Chapter 8

I spent the next few hours wandering around a palace. I wasn’t sure what it looked like outside, it could have been a medieval castle, but they called it a palace. Not that architecture mattered. I was still trying to grasp it was happening and had a few moments in my head of ‘Holy fraggle! I’m in a palace.’

The women had shown me around but many had to go rest. That left Alona moving from room to room instructing a few men where to place furniture. I guess when you have a palace you can redecorate it whenever you want. I’d never seen the amount of furniture they had here. When you’ve lived as I do, a bed is all you have if you’re lucky.

Chase had taken me to the city long enough for me to show him the building, then he’d brought me back to his beloved and vanished again. A very small part of me wanted to be there when they found the apartment, the rest of me didn’t, so I hadn’t even asked.

When Alona had to go see her father, she left me sitting on a balcony that overlooked the vast countryside. She’d told me I could wander around if I wanted. I’d sat there for a while on the balcony, wondering which direction the city was and how had I never spotted a freaking palace on a mountain before. That thought spurred more curiosity and not being cat I decided to walk to the end of the balcony and see if I could find the city.

There wasn’t an ‘end’, and as far as I could tell the balcony went all the way around the palace. I paused again after the second corner and looked out over the landscape. There was a large colony in the distance. The buildings weren’t tall enough to be the city, and as far as I could tell it was way too clean to be the city. A noise beside me, had me spinning around. A large man came out of the glass door and walked to the edge of the railing and looked over. He just stood there. A guard perhaps? I looked him up and down. He was wearing a sword at his waist. A sword! Shouldn’t modern day guards of royalty be carrying a gun? He didn’t move as I headed toward him. Did I want to speak to him? Probably not. As I approached, he looked at me and bowed his head slightly. I opened my mouth to tell him I wasn’t part of the royal family, then thought a quick smile would keep me out of trouble. My track record with speaking usually got me into more issues than not.

I glanced over my shoulder as I reached another corner, he still stood there. Rounding the corner, I spotted another large man standing like a statue. He also wore a sword. Now I had definite questions. Whether I should ask or not left me undecided, so I prompted my mouth to stay closed and say nothing as I moved by him.

Out over the railing was more vast countryside, a few smaller built-up areas were visible, but once again nothing like the over-populated city. I had no idea where I was. I paused when I saw movement at the base of the mountain. There were people on horses. Horses, not cars. Frowning, I glanced back to the guard, debating long and hard if I wanted to strike up a conversation. The tension in my stomach won and not was my decision.

Continuing on, I looked inside the glass doors running along the balcony. As far as I’d noticed, the rooms were all empty. What could they use those for? Parties? Did royalty throw parties? I gnawed on the inside of my lip. I needed to find some up-to-date articles on the royal family when I got back to the city. I looked out as I went around the fourth corner, still no city. Here the countryside was more built up then the others, but there were no skyscrapers or bridges. Where the fuzz was this palace located?

I was back to where I started, I sat down facing the landscape. I looked over fields, trees and lakes and it was probably the most peaceful thing I’d ever seen. I glanced at the door, debating if I should wander through the palace. Sighing, I sat back. I didn’t want to take a chance on doing something wrong and wind up back in the cube.

I still couldn’t believe that I had intentionally listened to another’s thoughts, and I felt good about it. I don’t know if I’d ever want to do it again, but this time had helped other people.

Bethany came out through the glass doors, looking like she wasn’t quite awake. “How are you doing?” She asked as she sat down on the large, cushioned chair across from me.

“I’m sitting on the balcony of a palace.”

She nodded. “It’s like something from a movie, I know. I’d tell you that you’ll get used to it, but you won’t really. I still stop and think ‘wow this is really happening’.”

For all of them being princes and princesses, they were more down to earth than half the snobby dirt bags that thought they were truly special on this planet. I realized she was sitting there looking at me patiently. What had I missed this time? “So, after they go to this apartment, do I get my gear back?”

“Honestly, I don’t know the plan. I’m only up now because I have trouble sleeping when Leone is gone.”

“Gone?”

“He went with the Kings, Emil and Arius to the apartment.” She yawned, “I’m going to get some juice and try to wake up. Did you want to come?” She stood up.

I got up. “I didn’t want to wander around on my own and possibly get lost or do something I shouldn’t.” I followed her through the large empty room.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Hi. Yeah, I’m here with Kara, we’re…” She stopped walking. “Where? Okay. I’ll meet you at the top of the stairs.” She tucked the phone back in her pocket and jogged toward the stairs.

I quickly followed.

When we reached them Daxx appeared in front of us. “Come on, we’re meeting Crissy in the tower.”

Bethany looked at me. “What about Kara?”

“She’s safer with us.” Daxx put her hand on my arm. “Eyes closed, deep breath.” She said quickly.

Bethany made a face but did it.

I closed my eyes, then my stomach bottomed out. I opened them to see we were in a tower, just like those described in books, complete with stone merlons and the spaces to look out, crenels, I think they were called.

“So much for this anti-nausea gadget working.” Bethany held her hand over her stomach. “I don’t think I’ll ever be port friendly.”

Crissy appeared beside her. She was holding my bag. “Rafael dropped it by the table and ported to the armoury.” She said. “It’s very heavy.” Dropping it, she turned to look out from the stone ledge.

“What’s going on?” Beth moved over beside her.

“A small group is moving to the lower tunnel.” Daxx said as she pulled her phone out of her pocket.

The other two women did the same. Beth took an earpiece out of her pocket and put it in.

“We’re in the tower.” Daxx said.

I realized they were all communicating through the phone. Like Rafael had been when I’d shot him…

“She’s here with us.” Daxx looked out between the merlons. “Yeah that’s what I figured.”

“I thought those entrances were sealed.” Bethany said quietly.

I went over to see what they were looking at. We were a lot higher up than I’d thought.

“Where are you guys?” Daxx asked sounding impatient. “Really?” She shook her head. “We port inside, why doesn’t…”

“Shouldn’t they have thought of that before placing the barrier there?” Beth looked at Daxx who was still shaking her head in disbelief.

“I can go down…” Crissy’s shoulders slumped slightly. “Okay. I’ll stay here.”

Daxx turned back to Bethany. “Can you do anything from this distance?”

Biting her lip, Bethany stood on her tiptoes and looked over the edge again. “If they placed a ward so magic can’t work, then definitely no.”

I moved closer and leaned between the merlons, looking down I noticed there were large wooden doors in the side of the mountain, just below us.

“We can see them now.” Daxx informed whoever was on the other end.

I looked to see six men walking along the side of an old, cracked road, trying hard to blend into the grass beside it.

“How far are you?” Beth gave Daxx a worried look.

Crissy pulled a small pair of binoculars from her pack. “I’m looking.” She said softly.

The two other women paused.

“One is carrying a large duffle bag. No.” Crissy made a strange sound. “Purple eyes.” She hissed.

Daxx and Beth both looked over the edge again.

“We have Kara’s bag.” Crissy said. “I picked it up.”

Nodding, Daxx went over and picked up my gear.

“She hit you from five stories up.” Crissy said.

I cringed; I was pretty sure Rafael didn’t need reminding.

“She has a point.” Daxx set my bag in front of me. Touching her ear, she gave me a serious look. “This is your shot at redemption.” She pointed toward the wall. “The guys are on the way with Paisley and Autumn, we have to stall them until they get here.”

I gave her a wide-eyed look then glanced to Bethany. “How?”

Squatting down, Daxx opened my bag. “With this.”

I took a deep breath and turned to look out at the men sneaking up the mountain, then back to her again. “I can distract them, but I’m not hitting them.”

She nodded quickly. “That will work.” Motioning to my bag, she touched her ear again. “Kara is going to keep them busy.” She grinned. “Take that up with Romulus, we didn’t place that barrier.”

I knelt down and pulled out my bow, assembling it as fast as I could. Pulling out the quiver, I stood up. I couldn’t put it on my back and have my arms clear the stones on either side. I looked at Bethany and held it out. “Hand these to me.”

She came over and took it.

I pulled out an arrow and moved over, checking that I had enough room to maneuver without hitting the merlons. Unfortunately, the base of the crenel was made for much taller people.

“Oh. Here.” Crissy ran over and pulled what looked like an old wooden box seat over.

Hoping it held my weight, I got up on it. It was perfect, making me the height I needed.

“Quinton asks that you don’t hit them when they get here.” Daxx grinned.

I knew they were kidding, but that would be my luck. Shoot another royal brother.

Nocking the first arrow, I checked the grass in front of where they were walking. It wasn’t moving, so there wasn’t much breeze on that level. Aiming a few feet in front of the first man, I released it. He jumped back into the man behind him. I didn’t pause to watch as Beth placed another arrow into my open hand. I landed that one beside the second man. I continued, changing sides and directions and ten arrows later they just stood there, not moving in any direction.

“They’re afraid to breathe.” Daxx laughed.

“There they are.” Beth said. “Distract them, Kara, aim in front of them again.”

Beth handed me another arrow. I aimed and put it an inch from the one man’s foot.

Right after that, Autumn and Michael were there. My jaw dropped as I watched Autumn take the man down in a blur of movement, then Michael leaned over him and he completely vanished. Just gone.

I couldn’t look away when I noticed Rafael was using a sword. An actual longsword, not a cute little sabre, and he was using it against a man that was wielding a weapon that looked like an axe and hammer.

My FOS started climbing. This wasn’t the middle ages. Why were these people using weapons like that? Not that I supported weapons at all… I glanced down to the bow in my hand. I wasn’t one to judge. I used a bow or throwing knives in a time when most of the population had a gun hidden somewhere on their person and a switchblade in their pocket.

I turned back to see Rafael and Victor were taking on the last two as Quinton, Michael and Autumn were moving around the man waving his hands around.

“Can you freeze him, Paize?” Daxx sounded worried. She scowled. “Romulus better hide so I can’t get a hold of him.”

I glanced at the quiver Beth held and pulled out one of my precious bodkins. Nocking it, I zeroed in on the man waving his hands around.

“Kara’s going…”

“Less talk.” I said quietly. I didn’t want to be distracted right now. I had to make sure this shot went between Quinton and Michael without hitting them. I watched the one waving his hands, there was no way I could predict where they were going to go next. His mouth was moving rapidly, his expression was malicious. I moved slightly to the right and released. A second later he howled and put his hand against his cheek that the bodkin tip had nicked. I lowered my bow slowly.

Quinton spun around and looked right up at me. Autumn was grinning as she landed a spinning kick on the other side of his face and he slumped to the ground.

“That was beautiful.” Daxx sounded very excited.

Rafael moved over to stand beside Michael, in his hand was the arrow that had stopped the man from hurting the others. He turned and looked up at me. My heart flipped inside me, he didn’t look angry, but he also didn’t look happy I had helped. Autumn turned around and waved her hand, then gave me a thumbs up.

Stepping off the box, I took my bow apart and placed it back in the bag. As exhilarating as helping these people was, and surreal as being among royalty seemed to be, I just wanted to be on my way.

“Come on, we’ll walk down to the courtyard.” Daxx said.

“Yes. No porting.” Bethany said as she handed me back my quiver.

I paused and saw how empty it looked, deciding if I was allowed to go, I could accept the loss of my arrows.