Raeme looked around for Melonor. Melonor had disappeared all of a sudden and Raeme expected that he had gone to relieve himself. Raeme was impatient now so moved towards the team leader to see what the issue was. Breeger and Semore did not move but watched Raeme pensively looking around for Melonor.Raeme entered the cave. The team leader was crouching before the blast zone looking down when Raeme approached him. Suddenly light flared in the tunnel creating an incandescent blue all around. For a moment Raeme was stunned by the beauty of the Alamcyte’s glow before his curiosity took over.“What was that?” he asked as the team leader stood up and backed up quickly. He collided with Raeme and sent Raeme falling backwards. When Raeme hit the ground the last thing he felt was a blinding pain across his skull before everything went black.The cave entrance vomited rocks, sand, and Alamcyte as the dynamite inside the cave exploded. The team leader had

Benedict denied her freedom yet she was free up to a point. He was faithful to her. He did not see other women the way Atomas had. When he looked at her, she had all of his attention. They had fun together like best friends. More fun than she had had in a long time. Yet he was steadfast on his stance about Alexa. And he had secrets. Many. Was that the basis for love? Perhaps her quiet voice did not answer because the answer was obvious. Yet if she did not have feelings for him, would she enjoy lying next to him as she did now listening to his breathing? Would she feel guilty for betraying him to Breeger? Her thoughts drifted then to Dargo. She wondered what had happened to him. She knew she had hurt him and she felt guilt for what she had done but she could see no other way. It was for the best. It was for his safety. And she was still paying the price. She could only hope that Dargo had not been traced after her meetings with him had been discovered. She hoped that it was clear she n

“And to end the corruption is to end us. How will the Black Cloaks survive? What will become of us? If word reaches our network that we are meeting Benedict, the Black Cloaks are as good as finished. Our network will splinter, shatter into a thousand pieces and any threat we perceive to exist or to be coming in the future, will be unstoppable. Our own people will become our worst threat!” Dargo held up his hand to prevent the discussion from escalating. “I agree with both of you. I personally do not intend to disband the Black Cloaks. We will always have value in the underground. If we do not exist, another group will rise to command the underground. It is not only about corruption. But there is a way to do this secretly. A way so that no-one needs to know.” Boroth and Mular looked at Dargo with questions in their eyes. “We saved Princess Alexa when Benedict overthrew the city. She is still at large and with the Black Cloaks. She is in contact with her mother. She could possibly help

If anyone noticed they did not show it. Harbem was so entranced by Alexa’s gaze that it took a few moments before he realized she had stopped talking. His gaze drifted to her soft, beautiful lips which he longed to kiss and he watched as they slowly became a smile and then a giggle showing Alexa’s beautiful white teeth. Harbem tried to recover his composure quickly. Not so much for Alexa but for fear of anyone who might be watching. “I’m sorry what did you say?” Alexa giggled again. “The mangoes sir. One silver apiece?” “Right.” He fished in his garments for silver coins and handed them to Alexa. He took her hand in one of his and gently squeezed it. Then he placed the coins in the palm of her hand while he savoured the touch of her skin, the feel of her hands against his while he looked into her eyes. He watched as her cheeks flushed. The happiness that danced in her eyes ceased for a moment as it was replaced by a recognition. A knowing and a questioning as she realized Harbem wa

Alexa studied Harbem’s face. His eyes. He had that same look in them that she had seen the other day. “Do you mean to say that you have been attracted to me for a long time already?”Harbem shook his head. “Do not flatter yourself my dear,” he said smiling. Then he held up his hand placatingly. “Had I known you sooner I would most likely have been attracted to you anyway. But no. What I mean is, for a person such as me to mix with royalty would be tempting fate. And possibly not a good one.”“I see,” Alexa said hesitating. “So if I can get in with you, how will that help?”“You will be able to see your mother and spend time with her. You will be able to talk to her all you like and understand what her situation is now.”“Do you really think so?” Alexa was doubtful.“I am sure,” Harbem replied looking into Alexa’s eyes.“I…