Fred Chief

I'd like to welcome everyone to spring! (Since it seems that it finally decided to show up) And with spring comes finals... the next three weeks are going to hurt. Though, here is some good news: this post surpasses the half way point of my 50,000 words! (although, as I said before, it's not even close to the end)
Alright, on with the story. It's time to introduce one of the most important characters in Martin's life. Fred Chief, it's time for you to walk on the stage!
**********
“Someone’s coming.”

Martin didn’t even glance up from his paperwork to see the shared look between his friends. Thomas and Luke, newly freed from traffic duty, stood up and went for the door.

“You’ve got to teach me that trick,” Luke muttered, returning to his seat. Flipping the chair around and sitting on it the wrong way, he glared at him. “Or is it one of those ‘clues’ your wrong reflection keeps bothering you about?”

“Actually,” Martin replied, unfazed by the heated tone Luke used, “I didn’t have any nightmares last night. Who’s coming?”

“It’s Fred,” Thomas answered, who still stood by the door. Smiling, Martin left his report and went to the door. Fred reached them before he could jump out.

“Ah,” Fred Chief said, grinning. “There you are! I’ve been looking for you all morning.”

Martin laughed at Fred’s attempt at lying. From the profound limp, he guessed the general had just arrived and hadn’t walked around enough to ease his stiff leg. Martin did another quick glance at Fred, assuring himself the general was still in good health, limp excluded. Large in stature, with his strong face covered in a short beard, Fred looked the image of a seasoned general. Even the limp, which he claimed he got during the battle of Fort Bree, gave Chief the impression of one who had authority.

“It’s good to see you, Fred,” Martin said, returning the general’s firm handshake. “So, are you here for official business?”

Fred chuckled. “Yes and no. Actually, I came here to see you. While here I’ll get some business done. I’m glad I caught you, though.”

Martin laughed again. Fred always seemed to be able to catch him at the Tree. Taking seats around the table, the general nodded at the paperwork. “Your latest mission?”

Martin rolled his eyes as he sat back down. “You could say that.” He noticed the shared look between his friends. Thomas’s expression was uneasy and Luke’s annoyed. Chief also noticed the exchange.

“Controversy?” he asked, trying to covertly read the report.

“That about sums up what has been happening.” Martin reluctantly related the events, with his version of finding the glove in the Venter camp. This time, his friends kept blank faces as he told the lie; Martin knew he would be grilled about it later. He had his reasons for lying. Fred was a dedicated Aeternan, his rank was proof of that. Martin knew if he even suggested to him of the possibility of him being prince, the general would immediately tell the queen and he would find himself suddenly whisked away to Nacre.

“What?” Chief breathed, pushing himself half out of the chair. “The crown prince is alive?”

Martin stared at the general, surprised. He only told him about the Connection.

“Yes,” he answered, “I found the Connection in that camp. Of course, I didn’t know what it was until the queen got a look at it.”

“The queen?” Fred asked, sitting back down with a thump. “She’s here?”

“Yep,” Luke answered, his arms folded on the back of the chair. “She brought the princess with her as well. We’re supposed to protect her against kidnappers.”

Fred frowned, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his upper lip. “Seems that Abigail has been busy…” he muttered to himself. Martin wondered idly if Chief knew the queen well enough to use only her first name. The general had been known to use first names for people he never met.

“And she’s getting busier,” he interrupted. “They’ve already begun searching for the prince.”

“How?”

He explained the list of young men they were developing and the requirements to be on that list. Chief held up a hand.

“Martin,” he said, now leaning forward. “You meet those requirements.”

“I know,” he sighed. “I’ve already had an interview with Sona and the queen.”

“This is a problem,” Fred muttered. He narrowed his eyes in thought. “Has the queen announced this to anyone else?”

“No,” Thomas replied, finally sitting down at the table. “She’s only told us here. I don’t think she’s planning on telling the rest of Aeterna yet.”

“Of course she shouldn’t,” Luke argued. “Yes, news of the prince would boost our moral, but what if Terk hears this?” They all shivered as they thought of what Terk would do once news reached him.

“Then this needs to be kept quiet as long as possible.” Fred sighed, collapsing. Rubbing his stiff knee, he stared up at the ceiling. “I doubt Abigail will want to keep it quiet though. She’d figure that the more people who know about the prince, the more help she’ll get at finding him.”

Martin just stared down at his report. He should be helping the queen find her son, even if it did mean it was him. But he needed evidence. He couldn’t have worked his entire life for nothing.

“I don’t think he’ll be safer though,” he did admit to them. Fred lowered his gaze, frowning at him.

“What do you mean?”

“Think about it,” Martin said. “Rumors of who the prince is will run wild, and Terk will chase those rumors. People will get hurt. The prince is safest now because no one knows where to find him.”

“You’ve got a point,” Luke grudgingly agreed. “It is sort of hard to be in danger when no one can find you.”

“Unless your job is already dangerous,” Fred attempted at joking. Martin and his friends could only force their laughter out. It wasn’t too far from the truth.
**********
Fred Chief bid the three spies farewell after Martin pointed out that his report needed to be done soon. He rubbed his beard as he walked through the halls of the Tree, confused. The prince alive? Could it be possible? After sixteen years, they finally discovered he was alive? What had happened?

But what was worst about the whole development was the possibility of Martin being that prince. He shook his head at the thought. No, Martin couldn’t be. He remembered back to the day he had met the young spy, a street urchin at the time. The child had dashed for the garbage shoot when he caught him stealing food from the kitchen. Chief had caught him by the back of the shirt, and was surprised to see the fight the child put up. It was that fighting spirit, the determined look in his eyes, that convinced Chief that Martin belonged in Aeterna.

But after he made the offer to Martin, he ran. Chief had given up on ever seeing him again until the next day, when Martin was sitting on the dock his ship was anchored, his belongings packed in a food sack. It was probably then when he knew that the child would become one of the most powerful men in Aeterna. He couldn’t say why he thought that, but he believed it.

It would be ironic, Fred admitted to himself, if Martin was the prince.

As troubling as the possibility of it, he did have a larger problem. He was a special general in the Aeternan Army. He was the leader of the Ghosts. The Ghosts, the elite of Aeterna’s armed forces. Under his command, he controlled the best of infantry, spies, and sailors, those tired of common duty. And once news of the prince reached the general public, his job and those of his Ghosts would get harder. No doubt Terk would tear Aeterna apart trying to find him.

“There’s a reason they call him the Mad General,” Chief thought bitterly. News of the prince would escalate the war.

“One thing at a time,” he thought, remembering the business he had mentioned to Martin. With a sigh, he reluctantly made his way to Suit’s office, hoping the queen wasn’t with him.

“Is Suit in?” he asked Robby when he arrived. Suit’s assistant nodded.

“He’s frustrated with you,” Robby said. “You never did respond to his letter.”

“I was busy,” Fred said, waving the comment off. “Best go in and see what the old man wants.” He knocked once on the door before opening it without waiting for an answer. Thankfully, Suit was the only one in his office. The Spy Master was bent over reports. He started to glare up at whoever had the gall of entering his office without permission when he recognized him.

“Oh,” he mumbled, “it’s you.”

“Really, Suit,” Chief replied, taking a seat and rubbing his aching knee. “You shouldn’t be surprised by unexpected visitors anymore. You had the queen and her daughter suddenly show up at your front step. Why should I surprise you?”

“I’m more annoyed than surprised,” Suit almost snapped. “Do you have any idea what has been happening these last few days?”

“Martin told me.”

Suit snorted. “Then you know what kind of work that’s involved in this project.” He sighed deeply. “Her Majesty has some particular ideas about how to find her son. I really wish you’d talk with her…”

“Suit,” Chief snapped. “You know why I can’t talk to her now. I’d probably get my head bitten off. Despite the good news she’s received.”

“Just wishing,” Suit grumbled. The Spy Master knew better than provoke him. He had a talent of giving ugly retribution. “What are your thoughts about this… development?”

Fred sighed. “Honestly,” he replied, moving his stiff leg to a better position, “I am not looking forward to the reactions of everyone when the news gets out.”

“It will be a pain, yes,” Suit agreed. “But we’ll have to deal with it. The queen can’t keep this quiet for much longer. The people have a right to know.”

There were no arguments from there. The people did deserve to know of their prince. He belonged to them in ways they didn’t understand. The prince probably didn’t understand it either.

“Yes,” Fred said, “we’ll deal with it when it comes. In the meantime, you wanted to talk to me about something. At least, that’s what your letter hinted.”

“It concerns Martin,” Suit said, the first hint of a smile coming to his face. “I want to make him the Alex. Officially.”

Fred sat up, shocked. He relaxed as his knee protested his sudden change of posture. What Suit proposed was immense. It was a well known spying title. The Alex of Aeterna, the top most spy in Aeterna. Suit was the current Alex; he held the title for over four decades. He was the youngest appointed Alex too, at the age seventeen.

“You waited until Martin was eighteen,” he accused. “You sneaky…”

“So what?” Suit asked, smirking. “I at least wanted to keep one title as long as I could.”

“Prideful,” Fred muttered, but started grinning himself. This was great news for the young man. “Have you told him yet?”

The Spy Master shook his head. “No, not yet. I was waiting for you to show up before I tell him.”

Fred frowned, confused. “Why?”

“When Martin swears himself to the title,” he explained, “there will have to be someone to witness the event. Someone other than the current Alex. You’re the closest Martin has to a guardian. And you were the one to find him at Loman. He would have probably asked you to witness it.”

The Ghost general chuckled softly. “I was the first to see potential in him.” Then he remembered what he had learned earlier that day. Martin was on a list, a list of those who could possibly be the prince. He decided not to mention it to the Spy Master. Martin had worked hard to get the respect the title would offer him. Chief would not ruin that chance for him.

“When’s the ceremony?” he asked.

“Once he turns in his report to me.” Suit walked from behind his desk to a shelf where he kept his brandy. Pouring two glasses, he gave one to him. “Shall we drink to Martin’s success?”

“Yes,” Fred said, raising his glass. “To Martin’s success.”
**********
Robby had waved him to Suit’s office, though grumbling about how Chief had yet to leave the office and muttering something to the effect of being glad of not being the one to disturb them. Martin rolled his eyes at the comments as he knocked on the door. Chief and Suit had been known to butt heads before, but from the normal volume of conversation on the other side, he guessed today wasn’t one of those days.

“Enter,” Suit’s barking command came.

Opening the door and stepping inside, he saw Chief and Suit sitting down, both with drinks in their hands. “Sir,” he said, handing the report over the desk to the Spy Master’s receiving hands, “my report.”

Suit quickly glanced through it. “All seems to be in order, like usual.” Martin bowed slightly and was about to turn to leave when Suit did something surprising. He laid the report down on his desk, laced his fingers together, and smiled. Martin paused, uncertain what was happening. Suit rarely smiled at being given reports to read.

“Martin,” he said, his smile becoming wide. “I have some good news for you. I’ve decided it’s time you become the Alex of Aeterna.”

Martin froze, certain he had heard the Spy Master wrong. The last few days had been one shock after another, most of the shocks he still didn’t believe. He quickly looked at Chief, to assure himself of the reality of the moment. The Ghost general’s smile matched the Spy Master’s. He found himself beginning to grin.

“Speechless I see,” Chief chuckled. He stood, careful of his stiff leg, took his arm and gave it a firm shake. “Congratulations, Martin. You’ve earned this.”

“Yes,” Suit agreed, coming from behind his desk and giving him a similar firm shake. “You’ve earned the right to be the Alex. If you accept the title, I would like to swear you to it now.”

His answer was immediate. “Tell me what to say.”

“Kneel down,” Suit told him. Martin dropped to his knees at once. Suit also knelt and produced a smooth stone from his pocket. Holding it out, he ordered him to place his hands on top of it. Martin did so, unsurprised to feel how cold the stone was, but it did feel unnaturally smooth.

“Fred Chief will witness this event,” Suit said in a deliberate official tone. He and Martin faced each other, neither breaking eye contact. “Martin of Aeterna, do you swear upon your honor to uphold the title of Alex and everything the title implies?”

“I swear to do so, upon my honor,” Martin answered, feeling the stone grow warm.

“Do you swear upon your honor to do whatever is necessary for the good of Aeterna, even to disobey orders and to end your life?”

“I swear to do so, upon my honor.” He felt as if his fingers were burning.

“Then, Martin of Aeterna,” Suit said, a corner of his mouth lifted in a smile, “I place upon you the title Spy Alex.” The stone flashed hot then suddenly became cold once again. “Your oaths are binding to Aeterna now. You only answer to the magic of this nation. Should you break your oaths, the magic will kill you. Your life now belongs to Aeterna.”

Suit took the stone again and placed it back in his pocket. Martin glanced at his hands, still feeling a slight tingle. He had known what the ceremony entailed, about being bound to Aeterna. There were many similar oaths others took to become servants of Aeterna. Generals, public officials, and even regular citizens. But the bound wasn’t nearly as strong as what the Santers had, no oath could ever become that strong, but he was now bound. No one could ever claim he wasn’t Aeternan.

“Now then,” Suit said, standing up, “we’ll have to sign the papers so we’ll have a record of it.” Martin chuckled, but also stood and signed the paper after Suit did. He handed the feather pen to Chief to sign it.

“Well,” Chief said, picking the contract up, “it’s official. Martin is the Alex.” He grinned. “How do you plan to celebrate your new title?”

Martin thought, considering. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “Take a nap?”

The two older men laughed at the unexpected response. “I’d take that nap,” Suit suggested, still chuckling. “You’re going to spend the rest of your life being busy. Take the naps when they come.”

“I think you should,” Fred agreed. “Naps come rarely when you get older.”

After another round of congratulations and remarks about what would be in store for him, he finally left the office an hour after entering. Robby tried to ask him what had happened, but Martin just smiled and walked away. He was going to follow their advice and take that nap. Especially considering how little sleep he had during the last week. However, on his way to his room, his two friends caught up with him.

“What did Suit want this time?” Luke asked. “Did it have to do something with the prince?”

“He’s smiling,” Thomas pointed out. “I don’t think so.”

“You wouldn’t believe me,” Martin said, reaching the door of his room. He opened the door and almost closing it on them when he smirked at them. “I’ve been made the Alex. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some studying to do.” The look of surprise on their faces was worth the sudden door slam. He laughed as he fell on top of his bed. Grinning, he knew he had finally overcome the reputation of being a street orphan. Stretching, he fell asleep with a smile.
********
“Of course,” Martin thought as he stood before the strange mirror again. “I was wondering why I wasn’t here last night.”

The mirror-man sat at a fine carved table with silver candle sticks. From the faint fragrance in the air, Martin guessed the candles were scented as well. The other side of the mirror screamed wealth, something he was never comfortable with. The man was writing something, though he seemed half-hearted about it.

“Why did you swear to have a bond you already have?” the image asked, not even looking up from his paper.

Martin groaned. The tone he used promised another argument. “I’ve worked hard to become the Alex,” he answered, wishing he could sit too. “It’s what I’ve been working for since I found out about the title.”

“You did work hard,” the man agreed, still focused on his writings. “However, the vow was pointless. You already belong to Aeterna.” He finally lifted his head and gave him a barely suffered look. “There’s a reason why you work hard for this nation.”

Rolling his eyes, Martin shook his head. “Is it another ‘clue’ that everyone overlooked?”

The image nearly smiled. “There are many clues, though they were subtle. Now that you’re no longer suppressed, your power will become more obvious. It’s only a matter of time before they recognize it.” Looking back down at the paper, the image snorted softly. “You should probably get back to your nap. Suit was right; you’re going to be busy.”
***********
Speaking of being busy... As I mentioned, the next three weeks are going to hurt: projects due, papers to write, and studying for finals. I won't be able to do any revising on this story until after the semester is done. So, instead of posting unedited versions of this story, I'm thinking that the next three week's posts will be the Dawmeria Soul, a story I've done some editing on already. And just so there is no confusion, it is a another storyline, in a different time and world. If anyone has a problem with this, please let me know. Otherwise, over the next three weeks The Dawmeria Soul will take the stage!