Untitled - Chapter 16 - The Emperor - Seg.3

{segment 3 of chapter 16 - Logan}1

I head through the automatic doors into the building where I always meet with the Emperor. I realise with a bit of surprise that I’m humming. I suppose I’m quite happy to be going this time; I’m in complete control, and everything is planned out. I will make Avalia the Empress. Because she is the rightful Empress… and I can prove it.2

Eighteen years ago, the Outsiders broke into the City. They were all tracked down and killed except for one. One managed to stay hidden, and by chance found a baby girl left unguarded in a cot on his way through an unremarkable building as he was taking evasive manoeuvres. Knowing that he could use the child one way or another, the Outsider took her with him and soon after escaped the City after lying in wait for days for the wall to open. Unaware of his presence, the Insiders were never able to catch him. It’s presumed that he either stowed away on a craft or hid beneath it as it went Outside.3

The girl grew up as an Outsider, believing that her kidnapper was her father. The man named her Avalia, the name that had been on her tiny clothing when he found her, in the hopes that one day the Insiders would discover her and be forced to take him into the City with her. Meanwhile, the Insiders weren’t allowed to speak of the kidnapping not only because the thought was unsettling to the general public, but also because of the girl’s true identity. 4

Avalia was the sole heir to the Insider throne, and no one was to know of her birth at all until there were more heirs. The second family in line for the throne had become jealous and wanted to kill off the first royal bloodline. The first to die was the Emperor. He was poisoned, but the public was told that he died of illness. The Empress had Avalia taken away, but later confessed to the assassin that killed her that she had a daughter.5

The assassin went after the baby, but found the building guarded by five of the City’s most elite soldiers. The soldiers managed to lure the assassin away from Avalia during the battle, but all of the five soldiers were needed to fight at once. All five were killed. When the assassin returned to where the baby had been, he found that she had disappeared. Not even the assassin could track down a devious Outsider, who was used to running and escaping.6

The second royal family took over the throne. Inevitably, the Outsider was discovered. No one could have escaped all of the mechs and soldiers in the City hunting him alone. But when the new Emperor discovered that the Outsider had planned on leaving the City with the baby, he ordered the troops to let him go. Surely the baby would die out there, and even if she didn’t, she would be raised as an Outsider and would never learn of her identity. The Outsider was never caught and the baby was never brought home… because there were no search parties sent out. And anyone who discovered this was killed or brainwashed.7

I couldn’t believe it myself when I first read the piece of paper Hils printed out. It still doesn’t explain why Avi has a marked ankle instead of a marked palm, but when I knew what I was looking for, the information was there. I searched through the City archives and found that it was apparently the tradition of the first Insiders’ royal line not to have a marked palm. The mark would be placed on the ankle in case a situation required evidence of who they were, but they refused to have marked palms because they felt they shouldn’t need to prove themselves to anyone. A stupid tradition, but it certainly explains things, and it’s just more proof that Avi is the rightful heir. 8

Avalia the Outsider is the true Empress. Who would have thought? The lift doors ‘ding’ open, and I suddenly realise that I really am actually looking forward to a meeting with the Emperor. I don’t expect that persuading the government to go against him will be easy, but it sure will be fun. Repressing the smile pulling at the corners of my mouth, I head to the heavy carved doors where two large men stand waiting.9

“I’m Logan, the Head Mech—”10

“We know,” the left one interrupts.11

The one on the right laughs, a deep rumble in his throat. “Another meeting without an appointment, Logan. I don’t know how you survived the last one, but this had better be good or you won’t survive this one.”12

The left one jabs the other in the ribs with his elbow irritably. “Go through.”13

I raise an eyebrow at him as they open the double doors for me. Before I even start down the red carpet, the Emperor raises his voice to say, “This had better be good, Logan.”14

I smile and continue forwards without hesitating. “It is, Highness. It’s very good.”15