I’ve got you now, you murderous fiend! A broad grin creased his face, for he finally had a plan for the first time in years.
He got excited and started dancing a little as he went around the room, gathering equipment and mixing together chemicals to prepare the testing solution.
“A little of this, a dash of that, some red for color,” he sang as he jumped around and thought of how he would soon be out of this place. “And just a pinch of the yellow stuff,” he continued, all the while mixing and preparing.
He didn’t know why scanning structures required such tedious work or such bizarre chemicals – no one did. Only that it did. Normally the smells and textures of the strange mix bothered him, but not this time.
He tried to keep his excitement to himself and calm down, but could not. Four years of partially self-imposed exile had weighed too heavily on him, and leaving was such a nice prospect, he couldn’t help but be vocal as he took a sample of the remaining material in the bottom of the chalice with a fresh swab and placed it in the solution. He let the mixture sit for a few minutes to do its magic before placing it in the machine.
“Oh, I wonder what Christopher will give me when he sees that I have found the evidence he seeks?” Adam wondered aloud while jumping in place. He simply could not keep still. Not while he was thinking about freedom. “Maybe he’ll release me from service!” He grinned at that, eager to rid himself of the hell his service had turned into.
“Well, regardless, I bet I will get to dine on some fine cuisine tonight! Perhaps I’ll have the monkey brains!” He shook his head. “Oh, no, not tonight. That is much too ‘lower class’ for such an occasion. I think I’ll order the eyeball stew topped with minced hooves and a nice iguana skin salad on the side! Ha, ha! This is gonna be great. Maybe he’ll even give me the key to the Royal-”
His sentence was cut short by the sound of the lab door opening.
“What’s all this noise about?” King Christopher demanded, slamming the door behind him. The slam made Adam jump and he smacked the vial with the structure scan liquid in it. He fumbled to grab it before it was destroyed and managed to do so, but not without spilling a little on himself in the process.
The chemicals itched and burned, and he swore under his breath, but he looked up at the king like nothing was wrong.
“Your Majesty,” Adam said at once, bowing.
“Is great, I assure you. Ha!” King Christopher said jokingly, even though in private everyone knew he really did think so.
Adam had to admit the man before him looked much more regal and kingly than he would have thought possible given the little boy he’d started out as. Just his look was mesmerizing.
“Now what’s all this chattering about? I can hear you rambling on all the way in the courtyard, and it interrupted mine and Fred’s game of whackerball,” the king chided him. “Having a rough day?”
His assistant gulped down hard. “Sorry, Your Highness, it will never happen again.” He bowed quickly, eyes darting toward the testing liquid all the while.
King Christopher’s sudden appearance had thrown him off guard, but he still had to remember his pleasantries. He bowed once more for good measure then immediately got back to stirring the testing liquid. He still had a few minutes before it would be ready to be analyzed.
“Remember, Adam, that I need to know who my father’s killer was before my eighteenth birthday, which is very soon,” Christopher warned. “If I don’t know by then, well, you know what happens to those who fail me, no matter how close they are to me.” His fingers balled into a fist. “Don’t you even have a solid lead yet, my friend?”
Adam felt a bead of sweat break out on his brow, trickling down the sides of his face, inching towards the opening of the vial in his hands. He quickly batted the sweat away and looked up at the king, fear in his eyes.
“Actually, sire, I think I may have found the answers you’re looking for. I think I’ve found the killer’s fatal flaw.” He grinned at the king with fake confidence.
“Oh really?” Christopher replied, eyes narrowing and sounding surprised, but it was hard to tell for sure anymore. Everything he said sounded like that. “Well, if you are correct, which, since you’re so smart, I’m sure you are, then I want to hear all about it so I can make that announcement.”
King Christopher turned to leave, then remembered something, snapped his fingers and spun around to face Adam. “If you can find my father’s killer, I assure you, you will be rewarded very heavily. I might even be inclined to give you the key to the Royal . . .” Adam’s eyes perked up. “Well, let’s not get your hopes up yet.” Adam’s eyes dimmed again and he tapped his foot. “Can I expect that answer tonight, Adam?”
“Yes, my liege, you will have your answer at precisely eight o’clock tonight. You can count on me. I will not be late, Sire,” Adam told him, finding hope in life once more for the first time in four long years.
The king’s face broke out into a smile. “Very well, my good man. I will wait for you in my personal chamber at precisely eight o’clock. Oh, and double-check the identity first, we don’t want any slip-ups.”
With that, King Christopher left and shut the door softly.
* * * * * * * * * *
King Christopher waited until he was well out of earshot of the room before he picked up his com link. He didn’t want to disturb Adam if he could help
