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Chapter Eighteen
The older guard Pasqu'aal shook his head. Since King Raull died,everything had changed for the worse. Devonn was cruel and ruthless - not like the King at all. The younger guard, Dail, felt the same way although he didn't dare say it out loud. Everyone lived in fear of Devonn. The only way to stay alive here was just to do as he said. Their families depended on them.
They went into the bedroom and saw the prince.lying on the floor on his stomach. They turned him over when Pasqu'aal gasped.
Dail said, "Pasq, what is it? You're as pale as a g'aaulta!"
The older man said shakily, "Look, on his shoulderblade - that small mark shaped like sort of a flower!"
Dail squinted and saw the mark. "So, he's got a birthmark, so what?"
Pasqu'aal shook his head and said, "It is not just a birthmark, Dail - it the mark of the house of Raull!"
Dail looked at Pasqu'aal like he was crazy. "Pasq, how in the cosmos would you know?"
Pasqu'aal replied, "I know because I fought with King Raull once - in the Battle of Morgan's Crest, remember? We had been trapped by enemy fire and the King was wounded. I got him to safety and dressed his wounds. I saw that mark upon his shoulder - just like this one!"
Paqu'aal's eyes grew large as he said, "Dail, this is his son!"
Dail looked around quickly and said, "Pasq, you better shut up! The walls have ears! 'Sides he's dead."
Before Pasqu'aal could answer him, a voice interrupted him. "Yes, you are right, my friend! The walls have ears and eyes too!"
The two men saw the Prince's advisor, Bengale come forth. At that moment, they knew their lives were over, for Bengale would report them. The advisor suprised them when he walked over to Lotor and felt his pulse.
He said, "Good, he is still alive."
The two guards looked astonished at Bengale. The old man smiled and said, "Don't worry. I won't report you." He glanced at Pasqu'aal and said, "You are right,my friend, that is a royal mark upon him. He is the true son of Raull. Take him to the castle to Doctor Elann - the King's old physician,and no other! He will know what to do with him."
Dail said, "But sir, we were under orders."
Bengale snapped, "Orders! Well in the Prince's absence, I give the orders! Now you will do as I say or I will report you!"
Pasqu'all said, "Don't worry sir, we will. He is the true son of the king."
Bengale grimaced and said, "Yes, yes he is..Go now and make sure you are not seen!"
Pasqu'all looked down upon the man who was plainly Raull's son and thought he would follow him just he followed his father, Raull. Others needed to know of this. If they knew, perhaps they could throw Devonn's yoke off of them. He vowed to himself that he would spread the word quickly. With any luck, Raull's son would lead them just as his father had. The two guards picked the unconscious Lotor up and carried him to the castle.
Lotor awoke groggily and was disoriented for a moment. Then he remembered. He cried out, "Allura!"
Lotor tried to get up when hands restrained him. He looked up and saw a woman in veils beside his bed.
She said, "Please, you must stay still."
Lotor said, "No! Where is Allura?"
She said, "If I tell you, will you be still?"
Lotor scowled.Allura was in danger,nothing would keep him from her!
The veiled woman sensed Lotor's impatience. "I can see that you will not be still, husband of Allura."
Lotor was taken aback. "You know who I am?"
The woman said, "It was I - Giselle - who gave the baby to your wife. I knew she had a gentle soul."
Lotor was astonished. "You - then your sister." Gisellenodded."I wanted my sister's child to be safe. She would not be safe here with me, not as long as Devonn rules."
Lotor said quietly, "Where is my wife?" Giselle hesitated. "She - she is with Devonn! He took her off planet, I'm sure." Lotor reared up from the bed and yelled, "I must go!"
Giselle tried to restrain him, but Lotor flung her aside.
He yelled in a panic, "Where are my clothes! I need them!"
In anger he grabbed the veiled woman by the scruff of the neck and yelled, "Get me my clothes!"
Giselle struggled and said, "Wait!" but Lotor was implacable. He would move heaven and hell to get Allura back! Suddenly a voice interrupted them.
It was Bengale. He said, "Put her down, fool.She did nothing! You'll get your clothes!"
Lotor let her go and yelled at Bengale, "You! Tell me where they went!"
Bengale said, "They went to Doom, Prince Lotor."
Lotor exclaimed, "Doom?!"
Bengale nodded and said, "Yes, he did. He plans to meet with King Zarkon. Why he would want to go to that dismal place is beyond me."
Lotor, uncaring in his nakedness, stalked towards Bengale and said lowly, "Old man, you better get me my clothes and ship, or I swear I will kill you where you stand!"
The old man chuckled and said, "No need, Prince Lotor, here are your clothes."
He handed Lotor a suit of clothes. He said, "Actually these were your father's. You and he share the same build so they should fit, hence they're your clothes."
Lotor put the clothes on, uncaring that he had an audience. When he was done, Bengale had to shake his head to clear it. Lotor wore the fancy royal dress of their long dead king. It was the only thing that Bengale had found left of the king's wardrobe, and in it Lotor looked very much like Raull. Bengale thought for a moment he was seeing a ghost. Bah! An old man's foolishness!
Raull's son would help him get away from this cursed planet, and perhaps if somehow this prince were successful in gaining Cainesian from Devonn, perhaps he would remember old Bengale. Why Prince Lotor would be quite grateful for all he had done to assist him!
Lotor interupted Bengale's thoughts.
"Now,old man.Get out of my way! I intend to claim my mother's ship!"
Bengale appeared shaken. "Phoenix Rising? I thought -"
Then Bengale snarled. "Raull told me he destroyed it!"
Lotor smirked and the old man winced. He had hated it when Raull had smirked that way. That his son did the same irritated the old advisor.
Lotor said, "Well, I guess my father didn't trust you as much as you thought he did! Move out of my way!"
Lotor was set to push Bengale away when Giselle spoke up.
"Wait! Please! The baby!"
Lotor stopped short, turned and looked at Giselle.
She said, "Please, she promised to take her." She bent to a small basket and lifted up a small bundle. She brought the baby to Lotor. At first he wasn't sure how to hold her. He was afraid he would drop her. The woman pulled back the blanket covering the baby and Lotor saw the small face. Allura was right, she did look a little like him. He fell in love with the baby. She was beautiful. Her skin was a lighter hue of azure than his and her white hair was but a fuzz upon her head, but she was beautiful. No wonder Allura wanted to save her.
He looked at the tiny infant, who briefly looked at him with her felinoid eyes. To his suprise, the baby smiled at him and made a slight cooing noise. Lotor's face burst out in a smile of tenderness. He said in wonder, "She smiled at me!"
Giselle said with a wistful smile, "Well, really she is too young to -"
Lotor interrupted her and said, "I say she smiled at me, and that's final!" He took his finger and the infant gripped it. Lotor smiled in pleasure. He never realized what a joy an infant could be. Then felt something wet on his hand! He quickly handed the infant over to Giselle who laughed softly. She changed the baby as Lotor washed his hands.
He said to the woman, "You must come with me..I cannot care for her and pilot too. What do you say, Giselle?"
"Prince Lotor,I will go with you to care for the infant,but you will keep your promise - her promise?"
Lotor replied,"Yes we will."
For the first time, Lotor was truthful. This promise and many more he would keep. He was no longer the son of Zarkon. He never was. This freed him at last. To cover the emotions he felt, Lotor gave Giselle some orders.
"Get the baby's things and we will go." His fear for Allura was uppermost in his mind. He had to rescue her!
When Giselle finished collecting the baby's thing, they made haste towards the door with Bengale close behind, snapping, "I'm going too! I saved your life, Prince Lotor!"
Lotor said, "Old man, you didn't help much, but you did give me back my true father. Go with us, then. If you betray me, I will not be as lenient as my father was with you! Remember, I was raised in the court of King Zarkon!"
Bengale scowled and followed the Prince, who seemed to know instinctively where they were going.
They wound up in the basement of the castle, near the royal tomb. Lotor was suddenly in a trance and Bengale was amazed that this prince, who had never been in this castle before knew his way. Bengale felt uneasy. Perhaps the spirit of his mother dwelt within him.
Bengale muttered, "Lydeaa, I am sorry." and crossed himself supersitiously. He did not like this place.
Lotor came to King Raull's tomb and pressed his hand onto a brick. Bengale couldn't really see the difference, but suddenly the wall opened, and Lotor gestured them to follow him. Bengale shivered. He never could understand all this. Raull could, but to him it was foolishness.
They went through the small passageway until suddenly, they came into what appeared to be a flight hangar.
Bengale's jaw dropped open. He never knew this existed! Raull must have built it while Lydeaa was on Doom.
Lotor walked towards the sleek ship that stood alone in the hangar. It was not just a ship but a work of art.Lotor had found the ship that belonged to his mother - Phoenix Rising