Eight days after the garden attack, Nordhi delivered her baby prematurely. Although he arrived three weeks early, their son Rangpu was born healthy and full of vigor. Bel celebrated the birth announcement with extensive media coverage. It was his act of defiance to ensure the perpetrators knew they had failed.
Nordhi, confined to bed with anemia, could not join Bel for the interviews. Bel spent every free moment discovering the joys, and sleepless nights, of parenthood.
Meanwhile, having assembled enough clues, Artee invited the king to his office to present his first report. “First, the positive news. We found the individuals who smuggled the mountain lion into the garden. A fisherman discovered the irradiated bodies of five people in a remote lake cabin on the other side of the continent. It appears they were caught in the solar flare event that hit the region two weeks ago. Authorities identified one of the corpses as a former groundskeeper for the royal estate.”
Bel leaned forward. “That would explain how they could have gained entry. What proof is there they were the culprits and not a group of unfortunate friends on a fishing trip?”
Artee slid a datapad across the desk. “A stolen box truck concealed under tarps was found behind the cabin. Inside was an electric whip and a cage with clumps of singed lion hair.”
As Bel flipped through the images, he asked, “Did they leave any clues to indicate who they were working with?”
“No direct evidence, but I may have uncovered some indirectly. When the four other bodies could not be identified, I asked the diplomatic attachés in each region to inquire about local missing persons. The attaché to the Isle of Modhikat reported three missing person reports were filed coinciding with the time of the attack.”
Bel leaned back and shook his head. “A suspicious coincidence to be sure. I need more evidence before I accuse Keerat of coordinating a band of murderers.”
“Nor would I advise you to mention any of this to him. The attaché sent me an additional summary report of information she has gathered on your cousin.”
The king furrowed his brow and asked in a low register, “What kind of information?”
“Rumors from the staff and visitors to your cousin’s manor house. Apparently, he is often drunk and becomes easily agitated whenever you or the queen are mentioned. One witness claims when the birth of Rangpu was announced, he went into a rage. He is quoted as yelling, ‘the little whelp stands in the way of what is rightfully mine.’ I assume he means the throne.”
Bel exhaled loudly. “We can talk to him about this when he comes to the Naming Ceremony in two days.”
“Your cousin RSVPed he would be attending. However, his yacht remains docked, and his wife and security detail have not been seen in their residence.”
“My cousin is afraid of flying after a minor airship accident when we were kids. Maybe his yacht is being repaired?” Bel said while shrugging his shoulders. “What other travel options does he have?”
“The attaché reports a large group of people and equipment boarded three cargo ships last evening.” Artee reached over to tap on the datapad screen. “I pulled the manifests. As you can see, all three ships are scheduled to dock at the capital port the morning before the Naming Ceremony.”
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Bel studied the manifests before returning the datapad. “My cousin’s yacht is quite large. Perhaps the only way to bring his entire entourage is to split them across three cargo ships.”
“Your optimism will be your downfall.”
Bel smirked. “I thought you were going to be my downfall. Yet here I am.” He shook his head in disbelief. “My cousin is a harmless buffoon. This plot sounds too complicated for him to be orchestrating it.” He turned to leave. “To be prudent, keep investigating and make whatever security plans you think necessary.”
* * *
The day of the Naming Ceremony finally arrived. Artee cornered Bel in his dressing room after breakfast. “Sire, please reconsider canceling or postponing the Naming Ceremony. All indications are that your cousin Keerat wants to kill you.”
“What is wrong, Artee? Afraid of a little competition?” King Bel’s grin faded as he looked at Artee’s irritated expression. “You need to work on your sense of humor.”
“Your levity is at odds with the situation,” replied Artee.
“Humor is how humans manage the burden of emotions in exactly these kinds of situations.”
Artee folded his arms. “Please humor me by explaining why we cannot defuse this situation by postponing the ceremony.”
Bel deliberated which shoes to wear for the ceremony as he spoke. “The Royal Naming Ceremony is more than a tradition. It is part of the legal structure of the royal hierarchy. As you will learn, having babies is a big deal. Any royal couple that fails to produce an heir within four years lose their royal titles, and the privileges that go with them.”
He set aside a pair of shoes while searching for a better pair. “If a new king and queen fail to produce an heir, the throne passes to the next family in line. That would be Keerat’s family, even if I had siblings because my father’s line would be considered genetically weak. Today’s ceremony formally and legally passes the Right of Ascension to Rangpu.” He gave Artee a sideways glance. “Were I to die prematurely.”
Artee leaned in close. “Your cousin may also attempt to kill your son – again.”
Bel recalled his conversation two weeks earlier with his father-in-law about how security experts grow increasingly paranoid. Is it even possible for Artee to be paranoid? “For the hundredth time, thank you for your concern. I know my cousin. He may be stupid, but he is not evil.”
“For the ninety-third time,” Artee likewise exaggerated, “I respectfully disagree that he is not a serious threat.”
Bel laid a pair of socks on the shoes he had chosen. “Keep an eye on him but do not provoke him. You will see that his bark is worse than his bite.”
By mid-afternoon, guests and news crews from around the planet had assembled inside the Grand Temple to witness the ceremony. Bel fidgeted as the High Priestess intoned about the history of the Naming Ceremony going back to the centuries of travel by the colony ship from Earth. She explained how having children is a vital, sacred duty to grow a colony. Couples who have a child are honored with a suffix to their first name. Men are given the suffix ‘-mar’ and ‘-sha’ is added to the woman’s first name.
Nordhi whispered, “Stop fidgeting.”
Keerat is not here. Was Artee right? Is he planning something? “She did not speak nearly this long at the rehearsals.”
“Be patient. A Royal Naming Ceremony like ours only happens once or twice in a lifetime. She is doing her duty to pass on the rites and traditions to the younger generations.”
The High Priestess concluded her recitation and led everyone in prayer. “King Bel and Queen Nordhi. Please join me on the dais to be Named.” Bel and Nordhi rose from their seats and ascended the short stairway to the dais. They took their positions opposite each other and on either side of the priestess. “King Bel. As custom and colony charter specify, you have produced an heir thereby securing your family line’s continued claim to the throne. Forevermore, you shall be Named Bel-mar.”
The priestess turned to Nordhi. “Nordhi who is now our Queen Mother. Forevermore, you shall be Named Nordhi-sha.” Turning to the congregation and news cameras, the priestess addressed everyone watching. “Citizens of Doaba II, I present to you King Bel-mar and Queen Nordhi-sha. Blessed be their reign.”
A thunderous noise from the back of the temple diverted everyone’s attention from the ceremony. Another booming blow made wood splinter and metal groan. The doors burst open with a final crash, revealing Keerat wearing a homemade military outfit that hung crooked on his slender frame.