Victor slid his sword back in its sheath, but he said nothing. Clearly, Della had hurt him very badly.
“Well, then how about we work together and join forces, to save the women we love from the Immortals who want to behead them?” William held out his hand, his eyes twinkling in the bright daylight. “Truce?”
“I can talk to the Immortals,” Victor said. “I have connections with them, and I’m next in line to take over the Kardashian Court. What could I possibly stand to gain from your feeble help?”
William groaned. “Get that ego of yours in check, Victor. They’ll never listen to you. Laws are laws. They live and breathe by them, making no exceptions. Surely you know that, being as close to the Immortals as you are. Elizabeth’s life is in danger now. Her identity was secure and she was safe until your wife came along and ruined everything.”
“And who brought me to your wonderful royal home? You!” Oh, he’s got some nerve, Sarah seethed. Yes, it was Sarah’s fault, but she didn’t ask to be dropped off in a stable. Sure, she’d hoped to make it to the castle on her own terms, but the Immortals might’ve been gone by the time she got there. Unless they were able to track me somehow through the powers of the ring.
“I’ll make my way to the Kardashian Court now,” Victor said. “I petition them for a pardon. King Taggert has been a loyal friend and confidant of mine for hundreds of years. I know he’ll make an exception for me.”
William’s voice grew in intensity. “No he won’t. Ethano has poisoned King Taggert’s mind against you. Going into that court is a suicide mission for you…and for Sarah by association.”
Liz touched his arm. “Please, Father, let him try.”
“No,” William said. “I say we see for ourselves. There are four of us, which gives us enough power for a glimpse.”
“A glimpse of what?” asked Sarah.
Liz turned. “If the four of us hold hands and run, we can travel faster than the speed of light, fast enough to catch a glimpse of the future. It’s hard on our bodies, and it can only be done once every five years.”
Sarah blew out a breath. “Are we talking more freaky stuff, like time-travel? The stuff that’s impossible and doesn’t exist? Oh, man, Frank would love this.”
“Yep. We’re definitely not back in Kansas, huh, sis?” Liz winked.
“If it’ll get us answers, I’m game,” Sarah said. “Let’s do it.”
Victor straightened. “I agree.”
“Okay,” Liz said. “Everyone hold hands and concentrate on the courtroom so we’ll be taken to that image.”
It seemed pretty easy, even though Sarah had never been there. Victor gripped one of her hands, and her sister grabbed the other.
Victor gave her hand a squeeze. “There’s nothing to fear. It’ll be like before, only faster—especially with the four of us.”
“Great,” Sarah said. “Let’s get this party started.”
Liz smiled. “On the count of three. One…two…three!”
Sarah started her sprint. Jewel-like colors around her blurred into narrow stripes, streaking past her at warp speed. Heat spread across her body, from her head down to her feet. Her ruby ring glowed, as if it was hard at work. Wind gushed against her face, like on a roaring rollercoaster, and she could feel Victor’s grip even more tightly on her hand. The cool wind felt wonderful on her hot skin. A sharp smell associated with lightning filled the air, like after a spring rainstorm. Her lungs burned, and she sucked in deeper breaths of air. Ahead in the distance, she could see a blue, swirling opening. Is that the end of the tunnel? Are we there?
Everything slowed down, and she found herself in a large, open room with rows of wooden benches. People dressed up in fancy medieval attire sat in them. She peered closer. Most of them wore ruby Rings of Immortality. Sunlight shone in through multiple windows in the stone walls. Straight ahead was a rectangular window, the length of the room, with a life-sized stone dragon perched on the windowsill. Red eyes, made from rubies, stared back at her. Real fire burned out of its mouth, like some kind of fancy torch. Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed the vortex had closed shut behind her.
A man with long, sandy-blond hair, dressed in a black robe, sat behind a podium and banged his gavel. A hush fell over the courtroom. Sarah could see herself, her sister, Victor, William, the shape-shifter from the forest (Titano), and—she gasped—Frank, Beth, Adam, and Steven, bound in chains! There were also two others she’d never met. One of them was a man her sister clung desperately to, and she could only assume him to be Charles. He looked like a younger version of his father with the same blond hair and blue eyes. A thin, pale woman with long black hair, trailing to the ground, and dark eyes cried out as William comforted her. Sarah knew she had to be Della, the woman who had left Victor to become William’s wife. She was more beautiful than Sarah expected, and an embarrassing burst of jealousy hit Sarah somewhere in the pit of her stomach; she hoped no one could sense it.
Screams echoed throughout the courtroom, and Sarah’s heart sank. Is this the way my little expedition is going to end? Everyone in chains, waiting to be murdered in the name of some kind of medieval, magic ring justice?
Victor slid an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, whispering in her ear, “We’ll change this. I swear that to you.”
She raised her glance and followed his line of vision to the beautiful black-haired woman. She felt a bit better when Victor’s expression changed from surprise to indifference, as though the shock of seeing his former lover had already worn off.
“It is the order of this court that all of you shall be executed at dawn for the crime of heresy,” the Immortal judge said.
Beth let out long sobs, while Frank and Steven tried to comfort her. Adam struggled in his bindings, as if he had even the slightest chance of breaking them.
“I’ve done nothing wrong!” Della said as she fell to her knees.
“You aided in the plot to pretend that Elizabeth Larker was your daughter, Gloria Jarod.” The judge then gazed into the eyes of Victor and William. “This is a tragedy, but much good will come from it, for it shall put an end to your war.”
Victor, in shackles, wrapped his arms around a shocked and terrified Sarah as a tear slid down her face. He tried to comfort her, even in his darkest hour—the exact same kind of comfort he was giving her that very second, as she watched the nightmare play out before her.
Sarah walked over to the vision of herself. “I’m not going to let this happen.” She walked over to the judge and said, “How can you be so cold? Do you hear me? Where’s the justice?”
He looked straight ahead as if he couldn’t see or hear her.
She waved a hand back and forth in front of his face.
“You’re invisible,” said Liz, now standing next to the image of herself. The future image of Liz clanged her chains and yelled “NO!” her voice echoing across the room, sending chills down her own spine.
Sarah looked up at Victor. “Why is the shape-shifter on trial with us?”
He shook his head. “I’ve no idea.”
A gush of air hit Sarah’s body from behind. Turning around, she noticed the vortex swirling behind her. Like a vacuum cleaner, it sucked her right up, and she felt herself racing backward in a blur of colors, only to be spat out on a bed of grass. She looked around and saw the others stirring.
Victor held out his hand and helped her up. “We’re back at camp. Are you well?”
“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.” She took a deep breath and wiped the droplets of sweat that rolled down her face. “They’re going to…to kill us!”
“Didn’t look like your connections worked too well, now did they?” William asked Victor. “We were only worried about the girls.”
“We have seen a glimpse of the future.” Victor touched his chin as if in shock. “They planned to kill us as well. I don’t understand why King Taggert would turn on me. This changes everything.”
William brushed grass off his cloak. “Indeed, but no one is going to
kill me or my family if I have any say in the matter. It is time for a new strategy.”
“What do you propose?” Liz asked.
“King Taggert is dying,” Sarah said.
Victor nodded. “He’s one of the first Immortals, thousands of years old. And yes, for some reason he’s dying…but nobody knows why.”
“What if we could heal him? What if we could get our hands on the Gold Minerals of Life?” She could hit two birds with one stone-get the minerals she promised Mia and save King Taggert.
“Nobody can find them,” Victor said, his voice grim.
William smiled. “It’s a brilliant idea, child! If we got our hands on some, we could make a trade…and I know exactly where to look.”
“Global Mountain!” Victor said. “It’s no big secret. Everyone has been there, yet nobody can produce the minerals.”
“True, but if we found them, they would be the perfect bargaining chip,” Sarah said.
Victor pondered for a moment before he spoke. “It’s a brilliant plan, Sarah.”
She smiled at his beaming face.
William crossed his arms. “Of course, if you heal King Taggert, you won’t be taking his place anytime soon as king of the Immortals or leader of the Kardashian Court.”
“King Taggert’s life and friendship mean more to me than ruling a bunch of kingdoms. I will be loyal to him until my dying day.” Victor spoke with such passion and conviction that Sarah couldn’t help but admire him for a moment.
“Maybe you are an honorable man after all,” King William said.
Victor chuckled. “Maybe.” He gripped his hand tightly, helping him up. “Truce then. You can have your ancient history scrolls back.”
“Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to our people. I give you the two countries of Moonderia and Lustershon back.”
Victor shook his hand firmly. “It’s all I ever wanted, William.”
“I know. I’m willing to give them up to bring peace to our kingdoms. I’ll sign a contract the moment I get home.”
“I’ll work with you, but that doesn’t mean I have to like you one bit. You do one thing to anger me, and I’ll have your head. And if you try to kill me—”
“I give you my word that I will not harm you,” William said. “I would never want to hurt Sarah ever again.”
“I give my word as well,” Victor said. “Saving all of our lives is more important than any old grudge. We’ll make plans once we are safe and sound inside my castle.”
“Hmm. You are a sly one, aren’t you? Isolate me, so you can try and kill me. Is that your wicked little plan?”
Victor smiled. “You’ll have to trust me, William. Going back to your castle isn’t an option. There are Immortals there who will not be so willing to strike up a truce, I assure you.”
“We’ll not go back to your castle,” William said. “You saw the vision. They want you dead too. Perhaps they’re at your castle this very second waiting for us to return. I’m not sure I can truly trust you. I do not want to be made a fool of—a dead fool at that.”
“If I wanted to kill you, William, you would already be dead,” Victor hissed.
Liz joined in the conversation. “Father, we have no choice but to trust him. I don’t think he’d betray Sarah by killing you. We all need to work together to keep that vision—that version of the future—from becoming a reality.”
“I’ll make sure nothing happens,” Sarah said.
William jerked his head in her direction. “As if you could protect me from him! You have no idea whom you married.” His gaze narrowed on her. “Why do you think Della left him? She didn’t want to live with a tyrant.”
Victor began to lunge at him, but hesitated when he glanced at Sarah’s disapproving glare. “How dare you insult me in front of my wife?”
“Why?” King William asked snidely, cocking a brow. “Fear she might leave you as well once she sees your true colors?”
“She’s not Della. Della and I were never meant to be, but Sarah and I are.”
“Please give me your word that William will not be harmed.” Sarah grabbed Victor’s arm, pulling him back and smiling. She would have loved to have grabbed him in a tight hug because no one had ever said anything like that about her, but she sensed that perhaps Victor wasn’t the kind of man who understood open displays of emotion.
He paused, and Sarah gave him a pleading look. “I give you my word,” he said. He then turned and entered one of the tents, only to retrieve a folded blanket, which he attached securely to his saddle. “I’m going for a ride. I need to think.”
“We’ve come to an agreement then?” William said.
“We have, and we shall leave as soon as camp is packed up,” Victor said, jumping on his horse. “I’ll be back in a little while, once I clear my head.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” another knight said.
Sitting back on his saddle, he motioned for Sarah to join him as he patted the bundle in his arms.
“No, you go ahead,” Sarah replied. Being alone with him wasn’t a good idea, especially when he’d just grabbed a blanket. He wants our first time to be a quickie out in the wilderness? Sorry, buddy, but that ain’t happening.
“There’s a waterfall that is absolutely breathtaking. You must come see it, my love,” Victor said, hoisting Sarah high in his arms as she squealed.
“What on Earth do you think you’re doing?” Sarah said. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, mister, but I’m not dressed for a picnic…and I’m in no mood for a honeymoon.”
“Where are you taking Sarah?” Liz demanded, standing in the path of the horse.
“As I said, we are taking a minute to breathe and clear our heads,” Victor said.
“Then I’m coming along too. I love picnics, hanging out, and catching up with my sister on our long-lost years.”
Victor shook his head vehemently. “This has nothing to do with you. It is strictly between me and my wife.”
“What?” Liz asked.
“It’s time Sarah got to know her husband a little better.” Victor wrapped the reins around his hands and took off to the right.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Come back!” yelled Liz, as four Immortal knights held her back.
“Living up to your tyrant image?” yelled William. “Just going around plundering whatever and whomever you please? You brute! No wonder Della didn’t want you!”
Chapter 6
The wind blew through Sarah’s hair as they raced through the forest, twisting around trees for miles. Victor pulled hard on the reins, and the horse whinnied. “Easy, boy.” He dismounted and tied the horse to a tree, then helped Sarah down.
Trees rose up into the blue sky streaked with white clouds. Rays of sunshine sparkled over a tumbling waterfall. A butterfly fluttered toward her and landed on her arm, then flew off. Birds chirped noisily all around them as she breathed in the scent of blooming bushes nearby. “Wow! You weren’t kidding. This place is so beautiful and breathtaking, especially the waterfall you wanted me to see.”
A breeze blew Victor’s untamed, dark hair into his face as he spread the blanket across the lush green grass and settled down upon it, patting it with his hand and beckoning her. “Come join me, my beautiful Queen.”
Sarah’s gaze narrowed as she watched him with mistrust. Does he think he’s going to take me right here, right now? She was sure that in Victor’s mind, he had every right to consummate the marriage. It was legal and binding in his world. She had recited the vows of her own free will. Leaving with him by herself was a dumb idea, but it wasn’t as if she’d had much of a choice when he hoisted her onto his horse. I should have insisted that Liz come along. He was a mass of towering muscle and brute strength, but Sarah decided she’d get away from him one way or another. She wasn’t about to be manhandled—not even by her husband.
“I’m not a lion,” he said with a smirk. “I won’t bite…unless you want me to.” The light reflected in his eyes in a million facets
, destroying every bit of her focus. The pull between them was so strong.
She lay next to him and propped herself on her right elbow. Her eyes met his. “Are we supposed to get hot and heavy right here in the middle of the wilderness with all the birds and the bunnies? You know, to make up for the wedding night you were denied?” She knew he might take it the wrong way and assume it to be an invitation, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t even sure it wasn’t one.
“My wedding night was the loneliest, longest night of my life.” He gently stroked a strand of hair out of her eyes.
Remorse flooded her heart. “I’m so sorry. If I could go back and do things differently, I would, but that is no reason to bring me out here, throw down a blanket, and pretend like it’s the ceremonial bed.”
He smiled. “I didn’t bring you here to ravage your body. I just wanted to spend some time with you alone, so you can see I’m not the tyrant you think I am.”
Sarah was glad to see he wasn’t such a Neanderthal after all. “I never said that.” Out loud.
“Perhaps not in so many words, but I can sense your fear of me. Haven’t you figured out that I could never and will never cause you any harm?”
“You won’t hurt me, but you’d have no problem keeping me locked up in your castle like a trophy. Listen, I need to find my friends—the same ones you put to sleep earlier today.”
“They’re safe, caught by my knights, to make good on the deal we made. I’ll return them home to their world. Also, as you asked, I ordered that food and clothing be sent to the village of Lato.”
A wave of relief spread over Sarah. Her friends were safe, and he had helped the starving village. She regarded him intently, still unsure what to think. Slowly, her perception of him was changing. Maybe Victor isn’t as awful as everyone makes him out to be. Maybe he’s kinder and more concerned about what’s happening around him than I thought. Maybe he’s not such a bad guy after all. Maybe he’s even a guy I could… She moistened her lips. “Thank you, but why didn’t you tell me or let me see them?” She could feel the answer burning inside of her: Frank. For a brief moment, she felt guilty sitting there with Victor, Frank all forgotten, but that feeling dissipated more quickly than she ever thought it would.
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