A1 and 20 Years

By M. A. Adigo

The barrier between dimensions is shattered when an invention gone wrong leaves the inventor in another dimension. When Harvey volunteers to make the jump into what will be labeled 'A1' dimension, he has no idea of the impact he will have on that world.
By magical means and the natural tendency to manipulate others, a local witch leads Harvey on a life changing path that will affect every person in this A1 dimension, not the least of which will be Harvey and the woman he falls in love with.
The struggle for power hangs in the balance between two neighboring realms and those who would claim that power for their own as one
magical matriarch will not be denied her families right to a throne.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M. A. Adigo
• Release date: Aug 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370458103

Book preview

Prologue

David's vision blurred and time began to hang like stagnant air and when it had cleared, he knew that he was no longer in the lab. Excitement bubbled up inside of him as he turned his head slowly to the left and then to the right, taking in his surroundings.

The room was small, only about thirteen feet square. The only source of heat and light seemed to be a fireplace, which was fully ablaze in the wall opposite him.

The floor appeared to be made of boards, with a covering of dirt, filth and all manner of junk.

The furniture in the room was sparse, made of rough-cut wood and lacking any detail, or style, it was obviously handmade.

The room seemed not to be part of a building, but rather, it was the entire building. It was someone’s home, a single room house and the light that came from the flickering fire cast menacing shadows all about the room.

To his left, David saw what appeared to be a pallet for sleeping, there were, what he assumed to be blankets but, they more precisely resembled rags.

He stood where he was, not daring to move from this spot for fear of affecting the signal lock of the transporter. As he looked at his surroundings, the door to his right opened and a small woman stood at the threshold staring in at him.

She was well beyond middle age; her hair was graying. She was dressed totally in rags; soiled and tattered it seemed from years of wear. Her small frame left plenty of room as she stood in the doorway staring at David.

Her eyes drew his focus, they were blue with a sparkle of reflected fire light and they held strength of intent that manifested confidence.

She said nothing, simply stood and stared at the intruder who was dressed in very unusual clothing. He was not as old as she was, but neither was he young. He was tall and he Bent forward slightly as he stood. His bushy mustache and eyebrows were jet black against his pale skin and they seemed to stand out excessively on his face.

When David recovered from the shock of seeing this woman, he said to her, Please forgive me, I did not mean to intrude on you and I mean you no harm.

The old woman cocked her head slightly to one side, in a questioning manner.

David did not know if the woman could understand what he was saying, but he continued; I am a visitor from another place. He could not even begin to know how to explain it more than that.

The woman moved into the room and closed the door. She did not appear frightened by David’s presence, but she never took her eyes from him.

When she began to speak, David could not understand what she was saying, so he shook his head and the confused look on his face portrayed the truth; that he did not understand her words.

The woman paused, then tilted her head back and looked up at the ceiling; she raised her hands as if in supplication to the Gods and then murmured more words that David could not understand.

When she was finished, she dropped her hands to her sides and she just stared at David for a moment, then she began to speak once more. I don’t know who you are or why you are here, but my spell will allow us to understand each other. She then paused, waiting for David to speak.

Not understanding what had just happened David just nodded his head. With a five-minute test run almost completed, soon David would be pulled back into his own dimension.

Not wanting to waste what little time remained, he began to ask questions of the old woman. Where is this place? Who are you? Then thinking that he may actually have traveled through time he asked, What year is it? She must think I am out of my mind, he thought and so he put an end to the questions.

The old woman seemed more intent on watching him and assessing who or what he might be, than she was of speaking to him.

As the woman watched, David felt the dizziness begin anew. As if in a dream state he said to the old woman, I will come back and with that, he was gone.

Inside the little cottage Melba stood, perfectly still and watched the spot where only a moment before the strange man had stood.

She did not believe him to be a warlock or a wizard. He seemed to lack that degree of control; in fact, he seemed not to have any control at all. He also did not appear to know what was going on with himself and surely, any man of magic would understand what he was doing. Just the same, he had been there and she was sure that as he departed he was saying that he would return, but when?

On several previous occasions, she had seen things appear in the same place where he had been standing and later they would disappear. She had decided there was some sort of portal located in that spot.

Once, she had seen a feather appear. Cautiously she had picked it up to examine it and thinking to form some kind of communication with a possible being elsewhere from whence the feather had come, she quickly stripped the entire feather, leaving just the quill and placed it back in its original spot. Shortly after she had set it back down it vanished, the same way all of the other things had done.

She had studied and worked hard at it for many years and she was getting better, stronger, but her magic was limited. She had never been able to move from place to place and use magic as the means of travel. Mostly she used cunning and deception, coupled with her limited magical spells to accomplish her needs.

She almost squealed with delight at her good fortune as she turned her thoughts back to the disappearing man, thoughts that she was cleverly forming; she wanted this man’s magic.

Chapter 1

The dancing shadows made their final bow and faded into the grayness of the room as the flames in the fireplace flickered one last time and then melted into the orange glow of the embers. Soon, only the memory of the logs would reside in the powdery white ash that covered the surface of the stone hearth.

The ensuing chill in the room had little or no effect upon the two lovers as they lay intertwined in their passion. So intense was their obsession that the shadowy figure went un-noticed as it quietly entered the room and then moved quickly along the wall toward the large oak bed.

So focused was the intruder’s attention upon her subject, that she almost tripped over a boot which had been flung without the slightest thought, to lay silently at the edge of the wall.

With slow precision, the assassin moved away from the wall to the side of the bed, the taste of anticipated vengeance lingering as sweet and smooth as the finest puddings in the royal kitchen.

Leaning over slightly to better discern the scene before her and with a rush of adrenalin, the assassin extended her arm up for maximum advantage and with the force of more than twenty years of escalating hatred; she brought the knife down to end the life of the man who had shattered hers so many years ago.

As the knife entered his flesh and found resistance, she leaned forward upon it with all of her slight weight to drive it to its full length.

A small cackle, not quite a laugh, escaped her lips and she muttered to herself, I’ll see you again in Hell.

The man now lay face down upon the young woman’s ample breasts; her eyes were wide and fixed in silence on the intruder. Without a word, the young woman pushed the man from the bed to lay exposed upon the cold stone floor.

The attacker watched as the young woman wiped a smear of blood from her hand and then said, Drink this, holding out a small bottle of liquid. Once the small bottle was obediently consumed, the assassin said, Put your clothing on and leave quietly through the east Gates. I will wait for you at the pool formed by the three springs.

As the young woman collected her clothing, the attacker made her way to the door. She peered through it into the empty hallway and when she was satisfied that it was clear, she moved quietly into it and closed the door behind her.

The woman moved without haste and remained unrecognized by any whom she passed as she exited the living quarters of the lower level of the palace.

As she headed east, the moon came through a partly cloudy sky to manifest the trail as she hurried on.

A feeling of exhilaration filled her soul and made her feel young again. For a moment, she stopped and stood still, just letting the gentle breeze dance across her cheek and through her gray hair.

She had planned and manipulated for so long to gain this end and now she felt filled with so much excitement that she could scarcely keep from running and shouting out her joy.

When she arrived at the pool, which was formed by three small springs coming together at the low point of the meadow, she sat down do await the arrival of the younger woman.

The moonlight dancing across the surface of the rippling water seemed to keep time with the song of the frogs. The gentle breeze filled her hair and lulled her with its attempt to put her to sleep. A partial peace was hers at last.

Chapter 2

As the young woman closed the door to Nigel’s room and turned to move down the hallway, a man stepped from the shadowy light of the connecting hallway into full view of her. If she noticed him, she made no outward sign of having done so.

She made very little noise as her soft slippers moved along the stone floor of the hallway. She made no attempt to hurry, nor did she look back to where he stood. She was lost within a dream that held no concern for the present, nor the future.

General Gates watched as the young woman moved further away from him and as he watched her go, he felt an understanding for that which had confused him. He had known for some time that Nigel was having an affair with someone, but Nigel preferred to keep it to himself.

Nigel was a wizard of magnificent power and had little use for women except to fulfill a need on occasion. However, General Gates had noticed a distinct change in Nigel’s behavior of late. He occasionally found him staring off into space as if he visited another world. This, General Gates attributed to the mysterious intrigues of a wizard, but having now seen the beauty of this young woman he gave an understanding smile as he knocked on Nigel’s door.

The beauty of the young woman left its mark on Gates, he, like Nigel, had enjoyed very little involvement with women over the years. He was young, handsome, with dark hair and strong features that his previous military life had transformed into a finely polished state of perfection.

However, the life of a soldier in the palace guard and especially now that he was the general, left him with only occasional opportunity to indulge in associations of a feminine nature and he had never allowed any long-term relationships. He had but one long-term commitment and that was to his king.

After a short pause, he knocked a second time. When he had knocked four times without any response from within a slight, agitation of concern began to form. Recognizing this type of feeling had saved his life more than once during the years he had spent serving his king.

He had served in many clandestine operations, in numerous locations prior to rising to his current status as general of the palace guard.

Although he was still a relatively young man, he commanded the respect of his fellow officers and in many instances, the personal gratitude of the king.

General Gates slowly opened the door just a bit and softly spoke Nigel’s name. After receiving no answer, he pushed the door open full wide and entered the room.

He stood quite still and surveyed the dimly lit room, light provided only by the orange glow of dying embers that remained in the hearth and the limited torch light entering from the hallway. After a moment his eyes began to adjust to the darkness of the room, nothing seemed out of order except for the boot, which lay out of place on the floor next to the wall. Then he noticed Nigel’s robe lying at the side of the bed, in deep shadow.

His thoughts began to move quickly as he once again saw in his mind the young woman leaving Nigel’s room. He knew that the woman had not been alone in this room; rapidly he moved toward the bed, scanning the room for any information he could see.

Two steps more put him around the end of the bed where the scene before him told a shocking truth. Nigel was lying quite still upon the polished stone floor; face down, his back covered completely with the shadowy indication of drying blood. A black handled skinning knife protruded from the middle of his back.

The idea that any woman could have achieved the murder of Nigel was inconceivable to General Gates; he was much too powerful.

With the trained reflexes of a seasoned warrior, Gates moved quickly to Nigel’s side and checked for life. Finding none, he regained his feet and flew to the door and into the hallway. In only a few beats of his heart, he was out and into the courtyard.

As he past two soldiers at the entrance of the courtyard, he called out to them, commanding their attention. They quickly ran alongside of him as he gave them orders to alert the night watch, with a description of the young woman; the two soldiers separated, each to their own direction to spread the alarm.

General Gates turned to the east along the roadway leaving the palace. To his surprise, as he closed the distance to the palace gate, he saw the young woman. She was moving at a casual pace, as if she had unlimited time and nothing to fear.

When General Gates overtook her, he seized her by the arm to restrain her. His surprise increased when she gave no resistance at all. She turned her head to stare into his face and it was obvious that she did not recognize him; she simply stared back at him.

Who are you, he ask as he held her arm firmly and began a visual search for weapons, he saw none.

Her face was pale in the moon light and expressed no emotion; however, her beauty, which he had glimpsed in the hallway, now displayed in full favor.

For a moment, he hesitated, simply staring at her. Her hair seemed to be of the finest black silk. She was as tall as he was and slender of build, with the ample charms given the most seductive of women.

My name is... she paused for a second as if having to remember, and then somewhat tentatively, as if it were a question she said, Melinda Welmsmen.

Shock battered the general’s face and he felt the strength in his legs threaten to give out as the sickness overtook him.

He had never before seen her, but the rumors of her beauty were common enough gossip among the women at court. He realized that the gossip was no exaggeration and as he gazed into her dazzling blue eyes the moonlight’s reflection was almost as sharp as the stabbing sadness that he felt, for in her eyes he saw the changing future and he knew at once that the peace which had reigned for so many years was about to end.

General Gates heard the shouts of the guards as they rushed toward him. His mind was now in a spin as he confronted the situation. Why did you do it, he ask; his face showing his shock and confusion. She stared blankly at him, then with complete sincerity she replied, What are you talking about?

Now the frustration turned to anger and his grip on her arm tightened, the disgust on his face and in his voice came through as he said, not in a loud voice, but almost in a whisper; you have been having an affair with Nigel and now you have murdered him.

I saw you come out of his room, don’t deny your guilt. Do you not realize what you have done? Did you plan to start a war? Well, there is no doubt that you have.

She stood there, horror written all over her face and her mouth agape in disbelief of his statement. What are you talking about, she said, with no small amount of anxiety in her voice.

General Gates could feel the panic surge inside as he stared at her, he shook his head in further disgust and turned to the guard commander and said, Escort this woman to the king’s waiting chambers, do not put restraints on her, only see that she remains there. Treat her with respect, he paused and then added, as if she were a queen.

Place your men on each of the room’s exits, but respect her privacy. Have food and wine brought to her and anything else that she requires.

His gaze became intent, almost threatening as he continued his instructions. No one beyond the six of you and me is to hear of this, do not speak to anyone on your way to the king’s chambers. Remain with your men until I arrive, do you understand commander?

The young watch commander’s face wreathed with confusion, but he quickly answered, Yes sir, general, I understand.

Remembering the knife in Nigel’s back, General Gates briefly considered a more intense search of the queen, but thought better of it and simply said to the watch commander, Watch her closely.

He turned to the woman and gently pulled the hood of her clock up over her head in an effort to conceal her identity from anyone they might pass along the way. He then turned and headed for the Kings personal quarters.

As he walked, he tried to sort out what had happened and form some idea of what he would say to the king.

Chapter 3

What the hell is going on Gates? The king of Shoen stood in the sitting room outside of his sleeping chambers. The servant ended the king’s sleep to inform him that General Gates requested an audience with him. He said it is a private matter of importance that cannot wait until morning; your majesty.

The king remained in his night clothing, wrapped in a full-length robe of richly woven red velvet, trimmed with a dark auburn fur. The black tanned leather slippers, with their fleece lining and slightly turned up toes, warmed his feet.

He was a young and handsome man who under normal circumstances displayed an ideal image of royalty, but at present his dark hair hung unrestrained, to fall softly over his shoulders. He wore no crown and the expression on his face was anything but regal.

General Gates moved from the doorway into the room quickly, covering the distance in only three strides. He stopped, gave a low bow and then began. Your majesty, the security of your kingdom is in grave danger, as well as the future of the entire land.

The king’s voice, amplified by his confusion and frustration became almost a shout as he asked, What the devil are you talking about, and looking around added, if it is so important, why has Nigel not come with you?

At this inquiry, the emotion flooded in and General Gates was barely able to control it. Nigel had been a good friend to General Gates and so much more.

When General Gates was a young soldier, he had struggled with a poor self-esteem. He floundered miserably on the combat training field.

For some reason, Nigel had called Gates to his own personal quarters. Maybe it was just Nigel’s way of serving the king, or maybe he foresaw the future events in the kingdom, but whatever the reason, Nigel had taken an interest in Gates.

Gates left Nigel’s living quarters, a different man. He was confident and capable. The next day on the practice field, he was all but unstoppable.

It was a few years later that Gates suspected what had happened and confronted Nigel about it. Nigel looked deep into the young man’s eyes and said, I saw the greatness buried within you, I simply invited it to come to the surface.

Since that day, General Gates had been a loyal friend to Nigel, placing him next to the king in importance. General Gates would have given his life for Nigel on any day.

With an effort, noticed by the king, General Gates plunged into an explanation. Sire, Nigel has been murdered. The word murdered lingered in the cool air of the room, it took a moment for the meaning of the word to penetrate. The idea was so outlandish that the king could hardly process the thought.

But how, who, when. The king could not believe this conversation was taking place. This must be a dream… no, a nightmare he thought.

Nigel cannot be murdered, King Reynard shouted, his confusion spilling forth. He has a protection warding that keeps him from harm.

I don’t know how sire, it is beyond my understanding, General Gates admitted, but I do know who murdered him. With this, the General focused intently on the king, but did not continue.

Well, damn you man, tell me!

It was… he checked himself, he could hardly believe what he was about to say. It was the queen of Manglan, she is in your waiting chambers.

The blood literally left the king’s face and his eyes began to move back and forth, looking from place to place, seeking something that he could lock onto to stabilize the moment.

I.. I don’t understand, I don’t understand any of this. Surely I am having a nightmare, the king said, shaking his head in denial.

Truly, it is indeed a nightmare, but one neither of us will wake up from sire. General Gates responded with the agonized look of a man sentenced to the dungeon.

Chapter 4

Of course I don’t believe her, the king said to General Gates as they exited the waiting chambers, where they left the queen of Manglan in a dazed condition.

How could she not know anything about the murder? The king’s voice broke slightly from strain. And for God’s sake, she claims that she doesn’t even know how she got to Greemin.

It is a most unusual set of circumstances, general Gates countered. She is being accused of murdering a man whom she says she knows of only by reputation and to my knowledge she has never met him before. The general paused and pondered for a moment and then continued. There is one possible answer that would explain that question, your majesty, General Gates stopped pacing and waited for the king to do likewise.

When the king had stopped and turned to face the general once more, Gates went on. Nigel has been having an affair for the last six or seven months. I did not know with whom until this night. It is possible that Nigel brought the queen here himself for the evening.

The king pondered this idea for a moment. Then remarked, Nigel did have the ability to alter time and space. He could have brought her here for the evening and then would have returned her before morning. No one would ever have known that she was not in Manglan during the night.

There may be cause for further concern, I fear, General Gates uttered, almost to his self and with a look of perplexity over the new thought. The fact that your wizard, Gates accentuated the word ‘Your’, was having an affair with king Duron’s queen is bad enough, but, she says that she knows nothing of coming here or how she arrived and that she does not know him. That points a finger to Nigel’s ability to manipulate situations… and people. It is at least possible that she is telling the truth.

I’ve known Nigel all of my life, the king said, I can’t believe he would ever do this against her will, but it would give an answer where nothing else seems to.

I fear that it matters little whether it is true or not your majesty. Duron will accept it as the truth and there will be no stopping the war that will follow without Nigel to intervene.

Even should we accept this theory and choose to accept Nigel’s death and let it go, we have no way to return the queen without detection. Nor have we any way to ensure her silence about the matter as Nigel could have.

General Gates paused and pondered for a moment and then added, I fear that there is only one way to deal with this, to possibly avoid bringing the two kingdoms to war.

King Reynard had no idea how to deal with this problem; Go on, he prodded.

General Gates threw off the safety lines and plunged in, Queen Melinda murdered Nigel, of that there is no doubt. Gates chose the word ‘murdered', discarding the possibility of their other scenario. I saw her leave his room and when I entered, I found him dead. The blood was still drying on his back, which means that it had just happened and there was no one else there.

He paused to consider his own statement, trying to notice anything he may have over looked before.

She is, therefore guilty, he continued, not only of murder, but of murdering the most powerful man in the world. Let there be no mistake, she is very dangerous and she must be put to death.

The king remained silent, having no idea what, if anything he should say and so General Gates continued.

If you notify king Duron, what will you tell him? Your queen has been having an affair with my wizard and she decided to murder him, so I will be forced to execute her.

Or possibly, my wizard abducted your queen and brought her to my kingdom, where she killed him and tried to escape, so would you please come and get your wife?

"That he will demand her immediate release is without doubt and even if you were to comply with his demand, having learned of Nigel’s death and the implications toward his queen, he will not hesitate to declare war.

"And when the war begins, which it surely will, without Nigel, it will not go well.

Her execution must be secret and immediate. With Nigel’s death also kept secret, Duron will have a missing queen, but no excuse to declare war. Only Nigel’s loyalty kept the piece all these many years.

Chapter 5

The moon had settled behind the mountain, leaving the land shrouded in darkness. An owl hooted its awareness to break the silence of the night as Melba moved swiftly into the courtyard and around the flowerbeds.

Although it was past midnight, people moved about the palace, so she felt no need for stealth or concealment.

She had waited for Melinda at the spring pool until hours had past. When she did not show Melba’s concern grew. So she headed back for the city, hoping to find her along the way.

The spring pool was at least an hour’s walk from the city, so by the time she had started back, it had been about three hours since leaving Melinda in Nigel’s room.

She could not imagine where Melinda had strayed. The plan was simple; she should have left the palace and easily been to the pool in less than an hour and a half.

As she moved from the courtyard and into the lower levels of the palace, she wondered what could have gone wrong.

Previous potions throughout the last ten years, made Melinda pliable to Melba’s will and she had maneuvered Melinda to get to Nigel. Although Nigel had been a very powerful wizard, with protection spells, he had still been a man and all men have their weaknesses.

Once Melinda’s irresistible charms had broken down Nigel’s personal defenses Melba was able to manipulate him through Melinda.

Because of the potion given her after each encounter with Nigel, Melinda would forget all about it until the next time Nigel contacted her. This left her guiltless in her role as queen of Manglan.

The potion that Melba gave to Melinda in Nigel’s room was to make her immediately forget all of the events of the last twenty-four hours, thus she would have no knowledge of the murder or her involvement with him. As far as she knew, she had never met the wizard.

The final segment of Melba’s plan revolved around the fact that Nigel had been bringing Melinda to Greemin palace to spend the night whenever king Duron was away from Manglan on one of his grand hunting trips; and then returning her before morning.

He used his magic to alter time and space, thus he was able to cover the large distance between the two kingdoms in a very short time.

It was to be the perfect murder. She could slip in while the two of them were unaware of her presence, murder Nigel and be gone before anyone realized that he was dead.

King Duron would be gone for a week, so they could be back in Manglan before the king returned. She had already informed the court that the Queen needed some time alone, with only one personal servant.

The queen, having suffered numerous memory losses over the past few months agreed to some time alone, not wanting undue attention drawn to the subject.

It seemed now, that the one flaw in her plan had been leaving Melinda alone in Nigel’s room while she made her escape. She had done this simply thinking that moving singly they would not draw as much attention as two unrecognized women might.

Melba knew that when king Duron left Manglan, Nigel would go there to get Melinda and then return to Greemin and she needed to be there when they arrived.

Since Melba could not alter time and space, she had to go to Greemin and wait for him to return with Melinda. She had given Melinda an extra amount of potion to sustain her while she was gone.

She arrived in Greemin four nights past, knowing that king Duron would soon be away on a hunting trip. She had spent the nights stalking the halls of the lower palace, finalizing the plan in her mind and hiding away in solitude during the day.

Nigel’s death was the fulfillment of a plan for revenge that Melba had been working on for more than twenty years.

Nigel had been a most powerful wizard, thus requiring Melba to be patient and to use cunning. She combined this with her ability for mixing potions to bring about Nigel’s undoing.

She had slipped into Nigel’s room while he was away getting Melinda and put a potion into a bottle of wine which Nigel had waiting for the two of them.

The potion was to counter his self-protection spell, giving Melba the needed edge to enter the room undetected.

Her potion, directed directly at the wine rather than at Nigel, so that the protection spell would not pickup on it and since Nigel himself had placed the wine in his room; he would not give it a second thought.

Getting past Nigel’s wards on his room had been child’s play; with his self-protection spell in place, he gave little concern for his room. Melba knew that in the heat of passion, Nigel would his most vulnerable and it had worked perfectly.

She would have been ecstatic with joy had it not been that Melinda was nowhere to be found.

Chapter 6

King Reynard stood on the balcony of his personal chambers; he surveyed the palace courtyard with an almost detached observation. His mood was very melancholy; he had a sense of being lost in a dream.

He had been a good man and had served his kingdom with dignity, always putting the welfare of his subjects before his own.

Reynard and his queen, Sarah had waited anxiously for almost twenty years before their petitions to the gods were accepted, granting them a child. He planned that one day his son, Prince Edwin, would take the throne and he would continue his legacy.

With dismay, he wondered if he would see the fulfillment of his desires, or if this event would precipitate the abolishment of all his dreams.

Duron, king of Manglan was a powerful king and given to the specialties of war. He had been victorious over several kingdoms to the north of Manglan, but due to Nigel’s presence, Duron had never attempted an aggression to the south, where Reynard’s kingdom of Shoen lay.

The sun was ascending in the eastern sky and a gentle breeze caused his dark hair to shift about his ears and neck. This would be a most pleasant morning he thought, if not for the current issue which had settled most grievously upon him.

He felt trapped; he could see no good way out of this most unfortunate predicament. If he sent word to Duron, it would certainly mean war. If he executed Duron's Queen, it would have to be soon and without a fair trial.

The evidence presented by General Gates seemed solid, but the idea that Nigel would have manipulated the queen, thus leaving her without guilt for her actions, left him with many doubts. In addition, should Duron somehow find out, not only would he be responsible for a questionable execution, but also he felt sure that the war that followed would continue for many years and the loss of innocent lives, would be devastating.

Reynard was a seasoned king, but due to the presence of Nigel, he had never had to deal with the war scenario. None of the neighboring kingdoms dared come against the country of Shoen and the all-powerful wizard.

The fact that Reynard had been a most unpresumptuous king and never tried to take advantage of other kingdoms, even with Nigel's services, had given little reason for war.

Excuse me your majesty.

King Reynard turned to see General Gates, waiting in the entranceway for acknowledgment.

Ah… general Gates, have you found a solution to our problem? The king asked it in a manner that told General Gates that he really did not expect an affirmative answer.

No your majesty, I fear there is no way to avoid the situation. I am sorry, but we must move quickly if you plan to try to avoid war.

When I look at that young woman general, I simply don't see a murderer.

Sire, the question of her quilt becomes a moot issue. She is one person, how many thousands will die if war is declared? Remember sire, she was the one who involved herself in an adulterous deception with Nigel.

Her death is small penance for the sin and possible carnage she may yet bring upon this land. General Gates cleverly avoided the scenario where Nigel may have been the only one at fault.

By your command, your highness, I will take care of the execution personally. I feel more remorse over the young men in your service who will also suffer her fate, simply because they were unfortunate enough to be on duty last night.

The king let out a deep sigh, stared at the floor for a moment, then looked into General Gates’ sleep deprived eyes, and said, I am sorry that you must bear this burden and I thank you for your loyalty. Please make it quick, so that none of them suffer unduly.

With this, General Gates made his token bow and left the room to perform a most unpleasant task.

Chapter 7

Melba stood watching as the soldiers left the palace on their mounts. A slender figure rode in the middle of the group, obviously a woman.

She wore a full-length robe of black, her hands bound in front of her. A gray sack, with no eye slits covered her head and a cord around her neck kept the bag in place. A tether line pulled from the horse in front of her.

Melba’s heart jumped, she did not need to see her face to know that it was Melinda. Melba's mind reeled as she tried to decide what to do. She moved quickly in the direction of the palace stables. When she arrived, she slipped in and took the first mount she could find and left, leaving the stable boy yelling something that she did not even try to understand.

She pushed hard, but as she entered a grove of thick trees and looked down into a ravine, she was too late; Melinda lay upon the ground, the gray sack and its contents lay several feet from her body.

Melba pulled her mount to a stop, staring in disbelief at the scene.

Melinda lay, unceremoniously in the dirt, her blood pooling about her severed neck. To either side of her lay the bodies of the six soldiers who had been on duty the night before, each now headless. General Gates and six other soldiers made ready to bury their comrades and the unidentified woman; none of these soldiers had looked upon her face.

Melba’s emotions jumped and gripped at her heart, threatening to squeeze it to a stop. Tears began to fall and the dizziness made her head light and unsteady. As the darkness engulfed her consciousness, she fell from her mount to lie crumpled upon the ground.

She had used her daughter to gain revenge on Nigel and now her daughter was dead. Nigel's specter floated through the trees and gave an amused laugh at the old woman as it passed into nothingness.

Chapter 8

The smoke, thickened by the white powdery ash, swirled through the air and carried the putrid stink of death. All around, men lay bleeding, dying from the loss of blood that escaped from viciously inflicted wounds.

The screams of pain carried on the mist that floated just above the ground in the early morning air and the sound of agonized moaning vibrated slowly through the grass, which lay beaten down by foot and hoof. An occasional patch here and there remained upright, moving softly in the gentle breeze and slowly stiffened as the blood that coated it dried.

The King of Shoen stood surveying the site, his heart aching with the pain of the scene and his head devoid of meaningful thought. Panic lingered at the edge of his consciousness.

For four seemingly eternal years, he had sat the throne of Shoen and for all of those years he had blundered in his every effort as king.

Now he stood upon the outer wall of Greemin, the capital city of Shoen, on what seemed to be the eve of his last day as king. He knew without question that it would also be the end of his young life. His empty, heartsick feelings caused him to ask the same question repeatedly in his mind, will the end of his reign be a bad thing, or a good thing.

The frustration of this question filled his heart with an over whelming, almost breath stopping anguish as the pain in his head continued to pound.

His long blonde hair was completely filthy, filled with the fire smoke and the particles of soot that clung to it; leaving it to dangle limp and tired.

He stared out over the scene with his blue eyes that now appeared hollow and empty. Only with difficulty did he avoid the complete collapse of his composure as he considered the men who had died and those that even now lay dying, who had given their all to protect this kingdom.

His mind was reeling with despair and his thoughts questioned his very fiber. Will I now just give up, am I truly the whipped pup that my enemies perceive me to be?

His thoughts, born of complete self-loathing, hammered at him, lending no mercy to his torment. He knew his men needed him to be strong and courageous, he felt that he could be neither of those things.

He had been too young when he ascended to the throne and even now, he was barely nineteen years of age. He felt the inadequacy of those few years he had spent at court, prior to his father's death. Most of those years had passed with little thought from him in his youthful bliss. They had certainly not prepared him to perform his responsibilities and to carry the burden of being a King.

However,