Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
brANDON
T he city of Nahla is one we rarely visit. I have only been to this land a handful of times. Most of the time, the Royal Kai family comes to us. They insist on it, as a matter of fact. Despite their lack of invitations to visit them, they’ve always been friendly.
Their homeland is the least technologically advanced compared to other cities in Puerto Quinn. They focus on the natural beauty of the rivers running through their city. Due to the homes and structures built surrounding the riverbanks, most places are only accessible by foot.
In past years, I’ve watched how other royal houses have commented on how outdated the Kai way of life is, but that’s never bothered them. Growth and expansion aren’t their priority, it never has been. That’s why I like them so much. They don’t play political games. They show up when they have to, enjoy the food, and then leave. That is also something I envy about them.
It’s ten past noon when Jesse finally joins Roman and me on our way to visit our grandfather. My time to come clean has come. Keeping this from him is no longer an option. I knew the second I went forward with the Gabriel and Mel's plan, I would have to tell him about everything happening. After what I learned in the underworld, I have no choice. We no longer have the privilege of thinking this can all be a misunderstanding.
I knock on my grandfather’s suite door, and it opens instantly. One of his guards gestures to two opened double doors inside the room. We walk directly inside.
With an arch brow my grandfather greets me by saying, “Good to finally see your face.” He is fixing his shirt buttons, not facing us. “Your actual face.” He shoots Roman a look.
My brother obviously didn’t fool him. I didn’t expect him to; he simply needed to buy me time and save some face amongst the others.
“I know all my grandchildren. I know you the best because you’ve been my shadow for years.”
He means the words with endearment, but they sink into my gut. I don’t like to acknowledge the differences between my brothers and me, not when it comes to my family.
“I need to talk to you,” I tell him, stepping further into his bedroom.
His room is much bigger than mine, but the space feels so small. His eyes move from me to my brother’s hanging closer by the door.
“You needed backup to speak to me?” He huffs. “My hope is for you to reveal that your scheming is over. Sneaking around at every tour stop is one thing. Having a young woman with no record in the force as your second personal guard is foolish. If you think she’s gone unnoticed, you are wrong. Brandon, you are about to be crowned and need to take things more seriously. I hope you had your fun and it's now over.”
Not even a tiny part of me is surprised he knew all along. How can he not? We’re so close. But he has it all wrong. His smirk tells me he thinks it’s all for good fun, but he has no idea. While I’ve been investigating our allies inside their own homes, my grandfather thought I was having a good time with my friends before my coronation. What I’m about to tell him will shatter his world.
“Bianca Blanco,” I say. His eyes tell me he already knows her name. I’m sure he got his hands on the onboarding documents easily enough. I take a deep breath. “An unknown group hired her in Fierno to steal a cursed book in our Vault.” His smirk drops as my words ring across the bedroom. I hand him the book in question. “The book needed five souls to open. It took her friend’s soul during the attempted retrieval. I have spent time on every tour breaking into each royal house’s vault looking for missing items.”
His eyes stare at the book tentative before he takes it. His eyes skim the pages. “How did you do it?” His question is about the book, not the vaults.
“Bianca’s gift allowed for a trade with Guard General Gabriel. He helped us facilitate the book’s opening and discover this group’s mission.”
“An angel helped you practice black magic?” His tone is inquisitive, not incredulous.
“No, his brother did. General Mel. You’re focusing on the wrong thing.” I move closer and take the book from him. I scan the pages to the exact entry I am looking for. “This journal speaks of dismantling the Red Book when it was first created.”
I hand it back to him and watch his eyes examine the words carefully.
“The creation of the Red Book came with a cap on people’s magic. Klause, the journal’s author, speaks of his attempts to help those who seek to destroy the book and uncap their magic.”
His eyes finally meet mine.
“His last entry explains how the Fates have done a mercy to humanity by creating the Red Book. He drops all attempts to aid the cause. Whoever hired the thief to retreat this journal from our vault is trying to destroy the Red Book.”
His face becomes pensive. “I need a list of all the items found missing. Anything, regardless of how small you think it is, needs to be cataloged.”
He moves out of the bedroom and into his office area, we all follow him.
“So, it’s true. The Red Book caps everyone’s magic?” I ask, seeking confirmation of what I already know. Letting the idea settle in my mind. Of course, it’s true. Why would Mel and Gabriel lie?
“This is a part of our history long forgotten. It’s not taught for the dangers it poses. Knowledge is power, and power can do crazy things to those who don’t wield it properly. Weaponizing knowledge can be just as dangerous. We need to kill the root of the problem before it spreads.”
“Roman.” He gestures for my brother to move forward. “Assemble six search groups to go undercover in each city, including our own. We need them to find all who are behind all this.”
Roman’s eyes move from me to our grandfather. “What will be their search area of focus?”
“Underground fractions, black markets, and secret societies. Leave no stone unturned. I expect results by the time we return to the Black Castle.”
My brother nods. The wheels on his brain are already turning, placing soldiers into groups.
“Commoners?” I ask in disbelief. He cannot simply choose to ignore all other possibilities.
“The commoners, of course.” Spoken like a king upon his throne. “This isn’t the first rebel group to spring up. They come and go throughout time. Taking on the Red Book is far bolder than anything they have ever aspired for before.”
I’m at a loss for words. I know that some do not agree with our rule, they are common amongst all types of reigns. It’s impossible to please everyone, but active groups seeking to dismantle it are unheard of.
His eyes bleed with sincerity. “I’ll do all in my power to eradicate this threat before you take on the title, Brandon. I’ve never told you about rebel groups before because it has simply been that long since one made enough noise to be noticed.”
“What about the royal families?” I ask.
My grandfather looks deep in thought. “We will alert them once we know for certain what rebel group is behind all this. Take as many prisoners as possible. We need to kill the sickness from the root.”
“That is assuming that the people behind this are not them.”
“Brandon.” My name falls off his lips like he can’t believe I said that. “Why would any of them wish to dismantle the same regime that has allowed their bloodlines to keep an elevated status and deepen their pockets?”
“Power,” I whisper.
Bianca was right. If a royal family is behind this, that’s the only reason they need.
“No.” He shakes his head, choosing to not entertain even the thought. “It makes sense for a group of angry common folk to be behind this.” He takes the journal and hands it to Jesse. “Give it to Lexi Blue. Tell her to read it thoroughly. I wish to ask her questions after. That girl’s brain is a national treasure,” he huffs in dry humor. “Where is the other girl?”
“My suite. Bianca and Alejandra will research the Kai vault tonight while we go to dinner.”
Grandfather nods. “Gives us time to wait and assess. We’ll meet tomorrow morning after they return. I want to go over all the details. For now, we have commitments to attend, including the Kai dinner.”
He walks back to his room but stops at the threshold. “Let me tell you. I knew you were up to something, but something like this never crossed my mind.” Then, he shuts the door behind him.