The Crown Prince of the Javan Empire found himself chuckling as he walked away from the desk of the Admiral Bancroft. He was sure the man was probably still staring daggers through his backside. He knew he shouldn't play with the admiral like this but it just felt too good not to.

Peevish Percy Bancroft thinks he's too good for the rest of us, thought George. If I'm the only one willing to bring him down a level or two, so be it!

Frankly, George was tired of the amount of clout that Bancroft held in the country's government. His father had an unhealthy degree of respect for the man that George just didn't understand. He'd always found Bancroft to be stuffy and pessimistic, capable of only looking at naval matters and not the big picture. But it was of no matter now. In a matter of weeks, their invasion force would be on the Occitanian shore, and their capital city would come under siege.

George only wished he could be the one leading the troops in their final charge as they slaughtered those Occitanian bastards. He'd even brought up the discussion to the generals. Of course, they'd politely declined, and George knew the reason why. He slapped his fat stomach several times and chuckled. He'd make a hell of a target for any sniper on the field, and the death of the crown prince would be a terrible headline to read about in the press.

Even still, he looked forward to the eventual victory parade, both through Montauban and Belfort once the war had finished. Perhaps he'd even make sure that Bancroft had a position of honor, that is, as long as the man still had his head by the time the treaty was signed.

George retired to his own personal quarters a few minutes later. He had nearly an entire wing of the palace to himself, save for the temporary Admiralty quarters in the grand hall. However, it did mean that, for just one man, he had almost fifty rooms to himself. Not bad considering there were some he hadn't been inside for years.

Moving inside his own quarters, George came upon his own office and sat down. His chair was heavily-reinforced at the joints, a necessary precaution after the first time one snapped out from under him, but it was easily one of the most comfortable places to sit inside the entire palace. In front of him was his desk, filled with all kinds of messages, dispatches, orders, and bills. The only ones that he really looked at were those that originated with the army. He usually read those fully, but as for the rest of them, he couldn't be bothered with the other matters of state.

Even though his father had tried to mold him into being the next Emperor of Java, with all the responsibilities that it came with, George was content to enjoy life at his own pace. Being crown prince meant all the pleasures of royalty with none of the obligations. Sure, he had to attend most of the functions and obligations, and occasionally he had to make state visits during times of peace, but for the most part, he kept to himself and his . . . pleasures.

George looked around the room, and seeing not one of the servants around him, he decided to ring the little bell on his desk. Its chiming echoed through the empty chambers until not a moment later, one of the servant girls came running to attend to him.

"Your Highness, how can I help you?" she asked, bowing deeply in front of him.

George grinned lecherously. Amelia was one of his favorite girls. The only reason she worked at the palace was for her appearance. Dark, curly hair and big, green eyes, the girl was such a sexy little thing that she set his blood on fire just by being near him. She also was so damn top heavy that George had to wonder how she managed to walk upright—at least without having massive amounts of back pain. Not any older than twenty, Amelia made a fine addition to his own personal staff.

"Is it only you here today? Or anyone else?" asked George, gesturing around the corners.

Amelia bit her lip defensively. "No, Judd is here as well today."

"Get him. Quickly. Then come back here," ordered George.

She left only reluctantly, no doubt knowing what was to come. It was a scene he greatly enjoyed when it was acted out in front of him, and the lording of power over Bancroft had made him eager for their particular talents.

The one called Judd appeared a moment later. He had a shaved head, with only prickly remains left upon his scalp. A tall lad, he was noticeably thick in the back and chest as well. He was around the same age as the girl, a glowing reminder of his youth and virility. He'd do nicely.

"Good. Take off your clothes. Both of you," ordered George.

The two servants looked at each other before obeying his order. They both wore a simple servant's gown, easy to take off, and they fell to floor to reveal their nude bodies in a matter of seconds. George felt the first signs of life in his cock at seeing the girl's impressive tits, but also at the other servant's cock, which was showing the first signs of life.

Apparently, Judd was already noticing Amelia as well. He stole frequent glances at her body, no doubt knowing what would be coming next.

"Bend over my desk," George instructed the girl. "You, get behind her."

The girl nodded uneasily and laid down against his ornate workstation. The other servant grabbed his cock, preparing to enter her from behind. George nearly shivered at the anticipation of their coupling. But he needed to do one more thing first.

"Wait just a second." George spit into his hand and reached behind the girl. He used the opportunity to coat her pliant hole with his saliva, getting her ready to take the cock hovering just inches away from her ass. Once he was satisfied with the result, he nodded back to the man. "Begin."

George let out a low hiss as their genitals joined, and the girl let out a pathetic mewl. Finding his hand slipping into his robes, he watched as their hips began to thrust together in wild fashion.

This was true entertainment.

This was his reward for being the Crown Prince of Java.

His robes started to move faster.

*****

It had been nine days at sea after leaving Andalucia when Jack was told that the task force should arrive off the coast of Kat's island home in Picardy. It had been an uneventful trip so far, much the opposite of the first time they set out for Picardy, and he'd been content to enjoy the sight of open ocean and nothing else.

Being back on the Destiny was a little weird for him at first. He'd spent so much time in Andalucia, and had been so close to death at times, that he wondered if he'd ever step foot on the mighty cruiser again. Yet, once she was fully underway upon leaving Methusa, Jack moved to the bow of the ship and smiled. He felt the soft mist of the ocean cover his face while the wind brushed through his hair. It was a feeling he'd long since missed—the joy of being one with the water.

It also reminded him how cramped the ship was once again now that they had two full battalions on board. Many of them were new faces still too, men that Jack hadn't met or seen only once in passing. Every once in a while, he'd still see the faces of the veterans—those few remaining cadres of marines that had been with him since the mission started. Their ranks were a lot thinner these days, and they'd truly survived hell together. Jack just hoped that he could get the rest of them back home without losing any more brothers.

With the threat of further hostilities on the horizon with the Swabians, it was a hope he didn't think would come to pass.

At the current moment, he could be found at the desk in his own quarters, catching up on the small mountain of paperwork that had been left for him while he was in Andalucia. Abigail was on the bridge commanding the ship, while Kat was still in his bed, writing something in that journal of hers. She did that often enough to catch his attention, although he never knew for sure what else was in it beyond the prophecy that she loved to reference. Fear of finding out further details always stopped him from pursuing the subject.

At this particular moment though, she had a troubled look on her face. Her eyebrows were drawn tight together and her lips were pursed tightly. He knew her well enough by now to know that something was bothering her.

"What's on your mind?" he asked as he raised from the desk and approached the bed. Kat snapped out of her reverie and looked back at him, blinking steadily.

"Oh, nothing, I suppose."

Jack chuckled. "Somehow, I don't believe you. Did you come across more prophecy?" He tapped at her journal.

She shook her head and shut the book. "No, nothing like that."

"What's wrong then? I can tell something's up with you."

Kat opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. Instead, she used a finger to grab a lock of her hair, twisting it around it. "It's just . . . I don't even know what to say, Jack. Especially with us getting so close. I really need to . . . to . . . "

"To what?"

She looked at him helplessly. "There's just so much on my mind right now. I don't know if I can get it all out like I'd want to."

Jack frowned. "Do you need time to yourself?"

"Perhaps, but I don't know." She bit her lip. "Maybe I just need a nap or something. Something to clear my thoughts."

"Do you want me to stay with you or do you need me to give you some space?"

Kat looked like she might cry. "Is it okay if I have some space?"

He pulled her in for a hug, letting her blonde hair tickle his nose. "Of course. Does this have to do with us?"

"Yes and no," she said, the sound muffled by his uniform. "Can we talk about it tonight? Just the two of us?"

"No Abigail?"

Kat shook her head. "Not yet."

Jack took a deep breath. "Okay, that's fine. Tonight then." He stood up from the bed, resolving to head to the bridge in order to give her the space she needed. "If you need me for something, just use that spare radio on my desk, all right?"

She nodded quickly, slipping further into bed. She pulled the covers up to her chin. In that moment, she looked so vulnerable, so scared, that Jack didn't want to leave. He wanted to pull her to him and banish whatever demon was disturbing her from the inside. Yet, she didn't want him to comfort her right now. She wanted her space, and he would respect that. He just hoped that whatever was troubling her, she could confide in him about it tonight.

As he closed the door and began to walk to the bridge, he hoped that she wasn't getting second thoughts about joining him on this mission.

Or with being with him.

*****

"So what did you do this time?" asked Greg between magazines as they fired off the stern of the Destiny.

Jack let out a deep sigh and looked over to the marine. "I don't even know. She was fine this morning, at least I think she was. But then this afternoon, she started to get upset over something that she wouldn't talk about. Kat said we'd talk more tonight but that was the last thing I heard before I left."

Greg slipped a new magazine into his NT-12 and began to riddle the target floating out at sea. In their time since coming back aboard the Destiny, they had resumed their shooting practice from the rear of the ship. Even though most of the trip through Andalucia had involved heavy fighting, the last couple weeks had seen peace through the island, and Jack wanted to keep his skills sharp.

"Maybe she's having second thoughts about your whole three-way relationship thing," offered Greg after the new magazine was unloaded. "Maybe she doesn't want Abigail in the picture after all."

Jack shrugged. While the idea did have some weight, it was something that he didn't want to get into too much detail with his friend. The relationship was still novel even to him, and it didn't feel right talking about the specifics with an outsider, even if it was Greg. That kind of stuff was usually kept more private.

"I don't know," said Jack finally. "But she was reading that journal of hers when she got upset. I have to wonder if that has something to do with it?"

"Didn't you say before that she kept pages of prophecy within that book? Maybe she's all worked up about something?"

Jack grunted. "I hope not. I'm tired of hearing the word 'prophecy' anyway. Even with all that's happened in Andalucia, I get the impression that she thinks this prophecy of hers is behind it."

"What if it is? I know you hate the idea of it, but what if there are certain events that are guided along by the fates?" asked Greg.

"Not you too," said Jack with a heavy groan.

Greg started to laugh. "The idea does have some merit. What we've achieved since we've been here is pretty damn remarkable, Jack. We've freed ourselves from certain death in Lishkerra, stopped a civil war and recovered more treasure than we could use in a lifetime in Sorella, and you're now the King of Andalucia, a country we were never supposed to step foot in. Not to mention half the other stuff we've done like completely destroying an Occitanian task force. We've been in the Vector for almost six months at this point. If the fates aren't guiding us along, I doubt we'd have ever made it out of Sorella."

Jack could only grunt in response. "Maybe we're just that good?"

Greg chuckled again. "That I don't doubt but maybe we're being helped along too?"

Jack thought over those last few words for several minutes without offering a rebuttal. He had no way to prove Greg wrong, but he wasn't sure if he really wanted to do that in the first place. Even though the idea made him uncomfortable, he couldn't deny the extraordinary luck they'd had since this mission started. If something or someone was guiding their steps, he could eventually learn to understand that. Kat seemed to believe in it enough to dedicate her life to it.

It still made his traditional Javan sensibilities cringe, but then again, so did having a relationship with two women. If he could accept that, why couldn't he accept something else that he didn't have a concrete answer for?

One thing was for certain—he needed to figure out what was bothering Kat and whether it was related to this prophecy.

*****

That evening, Jack returned to his quarters after some time spent on the bridge. Abigail was the one to relieve him, volunteering to take the first watch to give him some alone time with Kat. He wasn't sure if Kat had talked with her, but Abigail seemed to understand that they would need the time to themselves and willingly give them the space.

He was grateful for that, however, it didn't make his steps any less heavy as he approached the door to his room. Shadows were already growing larger with the setting of the sun, and part of him wondered what awaited him on the other side of the door. Taking a deep breath, he reached for the handle and opened it.

As he expected, Kat was already waiting for him inside. She was sitting upright on his bed, her long legs crossed underneath her body while her journal set open just in front of her. She offered a weak smile upon seeing him, which didn't make him feel any better.

Closing the door behind him, he then approached the bed. "Are you ready to talk?"

Kat nodded. "Will you sit here with me?"

Jack climbed onto the bed and positioned himself directly in front of her. The tension between them was awkward, more than he'd ever felt from her. Up until this point, time spent with Kat had been effortless, so it was an unusual feeling to not know where she stood or what was causing her such distress.

It didn't mean he didn't have time to think about what she could want to discuss. His mind kept coming back to their relationship. It was the one thing he dreaded to hear—that she didn't want to continue being with him, or that she didn't want to share him with someone else. Could he really be forced to pick between the two of them if she forced that decision on him? The thought made his heart pound in his chest, and he was eager to start this discussion.

"This is going to be hard for me, so just bear with me, all right Jack?" she started, taking a deep breath.

"Kat, I have to wonder what this is about. You've had me on edge most of the day. Is this about us?" he asked, gesturing between them.

"It is, in a way," she said cryptically.

Jack gulped hard. "Do you not want to be in a relationship with me? Is this whole arrangement not working for you?"

Kat's eyes locked on his. She gave him a confused look for a moment before she slowly shook her head. "Not at all. I've always known what it meant to be with you and what that would entail. I really like Abigail as a person, and I'm still willing to share you. I find myself with feelings for you that I've never felt for anyone else, so no Jack, this relationship is very much working for me."

Jack tried to withhold it but he didn't succeed when he let out a sigh of relief. He smiled for a brief moment as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Well, that's a relief."

Kat giggled. "Is that what you thought this was about?"

"Well, yeah, when you said it was about us, I thought this had to be it," he said defensively.

Kat shook her head and then leaned forward, kissing him deeply. "Nothing could change the way I feel about you. Trust me, okay?"

He nodded and then returned the kiss. She melted against him briefly before pulling away and locking eyes with him once more. "This has to do with something else, Jack. Something that I haven't told you."

He looked down at her journal and back at her. "The prophecy?"

"Yes," she confirmed. "I know I've only given you bits and pieces of it so far. That was by design. I had to make sure that the person I was looking for was who I thought he was. When I saw prophecy being fulfilled right in front of my eyes, I had no doubt about it."

"There's that 'he' again," said Jack with a smile. "Are you going to tell me who this 'he' is?"

"Yes, Jack. Now is the time. You deserve to know."

Jack swallowed heavily. "I guess I'm ready to hear this." He didn't see what the big deal was. He knew she was looking to find this person but how did it involve him?

Kat took another long breath. "This person that I've searched for so long to find is of paramount importance. Not only to my people, but to the world. Jack, the person I'm looking for is the Galician King."

He gave her a confused look. "But I thought the Galician kings were dead? Died out completely, right? That's why they have the regent in place since that throne is empty?"

She shook her head. "No, there was a survivor. A boy that was born to the last Galician King, Robert III. The world was told he didn't survive the stress of childbirth, along with his mother, but that wasn't the case. The boy lived."

"Why did they fake his death?"

"There was a plot against the royal family that the king exposed. A plot by some very nasty people to remove them from the throne for their own gain," said Kat. "Robert knew they would target his sons as the embodiment of their future as kings, so he arranged to have one go into hiding to protect him. By separating the family, they ensured its survival. The queen went with the newborn, and the world was told of their deaths. Ultimately, the king was correct. His eldest son was poisoned, and then he was next. The world thought the family line was extinguished."

"What happened to the boy and his mother?" asked Jack.

"They hid themselves on a remote island in Galicia and tried to live a normal life. It was only the wise words of a prophetess that prevented them from pushing the boy forward to claim the throne. It was foretold that the family had to hide so that one day, an important heir could be borne from them, one who would bring back the balance to the world, bring forth freedom to those oppressed, and cast away evil forever."

"Those last lines are from that prophecy that you read to me back in Sorella," said Jack, tapping at her journal. "You're searching for the Galician King with this prophecy."

She nodded. "The important heir has arrived, Jack. He was born almost thirty-six years ago, and he has no idea of his true heritage. I've been tracking him ever since we found out he was the one we'd been waiting for. And I've found him."

He started to shake his head. "Kat . . . "

She slipped her hand onto his. "Jack, it's you that I've been looking for. You are the true heir of the Galician throne. The Galician King is very much alive, and he is you, Jack."

He pulled his hand away from hers. "No, no, no, that can't be right, Kat. Come on, I'm Javan. Who is it that you're really looking for?"

Her sky-blue eyes softened. "Have you never wondered the circumstances of how I came to be attached to your group? Or the true reason why you alone of all your Javan countrymen have blonde hair and blue eyes? That's your ancestry shining through, Jack. You are the great, great, great grandson of that child that was spirited away before he could be killed."

Jack's mind was spinning. It was getting to the point that he could barely keep up with the words Kat was saying. How could she really believe him to be this Galician heir? He was a Javan naval officer, and he spent his whole life there. Until a few months ago, he'd never even heard of Galicia.

There must be some mistake.

"Kat, there has to be some mistake here," he said finally. "I have Javan parents. Everyone I know is from Java. Hell, before our arrival in the Vector, no Easterner had ever been inside the Vector and lived to tell about it. You have the wrong guy."

She shook her head firmly. "There are multiple signs that tell me that I'm right about my suspicions—"

"But, Kat, my parents were Javan. They have dark hair and dark eyes. They couldn't possibly be Galician heirs. I don't exactly know where my features come from, but they were normal Javan folks. I think they would have told me if we were some long forgotten heirs to some throne."

Kat took a deep breath. "That's because they weren't really your actual parents."

Jack blinked. "What? How can you even . . .?" Jack thought back to every memory he had of his parents from when he was growing up. His father taught him how to sail their boat, how to be a man, and how to be brave. His mother was the nurturer, a kind presence who was always there to pick him up when he fell.

How could they have not been my real parents?

"Jack, there's so much to explain. So many details to it. But the people you knew as your parents weren't related to you by blood. When you were born, our enemies found out who you were and what you represented. It was no longer safe to leave you with your real parents. The only place you could be safe was across the ocean in Java. So they took you there. They found a young Javan couple, newly married and having issues with getting pregnant. You were a gift to them, a son of their own, and one they could love. It also put you far out of reach of your enemies, in a land where they could never touch you."

"Just stop. Stop," said Jack firmly. "I don't know where you concocted this story, but I want you to stop, Kat."

She pressed her hand lightly against his face, forcing him to look at her. "Jack, I can't. You need to know this. I've delayed this for too long, but I can't any further. Tomorrow, when we arrive at my house, I'll tell you more. I'll make sure you get the whole story. But trust me, I would never lie to you, Jack. I care about you too much."

His head was still spinning, and he felt like he might lose his dinner. Even though he was so sure of who he was and his life up until that point, now everything had a giant question mark beside it. Especially his parents. He wished he could ask them, but they'd been dead for half his life. What about Jocelyn though? His sister?

"My sister Jocelyn? What of her?"

Kat shook her head. "She's actually their child, related by blood. Which means, she's not actually your sister."

"Not even Jocelyn," he whispered. Of course not, not with her dark features. How didn't he see it before? The only one with his light skin, hair and eyes in his entire family. How had he never pieced it together before that he was different?

Or was he truly different? Was she telling him the truth?

"What purpose is this for, Kat?" he asked, clutching his upset stomach. "What is to become of me?"

She raised her chin when she looked at him. "Your purpose will be to reclaim your throne. I won't stop this until I've seen you take your rightful place as King of Galicia. You will have a lot of enemies along the way. The Swabians will not permit a king to reemerge in the lands of their traditional enemy. Not to mention, there are many in Galicia that won't want to see the status quo changed. I fear we have a great conflict ahead of us, and you are destined to lead us through that conflict."

"Me? Why me?"

"It's been foretold through prophecy, Jack," said Kat as she tapped at the lines of prophecy in front of her. "The world has waited a long time for your coming. Even hundreds of years ago, there were those that were so frightened by the prospect of your coming that they tried to prevent it from happening. They tried to kill off the Galician royal family and nearly succeeded. Multiple generations of your family have stayed hidden, looking to keep you safe and to maintain the bloodline just so you could be born. And now here you are."

She softly caressed his cheek once more. "You're the person we've all been waiting on. You're the king, Jack. Not just of Andalucia, but of Galicia."

He shook his head and pushed her hand away. "I don't even know what to say to you now, Kat," he whispered hoarsely.

"I'm so sorry, Jack," she said. "I know this is a lot for you. There will be more tomorrow when we get there to Picardy."

"How much more? I don't know how much more of this I can take."

Kat swallowed. "There's two things waiting for you in my home. Something that belongs to you, and . . . someone that you need to meet."

"Who?"

She shook her head. "Tomorrow. I've thrown enough at you tonight. I'm sorry it had to be this way, Jack. I should have told you sooner."

"Yes, you should," he said angrily. "How could you have spent this much time with me and not told me? Hell, Kat, we've been intimate together." Jack recoiled from her and pushed off from the bed. "How the hell do you do that while keeping this secret from me?"

A tear slipped down her cheek. "It wasn't easy. I'm sorry, I know how confused you must be. I had to be sure it was really you. When you freed the slaves in Andalucia, it only just confirmed it for me. I was so scared to tell you, scared of what you might think. Not only of the prophecy but of me."

He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "You still should have told me sooner, Kat."

"I know. I'm sorry, Jack." Tears were flowing freely now. "I can give you some time to yourself to process this. I'll go sleep in Vera's room tonight. Maybe we can talk in the morning?"

"Fine," he muttered, crossing his arms. She leaned in to kiss his cheek before wiping her tears once more. In the next moment, she was gone, leaving the room with the subtle sound of the door closing.

Jack laid back against his bed. It was more out of necessity than anything as the contents of his stomach threatened to empty. This just couldn't be right. It would mean everything that he'd known about his life was a complete lie. His family wasn't even his own, just people with no connection to him at all, maintaining a falsity for his entire life. He wondered if Jocelyn even knew. Growing up, they'd been very close so part of him had to question if she could really hide something of that magnitude from him. Why hadn't his parents told him? Perhaps they'd been waiting for the right time, yet that accident that killed them prevented the news from reaching him.

In a way, it made sense. Greg's words from earlier rang through his head. Kat truly believed that this prophecy was guiding them, and for him, it was guiding his entire life. Even back to some ancestors so far back that he didn't even know they'd existed.

And now I'm supposed to take the throne of a country I've never been to and save the world?

It almost sounded comical to think in that way. He was a nobody, just a damn naval officer from some country to the east. How could he be this long-awaited king? Yet, Kat seemed so sure of it. And she was so torn up about telling him.

It serves her right, for holding it from me for so long. She should have told me sooner!

But would he be any less mad at the outcome? Perhaps not. He just might have thought she was crazy instead and left her behind. She'd waited until he'd developed feelings for her in order to spring the news on him. When he wouldn't be willing to send her away for the news. It was a calculated move, and it hurt his head as well as his heart. Was she keeping anything else from him? And who did she want him to meet tomorrow? Could it be his real family? His real mother or his father?

How did she just manage to turn my world completely upside down?

*****

Needless to say, Jack didn't get any sleep that night. His mind kept turning with the revelations from last night. Most importantly, he wondered what they would mean if they were true. Having to confront that those he called family for his entire life were strangers was the hardest part. In a way, it was a disparaging feeling. He almost felt abandoned by the real parents that he never knew.

Part of him wanted to shrug it off as a mistake. That maybe Kat really did have the wrong guy, and nothing had to change about his life. Jack wasn't sure if it was his sense of irony, but something told him that there was merit to her words. The small voice in the back of his mind told him that she was likely correct. However, that didn't mean he would blindly accept anything without proof.

And she still owed him a lot of proof. He hoped that whatever they would find today would put an end to any doubts that he might have. Either he was Jack Easterbrook, Commodore in the Javan Navy, or he was this long forgotten heir of the Galician throne. One way or another, he needed an answer.

Unfortunately for him, his request to be left alone was honored for the entire night. Even when he half-expected Abigail to come to bed at the end of her shift, he received no other visitors until dawn when his deputy, Twitch, brought him the morning dispatches. The evening hours were quiet for the Destiny and the rest of the task force, and by all accounts, they should be reaching the coordinates of Kat's island by midmorning.

And it was there that he hoped to find more answers to just exactly who he was.

However, being alone all night made him want to talk to someone, anyone that would listen. He was tired of being alone with his thoughts, and he wanted to open up, even if it was just to chat about trivial matters as a means of distraction.

For that reason, he first headed down to Greg's quarters, however the man was not there. It was still early enough in the morning that it wasn't entirely a surprise, and Jack figured he'd probably spent the night with Abigail's deputy Brittany like he'd done before. Thinking about who else he could see, he went above deck to track down Vera. The Galician woman was always a good sounding board for just about anything, and she'd surely be able to find something to help take his mind off of recent events.

"Come in," she yelled through the door after he'd given a firm rap to it.

Jack opened the door to find three pairs of eyes looking at him. The first was Vera's, and she was sitting in a chair right next to her bed. Beside her was Kat, also sitting in another chair and facing the bed. The person in the bed was Abigail, still half-asleep, which Jack didn't consider surprising since she would have been on the bridge for half the night. The three women were talking amongst themselves, but the chatter died down instantly as soon as they saw him.

"I was just hoping to talk to Vera," he said quietly, as he watched the three of them.

Kat was the first to nod, and she soon sprung out of her seat. "I'll give you both some time." She passed by him while offering a conciliatory look.

Abigail was out of bed next, thankfully still wearing most of her uniform. She only had to put on her jacket before she too left the room, offering him a kiss before she slipped out. It left Jack alone with the last woman finally.

"You look like you've had a rough night," said Vera jokingly while gesturing to the bags under his eyes.

"You have no idea," he answered. He made for Kat's now empty chair and sat down across from the blue-eyed, blonde woman. "I felt like I had a bomb dropped on me."

"That's what Kat said but she wouldn't tell us why," said Vera.

He gave her a look of confusion. "You sure she didn't? You don't know what this is about?"

Vera shook her head. "Not a clue. She said it was between her and you, and that you would tell the rest of us when you were ready. I take it that time is now?"

Jack mulled that question over for a moment before answering. Did he really want to start talking about something that he didn't have his own proof about? What if Kat was wrong? What if this was just a whole case of mistaken identity?

"Maybe not yet," he said finally. "Just not the right time yet."

Vera nodded quickly. "I understand. Are you two having any issues? I understand the relationship between the three of you is not exactly routine, but I'd hate to see it cause any problems."

"That's the least of my concerns right now," he said a bit too honestly. "This is much bigger."

Vera really looked at him. "Are you okay, Jack?"

Jack took a deep breath. Was he? Not really.

"I don't know," he answered. "But I hope to get more answers today."

"I really hope you find the answers you're looking for," she said sweetly, offering a touch of support against his arm. "I hope you're as excited to see Kat's house as I am."

"You're going too?"

Vera nodded. "That's just what Kat was in here about. She requested that the four of us go to the island together. Me, you, her, and Abigail. She said there's something important there that will require all of us to be on the island."

Jack wanted to groan. "You too? What in the world could it be that involves you too, Vera?"

She gave him a look of confusion. "I'm sorry? What do you mean?"

"I thought this had to do with me alone. Why are you and Abigail involved?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, Jack. Kat wouldn't tell us anymore than that, only promising that we would find out once we were there."

Jack wanted to swear. It was bad enough that he had to suffer through this but to get the other two involved only served to agitate him further. For the first time, he felt real anger at Kat for the way she'd turned his world upside down.

"I know why I'm going, but I don't know what it has to do with you and Abigail," he said finally, once he calmed himself. "I didn't think this involved either of you, but I guess we'll find out more shortly."

"Is everything going to be all right, Jack?" she asked, giving him a vulnerable expression. "I've never seen you like this, and it's not right for Kat to be this cryptic with me."

"I really hope it will be just fine, Vera," he said, pulling the younger woman to him. She hugged him tightly. "I really just want to get to the bottom of this."

"You and me both," she said with a half giggle. "This trip has been strange enough for me without adding in anything else."

You have no idea what's in store for you then, thought Jack. Especially once you find out that I'm supposed to be your long forgotten king.

"I'm sure whatever it is, it can't be that bad," said Vera once she pulled away. "Then maybe we can enjoy a couple of days of quiet before we head further into Picardy. Maybe even get a chance to enjoy some time on the beach?"

Jack chuckled. "That would be relaxing if anything. I think all of us have earned a little reprieve after all that we've been through in the last few months."

He stayed to chat with Vera for another thirty minutes, mostly about casual subjects, until he was ready to go. The time spent with her helped him greatly. There was always something calming about her personality, something soothing about her presence. He could never quite put his finger on what it was, but Jack was grateful to have her along in any event. In times like these, true friends could be few and far between.

After he left Vera's room, he made his way to the closest mess kitchen for breakfast. As luck would have it, he finally found Greg sitting alone with his own tray in front of him. Unfortunately, the look on his face seemed to match Jack's inner feelings, so he sat down next to him to find out what was going on.

"There you are," said Jack. "I was looking for you this morning."

Greg nodded quietly. "Yeah, sorry, I was in Brittany's room over the night."

"I figured. How's she doing?"

Greg took a deep breath. "Better than me. She dumped me."

So that explained why he looked the way that he did.

"How did that happen?" asked Jack.

"I'm not really sure," said Greg sullenly. "One minute, things were fine between us. She went wild once I was back aboard the ship. I mean, she usually always was a little on the wild side anyway, you know? Things have been great since we left Andalucia but the past few days, she was a little withdrawn. Then last night, we had sex and she said she doesn't want to do this anymore. She said she's basically bored of what we're doing, and she wants to see other people."

Jack let out a low whistle. "Damn, she said all of that?"

"Not in those words, but that's the intended message," said Greg quietly. "It is what it is. I get it. I didn't think she was the marrying type but she was fun to be around. I just didn't expect it to go south nearly this soon."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that, man."

"I'll be all right," said Greg while turning his attention back to his plate. "Eventually."

"Maybe it's better that it ends now then. Especially if you think it didn't have a future."

"Maybe," said Greg. "Just because I didn't intend to marry her though doesn't mean I didn't care about her. This one will sting for a little while."

Jack nodded. A small part of him wanted to commiserate with Greg about the news he'd received last night, but he held back. He got the impression that the marine just wanted to vent, and the last thing he wanted to do was to steal his thunder. So he just listened to Greg talk. He nodded when the man asked a question or gave his opinion when necessary. Mostly, Jack stayed quiet to just listen. It was what Greg really needed at that moment, and he was all too happy to provide it.

"Sorry, Jack. You didn't come here to listen to me bitch and complain," said Greg finally, once both their trays were long since empty. "It just felt good to get all of it out there."

"I know the feeling," said Jack. "You'll get back on your own two feet, I have no doubt about that."

"It's just hard being on the same ship as her right now."

"Well, maybe once we get to Picardy, some time ashore will be just what you need," said Jack. "I don't intend to leave the ship without you with me, so there's that to look forward to."

"Speaking of Picardy, I heard we should be arriving at Kat's house lately. Anything you want me to do while you're on the island?"

Jack shook his head. "No. I don't know how long we'll stay there, but we do have our own business to attend to while we're there. Just hold down the fort for me here while I'm away?"

Greg nodded. "I can do that." He reached out to smack Jack on the back. "Thanks for hearing me out again. I appreciate it, Jack."

"Of course. Anything to help a brother," replied Jack.

Shortly after he'd parted from Greg, Jack got the message through his radio that they'd arrived at Kat's island home. Coming to the top deck, he looked out across the waves to see a small, light-blue cottage set right off the beach. He couldn't see many more details from this distance, but he hoped to find all the answers he needed inside that little house.

As he prepared to go ashore in a launch boat, he heard a familiar voice from behind him.

"Are you ready?" asked Kat as she walked to his side.

"As ready as I'll ever be," he said quietly.

She bit her lip nervously. "Are you still upset with me?"

Jack wanted to chuckle at the look on her face. "A little."

"I care for you so much," she said, pressing into his arms. "For who you are in here, not for who your blood makes you. Please know that, all right?"

He nodded wordlessly as she hugged him. She placed a soft kiss against his cheek before separating as Abigail and Vera appeared alongside them.

"Are we ready?" he asked all three women. All of them nodded. He helped them get into the launch boat one at a time before hopping in himself, and they were swiftly lowered to the ocean to go ashore. While the rest of the task force anchored just off the coast, Jack watched as the little cottage appeared to get larger as they moved closer to it.

It really was a cozy looking home. As they neared the shore, Jack was able to see more of the light-blue colored building tucked in just off the coast. The roof was sloped along two sides, highest in the middle, and deep gray in color. He could make out two windows along the side closest to the water, and what looked to be a small deck that wrapped around the other side.

"It's been so long since I've been here," said Kat by his side. "There were times when I thought I'd never see it again."

"Well, you're home now," said Jack. "I'm sure it will sink in once we're inside."

She nodded and looked back to the house. Jack steered the vessel past the waves until it nudged into the sand. Hopping off the boat, he helped each of the three women with stepping off until they were more firmly planted on ground. Jack then pulled the boat from the water, depositing it not far from where the grass met the sand. If anything, it would be safe in this position despite the risk of the tides.

Once they neared the house, it quickly became apparent to Jack that they weren't alone. He could see curtains against the window moving on their own, a sure symbol that someone had just been watching them. Even though he knew that Kat wanted him to meet someone, part of him wondered just who this person could be. He rested his hand against the pistol at his waist, wanting to be ready in case he needed it.

It hardly came to that point. As Kat led them to the door, it opened before she even neared it. An older woman poked her head out from the door, followed by the rest of her. At first, she had a look of curiosity on her face.

That is, until she saw Kat. At that point, she broke out into the biggest smile and rushed forward to hug the much younger woman.

"Kat!" exclaimed the older lady as she hugged her fiercely. "I'm so happy to see you. It's been way too long."

"Evelyn, I've missed you terribly," said Kat against her. "There were times when I thought I'd never see your face again."

The other three hung back to let the two women continue to greet each other. Jack looked over the older woman while she chattered. Her hair was a silvery-blonde color, and her eyes were piercing blue even despite her advanced age. She was short in statue, although he couldn't tell if she started that way or age had just brought her down over the years. She was clothed in a white garment that seemed to be just a shade duller than her own hair. There was a look of genuine joy written into her face at seeing Kat once more.

It was only once she'd greeted Kat that her eyes turned to look at the rest of them by the door. They started with Abigail, only to move to Vera, and finally to Jack. She did a triple take after looking at Jack, and she soon brought her hand up to cover her mouth in shock.

"Is that him? Is it really him?" she asked Kat, her eyes wide with excitement.

Kat nodded. "It's really him, Evelyn."

The older woman rushed past her to embrace Jack. He nearly felt the wind knocked out of his chest at the intensity of her squeeze, and she rested her silvery hair against his chest. He didn't know who this person was, but she was weeping and smiling at the same time, dampening the front of his uniform. He looked to Kat for help.

"I'm sorry, but can someone fill me in?" he asked before his voice turned to a whisper. "Who is this?"

Kat locked eyes with him. "That's your grandmother, Jack. Your real grandmother."

*****

Jack felt numb as he was led inside the cottage by the older woman who was supposed to be his grandmother. Kat had called her Evelyn, and he couldn't deny the fact that there was something familiar about her as they walked inside. A quick glance back at Abigail and Vera seemed to confirm that he wasn't the only one that was confused.

However, it was about to get worse.

"Her too," said Kat, referring to Vera. Evelyn wiped tears of happiness from her eyes as she looked at Vera, rushing just as quickly to scoop up the baffled woman in her arms.

"How is this possible, Kat? How did you find them both?" asked Evelyn, weeping happily. "I thought it would be hard enough just to find one, but you've really managed to surprise me."

"They both came to me. Or rather I to them," said Kat. "Just like the fates intended."

"I'm sorry, but I'm with Jack on this one," said Vera with a confused look around the room. "What is going on? Is this lady really Jack's grandmother?"

Kat nodded. "Yes, she is. And she's yours as well."

"What?" whispered Vera. "How can that be?" Vera shared a look with Jack as the realization hit them both at the same time.

Kat walked over and slipped her arm around Vera's back. "Vera, Jack is your brother."

The younger woman cupped her hands over her mouth and took several steps back. "What? How?"

"Kat, you really need to explain this to us. This is getting ridiculous," said Jack, looking around the room. "In the last day, all you've done is drop bombs on me with half-hearted explanations. That needs to stop. I need the full story. So does Vera for that matter." Jack looked to Vera one more time. Could she really be my sister?

"Why is he talking like that?" asked Evelyn. "Does he not know?"

Kat flinched. "I only told him last night. Not the whole story, either."

"Good heavens," squeaked Evelyn as she fanned her face. "No wonder they're so confused."

"I'm sorry, Evelyn. That is all my fault. I delayed too long in coming out with it. There were other complications as well," said Kat as her cheeks tinged with red. Kat's hand slipped into Jack's, a movement that was noticed instantly by Evelyn.

"Ah, I see then. I think I understand now," said Evelyn. "Very well, it's time that we explained everything. We owe it to the both of them. Jack and Vera, will you please sit? And who is this lovely woman as well?" she asked, gesturing to Abigail.

"Commander Abigail Wainwright," she answered proudly, sticking her hand out to Evelyn.

"The dark seed," muttered Kat quietly to Evelyn.

Evelyn's face turned to shock with the realization. "Goodness, you've found all of them." She then shook Abigail's hand warmly. "Pleased to meet you, dear. Please have a seat." Abigail only gave her a slight look of confusion before the older woman turned away.

Evelyn led them into a small living room that overlooked the coast. Jack recognized the drapes behind the windows, the same ones that Evelyn had been watching them from while they walked up to the house. In the distance, he could see the task force floating off shore. Part of him wanted to leave now, go back to the Destiny, and resume life as he knew it before yesterday.

The other part desperately wanted to hear everything that Evelyn had to say.

Jack sat down on a large couch and took the one side. Vera gave him a funny look as he sat down, no doubt because her own mind was still reeling, but she sat down in the middle beside him. Abigail took the other end, while Kat pulled up two chairs for herself and Evelyn to sit facing them. The tension in the room was heavy, and no one seemed to want to start talking first.

"Would any of you like something to drink before we begin?" asked Evelyn as she looked around the room.

Jack shook his head. "I don't mean to be rude, but what I really want are some answers. Drinks can wait. Please tell us what's going on."

To his surprise, Vera chirped up next with an equally strong response. "I have to agree with Jack. Please start the story. Is he really my brother?"

Evelyn nodded. "That is he. He's your older brother, and both of your parents are the same. Your father was my son, John. He's been gone for almost twenty-two years now, and there's not an hour of the day that goes by that I don't think about him. Jack, you're like a vision of him at that age, and Vera, you look so much like your mother."

"What happened to him?" asked Jack.

"Killed," said Evelyn. "Alongside your mother, and my husband, Will, by agents of Marcus Rosdahl, the former Galician Regent."

"The Galician Regent? But why?" said Jack. "If I'm supposed to be the Galician King, why would the regent want to hunt down my family?"

Jack's words were honest and inquisitive, but they earned a round of gasps from both Vera and Abigail. Jack then realized it was the first time either of them had heard the news about his identity.

"What kind of game is this?" asked Vera angrily. "He's not the Galician King!"

Evelyn put her hands up to calm her. "We'll get to that, my dear. But he's correct. Jack is the heir to the Galician throne. His birth has been foretold by prophecy for nearly two thousand years now."

Vera's mouth hung open. "If he's the king, then that makes me . . . "

"Correct, you're a princess now," said Evelyn with a sweet smile. "But let me answer your brother's question." She then turned back to Jack. "The answer to your question reveals the true nature of power. That is, those that attain power never seek to give it up. Yes, the Galician regents were caretakers of the throne as long as the royal family was gone, however, they were just supposed to be caretakers. When the first regent took the throne, it was written that he was supposed to give up the regency in case the heir to the throne could be found, which of course, he willingly agreed to do. Over time, all hope has vanished of the Galicians finding their heir, so the regents got comfortable with their power. They didn't want it to go away and would do all they could to preserve it."

"Marcus Rosdahl was just such a regent. He had the full power of the country behind him, and when he learned that the heir's family still lived, he sought to extinguish the line. He did it out of foolishness, thinking that if he did, his family would be able to rule Galicia forever. That turned out somewhat ironically for him though, but he did hunt us for all the long years he spent on the throne."

"How did he find out about you?" asked Jack. "I'm assuming if you've been hiding for that long, you had to have had a good hiding place."

"Someone tipped him off," said Evelyn with a pained expression. "For nearly one hundred and fifty years, multiple generations lived on the same small, deserted Galician island, alone to ourselves. It was perfectly safe as long as we stayed on the island. However, we couldn't always stay there. There was no market or town there, so we had to cross to another nearby island for supplies. It was there that your grandfather let slip of who we were to someone he shouldn't. This man wanted a quick payday, and he tipped off soldiers of the regent. The guards showed up afterwards."

"What happened then?" asked Vera.

"That was a hard day," said Evelyn with a distant remorse. "We ran. We did the only thing we could do. Jack, you were still so little. Barely a month old. But the five of us traveled, and no matter where we went, Marcus' men weren't far behind. We knew that Jack was the one that the prophecy was about. It was no way to raise a child constantly on the run, so we had to make a painful decision. We sent him to a family on the other side of the world."

"Java," answered Jack.

"Correct, Jack. I myself took the journey across the ocean with your father and mother. We died our hair black during the journey, to prevent any rumors of foreigners from spreading around. Of course, there aren't very many blondes in that part of the world. We lived in the capital of Belfort for nearly six months until we found someone who would take you, someone who would raise you like their own. Good people, your adoptive parents. They wanted so badly to have a child that they were willing to accept you as their own."

"If I'm to believe you, I need you to tell me their names," said Jack. "You have to understand what this means to me, if what you're saying is true. Give me a sign that you're telling the truth."

Evelyn looked at him and said his parents' real names like she just got done having a real conversation with them.

Jack's stomach churned. "That's correct," he whispered, remembering the last time he saw their faces. To find out they weren't really his parents was a crushing blow. Almost as bad as if everything that Evelyn was saying was actually true.

Evelyn reached out to pat his hand. "I'm sorry, dear. I know what this must do to you. Just know your real parents loved you so much that they went to the other side of the world just to keep you safe. Your grandfather loved you soundly. I love you, even now. It makes my heart smile to see the man that you've become. The last time I saw you, you were only a year old."

Evelyn's eyes became weepy again as she looked to fight the urge to hug her grandson.

Surprisingly, Vera was the next to speak up. "Where does that leave me? Did they give me up too?"

Evelyn nodded. "Unfortunately, we had to, Vera. When your parents and I got back to Galicia, we were back to being hunted again. It took us ages to catch up to my husband, but we eventually managed. Marcus Rosdahl never stopped hunting us but it did go in waves. After a few quiet years, we found out that your mother was pregnant with you. I remembered holding you the day you were born, and the way you looked up at me was just angelic."

"However, Marcus Rosdahl was always close behind. He got better with age, trying new tactics to catch us. Unfortunately, he finally got his break. There was a fire in the house we lived in at the time, set by his own men. I don't know how he found us—we were on some unnamed Galician island, but he did. I was the only one outside the house, and I saw the men running from the flames. Vera, you were the closest to the door, but the house burned too quickly, trapping your parents and my husband."

Evelyn's head hung low as she wept again. "After that day, it was just you and me."

Surprisingly, Vera leapt out of the couch and went to comfort the older woman, placing her arms around her back. Evelyn pushed her head against her chest, breaking down into more tears. For several minutes, the elderly woman got out the rest of her tears before she was able to talk again.

"After that, I knew I couldn't keep you on my own. I was already advanced in age, and they would never stop hunting me. So I did the only thing I could do. I gave you up to someone I knew in a nearby town. A trader and his family, who were kind and honest people. They were Galician as well, so I knew at least you'd know about who our people were."

"Their tactics never changed," said Vera, now sobbing as well. "My mother and sister died in a mysterious fire as well. Well, my adoptive mother and sister. Did they know who I was even then?"

Evelyn nodded. "It's very possible. You're lucky to still be alive then."

"I almost died again. When my father's ship got wrecked in that storm. I was the only survivor."

"So that family is all gone then?" asked Evelyn with a shocked expression.

Vera nodded.

"Good heavens," whispered the older woman. "It's a miracle that you're still here. I give thanks to the fates for sparing your life."

Jack cleared his throat. "So they gave up Vera and I? What happened next? Were you on your own for the next twenty years?"

Evelyn nodded. "Just about. For some reason, it seemed like they weren't hunting us anymore. I've never met Marcus Rosdahl, but the man seemed to give up interest in us. I lived on the same remote island for almost twenty years with no incident. I thought that he might just spare my life."

"Perhaps he realized the error of his ways?" said Kat, speaking up for the first time since the story began. "That he shouldn't have persecuted you in the first place?"

Evelyn shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I hope that's correct."

"You mentioned something about Marcus being ironic," interrupted Abigail. "What was ironic about him and his family?"

"He was so set on establishing his own family to rule by exterminating our own that he didn't realize what happened when he died nearly four years ago," said Evelyn. "He did everything to ensure his daughter would inherit the regency. Women weren't traditional rulers of Galicia so there was some considerable resistance to the idea from the nobility. He had to pay off a lot of nobles to get them to even consider it. She was hailed as the regent and ruled for four months before she was deposed by her own cousin, one by the name of Eric Rosdahl."

"The current regent," said Jack.

Evelyn nodded. "Exactly. So Marcus couldn't even protect his own family. Unfortunately, the hotheadedness of youth seemed to flare up again in the form of Eric. We started to be persecuted again."

"What happened next?" pressed Vera.

"This time, I was warned they were coming," said Evelyn, as she reached out to squeeze Kat's hand. Kat smiled down at her. "I received a blessing in the form of Kat."

"You did not think me a blessing at first," said Kat with a small laugh.

"True, but we turned that around, didn't we?"

Kat grinned.

"Anyway, Kat warned me they were hunting me again and generously made this house available for me a long distance away from Galicia. It was a hard trip for an old woman. Especially in consideration of the fact that we had to travel a long way around to avoid the Swabians. I shiver at the thought of what they would have done to us."

"Once we were safe on this island, we knew we had to find you, Jack," said Kat.

"And how did you do that? How did you even know I was coming?" he asked.

"At first we didn't. Jacob and I guessed at where you could be. We spent over two years searching this part of the world for any hint of your whereabouts. But then luckily for us, we received a break."

"What kind of break?"

Kat smiled. "We were warned. All prophecy comes from seers or prophets. A prophetess was the one to let us know you were on your way and that you would arrive in Lishkerra. She told us the exact date you would arrive," said Kat. "So we trekked our way to Lishkerra. It was hard enough to do it without being noticed by the Lishkerrans. As you've no doubt noticed, they are rather defensive of their island."

"I have," said Jack with a chuckle, remembering his time there.

"That's when we started to track you. We watched you in Sorella when you fought the battle in Heron's capital city. When you started to move again, we followed your trail. It wasn't always easy, especially when you were at sea. However, we knew you were heading into the interior, so that's where we went. All the while, Jacob got weaker."

Evelyn reached out to pat Kat's back. "He passed, hasn't he?"

Kat nodded silently, before wiping her eyes of tears.

"He was a lovely man. And a true friend," said Evelyn. "He will be very missed."

"If you were tracking me all that time, Kat, were you even in danger when I found you?" Jack gave her an untrusting look. "Was that just some ploy to join my group?"

Kat shook her head fervidly. "Not at all, Jack! Jacob and I were used to working in unstable countries, but he was my protector when he was strong. He just got too weak in his advanced age. We couldn't travel by night like we used to because he couldn't handle it. I don't know how those thieves did it, but they surprised us. I thought I was a goner before you showed up. When I realized it was really you, I had to wonder if it was the fates that guided our paths together."

"And Vera's too?" he asked. "Was it the fates that guided her to me in Daimanos' palace?"

Kat nodded, even though she looked uncomfortable. "I really believe that, Jack."

"It just seems a little hard for me to believe this," he said. "All of it." He then turned to look at Evelyn. "Not that I doubt your story . . . or who you are, it's just a lot to take in right now."

Evelyn smiled warmly. "I understand completely. I still remember the day I found out that the heir of the Galician throne was my fiance. You can imagine my surprise at being told that story, much like your surprise right now."

Vera was the first to laugh. "It took you that long to find out?"

Evelyn nodded. "Oh, yes. Your grandfather was usually very cautious about who he told, as he should be. But I didn't find out until a week before we were married. I always thought he was rather strange, and of course once he explained it all to me, it made sense. But you have to understand what it means to be one of us. The world believes we're all dead. Many of them would rather us be dead instead of showing up alive." Evelyn then locked eyes with Jack. "Especially you, Jack."

"Why me?"

"Think about what you represent. A return to the old world. Of a strong Galician king who was overlord of all the western nations," said Evelyn. "How many people would do anything possible to prevent that happening? The Swabians? Of course. But how many Galicians? Eric Rosdahl would not allow that to happen, and he would fight you until his last breath."

"This guy sounds almost as bad as the Swabians themselves," said Jack. "How did he get to be regent?"

"It's not a warmhearted man that deposes his own cousin, much less puts a price on her head," said Evelyn. "Eric had a reputation for cruelty long before he became the regent. Unfortunately, it's only been exacerbated since he's been in power. I still have my own little network of spies in Galicia, and the word there is that he's even been allying with our traditional enemy to further empower himself."

"How can he even think to ally with such people like the Swabians?" asked Vera with a disgusted expression.

"The Swabians have access to almost unlimited gold," said Evelyn. "Gold will make many men do a lot of things they otherwise wouldn't. Eric is not strong enough to resist them. In fact, he eagerly works with them."

"At least we fixed that part about their access to gold," said Jack. "I've become the King of Andalucia and have shut down the gold exchange going back to Swabia."

Evelyn took a deep breath. "While there is much more about that statement that you'll have to tell me about soon, the Swabians don't need outside gold. The endless mines of Swabia produce more than they need."

"Then why were they so interested in Andalucia?"

"It's about power, Jack. The Swabians are always about power. The deeper they become involved in the society of the host country, the more they can act like a parasite to it. They suck it dry of their sovereignty. The Swabians have no need for more gold. Only power."

Jack mulled that idea over for a few moments without responding. It made sense to him. Even in Sorella, the Swabians were trying to weaken them by the war and by stealing their gold so they could once more conquer the island. Was it so far-fetched that they could be doing the same thing to eventually take over Andalucia?"

"We live in very troubled times," said Evelyn as she closed her eyes. "The Swabians are on the march in multiple directions. Galicia is weak and her traditional allies are either anemic or disarmed. The Swabian Emperor would love nothing more than to conquer all the countries of the Vector to have the people as his slaves. Galician power has historically kept this in check. What will the peoples of the world do when the very Galician Regent seeks to help them? They won't stand a chance."

"That's why you're here, Jack," she continued, patting his hand once more. "These troubled times were foreseen two thousand years ago. That's why they gave us you as our protection. That's why they preserved our line, through the blood that runs through your veins. Look inside yourself, Jack. You are the king."

As Jack sat there absorbing her words, parts of his life flashed through his mind. He remembered his parents and growing up in their household. He remembered teaching his younger sister Jocelyn how to swim. In that moment, he realized how she wasn't even really his sister anymore.

No, my sister is sitting beside me, he thought while turning to look at Vera. Vera looked back at him as her hand crept into his.

In an odd way, that felt familiar to him too. He'd always known there was something different about Vera. Even from when they rescued her from Daimanos' harem, she always had that soothing presence to her. That feeling of belonging that he felt comforting. Was that his mind piecing together the link between them on a subconscious level?

And what was he to do about being this Galician king? He already had one kingship that he didn't know what to do about but now there were two? For so long in his life, he'd distrusted prophecy and the belief that one's actions were predetermined. He was his own man, capable of making his own choices in the world. If he accepted this, it would mean he'd have to accept that his life was no longer his own. That it belonged to all those Galicians longing to have their king back. To all those free people in the Vector that wanted to stay that way, free of the Swabian menace.

Lastly, what would that mean for this current role in Java? He considered himself a loyal Javan citizen to his very core. Sure, there were some things about Java that he didn't like, but he accepted Java despite its flaws. Java was his home. The place that nurtured him and just about everyone that he knew. Would accepting Galicia mean turning his back on Java?

When he looked up again, Evelyn was watching him. She wasn't the only one. All the other women were looking at him profoundly, awaiting his next move. Jack realized his brow was sweaty, and reached up to wipe away the slick sweat.

"I'm sure you have so many questions, Jack," said Evelyn quietly. "We're all here to answer them. This won't be easy for you, we know that. If you need to talk about it, then let's do so. If you need time just to process it, we can give you space as well."

"It's just too . . . weird," he said finally. "It's not that I doubt you, Evelyn. It's just what this means for my life. Your story was believable, and I don't think you were lying, but it's just going to be so hard for me to accept this. I don't know what to do." He placed his hands against his chin and leaned forward. It was honesty that he gave her, even if he was being too honest. But they had to understand what they were asking of him.

Surprisingly enough, Kat leaned forward toward Evelyn. "The sword?" she asked simply, without any further explanation.

Evelyn nodded. "In the back room closet, under the middle floor tile."

Kat pushed up from her seat and left the room while Evelyn leaned forward. "I understand this burden that's been placed on you, Jack. Perhaps it will be better to have some proof? Definitive proof?"

Jack nodded eagerly. "That would really help me understand this right now."

She reached out to pat his hand. "Then that's what we'll give you, dear. While Kat attends to that, I'll show you some proof that I have. I hope you don't mind but all this old woman has left is her pictures."

Evelyn reached for the table that was beside her chair, pulling out an old box from underneath. It sat upon a pile of old books, and it was small enough in size that Jack could only wonder how many pictures were inside. As Evelyn removed the lid and began to rifle through the small stack, she let out an excitable chuckle when she found what she was looking for.

"Ah, there it is," she exclaimed. "This picture was from when you were no more than a month old, Jack." She handed it to him.

Jack studied the picture with somewhat shaky hands. It was an old picture, and judging by Evelyn's words, it was as old as he was. On it was a younger woman with golden blonde hair and blue eyes, smiling at the camera. He had to do a double take to make sure it wasn't really Vera because the resemblance was uncanny. Even down to the same smile and dimples, it was like he was looking at Vera from across time.

"I told you Vera looked like your mother," said Evelyn in a low voice. "Marie was such a pretty girl that it wasn't hard to see why John fell for her." She then pointed to the baby. "You were such a happy baby, Jack. At least from what I remember."

Jack studied the small infant in his mother's arms. Even though he was so young in that picture, he couldn't deny that they held the same features that he recognized from his own childhood photos that his adoptive parents had. It wasn't hard to tell that it was really him.

"This one was of your parents on their wedding day," said Evelyn, handing them another one. Jack and Vera nearly gasped, as it looked very much like pictures of themselves. His father was the spitting image of Jack and dressed in a deep, dark suit while his mother had on a pretty dress. Behind them stood Evelyn, although a much younger version, beaming with pride.

"Finally, here's one of Vera. This one has always been precious to me," said Evelyn. "Mostly because it's me and her when she was younger."

Jack looked at a version of Evelyn from over twenty years ago, still aged but not quite as much. She held Vera close to her breast, smiling at the camera in what had been better times. Even though it was a very young Vera, he couldn't help but see shades of her inside that baby.

"It's really us," whispered Vera beside him.

Evelyn then nodded outside the room. "And now here comes Kat."

Kat returned a few minutes later carrying a long, rectangular box into the room. There was a heavy layer of dust along the top, apparent as soon as she set it down on the table in front of Jack.

"This is the symbol of who you are, Jack. This will confirm your heritage," said Evelyn, as she reached over to pull the lid off the box. He leaned in to get a better look.

Inside was a sword, but not just any sword. It was old, almost ancient, just by the looks of it. The scabbard that it was in was encrusted with jewels and other rare metals, most of them blue in color and inlaid against the material. The cross-guards were made of shiny iron, and the tips turned toward the blade at the end. The grip was dark black in color and worn, evidence of much use in the past. The pommel itself was most interesting—it was made of a circular steel with a small symbol blazed into the side of it. It was a symbol he'd seen before.

"Jack, do you remember when I asked you about your birthmark?" asked Kat as she gestured toward his shoulder.

He reached over to run his fingers over it through his uniform. The same cross symbol on his shoulder was emblazoned on the pommel of the sword. "How can this be?" he whispered.

"Because you are the Galician King, Jack," said Evelyn proudly.

"Vera has one as well, a symbol of the royal line," said Kat. "Although the woman's symbol of the line has manifested itself in different places on the body."

"That's what's on my hip," whispered Vera. "That symbol."

Evelyn smiled. "Indeed it is. I saw it myself the day you were born."

"Do you have one too?" Vera asked.

Evelyn shook her head. "I only married into your family, my dear. Unfortunately, I don't have one. Neither did your mother, but your father and grandfather both had the marks on their shoulders, just like Jack's."

"This is unbelievable," said Jack, clutching at the sword. "Something about this sword just feels right in my hands. But it's making me feel powerful. Like it wants to show me something. I have the urge to draw it, and it's only getting stronger"

"It's calling to you, Jack," said Evelyn. "Take out your sword and see the effect yourself."

Carefully gripping the handle, Jack made note of how well it seemed to fit his hand. The weight of the sword wasn't as much as he'd expected, and it seemed carefully balanced as soon as he gripped it. He pulled it free from the scabbard and held it aloft, feeling its awesome power in his hands.

Almost as soon as he did it, the women in the room gasped in astonishment. For the symbol on the pommel began to change color. The cross went from a dull silver to an explosion of brilliant blue in a flash, almost as if the sword was expressing its content at being in his hands.

Jack's eyes went wide in amazement at the feeling of power the sword gave him. He felt instantly energized, almost as if he could run through buildings with his sword, or slice one of his ships in two. The tremendous power in the blade filtered throughout his core, and the astonishing command of it spoke to his very soul.

"Good heavens," whispered Evelyn. "It's true. It's really him. The Galician King is here at last."

Jack could only look back at her with equal degrees of amazement and wonder.