by W.J. May
Chapter 7
Sarah’s labored breathing echoed in her ears. It was even louder than the excited chatter of the crowded room. She took another step forward, pushing against a bulky peasant, when she felt another tug on her arm. Gasping, she turned, shudders running through her body. A large man towered over her, his bulging eyes fixed somewhere below her head. Great. Busted.
The man grinned. “Whom do we have here?”
Holding her breath, she clenched her fists, ready to fight.
The woman standing next to her pressed an empty goblet into her arm yelling, “More wine, girl!” Sarah stared, unbelieving. “Chop, chop.”
The man narrowed his gaze, staring from the woman to Sarah.
Rolling her eyes, the woman glared at her, enunciating each syllable. “I said, more wine. Well? What are you looking at?”
She knew she’d be spending ten to twenty in a dark dungeon swarming with bugs once she shoved that glass down her throat. Someone bumped into her, making Sarah stumble. She needed to breathe before panic consumed her. “Coming right away, madam. I’ll fetch a bottle,” she said, smiling.
She forged through the crowd to the other side of the room when she saw two huge doors, the outside entrance. Glancing over her shoulder, she scanned the room. The man from before wasn’t following. There were no knights, only clueless guests sipping on wine and laughing. Nobody on that side of the room had any clue what was going on, and she was glad for their drunken stupor. She placed her trembling hands on the iron handle and slowly pushed, squeezing through the entryway. Outside, stars twinkled in a blanket of darkness, and a chilly breeze ran over her body. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself as her breath came out in bursts of steam against the frosty night air.
Strong arms gripped her shoulders, throwing her up against the outside door. “You’re not getting away that easy,” a male voice said.
Busted again, she turned slowly, fear gripping her. The guy staring at her wasn’t the same one, but the frown on his face looked just as mean. Her heart pounded in her chest. She could have tried to run, but there were guards posted every twenty feet. She took a deep breath and continued with her role as a humble servant. “My shift’s over.”
“This entrance isn’t for slaves and riffraff,” he hissed. “Next time use the one in the back.”
She let out a tiny sigh of relief, keeping her head low. “It won’t happen again, sir.”
“Over here!” She turned her head toward the man hidden under a cloak, sitting on a brown horse. He grinned at the guards, winking. “I’m here to escort this pretty maiden home.”
The soldier shoved Sarah toward the man. He wore a grotesque grin on his face. “At least somebody will have fun with this trash tonight.” They all guffawed and laughed as Sarah stumbled forward.
She hesitated for a moment though. She knew if she stayed back, the guards might raise alarm. If she followed the horseman, he might turn into a whacko who’d rape her and dump her body into the next available ditch.
“Come on.” The guy offered his hand and whispered, “I’m Jules, Mia’s friend.”
Jules! The sound of his name calmed Sarah’s racing heart. Mia’s boyfriend. Grabbing his hand, she let him pull her up.
“I know you must be tired after your long day of work,” Jules said.
“Yes, and I have to be back tomorrow, bright and early.” She put her foot into the dangling stirrup and heaved herself up into the saddle.
A soldier whistled, and the rest of them cackled.
Oh gosh! It was then that Sarah realized her leather dress had ridden up, exposing her entire thigh. She tried to pull it down, but it was difficult to do while mounted atop a horse.
Jules pulled hard on his horse’s reins, galloping past the army of guards and into the moonlit forest.
Sarah clung to his waist, praying she wouldn’t fall. Relief washed over her when she realized nobody seemed to suspect a thing. She shivered as the cool wind blew through her hair. Crickets chirped, and an owl hooted in the distance. Eerie shadows from branches jumped around in the silvery light. “Are you taking me to Frank?”
“Yes. Did everything go according to plan? Is Mia okay?” Jules asked.
“She was fine when I left, but won’t they question her once they realize she’s not me?”
“My Mia can handle herself. That is one of the things I love about her. But if anything should happen to my love, I shall know who to blame—you and your male companion.”
“She’s very brave,” Sarah said earnestly. “I’ll always be indebted to the two of you. Thank you.”
He said nothing and only urged the horse on through the woods.
Minutes felt like hours, but they finally reached a wagon, which was situated under a towering tree and loaded with bales of hay. As soon as Jules swung Sarah down from the horse, she raced into Frank’s arms. “Oh, Frank!”
He embraced her, and she felt the warmth of his body against hers. “Did I ever tell you how smoking hot you look in leather?”
She smiled, pulling her hair net off, allowing her long curls to bounce freely against her shoulders. “So you’re into Tastian servant girls, huh?”
“You look absolutely stunning in anything,” he said. He leaned closer and nuzzled her neck. “You smell nice too.”
“They curled my hair, painted on as much make-up as an Egyptian princess, drenched me in perfume, and threw me in a Cinderella dress.”
“Let me guess… It struck midnight and you lost the gown and glass slippers?”
She laughed. “Something like that.”
“I can’t believe I just rescued you from a real-live castle.”
“You should’ve seen the inside, man.”
“That nice, huh?” He gazed at her intently, his hand cupping her face. “Did he hurt you? Did that royal jackass put his hands on you in any way?”
“He only stole a smooch.”
“On the cheek?”
“Lips.” She winked. “And I can’t say I didn’t like it,” she admitted as that magical kiss flashed through her mind, washing her with guilt. She wasn’t sorry about it though. In fact, she wished Victor had made it a longer one, like all night. She cleared her throat, eager to change the subject before Frank started asking questions. She held up her hand with a grin. “Anyway, I got the ring.”
“Our ticket out of here!” His face lit up as he bowed. “My Queen, you rock.”
She grinned. “Yeah, baby—just like this giant rock on my finger.”
He examined the ring, its large ruby and tiny diamonds glinting in the moonlight. “It’s too big, way too tacky. That bragging jerk.”
“Right. It’s so ugly. I mean, clearly, the man has no taste whatsoever.” She rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding me? No woman in her right mind would say no to something like this.”
Frank was jealous and he had every right to be. The darn thing was gorgeous, almost as gorgeous as the man who had placed it on Sarah’s finger. “You’re having a ball with this, aren’t you?” he asked.
She touched his brown hooded cloak. “I see you are too. Love the new digs.”
He smiled, his hazel eyes twinkling. “An investigative reporter knows how to go deep undercover.”
Jules approached and handed her a cloak. “This shall keep you warm, miss. Now, if you will, please take measures to hide and hide well.”
“I made us a little fort inside all these towering haystacks.” Frank reached for some folded blankets on the ground beside the wagon. He hopped on the wagon and spread a few out over the scratchy hay. “A bed fit for a queen.”
She crawled inside and lay down next to him, pulling the top cover over her. She didn’t know which one itched most, the hay, the blanket, or the cloak Jules had given her.
Jules rearranged the haystacks, covering the entrance to their makeshift fort.
“Nice little cubby hole you got here, Frank,” she said. “What’s the matter? You couldn’t spring for a decent hotel? I was kind
of expecting a limo on my wedding night, not a hayride.”
Frank snuggled up to her. “I tried to call for a rental car, but they haven’t invented spark plugs yet—or engines or tires, for that matter. They do have horsepower though.”
Sarah rolled her eyes.
“What?” Frank said. “You’re not gonna laugh at my jokes?”
“Gosh, Frank, if you ever lose your job as a reporter, maybe the king could use a court jester,” she said.
“Well, that’s the last straw!” he said, blowing a piece of hay in her direction, to which Sarah just rolled her eyes again.
The horse snorted, and a moment later, the wagon lurched forward. To call the ride bumpy would have been an understatement. It rocked and thumped and bounced over every bump and crack in the road.
“I never thought I’d be riding off into the sunset with another man’s wife—let alone a queen—on the dude’s wedding night.”
“I hope that’s not a deal-breaker.”
Frank laughed. “That depends. Do I get to enjoy the honeymoon?”
She laughed too, and then continued. “No honeymoon, but I can tell you this. Life throws curve balls you can’t even begin to imagine.”
He chuckled. “Tell me about it.”
“So how did you get these people to do all of this anyway? And what did you promise Mia? Gold minerals? Start from the beginning. What happened to you back in the forest?”
“I was running for my life from a herd of beasts I said never existed. And I’m sure you’re still laughing about that one.”
She grinned. “Just a tiny bit.”
“The next thing I know, you disappear. I hear voices and start running toward them, but there’s this guy in some ridiculous outfit calling you Princess Gloria. He and his armored goons had you cornered, so I had to hang back so they wouldn’t take me prisoner too. Then, when they cleared out, I followed them and found you at the castle. Is this weird or what?”
She snorted. “Thank goodness for horses or you would have never been able to keep up. If you’d have only had a car, you might have crashed it.”
“Hey, those horses were pretty darn fast. While I was looking for a telephone to call 911, I ran into a group of rebels, some local boys who thought for sure I was a spy for King Victor. They tied me up and threatened me, but I used my charm.”
She pressed her hands into her lap, suppressing the laughter bubbling up inside her. It was just like Frank to put the spotlight on himself, even though she’d been the one to survive incarceration and marriage to a barbarian. He got paid to be a sensationalist, after all. “Really?” She bobbed her head, brows raised. “And how did that work out for you?”
“I finally bonded with them over a few glasses of ale and told them about my situation. Then they informed me that I am trapped in some other dimension. Of course, at first, I assumed it was just the ale talking.”
“How do they know that?”
“Well, the legends apparently go back for generations. They only know there’s a magical portal that opens with that royal bling of yours. It’s some kind of ancient door guarded by Bigfoot in the Forbidden Forest, the very same one we came through. For goodness sake, I can’t believe I’m even saying all this.”
“How did you take the news?”
“I freaked out, of course.”
She cringed. “How bad?”
Frank winced, pausing for a second. “Let’s just say that one of them had to throw a bucket of water over my head.”
Sarah laughed, wishing she’d been there to witness it.
“Mia gave me some info on opening the portal, info that had been passed down from her grandmother,” he said. “And the group offered to help me as long as we promised to go to Global Mountain and get some minerals or something to save Mia’s dad’s life. Only a royal with a wedding ring can see the ancient minerals.”
“So you volunteered me?” She shook her head. “I know I never would have gotten out of there without Mia’s help, but even still, how could you make a promise like that?”
“I had to do something crazy to save you from being shacked up with Mr. Tyrant. And get this…the group even knows your sister.”
“Really? How? Are they sure it’s her? Where is she? We have to go get her and—”
“They specifically remember your sister because they thought she was a witch when she screamed like a maniac that she’d come through the portal. They even held a trial, but she was found innocent when some rich guy named Charles paid off the judges.”
“Poor Liz! Oh, thank goodness for that Charles. I couldn’t have lived with myself if she’d been burned at the stake!”
“We’re heading away from the portal toward another country called Dornia. I got a tip your sister may be there with this Charles dude.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “Frank, don’t kid with me.” If he was playing any of his ridiculous games, she vowed then and there that she would never speak to him again.
“No, I’m dead serious.”
“You mean she’s okay? Alive? And we’re gonna find her?” Tears filled her eyes, and an overwhelming sense of joy flooded through her.
“Alive and in Dornia—at least that’s what they tell me, but don’t get your hopes up just yet. We don’t know if the source is reliable.” He caressed her face and swiped away a falling tear with his thumb.
“This is too much. How can I ever thank you?”
“Hmm. I can think of a few ways, but now that you’re a married woman and all, I don’t know how proper it would be for me to expect you to—”
“Frank!” She went to slug him, but he caught her hand and kissed it.
“Nice thought, but I’m talking about something completely different, like forgiving me and letting me back into your life.” Snuggling closer, he said, “I’m sorry I never understood your research. I’m also sorry for all the awful things I’ve ever said. I’m an idiot.”
“You insulted my research.” She paused for effect.
“I’ll make it up to you, I swear.”
Frank’s apology meant a lot, but she had other worries. “So Liz’s is in Dornia. Let’s work on a plan.”
“What about my apology?”
“I accept it wholeheartedly, Frank.” It was the second time a man had apologized to her that day, only Frank’s meant much more to her than King Victor’s. “How could I hold a grudge against you when you’re here helping me find my sister? And yes, that apology is a good start.” She reached up and threaded her hand through his thick hair.
Frank pulled her next to him, his face so close that she could feel his hot breath and his hammering heart. “I’ve been wanting to hold you since the second I saw you wearing that sexy Indiana Jones hat and camouflage,” he said.
“I’ve been dying to run a hand through that gorgeous hair of yours from the moment I laid eyes on you at base camp. And you’re right.”
“About what?”
“It was awe when I first saw you, not fright.”
“I knew it! You’re crazy about me.”
“Let’s not get carried away now.” When she touched his face, she knew every defense she’d built against him was starting to melt. He had to care about her, even if they hadn’t seen eye to eye in the past. No man would dive deeper into some bizarre world they knew nothing about, especially while being placed on Tastia’s most wanted list, just to rescue a girl unless he cared deeply for her. Closing her eyes, she let go as he captured her lips with a slow and gentle kiss. She felt the familiar flutter and wrapped her arms around him. She had to admit to herself that she had missed him. He didn’t push any further, and she rested in his warm, comforting arms.
She tried to forget about everything, but the events of the day marched through her mind, making her tremble.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Slowly, the words came out. “No, I’m not.”
Stroking the side of her cheek, he whispered, “Everything’s going to be fine.”
&nbs
p; “But what if it isn’t?” she said.
“We have the ring. It’s the answer to all of our problems.”
“I don’t think so. I have a feeling it’s only the start of all our problems.”
“No, it’s our way out of here, babe,” he said.
“But Mia said I’m bonded with this king.”
“She’s filling your head with crap she’s been taught since birth, like some of those religious zealots try to do back home.”
“I don’t know what to think anymore.” She took a deep breath. “We’ve actually seen Bigfoot for ourselves. We’re not even in our own world. My sister’s out there somewhere. I’m married to a real-live king. I’m wearing a ring that is a key to some mysterious portal. We’re on the run. And last but not least, Mia told me that if you’re royalty, you’re an Immortal.”
Moonlight pooled in through the cracks of hay piled above them. Sarah’s eyes locked on Frank’s magnetic gaze, quivering from his gentle touch as his fingers brushed her cheek.
“It’s a lot to process, I know,” he said. “The whole idea of another dimension is deeply, shockingly unlikely, but here we are. I mean, I’m blown away by all of it—maybe more than you are because I’m a skeptic by nature—but we’re going to get through this.”
Before she could respond, the king’s voice burst through her thoughts. Come back to me. It disappeared as fast as it came. “Get out of my head!” she yelled, pressing her fingers against her temples. She sat up, droplets of sweat rolling down her forehead. Mia was right, for the king could clearly somehow jump inside her head. It was either that or she was going crazy from lack of food and water. Worst-case scenario, she was having a mental breakdown. She began to wonder where the men in white coats were, as she was just about ready for her straightjacket and her trip on the paddy wagon.
“What’s wrong?” Frank asked. “I’m only trying to help.”
She worried he’d think she was nuts, and she hoped she was just imagining it all based on what Mia had told her. “I swear I heard King Victor’s voice in my head, begging me to come back.”
“Whoa. That’s weird. What did he say exactly?” he asked.
“You wouldn’t even believe me if I told you, Mr. Skeptic.”
“I’m trying to have an open mind here. Did I make fun of you? No, I didn’t.”
“Never mind. I’m stressed out right now. Let’s not talk about this. I-I think I’m going to close my eyes for a little bit.”
“Okay. You’ve been through a lot. Try and get some rest. Goodnight, babe,” Frank said, turning the other way.
“Hey, Frank. I won’t get mad if you decide to hold me—you know, just for tonight. Just remember it doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means absolutely nothing. I got it seared into my memory, just like the kiss that you so didn’t slap me for.”
“Just shut up and hold me,” she whispered.
He wrapped his arms around her, and she closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.