His heart rate increased and he had to fight to retain his composure. “Come with me,” he commanded.
He moved a few paces behind her and urged her towards the transport door. As they boarded he directed her to a private room opposite the Crown Soldiers and their prisoners. Once settled, the transport began the return trip to the Royal City, picking up tremendous speed with each passing moment.
The Elder sat down gracefully as Evan took the seat opposite her with the book secure at his side. They sat in silence as the transport moved, Last City fading into the distance. He glanced at the book and tried to recall the woman’s words. ‘Forgotten truths’ came to mind immediately. His eyes traced along the raised impression of the royal seal, wondering what words were contained within the pages that she risked her life for.
“I’m guessing you’ve never read it,” she interrupted.
Evan moved the book to his side and out of her view. “It’s not mine to read,” he answered. The longer he looked at her the more he realized she looked too young to be an Elder and too refined for a resident of Last City. Untamed curls of golden brown hair spilled out from her head, with dark close set eyes perched on top of a narrow nose and full mouth, and skin that radiated golden warmth. She was an exotic contrast to the other residents. She stood out amongst those who stood at her side on the platform, and he knew she was not truly one of them. She did, however, look like someone who had lived luxuriously, who spent their life surrounded by the comforts of the Royal City.
“It is a chapter of Terra’s history; of course it is yours to read. It would change your perception of the Stratons if you knew how different the story in the book is from the story you remember. From what you were told.” There was a strange kindness in her voice, a matronly gentleness that reminded him of his own mother.
“You have no idea what my perception of the Queen and King is,” he disputed.
“I know a lot more than you think I do, Evander. About you, your Queen, and the King.”
He bristled at the familiar way she spoke his name, but couldn’t place the direct source of his discomfort. “If that were true then you would have had no reason to take the book.”
“I didn’t take it for knowledge,” she replied.
“For what then?” he asked.
“To get Kyra Straton’s attention,” she confessed.
“Well, you got it. You’ll be lucky if all she does is lock you away for the rest of your life,” he warned. “I hope you had enough sense not to share your conspiracy with the other residents.”
“It isn’t a conspiracy,” she replied sternly. “The book is evidence.”
“Evidence of what? If that were true then why would it be on display in the Media Center for all to see instead of hidden or even destroyed?” he asked incredulously. “Do you really think they would hide it in plain sight?”
“You mean in a container programmed with technology so advanced only one or two people in the world could open it? Yes, I do think that.”
“Then how did you manage to steal it?” he countered.
To his surprise she smiled. “My family created that technology.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “Right. Not only are you claiming the Stratons are frauds, but also that you are the last surviving member of the original family.”
“I never said I was the last.”
A cold chill struck a nerve in his spine. Nothing she was claiming was possible. “The original family is dead. They have been for nearly a generation.”
She stiffened in her seat as a pained expression breached her face, and for a moment Evan regretted his words. Her reaction surprised him. No one could fake the emotional toll a loss like that would take on a person. She was genuine.
“Yes, most of them are dead,” she said after a long moment. “My sisters and brothers, my husband, maybe even my children. They nearly killed me, too.” She seemed to struggle with the words. Evan watched as she fought to keep her emotions from spilling out of her control. “What purpose were our deaths meant to serve?” Her voice wavered as she spoke.
His memory of the past had faded considerably, though some memories of his parents had remained. His mother and father had close ties to the original family, and he would have recognized her if she were who she claimed to be.
“How did you know my name?” he asked.
“The same way I know that your sister is Evadine and that you’ve been held prisoner by the Stratons since your parents died. I know that your mother was Calla, and your father was Damon. I know because you used to play with my children.” Her eyes filled with tears that never spilled. He could see she was powering through her resolve, keeping her head up in spite of her circumstances.