Cinderfella

Story: Cinderfella 2: A New Life

Chapter: 12 Strategizing

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Mature Readers only due to sexual situations and graphic sexual content

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Now that we know what we're fighting...how do we do that? We need a plan.

Strategizing

Now we knew that Anastasia had been seen and we had something to look for, but there was still the mystery. Who was Jean Claude? Then I kicked myself, the first thing I thought of was to call Demetrius. I had surrendered a lot when he helped me and I was not liking the dependence.

But we kept looking. Dr. Warren was so excited about this whole new little world we'd shown him. He had the craftsmen make more Seers. He chosen a select number of minds he trusted to form a group that was going to research all they could find and catalog them. Then he shared some of his concerns and even some new breakthroughs. It even made him appear younger.

"I had a problem with some of the samples." Dr. Warren said to me and Seth. "It seems that some our gathered samples are easily drawing other creatures that we had not taken. I fear our techniques for cleaning the glass containers need to be improved. Also, the room itself must be cleaned thoroughly."

I nodded. "That makes sense."

"There are chemicals that seem to work better than others, we're trying them to find one that will rid all glass containers of any little creatures before we add our sample." Then he motioned to a new Seer. "And this...works the best." It was a Seer, but it was encased. The magnifiers were completely wrapped in a metal container. "It keeps light to a minimum where we don't want it and with these reflectors..." he pointed to little mirrors he had underneath where the samples would be placed. There was a larger one by a lamp that reflected light on the little mirror below the sample. "We have more light to see the sample. Thus, the little creatures are more easily seen."

I looked through the Seer. Now these little creatures could be seen much, much clearer, and more defined. "This is great work, Doctor." I smiled at the man. I looked again at the sample, and I didn't know this one. "What is this?"

The doctor chuckled. "It's the Common Cold creatures. One of my men had one and offered his sputum and nasal discharge."

I chuckled. "We've all had them little creatures."

"And not hard to kill." The doctor nodded. "On surfaces, inside the body may be a lot trickier. The other problem is the creatures seem to change a little with each person, we had another with a cold. The creatures were the same, but not totally."

Seth smiled. "That may make killing them a challenge. We want to kill those creatures, not the man that has them."

Dr. Warren nodded. "That's it exactly." Then he looked at me. "King Christian seems to have recovered fully from his little creatures."

I smiled as thought of my brother. "He has."

"How are we going to protect him and the family against a world so small?" Dr. Warren asked.

I gave a shrugging nod. "That's a good question. He's being cautious."

"A little over cautious," Seth grumbled. "Not that I blame him, but everyone that comes to the palace is searched. No vials of any kind are allowed in. Jewels and anything sharp is taken from guests." He shrugged, "But I'd be the same way if someone threatened you, Erik, or our boys."

"No further word about this...Anastasia?" Dr. Warren asked.

I shook my head. "She's around. We'll find her." I just hope my faith was realized before anyone else got hurt.

Christian's caution was also the cause for tension between him and Ella. I was coming down the corridor going to Seth's and my room as Ella came from the room she and Christian shared.

"...no, Christian!" She shook her head as Christian came behind her into the corridor. "I can't cancel." She turned to her husband. "I am Queen. This whole campaign to deal with educating our young was my idea. We're opening a new school; I have to be there."

"You need to be careful." Christian begged. "Anastasia is out there. Whoever is out to get our family is out there."

Ella nodded. "I know that." She hugged her husband, kissing him. "I will be careful, but if we show any sign that they can change things...or alter our plans. They win. My going is important. If for nothing more than show these people they can't intimidate us." She kissed him again. "I'd say not to worry, but I know you will, so I won't bother." Then she smiled at Christian, kissing him again lovingly as her hand stroked his face. "I love you, too, honey. Worry. Just trust me and the guards assigned to watch me." Then she nodded to me as she walked down the hall.

Christian smiled at me as I got closer, "She's a great queen."

I chuckled. "You picked her. And you did a great job."

Christian sighed. "This whole situation just smells like horse dung on a boot."

I nodded. "It does stink." I put my hand on Christian's arm. "For the most part, almost all the people love her. I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't, but if someone tried to do something to harm her, they'd have some very angry people to deal with."

"The problem is those little creatures you found." Christian pointed out. "Someone could...use those things, have them infest one of us and it could be hours...even days before we know." He sighed and was about to walk off. "I feel like I'm paranoid."

I stopped him. "Paranoia is when the threat isn't necessarily there. This time the threat is there. That's not paranoia."

Christian nodded. "You're right." He smiled. "Now, I have to meet with the delegation from Slovania."

"Keep your distance!" I said which he nodded and kept walking.

And that was the thing. To try to protect Christian, Ella or any of us guests were told they could in no way touch a member of the royal family and the family and mostly Christian were watched when meeting with other people. The guards were ready in an instant if someone got too close. A distance of several feet was to be observed at all times. Even those on staff at the palace were told to keep their distance and when serving food or drink, it was to be tasted first.

It was at dinner when Christian had just about had it when the goblet he was handed was taken and tasted.

"It's like we've regressed thousands a years!" Christian wailed. "Tasters!?"

I felt his discomfort. This was not how A'Dore worked, but until we found who and why someone wanted to hurt Christian, Ella, or anybody else, what else could we do? I was again to my brother's left side at the table as I was all the years he had become king. Seth to my left and Ella to Christian's right. The children had been fed earlier and were being watched in the nursery and the watchers watched. I put my hand on Christian's hand. "What choice do we have? We can't take any risk." Christian took my hand and squeezed it tightly and smiled, but it was grim.

"I know." Christian nodded. "This really, really stinks!" He nearly exploded as he angrily swiped the table of his plate, crystal, and silverware. I had never seen him so upset. Then he rose and began pacing. "I can't work like this. I can't have my family live like this! This is maddening!"

Ella was not shocked by Christian's emotional outburst, neither were Seth and I.

"What alternative is there, honey?" Ella asked quietly.

Christian turned angrily. "As of this moment. Nothing takes precedence. We will find whoever is behind this. I mean every guard, soldier, and every citizen of A'Dore is to find Anastasia. No stone unturned, every corner searched. If she had nothing to do with it. We'll find out. If she is," he shook his head, "no, she must be found!" He sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest as he heaved. "My kingdom was one of trust. I trust those that work in the palace with me, I trusted the citizens. We will have that again. Mark my words, this will happen!"

The decree went out. Everyone was to look for Anastasia. That was not just for the capital, but every town in A'Dore! Guards were needed to protect the palace, but every guard and soldier available was now looking. Citizens were more than willing to help, opening their homes to be searched and even willing to help. We wanted any document or letter, any information about Anastasia or Jean Claude searched for. And of course, there were those who didn't like a neighbor and thought reporting the neighbor as being seen with Anastasia was done just to make trouble. Those were quickly deal with, but never doubting that someone might report the truth they were investigated. Tensions were high now, but the search was going to happen.

This went on about two weeks before a few guards rode in quickly and immediately dismounted, coming again to the throne room. I was with Christian, if for nothing more than moral support. The kingdom needed to be run and things had to be decided and things mitigated.

"We have her, Sire." A guard reported as he quickly lowered to a bow. "Anastasia had been found. They're bringing her here and will be here momentarily. Where she was living is being searched now as were your orders."

If Christian was happy to hear this, it didn't show on his face. The tension had made some lines on his face. Lines I hoped would go away. "Why is she not with you?" Christian asked.

"She insisted on a carriage, Sire."

Christian nodded, but he wasn't happy. "Of course, she did." He muttered but smiled at the guard. "Thank you. I commend you on your service. You and you men should enjoy some wine or something else." He waved to a man nearby. "See to their needs, Curtis."

I grinned at the guard reporting. It was Delbert, he'd gone up in rank. He looked up at me and smiled. I winked at him. He'd always been a friend. Now I walked up next to Christian. "I was a child when the ball and all this happened. She's the eldest, right?" This tension was really showing on Christian's face. Who was the best person to distract him from this tension? Me. I knew him better than anyone, except Ella, of course. I knew what buttons to push to get a rise out of my big brother.

Christian was thinking but nodded. "She was. And not ugly as I remember." Then he smiled, "But there was Ella."

I chuckled. "How can I forget Ella's entrance to the ball?"

Christian's eyes widened. "You saw that?"

I nodded. "Of course, I did. From that place above the ballroom, I sure did. I looked between those thingys in the railings. The banister."

Christian sighed contently. "She was a vision." Then brightened. "And still is."

"I knew my duty, I had to check on who you might marry." I said simply. "You were having the ball so you could be going doing something with someone at night. I thought I should see who. Married people and unmarried, but I just knew a little about it then."

Christian frowned. "Doing something...?"

"And you did three times!" I grinned as I knew I was getting to him as he turned pink.

"I have four children." Christian corrected.

"Ah, but that one was a double shot." I nodded liking as his face got redder.

"You know, you may go down in history as my favorite brother and my least favorite brother," Christian growled.

I shook my head. "Good thing I'm your only brother then." I leaned closer. "You love me to death!"

Christian swatted me on the head with the papers in his hands. "Yes, I do. Why don't you go annoy your husband?"

I shook my head again. "I can do that later and will, but right now I wanta stay with you! It's my job to get your mind off things. I'm your little brother!" I grinned as he smiled, his face relaxing. "Is it working?"

Christian chuckled and hugged me. "Yeah, it's working. You do a good job." Then he pushed me away a little. "Just be...." He waved away again. "...over there."

I smiled bumping our heads together lightly. "Nah, I'll stay right by your side."

Christian grinned. "Yeah? Well, you don't have to be so good at what you're doing. You can be so obnoxious."

"I can, can't I?" I chuckled.

I did help him with distraction. It was a duty all siblings throughout time have honored. Keeping your sibling sane, by driving them nearly insane.

We sent word to Ella that Anastasia had been found so she came as the carriage her former stepsister arrived. When the woman was brought in, I hate to say it, I wasn't expecting her. Not what walked in the throne room. The woman may have been pretty once. She was not much older than Ella. Her hair was too black, like pitch, and she was thin. Her face was...hard. Christian's and my father warned us about women that had hard faces. They didn't have soft hearts. She was wearing expensive clothes and looking annoyed at being escorted before Christian. While not touching her, the guards were making sure she came in.

"Welcome to the palace of A'Dore." Christian greeted curtly. "Is it Remiere? Or have we gone back to Tremaine now?"

I knew this was a way for him to find out who Jean Claude was.

Anastasia smiled a little thinly. "So, you know I married him." She shrugged. "He was wealthy, and I married him. Why am I here?"

I frowned. "Isn't it proper to bow before your king?" I asked. Anastasia looked surprised, but seeing she had no choice, she did bow. I didn't like her attitude. "You're here because the man you were married died! He almost killed my brother." I pointed to Christian.

Anastasia shook her head. "He wasn't very smart. A man that's going to kill you, dies himself? What sort of plan is that?"

"Not a very smart one," Ella said coming in from the side along with Seth. "Of course, that could have been an accident."

Anastasia looked at Ella and you saw Anastasia's eyes get very...cold. Ella was still beautiful, and she was...not as pretty as she could be. "Well, well...my dear sister..."

"Don't even try it," Christian said gruffly walking closer to Anastasia. "You were never family to Ella. Not by birth and certainly not by heart."

Anastasia turned at that. "We are by law."

Christian shook his head. "Not anymore. Your mother was the only real tie to Ella for marrying her father. Since she passed away, that's done. You were never a family." He was getting angrier.

I put my hand on his arm to try and calm him. "We need information." I said quietly to Christian. I looked at Anastasia. "What were Jean Claude's plans? Is there anything you can tell us about him?"

Anastasia smiled. She had heard of me, maybe seen me, but she knew who I was. As I was so physically close to the king, and no one was worried. I had to be.... "You're King Christian's brother, Prince Erik, the man that married a man to make him king in Blethos." She deduced.

I nodded. "I am. And am still happily married to him." I waved my hand at Seth. I cocked my head looking at her. "I guess we're both famous."

Anastasia laughed. "I'm not as famous as you are. You created quite a stir when you married Prince Phillip, now Seth. No, Jean Claude was the product of a marriage between a man from Parisa and a woman from Blethos."

Christian nodded. "Can you tell us what his plans were?"

Anastasia looked hard at Christian. "He was part of a political group that didn't exactly like this alliance between Blethos and A'Dore. He and others feared the kingdoms would soon unite and become one kingdom. You're marrying a royal family member was bringing us closer and closer to that. He wanted to stop that."

Anastasia was not really concerned about what was happening. The overall feeling I got was SHE was the threat. Any simple creature on this world knew a danger when they came across it and ran. That's what I wanted to do. Run.

Christian nodded. "He was going to breakup any alliance by killing me?" He said. "How was that going to work?" He moved a little closer.

She shrugged. "I'm not sure." She looked around the throne room almost absently. "He and a few felt Blethos should be independent."

I frowned. "It is independent."

She shook her head. "They didn't see it that way." Then she turned, looking coldly at Christian and me. "It was obvious what was going to happen." Yet she didn't see anything to tell her we could see her point. "Okay. There were four great powers on this continent. "A'Dore, Blethos, Darma and Cried." She began as if teaching school. "A'Dore was the largest because of land. We have the most land for growing crops than any of the other kingdoms and the most fertile. At one time, Blethos, which was half growing fields and rocky terrain had a crisis like they just had. The king of Darma married a nobleman's son and merged the kingdoms of Blethos and Darma..."

"We know this," I said feeling annoyed she was giving history lessons instead of telling us about this attempt on the royal family. "I gave a similar lecture when we got rid of that stupid law about women and men marrying someone of the same gender. Can we get to the point?"

What is it about nasty people that makes their smiles look evil? I thought briefly of Candor, Arthur's supplier of stolen goods. "Well, Blethos became almost as large as A'Dore." Anastasia said simply. "Things were becoming friendlier between A'Dore and Blethos and then the crisis of an heir to the throne happened again and they turned to A'Dore to help." She pointed at me. "The thing was, they were worried if you married a woman of noble birth and had children then there was a threat. Any child born from that union was perceived as a threat. A king on the throne of Blethos that was also from A'Dore? You married the son of King Alexander, who gave the crown to his brother. The threat was delayed. You two would have no heirs, so Blethos was secure for another generation."

"We have two sons." I frowned. "Seth and I."

"Yes, but are they in line for the throne?" Anastasia asked.

I shook my head. "I never thought about it. I don't suppose they are. If they are, they're after Thomas, Edward and Michael."

"And there you go." Anastasia said.

"This is nice, reviewing what we know." Christian growled. "What's wrong with the fact we get along?"

She shrugged again. "Nothing, but they saw a second merger was going to happen. The kingdom that would come of this eventual merger would be mightier in power than any kingdom on this entire world! You would have troops that numbered in the hundreds of thousands."

"And that would be a bad thing," Christian said trying to follow this to some logic.

"Controlled by one man?" Anastasia pointed out. "Thousands of square miles controlled by one man, one family they feared was too much. They thought a man should be chosen to rule, not born to rule. Basically, it is now. The royal families of A'Dore and Blethos have combined. You are essentially one family now. Two kings, yes, but one family."

I nodded. "Because Christian and Samuel are doing such a bad job."

She grinned. "There are other things they thought were too important for one man to decide about, or one family. They didn't trust that you could rule wisely over a huge kingdom or empire. And it IS an empire." She waved all this away like one does a fly buzzing around you head. "I don't care. I'm not politically interested. When you married your brother to Prince Phillip, they saw that you weren't a man God would approve of. Therefore, were not going to trusted to make any hard decisions." She smiled again. "Then you, Your Majesty and King Alexander both married your families by marrying Prince Erik to Prince Phillip to each other. They were going to strike you, too, Seth. Then King Alexander dies, and Seth was king. He stepped down. You, King Christian did not."

Christian nodded as he began to pace and think. "But in killing me, they'd have the same issue, my son is next in line."

Anastasia nodded again. "That's why they did what they did. Hoping it would take care of several barriers. Ella and the family included." She smiled. "Like I've stated, this is all Jean Claude's agendas, not mine."

"And you knew about these plans...when?" I asked.

"A couple of months ago." Anastasia said. "I had no time to warn anyone." She shook her head, "Not on speculation."

Ella walked toward Anastasia. "The fact you were once my step-sister? I can't believe that fact was just a coincidence."

"That was just happenstance," Anastasia shook her head. "No, the marriage for me was one for two reasons. They hoped that my having something of a relationship with you would get them closer to the throne. And Jean Claude needed the...distraction for others."

"Distraction?" Ella frowned. "Why did he need distracting? You're not making sense."

"Jean Claude was a very devout man. He even studied to be a priest." Anastasia said. "And it wasn't a distraction for him, but everyone else. It seems that Jean Claude liked them young. Very young."

"By the term them, you mean for sex?" Seth asked a little appalled. "He was into children?"

Anastasia nodded. "Little boys." She said it as if to specify what a color really was. No alarm or concern. "And I knew he would give all that money he had to the Church if he joined and became clergy. Why should the Church profit from him? If I married him, he would throw some of those people fearful for their children off and I would be a wealthy woman and I married him making him appear...normal."

"You knew he was like this when you married him." Ella said, and it was all done and said like it was to be sure we got the real picture as to what had happened.

"He said he was stopping," Anastasia said but she knew he wouldn't. "I trusted him. I married him." Then she looked at Christian. "Now, am I under arrest?" Even standing before her king, she seemed as if she thought she was above it all. Entitled!

Christian didn't know what to do. "Should you be arrested?"

I held my hand out. "Do you know the members of this...group your husband was with?"

She shook her head. "I have no idea." Then she smiled. "They burned their communications, so there isn't even a letter to read. I saw a few letters about how they saw you and what was happening. I saw what they were going to do too late to report it." You didn't need Demetrius or any crystal ball to know she was lying, but what proof did we have?

"And we just have your word for that." Christian said.

"Unless you have another, yes."

I shook my head. "You will of course understand why we don't necessarily trust you. You have a history that's not trustworthy."

"Why?" Anastasia looked like she really knew but wanted us to say it. "Because I dared not to like Ella? Because I was mean to her when we were younger? How dare I do that?" She said the last part in mocking disgust.

"I was always nice to you." Ella said, but her feelings were hurt. "What did I do that made you dislike me so much?"

"You were perfect," Anastasia answered simply. "You are pretty, kind and everyone loved you. Still do." She chuckled. "Even now, the whole kingdom is upset for poor Ella."

"I never asked them for that," Ella said, still not understanding.

"You don't have to ask," Anastasia frowned. "They just do. This goody-goody act you do, all those causes you come up with...feeding the poor, educating the children and medical care done by roving teams of doctors that travel to the other towns...who wouldn't like you?"

"You don't," I said.

Anastasia looked back at me. "Is that a crime?"

"No." Christian shook his head. "I wish I could make it one, but that isn't right either." He looked at Anastasia. "You may return home, but know this...you will be watched."

"Because I'm so dangerous." Anastasia said mockingly again.

"I think you are," Christian said. "Until the people tell me I'm not king anymore...I am king. On my say so, you will be watched."

Anastasia nodded. "Fine. Can I go now?"

"See to it Mrs. Remiere is returned safely." Christian said to Delbert who instantly bowed and was walking Ella's former stepsister out. Then Christian waved at a man at one of the tables who was part of the military. The man came before Christian. "I want someone, even a few men to watch her. I want to know who comes and goes, who her friends are and who is in this group that want me removed...who are these people? We've got to know."

The man bowed. "I'll see to it, Sire." And went to put things in place.

"Now!" Christian smiled clapping his hands together once and rubbed them together quickly and the spoke loudly for the entire room. "As of this moment...we are going back to the way things were before." He looked at each of their faces around the room. "I trust all of you. I like almost every one of you...others I'm just getting to know, but given time I will like you, too I'm sure. I'm not going to let these people make me see the need for tasters and all these extra precautions. If there is someone new in the palace, find out who they are, but no more searches without provocation. Do I make myself clear?"

There was a general agreement.

"We need to let Sam know about this group." I said to Christian and Seth. "If it's as spread out as Anastasia says they are. We're not done yet."

"Will we ever be?" Seth grumbled.

"No." Christian smiled as Ella walked over. "I'm sorry you had to see this." He said to her gently.

Ella nodded. "It wasn't a surprise that she still doesn't like me, but it did hurt again." Then she smiled. "We can't punish her because of it."

Christian looked at Seth and me. "I'll write a message for Sam. The fastest way is through the mirror/doorway. You can deliver it faster that way." He thought about what we'd heard. "The concern about the size of the kingdom is valid. We are becoming a vast empire."

"There have been many empires that have been as large in history. Rulers and military men held many in their control over enormous distance." I said.

"The problem is, we're not united." Christian stated. "There's a king in Blethos and I'm here in A'Dore."

"A kingdom this big...there is problems because of distance. But they are right, we are one family now." Seth said. "The problem is getting word to the outlying towns is difficult. Making sure everyone is on the same page is hard."

"The problem is access," I said. "There are no river accesses, going around is too long. The only rivers go North to South, not East to West."

"We'll begin what you recommended when you left for Blethos." Christian smiled. "Remember? The horse driven messages? So long you ride a horse hard, pick up another and keep going?"

I grinned. "Well, it would be faster. We could have points..." I thought. "...about twenty miles apart?"

"We'll need fast horses, too." Christian said. "Of course, we can do it faster with the mirror, but we need to have the other in place. We could cut the time in half."

"A week instead of two and a half." Seth nodded. "And you know there will be problems."

"Of course, there'll be problems." Christian threw his hands up helplessly. "Horses can break legs or the courier up and die and the message doesn't get there. All sorts of problems. Do we have another choice?"

Seth and I shook our heads. "We can't think of one," I said. "Let's work with what we've got. We'll need men that are light and horses that are faster."

"We also can look into the bird delivery you spoke about." Christian suggested. "They could cut more time down." He scratched the back of his head as he chuckled. "I sort of got used to writing you a letter, sending it by Demetrius and getting a reply in a few minutes."

I frowned. "That's the problem." I said making them look. "I was dependent, too. When I had something I didn't know a solution for, I was thinking I could ask Demetrius. He says they will be gone in a few hundred years. We'll have to come with some magic of our own. We'll have to have a quicker means of travel."

"But that could be a while yet," Ella said.

"It will happen." I smiled. "It could be many generations before we find it, but we'll find it. Until we do, we do with what we have."

"The connecting factor is you two," Christian said sadly. "Because of your marriage, Blethos and A'Dore are woven together. You're in danger because of it."

I shrugged. "We're in danger because we're related to rulers. That is a constant."

Christian nodded. "We do need to improve precaution until we find these people."

Seth smiled and shook his head. "Why do I feel we should break this up with a big hurrah? Like military men or men on a sports team before they try a new move?"

I chuckled. "Because that's just what happened. We're putting plans in motion. A move was made, now a countermove is being planned."

Christian grinned. "A big hurrah!" He put his fist in the center where we were talking, to which Seth and I added ours, touching all fists. "Representing the kingdom of A'Dore and Blethos, united!" We gave the "hurrah!" Which Ella just rolled her eyes.

"Men," She said quietly, shook her head and smiled.

Christian did write a letter to Samuel to be delivered when we got back. A reply was going to be sent as soon as it was done. There were going to be stations set up from both sides where a fresh horse could be waiting. A rider could cover hundreds of miles a day. This was the more reliable way we could communicate. But even a week each way, the telling and response would take time and if troops were needed, even more time. At least the mirror/doorway cut even more time out. Then I wondered what would happen if we moved the mirror to the palace in Blethos. We didn't move them at all, they were placed by Demetrius or Lukus. I couldn't even ask them if we could. I missed Demetrius. I missed them all, but mostly Demetrius.

It wasn't but a few days later, we bid the family here good-bye and stepped through the mirror again. Back to Royal Valley and our homes. We traveled at night while the boys were asleep carrying them in our arms.

It was while I was putting Dennis down in his bed and Seth was putting Toby in his bed when a very large shadow appeared in the doorway.

"You're back!" Zeke's friendly voice said hopefully.

"Yes, for a while," Seth nodded holding his finger to his lips to make Zeke be quieter. Dennis could hear and wake up. "Is Gabe with you?" Seth asked.

"No, he's home." Zeke came over and looked down at our boys. "So, you'll need me to bring horses?"

Seth frowned. "No, it's okay. We've got the boys, maybe they'll think we came in the night, and they left."

Zeke nodded. "Sure. So, you won't need anyone tomorrow?"

I shook my head walking over to him. "We didn't need you when we gone, but thanks for watching our place."

Zeke looked surprised. "Are you kidding? There are some crazy people out there. You guys have a nice place, some nice things that bandits would love to get ahold of. We had to watch the place. They're nuts out there!"

Seth chuckled hugging Zeke, "We appreciate that."

Zeke shrugged. "We're friends." He said logically. Then he looked at our boys. "So...they went to sleep in beds in A'Dore and are waking up here, in their own beds in Royal Valley, a thousand miles just like...." He snapped his fingers. "...that!"

I smiled at his amazement and just the look of...well, it is hard for Zeke to believe. I snapped my own fingers. "Yeah, just like that."

"Incredible," Zek shook his head and then knocked his head with his fist. "It's hard to get in here." He took after his father Ebb. A very big man and Zeke was fast making up any difference as time had passed. Working with his father, the blacksmith had shaped his youth in a very nice-shaped man, but now he was more like a little boy. Now that he was in the light of the room, I could see his youthful face in the lamp light.

I grinned walking over to the big man. I ran a finger over his shaved face, "What's this? What happened to the beard you were growing the past three years?"

Zeke looked at me and then his face blushed and he rubbed his face and looked sheepishly at me. "Yeah, Gabe didn't care for it. So, I shaved it off."

Seth chuckled. "What we do for love."

"Yeah." Zeke smiled. Then he grinned. "I'm no longer needed for now. I'll go home."

"Good idea." I nodded as we walked out of our boys' room.

Zeke nodded. "See you tomorrow," and he left.

Seth walked up behind me, "We'll need to talk to the mayor. Let him know what's happening." He put his arms around me from behind.

"We need to deliver that message to Sam." I nodded. "We will need guards for this house. We can use men here from Royal Valley, but..."

"We might need help." Seth's face came down to my neck.

"I feel this is going to be a danger that may be a while before it's resolved."