Chapter 4 - The truth

The princesses eye widened as they shot to his “Con con cea ling” she stammered

“Yes” Jay’s voice was gentle but firm “Will you trust me?” and he gestured to her sleeve.

The princess remained quiet for a little bit then gave the women quick glances, they all seemed to come to the same conclusion without words.

Rota’s voice came out clear and resolved “I know, who you are Captain Jay, at least what your service record says, you impressed my father, you know. You are to date, the only guard the King himself requested to be on his protection. It was him who transferred you from the military to the guard and at his request you be made captain straight away. You got the highest scores in all your practical exams and still hold most of the shooting records. You alone have complete 2/3 of all the electives available to you in the Military and are probably more qualified than most Generals. Your team under you are considered the best trained unit available in the capital and. . you have only just turned 22.”

Captain Jay was taken back a little but couldn’t stop the smirk on his face when he said “Yeah I get bored easy”

Like he needed an excuse!

His eyes dropped to the Princess’s sleeve.

She let out a sigh “I was upset at my Fathers news and was seeking comfort. I went to Nanny Eslbeth’s rooms, I know I would not find her but . . . I just  . . . needed to be there. While I was there, I noticed that her favourite painting that always hung in her room was different, someone had added to the painting. It would hard to spot but I had always loved that painting too and we used to play I Spy with it. The royal crest had been added, and words in the clouds an in the grass. My name  . . . Rota . . . Peekboo . . . find her and love bet. That was my name for her when I was young. When I took the painting off the wall I found this from behind the canvas.” She removed a thick envelope from her Sleeve, she hesitated before passing it to Captain Jay but instead of releasing it when he went to take it she held firm. He glanced up puzzled. “I am trusting you but what you are about to read will change everything”

She released the letter and turned back to her tea.

Jay opened it flicked through all the pages and then began to read the letter to Rota from her Nanny.

He looked up at Princess Rota with an unreadable expression on his face then continued reading, when he had finished, he flicked through the other papers, they were someone’s progress reports or classes and training they were all dated in the month of May and written in the same hand, Fifteen reports in total but they were supposed to be consecutive, there were some years reports missing. According to the notes, this person was incredibly clever getting good grades consistently in all her subjects, and competent in most styles of hand-to-hand combat and a few weapons. They also held the record for all three runs, whatever that meant.

He put them back on the table within the Princesses reach, he got up and started pacing the room as he thought “Princess Rota, do you believe this account to be correct?”

Rota took a deep breath before she answered “I haven’t really had time to wrap my head around it yet but I can’t think why my nanny would have made it up. She was there for my birth, she started as my mother’s maid before she requested to become my Nanny. She was always a truthful person who always tried to do right by everyone. I can’t believe she of all people held this to herself all these years.”

“This changes things, Princess Rota, would you approve an undercover mission to go and get your . . . sister”

There was a pause

“Yes, Captain Jay, she must be found”

“You do realise that if this account is indeed true, she being older is the true heir of the throne”

“Yes and if those are her progress reports, she shall make a fine ruler too. It can’t be helped . . . . . she is the rightful heir. I couldn’t possibly take the oath knowing it was not my rightful place. . . . .  I just hope she is a kind as she is competent.”