Fourth Vector Ch. 29

"Your Highness, something's not quite right," said Oscar as his hand went to his heart. "Something is incredibly off. There's this sensation in my chest that's not going away."

Eric eyed the man like he was crazy for several moments. The notion was bizarre that he would force an audience just to tell Eric that he had chest pain but Oscar was normally extremely level-headed. It was the reason why Eric selected him to the most stressful post of being the ambassador to Swabia.

Was the stress of the position finally too much for Oscar?

"It sounds like you may need some time off, Oscar," said Eric dismissively before he pivoted toward the bedroom. "Perhaps when we go back to Galicia, you can secure another assignment."

Oscar's eyes widened. "You don't understand. It's in here! I can feel something that's different!"

To everyone's shock, Oscar ripped open his shirt to reveal his bare chest. His fingers pointed to the spot on his chest that bothered him, drawing the eyes of all of them.

Eric looked on with astonishment at the man and his crazed demeanor. Just as he thought that Oscar had lost his sanity, Magnus spoke up next.

"It's right here, isn't it?" asked the body servant, pointing to the same spot on his chest. "The feeling is right here by your heart?"

Oscar nodded quickly. "It's so intense right now. It's been like that for half a week now!"

"I feel it too," admitted Magnus quietly. "I've felt it ever since we've gotten closer to the city." The servant turned to look at Eric. "It's unlike anything I've felt before."

Eric grabbed at his own chest. Was that what that sensation was? That nagging and constantly growing feeling that had bothered him for several days? Eric assumed it was just the stress of going to Swabia but how the hell were they all feeling it at the same time?

Unless it meant that . . .

No, that couldn't be it. Could it? It would mean that he's really . . .

Eric grabbed Oscar's shoulders and gently shook him. "When did the feeling arrive? When did you feel it?"

"It was just a few days ago. No more than a week!" said a frightened Oscar.

"When did the foreigner arrive?" demanded Eric. "What day was it? Was it the same time as the feeling in your chest?"

Oscar's eyes rolled back in thought before he finally nodded. "They are roughly similar, yes! It was around the same time!"

Eric let go of the other man's shoulders and put some space between them. He stepped backward as if the extra space would make the problem disappear.

So the rumors were true. Katherine really did find him. After all these years of searching, the heir to the Galician throne was here. And it was the same foreigner that had been causing all the issues in the West.

The sensation that they all felt was the bond—the ultimate link between the Galician king and his people.

"I want you to get word to the emperor," instructed Eric as he addressed Oscar once more. "You are to mention nothing of the feeling in your chest anymore. You are to request that I be given access to the foreigner in his dungeon tonight. I want to look upon him with my own eyes. Do you understand?"

Oscar nodded.

"Go quickly! Now!"

The ambassador scampered away, leaving Eric alone with Magnus. The body servant shot a sideways look at Eric, who probably looked just as pale as Oscar did when he first arrived.

"Your Highness, what is going on?"

Eric turned around and faced the city. "He's finally within my grasp. I need to look upon him with my own eyes."

*****

Jack first became aware that someone was entering the dungeon by the shuffling sounds of footsteps as the visitor padded along the stone floor. There was visible light as well, and the closer it got to Jack, the brighter it became. It finally got to the point where Jack had to shield his eyes when the visitor arrived.

The guard who usually maintained watch over Jack's cell inserted the key into the lock and moved the iron bars, allowing the visitor to step inside. Once he was in, Jack could clearly see it was a man. And judging by his light colored features and blond hair, it wasn't hard to guess who he was.

"You must be Eric Rosdahl," said Jack as he caught sight of the hated regent.

Rosdahl looked him up and down like he was appraising a slab of beef. "And you can be none other than Jack Easterbrook, our busy little foreign interloper."

Before the words were fully out, Rosdahl clutched at part of his chest. His eyes flashed back and forth from Jack to the ground as obvious disbelief filled his face. It was a look that Jack had seen before.

Rosdahl was feeling the bond.

"So it's really true," said Rosdahl quietly. "You're really him. You're the heir to the throne. You're the Galician king."

"I am," said Jack proudly. "It's my blood that used to rule Galicia. It was my family that tried so hard to stay alive, always on the run and hunted by yours so you could maintain your stranglehold on power in our homeland."

"I must say that I never thought I'd see this day," said Rosdahl as he examined Jack. "My uncle spent his entire life hunting your family. He nearly succeeded once."

"Nearly," said Jack. "But he ultimately fell short."

"And yet here you are. So close enough to me that I can reach out to touch you myself," muttered Rosdahl. "Don't worry though. The Swabians don't know who you are just yet. It's best if it stays that way truthfully. But I know who you are. You can't disguise the bond from me."

"I keep hearing a lot about this bond lately," said Jack.

"And you will the closer you get to actual Galicians," interrupted Rosdahl. "For a long time, I just thought it might be a myth. But it has become undeniable. It pulses strongly now that I'm in your presence. I have to wonder though what will happen once you die without an heir? Will it disappear truly? I wonder, Jack."

Jack regarded the man silently. Eric Rosdahl was exactly the kind of man he expected. He had a sniveling, weasel-like face. His nose was crooked and his eyes were almost too narrow for his face. He was a man utterly consumed with power, but even that couldn't provide a proper explanation for his current whereabouts.

"I have to wonder what a Galician regent is doing in Swabia of all places," said Jack. "It surprises me to find the leader of Galicia to be in the heartland of our ancient enemy."

Rosdahl sneered. "I could ask you the same question. What is the Galician king doing in Dagobern? It would seem that there are two sides to this coin."

Jack wiggled his arms, making the chains around his wrists rattle. "I'm not here on my own accord. You are. I was brought here against my will. You look like you just arrived here to enjoy some kind of party."

"But of course," said Rosdahl. "I'm here to celebrate my ally's coronation as the next Swabian emperor."

Jack shook his head. "Galicia and Swabia are not allies."

"How small-minded you sound right now, Jack," said Rosdahl with a subtle tsk-tsk. "I'm able to move beyond such ancient rivalries. Galicia and Swabia are natural partners and during my regency, I'll make sure that both sides benefit from such a partnership."

"You mean you'll stick your head in the sand while the Swabians wage war against every other nation," corrected Jack. "You'll sit in your palace and ignore when the Swabians take down every one of your former allies like the Picards or the Carinthians."

"The Picards and the Carinthians are not my allies, Jack. They are weak and they are disjointed. They serve no use to Galicia and so Galicia won't interfere to save them either."

"Don't you understand what you're doing?" asked Jack with an incredulous tone. "You think you're safe now because there are other easier targets? But what happens once Picardy falls? Once Carinthia falls? When there is no one left to attack, the Swabians will turn on you. Your so-called ally will stab you in the back and you'll have no one left to fight for you."

"That's a chance I'm willing to take, Jack," said Rosdahl with an annoyed look. "The West is a big place. It will take them a long time before they get to the point they can think about conquering Galicia."

"So you'll sacrifice your children's future just so you can live a life of ignorance today," said Jack. "Your cousin was right about you. You are irredeemable."

"Speaking of such, how is my dear cousin?" asked Eric. "It's a shame she's not here with you. I hope she thinks about coming home to Galicia very soon. I'd very much like to see her."

"She's biding her time until we can take back the rightful leadership of our country," said Jack. "And she's quite out of your reach."

Rosdahl started to laugh. "I highly doubt that, Jack. I know how close my man came to killing her in Carinthia. That was just one hired assassin. Imagine what I could do with five or ten of them. She may get away from some of them but she'll never get away from all of them."

Jack shook his head. "She's your own blood. How could you try to kill her? How could you betray her like you did? Was the regency really worth stabbing your own family in the back?"

"You don't know much about the true nature of power, do you, Jack? Yes, it was worth the price," said Rosdahl as he looked around the cell. "Katherine was just a stupid, misguided girl. She was, and is, incredibly weak. Her own father didn't even want her, which goes to show you the nature of her own character."

"Her father was a monster that was cut from the same cloth as you are," said Jack.

Rosdahl sneered. "I would expect you to say such a thing about Marcus Rosdahl. After all, he killed how many members of your family? Three, is that right? Anyway, Marcus was a good regent. He understood that to be in power means having to make unpopular decisions. He taught me everything that I know about ruling."

"A short lesson that must have been," muttered Jack.

"His lessons developed me into the ruler I am today," continued Rosdahl. "My cousin, on the other hand, could scarcely manage the regency for a few months before the other lords came begging to me. Oh, how they hated her, Jack. She was just a young girl without a clue."

"That young girl is the other half of my force," corrected Jack. "She's the one that's built an alliance that has challenged the Swabians and stopped them in their tracks. Not bad for a young girl."

Rosdahl shook his head. "For now maybe. But you're here, are you not? And sooner or later, she'll be dead with you. So your alliance, as you like to call it, was good for nothing. It was just a temporary hiccup, one that will be soon forgotten."

"You're an embarrassment to all of Galicia. A disappointment," said Jack. "Not only for being in Swabia but for what you did to your own family. And for what you're trying to do to mine."

"I've continued a policy that's been in place for over a hundred years," said Rosdahl as he grew angrier. "Not even my uncle was the first regent to hunt down the line of kings. It was what needed to be done to secure our family's future on the throne. Even Katherine knew about it!"

"Knew about it, but tried to stop it," said Jack quietly.

"Another reason why she needed to be replaced," said Eric. "Everything that's been done has been for the good of our family. If she has her way, our family will cease to be the rulers of Galicia. We'll fall from prominence and be soon forgotten. You see, Jack, the death of your line was necessary to keep us on top. It's nothing personal, I assure you. But you need to die so that my family may live and be secured in their regency."

"For a man who espouses family above all else, you sure have a funny way of showing it," said Jack. "You could have guided your cousin's rule but you tried to kill her instead."

"Again, it was necessary," argued Rosdahl. "I can't very well have a former regent running around Galicia. She needed to be dealt with, and her time will come soon, as will yours. But the biggest question for me is what to do about you?"

Jack blinked. "It would appear that you got your wish," he said while rattling his chains.

Rosdahl shook his head quickly. "No, no, this won't do. I was content to let Avila execute you when you were just the foreigner making problems but this is considerably more complicated now. I can't let him execute a Galician king. It wouldn't be . . . proper."

Jack actually laughed. "Dead is dead, no matter who does it."

"That's where you're wrong," said Rosdahl. "My family has tried to complete this task for generations. Now, when we are so close to having it done, I can't let the Swabians fulfill the killing stroke. I just can't do it." He rubbed his chin. "I want to do it myself."

"Then what are you waiting for?" asked Jack. "I see a sidearm on your waist. Do yourself a favor and draw it now. Kill me, if you can. Or are you just all talk? Is it a bluff?"

Rosdahl grew angrier. He withdrew his gun from its holster and aimed it directly at Jack's forehead. "You don't know how long I've wished to be in this very situation," whispered Rosdahl. "All it will take is one squeeze of the trigger and my family's legacy is secure."

"So do it," spat Jack. "End it now. Get your victory."

There were several tense moments as Rosdahl had the gun trained on Jack's forehead. His hand began to shake noticeably. Despite his taunts to the regent, Jack started to perspire. He felt a bead of sweat slide down the side of his face. Would this truly be his end?

At the last moment, Rosdahl pulled the gun away and holstered it. "No, it's not a wise decision. If I kill you here, the Swabians will be upset. They might even kill me for the offense. Our alliance would go to shit as would the geopolitical situation. No, I can't kill you right here and now."

"I knew you didn't have it in you," said Jack quietly.

Rosdahl grew enraged. "What I will do instead is negotiate with them to release you to my custody. Once we're back in Galicia, I will torture you until you can't even remember your name. And when you are close enough to death's door, then I will execute you in front of the entire city."

"You would really execute the Galician king in front of his own people?" asked Jack.

Rosdahl nodded eagerly. "I would. They need a reminder of what my family has done for them. They need to see that our power has been cemented. I want the honor of doing it with my own hands. I've already stolen your throne and your leadership. It's only right that I steal your life away too."

"I would say that you're as mad as Avila is," said Jack with a shake of the head. "Your partnership together is a match of total insanity."

"I would expect it would look like that to someone like you," said Rosdahl. "But your opinion isn't important. It's who you are that is. I can't let a Galician king die in Swabia. You will die in Kalmar surrounded by our countrymen. That way, you'll see what it could have been like just before you die. It'll be a chance to see your homeland before I snuff out your life."

"That's if you can get me released from the Swabians," said Jack. "Avila seems quite sure that he wants me to die here."

"Then I'll offer them what they want most to seal the deal," said Rosdahl. "Either way, it'll be done. You'll be dead and my cousin will join you shortly after."

"You're forgetting one thing though," said Jack, taking one last roll of the dice. "If I accidentally let slip and let the Swabians know who I am, it might make your plans just a little tougher to accomplish. If they find out who I am, they won't release me to you so easily."

Rosdahl judged him for a moment without responding. Jack figured he was trying to see if he was bluffing.

"You wouldn't," said Rosdahl finally.

"I just might," said Jack with a thin smile. "I highly doubt they'd give up the chance of killing their ancient enemy. Their hatred of the kings goes back a lot further than it does for the Rosdahls. That just might be the difference-maker, don't you think?"

Rosdahl stepped forward until he was a mere inches away from Jack's face. He studied the man casually until he spoke up again.

"Go ahead and try it," whispered Rosdahl. "And I'll make sure that Katherine dies the same death that I have in mind for you. You know that I have the power to make that happen. Don't try me."

Jack started back into the other man's eyes for what felt like a small eternity. Rosdahl had the same blue eyes that his cousin did but whereas Kat's were filled with warmth and tenderness, his were marred by hatred. Jack's contempt for the man rose even higher than he thought possible.

So too did his desire to keep him as far away from Kat as humanly possible.

"Do what you need to do," said Jack with a defiant look. "But I will find a way to kill you one day."

"I figured you'd say that," said Rosdahl with a contemptible smirk. "You love her, don't you? What a happy little story that would have been. The king and the ex-regent. A true pity."

With those words, the regent stepped away and approached the iron bars that marked the exit of the cell. "I will speak with the emperor about your fate." He turned and looked Jack in the eye. "Until that happens, don't do anything stupid. There's more than one life in your hands now, Jack."

With that, Eric Rosdahl was gone.

*****

Kat sighed after she read the latest dispatch, casting it to the side of her desk. She put her hands around her face and rested her elbows against the wooden surface. Every new dispatch she read was the same.

No matter who she asked, there was never any news of Jack or any clue on where he could be.

This last one was from the leader of Apulia, an elected official that was called the Director. He was based out of the Apulian capital city of Marmora, and like the others, could not give her any direction on where Jack might be.

Kat released her hands from her face and raised them above her head. She stretched as high as she could reach before attempting to roll her shoulders. In doing so, her stomach bumped against the wooden table, another subtle reminder of the precious cargo within.

She was now about five months pregnant and she was showing enough that it was causing people to notice. Not that it was that obvious but it was enough to raise a question to anyone who saw how the weight was being carried in that telltale spot.

It was also starting to get uncomfortable. The warmer temperatures and the extra weight winded her more easily when she was outside. She found her back aching when she laid down to sleep at night, wishing she could have someone there to rub her shoulders. She had no doubt that Jack would do so if he were there or even quite possibly Abigail would do the task if Kat asked nicely.

Right now, she really had no one and her bed had never felt so empty.

Kat sighed as she got back to work. Her sounds had attracted the attention of another though.

"Katherine, you sound so restless over there," said Queen Ciara as she looked up from her book.

The queen had been spending a lot more company with her as of late. Kat suspected it was out of pity. With no leads on where Jack was, Kat noticed that Ciara had stepped up to always make sure she had company throughout the day. She appreciated the queen's gesture, and even though it wasn't a full remedy for the problem, it did help to have someone to talk with when the mood struck her.

"I would just kill for someone to spend about five minutes rubbing my shoulders," said Kat as she once again rolled them back and forth. "I feel like my boobs are giant right now and this child isn't getting any lighter."

Ciara smiled. "When I was pregnant with Davin, it was my feet that killed me the most. I used to make Aedan rub them every night before we went to bed. You can't imagine how good it feels to have someone who really knows what they're doing rub your feet."