Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Cover-up

Sometimes not having a choice is a blessing in disguise

Elisium.

The Fifth Loop, Year 391, 9th January (5L/391/1/9)

"HighCommander of Tenebra," Desmon scoffed while standing on the Bridge of Faith, the plate of sucipops mixed with kheshish still in his hands. "Some gluttonous demons will never understand that some clear consciences can't be bought."

A few hours ago, Desmond had asked the guard on duty to announce his arrival after entering Olivier's residence. The guard instead took him to a corner and whispered, "Before I announce your arrival, I request you to stand here for a few minutes."

Desmond didn't understand what the guard meant but then he heard some voices. The sounds from the dining room carried into the hall through a small overhead vent. Olivier had moved into the house just two days ago and was oblivious to the fact that the guards standing outside the dining room were hearing their every word.

Desmond quietly listened, as Olivier, intoxicated by his victory, gloated about his treachery. He gleefully recounted to Malcolm his masterful manipulation of Henry, his devious schemes to wreak havoc in this world, and his plan to overthrow Samuel to become the king.

"I wanted you to hear this. This crowing has been going on for hours. This demon will devour both these worlds. Commander, you are a man of honor, you must do something."

Desmond was carrying a plate of sucipops. He went to an army healer, his old friend, and mixed kheshish in the sweets. The healer warned him that an overdose could prove fatal but Desmond didn't care. If the two monsters died, it would be the best for the two worlds. Once both Olivier and Malcolm had collapsed Desmond called the guards.

"Carry them to their rooms. Just make sure that no one disturbs them before sunset tomorrow."

Desmond planned to buy some precious time for Aden—and also for King Samuel and his family. He climbed the fence and jumped into the whirlpool.

The next morning he was inside the Grand Palace, seated in front of his king. Desmond told Samuel the whole story of what happened from the massacre at riverbanks, the ambush, the rivers of blood, to that conversation between Olivier and Malcolm.

"You are sure, we don't want to tell the Council about this treachery?" Samuel asked.

"Your Highness, no one is going to believe you. Everyone will feel that you are trying to make Olivier a scapegoat because the mission took an ugly turn and he is not here to defend himself."

Samuel shook his head. "Holy Angels, my best friend has double-crossed me. I never imagined that Olivier could do something like this."

"He is a devilish conniver. He used everyone for his schemes. He compelled you to use the Right of the King while he remained neutral. He used Henry to do the bloodshed and always recused himself from giving such orders. He manipulated Andrews and William and many even Elisians claim that he killed them. He instigated Elisians against us. He did all this while maintaining a saint-like image so that no one could point a finger at him. "

"I never thought he wanted to become the King. Now in God's name, how do we salvage this situation."

Desmond sighed. "You have doomed yourself by using the Right of the King and you will have to face the consequences."

"Holy angels, I will become the first king in the history of Aden to be removed from his throne."

"You have a bigger problem. Olivier will try to convince the Council to not appoint the son of a disgraced mad king who slaughtered thousands—that is what he called you in front of Malcolm—as the next heir to the throne."

"My son has nothing to do with my decisions. We can try and fight his case in the Council."

"Remember, he was planning a coup, I am sure some of your ministers are on his side and they will vote in his favor. In the unlikely scenario, if the Council still votes for your son, he won't be an adult before the next Crossing. A King-Regent will be appointed to look after the empire till he comes of age and do you know who will be appointed the King-Regent?"

Samuel's face lost its color. "The HighMinister."

"Yes. Olivier will automatically become the King-Regent and he will make sure that your son never comes of age. In both the above scenarios, your family will be in grave danger."

"Oh my God! What should I do now?"

"I think I have bought you ten years. Gradually send them to faraway places where no one can track them down. Tell them to never use your family name again. Your enemies are already planning to hunt down every one of them. Also, hide your amulet with them. If your enemies can't use its powers, they will try and destroy it because that is your family's last hope to stage a fightback."

Samuel hid his face in his palms. "Hide my family? What do I tell them? And what do I tell the people when they ask about my family's disappearance?"

Desmond had thought this out. "As for the people, you would be sending your family as envoys for an initiative to develop remote parts of Aden. But tell your family the truth and prepare them to face the dangers. Ask them to mingle with the commoners and adopt new identities. I would have advised you to disappear as well, but a king can't hide from his subjects."

"I would rather prefer to face the consequences of my poor decisions than spend my days hiding like a thief."

"Your Highness, you have to ensure that this is a perfect cover-up."

Samuel nodded. "I know that. All the future generations of Solomons will be forever grateful to you for what you have done."

Desmond walked near Samuel's chair, bent down on his knee, and bowed his head. "Once your adversaries know what I did, they will name me your accomplice and I will suffer the same fate as you. But I risked everything I have for a reason and now I ask you for a favor."

"Ask whatever you want Desmond."

"A king whose reign is built on deceit can never lead his people to prosperity. Once these gluttonous devils take over, they will push Aden into a downward spiral. But you have ten years before that happens. I want you to pull this world so far ahead that even these crooks can't drag it down. We can't correct our mistakes but we both can spend our days and nights achieving this goal and pay for our sins. We have to do this for both worlds."

***

Olivier woke up from his slumber and looked out of the window. The sun was down in the sky. He had less than an hour. He ran out of his room and called his guards. "Where is Malcolm? Wake him up. Prepare a vehicle and take us to the bridge quickly."

The head of the guards remained unmoved, quietly staring at the minister.

"Why the hell are you looking at my face? Hurry up," Olivier shouted.

"Sir, you want to go for a stroll?"

"I want to go back to Aden, you idiot."

The head of the guards cleared his throat. "But sir, the whirlpool disappeared yesterday. Today is the eleventh of January. You were asleep for two days. We thought you were staying with us till the next Crossing."

Olivier's head started to spin. He sank into a nearby chair. His plan had played out to perfection until this happened. Ten years, that he could have ruled as king, he will now have to spend stuck in this world.

He held his head in his hand and let out a cry. "Desmond, you will pay for this."

***

The ten officers who returned from Aden were brought straight to the king in his private meeting chamber. The last day of the Crossing had turned out to be weird. First, HighMinister Olivier and Minister Malcolm didn't show up at the time of departure for Aden because they were too drunk. Then the chief of the army Henry was ordered to stay back as well. And now, Commander Desmond, who had gone missing in Elisium a night before, was seated beside their king.

King Samuel greeted them with a warm smile. "I know the last week has been very very tough on you. I understand that you all have stories to tell, and that is the precise reason why I have summoned you here."

Stephen, the head of the weapons department, who had been sent on this mission to monitor the performance of their weapons, replied on behalf of the group. "We don't get your point, Your Highness."

"By God's will, I will make my point very clear Stephen. I want the tales of Tenbra to remain hidden from Adeners. Desmond and I have a story ready to be told and you all must endorse that version of events. You can tell your own stories a few years later, but not now."

Stephen looked at his king and their eyes met, but he didn't blink. "You want to cover up your failures with fiction and fabrication. With all due respect my king, you took a risk and must now face its consequences."

"I will face the consequences when the time comes but right now Aden is not prepared to handle this chaotic situation. Some work has to be done before I give up the throne."

"Your one bad decision got thousands killed. Your hands are besmirched with innocent blood. You are unfit to continue as King. We will not tell lies and become accomplices in your crimes."

Samuel wasn't used to people raising their voices against him but tables were about to turn. "Believe me what I am doing is the best for Aden. I am trying to make up for my poor choices but I need time. And to get that time I need your support."

"You thought this invasion was the best option and look what happened. We don't trust your decisions anymore. We will not support your lies."

Samuel paused for a moment. His chest heaved as he took deep long breaths. A flush rose to his face and when he spoke his icy voice sent a chill down everyone's spine. "Your families have been moved into the quarters inside the Royal Courtyard. The brave officers who risked their lives for Aden and their families deserve this honor. They are now under my protection. Holy Angels, you don't want your protector to turn against you? Stephen, your son was playing in the courtyard this morning, you don't want him to meet with an accident."

Stephen's mouth fell open and he took a step back. "You are threatening to harm our families? How can you stoop to such depths?"

Samuel was disgusted with himself. What had he turned into? But buying their silence was of utmost importance. "Bless the Souls, I don't want to harm your families unless you force me to do so. No one, not even your families, must know the truth about this mission. You all will be closely watched. If any story, even a rumor, comes out, your whole family will disappear. Even an innocent child's slip of the tongue would cost you dearly. So seal your lips and repeat what I tell you to say."

"You can seal our lips, but how will you seal the lips of thousands of men who will return in the next Crossing? Is your courtyard big enough to accommodate thousands of soldiers with their families?"

Samuel gave the smile of a man who knew his fate and was ready to accept it. "I have already told you that I am ready to face the consequences when the time comes. And hopefully, by that time you all will also understand my reasons behind this cover-up. Till then just help me with your silence."

"You haven't left us with much of a choice." Stephen's voice was filled with contempt.

"Sometimes not having a choice is a blessing in disguise because you don't have to own up to disasters that crush your soul."

Samuel knew these officers loathed him. However, he had put in a good enough performance to frighten them to their core. The swords hanging above their families might keep them in check.

***

All members of the Council, the nobles, and other influential people of Aden attended the review meeting inside the Great Hall. Desmond gave a comprehensively fabricated account of what happened in Tenebra. According to his report, the people of Tenebra were building an army to attack Aden. However, when they saw Aden's army and its sophisticated weapons they surrendered without conditions and asked for peace.

"So what deal did we offer them?" Someone asked Desmond.

"As per the peace deal, their army will be disbanded and all their weapons will be seized. An army base will be created inside the Ruins to guard over Tenebra. Our forces will be allowed to mine the Star-Rocks and in return, as a sign of goodwill, we will provide them the technology to raise their living standards."

"Sounds too good to be true."

Samuel and Desmond knew people would have their doubts but no one had any proof. They just needed to stick to their story. "Our King had foreseen all this and his plan worked out just as expected." Desmond dodged the bullet.

"And where is HighMinister Olivier? Wasn't he supposed to return?" Another minister asked.

"HighMinister wanted to return, but nothing could match his diplomatic skills during the drafting of the peace treaty. Many small details need to be finalized and I am afraid none of the army people are any good in that field. HighMinister decided to remain there till this was done and dusted."

"Olivier seems to love that place," one of the Council members quipped. "He was so eager to return there. Anyways, where are Malcolm and Henry?"

"Minister Malcolm, being the resource minister, stayed there to formulate a proper plan for mining the Star-Rocks and maintaining a steady chain of supply for future Crossings. The situation there, quite understandably, is a little tense. So Commander Henry decided to look after the setting up of the army base in the Ruins and ensure that no untoward incident occurred that blemished the roaring success of this mission."

Desmond had extensively prepared answers for all the probable questions. All the returning officers also endorsed his version. People who were privy to Olivier's plan would have suspected something fishy, but they had no evidence to work with.

Desmond managed to buy some time for Samuel through his wits, some fabrication, and even threat but he wasn't sure whether this coverup would last for a decade. They had to act fast because time was crucial for Samuel, his family, and the future of Aden.