Akiko in the Castle of Alia Rellapor by Mark Crilley Read Free Book Online

beside me.”
    The Prince stepped forward, hesitantly at first, his eyes searching Alia Rellapor as if he were not quite sure of his own feelings toward her. Finally, though, he walked quickly to her side and put his hand in hers.
    “How could I have kidnapped the Prince?” Alia
    Rellapor asked, stroking his hand gently with her own. “A mother cannot kidnap her own son.”

 Chapter 13 

    It was silent. The room was still. But inside me the whole world seemed to be caving in, swallowing me up into a black fog.
    Her son? Her
son
? How could Prince Froptoppit be Alia Rellapor’s son? It was impossible. Or was it? I felt so terribly dizzy all of a sudden, I didn’t know
what
to think. With what little energy I had left, I stared intently at Prince Froptoppit, hoping to see some sign that this was all a dirty trick, that Alia Rellapor was no more related to him than I was. But I saw no such sign. The Prince leaned toward Alia Rellapor, allowing her to pull him onto her lap. He dropped his head onto her shoulder and closed his eyes peacefully. There could be no doubt about it. Alia Rellapor
was
the Prince’s mother, and King Froptoppit—for
some
reason—had ordered Mr. Beeba and Spuckler not to tell me about it.
    “So you see, Akiko,” Alia Rellapor said with a smile, “King Froptoppit has deceived you. The Prince is here where he belongs. If you don’t believe me, I invite you to return to your dear King and ask him to explain his lies to you. I’m sure he will have invented some very interesting explanations by now. . . .”
    “But—” I began. Something had just occurred to me, something that didn’t fit.
    “But what, dear child?”
    “But if you’re the Prince’s mother,” I went on, “then why are you keeping him locked up in a dirty little room? Why aren’t you treating him better?”
    For the first time Alia Rellapor’s peacefully smiling face went blank. She looked stunned and terribly confused. Her mouth opened but no words came out.
    Throck let out a strange sort of cough, like a man who’d been underwater coming up for air. His eyes remained unwaveringly focused on Alia Rellapor, though.
    “Maybe King Froptoppit hasn’t been completely truthful,” I continued, “but one thing’s for sure. He’d never keep the Prince locked up in a room like that. If you really
were
the Prince’s mother, you wouldn’t have to act like he’s a prisoner.”
    “I will treat my son as I see fit!” she snapped, an angry frown sweeping over her face, her beautiful features suddenly not so beautiful anymore. The Prince’s eyes fluttered open. He tried to move, but Alia held him fast with one arm.
    “Why . . . ,” I began, unsure of how she would react to another question.
    Alia relaxed her face into a smile. Throck exhaled noisily through his breathing apparatus.
    “Please, Akiko,” she said. “Ask me any question you like.”
    “Why are you so angry at King Froptoppit?” I asked. “What did he do to make you want to hurt him so badly?”
    Again Alia’s face went blank. This time, though, she regained her self-control quickly and answered my question in a calm, quiet voice.
    “I cannot abide King Froptoppit,” she said, “because he is weak. He lacks the strength to run this planet
    properly.”
    Mr. Beeba’s face tightened indignantly, but he held his tongue. Spuckler squinted suspiciously at Alia, but he also remained silent.
    “The people of Smoo need a strong hand to guide them,” she continued, her voice sounding harder, colder. “They need a ruler who won’t hesitate to use harsh discipline whenever necessary. Just as the Prince needs a mother who refuses to pamper him with luxury and doting servants. The people of Smoo,” she added, “need a ruler like
me
.”
    I shot another glance at Throck. This time he pivoted his head to meet my gaze, a triumphant look in his eyes. A single droplet of sweat ran down his forehead and fell off his cheek. I swallowed hard and turned back