To Catch a King

11.

“You found him?” Andreas asked. Jask nodded. The man couldn’t believe it. They’d barely been in Lenham for half a day and the prince was so easily found. As Jask continued to relay what she’d learned, he mulled over it. Finding Vincent had been too easy, like someone wanted him to be found. He faintly heard that Jask had found a tattoo on him when she examined the unconscious boy.

“A tattoo?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. Jask nodded.

“It’s tribal—not of this country. The doctor has noticed it, but assumed that it was a weird royal custom,” Jask explained.

“The royal family doesn’t approve of tattoos,” Andreas said. He’d done more than his share of research on the royal family, and the topic of tattoos had popped up frequently. Over the years, different royals had wanted tattoos but had been denied them. “And you say he hasn’t awakened since he was found?”

Jask nodded once again. “The doctor said he must be comatose, and with the poor instruments they have here, there’s no way of telling when they would wake up. It’s a shame, really. If he was awake, we could see what had happened to him since the kidnapping.”

Andreas was quiet. That was true. Tendrils of what Jask had said in passing snaked through his mind. “You said that you were moving the infirmary?”

Jask nodded for the third time. “It’s horrible there. The people there are ill because of the dirtiness and there’s not enough room for them all. The doctor said that there was a bigger building down the road. I was thinking of using our connections and getting them to move there quickly.” She bit her lip and Andreas narrowed his eyes, trying not to stare at her lips.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I’m going to need your help,” she said. “The people need to be properly examined after being moved; that man taking care of them is useless. You’re a trained medic, but you chose to be a soldier. And you brought with you an arsenal of herbs that could be used for healing.”

“No—”

Jask knew that he was attracted to her and used it to her advantage, leaning close to him, so close their noses nearly touched. She fought to focus instead of kissing him. She saw him gulp and felt an inner victory. “Please, Dreas. They may not approve of you, but you could change their perceptions. And think about it: you get an excuse to examine Victor without people being suspicious. Throw in the fact that you’re an Elite and they’ll be at your feet.”

Andreas’ heart thumped painfully. She knew exactly what she was doing, and she’d called him by a nickname that he hadn’t been called since he was a child. He sighed in defeat. “Fine, but on one condition?”

A spark of happiness flashed in Jask’s eyes before it was replaced with suspicion. “What?”

Instead of answering, Andreas just kissed her.

This had been something that he wanted to do for a while now, and he was finally accomplishing it. He liked the way that Jask’s lips felt on his, and he was happy that he wasn’t the only one inexperienced with kissing. It was awkward: they bumped noses and clashed teeth, but by the end, they were both breathing heavily and staring at each other.

Jask gulped. “That was your price?” She sounded breathless, and her chest was heaving up and down.

Andreas was breathing heavily as well. He felt his face heat up. “Did you not want to?”

Jask’s eyes widened and Andreas immediately felt like an idiot.

“I-I wanted to,” she answered. “It…It’s just, we’re on a mission…”

“But you wanted to kiss me?” he interrupted. He grinned when Jask nodded shyly. He looked around their room in the tavern. They were once again masquerading as a married couple, so they were alone with only a bed. “How about we pretend that we’re married, just for tonight?” he asked suddenly, surprising himself. “We don’t have to have sex, I mean. We could just, like, kiss again.” His eyes widened and he felt his face go redder. “Unless you don’t want to kiss again. I mean, I understand if you don’t want to, but we could just forget the mission for tonight and—”

Jask interrupted him with another kiss. “I’d be delighted,” she said. “If that’s okay with you.”

Andreas smiled in glee, his heart thumping even louder. “Then let’s forget, for tonight, that we’re partners, and let’s pretend we’re married.”

“Where was he found?” Andreas asked the doctor about Vincent. Jask had been dead set on moving the sickly patients to another facility, so she took a four day trip back to Challus, as the two had taken detours looking for the prince. She would get money from Stephen to buy the facility, and then equip it with whatever was needed. While she was gone, Andreas was instructed to help out the doctor, much to the latter’s chagrin.

“At the docks,” the doctor answered vaguely. He was checking on another patient, and didn’t want to admit that he appreciated Andreas’ help. “A couple of fisherman found him—and a Suechi—together in a sinking boat.”

Andreas finished checking on his patient and turned. “A Suechi? Where is he?” A Suechi never usually traveled this far from their country. The country Merias was between Suecha and Ferilis, and Merias had a tense relationship with the latter country.

“In the back,” the doctor said. “No one wanted to touch the savage, but I did as much healing as I could.”

Andreas fought the urge to flinch and yell at the doctor for the use of the word “savage”, but refrained.

“I’ll go to him,” he said and went to the back of the facility. He’d been at the facility since dawn, which was when he and Jask woke from their slumber and separated. From the fresh herbs that he’d brought to the newly cleaned utensils to the demands that the facility be cleaned up and down, people were already feeling better in the small building and the atmosphere was much lighter. The people he’d helped smiled wearily at him and he smiled back, making small talk. It made him feel good that people were warming up to him and questioning their beliefs about his race. Already, he’d answered many questions and dispelled the belief that his people were savage murderers and robbers.

The room that the Suechi was in was secluded and away from the people. Everyone knew about the foreigner and wanted nothing to do with him. When Andreas entered the room, he was greeted with darkness and a heavy silence.

He opened the curtain and walked over to the patience, who was wide awake and glaring at him. Andreas sent a quick glare back before going through his bag and pulling out the herbs. Inwardly, he hope the Suechi could speak Common Language.

“Do you understand me?” he asked. Still glaring, the Suechi nodded. “Good. My name is Andreas, and I’m going to heal you.” He waited for the Suechi to nod before continuing. “I have a few questions as well,” he continued. “You can answer them if you like, or just ignore me.”

“My name is Chanok,” the Suechi said quietly. “I am the Chief-King of Suecha.”

Andreas’ eyes widened just a bit, but he then went to checking the injuries of the so-called king. There was a long gash on the man’s arm covered in congealed blood. There was metal shrapnel in his chest, which Andreas knew he’d have a hard time getting out. On the man’s back was a piercing, as if he’d been shot with an arrow.

Andreas worked slowly, taking out the shrapnel first. He provided a steady stream of talk, mostly rambling, while he did so. Only when he mentioned Jask did he speak.

“Jask?” the man demanded. “As in Jacqueline?” He quickly sat up a bit, wincing.

Andreas, startled, dropped the tweezers that he was holding. “Y-yes. Do you know her?”

Chanok stared at Andreas, seeing if he could possibly be lying. Then he laid back onto the bed. “I know of her. My father speaks of her often,” the Chief-King said.

Andreas realized what was happening and glanced around before making sure that the door was closed and they were completely alone. Chanok watched him do all of this with interest, folding his arms together while he waited. When Andreas sat down, he watched the young man sigh.

“She’s is my partner for this mission that we’re on,” Andreas explained. “She grew up as a thief, first, being trained in the Thieve’s Guild. Now, she’s an Elite soldier, the same as I. Stephen Sansdora—”

Chanok literally growled at the mention of the man’s name.

“—told me that her mother was in love with a Suechi man by the name of Achak. He also said that Achak was the father of Jask, but the man didn’t know until much later, after her mother tried to have her killed.”

“Most of what you’ve said is true,” Chanok said. “Achak is her father, as he is mine. He knew of Jask’s existence from the moment she was born, and wanted to meet her. Stephen tried time and time again to have us meet, but the woman always thwarted us. I was but five summers old when she was born.”

Andreas was quiet for a while. The man—Chanok—was clearly fluent in Common Language, and his explanation could make sense. But there were many holes in the story. He heard a chuckle and looked up.

“I understand if you don’t believe me,” the man said. “How is Victor?”

After all of the patients were re-examined and comfortable, Andreas and the doctor started the transport. Chanok and Andreas had made further conversation and it was agreed that the Chief-King would return to Talehaven with Andreas instead of going to the new facility. As Victor was only unconscious, he’d be going to Talehaven as well.

Jask had no trouble getting to Challus, thankfully. If anything, the trip was blissfully quiet, and she felt comfortable going alone. The only problem was that she was thinking too much. Thinking too much about the note in her pocket, too much about what would happen after Victor, everything.

Upon entering Challus, Jask was greeted immediately by Stephen. The Sansdora heir was nowhere to be found, as her father said that she was visiting friends, and the Elite soldier found that to be a relief. She and Stephen made small talk on the way to his home, waiting until they got to the man’s office.

“What brings you here, dear?” Stephen asked, sitting at his desk. Jask recalled that she and Andreas had hidden in this office when Enforcers had searched the home. “Is your mission going well?”

Jask nodded. “We found what we were looking for,” she answered, her hand unconsciously going to the note in her pocket. “But the city in which we found him has a less than desirable facility. Andreas and I decided to move them to a different area, but we don’t have the funds to do so.”

“Done,” Stephen said, responding to the implied question. The man studied his step-daughter. She looked tired beyond belief as well as stressed. He knew that the journey she was on was coming to an end, and he thought of the guest residing in one of his guest rooms. The reason Darius wasn’t around. After studying Jask for a bit, he stood up. “Now go get some rest. I’ll send a missive tonight and the necessary funds with you tomorrow. Try seeing me before you leave, dear.”

Jask nodded and yawned. She was tired. She’d spent three days on her horse and her bum was sore. A bed, especially one as comfortable as hers, was necessary. Walking out, she didn’t see the man she passed, nor did she hear the thud of glass on carpet. She was too tired to care even if she did hear.

The next morning, she woke up later than she was used to, although it was still early. She felt rested for the first time since she became an Elite soldier, and she was hungry. Venturing down to the kitchen, she picked up bread, bacon, and a cup of water before sitting in the dining hall.

Padded footsteps made her look up and she glanced at the newcomer. It was a dark-skinned man—just a bit darker than she, with long thick hair and wearing animal hide clothing that obviously wasn’t from Ferilis. He was older looking, with laugh lines around his mouth and crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes.

Standing, Jask bowed. “Morning, sir,” she greeted. The man gave a jerky nod, and she got a feeling of unease. Still, she continued. “My name is Jask. You are…?”

The man shifted before clearing his throat. “My name is Achak.” He did a little bow, and Jask frowned a bit. The name seemed familiar, as did his face.

Jask gave a small grunt of acknowledgement, and then sat down to eat. Achak did the same. While they were both dining at breakfast, Jask observed him. He had some of the same mannerisms she had, down to the way he twiddled his fingers when he was thinking. The uneasy feeling grew as he glanced up at her and she realized why he seemed so familiar. His eyes. They were exactly like hers.

“Who is he?” Jask demanded, barging into Stephen’s office. In the back of her mind, she was grateful he had no visitors. She heard footsteps behind her and ignored them, recognizing them as Achak’s.

Stephen didn’t look surprised to see Jask in his office, though he did give a wary glance at Achak, who glared at him. Sighing, he gestured for Jask and Achak to sit down. The lord of the house could already tell that the day would be long.

When he finished recounting Jask’s heritage, he couldn’t tell how she felt. Halfway through, her face settled into this blank stare. He didn’t know what to make of it.

Jask herself was feeling conflicted. Her earliest memories were of the Thieve’s Guild, and the story made no sense. Deep down, she knew this was true, knew it was why she never felt as if she belonged in Ferilis. After hearing about her father and mother—Achak and the dead lady of the home—the feeling of misplacement grew. Her father had been the Chief King of Suecha, and now her brother is. She has a brother. One who was a bit older than she.

But she was born and raised in Ferilis. She had some semblance of a family, and she had Andreas.

“Andreas,” she whispered. “He knows.”

Stephen nodded, and Jask found that she couldn’t even be angry with her partner. He probably knew that Jask would be feeling as such, and the night they spent together as a couple was spent talking.

Achak spoke. “I am sorry it took so long,” he apologized.

Jask nodded, accepting the apology. She suddenly remembered the note from Andreas in her pocket. A messenger had caught up to her a day into her journey, and she knew that Chanok was in Ferilis. She wondered if his father knew. She turned to Stephen.

“Please give Darius my regards,” she said, “and I hope you continue to do well.” She turned to Achak. “Would you like to travel with me? I’ve received word that your son is in Ferilis.” Her brother.

At this, Achak’s face darkened. Most likely because a Chief King never left his people alone. The man gave a jerky nod, and they both turned toward Stephen, who sighed, thankful that chaos hadn’t erupted when Jask learned of her origins. He’s seen what the girl could do when angry, and paired with the skills she learned as a thief, she was nearly untouchable.

“Let’s continue with our business, then,” Stephen said. He pushed a coin purse toward Jask. “This should suffice. I’ll be headed to Hena in a matter of weeks on business, but I will check on the town.” He looked at Jask. Please, dear, have a safe trip. Achak, take care of her. She’s my daughter as well as yours.” Jask felt her face heat up and was suddenly glad to have darker skin, unlike Andreas. Her heart started to beat quicker at the thought of him. She’d see him in just under a week.