The Decoder - Chapter 28

Edith

In the next five days after Avery’s departure from the Militia for his assignment, Edith busied herself with her work and after working hours, she stuck her nose in her father’s journal in the Encoding and Decoding Department for a few hours. She had finally finished reading the journal on the 5th day of the week and compiled the notes on the complex codes, which she had written. She will need to decode the message her father had left behind, but she needed to spend some time with Merille, Lucien and the soldiers of their regiment on planning for Caden’s birthday party over the weekend. So, she set aside the task of decoding the message for later.

Edith had even requested for a half-day leave on the 3rd day of the second week to go shopping with Merille after they had finalised the plans for Caden’s birthday party, which was taking place this weekend on the 6th day. After her working hours, she had been studying the complex codes, trying to understand its numerical and symbols and the algorithm behind it with the help of her own notes from her personal journal. Her concentration had led her to inadequate sleep hours, only spending between three to two hours of sleep before she had to rose for her nurse duties. It was more difficult than I thought. Why do you have to invent those codes, father? She couldn’t help wondering herself. But deep down she knew the answer. Sir Alcoft did not wish for just anyone to crack the code.

“There are black rings under your eyes, Edith. Are you studying those codes well into the night?” Merille asked as they walked down the cobblestoned path to the City Square. The day was chilly, and the temperature had plummeted to below zero. Grey skies were cast over the town, threatening to snow at any moment though it hadn’t started snowing for the year, yet. They had changed out of their uniforms into casual outfits. Edith had worn her black overcoat over her white mandarin-collared blouse tucked into her navy-blue flare skirt that ended at her ankle, a black and white stiped scarf was draped around her neck to keep her warm. Merille wore a hunter-green dress with ruffle collar, a beige-coloured ribbon tied at the collar. Her dress was prettily decorated with small lily patterns at the hem of the skirt, which fell to her ankles. To keep herself warm, she wore a midnight-blue overcoat and a black scarf was wound around her neck.

“Yes. It’s harder than I thought. But I’m doing fine.” Edith smiled. She was tired, but she wasn’t going to allow her fatigue to spoil this outing. Merille had been looking forward to this day and she does not have the heart to spoil the plans.

“Please don’t force yourself. I understand the importance of decoding your father’s message, but your health is important, too.” Merille said with concern.

“Thank you for your concern, Merille. I appreciate it.”

They strolled to the City Square and searched for the confectionary shop that sell the needed ingredients for the birthday cake and cookies. They browsed the entire shop and bought what was needed before heading for their next destination, which was the party shop that sells decorative items. Occasionally, they will stop at a boutique, admiring the dresses on display. When they stopped at a snacks shop, they couldn’t resist temptation and decided to purchase a bag of biscuits and candies. They helped themselves to some hotdogs and sat at the park, savouring the hotdog and spoke everything from the codes to how Merille had come to meet Caden.

“I met him for the first time when I injured my knee from a clumsy fall. He was lounging at the Health Department and he was the only one who was unoccupied at that moment, so he tended to my injuries.”

Edith couldn’t help imagining the two lovebirds behaving shyly in each other’s company and the image she conjured was adorable. Stolen glances, secret meetings, a stolen kiss. Edith couldn’t help giggling like a schoolgirl. Merille had swatted her arm, her entire face had turned red, even to the tips of her ears. Edith had never seen Merille blushed furiously before and it was becoming of her. After spending time with Merille and getting to know her, she could see why Caden couldn’t help falling in love.

“It’s adorable. The two of you that is.” Edith laughed.

“Oh, stop it. You’re equally besotted with Avery as well.” Merille pouted.

“But your story is adorable. To be honest, though I have met Avery eleven years ago, I’ve only known him for almost three years. And…it feels…” Edith trailed off, remembering how she would try to coax information of Avery’s background from her father and Avery himself, but was met with disappointment.

“It feels?” Merille prompted.

“It feels…as if I don’t know him.” Edith said, her voice had dropped to a whisper.

“Why do you say so?”

“Because I don’t know of his past, his family background, what was he like when he was a child. I know none of it.”

“Have you tried asking?”

“I did and I wouldn’t get my answers. My father and Avery himself dodged the questions as much as possible.” Edith remembered questioning Avery himself of his family, but he only turned away and commented on the beauty of the forest. When she tried again, his expression had hardened, and it terrified her. “I do not wish to speak of my family.” He had said, his voice as cold as ice.

“He must be hiding something from his past, something he does not wish anyone to know about.” Merille commented, gazing at the grey skies.

“No doubt…”

“Don’t worry. I’m confident he will come around when he feels comfortable speaking of his family. Be patient, Edith.” Merille gave her an assuring smile.

“Right.” Though Edith highly doubted it. She could feel there was still a slight discord between them even after they had confessed their feelings.

“Let’s head back.” Merille stood and after gathering their shopping bags, they left the park and made their way uphill to the Militia when dusk was approaching.

“Today was fun!” Merille said excitedly.

“Indeed!” Edith agreed though she was positively exhausted with the lack of adequate sleep. She had thought to spend some time studying the codes tonight, but she doubted her brain could focus when all she could think of was her bed. They continued their walk up the hill and Edith vaguely noticed a hooded woman approaching them. She paid the woman no mind when suddenly the woman smacked her left bandaged hand as she walked past. Edith winced slightly from the impact to her wound, but more than that, she noticed a small folded parchment in her palm. The back of the parchment was slightly sticky and that explained how it stuck to her palm without falling off.

Edith whirled around and stared at the tall figure of a woman. No way. She shook her head and peeled the folded parchment from her palm.

“Are you alright, Edith?” Merille asked next to her before adding, “I notice that hooded woman was walking very closely to you.”

“Yes, I’m alright. She probably did not see where she was walking.” Edith lied. The hooded woman had deliberately walked close to her.

“If you say so…”

“Let’s go. It’s getting late.” Edith forced a nervous smile. Merille was unaware of Sera’s presence in the city centre and Edith had no intention of involving Sera in this matter. She couldn’t and wouldn’t trouble her with her problems.

Once back at her dorm, Edith sat on the edge of her bed and fished for the folded parchment from her skirt pocket. She stared at the cream-coloured piece of paper. A feeling of dread bubbling to the surface and she took a deep breath. Calm down, it could be an innocent message.

She unfolded the parchment and read the contents concealed within:

“Meet me at the alley facing the “Rox’s Boutique” at Bren Street tomorrow midnight.

-Sera-“

Edith stared at the parchment once more before blinking once, twice, thrice. What Sera could possibly want with her? Your father’s message, of course. Edith closed her eyes and bit her lips. Sera will not leave her alone until she got what she wanted, and Edith had yet to decipher her father’s message. Avery was away and he wouldn’t know of her secret meetings with Sera, but he knew of the very first meeting before she’d drank herself to a drunken stupor. And, that reminded her of his spy, the spy he had placed on her. Was he still watching her now? At the thought of Avery, though it had only been a week and a half, she missed his presence, missed his warmth, his strong hands and everything about him. She hoped he would be present at Caden’s birthday party though she’d heard from Lucien that Avery would be there.

Edith opened her eyes and sighed. She was vaguely aware of her exhaustion when she decided she would spend an hour studying the complex codes. She couldn’t afford to waste time, not when Lady Ada, Mr. Roan and Sera had wanted to know the contents of the note her father had left behind to her. However, no matter how much she tried to focus her attention on studying the codes, part of mind would inevitably drift to the ‘Operation Z’. She’d tried her very best to forget it as Avery had told her to, but no matter, it kept niggling a portion of her mind. She did not have a good feeling about this operation, her instincts were telling her to not ignore it. Whatever this operation was, it was large and possibly terrifying.

There were times where Edith wondered if she could ask Lucien about it, but there was a possibility he would notify Avery and highly likely she would not get her answers. Does Merille knows about it? Edith pondered. She could try her luck and if Merille questioned, she would just need to create a convincing lie.

One thing she could deduce was this operation was targeted at Lord Noel or possibly at Hathage kingdom altogether. The further she mulled about it, realisation dawned upon her. Could this operation be a declaration of war? Edith paled at the thought and chills rans down her spine. She shivered and rubbed her upper arms. Hadn’t she noticed the number of soldiers moving in and out of the Militia? They were transporting goods even, and she’d heard some injured soldiers grumbled about the extra hours of training when they were at the ward.

All the more reason, she should hurry on deciphering her father’s message. Mr. Roan’s words flashed in her mind once more, “Sir Alcoft was good friends with His Majesty and High Commander Ekker, but he does not trust High Commander Ekker. He had suspected that he was up to something. Sir Alcoft has never told me the details, but he told me to keep an eye on him.” The coded message definitely contained information on High Commander Ekker, Edith was convinced. Now, she will need to study the complex codes just a little more. She was halfway through and could see the pattern.

Edith worked herself well-through the night and when the early hours of dawn arrived, she had finally decoded the first sentence of the message after several trials and errors: “My Dearest Edith, there’s a crucial information I wish to impart you with.”

Edith stared at the sentence, her eyes, which were tired and drooping earlier, widened as she read the sentence. Her nerves were kicking up and she exhaled a breath she did not realised she had been holding in. What kind information? She will need to decode the next few sentences, but her mind was hazy now, and she rubbed her tired eyes with her forefinger. She couldn’t rest now as she needed to prepare for work. Edith groaned and forced herself out from her small study table at the corner of the room.

During lunch hour, Edith strolled to her former lunch spot under the tree across the field. She was thankful there was not much work today as her mind was slightly muddled from fatigue. Dr. Maia had commented on her pale complexion and red eyes and had given her leave to clock out early today, which she was grateful for it.

From the distance, she spotted Caden and Merille seated side by side at the bench-table, their backs to her. She caught whiff of their conversation as she neared and stopped in her tracks several feet from them at the mention of ‘Operation Z’.

“I will be dispatched to Yvyle Forest for this ‘Operation Z’.” Caden said gloomily.

“I really hope they will not execute this operation at all…” Merille said, her head bowed.

“I hope for the same. The High Commander will not back down it seems. He is really intend on conquering Hathage Kingdom.”

“This is a nightmare.” Caden said with a heavy sigh.

Edith found it difficult to form proper words at that moment. Her worse nightmare had been confirmed, but she needed some sort of explanation. She never expected to find the answers from Caden and Merille.

“What is ‘Operation Z’?” Edith finally asked when she found her voice, trying her best to regain her composure. Caden and Merille both whirled around, surprise etched on their faces when their gazes caught hers. Merille rose to her feet then and approached Edith.

“It’s nothing to be concern about.” She said gently.

“I’m afraid I’m already concerning myself in this ‘Operation Z’.” Edith said and bit her lower lip.

“How did you know about it?” Caden asked, his eyes narrowed. The very fact that they knew about this operation and kept her in the dark, annoyed her. But she knew she had no right to be annoyed at them. It was a highly confidential operation that one does not simply talk about it in public.

“From an encoded message I obtained from Miss Ira during our abduction episode.”

Both Caden and Merille widened their eyes at her, disbelief was written all over their faces.

“So, what is this operation about?” Edith asked, preparing herself for the answer though she could pretty much guess what this operation entailed. She just needed confirmation.

“Please don’t hide the details from me.” She added when Caden and Merille exchanged glanced as if contemplating if they should reveal the nature of this operation.

“It’s highly confidential.” Caden said.

“Not you, too…” Edith closed her eyes and released a heavy sigh. She was getting sick of this.

“What do you mean?” Caden frowned, rising from his seat.

“The objective of this operation is to conquer Hathage Kingdom once and for all and in doing so, is equivalent to declaring war, am I correct?” Edith said with a hint of annoyance. When none of them answered. Edith was losing her patience. Not only was she exhausted from lack of sleep, she was not getting the answers to satiate this curiosity of hers.

“Look, we could go round in circles, but this operation is no longer a secret to me.” Heck, it could even be mentioned in her father’s coded message. God knows, if this operation had been planned years prior.

“Yes, that’s the objective.” Merille said, gazing straight into her hazel eyes.

“When will it be executed?”

“The week after the New Year.”

“Merille!” Caden hissed.

This time it was Edith’s eyes widening. That was too soon. She did not have much time left.

“It’s a surprise operation, everything done under stealth. The High Commander has been planning for quite some time. There’s a reason why secret intelligence officers were sent to Yvyle Forest borders to gather information. I know because I decode their correspondences.” Merille said and did not look away once from Edith’s eyes. Her grey-blue eyes held…determination? Conviction? Hope?

“Merille, you do know this is highly confidential.” Caden muttered.

“Why does the High Commander want to conquer Hathage?” Edith asked, ignoring Caden’s words.

“I have no definite answer for your question. I’m guessing to exert his influence. For power.”

“But, isn’t the High Commander friends with the late Lord Sykes?” Edith knew Merille have no answer for that either, but she asked anyway.

“Yes, but I’m taking my chances that the answer may lie in your father’s coded message.”

“Sir Alcoft’s coded message?” Caden asked, growing confused by the shift of the conversation.

“I have not told you, Caden. My father left me a coded message before he passed. It seems it holds vital information, particularly on the High Commander.” Edith closed her eyes for a moment before opening them. They felt so dry and tired. She did not add that Lady Ada, Mr. Roan and Sera knew about the message as well.

“Have you deciphered them?” Caden asked.

“On my way.”

“And what does it say? At least the first half.” Caden was standing before her now.

“It’s just a salutation. I have yet to decipher the important part of the message.”

“Is that why your eyes are red now? You have forgone your sleep!” Merille grimaced.

“I will be fine.” Edith rubbed her eyes with the soles of her palms.

“No. You look terrible, Edith. You need rest.” Caden said with concern.

“I will rest tonight.”

“I will speak with Dr. Maia to let you off duty earlier today.” Caden placed both of his hands on his hips.

“Dr. Maia has already given me leave to clock out early today. You’re not the only who commented on my current complexion.” The corners of Edith’s lips lifted into a smile.

“Good, see that you have adequate rest. Damn, if Captain Kainz were here, he will probably haul you off to bed right this instant.”

At Caden’s remark, Edith felt the heat rising to her cheeks.

“Caden, you’re making her shy.” Merille chuckled.

“I will have adequate rest tonight.” Edith averted her gaze, scanning the vast field, still flustered by Caden’s remark. But, unknown to them, they were unaware about her secret meeting with Sera tonight. And, as much as she wished she could have hours of sleep, that luxury was far away from her now, not when there was the urgency to decipher the rest of her father’s message before that dreaded ‘Operation Z’ takes place, now that she had her answers.

She knew the enormity of this operation and she did not wish for a war to break out. If only she could hold something against the High Commander to stop the war, she would do it. You could warn Sera.

But even if she warned Sera, she may convey the information to Lord Noel in advance, but the war will happen regardless because there was no stopping the High Commander.

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