Time Conquers All

By PJ Hultstrand

Epic Romantic Fantasy with a Warrior Princess who communicates with animal friends all working together to keep peace in her country of Laie. When Tamea begins having visions where a man she tries to save keeps dying in her arms, she knows something is about to change in their lives.

Tamea must unravel the mysteries of this King and his even more curious country with its technological marvels.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Az Publishing Services
• Release date: Dec 20, 2009
• ISBN: 9781936037605

Book preview

TIME CONQUERS ALL

Book One

PJ Hultstrand

Az Publishing Services, LLC

Mesa, Arizona, USA

Time Conquers All

First edition copyright © 2009 by PJ Hultstrand

All rights reserved

Published by:

Az Publishing Services, LLC

6020 N. 77th Place

Scottsdale, Arizona 85250

www.azpublishingservices.com

Cover design by Patti Hultstrand

Smashwords Edition 1, December 2009

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be

re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with

another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it

with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased

for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your

own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is my first born and is dedicated to my first born son,

Maxwell Hultstrand

Acknowledgements

I’ll get the obvious and most important thanks out of the way first – Thanks special thanks to Jean and Bob, for believing in me and telling me that I could do anything I set my mind to do. And I always thank God because it’s through Him that I have been given the bountiful talents, defining who I am.

Now for those who helped with the editing and proof reading while producing this book: Rosemarie, who was not only there at the beginning of this book process, but made me fight to keep some of the words I thought were important, but in retrospect, may not have been after all. To Linda and Tonya, who had the back end with the editing of the galley proofs. Thanks to the East Valley Writing Group and Don, who read some of the book and liked it enough to encourage me, and for asking to read the whole story. Here it is!

Would also like the thank Wayne and Linda for getting into book printing, allowing me to affordably publish.

I would also like to thank Ray Bradbury, my first love in science-fiction and the inspiration of my very first short story way back in junior high school. I submitted that first story in the local library sci-fi magazine, and it had been accepted. The writing bug bit me way back in the ninth-grade and I’ve been infected with this desire to write every since.

Preface

There can be many factors that define who we are or become, but certain events in your life impact you so heavily that there is no coming back from them unchanged. I had a series of events that impacted more than just myself, it changed my entire family structure and my belief system.

I won’t retell everything that happened, but the highlight which triggered this book to come to pass.

Back in 2003, I almost died from an infection due to complications of an operation. Such close calls really change your perspective and you can’t help but review your direction in life. I came home from my third hospital stay, finally eradicating the infection, but leaving me forever scarred. Physically, I shall never be the same.

I found a discarded story and a palace map tucked under the debris that comes from years of pack-rat organizing. The story was typed on a dot-matrix printed, track fed paper, yellowed from at least a decade of storage. The story of Parker and Tia had been started. At the time, I didn’t know the story had anything to do with time-travel or where the location of the story was destined to park itself.

Amazing how Parker stayed the same in my head, but Tia had changed as much as I had. She changed to Tamea (pronounced Tame - said like the word, and ends with a short a; Tame-a). All these years of reading speculative fiction of all types and my adoration for physics and time-travel in particular, has made Time Conquers All the epic story it has become.

I sat down after my near death experience and in six months, wrote 296,000 words. Then, I stopped and said, "Holy Crap, this has to be cut into several books, because they will never sell like this. The book you have in your hands is Book One of a very lengthy epic story that spans generations.

To see the synopses for what I have planned, please visit http://www.timeconquersall.com.

"The clock of life is wound but once,

and no man has the power

to tell just when the hands will stop,

at late or early hour.

Now is the only time you own.

Live, love, toil with a will.

Place no faith in time.

For the clock may soon be still."

– Anonymous

*****

Chapter 1

The low rumble from behind startled her, just as the foreign surroundings put her senses on full alert. With a dagger already in her hand, Tamea quickly turned to meet this new threat while the sound grew in intensity. As the ground beneath her growled in anticipation, she noticed a bend in the road, next to a building clearly marked GAS. These vibrations, in the form of forty or more machines with people riding singly and in pairs, invaded onto the property.

Since Tamea harbored a general curiosity for all machines, she did not fight the compulsion to follow the direction her instincts dictated. She squinted to get a better look at the metallic apparitions as the sunlight bounced off the surfaces. Even though she had no first-hand experience with these machines, she did not seem to fear them. Something had called to her from her past, back to this building and these machines.

Tamea sheathed her dagger at the small of her back, as she made her way across the street. Some of the riders remained outside attending to their machines, while others had gone inside the building. She examined the machines, wanting to touch their smooth and glistening forms. They were different shapes and sizes, but most seemed to bear the same name and symbol, a shield with a banner across the middle. She wondered if this symbol signified their country, bearing its name, much like a military unit.

She scanned the machines, each in turn, gliding through their presence. Tamea felt a prickle on the back of her neck as she passed one particular machine. Moving back to it, the compulsion grew to an intense desire to touch its deep burgundy finish. Her pulse quickened and her instincts grew more aware. She could not explain why a machine would make her giddy with excitement. She was devouring the machine as she would a man, taking in its features with her eyes and feeling its textures with her fingers in a form of communication as old as time. There had been only one man she had ever scrutinized in this manner, getting to know his intimate details and communicating with her fingertips in place of words.

Then her heart skipped several beats when she came upon more identifiable markings on this machine. Under the national symbol of HARLEY-DAVIDSON was a name in light gray lettering, PARKER. Her fingers followed each letter as if they were embossed on her heart.

You know, it’s considered rude to touch someone’s bike without permission, a man said in an even tone, not giving away how he really felt about the implied offense.

Tamea swung around in surprise as her hand moved quickly to the dagger stashed at the middle of her back. She found him standing behind her with a glass bottle in his hand. Her lips parted slightly at the familiar sight of his face, with those endless blue eyes that could look deep into her soul. Even though she knew every crevice of his body, she had not been prepared for the attack on her senses. His blue pants seemed glued to his muscular thighs. He allowed her the pleasure of following his lines up his backside as he walked past her to throw out the empty bottle.

The dangling fringe attached to the edges of his black jacket moved freely as he turned and moved back to his bike. Wavy, sandy-blond hair softly touched the nape of his neck. His hips were lean and his body flared up into an expansive chest.

Tamea’s hand had been frozen on the partially extracted dagger in the hidden sheath at her lower back. She secured the weapon as she moved out of his way so he could swing one of his muscular legs over the bike, straddling it possessively between his thighs. At that moment, Tamea craved to be that bike.

She tried to display genuine affection for the machine instead of the man. I have this instinct to touch beautiful pieces of machinery.

His answering smile moved up into his eyes and aroused within Tamea, deep feelings she had closed off, reminding her again she was indeed a woman.

There had been something in the way she made this comment, as if it could be personal and not about his bike at all. His eyebrows rose in challenge and so did he. Since my bike is a lady, she may not appreciate your attentions. He had a fleeting thought he shouldn’t be encouraging such interest.

Parker noted the worn out backpack strapped to her back and the lost look in her eyes. He took a guess and asked her, Why are you all alone? The question instantly increased the tension in her demeanor.

I am looking for someone, she offered, then smiled woodenly.

Really, he started to display interest in her story, especially since this wasn’t what he expected to hear. Let me get some gas in my bike and you can tell me all about it.

Tamea was sure she would not be able to tell him all about it. He did not seem to know who she was, and he did not seem to be any older than when she had married him.

Parker moved the bike with practiced precision. The effort, showing off his leg muscles through the material of his pants, made her mouth water.

She watched how nimble and graceful his hands were as they performed their tasks. Her hand went to her throat and her vision glazed for a moment. She imagined how graceful those hands had felt on her body.

Parker had noticed she watched every move he made and an equal curiosity flared inside him. He was definitely aware of her sexual interest in him and he found his interest in her to be just as keen. That scar seemed familiar to him, as if he should remember something important about how she had acquired it. His mind raced as he tried in vain to remember her.

Parker scanned the rest of her while he continued to fill his tank. She was shorter than his six-foot one stature by five or six inches. She wore a form fitting cotton shirt with polyester pants that clung to her intense curves but flared at the calves, as was the current style. Her light, walnut brown skin spoke of some eastern origins, perhaps India or thereabouts. Her muscles were well defined from use, including shoulders that were broader than most women’s. Her hair was very closely cropped, which wasn’t the current style for American women. He noted when their eyes met, she didn’t shy away from his gaze. She stood proud and self-assured. Her level stare made him only more aware of her presence.

His only problem with her interest in him was her age. She was much too young for him. He pulled his jacket off, because the afternoon sun and her stare were plastering the black leather to his body.

For Tamea, it was sheer torture not being able to drag him away from that bike and into an embrace. The breath caught in her throat as he removed his jacket revealing the thin white cotton shirt underneath. He pulled a pouch out of the jacket and pushed it into his back pocket. She licked her lips at the remembrance of what lay under that back pocket.

He smiled again and asked, I’m sorry, have we met somewhere before? I keep getting a distinct feeling of déjà vie whenever I look at you.

How was she going to answer that one? She optioned for, You know, I get the same feeling about you!

Maybe I know your parents, Parker stated mildly. He wondered again about her age.

Tamea noted his gaze had turned slightly chilly. Parents? No, my father died when I was ten years old and my mother does not live in this country.

A slight smile pulled at one corner of his mouth in amusement over the accuracy of his guess on her origins. I guess you’re definitely not from around here, then? Parker sensed she was being purposely elusive and he wondered why, but this thought left his mind when she delivered her next enticement.

What gave me away? Tamea looked down at herself and spread her arms wide so he could get a better look at her. She wondered now whether she had stolen the wrong type of garments from the locals. Clothes could set her apart and prevent blending into this culture. She was usually good at picking appropriate attire for infiltration purposes.

As Parker appraised her figure, somehow his instincts told him she was out of place. Her mystery and the way her fingers strummed across her generous hips drew his interest whether he liked it or not. Have you been hiking it? he indicated the pack on her back.

Tamea was not sure what he meant by this, since the term hiking it was not among her learning of English; she mainly spoke Cantonese and French. She thought it would be safer to agree. Yes, I have been hiking it.

On the bike now, Parker leaned back casually while gripping the handlebars, allowing her a better view of his sleek lines, from forearms to groin, where her eyes halted their steamy perusal.

Considering where her attention was centered, she laughed when he casually asked her, Would you like a ride? It could be somewhat of a thrill to be able to start this game over again, especially when he did not remember this recreation had already been played before and they had both won. Since he had been the one she had been searching for, she approved his suggestion, no matter how it was interpreted. She answered, Sure, that would be great.

He also laughed in his excitement of how this day was turning out and at his own boldness with this younger woman. We’ll see how it works out, okay? He suddenly caught the scent of her as she shifted the pack on her back, bringing her body closer for the few seconds it took. The sweet, sugary scent of her aroused his interest further and pricked at his memory again. A sharp pain lanced through his head, but just as quickly, it was gone, along with the memory it was attached to.

Parker gazed at her more closely as he wondered again about her age. She appeared too young to be playing this sort of sport. Curiosity won as he asked, By the way, how old are you?

Their eyes locked in a sudden struggle. Tamea had forgotten about his problem with their wide age bracket. You are concerned about my age? She would have reminded him she had killed men far older than him in her life, but she did not think this would be a plus in her favor just now.

I just want to make sure it’s legal to be seen with you. I’m much older than you--his tone turned frosty--or are you used to hitting on older men?

Tamea did not like the direction of this conversation. Her voice rose in sudden agitation. Look, as a rule, I do not hit on men! Besides you are definitely not old enough to be my grandfather, so I do not think you are robbing the cradle or anything! She could see the warmth come back into his face and his smile widened with his growing interest. Now, is the offer of a ride still good, or should I go hit on another old man?

Parker answered, Yes, the offer is still good. But aren’t you going to miss that person you were looking for?

She grinned from a knowledge she concealed while answering, No, I am quite sure I will not! She watched him start the machine with his foot on a lever near its base.

While he started up the bike, Parker was curious about how she could so easily drop what she’d been doing before they met and how she could simply drop whoever she’d been looking for. But then he remembered her age and the free-loving generation she was inherently a part of.

Parker moved forward on his Harley, allowing her room behind him. Then hop on, he said, and felt her comply as she swung her leg around the bike and fit herself snugly against his back. The moment their bodies touched, an electrical response rippled through him. His hardened arousal for this young woman was staggering, making his form-fitting blue jeans suddenly much too tight. He straightened his legs for a moment, hoping to readjust himself. He could see some of his group of bikers watching and even grinning at his choice of riding partners. Parker had the distinct feeling this young woman was infinitely more dangerous than her age should have allowed. If he had known then that she also carried throwing knives and several daggers in special belts attached to various parts of her body, he probably would have made an excuse not to take her along.

Parker sat back and bit his lip as the electrical charge whipped through him again when she had laid her hands intimately on his hips. Other bikers were also preparing to leave, so he had to yell over the intense barks as the other Harleys started up. Turning his head to the side, he told her the plan for the day. We’ll stop for dinner and crash for the night when we reach Flagstaff, where our group here will be meeting up with the bikers from Arizona. Let me know beforehand if you need to stop along the way so I can find a good place. Okay?

Tamea reached up and patted his shoulder while nodding her head in understanding. Her desire for him was heady as she let her fingers slide down his back, making her grow hot in anticipation. When his body stiffened and rippled in response to her touch, she had been glad to discover she had not been alone in her craving.

Settling back for the ride, Tamea consciously avoided any further sexual overtures so they could get some miles on the road. She enjoyed the wind on her face, simply sharing this moment with him. The empty terrain of the Painted Desert turned into pine forests as they raced southward, in and out of the San Francisco Peaks. This off-beat route through Arizona heading for Las Vegas was not typically traveled, but was definitely picturesque. They were well inside Arizona as the sun began its descent. When they came to the railroad town of Flagstaff, she could smell the pine trees in the air that held the promise of a crisp, early winter.

Parker meant to stop briefly at the local Denny’s along with several other bikers. He maneuvered up next to another couple, Jim and Felicia, as they got off their bike. Parker stated, I’m going to go check in at the lodge and we’ll come back to eat.

Tamea was starving but did not plan on complaining about it. The other woman took pity on her instead.

Parker, where’s your manners? Your new friend is probably famished. Come and eat with us now. You’ll have her alone soon enough, stated Felicia.

Parker reddened slightly at the suggestion he was being that transparent--or was she just guessing? Well, then I leave it up to my riding partner. He looked back at Tamea and found her already getting off the bike. His eyes rephrased the question as to what she would rather do first, eat or go find their room.

Tamea wanted nothing more than to get him alone in bed, except perhaps, for the opportunity of finding a place to relieve herself. She thought her bladder would explode from the constant vibrations of the bike. Just to let him know she was still interested, so he would not get any ideas about abandoning her, she leaned her breasts into his arm as she gave him a peck on the cheek. She whispered into his ear, I will meet you inside. After seeing his slow grin, meant only for her, she knew he had gotten the point and quickly ran inside.

When Tamea returned to the restaurant’s main dining room, she easily found the three of them. The waitress had waited to take her order. She had no idea what a hamburger was, so she ordered something she knew, steak and brown rice with fresh greens.

Parker watched her order and wondered where she was going to put all that food. He felt bad now for not stopping sooner to feed her.

As they waited for their food, Jim and Parker talked about old times, the open road and what they planned to do in Vegas. Felicia talked about shows she wanted to see and of course, they all talked about the main reason they were going to Vegas in the first place. They were going to a concert by something called the Grateful Dead.

Tamea just listened and did not bother to interject anything, because she had no clue what most of it meant. An uncomfortable understanding dawned on her; this is what would continue to happen if she stayed with him. She knew nothing about his life here and her English was still very limited. She suddenly felt left out of his world.

As they ate, Parker talked about music and about playing the guitar with such passion she almost wished she had not found him at all. Did she have the right to take him away from this life?

Parker noticed she hadn’t added anything to the conversation. He glanced at her just in time to see a small tear, she quickly blinked away from the corner of her eye. Her demeanor had changed from intent listening to somber depression. It radiated out of her so much Parker wanted to take her into his arms and make it go away.

As Jim argued with Felicia about which casino they would stay at in Las Vegas, Parker focused his attention on his riding partner. He realized he didn’t know her name. How odd it was to feel something for her when he knew nothing about her. He touched her arm, running two fingers along her forearm. He got her full attention by taking her hand up to his mouth and kissing each fingertip in turn.

Tamea stared at him in remembrance of this intimate gesture he had used on her many times. The butterflies in her stomach brought back memories of other moments they had shared.

His friend, Jim, also noticed the intimate exchange and started to hassle his usually celibate friend. So, Parker. What do you think you’re doing picking up such a young chick--you haven’t even introduced her?

Felicia punched Jim in the arm. Leave him alone. I don’t think she’s as young as she looks. She laughed as Parker stared back in embarrassment at them both.

Tamea helped him out by offering her name. My name is Tamea. And Felicia is right. I am not as young as I look. I thank you for the compliment.

Felicia was quick to state the honest truth. You better be careful Parker. This one might actually snatch up that heart of yours. And it’s about time someone does.

Felicia, I think I’ll take Tamea out of here before you scare her away with your ideas, stated Parker.

He tried out her name in his head and some elusive memories began to flood his mind. Deep inside his consciousness, alarms were shrieking along with that sudden pain which wasn’t receding quite so quickly this time. When the pain left once again, so did the memories. Like water in his hands, he just couldn’t hang onto any of them.

Parker rose and leaned over to kiss Felicia on the cheek, then he shook Jim’s hand and added, I’ll see you both at the concert on Saturday. We’ll go out afterwards.

Jim blurted out, But that’s in three days. I thought we could go out gambling when we got into town. What are you planning on doing for three days? Felicia punched him for his stupidity. Oh! He got the meaning as he rubbed his ribs.

Parker paid for their meal, took Tamea’s hand and led her out into the early evening.

As Tamea leaned into him, she put her arms around him possessively. She did not plan to make it to Las Vegas, having decided tonight would be their last. She did not plan to give him time to fall in love with her again, even if it meant leaving him after only one night. It may have been selfish on her part, but all she wanted was one more night alone with him and then she would leave.

Enjoying the way she clung to him, he thought again about the feeling they had met before. Parker was still no closer to solving the mystery surrounding her. Something felt so right about the way she fit against his back.

She was thankful now that she had taken his leather jacket when he put it around her shoulders before they got on the bike. From what Parker said, the lodge was out of the way, further up into the mountains, where it got quite chilly at night. When winter actually hit, the place would be packed with avid snow skiers.

They parked under the veranda outside the lodge. While Parker checked in,

Reviews for Time Conquers All

[tarenn_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

TIME CONQUERS ALL by P.J. Hultstrand is a parallel time romance set in India-Asia in 1587. It is well written with depth and detail. It is a fast paced, page turning and quick read. It is book one in the Time Series. It has action, drama, communicating with animals, futuristic romance, and challenges. It is an epic saga of love, time travel and the challenges that go along with it. The characters will pull you into the story and hold you there from beginning to end. If you enjoy futuristic and time travel you will enjoy this quick read. This book was received for review and details can be found at My Book Addiction and More and Az Publishing Services, Inc.