by D L Goddard
The pain in his voice tugged at her heart and she wanted to comfort him and remind him that he was still first in her life. Warmth filled Anya; in fact it overwhelmed her as she thought of her wonderful, beautiful Beast. She envisioned putting her arms around him, kissing his wonderful mouth and touching him the way only he had ever touched her … giving him the joy he so freely gave her. She sent all her loving warmth to her Beast who suddenly found himself on the receiving end of Anya’s unstinting love. Somehow … she had discovered how to send very vivid imagery along with the intense emotion that accompanied it leaving her Beast breathless and wide-eyed at the way his darling Anya showed him just how much she loved him, and how much she wanted to be there to hold him and touch him the way they had before. Arahir turned his back on the performing couple, not wanting to pollute their love with the base act executed on his behalf. Instead he experienced the wondrous joy in all Anya could send him of herself, wishing she was there beside him … prison cell or not … just so that she could touch him for real. The Beast clung to every last thought and emotion, feeling his body tremble and shake with the strength of her passion. And when she had finally left him to return to her sleep … a single tear clung to Arahir and to Anya’s lashes like a flawless diamond of incalculable beauty and immeasurable worth.
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Alexandros sat hunched over guarding the sleeping Beast. The Troll couldn’t see anything even remotely bestial about the gentle half-man asleep on the straw pallet. Something about Hidden One the Enchantress was obsessed with made Alexandros want to set him free. All he could feel was how wrong it was holding him prisoner. He knew the Enchantress and the arrogant smug Lord Savage had something planned and that they considered him too stupid to understand anything they were doing. After all, Alexandros was the epitome of the fairy tale troll in appearance.
The troll was eight feet tall and as broad as two pick axes across the shoulders. He had two long tusks curling upwards on either side of his well-shaped mouth with its sharp pointed teeth. He had a thick eyebrow ridge and black deep set eyes. A broad flat nose and large wide nostrils shaped the typical troll face. Alexandros’ jaw was so square it could have been shaped with an axe. He was bald except for a shaped Mohawk of deep green hair threaded through with gems and feathers wound on fine gold chains showing his status. As a fine specimen in his early adulthood, he was considered remarkably handsome, with a strong corded neck and a Mohawk that fell to a very trim waist. He was immensely powerful and hugely muscular without being out of proportion for his height, and all of him was considered perfect. But then, Alexandros was a very young Troll, only five hundred and only married for a century with twin cubs barely five years of age. They had only just found their feet and their own voices and he missed his young, beautiful Callidora who he adored. He was also their youngest King to have ever ascended to the throne of Laconia, making him the High King over all other Clan Kings.
Even though he wore soft leather breeches and soft leather vests leaving his feet bare and his arms free but for two golden marked bands denoting him a King and a braided torc of the High King; it was really the length of his Mohawk that set him apart immediately … that and the decorations in his hair and his fine quality weapons. Clothes were the same for every male troll no matter their status. Even their women wore the same toga type garment only individualized by color and decoration. What really set the women apart was the way the females wore their long beautiful hair.
When Alexandros was just over two centuries old, he led the mighty troll Clans against the hordes of barbarian Ogres who sought to wipe the trolls from the face of Argolis. The war had lasted just over five decades, but the trolls had managed to send the Ogres back through the portal that had appeared out of nowhere and had opened in the main trading center of Antissa. The Ogres had slaughtered hundreds of men, women and young before the garrison came to the rescue. The Ogres had regrouped and began attacking everything in their wake before the Clans finally came together. The barbarians were a tough and formidable foe and the trolls found themselves at a stalemate … until … Alexandros reached his maturity at two centuries old.
As soon as the young warrior Prince, son of the High King Ampelios took the field, it was obvious to all that he was a brilliant strategist and magnificent warrior. He also had a knack with his men, boosting their morale and earning their love. By the end of the first battle, the Clans would follow him anywhere. He was a born leader and even though he was one of their youngest warriors, he soon won the hearts of even the hardest-hearted and led the trolls to victory after victory. But their final triumphant victory that won the war for them was on the empty wastes, the Plains of Gomphi. The Ogres rather than throw down their arms or be slaughtered, fled back across the empty wastes until they reached the portal, chased by fleet footed young warrior trolls led by the Prince himself, eager to finish the war once and for all. Most that had survived the battle died before they could escape home. Over thirty thousand Ogres had invaded their world and it had taken the trolls five decades to finally defeat them. Less than two hundred Ogres survived to return home through the portal.
King Ampelios stood beside Prince Alexandros with their armies while their Seer Fotis closed the portal forever, sealing it completely against another magic reopening it. Fotis used magic on the portal that would circumvent anything getting through by sending them back where they came from.
The Plains of Gomphi was the battle that decided the war and Prince Alexandros was the one who led them to victory. He became their nation’s hero. When the High King Ampelios died of a sudden illness as Alexandros turned five hundred, he was crowned High King of Laconia, the seat that ruled all other Clans. He had found himself a beautiful, gentle natured bride, Callidora whom he loved with all his fierce warrior’s heart and when twin cubs were born to them five years ago, he had never been so happy.
But since he had discovered a portal deep in the forest near Carystus when he was hunting with his most trusted friend Haemon, he felt a compelling need to find out what was on the other side. Returning to the High Throne at Laconia, Alexandros called an Assembly of all Kings and Clan Nobles. He explained he had a way to find out who was behind the war and he discovered they were trying to do it once more. But he had decided to enter the portal and confront the enemy and hopefully end the portals’ creation. He wanted to stop them even being formed in their world again. The hall was subdued, they didn’t want another war, but they didn’t want their young ruler going through a portal either.
Alexandros appointed Haemon Regent in trust for his twins who if anything went wrong and he didn’t return … would rule together seeking counsel from each other. His wife Callidora would rule as Co-Regent with Haemon and ensure the peace in the land. Fotis would seal the new-found portal; if Alexandros could not get back then, he would be happy knowing his children would rule after him. It was the last the land of Argolis saw of their mighty High King Alexandros.
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Alexandros stared into the fire in the reorganized basement cum dungeon, not really feeling either the heat or the warmth. He had stumbled into a beautiful garden when he left the portal and had fallen almost on top of two people plotting together over the unconscious figure of a beast man. They wanted to take the beast from the castle where he would be free from the castle’s influence and unable to escape, to place him in the Savage’s dubious care hoping to raise his beast to the surface. The Enchantress wanted initially to take the beast to her world but he couldn’t be taken through the portals without the castle’s permission. So, she let him go with Lord Savage.
The Troll King made as if to turn and walk away but the Enchantress caught him in her web of magic making him serve her. He had been with her for a whole year now and had discovered the loathsome creature behind the unbelievably exquisite exterior. He hoped to be able to escape at the first opportunity. But lately he realized they were planning something much bigger than he realized. He was glad they had no idea he wasn’t ju
st a common Troll; he knew if they realized who he actually was … his world would be in real danger. For that … he was grateful; but … the more he looked at the Beast in the straw; the more he thought he knew him somehow.
Alexandros had heard the legends even on his world of the Keeper of the Living Light that protected all the worlds, keeping all the inhabitants safe. He racked his brain, positive he had once known the stories; even from his childhood he was sure his Nanny had told him tales of portals and the Castle Barshael with its Living Light. But that was all he could remember, it was as if part of his memories had been carefully erased. But Alexandros knew it didn’t take a mental genius to realize the Beast was someone very special and whatever the two plotted, something truly evil was going to be the result of it.
The strangest part in all of this was when the Troll looked at the Hidden One with his bestial features … really looked at him past the curse on his face; Alexandros could see the nobility and gentle spirit that cared for all living things. A name came to him … Arahir … the Beast looked up … ‘I am the Keeper of Castle Barshael’ … the thought was as clear as if he had spoken to the Troll out loud. ‘My Lord High King Alexandros … I must return to the castle before the Enchantress and Lord Savage manage to destroy my work, the peace of the Keeper and the Living Light. I need your help … please?’
The heartfelt plea tore at him, if this truly was the Keeper … why couldn’t he remember the blasted story? He was sure the Enchantress had tampered with his memories. He tried to remember his family, but his wife’s face …what was her name now? The more he tried to remember … the more he was unable to summon her lovely smiling face. A gentle voice told him to stop trying so hard … just let his memories return. Only when we try so hard do they vanish. It sounded very strange but when he stopped trying to force the memories, an image of his family just popped into his head smiling and happy. Relief made him weak in the knees.
He sat on his haunches, trembling a little. Then he lifted his head and found the Beast looking straight into his eyes, smiling. Alexandros knew in that moment … he was going to save the Beast no matter what happened. Alexandros knelt at Arahir’s level and held out a great huge hand. Without hesitating, the Beast accepted finding his normally large hands completely engulfed, but shaken warmly. He felt honesty and integrity coming from the Troll and he was pleased. He knew of Alexandros but never realized he was a captive as he himself was. The Troll leant forward and whispered to the Beast.
“My friend Beast … we will escape you and I as soon as we figure out a way.”
The Beast stood and looked steadily in the Troll’s sincere face.
“And you will be freed my friend and I will send you back home.”
Tears filled the frightening face of the Troll King.
“Thank you my friend Beast … I miss my beloved and my family.”
Tears shone in the Beast’s own eyes as he replied with the same longing in his own heartfelt response. He placed a hand on the Troll’s thick forearm.
“As do I my friend … As do I.”
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Chapter Fifteen
Mir and Val woke at the emotion pouring through Anya into her Beast. She didn’t realize she was using their strength to make the connection with the Beast even stronger and they were amazed she could do such a thing. Anya was following her heart and it drew on the nearest power source handy … the twins. They held her tightly, helping the powerful bond fill with all she wanted to say to Arahir, to let him know just how much she loved him and wanted him. It was an amazingly intimate moment and the twins were so touched by it that when she finished and broke the connection they wept at the pain from Anya and Arahir at being separated for so long.
Mir pointed out the tear trembling on her long lashes. Val caught it on a slender finger then; he drew the sign of Seren on Mir’s hand and sealed his hand on top. They shared a perfect blissful moment being able to ‘read’ Anya’s heart as they flamed their hands into life. Through the joining they could sense all she was through the essence of her precious life; sharing all the magic and harmony that was Anya in her core.
They lay back down beside her giving her the comfort of their bodies knowing how hurt she was feeling, but knowing she had shared a true dream with her soul-mate. If they talked to her before she fully woke, they would be able to find out where the Beast was being taken, or even where he was right at this very moment. Mir placed the fingers of his free hand spread across one side of her temple as Val mirrored his actions. Mir began softly singing bringing Anya into a state of almost awareness. She stirred and Val immediately relaxed her until her mind settled once more.
The twins then, called her, called her to listen and to answer, but to rest and relax. They didn’t want her upset and Val took her fears and worry away so she could give them answers without her fears waking her up.
“Anya … Anya my love … Where have you been my sweet?”
Mir was being deliberately vague, letting her pick the answers.
“I have seen my beloved … he is restless and had rage stirring inside. I visited him and … and I gave him all of my love.”
“Did you speak to him my love … was he well?”
The twins needed to know if Arahir was still himself and had not succumbed to the curse yet.
“He said … the love and the connection we have between the three of us keeps him and me well. The flame blend will keep him happy for a while. But he misses me so much. He wants to hold me again and I miss him too. I wish I could hold him truly, to feel him in my arms. It is so hard sometimes.”
Val took over thinking out loud.
“Where is he Anya love … do you know who is there and if you saw anyone else.”
“My Beast said he was on the fringes of the forest that surrounds the castle. The castle is some way from the hunting lodge he is being held. Strangely enough, he didn’t recognize the small town of Cedar Brook, but when he escaped and entered the forest … he could scent the castle on the breeze. It was very faint but he could smell it. At least three days away he guessed.”
“That’s wonderful Anya, and is anyone else there?”
“I saw Lord Savage and an incredibly beautiful woman Arahir called Lirima or the Enchantress. Arahir could sense another body somewhere in the lodge but never saw them Oh… his jailor is a Troll I think my Beast called him.”
Mir and Val stared at one another … a Troll … where did the Enchantress get a Troll from? They didn’t belong in this world; he must have been brought across. He could be a very big problem. They thought for a moment. Anya spoke before they could ask a question.
“Arahir tried to work out how the Enchantress succeeded in coming to our world. She managed to use a secret portal and help from somebody very important on Seren. It seemed she had been blackmailing someone with their child until recently and they found out their child was dead. Arahir overheard Lirima talking to Savage about someone named Aica who now knew his daughter wasn’t being held but in fact had been dead for many years. Her source of information had dried up and she had no means to use the portal without him. The castle wouldn’t let her through now … she was stuck on our world.
Apparently … she answered a lot of questions for the Beast. The Enchantress had been on our world for about one year, so she wasn’t very happy. She wanted to go home to refresh her power and check her Second-in-Command wasn’t getting any ideas about taking over her rule and would be ready to attack on her signal.”
“It looks as though Lirima had given instructions to take over Castle Barshael as soon as the Beast and she have bonded. But …” The twins sobered as they looked as each other realizing their Father was the informant. “…but, there won’t be any more trips through our hidden portal and no further information will be forthcoming I suspect. She must have been pretty convincing to get anything from Father. Although … that answers several questions … I always wondered why the Enchantress was always so interested in our world and how she
seemed to be so confident on what was happening on Serenor and that she could go wherever she wanted. Well … now we know. Poor Father, no wonder he has been so angry and demanding. It wasn’t like him at all. That explains everything.”
The twins had a rough idea where the lodge was, not exactly, but the general location was three days from the castle. They would have to really move to get there before the Enchantress tried to storm the castle this time. It was terribly weak without the Beast having cared for the castle’s Living Light for so very long. Time was truly of the essence. If they were going to arrive before the conspirators did; in fact … they would have to leave almost straight away or they would arrive just in time to for everything to be over.
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Chapter Sixteen
Mir and Val Held Anya in the circle of their arms. They were sending her images of peace and love, comforting her nerves. They had replayed everything she had said back to her along with the imagery so that she remembered the true dream. All Anya wanted to do was rescue her Beast, and get him away from the prison he was in. the twins would have to deal with the Troll when confronted with him. The problem was insolvable until they actually knew more about him and that wouldn’t happen until they saw the creature face to face. Only then, would they know what to do.
The mansion was being treated to travel back through the portal in the basement. It was how no one had known when the mansion was built and how the servants had been hired. The portal had been activated in the basement and had sent the twin’s home through into Anya’s world. The twins could not face being in a strange land without the feel of home about them especially if they had to travel and be gone for quite some time. His own servants wanted to ask to come knowing he needed them. Gratefully, they thanked them, accepting their offer. The entire mansion, fittings, furnishings and lands with all that included.
