Chapter 4

Rhian had no idea how long she was kept in the cell. She lost all track of time in the dark of the dungeons. Then one day, Rhian heard Alg’s voice as he approached. He was speaking to someone. The darkness of the dungeon grew lighter as he approached holding a torch. Shadows flickered to life then receded as he approached. Rhian closed her eyes against the bright light of the torch. Her eyes were unaccustomed to the light after being in the dark for so long.

Algwad stopped before the cell and unlocked the door. He was accompanied by someone who wore a hooded robe. Rhian watched the person through her narrowed eyes. Their gait was slower and more elegant than Alg’s. Rhian could not see the face of the person beneath the hood but she believed it was a woman. Judging by the robe and hood she wore, Rhian believed she was from an order of priests or monks. The robe was a regal purple made from material that looked like velvet but it flowed as if it was as light as silk. The cuffs of the sleeves and the edge of the cloak were trimmed with gold embroidery of the highest craftsmanship.

Alg opened the door and stepped aside letting his companion in first. They advanced into the cell but his companion stopped abruptly when they drew near enough for the light from his torch to light Rhian’s face. Rhian heard his companion breath in sharply. It was definitely a woman. Then she spoke. “You were right when you said I needed to see this.”

Rhian was angered at being referred to as “this”. It was as if she were an object. She was confused too. The woman’s voice sounded just like her. Then the woman pushed her hood back and it was Rhian’s turn to inhale sharply, unable to contain her surprise. She was looking at herself, or her twin, or..…

The woman walked around Rhian slowly appraising her from all angles. “How is this possible?”

“It must be sorcery your majesty. There can be no other explanation. Her likeness struck me as amazing too. She has not told me about her world yet and how she came to be here which leads me to believe her intentions are not honorable. Especially when she looks like you, my Lady.”

Rhian took offence to being spoken of as an object or as someone who was not present. “I can hear you,” she said angrily.

The women stopped before her and smiled. “You finish your sentences with “Majesty” when speaking to me.”

Rhian was taken aback. “Who are you?”

“I am the queen to be.” Her gaze made Rhian uncomfortable. Rhian felt as if she were staring into her soul. She decided not to argue the point but bowed her head and curtsied as she knew to do. “Majesty” she replied.

The woman lifted her chin. “That’s better. I am glad we understand each other.”

As Rhian looked at the woman who was her double, she silently cursed Andy. This woman was his creation. Andy had created this world and he must have created this woman with her likeness. The woman held Rhian’s gaze.

Her long black hair was tied back in braids. Her eyes were green and smiled. Yet the smile that Rhian saw in her own eyes when she looked in the mirror was different to the smile that looked back at her from this woman’s eyes. Her eyes smiled with arrogance and perhaps evil. She exuded confidence. Evil confidence. As Rhian watched her, she noticed how similar her movements were. She was the same height and had the same build from what Rhian could ascertain. “Alg has told me much about you but even so I am astounded by the likeness. Did you come here to try and usurp my position using the sorcery you command?”

“I am not a sorceress,” Rhian replied indignantly then added hastily, “Majesty.”

“Then how is it that you travel at will to and from this world? What are your intentions? How is it that you look exactly like me? Am I to believe that your intentions are honorable?”

“I have never ventured beyond the rainbow lake Majesty. I only ever sought to visit that place in this world. Algwad should know from the number of times he watched me before capturing me. I never made any move to leave the lake.”

“Perhaps it was not time yet to leave the lake. And the fact that he found you there is even more concerning. The rainbow lake that possesses magic no-one understands and so chooses to stay away from, you frequented with joyous regularity.”

“I brought nothing. I have no weapons.”

The woman stepped closer rapidly and slapped Rhian as she shouted, “A sorcerer needs no weapons! Do you think we are fools? Why have you come here? And where is your respect?”

“I told you I only came to visit the lake. I have no intentions beyond visiting the lake. Majesty.”

The woman slapped Rhian again. “Lies and deceit! There is no place for this now.”

She turned to Algwad. “I want the truth from her. Torture her until she speaks. If she does not speak before she dies then she was never going to speak anyway. And when she is dead leave her body at the lake where you found her so any from her world who have the arrogance to venture here receive a message on their arrival. Her presence here is dangerous and places our plans at risk.”

Alg nodded, his lips pursed tightly together. “Yes my lady.”

The woman turned with a sweep of her robe and left. As the echo of her footsteps diminished and eventually evaporated into the darkness beyond the cell, Alg stood in silence looking at Rhian. He seemed to be pondering something.

When he was certain that the woman was out of earshot he came to stand in front of Rhian, his eyes staring coldly at her.

“That did not go entirely as I had hoped,” he whispered.

“And what were you hoping for?” Rhian asked angrily. “That we would have a reunion of long lost twins across worlds?”

He ignored Rhian’s ire and sarcasm. “I had hoped she would see more potential in you and the situation. Your presence holds much possibility and to waste it with your needless death would be a real pity. I could save you however, if you were open to discussing the possibilities with me. Until then I will have to carry out my orders though and start your torture. I assure you that I do not relish the idea especially since I shall have to do it myself and torture is an art I am not skilled in so it will be more painful and messy than necessary.” Alg paused for effect, “For you that is.”

With that he turned and left the cell. He closed and locked the door leaving her with a parting comment. “Think about it. It’s not too late. Yet.”

Rhian wanted to scream at him but bit her tongue. She needed to try to stay calm and think. What could she reveal which would keep her alive without giving him the Holy Grail, the knowledge to travel to earth? She could picture how they would mobilize an army to try to conquer earth but of more concern and perhaps selfishly so, was that they would gain instant access to Andy and Shay since their point of arrival would be her home in San Diego.