– Kashion –
As expected, Kashion was first subjected to yet another kind of lecture from some members of the High Council, led by Tendol. He tried to explain himself and remain positive, but it was exhausting.
At least he managed to get them to agree to soon discuss and negotiate the details of the contract.
But his thoughts kept drifting back to Prior. Hopefully, his mother's reaction hadn't shaken her too much. He also hoped she had gone to Kassia or Lina. He needed to find a solution quickly so he could be with her.
– Prior –
Prior turned around and started running in the opposite direction. What was happening? This didn't look good. She ran as fast as she could, but it didn't take long before one of the men grabbed her arm.
Before she could react, one of them shoved a piece of cloth into her mouth and gagged her. Her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. She struggled, kicking with her feet, but their grip only hurt her more. It was useless. She couldn't fight them off.
"Take her things," she heard the king say. Someone ripped her bag away. Suddenly, something like a cloth or a sack was pulled over her head, and she couldn't see anything anymore.
Someone yanked her arm. "Move!"
They tried to force her along. She stiffened, trying to stay where she was, but it only made the pain worse when they pulled at her. Didn't anyone see what was happening?
Eventually, she let herself be dragged along. After a while, she noticed the air felt more open—they had gone outside. Then her feet bumped into something. Metal?
"Up!" someone ordered.
She tried to feel for the ground with her feet and eventually stepped into a space—a room? A vehicle? Maybe a hover? But it felt larger. The footsteps echoed slightly.
Were they taking her away? Where?
Finally, they forced her to sit down. Someone grabbed her hands and tied them together above her head. She squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't want to start crying already.
Then someone pulled the sack off her head again.
She looked around. This… this… this was a transporter. Some kind of cargo spaceship. She saw crates stacked around her. It must be a loading bay. It was cold and smelled of metal.
"Mmm—" she tried to ask what they were doing, what they planned, but she couldn't speak through the gag.
King Tyron stepped in front of her.
"It is unfortunate that I must resort to such measures. But I cannot allow Tingdao and my family to suffer harm. You will return home, Kashion will apologize to the princess, and we can continue everything as planned."
Home?
Her breathing became fast and shallow. Panic rose inside her. She had to get out of here. She pulled at her hands, but the bindings were too tight.
Suddenly, another person entered the cargo bay.
"This is her," King Tyron said. "As agreed, you'll receive the rest of your payment once she's back on Saturn. The ship has enough fuel and must not be stopped or turned back—no matter what she says or who orders it."
The pilot nodded. "Understood."
Prior closed her eyes. This was worse than anything she had ever experienced in her life. She tried to free herself, but the rope only cut into her arms. She had no chance of escaping anyway.
She looked at King Tyron with narrowed eyes, trying to make herself understood through muffled sounds.
The king shook his head.
"This is for the best. Your home isn't here anyway. Just live your life on Saturn. One day, you'll be grateful to me."
Then he simply left with the two men.
The pilot followed briefly and then returned. He looked at her.
"I'm acting under orders. Once we're in stable flight, I'll remove the restraints."
Then he went into the control room.
Tears now streamed uncontrollably down Prior's face as she continued to struggle. The cargo hatch was still open—but she had no chance.
Was she really going to spend a year alone on this ship with that pilot?
She looked down at herself. They had taken everything. No tablet. No messenger. This couldn't be real. It would take at least a year to reach Saturn—some transporters flew slower. And another year to come back.
She closed her eyes. Surely Kashion wouldn't wait that long…
She kept trying to free her hands, but suddenly a sharp pain shot through her wrists, sending a jolt through her entire body. She had to stop.
Her mouth hurt too, and she was starting to feel nauseous.
Then she heard a sound. The large hatch began to close. She shut her eyes and cried silently.
It was over. Everything. It had all been too beautiful.
Then she heard another sound—like a dull impact.
She opened her eyes, and in the corner of her vision, she saw something black moving.
– Kashion –
They were in the middle of discussing an important point when suddenly the doors to the hall burst open. Everyone flinched.
Kashion immediately stood up and saw it was Wanyi. He ran toward him and dropped to one knee.
"Why are you barging—?" Kashion began.
"Your Highness, something has happened," Wanyi interrupted, standing up. He lowered his voice so only Kashion could hear:
"Prior has been abducted and placed on a transporter. It's about to depart for Saturn."
Kashion staggered, the air knocked out of him. Without a word, he started running. Wanyi followed.
He heard Oren say behind him, "I assume the session is postponed."
"Which hangar?" Kashion asked while running.
"Four," Wanyi replied.
Kashion ran as fast as he could. By the time they reached Hangar Four, he was completely out of breath.
But the transporter was gone.
Already far away in the sky.
And no sign of Prior.
He turned in every direction, as if he might still see her somewhere.
"We're too late," Wanyi said.
Kashion shook his head. This couldn't be real.
"Who?" he demanded, beside himself.
Wanyi cleared his throat. "Your father."
Kashion shook his head again. Impossible.
Then his gaze fell on the control room. He ran inside and ordered the technician:
"Establish contact with the transporter that just departed."
The technician nodded.
Kashion would simply order it to turn back. It was that simple.
"LX-374," the pilot responded.
"This is Prince Kashion, Regent of Tingdao. Turn back immediately," he commanded firmly.
A pause. Then:
"Negative. I'm sorry. I am following the king's orders."
"Turn back! Now!" Kashion nearly shouted into the device.
"Negative."
"Contact has been terminated," said the technician.
"Reestablish it."
"Connection refused."
Kashion slammed his fist against the wall. The technician flinched. But Kashion didn't even feel the pain in his hand—his inner turmoil was far greater.
He closed his eyes.
What must Prior be thinking?
Of course—he had to contact her.
He grabbed his messenger, but Wanyi suddenly showed him a bag. It was Prior's.
"They disposed of her belongings, including her messenger and tablet. My men found them."
Kashion struck the wall again, and this time tears filled his eyes.
"Damn it!"
His breathing quickened. This couldn't be hopeless.
He shook his head.
"Prepare a spacecraft!" he ordered.
Wanyi shook his head.
"You likely won't be able to catch up. By the time a crew and fuel are ready—and even then, it would be a risky maneuver in space…"
"I said prepare a spacecraft! I don't need a crew."
Wanyi shook his head again.
"With all due respect, Your Highness, as Regent you cannot do this."
"I will fly after that transporter. Then my father can take back the regency if he insists on ruling! Or Kassia. She'll forgive me—and Tendol will be satisfied."
Wanyi shook his head once more.
"With all loyalty, Kashion—I cannot allow that. If you don't catch them, you would have to fly all the way to Saturn. Just wait until she returns."
Kashion let out a dry laugh.
"Who would come back alone in that situation? I wouldn't blame her if she never wanted to return to Earth."
It would take two years. Two years of waiting? Impossible.
If he went himself—only one year.
He nodded. His decision was made.
"Saturn is not too far. I will fly there and bring her back. Or I'll go with her—wherever she chooses to be."
Wanyi stared at him in disbelief.
"So I'll say it one last time. Prepare. The. Ship."