Chapter 22: Blind in the Shadows

Water droplets splashed onto the pristine surgical floor as the body we claimed in Ilporta unthawed. Doctors stood by with bags of fluids and needles. Scientists stood by with electrodes. To an outsider it would look like a scene of horror. Perhaps it was anyway; Kaeza paled by the second.

The idea was there. Could a corpse be artificially alive enough for a mind reader to pull out its secrets? Based on Kaeza’s face, probably not.

###

The train pressed forward refusing to stop for anything-- gunfire, explosives, or terrorists. By the time Avonly found her way back to their spot in the rear of the train, it looked like as much as a war zone as the front. Also like the front, her group was nowhere to be seen. So she closed her eyes, and stretched out, feeling for them. She should probably be doing that all the time, but it was just so much work. Imagine if you had to think about breathing, sure it's important, but she figured she'd suffocate eventually.

Back towards the middle, in the now empty car that Gianna had jumped out the window, a car she had passed by on her way back, Avonly tentatively asked permission to enter, from the lone guard who stood vigil outside. In retrospect, that alone made it obvious, but she just hadn't put two and two together. As the door swung open, she was greeted by Kael's grating voice.

“So what the heck was that all about,” Kael jabbed bluntly. “Since when does a big shot like you travel with a handful of protection on public transportation?” The Prime Minister merely grinned pleasantly. “Do I amuse you?” Kael said as nicely as he could through gritted teeth.

Joshua and Gianna nodded, as she took the only free seat left next to the Serian.

The Minister excused himself and apologized: “No I’m sorry. I just don’t get to hear people talk to me like that too often. And while I do have questions of my own, I’ll be more than happy to answer yours.” He composed and straightened himself back to his stiff and officious posture. “We had many reports of a probable assassination attempt by the rebels in southern Seriah, so I changed my plans three minutes before I was meant to leave on a jet. It was a wise decision, as it happens, because said aircraft exploded on the tarmac. What’s troubling is that they were still able to catch up with me.” He paused as if to take a deep breath before a waxing speech and said, “what can you do?” The man leaned back in his chair with slumped shoulders and a furrowed brow. “I do suppose the upside to all this death and destruction is that only five people knew about my diversion so the leak in my government will be closed very quickly. Regardless, I am in your debt. Jeremiah Levinstein Lignstrom Asopha D. Akaska at your service.”

“Say that three times fast,” Joshua whispered to Avonly right next to him who bit her lip to stifle a smirk.

"And that's why Ell sent us here?” Kael asked, seeing what information be pried forth.

“Oh did he? Well, that answers my one question. And it makes sense. He needs me in Taerose alive and whole if his scheme is going to work."

"Well, at least we aren't the only ones he keeps in the dark," Kael said. "Speaking of: why was there an agent of the Dark Element guarding you? Or do you not know that either?"

The man looked warily around the room and shifted uncomfortably. "That was my doing. In some circles, they are known as effective mercenaries, if not the best. As long as I didn't reveal my identity it seemed safe. You can hardly blame me for wanting the protection of someone bordering on the supernatural. A sentiment I would have scoffed at a year ago."

"Which you got anyway," Kael said. "Supernatural help."

"Which I got anyway. Much can be said of Ell but he does deliver results. I only pray to the Goddess that he doesn't falter in the coming days."

"Speaking of Ell," Gianna spoke in turn now, "can you tell us anything about him. He's. . . aloof."

"Unfortunately not. That ghost of a man appeared before us a year ago with the plight of the Dark Element and Syches. Everyone laughed at first of course, but once the red-caped shadow with him made it a reality, he was able to unite the Serian leadership overnight in his crusade to destroy Taerose. The Apostle was transfixed.”

Kael gave a slight chuckle. “Ghost is a good word for him.”

The Prime Minister raised an eyebrow with a coy grin. “Indeed, he's quiet pale.” The smile faded as he leaned back and closed his eyes. "Sometimes a few minutes can make for an exhausting day. I'm not sure if Ell has other plans, but for my part I would see you all stay at the embassy in the Taserose with me. You'll have whatever I can give."

The next hours of the trip were rather awkward. While everyone else on the train finally came to terms with the fact that the fighting was over and no one was going to die, Akaska engaged the group in a bit of forced conversation. It wasn’t so much unpleasant as stiff and obligatory. Kael and Joshua had flashbacks to their childhood, learning proper courtly manners and speech. They were always the worst students in that respect, borderline unpresentable. No tutor could get Kael to say please let alone bow. And no collection of servants had the strength to force Joshua into any clothing that had buttons. He just really hated buttons.

Eventually, Jeremiah Akaska nodded off mid-sentence, his chin resting gently against his chest.

“Ah poor guy,” Avonly said sympathetically.

“Poor us,” Kael shot back. “What has that guy even done today aside from sleep? I’m the one who did all the work.” Gianna and Avonly scowled at Kael in turn. Who realized all too late he was beyond taking those words back.

Day turned to dusk and dusk to night as the train moved ahead on its journey. At some point, everyone dozed off and lost track of time. It wasn’t until the sharp howl of the train’s whistle sounded off that they realized the trip was over. They woke from a deep sleep and looked out the window. The silvery night sky and moons were overhead, but they were in a city now. Buildings and lights filled the background.

“Please remain close to me,” Jeremiah Akaska said, rising to his feet and smoothing his clothes out. Everyone sprang to their feet and filled out of the train on his heels. As they exited, they were met with a platoon of darkly dressed men lined up with a motorcade, a long black limousine in the middle.

“A’ my lord! So glad to see that you’re still alive,” a man shrieked pushing through the legion of guards and greeting the Prime Minister.

Jeremiah halted turning to the man and then looked back at the train. He pointed to the guards nearby and signaled for them to come up. As they came up he ordered, “Take the Commons House Minister and escort him back to Seriah where he will stand trial for conspiracy of murder in the highest degree.” The man looked dumbfounded as the two nearest guards grabbed him tight by each arm and dragged him off. Everyone stayed quiet until they were in the limousine and the vehicle began moving.

“So how did you know he was the leak?” Joshua asked.

“He was merely a possibility, but he was the only possibility that would be sleeping in the same four walls as me tonight. He won’t rot in prison too long, I’ll sort it all out if we can get through this week alive."

As the limousine rocked through the old cobbled streets of Taerose's capital, Avonly kept an eye outside. Her brothers would sneak out into the city years ago, but she never had the experience. The sights were all new to her, although she couldn’t shake a strange feeling of nostalgia. Perhaps it was the knowledge that they were so close to their childhood home. She squinted and tried to see if the palace grounds tucked away in the mountains on the north side were visible, but she had no luck. This made her even more excited she realized, simultaneously realizing that every horrible thing she had thought of her childhood home was put there by Kael and Joshua-- mostly Kael. Every independent memory she had she was fond of.

Avonly’s daydreaming was interrupted when the motorcade stopped and the door opened revealing a beautiful white mansion right in the center of the city. It was a large building two stories tall and the entire front was covered with huge windows that stretched the height of the building. Prime Minister Jeremiah opened his eyes with a sigh and forced himself up off his seat and outside with his platoon of guards. Everyone else got out as the Prime Minister was being ushered through the doors.

The embassy was abuzz with life as maids, guards, cooks, and government officials scurried along the hallways making sure everything was prepared for the Prime Minister. It reminded Avonly of that mechanical cuckoo clock that Agassa had in her room, all the people running in circles.

A single man approached to take care of the guests. He led them into the house and showed them where they would be staying in the embassy one by one. Joshua, Kael, Gianna, and Avonly all got their own room in the same corridor, just like home. No sooner was Avonly left alone than she was snuggling comfortably into her plush, oversized bed. This is what she needed. No more danger. No more adventure. Just a nice warm place to sleep

###

Joshua woke up at daybreak only two hours after he had fallen asleep, repulsed at the very idea of it. He was intent on staying in bed a while longer, but as his head throbbed and ears started to translate the wind whipping at the windows to words, he picked himself up and trudged to find where they kept the medicine.

Dragging himself back to his room minutes later, he turned the nobs in the shower as hot as possible. As the steaming water cascaded over his shoulders and down his back, he closed his eyes and ceased to think. This was nice. He expected to get out once the hot water ran out-- he had about five minutes back at home– but it didn't, so he didn't. It was hours later before he dried off his wrinkled skin and walked the halls once more.

He nipped into the kitchen as staff made breakfast and nabbed a plate of eggs and a fork. The fluffy bits of yolk had a reddish tent, and he wasn't sure which bird that came from. He was sure it was Serian though, because he had seen it once before. Back up to his room with his loot, he decided he wouldn’t come back out until he was good and ready.

After a few minutes alone and bored. Joshua picked up his food and walked down the hall to Avonly’s door. He knocked and was admitted to find both Avonly and Gianna lying back watching the initial coverage on their escapades from yesterday. A few dirty plates were piled up on the dresser. He squatted low and plopped himself on the floor before testing some eggs with his fork. Apparently Kael had met the day with a definitive gusto and was canvassing the city looking for that next big lead for the Book. It was absurd to keep trying, but Joshua couldn't say he was surprised. Everyone agreed to take the day off, maybe even stretch their legs and see some sights.

Joshua had expected either terror, dread, or a mixture of the two being in the city, but he was surprised to find how normal it was.

Sneaking out of the busy embassy later, despite sneaking being neither necessary nor called for, they walked down the main street of what was a beautiful city. The city of Taerose was built on the base of a mountain range in the northern half of the country. It was rocky and the air was a little thinner, but the actual city had stood for millennia. The buildings were a rustic cacophony of architecture through the ages. An intricate system of tiny rivers and streams spider-webbed through the city. The burrowing waterways made it impossible not to find a bridge built every half-mile in every direction. Off in the distance were snow-capped mountains that graced the surroundings, seemingly protecting the city. The royal palace of Taerose was built further up the low roll of the foot of the mountain. It was a colossal set of buildings with giant yards and gates that occupied the greater part of several acres. Even down in the city street, one could always see one part of the palace or another at all times.

Kael was still busy elsewhere, but that probably contributed to a more peaceful time if nothing else.

Several hours later, Joshua's glee still hadn't quite died off seeing all the old haunts. There was the city park which was the first spot they had never escaped to visit. There was the library that always had the new releases that the Emperor would never let into his own collections as they were "unintelligible dribble.” Antiquity seemed to have intrinsic value to the man. And there was the Bridge, which despite its name, was a museum and not built over a river or gap of any kind.

Joshua was somewhat surprised they didn't bump into Kael at any point. He had to be reminiscing at least a little, but it wasn't until that night that they regrouped.

“Hallo,” Joshua choked on a mouth full of food as Kael walked into the room.

Two of the dressers in Joshua’s room were piled and cluttered with dishes of food of every variety. Joshua, Gianna, and Avonly had spent the past hour sampling every delicacy they could dream up. The feast concluded with desert and television. The story of their escapades on the train yesterday was currently showing on the news. The reporter made their brief allusion to the odd circumstances but would never go so far as to call it supernatural. And they never would, not without undeniable proof. That’s just how the world was.

“Join us,” Avonly cheered with a painful look on her face after swallowing a half-chewed mouth of food.

“We're murdering this food,” Gianna chimed in. “How’d the search go anyway?” She glared off into the television set. She hadn’t looked at anyone since they got off the train. Joshua had noticed that. Something was inspiring old habits.

“While my initial gut was to go to the library, I started with the museum, paid extra for the audio tour and everything.” He sat by Joshua and took a chunk of bread off his plate and sunk his teeth into it. “Turns out this region is a gold mine for anthropologists. They dig up bits of arrowheads, swords, even chunks of armor all the time. No record of any battle officially, but the unofficial account speaks for itself.”

Joshua nodded as he continued to watch the television. “Yes news lady,” Joshua began talking to the broadcast, “the terrorists were working with members in the government—one point for the conspiracy theorists. Never thought I’d say that. And Kael, there is nothing in that museum you couldn't find on the internet.”

“Anyway. I also got up to the mountain by the palace since the map seemed to point there. But I couldn't find any caves or mines. I got as close to the gates as I dared but there's just nothing there.

“M'kay,” Joshua nodded, his eyes focusing on the television. Slowly, hearing Kael's words for the first time, he turned to him. “What do you mean the map pointed there? The map was vague. Just because battles were fought doesn't mean that it's the same place. Have you met people? All they do is fight. Every square inch of the world has had a battle fought on it.” Joshua wanted to ignore this, but he could see the fire in his brother's eyes. He was past convincing with any real logic.

“It wasn't just the soldiers though!” Kael nearly reeled back in excitement. “Don't you see! You said there was a three-peaked mountain on that map. The tallest mountain around, the mountain that the palace is built into has three peaks. We have to go to the palace, or very close to it, if we want to find the Book.” Joshua, Avonly, and Gianna all went silent and glared at Kael expectantly. “As a child, I remember the mountainside. There were buildings built into it, even caves that the palace workers had sealed shut. There's a way in.”

Joshua glared at Kael, mulling over ways to end this insanity. There was no way the Book was here all along. “If they've been building into the mountain, and have tunnels into the mountain, that would seem to indicate that the King already found the Book of Light if it was here?”

“Not necessarily,” Avonly jumped in, drawing Joshua's exasperated glare. “We know he was looking for the Book back then. He was looking for the Book after all that construction was done. If it's here, he didn't find it. And he wasn't really looking, ya'know? How could he have known?”

Kael sprung forward and grabbed Avonly by the shoulders in excitement. “Yes! You get it! And what? One tiny map under Dania? Do you think the Dark Element or Dad ever even saw that? He doesn't even have a clue.”

Joshua looked down to see his fingers tightly clenched, white with the loss of circulation. He wasn't mad, but he was getting frustrated. “Gianna,” he spat. “This is stupid right?”

Gianna stirred in her seat uncomfortably. “Of course. Completely idiotic. Just like everything we do.”

“Sounds like she agrees with me,” Kael said triumphantly. “We're exploring the palace grounds and heading into the mountain.”

Joshua mumbled a series of incoherent swears under his breath before grabbing the remote and cranking the volume back up. In the background, the news report hummed on, summarizing the troubles the Serian nation was experiencing. The guerrilla civil warfare. The attempts at succession by the southern states. With Seriah so embroiled, it was no wonder Taerose had been so bold in the invasion and annexation of its neighbors as of late. What was once the sole superpower in the world was slipping.

“We kill Dad first right? Help Ell and the Serians, I mean.” Joshua looked back at Kael and Avonly, chattering happily over their flights of fancy.

Kael scowled and looked out the window in the direction of the palace before slowly nodding.

“And now I have with me a witness from the event to tell us what really happened,” the reporter declared, snagging the undivided attention of everyone in the room. The woman turned with the camera to a man who had been just out of view.

“Was he on the train?” Avonly spluttered through a mouth full of food.

“I don’t recognize him,” Kael shrugged. “As long as he can't describe us and then provide a sketch I wouldn't worry.”

“Well,” the man began unsure of himself, “I saw everything that happened. I can describe everyone involved, and I even drew a sketch of what they looked like.” Kael's eyes narrowed to a point. The man shuffled through the bag at his side and pulled out a sketch. The drawing held a striking resemblance to Emile. "This guy right here ran for the cabin and it just blew up.

“And you saw this happen sir?” the reporter inquired.

“Oh yeah, I was on the second car in front. Crazy stuff was going on. Explosions and crap going off in the car ahead of us then some girl comes running in and then some kids barrel through in a panic.”

“Could you go into more detail?” beckoned the reporter.

“Not really,” the man said scratching his chin. “But I did get a picture with my phone I did.”

“Dang you technology,” Joshua mumbled. The man fumbled in his pockets and pulled out his phone. He fiddled with it for a few seconds and then held it aloft.

She squinted and brought her eyes close to the picture. “What exactly am I looking at?” she asked, her face skewed up confused.

“Aye right there,” the man said leaning over her shoulder and pointing at the picture, “you can see one of their legs right there.”

“Well, there you have it folks, some mysterious people on the train and. . . a leg.” The reporter had a painful look on her face as she said her next line, “what developments will come from these new revelations, stay tuned and find out.” With that, the newscast cut to commercial and everyone sat back relieved.

Kael stood up and headed for the door while saying, “That was a waste of time.”

“Yea, kind of anticlimactic,” Avonly agreed.

“It probably doesn't matter,” Gianna tacked on at the end. “Mal has probably put together where you two are anyway.”

“That's an odd thing to say. . . .” Joshua mumbled.

"It's probably not," Kael said. "He'd said he'd find us a third time and," Kael pointed at the train, "that looks like our work." Tapping his fingers against his thigh, Kael was quickly losing patience. “I'm going to hit the streets again and see what I can find in the library.” He gave a sideways glance to Joshua. “I’ll check the internet while I’m there.” With these few words, he bailed.

This outburst seemed to end the conversation and as the news cycle slipped further and further into daily mundanities. Eventually, Joshua excused himself as Avonly put on cartoons and Gianna watched over her shoulder perplexed.

###

Around twenty-seven o'clock that night, Joshua woke in a cold sweat and searing pain. Dragging his sheets wrapped around him in a chokehold for a few feet, Joshua shed his cocoon before stumbling down the hallway and towards the stairs.. Grabbing a glass of water in the kitchen below, he then headed for a small infirmary down and towards the right. He began down the hallway until he heard footsteps approaching him and he waited hesitantly to see who would be coming to their wing. He strained his eyes as Gianna emerged from the shadows.

“What?” she asked. She was fully dressed and in a hurry. “I was. . . .”

“Going out for a walk?” Joshua finished for her.

“Yes. Sure. That,” She jumped on Joshua’s words. He was already focused on other things as she walked past up him and towards the foyer.

She is twitchier than normal. She's always jumpy, but. . . . Joshua lost his thought process halfway through and yawned. Still half asleep, he continued on through the giant embassy and into the foyer which was the fastest way from the kitchen to the infirmary. He nodded to the two guards who sat stoically against the wall. As Joshua rounded to the kitchen's hallway, a distant sound of breaking glass caught his ears, a sound that would have been lost to the white noise-cacophony of other sounds he was hearing these days if not for the two guards jumping to their feet. They sprinted off down the hallway on the other side of the foyer with weapons drawn. Still, Joshua had a mission and he wouldn't stop. Or so he thought until the lights blanked out, leaving him in total darkness.

Joshua blinked and oriented himself in the dark. At this point, he was obligated to see what the guards were responding to. Giving one last wistful glance to his safer path, he felt against the wall and began making his way in the other direction as his eyes adjusted.

Forward. There was some scratching sound ahead. Forward. He could see the outline of an open door.

Joshua grabbed the handle and entered the next room. It was cold and a breeze chilled the air, that frosty Taerose wind no matter the time of year. Joshua’s fingers ran along the wall looking for a light switch. Finding it, he flicked the tiny lever but the room remained obscured in darkness. Unperturbed, he advanced through the room. Those two guards had to be here somewhere. Realizing he shouldn't just stumble upon two armed men, Joshua was about to call out when he saw the moonlight reflecting ahead.

Slightly more awake due to sheer annoyance, Joshua pulled one of the curtains back revealing a giant window that stretched from the floor to the ceiling in this two-story room. The glass was broken inward and a large human-sized hole bore its way through the glass. Joshua backed away, his slippers scraping against shards of glass littering the floor. Around him, the moonlight wavered on books and desks– some sort of study.

Joshua headed towards the door with a quickening pace, a dull weight building in his gut, but his feet adhered to the floor as he spied the slightest movement out of the corner of his eye. Am I seeing things? That's the sort of thing I have been seeing. He shook his head and grabbed a thick book on a nearby desk. He slid his fingers across its coarse binding and held it by the edge, ready to swing. Better sorry than safe. Or something. Too tired

Ears strained and breath one hundred times louder than he would like, Joshua crept along– so close to the door. A few more inches. But then. A sound? Footsteps. Joshua slinked forward as his neck craned ever so slowly. No in front!

He yanked his book to the side as a knife slashed through the air and into his shield. Face to face, Joshua stared down the darkness, just able to see a faint outline of a large man as his fingers dug raw into his book. The man twisted the knife attempting to shake Joshua's grip but with a strong lurch, Joshua twisted the book and reversed the maneuver, taking the knife with him. As the figure pushed forward and tried to grab Joshua, Joshua dove to the side, gripped his book tight, and sprinted for the door.

Yelling at the top of his lungs, he slid into the hallway. He didn't know what he was screaming but it hardly mattered. As he hurdled into the foyer, his foot missed a beat and he tumbled head over heels. The book he had been holding onto dearly catapulting into the darkness. His body slowly came to a stop on the polished floor as Joshua flailed around trying to regain his footing. He never tripped. Especially when it mattered. What was happening?

Uf! His breath was forced from his body as a foot slammed into his chest. Forced over onto his back, he gasped trying to get air back into his lungs, but again the blow came down onto his gut and pinning him to the ground. His hands dug into a dirty pant leg and his arms burned trying to move the weight to no avail.

“Would have been better if you hadn’t wandered through,” the man’s gruff voice said.

“Ugh, yeah, ugh,” Joshua coughed. If only he could get enough air to retort.

In the distance, a dull hum thumped and Joshua groaned as the lights flicked on. The light piercing his skull would be helpful in a few seconds, but right now he was ready to die. But in that second, Joshua could feel the foot loosen its pin and he threw himself back and scrambled to safety. As the light blindness faded, Joshua was quickly able to make out his surroundings. “Oh it’s just you,” Joshua grunted staring up at the rebel from the train who had jumped out at the last second before the explosion. Joshua had expected someone from the Element. He expected Zagan. The man still wore his worn sunglasses. Was he running around in pitch black with those on?

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his protective book with the knife sticking out of it not but two feet away. "Are you Dark Element?" Joshua coughed, the shadow of the man's foot could still be felt on his chest. Joshua was fairly certain the man wasn't, but he just wanted time to slide over to his shield.

The man slowly turned his head to face Joshua cockeyed before the chin rose and Joshua could see his own reflection in those glasses. "Is that name no secret in Seriah?" the man rasped, true hatred gurgling in his throat. "Has your government grown so bold to admit to buying the death of our people?"

Joshua stammered for words as his feet straddled the book. The Prime Minister had hired the Dark Element as bodyguards. Who's to say what else he would use them for. "I'm not Serian." It was all Joshua could think to say.

"Just die," the man hissed, pulling a pistol from his belt. But Joshua was already ready. His feet kicked up the book to his hands and he threw it as hard as he could. It hit the man in the face rather harmlessly, but in the fraction of a second it took him to recover, Joshua had already closed the gap and had the gun by two hands. In another fraction, the gun was thrown sideways as Joshua and the man wrestled.

Joshua let go with one hand and threw a punch, missing. And then another. Nothing. Whoever this guy was, he was a fighter. Joshua was thrown from his feet and kipped up a second later. He charged back in with punches and kicks but nothing landed. In turn, he felt bare knuckles smashing into his stomach and he fell back with the breath knocked out. Who was this man?

Joshua's eyes darted around the room, hoping someone would rush in to help but Joshua wasn't about to rely on that. With a bellowing yell, Joshua charged back in a third time and was thrown to the ground instantly with the taste of blood in his mouth. The man stooped down and pick up his gun, slowly trained it on Joshua's forehead. Joshua had dueled Syches and won convincingly. He had proven himself time and again in combat, and now he lost? Lost to some guy in a fistfight? Was he slipping?

It was a lot of things to think on with a gun threatening his life, but that's how things go. Either time slows and a hundred little thoughts happen at once or time speeds up and you have no time to think at all. With all his questions considered and no answers, Joshua eyed the barrel blankly.

Bang. Joshua shuddered. He flinched. But then he realized that it was a completely different sounding explosion. Joshua opened his eyes and had to look around to find the man, steaming and burnt, slouching against the wall off to the side. Joshua looked around wildly for Kael, but instead he found Gianna walking through the front door. He wasn't even surprised at this point. He was coming to rely on Gianna just as much as Kael these days.

"Thanks," he croaked. "I'm not sure what happened there.”

"Looks like he got the drop on you," she answered genuinely, looking around the room. "No shame in that."

"Well that's not. . . ." Joshua stopped. That sounded an awfully lot like a compliment. "How was your walk?"

"I wasn't around the corner when I looked back and the lights were suddenly off. So more of a sprint."

A handful of guards now rushed through the door, as Joshua could just spy others looking down from the top of the stairs. “Where are they? Are they secure?” one of them asked Gianna.

Gianna closed her eyes for a second and then responded. “No all clear. Just the burning lump over there," she said pointing to the man. "They were securing the perimeter or something," she shrugged, apparently making that comment on Joshua's behalf.

The guard stood dumbfounded for a second trying to take in the news. He held up one finger asking for a second and then ran back upstairs and straight to the Prime Minister’s room. Less than a minute later, the Prime Minister Akaska flanked by two guards came down the stairs at a fast pace.

“Is that, the man from the train?” the Prime Minister stuttered approaching the man on the floor who Joshua and Gianna were sitting on because they couldn’t find anything to tie him up with.

Joshua looked down and then back to Minister Akaska. “Sure looks that way. Alive too despite how he looks."

“Hold on.” The Prime Minister paused looked down at the captive. “I recognize this man now that I am looking over him closer. It couldn’t be.” At that same moment, the man on the ground grunted and shook a little bit. The two remaining guards surged forward and helped keep the man pinned as he tried to rise. Jeremiah reached down and removed the sunglasses still on the man and looked into his eyes, only the other man didn’t look back, couldn’t look back. His eyes were glazed over, pupils hidden behind cataracts.

He was blind.