Chapter 178

Louis walked across the lawn to the paddock. Angelique saw him and waved.

“Louis! You’re finally done!”

Louis smiled. “We took our time.”

“I can see that,” Gladice said, a smirk on her face. “Your hair is still wet. And Willa has a glow.”

“It’s called sex, Glads,” Willa said. “You should try it sometime.”

“I do. All the time,” Gladice said. “It’s one of my favorite hobbies.”

A groom brought a chestnut mare to Louis. “This is Freya, Mr. Collins. She is Princess Angelique’s favorite.”

Louis stroked the mare’s nose. He saw the white blaze down its nose. The same one he’d tried to ride all those years ago.

“Hello again, Freya,” he said. “Remember me?”

The horse snorted and nudged his hand.

“Good girl,” Louis said.

Angelique rode over to him. “She does. I’m surprised. I thought she would bite you.”

“Maybe she’s matured,” Louis said. “Like us.”

“Maybe,” Angelique said. “Or maybe she’s just waiting for the right moment to kick you.”

“I’ll take my chances,” Louis said, putting his foot in the stirrup and swinging himself into the saddle. The horse shifted beneath him. He settled into the rhythm of her movement. “It feels good to be on a horse again.”

“It does,” Angelique said, riding her own horse beside him. “It clears the head.”

“I need that,” Louis said.

“Don’t we all,” Gladice said, trotting up on a white pony. “Especially after a day like this.”

“So, what’s the plan for the afternoon?” Savannah asked, guiding her gray mare closer.

“There’s a witch’s castle not far from here,” Angelique said. “We could ride there and have a tour.”

“A witch’s castle?” Cherish asked, her eyes wide. “Is it real?”

“It was a public toilet abandoned in the 60s,” Angelique said. “After my father purchased the forest, he had the structure renovated as a house for a hermit. She still lives there.”

“A real hermit!” Cherish said, her face full of wonder. “Can we meet her?”

“I think she’ll be happy to see us,” Angelique said. “She’s a friend of my mother. She makes wonderful herbal tea.”

“I could use some tea,” Willa said. “And a break from all the excitement.”

“Let’s go then,” Louis said. “Lead the way.”

They rode away from the mansion and into the woods. The path was narrow and winding. The horses moved gracefully, their hooves making a soft thudding sound.

“Her name is Laura,” Angelique said. “She has been living in the castle for two decades. She used to be a history professor at the University of Navarre.”

“What made her want to be a hermit?” Donya asked.

“She’s a royalist,” Angelique said. “Students started complaining about her teaching the history of our dynasty. So she quit and followed my family here. She hates the republic.”

“The Dominion is a republic too,” Willa said. “In name, at least.”

“Laura doesn’t care about the Dominion,” Angelique said. “She only cares about Navarre. The true Navarre.”

“And she lives in an old toilet?” Maeve asked.

“Not anymore,” Angelique said. “It’s a very nice house now. My father paid a fortune to get rid of the graffiti and install a proper bathroom.”

“How nice of him,” Maeve said.

“He’s a good man,” Angelique said. “He takes care of people who are loyal to him.”

“Like us,” Louis said.

“Like you,” Angelique said.

They reached a small clearing. In the middle of the clearing stood a small stone building. It looked like a mill from a fairytale, with moss growing on the roof and ivy climbing up the walls. A plume of smoke rose from a small chimney.

“That’s it,” Angelique said. “Laura’s castle.”

They dismounted and tied the horses to a wooden rail. A short woman with silver hair and a purple shawl came out of the house. She was holding a broom.

“Your highness!” she said, curtsying. “What a pleasant surprise!”

“Laura,” Angelique said, hugging her. “I brought some friends.”

Laura looked at them, her eyes sharp and curious. “I see that. Welcome to my humble home. Please, come in.”

She led them inside. The house was small but cozy, with a TV showing VOP’s 24-hour news channel. The anchor was talking about the gunshots in Raleigh Hills. A pot of water was boiling on a stove.

“Sounds like you had a busy day, Your Highness,” Laura said, gesturing for them to sit on the mismatched chairs.

“You have no idea,” Gladice said.

“I have a good imagination,” Laura said, smiling. “And I watch the news. Would you like some tea?”

“Yes, please,” Donya said.

Laura went to the kitchen and came back with a pot of tea and some cups. She poured for everyone.

“This is my special blend,” she said. “It’s good for the nerves. I imagine you all need it.”

“It’s very good,” Cherish said, taking a sip. “It tastes like flowers.”

“It is,” Laura said. “I grow them myself.”

Louis took a sip. The tea was warm and fragrant.

“So,” Laura said, looking at Louis. “The famous Louis Collins. I’m honored to meet you. Your father is a great man.”

“Thank you,” Louis said. “He is.”

“Not just for what he did for the world,” Laura said. “But for what he did for us. For giving my king a home and a purpose.”

“He did the right thing,” Louis said. “Philip is a good man and a good friend.”

“He is,” Laura said. “And so is his daughter. I’m glad you two found each other.”

“We are glad too,” Angelique said. “We are building a life together. With them.”

Laura looked at the other women. “A modern family. I like that. We have enough rules about blood and succession. Not enough love.”

“Thank you,” Louis said. “We appreciate that.”

“I also appreciate your actions today,” Laura said, gesturing to the TV. “Those people who fired guns in a peaceful neighborhood. They are an affront to everything your father built. To the peace and order of the Dominion.”

“They are a threat to the nation,” Louis said.

“And to my king,” Laura said. “And I am grateful for your dedication to protect him. And his family. And yourself. Because you are the future. The only future we have.”

“I will do my best,” Louis said. “To deserve your trust.”

“I know you will,” Laura said. “Can I ask a favor of you? A selfish one?”

“Name it,” Louis said.

“If you have the chance to go to Navarre someday,” Laura said. “Give a middle finger to Prime Minister Leclerc for me.”

Gladice choked on her tea. Savannah patted her on the back.

“Can I ask why?” Louis asked.

“Because he’s a coward and a traitor,” Laura said. “He sold our country to the European Union for a cheap price. And he banned my books. He dares to call himself a patriot.”

“I’ll try,” Louis said. “But I don’t think I’ll have any official reason to meet him.”

“You don’t need an official reason,” Laura said. “Just remember an old woman’s request when you do.”

“I will,” Louis said.

“Thank you,” Laura said. She switched off the TV and turned back to them. “So, tell me. What are your plans now? A nice vacation in the woods?”

“Something like that,” Louis said. “But we also have some work to do.”

“What kind of work?” Laura asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Let’s just say we’re investigating a certain NGO,” Willa said. “The Common Roots Foundation.”

Laura’s smile faded. “Ah. Them.”

“What do you know about them?” Angelique asked.

“Not much,” Laura said. “Just that they are not what they seem. They came to my forest several weeks ago. Claimed they were studying the local plants. And the history of the land.”

“They asked questions about the mansion?” Louis asked.

“Yes,” Laura said. “They were very interested in Her Highness. I think that was during your state visit to the Collective.”

“What did they want to know?” Angelique asked.

“About your childhood. Your friends. Your hobbies,” Laura said. “And your relationship with Mr. Collins.”

“Did you give them any information?” Louis asked.

“No,” Laura said. “I told them to fuck off. I don’t talk to strangers about my princess. Especially ones who work for a suspicious organization.”

“Good for you,” Gladice said.

“I was a professor for thirty years,” Laura said. “I know how to spot a liar and a spy. They were both.”

“What else did you notice?” Willa asked.

“They looked like Mormons. Clean-cut. Polite. Too polite,” Laura said. “They wore suits in the forest. Who wears a suit in the forest?”

“Spies,” Maeve said.

“Exactly,” Laura said. “I thought they were just preachers at first. We have them sometimes. But after I saw the news about your abduction, I suspected they were involved.”

“Did you see them again?” Angelique asked.

“No,” Laura said. “After I told them to fuck off, they left. I haven’t seen them since. His Majesty increased the patrols in the forest after that. As he should have.”

“Did you tell my father?” Angelique asked.

“Of course,” Laura said. “I told his security chief that strangers had been asking about you. But I didn’t know they were from Common Roots until this morning when I saw the news. I recognized the two in the footage.”

“Thank you for telling us, Laura,” Louis said.

“You’re welcome,” she said. “Anything for my princess and her family. Just be careful. I have a feeling they are not done yet.”

“We will,” Louis said. “We will be careful.”

They finished their tea and stood up.

“Thank you for the tea, Laura,” Angelique said, hugging her. “And for the information.”

“You’re welcome, my dear,” Laura said. “Come back soon.”

“We will,” Angelique said.

They walked out of the house and untied the horses.

“She’s a tough old lady,” Maeve said.

“She is,” Angelique said. “And very loyal.”

They mounted their horses and rode back to the mansion.

“Mormons? Spies?” Gladice said as they trotted through the woods. “That’s a new one.”

“Robin mentioned a meeting between Lumen Path and the Kingdom of Utah. Maybe they are connected,” Willa said.

“So we have a conspiracy involving sex traffickers, spies, and Mormons?” Savannah said. “What’s next? Aliens?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Gladice said.

“I think we should ask my father about it,” Angelique said. “He might know something about the Kingdom of Utah. And their spies.”

“Good idea,” Louis said. “We’ll ask him at dinner.”

They reached the mansion and dismounted. The grooms took the horses away. As they walked into the house, Louis’s phone buzzed. He took it out and saw a message from Robin.

The report is ready.

Louis opened the file. “Let’s go to Angi’s room. It’s more private.”

They went upstairs to Angelique’s room. Louis sat on the bed and opened the report. The women gathered around him.

“The report is a summary of the interrogation of the twelve suspects,” Louis said, scrolling down. “It says they are all employees of the foundation, as we suspected. Six of them were associated with the underground LDS Church. The other six had no knowledge of the trafficking operation. They were employees the cell considered expendable.”

“Underground LDS Church?” Maeve asked. “What’s that?”

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But the one that is not recognized by the Kingdom of Utah,” Willa said. “They were exiled to southern Idaho after the war.”

“So they are Mormons,” Savannah said.

“Sort of,” Willa said. “But not the official ones. The ones in Utah are isolationists. These are more ambitious.”

“Like the spies Laura described,” Angelique said.

“Exactly,” Willa said.

Louis kept reading. “The report confirms that they were ordered to destroy the servers. And to wait for a ship to pick them up and take them to Vancouver, where they would be given new identities.”

“Vancouver? In Canada?” Donya asked. “That’s EU territory.”

“Yeah,” Louis said. “And the ship was from Lumen Path Shipping. Under a different name, of course.”

“Bingo,” Gladice said. “We got them.”

“Not yet,” Willa said. “We just have a link. A strong one, but still a link. We need to know who is in charge. And why.”

“The report says the six LDS members received their orders from a man named ‘Brother John.’ They never saw his face. He only communicated with them through secure channels.”

“So Brother John is the mastermind?” Cherish asked.

“He’s a manager. A middleman,” Willa said. “Not the boss.”

“Where is he now?” Savannah asked.

“According to the report, he’s active in Idaho and Wyoming. In the Central Union. That’s where most of the LDS are.” Louis said.

“So he’s out of our reach, for now,” Angelique said.

“Maybe not,” Willa said. “If the Dominion Guard works with the Union Intelligence Service, they might be able to track him down.”

“Unlikely,” Angelique said. “The Central Union is very protective of its sovereignty. They would not allow a Dominion investigation on their soil. Not without a very good reason. And not without a lot of bureaucracy.”

“She’s right,” Louis said. “We need another way.”

“What about the ship?” Donya asked. “The one from Lumen Path Shipping?”

“The report says the ship is called ‘The Tropical Mariner.’ It’s a cargo ship registered in Panama. The Dominion Navy intercepted it near the coast of Washington. It’s being escorted to a naval base in Bremerton as we speak. They will search it for contraband and illegal cargo.”

“So we have the evidence?” Savannah asked.

“Maybe,” Louis said. “But they have probably covered their tracks well.”

“And what about the porn site? ‘Country Pleasures’?” Angelique asked.

“The report says it’s connected to the foundation. The videos are made in a compound in the Central Union. The women are victims of sex trafficking. They are mostly runaways, orphans, and illegal immigrants. The customers pay with cryptocurrency. The site is a major source of income for the organization.”

“Who runs the compound?” Willa asked.

“Brother John,” Louis said.

“So we have a sex trafficking ring, a data mining operation, and a spy network. All run by the same people,” Angelique said.

“And all connected to the Kingdom of Utah. And Lumen Path Shipping,” Willa added.

“Which is connected to the people who abducted us,” Louis said.

“So the puzzle is getting clearer,” Savannah said. “But we are still missing a piece. The big boss.”

“Yeah,” Gladice said. “The one who gives the orders to Brother John. The one who is behind everything.”

“We don’t know that yet,” Louis said. “But we will.”

“So what’s the plan?” Donya asked. “We can’t just storm a compound in the Central Union.”

“No,” Louis said. “But I’m thinking about a vacation. In Yellowstone.”

“Yellowstone?” Willa asked. “In the Central Union?”

“Yes,” Louis said. “We will drive an RV. Go camping. Enjoy the scenery. And do a little recon.”

“That’s a crazy idea,” Savannah said. “And I love it.”

“Me too,” Gladice said. “Road trip!”

“Is it safe?” Donya asked. “The Central Union is not the Dominion. We don’t have the same protection there.”

“We will have a Dominion Guard security team traveling with us,” Louis said. “For the safety of the Supreme President’s son and his family.”

“And they will just let us do our recon while we are there?” Willa asked.

“We will just say we are admiring the wildlife,” Louis said. “And we are very curious about our neighbors and their religious communities.”

“Do you think your father will approve this?” Angelique asked.

“He will,” Louis said. “Because he wants to know who is behind this as much as we do.”

“Then we need an RV,” Maeve said. “A big one. With a garage for the Ducati.”

“Good idea,” Louis said. “I think there’s an auto show in Frankfurt today. With a lot of European RVs. Let’s buy one.”

“From Germany?” Willa asked. “And then what? Fly it over?”

“Yes,” Louis said. “I’ll call our ambassador in Germany. He will arrange it. If we are lucky, we can have one in Portland by tomorrow.”

“Or we can just rent one here,” Savannah said. “It’s much faster.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Louis said. “I want to have our own RV. We can also drive it in Hawaii in the future.”

“I like that,” Cherish said. “Our own RV.”

“So, a road trip it is,” Gladice said. “To find a bunch of Mormon spies. And to save some sex slaves. I’m in.”

“I’m in too,” Maeve said. “I want to kick Brother John’s ass.”

“Let’s focus on finding him first,” Willa said. “And then we can kick his ass.”

“Deal,” Maeve said.

Louis took out his phone. “I’m going to call the ambassador now. And my father.”

He called the ambassador first. The call connected instantly.

“Mr. Collins. What can I do for you?”

“I need an RV,” Louis said. “The best one you can find at the Frankfurt auto show. The most luxurious, the most secure, the most everything. And a big one. With a garage for a motorcycle.” He paused. “And I need it in Portland by tomorrow.”

“Of course, Mr. Collins,” the ambassador said. “I will have it delivered on a cargo plane tonight. Do you have any specific preferences for the brand? Or the color?”

“Surprise me,” Louis said. “Just make sure it’s the most expensive one they have.”

“I will, Mr. Collins,” the ambassador said.

“Great,” Louis said. “Keep up the good work.”

“It’s my honor, Mr. Collins.”

Louis hung up. He then called Constantine.

“Dad. We have a lead.”

“Of course, I just read the report,” Constantine said.

“We’re going to the Central Union. To Yellowstone,” Louis said.

Constantine paused. “That’s a bold move, son.”

“I have to see for myself,” Louis said. “I need to find who is behind this. I can’t wait for the bureaucracy.”

“I understand,” Constantine said. “I’ll have Robin contact the Central Union authorities and arrange a security detail. For your safety, of course.”

“Of course,” Louis said. “And I’m buying an RV from Germany.”

“Make it a good one,” Constantine said. “And have fun.”

“I will,” Louis said.

“Good,” Constantine said. “Remember to follow the instructions of our security team once you’re in the Central Union. We don’t need an international incident right now. Not yet anyway.”

“I’ll be a perfect tourist,” Louis said.

“Sure you will,” Constantine said. “Just don’t start any wars without me.”

“I won’t,” Louis said.

“Good,” Constantine said. “Keep me updated.”

“I will,” Louis said.

He hung up. Willa looked at him. “Well? Are we going?”

“We’re going,” Louis said. “Tomorrow.”

“I’m excited,” Gladice said. “I’ve never been to Yellowstone.”

“Me neither,” Cherish said.

“I have,” Angelique said. “When I was a child. With my parents. It’s beautiful.”

“I’m sure it is,” Donya said. “But I’m more interested in the people.”

“We gonna find them,” Savannah said. “Don’t worry about that.”

“And when we do, we will make them pay,” Maeve said.

“Yes, we will,” Louis said.

He stood up. “Let’s get ready for dinner. I’m starving.”