolled her eyes. “Always. He keeps track of every crumb in this place.” She leaned against the table. “Has something happened? Is Shona all right?”
“She is fine, as is her mate.” He joined her at the table. “There has been… a development. It involves the Anontist Center.”
She blanched. “That place? How could anything develop? It no longer exists.”
“Not in this time,” he said. “But apparently in later years, after you left, it’s running smoothly and with an efficiency that worries me.”
Her eyes were wide, mouth half open. “What’s happened?”
He stepped toward her. “Before I tell you, remember that the King and I made an agreement concerning you. You have only been half pardoned for saving his daughter that fateful day in the lower levels. Now I am going to give you a chance at a full pardon, if you’re willing to take it.”
Her jaw dropped. “Yes, anything!”
He gave her a sympathetic look. “Do not be so eager, little human. There is great danger in what I’m about to say and ask of you.”
Julia closed the distance between them. “You let me live, Zerbe. You let me work, earn a wage even though chained. Have I not proven myself?”
“You have not been an indentured servant to Shaveer for long, Julia. And your earnings are minimal compared to the debt of service you owe. But my heart’s judgement is fair.” He sighed. “Considering one you care about may be put in danger, I thought you would want to help.”
“Shona?”
He nodded. “More than the king’s daughter will suffer if you fail.”
Julia wiped at her nose and wrapped one of the scarves back around her neck. “What’s happened?”
“Hunters from the Anontist Center have somehow managed to create portals through time. They are hunting us, Julia. And for whatever reason, have their sights set on my son, Melvale. They captured him once, and we were able to retrieve him. But these portals are a concern. What can you tell me about them?”
Julia paced, rubbing her arms with her hands. Zerbe was becoming chilled and would have to take her to the outer room soon. “Portals through time?” she said, her face screwed up in confusion. “There was no such technology while I was at the center.”
“Did you know of a Dr. Charles?”
She spun to him. “Sephtis Charles?”
He nodded.
She whistled. “He was rising through the ranks fast when I was… arrested. He even testified at my trial, the jerk. He was young, ambitious. A conniving, backstabbing, son a of…”
Zerbe held up a hand. “I get the idea.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “And you are sure no such technology existed?”
“No. When I met Philip, he’d already served as a Time Master. That was my first introduction to your time traveling abilities. Why build portals when we could just as easily capture one of you?” She paced. “But we were fools, Judge. Stupid, blind, fools.” She hung her head. “You were never a threat to begin with. If you wanted to wipe us all out, you could have done it centuries ago.”
“True. Yet Dr. Charles captured my son using portals. Was the notion even discussed when you were there?”
“At the Anontist Center? No, not that I’m aware. But Dr. Charles was a smart one. Even Philip had his eye on him for a time. But as far as I know, he never pursued any sort of alliance with him.”
Zerbe’s eyes narrowed. “Who was Philip working with, Julia?”
She heaved a sigh. “How many times are you going to ask me that? I have no idea. In the end, Philip went insane. He… talked to himself. One side of him was Philip, the other, someone else entirely. I’ve told you all this.”
Zerbe shivered. “Let us go into the other room.” He motioned her toward the door. She made a beeline for it, opened it, and almost ran smack dab into a waiting Shaveer. He held a cleaver in his hand and stared her down.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she snapped. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Hmmm,” Shaveer mused as he let her pass followed by Zerbe. “Shall I bring refreshments, Judge?”
“Please do.” He shut the door to the freezer and fought off another chill. Julia probably hadn’t been in there long. She couldn’t survive for one, and two, Shaveer had strict orders not to harm her. Too much.
Julia went to a table in a corner of the room and sat. Zerbe joined her. “What would you have me do?” she asked.
He sat across from her. “We captured one of the doctor’s minions. His assistant.”
“What’s his name?”
“Peter Oswald.”
Julia shook her head. “I don’t know him. You have him here, in the palace?”
“We do; he’s in a holding cell.” Zerbe sat back in his chair as Shaveer reappeared with a tray laden with hot drinks and food. He had no idea where he got it so quickly and didn’t care. He picked up a cup and took a sip of the hot sweet cider they’d been served.
“What do you want me to do?” Julia asked after she took a drink to warm herself.
“Question him, find out what you can, then I want you to find this doctor.”
She half laughed; half groaned. “You want me to do what?”
Zerbe leaned across the table. “Find him, Julia. He is a threat to us and you.”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“Do you really wish to be freed from the place? Then earn your freedom, and stay with us. We may even find you a mate compatible with your heart.”
She sucked in a breath.
“But yours can have no trace of corruption left in it, do you understand?” Zerbe slowly sat back, his eyes locked on hers.
She nodded. “Yes, Judge.”
“Dr. Charles is much older than you remember him. At least according to his assistant.”
She took another drink then shook her head in confusion. “How did Dr. Charles manage to capture Melvale?”
“Dallan and Kwaku were sent out on assignment, Melvale was with them and discovered… his mate.”
She smiled. “Your son, the one that Shaveer tells me straightens pictures on walls and loves to dress others?”
“He likes fashion,” Zerbe said stoically. “Or did. I’m not sure now. He is… changing. Suffice to say, this Dr. Charles set his sights on him and hunted him down using Melvale’s mate. We rescued them, brought back the doctor’s assistant, and here we are.”
Julia smiled at him. “There’s so much you’re not telling me.”
“Of course, but I have given you what counts.”
She studied him and her face fell. “You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?”
“You should be too. We have stayed hidden among your kind for centuries. You and that cursed Anontist Center wished to learn about us in deplorable ways. And your people wanted to kill you for your crimes. Yet I have seen your heart redeem itself. Perhaps then, there is hope for your race.” He took another drink, set down his cup and looked her in the eyes. “My heart has given you a second chance at a life worth living. Now I offer you even more. What will you do?”
Julia could only stare as her eyes conveyed a series of emotions. Fear, hope, love, curiosity, loneliness… “I… want to believe you.”
“You know my heart will not let me lie. It is why the king has hidden you here. Everyone thinks you are gone. We cannot have you running about the palace just yet, now can we?”
She shook her head. “No, I suppose not.” Julia’s eyes met his. “I miss Shona.”
“I know. And I believe she has missed you too.”
Julia swallowed hard. “What do you want me to do other than speak to Dr. Charles’ assistant?”
He leaned toward her again. “I want you to infiltrate this nest of vipers that seek to destroy us. Find out everything you can about these portals.”
She laughed. “And just how am I supposed to do that?”
Zerbe smiled. “I want you to go to work for Dr. Charles.”
Julia laughed some more. “And what makes you think I won’t betray you all to him?”
Zerbe’s smiled broadened. “Because you like it here, Julia. You like us. I could have killed you that day for speaking to Dallan even though you saved Shona, but a light appeared in your heart that I could not deny. And so here you are, working for Shaveer in his kitchen’s cold rooms until the king is satisfied.”
She stared at the table. “I will do as you ask.” Her eyes met his. “But I wish to see Shona.”
“And so you shall. After you have completed your mission.” He got to his feet. “Is that understood, little human?”
She nodded. “Yes, Judge.”
He smiled again as he looked her over. “Do this, and you shall be fully redeemed.” With that he turned and left the cold room to report to the king.