by Kit Morgan
Her head pounded with the most improbable yet logical explanation – the same one that reduced her to a puking, trembling bundle of uselessness last night. But what else could it be? The only other option was “rich, eccentric cosplayers,” and if they existed, she was sure she’d have seen the flaws in their game by now, shock or no shock. So … time travel? If it was real, it would certainly answer how she got here, though not why.
There was only one way to find out: test the hypothesis. She’d find out what she could about this place and its people. If she became convinced she was in the past, she’d figure out a way to return to the present. If there was a way here, there had to be a way back.
Someone knocked on the door. “Ah,” Mildred said. “Breakfast!” She left her chair to answer it.
The same maid as last night carried a similar tray into the room and placed it on the dining table. She glanced suspiciously at Mitzi, then curtsied. “Lady Mildred.”
“Oh, look,” Mildred gushed as the maid left. “Doesn’t this look lovely?”
Mitzi stared at what looked like a trucker’s breakfast: five thick slices of ham, a few eggs, six strips of bacon, fried potatoes. All that was missing was the bottle of ketchup. Not what she’d expected in a place like this, but then, what did she expect, a bowl of porridge?
“Do fix yourself a plate, child,” Mildred urged.
Mitzi looked at her. The woman was odd but comforting, even dressed as the Sultan of Orange Juice. She spooned some potatoes onto her plate and added an egg and a slice of ham. What she wouldn’t give for her regular iced white chocolate mocha, though.
That made her pause and set down her fork. What would Albert do when she didn’t show up for work tomorrow? What would her father do when she didn’t get up to go to work this afternoon? He wouldn’t notice she was missing before then, since he left for work while she slept. If her car was gone when he got up, he’d figure she had an early shift at Java King. Either way, by the time he figured out she was missing – twenty-four hours or longer – who knows what would become of her by then? And what could he do if she was really …
“Is the food not to your liking, dear?”
Mitzi’s jaw tightened and her eyes misted. She was in a hopeless, frightening situation … but spazzing out wouldn’t help. She swallowed back her rising panic and forced a smile. “It’s fine.” She took a bite of potatoes – they were delicious. “Is this sort of food normal for breakfast?”
“It varies, but our beloved Queen and Prince Andel do love this sort of food. They both lived abroad for a time, you know.”
“No, I didn’t know.”
“Oh! Well, then, let me tell you a very very good story!” Mildred repositioned herself in her chair, leaning over her plate. “Years ago, Prince Andel was captain of the King’s Guard.”
“A king? Why not a queen?” It worked for England and all. Mitzi suddenly wished she’d paid better attention in history classes, but then, they’d never covered much outside the U.S.
“No, wait – let me go back further. His Majesty came from another land, I’m not sure which – he never talks about it. But I do know he was a prizefighter for a time.”
“What!?”
“Oh, yes, it’s true,” Mildred sliced some ham. “Brutal sport. Thankfully fights to the death are outlawed in most places now.”
“To the death?!” Mitzi had been picturing boxing matches like the ones Vegas hosted all the time, or maybe MMA.
“Nevermindnevermind, my dear,” Mildred soothed, putting more ham on her plate. “Then he became a captain of the King’s Guard and was tasked with finding the king’s granddaughter, who’d been whisked to America by her parents.”
“America,” Mitzi repeated, cutting up her egg.
“Oh, yes, and Captain Berg followed them. Old King Otto was dying – Otto III, you know, not Otto the Mad or Otto the Peacemaker – and Captain Berg’s job was to bring the heir back to Dalrovia so she could ascend to the throne after the king passed.”
Mitzi frowned. “Wait a minute. If the king’s son and his wife and their kid left and this captain was sent after them to bring back the kid, what happened to the dad? If he was the king’s son, wouldn’t he be next in line?”
Mildred nodded sadly. “Yes. But Prince Hubertus suffered an … untimely demise. That made Princess Madeleina the sole direct heir.”
“But that still doesn’t make sense. If this Prince Hubertus died in America, how did anyone here know?”
Mildred smiled. “Oh, you’re a very very clever girl.”
“Observant,” Mitzi said. If she’d been truly clever, she wouldn’t be here, because she wouldn’t have chased that purse snatcher into a place where she couldn’t see.
“Well, there was an evil plot hatched by Count Rudge who wanted the throne himself. His plan was to assassinate Prince Hubert, find the princess, marry her and become Prince Consort. Madeleina would be queen, but Count Rudge would have seen to it that he ruled, not her.”
“Rudge? Weird name.”
“French, I believe. As I was saying, Captain Berg caught up to the princess and her mother just in time. The princess had been kidnapped by outlaws somewhere in the American West.”
Mitzi swallowed hard. “And, um, when was this?”
“Hmm, let me think … around 1858, I believe.” Mildred nodded. “Yes, I’m sure of it.”
Another fact. Or another lie. Mitzi wasn’t sure yet. “Then what happened?”
“Well, I can’t give you particulars – only Their Majesties can do that – but she was rescued by Captain Berg, they fell in love, married and now live happily ever after here in Dalrovia where they should be.”
Mitzi stared at her slack-jawed. It sounded like a romantic comedy. “It couldn’t have been that easy.”
“Hmm, there was a battle with Count Rudge, and Their Majesties were both shot, but other than that …”
“Wait, wait, back up!”
Mildred looked behind her. “Back up where? And stop interrupting me – how can I finish the story if you keep doing that?”
“Sorry. But we’re talking about the queen and that Andel guy I met last night?”
“The very same.”
Mitzi fell back in her chair. She hadn’t realized she’d been leaning forward. “And she’s been queen ever since.”
“That’s right.”
“Had three kids.”
“Yes.”
She eyed Mildred. “And the oldest was born when?”
“Asger? March of 1864.”
“That makes him how old?”
Mildred blinked. “Good heavens, child, you can’t do simple sums? He’s 25, of course.”
Mitzi quickly did the math in her head. That came out to 1889. “Just like he said …”
“You’ve gone pale again.” Mildred came around the table. “Come, you should lie down.”
“No.” Mitzi stood, walked to the window and looked at the moat below, the forest beyond and the column of guards riding two by two out of the trees. They were all dressed the same as the guards she’d seen last night save one. He was in the middle of the pack, shirtless, barefoot, wearing a floppy hat that hid his features. His hands were bound behind his back, his mount led by a guard riding in front of him.
“Please lie down, dear,” Mildred urged. “You’ve gone white as a sheet.”
Mitzi turned to her. There was something odd about their prisoner, but he was too far away for her to tell what. He looked like a peasant to her – thin, probably starving. Perhaps he tried to pilfer food from some village market. At least that’s what her imagination managed to come up with. Maybe he was a prisoner. What did they do to prisoners here? How barbaric was this place? Did the castle have a dungeon? Would they torture him?
Her stomach in knots, Mitzi headed back to bed. She had to gather more information. More importantly, she had to make sure she didn’t go to pieces.
Asger turned the wristwatch over in his hands, examining it. Hal was to inform
him if they found anything else in the forest this morning.
He stood and paced his room. He’d barely slept last night, his inner battle growing. He had no business being attracted to a woman he’d just met. It was ridiculous to think he could give into it, not when he was betrothed to Velta.
“Velta,” he said aloud. Wasn’t a delegation from Lacona coming in a few days to finalize the marriage arrangement? Or was that tomorrow? He ran his hand through his hair. He couldn’t think straight!
He went to the door, opened it – and frowned at the several guards posted outside. Hal wasn’t taking any chances. “Your Highness?” one of them said.
“It’s nothing.” He stepped into the hall, closing the door behind him. “I’m going to find my father.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
Asger nodded and set off. Two guards immediately followed, and he fought the urge to roll his eyes. He spied his sister down the hall and waved to her. “Raina!”
She turned, her eyes piercing. “Why has the guard been doubled?”
He reached her. “Because of me, I’m afraid.”
“Why?” she said with raised eyebrows. “What did you do?”
He glanced at his companion guards, both expressionless. They may or may not have heard what happened. “Can we speak in your chambers?”
“Of course.” Raina turned and Asger caught one of the guards looking at her. Not a surprise – his sister was stunning with her long golden blonde hair, sun-kissed complexion, dark blue eyes and her father’s high cheekbones. She was also tall, strong and frightfully good with weapons.
Inside her rooms, she turned to him. “What is it? What’s happened?”
He sighed, found a chair and sat. “I brought a woman to the castle last night … wait! Let me rephrase that. I found her in the Queen’s Wood. She was running from something and ran into me … well, landed on me. She tripped on a root.”
Raina covered her mouth and snorted. “Who is she?”
“I don’t know. Her name is Mitzi, but that could be fake. She says she’s from a place called Las Vegas in America.”
Raina’s jaw dropped. “What is she doing here?”
He shrugged again. “I asked her, but she doesn’t know how she got here. She might have been abducted and brought here. But the things she says make no sense”
“How could she not know? Is she mad?”
“No, not really.” He stood and began to pace.
“What’s bothering you? Did you take her to Mother and Father?”
“Of course, but they acted very strangely around her.” He stopped pacing and looked at her. “Father made me leave the room to question her.”
Raina looked puzzled. “Why would he do that?”
He watched her. She was a thinker and would no doubt puzzle over this for the next hour. But he had other things to do than wait for her to come up with some ingenious reason Mitzi had landed on their shores and was running through the woods. He had to find Hal and see if they’d found anything. He headed for the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To speak to Captain Kolbeck.”
“Halden?”
He stopped and turned to her.
“I mean, the captain?”
Asger stared at her. Why was she blushing? It’s not like none of them had called the captain by his first name. He did, his parents did, and on occasion so did Raina and Vale. But there had been something in her voice, and now her cheeks were bright pink. “Yes, Captain Kolbeck is searching the woods for any sign of intruders.”
“Such as your mystery woman?”
“Such as those that might have abducted her.”
“I see.” She fiddled with the sash at her waist. “You’d best be going, then.”
“I shall.” He nodded and headed out the door. Maybe he ought to ask Hal if he had any inclination toward his sister. But would the captain tell him if he did? Probably not. Would Raina? Definitely not. He’d just have to observe them and figure it out on his own. They might make a nice match indeed.
But he didn’t have time for that right now. He hurried down two sets of stairs to a hall that led up to the north tower … and stopped. Was Mitzi up there? Was she awake? Most likely – it was nearly ten in the morning. But how exhausted was she after her flight through the forest? And was Lady Mildred driving her crazy?
He found himself at the first step, staring up the stairwell. How did he get there? Once again there was the incredible urge to see her – it was all he could do to turn away from the staircase and head down the hall. If this kept up he’d never get anything done. And as he was trying to help her, he couldn’t afford to be distracted by her.
Smiling ruefully at the irony, Asger went to find the captain.
Chapter Ten
Mitzi entered the throne room where Queen Madeleina sat, escorted by Mildred. She remembered her husband Andel had called the queen “Maddie” last night, and decided to think of them as Andel and Maddie while still calling them Their Majesties. It helped normalize her bizarre predicament. She just hoped she didn’t slip and call them by their first names.
“Mitzi, good morning,” Maddie greeted her, Andel standing at her side.
It was odd approaching a woman on a throne, but there was no one in the grand room other than the four of them and a few guards. It made Mitzi feel like she wasn’t going crazy.
Maddie waited for them to reach her. “Did you sleep well?”
“She needs more rest, Your Majesty,” Mildred said.
Mitzi glanced at her and back. There was no use lying. “She’s right. I didn’t get enough sleep.”
“I’m so sorry to hear. A nap, then?”
“I’ll see to it, Your Majesty.” Mildred curtsied. Mitzi noticed no one batted an eye at Mildred’s outlandish outfit or her unwillingness to let Mitzi speak. They must be used to her.
At least no one else was dressed so gaudily. Maddie wore a simple ivory gown with tiny blue ribbons around the bodice. Andel had on a crisp white shirt, tie, vest (what did they call them in the old days – waistcoats?), dark jacket and trousers and shiny dark shoes. She couldn’t see Maddie’s shoes under her skirt.
Mitzi caught herself. Shoes – really? How could she be thinking of shoes at a time like this? She was about to go into battle for her sanity. If what Andel told her last night was indeed true, could she hold together? She thrived on observation, on facts – they were the foundation of what she knew she could believe and trust in. She didn’t buy what many told her and only half of what she saw. She researched things to get the whole story. But how could she do that here?
She looked around the dais the throne was on, the green and blue curtains behind it, the crest on the tapestry hanging over it. Where was Asger? Would she ever see him again? She suddenly felt very alone, a tiny speck in a world she knew nothing about – and the only person who’d brought her any comfort here was nowhere to be seen. She wished he was there, but there were only his parents, who might hold her life in their hands. Would they watch over it, or toss it away? She exhaled nervously.
Maddie and Andel looked at her as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing. What did it mean? Was it because she’d told them “when” she was from? Were they as curious about her as she was about them? Were they as amazed, as confused? She swallowed hard and continued to stand under their gazes, waiting. She guessed it would be impolite to start firing questions at them, but was surprised they weren’t asking any of her. Maybe they didn’t know what to ask. Did she?
“Mitzi,” Maddie finally said. “Tell us about yourself.”
Her heart went to her throat. What should she say? “Um, my name is Mitzi Fine. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada. And,” she shrugged, “I don’t know how I got here.”
Maddie smiled. “Yes, we know that much. But who are you?”
She shrugged again, searching for words. “I’m a security guard …”
“A what?” Maddie said. She looked up at Andel.
“I do security.” She pointed to the nearest guard. “Like him.”
Maddie and Andel exchanged the same look of surprise. “You’re a guard?”
“Well, not exactly like these guys. I work in a casino. A … gambling house?”
“We know what that is.” Andel bent down and whispered something in his wife’s ear.
“You’re quite right.” She clapped twice. “Leave us, all of you. And see that we’re not disturbed.”
Mildred and the guards turned and walked away. Mitzi watched most of them file out the double doors leading into the throne room, while a few exited through a side door near the dais.
As soon as they were gone and it was just the three of them, Maddie motioned Mitzi to come closer. “Sit.”
She went to the steps and sat on the top one. Andel perched in a chair next to the throne – his usual seat. Without thinking she laced her fingers over one knee and leaned back slightly. It was a casual pose – a masculine pose, maybe, but she didn’t care. She had to stay on guard. Now that they had some privacy, she could speak freely … she hoped. She didn’t know if her words could get her labeled as a witch or something. Did they burn witches here, or was it too modern for that? “Okay, what do you want to know?”
Maddie didn’t waste time. “You are from what century?”
“The 21st. Until last night, I was in the year 2020.”
Maddie’s hand flew to her chest. Was she turning pale?
“And no one else came with you?” Andel asked.
“Not that I know of. I’m not sure what happened to the purse snatcher.”
“Who is this … perssnatcher?” Maddie asked. It sounded strange in her voice, like some obscure German word.
“A man stole a woman’s purse. I gave pursuit and wound up here. I told you this last night.”
“Yes, you did.” Andel sighed, glanced at Maddie and back. “And you remember nothing else about how you got here, the clothes you’re wearing, nothing?”