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Chapter 25
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2024-10-29 19:42:56After 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Shay woke with a start the next morning. She fought the confusion of where she was. Her entire body ached as she rose to her feet. She felt to make sure she still had the book and bookmark and found them inside her pocket. Shay felt as though she was being watched but could see no-one. As she stood there in the early morning light she pondered what to do.She chided herself. She should have kept moving the night before. By now she was sure the search for her would have extended beyond the castle walls. She thought herself lucky that she had not been found yet but suspected she could well be within the net of any search party. Shay turned looking for what she thought might be the best route to take and found herself staring down the blade of a sword.It was Fiere.“Sit down” Fiere whispered coldly.
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Maica sat in the great hall on the throne next to the throne of King Mayle which was covered in black velvet as a sign of mourning.She had already sent for the high priest and asked him to expedite the coronation officially making her the queen of Ethlerry. She added that since she was carrying the dead king’s child, succession was clear and should be granted without objection.The high priest was reluctant to do so stating that the nobles of the kingdom had to come together to vote to confirm the coronation.Maica pointed out that she knew the process but reiterated the dire situation with the kingdom being attacked already following the death of King Mayle. The kingdom needed a clear leader as soon as possible. It would not do to lose the kingdom to an enemy while people pressed their right and title to the throne.
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The officer’s eyes flicked uncertainly from Shay to the portal that seemed to float in the air behind her. His brow furrowed in confusion and perhaps fear or uncertainty.“Who are you?”Shay looked back at the officer uncertainly. “Please officer. I am not armed. What happened here?”“I am not at liberty to say,” he replied still watching her warily although he lowered his gun when he saw she was not armed.“This is my parents’ home,” Shay said.“It may be but it’s a crime scene. Are you Shay Dobson?” The policeman was looking curiously at the image behind Shay.Shay nodded trying to think what to do.“Mike,” the officer called to his partner. “I found the daughter.”In a few moments, the officer’s partner stood at the entrance to the study. He looked confused but wary. Then the portal behind Shay caught his attention and
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Shay had been back at her cabin for a few days before she decided to cross back to her home in San Diego. She felt the need to go back as if there was unfinished business. She was curious too, to see how the man who had given her father the bookmarks looked. Shay had a suspicion and wanted it confirmed.Shay also needed to go back because she was still in two minds as to whether she should stay in Ethlerry or if she should go back.On the morning before Shay would return to San Diego, Fiere arrived. Shay had sent word to Fiere of what had happened on the mountain. They shared breakfast and caught up on events.“Is there any news of Algwad?”“None as yet but I have no doubt he will reappear soon. We will not stop searching for him until he is caught and sentenced for his treason.”“I wish you luck with that,” Shay said. “I do not doubt that I would have killed him if I had not been wounded. I had the power t
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Algwad saw Shay break and start to circle the statue. His face became a mask of disbelief. He could not believe that at this critical juncture Shay chose to attack. Algwad hesitated a moment glancing at the drop as it ran down the thread. It now seemed to be gaining momentum as it was drawn downwards by gravity. He made a decision. The drop would fall on the jewel in any event. All he needed to do was make sure that he got the jewel and to do so he had to kill this bothersome girl. He turned from the statue then and advanced in the direction that Shay was taking. He would meet her attack squarely and finish her now. But again, he was fooled. As soon as Shay realized he was committed to moving she spun around and lunged for the statue. She grabbed the back of the statue and hooked her arm around it long enough to swing her body around to reach between the statues where the drop was falling. But Algwad was quick and he realized Shay had feigned her attack. He s
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Shay had a sense of drifting or being carried. Savar was with her and spoke to her. She did not have enough time to reach the point of the Jewelling in time and so Savar would deliver her there ahead of Algwad. Beyond that, he could do no more. She would have time to study the jewel, the statues, their crossed weapons known as “The Crossing” and all that she possibly could before Algwad arrived. Savar reiterated that she needed to believe in herself and believe that the impossible was possible. When Shay awoke, she was alone. The effects of her sleep dissipated quickly but her dream remained crystal clear in her mind and she remembered everything that Savar had said to her. She drew her sword and held it ready at her side as she moved around and explored. She wondered briefly how Savar had taken her from the soldiers who were with her but then she suspected he had used the power which none of them were aware of. She was on the top of a mountain which was circled by r
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The man had spoken from next to her. She had not seen him move from his place on the other side of the cabin and there was no displacement of air to warn of his approach, as fast as it had to have been. The man placed his hand gently on her arm, calming her and encouraging her to sit again. Shay sat hesitantly. “How do you know my name? Who are you?” “Those questions are of little consequence Lady Shay. There is little I do not know. I knew your father too. I was guided to him and rightly so. Sometimes you simply need to trust your instincts. But your mind will demand an answer to your questions so I will tell you this. I am your servant. I am here to serve you. I will offer you guidance and share what I may with you in the hope that you can defeat the man who passed this way yesterday. You must defeat him. This universe depends on it. I serve everyone and all that is and right now I serve Ethlerry and seek its survival.” “That does not answer my question, go
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Shay was troubled by the fact that they might be outnumbered. Try as she could, she could not shake the feeling that she would be the one who would face Algwad in the end. She believed that she would be the one to face Algwad alone. While the team’s objective was to catch Algwad and his men and stop them, Shay suspected that Algwad would leave his men as a rearguard while he went on alone to get the jewel. Shay had to try to get close enough to Algwad and his men so that she could catch Algwad when he was alone. She also had no idea what it was that Algwad was looking for. What it looked like. She wished she did. It could make the difference between her getting the jewel before Algwad as she doubted that he even knew what it looked like. She had heard of statues and so was keeping an eye out for statues. Shay and her men thus needed to follow Algwad’s group undetected if possible until they arrived at the point where whatever he sought was. The trail became rockier and harde
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Fiere hardened his voice then. “Shay we can argue about this all we like. Nothing will change their thinking. Are you willing to pursue Algwad and try to stop him from getting the power of Dwarveln?” Shay was quiet a moment. “Very well Fiere. But this is the last I want of anything. After this, I am to be left alone. Forever. Grant me that as future king.” Fiere was quiet. “Do it!” Shay shouted but Fiere maintained his silence. “Why can’t you do it Fiere? What? What is the problem? Can I not be free?” “There would be no more reason to need your service after this Shay. It stands to reason that you will be free and left alone.” “Then say it. Decree it. Right here. Right now!” “I can’t do it now! I am not king yet!” Fiere argued. “Then say you will do it when you are king! Give me that much Fiere!” Fiere was silent again. Damn you Fiere. Go to hell!” Shay had had enough. She had done all that she could in
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When Shay arrived back at her cabin after spending time at her mother’s grave, Fiere was waiting for her. His horse was tethered nearby. He had about twenty soldiers with him. Shay ran to greet Fiere and they embraced for a long time. Then finally she held him at arm’s length. “Is it over? I had no idea you came back.” “Part of it is over. Algwad’s army has surrendered. But Algwad is still free. We believe he is headed into the Ischlo Mountains seeking the jewel that will grant him almost unlimited power. He must be stopped.” “If he has the jewel he may not need an army,” Shay commented feeling unease in her stomach at the thought. “Tell me first, how is your mother? I heard all about the fact that your mother was in the dungeon. I can only imagine how relieved you are that your mother was not Maica after all. I hope you can forgive me for the judgment I made of you believing that your mother was Maica.” Shay looked away trying unsuccessfully
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Galwin watched as the army gathered outside the gates. Overnight Algwad’s army had disappeared. How they had done so was beyond Galwin. It was as if they had disappeared by magic. If the army had marched away his men would surely have heard it yet none of the guards had reported hearing anything. Nevertheless, if they were marching he was sure they would be tracked by the army that now stood just beyond the reach of the catapults. A lone rider had approached on horseback bearing a white flag. He rested within range of the archers on the walls and waited for someone from the castle to meet him. Galwin studied him for a while trying to ascertain whether this man was a ruse to get them to open the gates and make an attack or not. The man waited patiently saying nothing. Finally, Galwin decided he was there under a genuine flag of peace. He turned to his second in command, Jolyph. “You’re in charge. I am going to meet the soldier.” Jolyph looked s
