The Decoder - Chapter 22

Edith

“This way!” Edith called over her shoulder as she trudged through the forest wide paths, ahead of Avery who was taking in the breathtaking autumn view of the forest. Yellow and brown leaves scattered along the pathway, tall trees lined the entire pathway, some barren and most shedding their leaves. Birds chirping a gentle and sweet melody and every now and then, he could spot a deer nosing around a bush or a hare running across the clearing or a family of monkeys swinging from branch to branch. The air was crisp and chilly, the perfect temperature for a peaceful stroll.

Edith slowed her pace and waited for Avery to reach her side. “So, what do you think?” She asked, a warm smile lit her dainty features and Avery will never grow tired of it.

“It’s beautiful,” Avery breathed.

They continued their exploration and came upon the lake. It was large and Avery had to strain his eyes to see across the lake.

“I often come here when the weather is good. It’s the perfect place to think and enjoy a moment to one’s self.” Edith said and plopped onto the grassy banks. Avery joined, sitting next to her with his knees propped to his chest.

“It’s peaceful.” He focused on the birds’ continuous chirping melody and the nature surrounding them. It was, indeed, truly peaceful. He would never find such peace back in the palace though Hathage had its fair share of forest.

“You could come here whenever you like.” Edith said as she looked skyward, her eyes closed, and her short legs outstretched before her. Avery studied her figure. She was Sir Alcoft’s only daughter and was well-loved, and a sweet and kind girl. He could tell she was pure and hadn’t been exposed to the dark side of human nature. Deep down, he didn’t wish for her to exposed to such darkness either, but eventually…

“I will. Though I prefer if you’d join me, too.” Avery said softly.

“I will.” Edith lowered her head and turned to look at him, the brilliant gold-brown of her eyes studying him as the corners of her lips curved into a smile that softened Avery’s heart. While he was recuperating in the Alcoft home, Edith had visited him every day, keeping him company and ensuring he was well. They had shared a few things about themselves, Edith’s interest in music and her promise to teach him to play the pianoforte. He had look forward to seeing her every day, look forward to her chattering and cheerful company.

“Thank you.” Avery smiled in return, silently wishing she would stay by his side for as long as he wished.

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Edith sat on a stone bench at the Militia’s garden not far from the Entertainment Building, enjoying the late morning cold air. She was given a day leave for her to recuperate from her injuries. She had protested, but Dr. Maia only brushed her off and insisted she took a day off. Instead of pondering and wandering around the Militia, she decided to take this opportunity to decipher the codes Sera had forced her to decode and her father’s mysterious and complex note.

She tugged at her scarf and focused her attention on the small crumpled piece of parchment she had pocketed. However, her thoughts often drifted to the kiss last night. It was her second kiss with Avery, and she had enjoyed it from the beginning to the last. She kept replaying Avery’s sensual lips pressed to hers and the desire between them had ignited. How his kiss was gentle at first before it turned hungry. And then, there was that niggling guilt that whenever she kissed Avery, Miss Ira’s visage would appear in her mind. She grinned at first before frowning like an idiot and forced her thoughts to the coded message that needed to be deciphered. Political matters were more important at the moment. Here in the garden, it was peaceful, and she was the only occupant while the rest of the employees were busy at work. The garden was filled with winter flowers such as pansies, winter jasmine, cyclamen and holly bushes surrounding a small and elegant hut where Edith was currently seated. Come spring, these winter flowers will give way to spring flowers, blooming its glorious buds to the sky. The garden was neither small or big, but it was still lovely and peaceful.

It took Edith approximately twenty minutes to decipher the coded message for she was familiar with Rayard’s coding system. She held the new sheet of parchment which she had recorded the deciphered message and read.

“You did an excellent job of providing the layout of Hathage palace. This will benefit us tremendously in our plans and strategy when we declare war with Hathage. It’s about time Lord Noel be brought down and we expand our influence with Operation Z.

-E-“

Edith stared at the message, unable to bring herself to believe the words before her. Based on the message. she could only guess the sign off ‘E’ belonged to none other than High Commander Ekker. She took several deep breaths and swallowed. Miss Ira must be a very skilled spy for providing the layout of Hathage palace. This was grave and Edith wasn’t sure if she should share this message with anyone. They were on a brink of war and the thought of it terrified her. The thought of Hathage kingdom under siege made her knees weak and she realised her hands were trembling in fear. And, what is Operation Z?

The High Commander was power hungry and…Her father must have known it, which led to the note placed in her pendant. She glanced at her father’s journal, which she had used as a lever to decipher and write the message. It was all mind-puzzling as she recalled Sera’s need to know what was written in the note and Lady Ada had urged her to decipher it weeks ago. Regardless, Edith knew she could no longer avoid decoding her father’s message.

Folding the piece of parchment with the decoded message, she tucked it in the last page of her father’s journal. Taking another deep breath and exhaling a puff of cold air, she opened her father’s journal and flipped to the first page. The pages were yellow and old, but the ink was still visible. Her father’s handwriting was neat and immaculate. She flipped through the pages, briefly scanning the contents of the pages. His journal was part diary part research, which contained a library of codes, which required her to read the entire journal. It will take her some time to decode his message.

She flipped back to the first page and stared at the father’s handwriting. She tried reading the first entry of the journal, which recorded his findings on his research of nature and animals. As she tried reading again, she could feel her chest constricting and her breath labored. Memories from eleven years ago came swarming to her mind, the night her father was shot, of a gunshot ringing in the still night forest, of the Elites’ shouts. of her father’s urgency to stay hidden from the Elites as he served as a diversion. Edith took in handful of deep breaths and her vision was starting to get hazy. “This isn’t good…”

Suddenly, a hand grabbed hers in a gentle grip, forcing her to focus on the presence to her left.

“Edith, are you alright? You look pale.” Merille’s soft and soothing voice penetrated her nightmares.

“Yes. Please give me a moment,” she said in between breaths as she tried to calm her frantic nerves, trying to gain her momentum. After what seemed like an eternity, Edith looked at Merille who was gazing at her with deep concern in her eyes, her hand atop of Edith’s, remained where it was.

“I’m sorry.”

“Are you feeling better now?” asked Merille.

“Yes.” Edith nodded.

“What are you doing here, Merille?”

“It’s lunch period. Caden is occupied with his work. Is that your journal?” Merille gestured at Edith’s father’s leather journal beneath their hands.

“It belongs to my father.”

“Oh…Do you mind sharing with me its contents? I would love to share its memories with you,” said Merille with a tender smile.

“Why…” Edith couldn’t help but ask. Why would Merille wish to indulge the contents in her father’s journal.

“You have done a lot for me, Edith. I wish to help you in every way possible even if it seems trivial.” Merille flashed a bright smile. Edith felt relaxed at her smile and she contemplated Merille’s words for a moment. She wondered if Merille could help her with her trauma. She couldn’t just ask Merille to recite the contents of her father’s journal to her. Though she had her trauma to overcome, there was a part of her that wished to know its contents. It was afterall, her father’s journal.

“Thank you, Merille. I really appreciate it.” Edith smiled and looked down at the first page of the journal.

“Does reading your father’s journal gives you difficulty?” Merille asked, concern laced her gentle tone.

“Yes…It reminds me of that night. The night my father was killed.” Edith murmured and she shuddered. Merille tightened her grip on her hand.

“Perhaps you could read snippets of it until you get used to it. Think of the happy memories, the happy times. I will be here with you to help soothe away your…nightmares, if that helps.”

“Yes, it will certainly help.” Edith said. Though she wasn’t sure up to what degree, she was certain with Merille by her side, her presence will soothe away her nightmares, should she succumb to it.

“You could find me at the Encoding and Decoding Department after working hours. I will speak with the Administrator of the building.” Merille said.

“But, won’t you get in trouble for it?”

“Don’t worry. I’m well acquainted with the Administrator.” Merille winked and grinned.

“Now, why don’t we start with the first three sentences.” Merille motioned at the journal and brought their joined hands onto her lap.

Edith bit her lips and focused her gaze onto the journal once more. She closed her eyes for a moment, shutting away the memories, blanking her mind. When she felt confident, she opened her eyes and read the first three sentences as suggested by Merille. It read the opening passages of her father’s findings on the topic of nature. Besides being a decoder, her father had been a nature-lover and the nature had often intrigued him. Edith realised her hands were trembling, but Merille held her left bandaged hand steady in hers, never letting go, and she welcomed the warmth of it, of the peace it gave.

“How do you feel? Are you confident to continue on the next three sentences?” Merille asked.

“I will try to read the next three sentences.” Edith continued from where she left off, absorbing the words and her father’s elegant handwriting. The nightmares of that night threatened to break through the recesses of her mind, but she quickly fought them back with a much lesser effort compared to earlier. Reminding herself that Merille was by her side, reminding herself of happy memories she had shared with her and Caden and Uncle Vern. Then, forcing herself to remember the happy memories with her father and Avery. The more she thought about those memories, her dark memories took the backstage and to her surprise, she could read the next five sentences with ease. It detailed her father’s thoughts on nature.

Edith felt her lips lifting into a deep smile as she remembered how her father would set out to the forest and observe a family of bunnies or deer or birds, noting their features. Whenever he discovered something out of the ordinary, his eyes would lit excitement like a little child, very much like Avery’s when he discovered an uncommon bug.

“It helps, Merille.” Edith turned to her and let out a small laughter.

“I’m glad.” Merille chuckled and patted her bandaged hand.

Edith continued to read the first page of her father’s journal without much difficulties for the remainder of the lunch period. She even read out its contents to Merille and they shared some insights on nature, from their discoveries to their imaginations of nature. They chuckled at some funny stories when suddenly a familiar deep voice called out to Edith from behind them. They glanced over their shoulders at the man which made Edith’s stomach flutter, dressed in his Elite uniform. They were separated by the winter flowers lining the garden path and he walked around the path to the entrance of the garden.

“I ought to return to my work.” Merille stood and moved to descend the handful of steps from the hut when Edith caught her hand.

“Please do not tell Caden about this.” She said in a soft voice, out of earshot from Avery.

“I will not. I promise.” Merille assured her with a smile before leaving.

“Good afternoon, Avery.” Merille greeted as she passed him, and he returned her greeting before she walked along the pathway to the Administration Building. Edith shut her father’s journal and gazed up at Avery who was approaching her.

“How are you doing, Edie? I heard you’re on special leave from duty today.” Avery smiled.

“I’m doing good, thank you. I hope you are not so busy today.” Edith stood and smiled brightly. In broad daylight, his scar at his brow stood out. She couldn’t hide her excitement at his presence. The memory of their intimate kiss last night flooded her mind and she felt hot all over despite the cold air. There were times she wondered where their relationship stand at this point, but she did not have the boldness to question Avery. There was the matter of his engagement to consider as well.

“Not at the moment, but if it’s alright with you, I have several questions for you, Edie. It is best to discuss this in my office, out from this frigid cold.” He blew into his bare hands and rubbed them as if to emphasize on the below than zero degrees temperature.

“Alright.” Edith answered and wondered what kind of questions Avery had for her. Judging from his serious expression, she could roughly guess them.

They walked side by side to the Administration Building, where his office was located, taking their sweet time as they strolled the empty walkway.

“Is that your journal?” Avery’s deep baritone broke the peaceful silence between them.

“It belongs to my father. I have yet to read its contents entirely.” Edith said as she clutched the precious journal to her side.

“What brings you to read it now?” Avery asked.

“It’s…Because I suddenly felt it will be good to read through it. Maybe there are some interesting findings that my father had written.” Edith lied though it doesn’t sound convincing to her ears. She couldn’t very much reveal that her father’s journal may contained some complex codes, the key to deciphering the note he had left her, and the main reason she had decided to read the journal. And, Avery knew about the note, but she hadn’t revealed much to him.

“I see…”

There was another moment of uncomfortable silence between them before Avery spoke again.

“Do share with me if there are any interesting findings. Sir Alcoft was like a father to me in many ways, too, and I will be happy to share his memories with you.” He smiled. For some unknown reason, his words touched a tender spot in Edith’s heart, and she felt like throwing her arms around him. But she was very much aware of their surroundings, so she forced herself to restrain her arms to her sides.

“I will. I’m sure my father would be happy to share his memories with you, too.” Edith smiled.

They reached the Administration Building and passed through the Administrator before heading to Avery’s office, which was located at the far end of the hallway. Once in his office, he gestured for her to sit at the chair facing his mahogany desk. His desk was immaculate and tidy with few stacks of paper at the left corner of the mahogany desk. His office was spacious and there was a row of shelves filled with books to her left. To her right, there was a low tea table with two leather couches surrounding it. Avery’s office was simple if not tidy and organised.

Edith sat and placed her father’s journal on her lap. Avery moved to sit behind his desk, settling his weight on the high-backed leather chair and leaned forward, setting both of his elbows on his desk. Edith could feel some tension rising from his posture and she knew whatever he was going to question her, it was of serious business. If Edith ever thought Avery was aloof, now was the time.

“What is it that you would like to question me?” Edith queried with a small smile to lighten the tension, which was beginning to make her uncomfortable.

“The night you were…abducted. I would like to know the identities of the abductors.” Avery said, his gaze fixated on hers, the depths of its emerald bore into her hazel ones.

The question did not surprised Edith. In fact, she saw it coming. Of course, Avery will not let this incident go easily. Not when it involved his fiancée as well. No matter how she dodged the question, she knew he will coax an answer, the truth out of her. She sighed before answering.

“I only know one of the two. The lady. She’s my very first childhood friend.”

“Your very first childhood friend? You never told me about her before.” Avery frowned.

“Yes, her name is Sera LeMay. I met her two years before I met you. We have a…let’s say our friendship did not end in good terms.” Edith looked past his broad shoulders at the large window behind him.

“What happened?” Avery asked.

Edith was silent for a moment. Memories came flooding into her mind, memories of Sera’s harsh words toward her before leaving her. The look on her face that night shattered Edith’s soul.

“Edie?” Avery pressed when she did not answer.

“There was a dispute between us. I met her when she was lost in the forest and she stayed at Alcoft cottage for some time while my father set out to find her parents, but…he found that she was a runaway from the orphanage. He wanted to return her to the orphanage, but Sera was against it. She ran away from us before she could give me the chance to…help.” Edith finished and blinked away tears that had threatened to fall.

“You’re nothing but a liar. I regret this friendship of ours.”

Why was it whenever she tried to remember memories of Sera, of their time spent together, her hurtful accusation came out lashing at her memories instead. Deep down, she wondered if she would ever meet Sera again. There was afterall, unfinished business between them.

Avery was quiet, so quiet that Edith was beginning to think if he was ever going to question her further. His gaze remained fixated on her, assessing her before he leaned back in his chair and clenched his hands atop his flat abdomen.

“What did she want with you and Ira on that night?” Avery finally spoke and all warmth was gone from his tone. At his question, Edith’s mind flew to the highly confidential message in her pocket which she’d decoded earlier. For some unknown reason, her instinct was telling her that it was a bad idea to inform Avery of that message. But she couldn’t help wondering if he knew anything Operation Z. She knew she couldn’t ask him outright lest she wished to create suspicions. Avery was afterall, the Militia’s high-ranking officer despite being her childhood best friend. He had never once revealed his assignments to her, and she did not expect him to. His loyalty belonged to the Militia, to High Commander Ekker. She considered her answer.

“I’m not sure what she wanted with Miss Ira other than she knew that Miss Ira is a spy. Her business with me is solely on our personal dispute from thirteen years ago.”

Avery stood then. He circled his desk to stand before her before leaning against the desk with his arms crossed at his chest. Their knees were inches away and if he wanted to reach her should she attempt to escape, he could do so easily.

“Don’t lie, Edith.” He said in an icy tone. Edith suddenly felt chilled to the bone. This was not the Avery she was comfortable with. This was the man from the night she had caught him meeting with Lady Ada. His eyes and expression were hard and devoid of carefreeness he once had earlier at the garden.

“What—"

“Ira told me everything that happened that night. She forced you to decode a message she found from Ira, but you effectively crafted a false message instead. And, she wanted to know the contents of your father’s message which he left you. Why?” He pointed at the necklace Edith wore around her neck.

Edith was speechless. Her mouth opened to form a reply but closed again. There was indeed no escaping from Avery. What else did he know? She stared at the man before her, her childhood best friend.

“I have no idea. I have not decoded my father’s message myself.”

“What else are you not telling me?” Avery eyed her like a predator would a prey. His gaze dropped to her father’s journal momentarily before returning to her eyes.

“What do you want to know?” Edith challenged, suddenly feeling annoyed. The troubling message she had discovered picked at the forefront of her mind. She itched to reveal to Avery of her knowledge of the High Commander’s plan, but she trusted her gut feeling.

To her surprise, Avery leaned forward to her eye level, bracing himself with his hands on either side of the chair’s arms. The sleeves of his tailored uniform strained against his muscles. His handsome face mere inches away from hers and she had to leaned back.

“Everything. Such as the whereabouts of the message Sera had forced you to decode that night and if you have decoded them.” He said softly in a deadly tone.

“Why?” Edith felt her voice cracked. He knows.

“Because it’s my business to know.”

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and Avery looked up. He straightened to his full height and stepped away from her.

“Come in.” He said before settling back into his high-backed leather chair. The door creak opened and in step another officer with chocolate brown tousled hair. He looked young, probably a year or two younger than Edith. His obsidian eyes lay on her for a moment before dropping on Avery. He was no doubt one of the officers under Avery’s command.

“You are excused, Edie.” Avery said and she stood immediately. She needed to leave this office to cool her reeling mind, needed to step away from him. She nodded once and moved to the door when Avery called out.

“This is not over, Edith.”

And she knew exactly what he meant behind those words.

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