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
Andy had fallen asleep again after Algwad, Elnen and Maica had left with Shay. He woke again now and tried to sit up. He winced in pain and felt as if he was being stabbed again. Sweat prickled his skin and he lay back for a few moments gathering his strength as his thoughts wondered.He blamed himself. He had created this world in a desperate need for Rhian’s approval as well as to try and save her. He had created Damalaen.He had brought Rhian here and somehow she had changed to become the opposite of the woman he loved and knew.And now Shay was involved too. Shay was in this world with them. He feared for her life and wished she had not had to be subjected to this.He looked around the room as he gathered his strength and then saw Maica seated at a table with her back to him.
As Maica left Andy’s quarters, she knew she could no longer trust Algwad. There was a book that allowed people to cross between worlds and he had said nothing. He had captured the woman who looked exactly like her and yet he had said nothing about a book. That woman had been Andy’s wife. If Andy used a book, she had to have used a book. Where was it? For that matter where was Andy’s book?Maica surmised that it had to be with Shay. No doubt she would have taken it with her. Maica would have to wait for events to play out as planned before she could get the book from Shay.She wondered how far Algwad’s plotting went. Was it simply him trying to act on his own? Would he betray her after the King was dead?As she pondered Algwad’s possible betrayal her anger rose and by the time she reached her chambers
Outside Shay’s chambers, Josh was led away by the guards. They did not bother to cover his head with the sack as they ventured deeper into the castle and encountered more people. Instead of leading him back to the dungeon they led him to another chamber where Algwad was waiting for him.Algwad dispensed with greetings. “How was your reunion young man? Do you believe me now? I warned you that the lady had already moved on to another. The prince no less.”Josh was silent as he tried to deal with his anger and hurt. It was obvious that there was something between Shay and Prince Fiere. He could not believe that whatever it was had simply just happened in the last day or so. It had to have been developing over some period of time which meant that Shay had been betraying him while she had been dating him.At this con
After Algwad left, Josh opened the book and began to read. He needed to understand as much as he could about this world and events before the wedding. He had planned to talk to the woman he had heard in the dungeons earlier but he was not returning to the dungeons.He thanked Algwad and set to work reading the book for clues. Unable to push aside the distraction caused by his meeting with Shay, he paused often though and his progress was slow. He was stunned and struck with disbelief and anger. Could the girl he loved so much be such a different person? How could someone be so deceitful? Knowingly and intentionally deceitful. How could they care so little for another person’s feelings? How could they seem to be so kind and loving and yet underneath it all, they were so evil? He felt anger stirring within him. Anger he had not felt before. He began to clench and unclench his fingers and he knew he would soon expl
The wedding had gone off as planned and the guests were now gathering in the great hall of the keep for the wedding feast.Nobles and merchants from the nation’s cities and neighboring countries wore their best clothes, newly made just for the event. The great hall was alive with the guests and the bright variety of colors created a festive atmosphere along with the loud and pleasant sound of multiple conversations of the guests. Many new acquaintances and relationships were being forged in the interest of politics, peace and trade as the guests were introduced to each other. Occasionally guests could be heard laughing at something funny someone had said.Josh was escorted into the great hall at the appropriate time and went straight to his seat without moving around the room. He attracted the attention of a servant and requested drinks and food be brought to him. In
In the instant that the room exploded in chaos Shay knew she had to leave. She turned around and saw Fiere was gone from his seat. She looked around quickly and saw him headed for the curtain behind their table. She knew he was leaving through the rear door and decided to follow him. She was surprised for the briefest of instants wondering why he would desert her. Then she realized he had made the connection with Josh after she had denied knowing him. She hesitated before following Fiere though the door. She turned to look for Josh. He was frozen for just an instant longer before he started to move.The guards moved quickly and began to close the doors at the back of the hall against protests from the guests. One door was closed in time while the second could not withstand the pressure and gave way with the guards and the door crashing outwards. Guests diverted from other exits which had been closed already to the one