As Maica left Andy’s quarters, she knew she could no longer trust Algwad. There was a book that allowed people to cross between worlds and he had said nothing. He had captured the woman who looked exactly like her and yet he had said nothing about a book. That woman had been Andy’s wife. If Andy used a book, she had to have used a book. Where was it? For that matter where was Andy’s book?
Maica surmised that it had to be with Shay. No doubt she would have taken it with her. Maica would have to wait for events to play out as planned before she could get the book from Shay.
She wondered how far Algwad’s plotting went. Was it simply him trying to act on his own? Would he betray her after the King was dead?
As she pondered Algwad’s possible betrayal her anger rose and by the time she reached her chambers
Outside Shay’s chambers, Josh was led away by the guards. They did not bother to cover his head with the sack as they ventured deeper into the castle and encountered more people. Instead of leading him back to the dungeon they led him to another chamber where Algwad was waiting for him.Algwad dispensed with greetings. “How was your reunion young man? Do you believe me now? I warned you that the lady had already moved on to another. The prince no less.”Josh was silent as he tried to deal with his anger and hurt. It was obvious that there was something between Shay and Prince Fiere. He could not believe that whatever it was had simply just happened in the last day or so. It had to have been developing over some period of time which meant that Shay had been betraying him while she had been dating him.At this con
After Algwad left, Josh opened the book and began to read. He needed to understand as much as he could about this world and events before the wedding. He had planned to talk to the woman he had heard in the dungeons earlier but he was not returning to the dungeons.He thanked Algwad and set to work reading the book for clues. Unable to push aside the distraction caused by his meeting with Shay, he paused often though and his progress was slow. He was stunned and struck with disbelief and anger. Could the girl he loved so much be such a different person? How could someone be so deceitful? Knowingly and intentionally deceitful. How could they care so little for another person’s feelings? How could they seem to be so kind and loving and yet underneath it all, they were so evil? He felt anger stirring within him. Anger he had not felt before. He began to clench and unclench his fingers and he knew he would soon expl
The wedding had gone off as planned and the guests were now gathering in the great hall of the keep for the wedding feast.Nobles and merchants from the nation’s cities and neighboring countries wore their best clothes, newly made just for the event. The great hall was alive with the guests and the bright variety of colors created a festive atmosphere along with the loud and pleasant sound of multiple conversations of the guests. Many new acquaintances and relationships were being forged in the interest of politics, peace and trade as the guests were introduced to each other. Occasionally guests could be heard laughing at something funny someone had said.Josh was escorted into the great hall at the appropriate time and went straight to his seat without moving around the room. He attracted the attention of a servant and requested drinks and food be brought to him. In
In the instant that the room exploded in chaos Shay knew she had to leave. She turned around and saw Fiere was gone from his seat. She looked around quickly and saw him headed for the curtain behind their table. She knew he was leaving through the rear door and decided to follow him. She was surprised for the briefest of instants wondering why he would desert her. Then she realized he had made the connection with Josh after she had denied knowing him. She hesitated before following Fiere though the door. She turned to look for Josh. He was frozen for just an instant longer before he started to move.The guards moved quickly and began to close the doors at the back of the hall against protests from the guests. One door was closed in time while the second could not withstand the pressure and gave way with the guards and the door crashing outwards. Guests diverted from other exits which had been closed already to the one
They made their way as best they could in silence save when one of them thought they had found a better way. Josh eventually took the lead pretending that he was as lost as Shay but leading her to the passage which Algwad had told him to. They moved, always progressing downward towards ground level and then below ground. How much time passed they did not know. Shay only hoped that Maica or Algwad did not think that they had found the passages else they would probably have them cut off at the lowest level and their escape attempt would be futile.Shay wondered where Fiere had gone. He obviously knew how to get out. They found a torch, presumably left by Fiere. It burned low but gave enough light to follow the passage. Eventually they found a staircase and descended as far as they could. The air became progressively cooler and the walls and floor damper as they descended further below ground level. At the bottom of the
Shay felt her grip on the knife wrench free and she assumed that Josh had taken it from her. She rolled away as quickly as she could fearing an attack from him. Then she stood and turned to face Josh.Josh kneeled. He clutched at the knife that protruded from his chest. Shay stood frozen in horror and watched him as he tried to speak.“No!” Shay cried. She rushed over to Josh and caught him as he collapsed. She cradled his head in her lap. Blood poured from the wound in his chest. His eyes were open. He was still alive. He looked at Shay without saying a word. Shay could see the anger, hatred and vengeance from a moment ago were gone now and the old Josh was back.Tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched the life flow from Josh.“I’m sorry Josh. Forgive me. I
Sleep eluded Shay as she replayed the events of the last few days over and over in her mind. She thought of her father and Josh. What had they done to deserve to die? How had her life turned to ruin so fast?She felt guilt at her anger towards her father. Life could be cruel and she had learned a lesson. But why did it always seem that lessons were learned too late? Her father was gone forever. The time she had been angry with him, blamed him, was time she could have spent with him. Quality time. There was no possibility to win that time back. Ever.She thought of how he had done everything he could to try and get their mother back without realizing her betrayal. She could understand why he had not told her the truth. Would she have blamed him? For sure. She wanted to believe that she would not have blamed him but she knew she would have. To some extent. That was what he ha
Gradually the panic in the hall passed and the guests calmed down. Maica cried over the body of Mayle.Slowly the guests anger at her act of retaining them in the hall receded and was replaced by their compassion. They approached Maica and helped her up and into a chair.King Dulman from the kingdom of Fordor assumed control briefly and ordered the guards to remove Mayle’s body to his chambers. Meerde was present and confirmed preliminarily that Mayle’s death was due to poison.The guests gradually calmed down and left for their chambers.Maica remained seated at the table of honor, or what was left of it until the last of the guests had departed the hall to their chambers. Only then did Maica retire to her chambers.Maica sent m