Josh was stunned when he received Shay’s text message the last evening he saw her. Feelings rushed through him one after another so quickly he could not separate them and then it felt as if they all collided creating an emotional holocaust. It felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach and he struggled to recover his breath while someone cut his heart from his chest as he watched. He felt sick and thought he would vomit while he wished the earth would swallow him up there and then if it wasn’t already doing so. It was as if he was on a long stretch of road in the dark and the road had suddenly ended. There was nothing ahead except a bottomless chasm. No way forward. Nothing. Just pitch black blackness.
Josh read the message over and over trying to understand what had happened. Shay had been herself and there had been nothing to suggest there was anything wrong between them.
At the bottom of the stairs he turned right and walked over to the study. He paused a moment before entering. Then he turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. The door swung open silently revealing more of the room as it opened on its arc. Josh froze.The room was in the biggest mess of all. There was paper everywhere. Cupboard doors and cabinets had been opened and their contents swept onto the floor. Andy’s computer and screen lay on the floor. Both smashed. Josh entered the room in stunned silence. As he rounded the desk he saw stains on the carpet. He knelt down and looked closer. He almost touched the stains to check if it was what he had imagined then stopped himself. He grabbed a tissue from a box on the floor and dabbed it on a stain. It came away red. Blood. Without a doubt. But who’s blood was it?A chill ran down his spine as he realized that the
Maica closed her chamber doors and waited for Algwad who arrived shortly after she sent for him. Her long black hair flowed down her back, straight and free and she ran her hands through it as she pondered what to do.She was troubled by the arrival of the girl and her father. She did not believe in coincidences and knew she had to act fast. She could not have the girl and her father killed or even thrown in the dungeon without news getting to Mayle. He would most likely delay the wedding if it came to his attention. Anything which might suggest that the wedding could be disrupted or was not secure, would make him delay the wedding. Royalty from surrounding kingdoms would attend the wedding and Mayle needed to be able to assure them of their safety. If anything happened which placed the guests in danger the kingdom would possibly be faced with war and Mayle would do all he could to avoid such a situation from occurrin
Maica entered King Mayle’s chambers. King Mayle looked up from his writing desk where he penned a message and smiled broadly. Maica could see where Fiere got his good looks and smile from. When either of them smiled she could just as well have been looking at the other. Mayle’s green eyes sparkled like emeralds and practically glowed with mischief and the love of life. Mayle’s voice was naturally loud and happy.“Ah my lady. As beautiful as ever.”Maica returned his smile as genuinely as she could and kissed him on the cheek as she stopped next to him.“Thank you my dear.”“I did not expect to see you today.”“I could not possibly stay away my love. I have some news which will make
“What? How?” Fiere’s tone was indignant and outraged all at the same time. “How can it be Father? You know what this means? I have been asking you to change the law for how long? How long Father?”Mayle sat silently as he listened to Fiere rant.“I know Fiere. I know. I just never expected to remarry so I did not think it was necessary. Maica has swept me off my feet and things have moved along faster than they should have maybe, but….”“Maybe? Maybe? Father, how many times have I have spoken with you about changing it? Since you first started seeing Maica. And now it’s too late. You have given away my heritage, my inheritance and my kingdom!”Mayle’s face flushed with anger. “I have not gi
Fiere moved through the passageways avoiding the guests and arrived in the royal garden. He slowed his pace and wandered at length between the trees and blossoms gradually making his way to the royal mausoleum. The guard outside came to attention quickly recovering from what was probably considered the most boring post in the keep with very few visitors to attend to.Fiere asked the guard to unlock the mausoleum and stepped inside.He crossed over to his mother’s sarcophagus where he knelt in silence before standing and then lying over his mother’s resting place.He still cried every time he came here which, he told himself, was not often enough. He missed his mother dearly and longed for her presence. She had always had such wisdom which she shared willingly with him. She was perfect for his father and tempered his r
They left Shay’s chambers and made their way to Fiere’s chambers. Shay realized she had forgotten her manners with the fuss Fiere had made of her appearance and complimented Fiere on his appearance too.Soon they were settled on the balcony of Fiere’s chambers. The balcony overlooked the royal garden which was well lit with torches and they could see all the way to the royal mausoleum. They could hear the fountains running water in the garden below.Fiere was eager to learn more about Shay and her life.“Tell me about your life.”Shay tried to keep details simple. “I am truly just a simple peasant girl your highness. My father is a writer and a hopeless romantic. It should be obvious considering how we have traveled the countryside seeking my mother
When Shay entered her father’s chambers, he was asleep on the bed.She remembered Fiere’s kiss and how she had felt. A part of her yearned to see him again now despite the fact that she had only wished him good night a short while ago. At the same time she felt so much guilt. Guilt for lying to him and guilt for not telling him things she knew. She was truly afraid he would hate her and dislike her if he found out that Maica was her mother. And now that her mother was with the King’s child, everything was so much worse. He could argue that she had planned this.Shay did not believe that he would ever believe that their meeting in the forest was purely coincidental.If Fiere discovered she was linked to Maica, Shay believed Fiere would never speak to her again. He would believe she had plotted to steal the throne
In the early hours of the morning she awoke to the sound of her father’s coughing. She moved over to the bed and sat down beside her father.“Daddy?”Andy looked up at Shay from the bed weakly, his face red from coughing. Shay fetched him a glass of water from the far side of the room and handed it to him. He drank thirstily and Shay fetched him another glass.She cursed herself for falling asleep. Time was of the essence and she had fallen asleep when she should have been looking for information. Beyond the window Shay could see a tinge of orange blossom on the horizon. She did not know what time it was exactly but it was obvious that dawn was approaching and with it the wedding.Then the chamber doors opened and a man entered whom Shay had not seen previously. He ap