20. I Know Someone

Halo

Halo waited hours for Alan to return, pacing around his room like a mad man. He avoided Vaea at all costs, declining invitation to have lunch together and even a chance to meet the President and Prime Minister of one of the other islands.

His stomach wasn't up for it. He couldn't sit at a table listening to them talk politics when he knew nothing nor cared about what went on. All he could think of was Finn and the sinking feeling he had in his chest.

It felt like all Halo's fault. Maybe if he had woken up Finn and dragged him along to make him witness his pathetic attempts at getting Leilani back, he wouldn't be missing.

Halo eventually got sick of the walls in his room, feeling suffocated by them. So he went to his bunny farm for comfort.

The walk was quick. He bent down and picked two of them up, Muffin, the chocolate coloured bunny as well as a white one named Cotton. He set them on his lap as he took a seat down on the bench he and Finn shared that day.

He stroked their fur, trying to find comfort in the small animals. All this made him wonder if he was being haunted.

"Do you think I should go visit father, Muffin?" Halo asked softly. "Maybe that's where all this misfortune is coming from. It started with him anyway. I never did get closure."

The fateful day his father died was a terrible one. Yet Halo knew at that moment he was free. He screamed and cried along with Vaea when they found his father sprawled out on the throne room floor, frothing at the mouth with blood.

Then the next day, he was gone.

Halo knew what that day meant. It was awful to see his father go in that way. It had just solidified all his beliefs. That being King was not worth it. His father had just ended the twelve year war that plagued their nation and in return he was poisoned.

Halo thought he'd never come back that day. He thought of nothing else other than getting away. Vaea was crushed. He was as well, but he pushed aside the grieving and kept chasing freedom.

He had never really mourned his father. He had not been there for the funeral.

Like all Kings, King Makoa was buried atop Mount Taera. It was a volcano said to have been dormant since the Goddesses left the earthly plane to go to Heaven. Kukoan mythology always believed that once enough monarchs were buried on the mountain, the Goddesses would return again.

There was of course, a massive hike up the mountain that Halo would never risk. The urban legends that surrounded the mountain were worse than the actual mythology. Spirits were said to haunt the path up to deter anyone who wished to see the Kings and Queens.

Halo was rarely superstitious, but spending time with sailors who told every story imaginable, along with having a stepmother who loved tormenting him as a child turned him into a horrible combination of nerves whenever supernatural things were concerned.

Halo didn't know what was scarier, the world of unknown that could do anything imaginable to you, or real people who could do just as much damage. As he pondered on it and played with Cotton's ears, he saw someone running down the path.

Blue hair bounced as the skinny boy ran clumsily. "Your highness! Your highness! Your—"

Alan tripped over his own feet and fell right into the grass infront of Halo, making Cotton and Muffin nervously thump on his lap from the fright. Alan quickly bounced to his feet from embarrassment, gulping hard and kneeling in apology.

"Are you alright?" Halo asked him. The boy nodded furiously.

"Of course, your highness. I apologize for my tardiness. The harbor was so full—b-but I got what you asked for."

Halo's heart started thumping harshly. "Well?"

Alan frowned sadly, "I apologize, your highness. There were no ships that left with the passenger Finn O' Callaghan on board."

Halo stared blankly for a few moments. That was good... right? That meant Finn was still in Kukoa.

But that meant he was missing.

"Thank you so much for your help, Alan. Is there anything you'd like as a reward?" Halo tried to cover his worry with a smile.

"N-No thank you, your highness. It was an honour to work personally for you, s-surely. I cannot take any rewards, it is my function to serve and protect your interests," Alan recited humbly, making Halo chuckle.

"Is that what Augus teaches you guys?" He smiled. Alan's eyes lit up with confusion. "S-Sorry, Marshall Na."

"That's exactly what I teach, your highness," Augus's voice fell in behind him, making Halo turn around. His face instantly vaporated all expression. Surely he had not just been standing nearby?

Augus smiled politely at Alan. "You were right to decline the Prince. He is often too generous for his own good," he said.

Alan stood awkwardly. Halo pulled off one of his many rings and handed it to the boy. "I order you to accept this," he said. "Marshall Na is witness to me transfering ownership to you, so if anyone accuses you of theft, he will have your back. Right?"

Halo turned to Augus for confirmation. He only sighed and nodded.

"Thank you so much, your highness! You are too kind!" Alan howled gleefully.

"Leave the Prince and I and return to your post, Sir Alan," Augus told the boy. He nodded and saluted before scurrying off. Augus sat down beside Halo on the bench, letting out a long sigh as if he knew everything.

Knowing Augus and his wit, Halo wouldn't be surprised if he did.

"Would you like to hold Cotton?" Halo asked to fill the silence, lifting the white bunny.

Augus shook his head. "Dear no, I would break the poor thing," he chuckled.

Halo smiled. "I could show you how to properly hold her?"

"I'd rather just get to what I came to say, your highness," Augus cut him short quickly. "I know you sent Alan out to the docks. This is about your friend, isn't it?"

Halo gently grit his teeth and avoided Augus's gaze. "I know he's no thief, Augus. No one can convince me of that. The King is lying, this is not the first time he's done something like this."

"Whenever we were kids he'd always scare off my friends. The only reason we could be friends with Leilani and her siblings was because Vaea knew he'd be punished if he tried anything. I thought he outgrew his jealousy but clearly not."

"Your highness..." Augus started seriously. "This is more than just jealousy. I can say that I know your brother has changed, having known you since you were boys. He has only become more cunning, sharp and strong."

Halo's eyes widened. "So you believe he's lying as well?"

Augus shifted in discomfort. "I know he is. But we cannot speak so freely. Everything is on the line. I never saw your friend leave here, nor is he in the dungeons. Wherever he is, your brother knows exactly what happened. He has done questionable things before."

Halo felt his stomach sink. "So the things people have been saying... they're all true? He is truly mistreating the Sai people and exiled the Hira family?"

Augus nodded reluctantly.

Halo put his head in his hands, feeling as though his world was crashing down. "B-But why? How can the Elders allow this? Surely he's being kept in check someway?"

Augus took another heavy breath. "The Elders are all exiled as well, Prince. They've been gone since after your father died. Vaea ascended to the throne after Consort Finui fled for your father's murder against the wishes of the Elders. Once he gained power, he got rid of everyone who could overpower him."

"I, of course, remained loyal to your father. I never harmed Vaea when he took the throne, I believed it would be a good thing. He was a better candidate than any of the Kings brothers anyway. But as soon as he wore the crown, things started changing. And rapidly."

"The Elders disappeared to some of the other islands, but they are still in Vaea's hands. He has people watch over them and their families so that they do not attempt to overthrow him. And I know his methods are less than moral. Your brother has turned into a tyrant, your highness. And I do not know what to make of it."

"He sends me off to do things your father never had me do. And of course I do them because I have to watch over him. I have to be close. After you left, I saw a boy descend into tyranny. I felt protective, yet responsible at the same time. I couldn't protect your father, but I wanted to protect Vaea. "

"Now he is someone I do not recognize."

Halo felt tears roll down his cheeks. He wiped them quickly, sniffling as he tried to speak.

"What do we do?" He asked hopelessly. "Do you think he exiled Finn?"

"He is not even a citizen of Kukoa, so I doubt it," Augus muttered. "And I don't think you could usurp your brother if you tried. He would kill you. He's only gotten better at fighting."

Halo's chest burned. "Do you think he would kill me?" He whispered in horror.

Augus went quiet for a few moments. "I don't know what he's capable of," he replied honestly.

"So then where is Finn?" Halo asked in frustration. "He's my friend, Augus. I told him to come to Kukoa and now he's missing. What could have happened to him?"

"I only have one theory. Mayhaps he did in fact leave because of Vaea and went for the harbor but never made it onto a ship. With the foreign occupation and open trade Vaea is allowing, the docks have become notorious for kidnappings. Many Sai fishermen and workers have gone missing the past three months. Finn is a foreigner so he'd be vulnerable to that sort of thing. "

"But he can fight," Halo said in confusion. "Who is kidnapping people?"

"The Royal Guard has heard of a rumor of Sai gangs being used to kidnap unsuspecting workers and make them work for nothing in foreign factories and ships," Augus said, making Halo gasp. "And they can fight as well."

Halo gently put Cotton and Muffin on the floor before rising up. "We have to go find him. If he is with these people, I will not let him live the life of a slave. This should not even be happening!" He exclaimed.

Augus rose up as well. "I will help you, your highness. But we cannot do this alone, nor can the King find out. He will not take our actions kindly, he values the foreign powers in Kukoa greatly."

They were only two people. Augus was the head Guard, yes, but to go up against gang members? All by themselves? Halo needed more than just that.

A sudden thought popped into his head. Vaea's voice echoed.

"That girl has gotten one of the highest scores in the Practicals in Kahele."

Halo felt as though the gears in his head had finally started working after years of being rusted. She had outrun the Royal Guard as did she have a talent for arson.

"I know someone who can join us," Halo told Augus with a smile.

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