Cloverleaf Station: Chapter Twenty-Six, Part One

 Notes: So, we're less close to being done than we were a month ago, BUT! It's going to be fun and interesting and not that much of a departure, so I hope we all enjoy the ride.

Title: Cloverleaf Station: Chapter Twenty-Six, Part One

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Chapter Twenty-Six Part One

 

Kieron’s blood went cold. “Taken?” he repeated, kneeling down so he was one Pol’s level. “Taken by who?”

“The city magistrates! They said Mama was speaking sed…sidi…it’s something that means lies,” he said tearfully, “so they took her away! Mother Laina says she’s already been moved to Garelle.” Garelle was the continental capital, where Trakta’s government was leaping into so many bad decisions lately.

“What do they want with her?” Kieron asked quietly. He could imagine Xilinn having trouble keeping herself from speaking out against the new separations of classes, despite him bringing Zak’s body back to protect her own children. She was a teacher, and dedicated herself completely to her students. Seeing some of them torn away from their old lives and forced down a harsher path had to infuriate her.

“Papa Kriev said she’s going to be another example,” Pol whispered, anger twisting his little face. “I hate him! He could have asked for her back, but he’s already courting another mother and father in Garelle. He wants to forget about my mama and change me and Szusza and Lorna’s names and everything!” Lorna was Zak’s other biological child, with Laina.

That couldn’t be legal…then again, Kieron didn’t really know what qualified as legal right now. Everything in Trakta was up in the air—its justice and legal systems, its healthcare, its educational institutions. To not only not contest Xilinn’s abduction but to be complicit in it, though… “What does Laina think of all this?”

“She doesn’t care!” Pol began crying. “She told me not to speak to you at all, but I have to, because you’re the only one who might be able to get Mama back.”

How in starlight’s name was he supposed to get Xilinn out of whatever hole she’d been dragged off to? It wasn’t like he’d come here with an army, he’d come alone…

Well. With a very intelligent ship as well, but…

Oh, shit.

Distantly, Kieron heard something beeping. “Pol,” he said firmly, “we’ll figure this out. All right? We will, I promise, but right now I need to go back to the kitchen before Laina realizes I’m missing. Can you meet me behind the house in five minutes?”

“Yes,” Pol sniffled, rubbing beneath his eyes with the edge of one hand. He six now, only six, and this was what he had to deal with. He had to be terrified right now.

“Good boy,” Kieron said, and before he could second-guess himself he pulled Pol into a hug. The little boy shuddered for a moment in his arms, but he didn’t fall apart. “I’ll meet you behind the house very soon. Only come if you won’t be caught, all right?”

“Okay.” He reluctantly stepped out of Kieron’s arms, then turned and ran down the hall, his feet nearly silent on the dark floor. Kieron stood up and went back into the kitchen, picking up his cup of tea again just as Laina rejoined him.

“It’s authentic.” She beamed at him, genuine delight on her face. It reminded him of how she’d once looked almost a decade ago, back when she had first married in and things were so much happier than they’d become. She had been more open-minded in her youth, inclined to listen to others and not just defend what she knew. She’d even considered leaving Trakta for a brief tour of the nearest star system, although in the end she hadn’t quite been willing to risk it.

To think that now she was complicit in letting her wife wither away in some government containment facility. Kieron had to force himself to smile back at her.

“I knew it would be.”

“I’ve already let Kriev know,” she said, rubbing her hands together. “Oh, this is such a relief, I can’t even tell you. I was so worried about the children.”

“Xilinn told me she was concerned that if I didn’t find Zak, you might have to leave with Lorna,” Kieron said with all apparent sympathy. That wasn’t exactly what Xilinn had said, but Laina didn’t need to know that.

“Oh, something like that. But it doesn’t matter anymore.” She sighed deeply. “Now everything will be all right. Lorna and Szusza will be thrilled they get to stay with Ophred.” Ophred was her son with Kriev, the only child whose parentage hadn’t been in question thanks to Zak’s loss.

“Not Pol?” Kieron asked as innocently as he could.

Laina waved a dismissive hand. “He and his older brother don’t really get along, not like the girls do. He’ll come around. Now…”

She wanted him to go, that much was clear. “Well, I should get back to my ship.”

Laina nodded firmly. “That would be the best course of action for us all. Thank you very much for bringing Zak home. As soon as Kriev is back, we’ll gather the children and inter him with all due ceremony.”

No mention of Xilinn coming back for it, even though she’d been Zak’s primary spouse. Not one. Laina had already given up on her.

That could only mean bad things for Xilinn. Kieron already knew he couldn’t leave her here.

He needed to talk to Pol. To think that a six-year-old was his main source of information regarding saving a woman’s life…

[You’re upset,] the corner of his vision read. Lizzie was talking to him. [What can I do?]

[Stand by,] he wrote back. “Please give Xilinn my best,” Kieron said as he got up to leave. “And thank you for the tea.”

“You’re welcome.” She saw him to the door, watched him walk down to the skimmer and get inside, and only went back into the house as he began to pull away.

Fine with him. Kieron directed the skimmer to the end of the street, up one level to the next section of roadway, and parked it on a median there. He’d be able to climb down and meet Pol with no one the wiser, as long as he didn’t let the vehicle linger for too long.

[Kieron? Should I tell Elanus and Catie what’s going on?]

[Hold off on that.] He needed to know what to tell them, first. Kieron left the skimmer, stepped onto the long, terraced pole that held up this part of the causeway, and walked down it to where he could see the small boy peeking out of his backyard, watching him descend with hope written all over his face.

Kieron hoped he could live up to whatever Pol was expecting of him.