Saving Kai

Chapter 7

Nikolaus watched the young man with hooded eyes, trying to thrust aside his own distaste enough to conduct the interrogation. Not that it appeared that it would be difficult. Kaillen was quietly submissive, never showing the least sign of rebellion. It could only be hoped that he accepted questioning with the same manner. Nikolaus really had no stomach for forcing the answers out, not after what had already been done to the boy.

“What is your true name?”

Kai stared at him for long moments, and the confusion in those beautiful eyes was evident.

“Kaillen is my true name, my lord, as far as I know.” The lack of memory was disturbing, but then, those who raised him would have wanted him to emulate the dead prince as closely as possible. Wherever they had taken him from, it would be to their best interests to have him remember nothing of his past.

“You remember no family, no parents?”

Kai shook his head, a hint of sadness in his expression that Niko did not want to acknowledge.

“Where were you raised, and by whom?”

Again that helpless look that roused Niko’s protective instincts and made him want to growl at himself.

“I do not know, my lord. A fortress a long way from where you captured me, to the north I think. The men who raised me were called my guardians. There were four of them. I do not know their last names, but they were called Hasan, Cemas, Garath and Larmana.”

Nikolaus shot a look at Ezekiel, whose fingers had tightened upon the arms of the chair he sat in.

“I know three of them. Not Larmana. Cemas was the one who came as ambassador to Askara, who we believe orchestrated the attack upon the royal family. Hasan was his assistant, the one we found dead in the carriage.” Ezekiel’s voice was tightly controlled.

Nikolaus gritted his teeth, wanting the men named under his own hands, wanting to kill them himself, to watch them die in reparation for his princess' death. He fought for control once more, taking several deep breaths before looking back at their prisoner.

The boy watched him with fear. It took long moments before Niko reminded himself sternly that the young man, raised as a tool, might be as much victim as the royal family themselves. If he was innocent, as so far seemed possible, then to harm him seemed the act of a monster as great as the invaders.

Niko felt Ezekiel’s hand on his arm, and he gathered his strength, took a deep breath, and pushed away the madness.

It was several moments before he could continue the questioning with anything resembling composure.

“Are you aware of the situation here in Askara? Of why you were brought here?”

The young man seemed to consider his words carefully, but without any hint of dissembling.

“I was told nothing, until the day Generals Gerald and Melville came to take me. Then they said I was prince, and that I had been deposed, that they were my mentors, come to aid me in regaining my throne.” The brilliant green eyes rose to meet Niko’s. “I do not believe them, my lord. I am no prince, whatever else I may be.”

Niko’s anger wavered at the honest admission, the lack of belief in the machinations that surrounded him. Ignorant of circumstances this boy may be, but not without intelligence. It seemed, despite years of indoctrination, that…Kaillen…had a mind of his own and the will to use it.

Nikolaus considered things, trying to push away the surging emotions that made thinking difficult.

“The truth of the matter is that the men who raised you invaded Askara, murdered the royal family, and have held the country under their brutal rule since. They are attempting to resurrect the royal family through you, to create a legitimate hold over the country to placate the people and ensure their compliance.”

Kai’s eyes held shock and confusion.

“I did not know, my lord. I am sorry.” There was compassion in his eyes, and Nikolaus felt some part of him ease, as though the fact that Kaillen was not part of the plot was important.

Ezekiel leaned forward, gaze intent on Kaillen’s face. “So they taught you nothing of Askara?”

Kai diverted his attention to Ezekiel. “No, my lord. I tried to ask, but…” His eyes clouded with some inner thought, a hint of distress in his expression. “I knew that they were using me, but I did not know how or for what.”

“Well, you are in Askara now, and this is General Nikolaus Greyan, leader of our rebellion against the invaders. He is all that is left of the royal line.”

Niko tensed, but did not refute the statement. In truth, he was a distant cousin of the queen, but he had never made a fuss about the link. Others seemed more than ready to do such a thing for him, even Ezekiel, who was sensible in most other ways.

He had never liked the information coming out, because it made his relationship with the princess seem almost…incestuous. Not that anyone had ever commented, so perhaps the distinction was in his own mind, more than in others’.

He came back to the present to see Kaillen staring at him respectfully.

Kai bowed his head. “I am sorry, my lord, for any grief my presence causes you. I can only reiterate that I had no knowledge of what they intended, little though that helps.”

Ezekiel tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair, bringing Kai’s attention back to him. “That is all well and fine, but are you willing to bring justice to Askara, willing to aid us in eliminating Gerald and Melville as leaders of the invader’s army?”

“You mean to use me as bait.” The words held no animosity, nor fear, and Niko felt a faint stirring of respect for this young man. “You had wanted to do that before, but they did not come. Perhaps they have given up on me, and I am of no use at all.”

The lack of self pity only made Niko solidify his opinion. This…enemy, if enemy he truly was, held a quiet strength that was intriguing.

Niko nodded. “The fortress where you were held was too remote, too hard to attack. We hope to use another place to draw them out, and also to leak information that I will be there. I am one of their primary targets, so the promise of attaining both you and me may well be a lure they cannot resist.”

Kai nodded. “I will do as you wish, my lord. I do not know if I am of Askaran or not, but your cause seems just, and I cannot say that I trusted the generals. Their words seemed wrong, their actions…” He swallowed with difficulty, his face stark at some memory. “They did not seem to have honorable intent.”

Nikolaus could not help the snarl that curled his lip at mention of the men “In that, you are completely right.”

Ezekiel nodded, then gave the faintest of approving smiles as he looked at Kai. “Wherever you may come from, Kaillen, Askara would be grateful of your help. And who knows, you may find sanctuary here in time.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Kaillen whispered, but Nikolaus could see there was no true hope in the young man’s eyes.

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