by J. D. Wright
“Yes, but she has forgotten more than just whatever accident she had. She’s lost more memories than just the one incident.”
“How many memories?” Sidonie was beginning to understand why Dagan was speaking so glum. “How many, Dagan?” she asked again, sensing his hesitation.
“We aren’t sure just how much of her past she has forgotten. However… She doesn’t remember me. Or Rowan.” Dagan glanced over at Finn, who was watching with a dreadful look on his face. “Or you, Finn. She doesn’t remember any of us or ever coming to Junacave.”
“How can that be?” Sidonie exclaimed. “Does she remember who she is?” She paused as a chill ran down her spine. “Does she remember me?”
“Yes,” Dagan said, turning to take Sid’s hand. “She remembers you and all of the other Sabras. She’s just forgotten the past couple of years, at least. Maybe longer. I don’t know.”
The table was silent for several moments as everyone absorbed the news.
Finally, Finn spoke, “Where is she? I want to see her.”
“We took her back home to the Sabras. We thought that would be the safest place for her,” Rowan said. “Finn, I don’t recommend that you visit her. At least, not right away. She doesn’t remember you. We tried to convince her that she loved you. But she refused to believe that she could ever have feelings for a man who lived in a castle. Those were her words, not mine.”
“Now that we have the amulet,” Sidonie interjected before Finn could respond, “what do we do with it? How do we contact Mereck?”
“The message said to show the amulet in the village square,” Dagan replied, pulling the piece of parchment from a pocket inside his robes. “I assume one of us just has to wear it around the square.”
“I’ll do it,” Sidonie said. “The message was addressed to me, so I will do it.”
“We will be there,” Rowan said. “Watching you the entire time. No matter what he says, don’t go anywhere alone with him.”
Sidonie nodded and they began to devise a plan. By the time the sun was in the middle of the sky, Sidonie found herself in the village square, walking around with the amulet hanging from her neck. After a while, her feet began to hurt and she was losing her patience.
Suddenly, a small boy approached her, wearing a plain brown tunic and pants which were a bit dirty.
“Hello,” she said, smiling.
The boy smiled back but didn’t speak. Instead, he pointed to the space between the inn and the apothecary. Sidonie saw nothing except for the forest behind it. She walked over to get a closer look and noticed a trail, partly covered with brush. She turned to ask the boy if the wizard sent him, but the boy was gone.
Sidonie spun around, twice, and waited. That was the sign she was supposed to give when she received a message or directions from Mereck. They had decided that using magic would draw too much attention and they didn’t want to alert the villagers that something was happening. Rowan got to her first, followed by Dagan and finally Reeve. Dagan led the way through the forest, following the trail until it ended at the foot of a steep embankment.
“Now what?” Reeve asked, getting nervous. “The trail has ended.”
“Maybe it was supposed to end,” Sidonie said.
“Right you are, Elder Mage,” Mereck shouted from the top of the ridge.
Sidonie looked up to see the wizard standing there. The sun was setting behind him. He was wearing long black robes and his blonde hair was pulled back. He may not have his magic, but he still looked every bit like a wizard.
Immediately, Rowan had to fight the urge to run up the hill and strangle the life out of the man. Then again, his aim was still as good as ever. He could probably hit the wizard in the center of his chest if he was quick enough.
Dagan noticed Rowan’s expression and put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. Rowan glanced over to see Dagan gently shaking his head. Without saying a word, they knew what the other one was thinking.
“We have the amulet,” Sidonie said. “Now give us the girls.”
“Ah, but the deal was for me to have the amulet before you may have the girls,” Mereck said. “An exchange of one for the other. But first, you must charge the amulet.”
Sidonie wasn’t sure how to do it. She handed it to Dagan who held the amulet in his hand and whispered an enchantment. The stone began to glow brightly for a moment, then returned to its usual dark red color.
“Good,” Mereck said. “Now throw the amulet to me.”
Dagan looked around at the faces of the other three. None of them trusted Mereck, but there wasn’t much that they could do without risking the safety of Sarita and Gabby. Without Mereck’s help, they might never be able to find them on their own. Their searches had not uncovered a single clue as to the whereabouts of the girls. Mereck revealing their location was the only hope they had of finding them.
Dagan tossed the amulet up onto the embankment. Mereck knelt down and picked it up, then held it to the sky and examined it. Satisfied that the stone was real, he tucked it into his pocket.
“You have what you wanted,” Reeve said. “Now let the girls go.”
“So be it,” Mereck said. Then he reached into his robes.
Sidonie was surprised at how quickly Rowan and Reeve had their daggers and sword drawn. Even Dagan had a ball of fire forming in the hand he was holding behind his back. Apparently, they took Mereck reaching into his robes as a threat.
After a brief moment, they were able to relax because Mereck didn’t pull a weapon from his robes. Instead, he held a small bottle in his hands.
“Use this on the portal behind you,” he said. “It contains my blood, so it will open.” He flung the potion bottle down and Reeve caught it since he was the closest. Dagan took the bottle and turned around. He summoned air magic and pushed a gentle breeze from his palm. He waved his hand from side to side, pushing the wind toward the trees behind them.
“What are you looking for?” Rowan asked. Before Dagan could reply, they found it. When the wind hit a large tree near Sidonie, a silver light appeared over it, almost like a thin veil covering the tree bark.
Wasting no time, Dagan pulled the cork from the bottle and tossed the potion onto the tree trunk. Just like with his own portal, the tree began to split down the middle and rise from the ground, creating an arch to walk through.
Sidonie looked up and saw that Mereck had fled. She thought about going after him but decided that rescuing the girls was more important. Finding and punishing Mereck would have to wait. She turned back just as the tree stopped expanding.
“I will stay here,” she said. “I don’t trust Mereck not to return and try to lock us inside there.”
“Me, too,” Dagan replied. “I think Sarita and Gabby would be happier to see the two of you, anyway. And I’m not sure how large the portal is. Too many people could break the spell and cause it to crash.” This, he knew very well. It was exactly what had happened to his own portal when the Sabras captured them almost two years before.
Rowan and Reeve stepped into the portal and found themselves in a forest that looked very similar. Directly in front of them was a tall, thin tower. The moment they saw it, they ran toward it. Reeve was the first to reach the large wooden door.
“Gabby! Are you in there?” he shouted, pulling on the door. It wouldn’t open.
“Sarita! Gabby! Can you hear us?” Rowan yelled, looking up at the tower. Noticing Reeve was struggling to get the door open, Rowan handed him one of his daggers and he kept the other. They stuck the blades into the thin space around the door and tried to wedge it open. When that didn’t work, Reeve started to kick the door, frustrated that he left his sword sitting outside of the portal.
Suddenly, Gabby walked around the side of the tower, catching them both by surprise.
“Holy hell,” Rowan said, gripping his dagger for dear life. She scared the wits out of him, just appearing out of nowhere.
“Gee, Reeve. You don’t have to kick the door down. We found another way
out,” she said, smiling at her brother.
“Gabby!” Reeve sighed and pulled her into the tightest hug he could ever remember giving her. Every lecture he had rehearsed in his head, about how irresponsible it was to go riding on her own, disappeared. He was just so happy to have found her. He pushed her back and looked her over. Other than her face and clothes being dirty, she seemed to be alright. It was clear that she had been eating and her eyes gave no indication of a lack of sleep. He pulled her back into another tight hug and just held her there.
Rowan started to ask where Sarita was but stopped when he saw her walk around the tower. She paused when she saw him and stared at him for a moment, almost as if she was trying to decide if he was really there or if it were a trick. Then she started to cry and ran into his arms. He carried her out of the portal as she clung to him with her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
Dagan left the portal where it was but closed it before they left. He didn’t want an unsuspecting person to walk into it. As to what might become of the portal after that, he didn’t really care.
Sir Luthias and Sir Tomas were waiting in the village square with a carriage for them. They climbed inside and sat down. No one spoke for the entire ride back to the castle. When they reached the courtyard, it was mostly empty. It was obvious that Bree intended it to be a private moment, just between their family and close friends. Only Bree, Cicilly, Nick, and Rhea were waiting for them.
Dagan and Sidonie left the carriage first. Bree tried to thank them but couldn’t find a way to speak the words between her heavy sobs. Nick told them that Finn and Celeste were waiting in the hall, overseeing the preparations for a feast to celebrate the girls’ return.
Then, Reeve and Gabby stepped out. The moment Gabby saw Rhea, she ran to her. The two of them collapsed onto the ground. For the first time since being rescued, Gabby began to cry. Rhea stroked her hair and held her close.
Bree watched, anxiously, as Rowan left the carriage, carrying Sarita. Seeing her, Bree’s heart skipped a beat. She was alive. Her gown and hair were a disaster, but she was alive. That is all that mattered. Rowan carried Sarita across the courtyard and Cicilly met him halfway. Crying, Sarita refused to let go of Rowan, at first. She finally allowed Cicilly to pull her away from him. Cicilly knelt on the ground and Sarita curled up in her lap.
Rowan looked over at Bree. Her face was red and tears continued streaming down. He had a feeling she was thinking the exact same thing that he was. He wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell Sarita that he was her father. And that Bree was her mother. Sarita’s abduction was excruciatingly terrifying. The thought that they may never see her beautiful round face or hear her tiny, sweet voice again was a nightmare for all of them. But it was harder for Bree and Rowan, thinking that Sarita could have died without ever knowing the truth. Without ever learning just how greatly she was loved and how much she meant to them.
He walked over to Bree and took her hand. She laid her head on his shoulder, closed her eyes, and cried until she felt a tug on her skirts. She looked down and saw Sarita, standing there. Bree bent down and hugged her, then used her finger to wipe Sarita’s tears.
“Come along, Princess,” Bree said, sniffling. “There is a hall full of people waiting to celebrate your return.”
“I need a new gown,” Sarita said. “This one is ruined.”
“Yes, it is. And a new gown you shall receive, along with anything else you want.”
“Anything?” Sarita asked, grinning.
“Of course.”
“I want a dagger. One like Rowan has.”
“A… what?” Bree was stunned and a little disturbed by Sarita’s request.
“I want a dagger so that I can protect myself the next time someone tries to kidnap me. I’ve tried using a sword before, but it was too heavy. A dagger would be better.”
“Oh, Sarita!” Bree exclaimed. “That isn’t proper for a princess. You cannot have a… a dagger!” Bree looked over at Rowan, who was doing his very best to hide his amusement.
“If I can’t have a dagger,” Sarita replied, “then I want my own bow and arrows. Just like Gabby has. I already know a little about them. Rowan taught me. Remember?”
“Oh, my word!” Bree was astounded. She glanced over at her mother, but Cicilly was deep in conversation with Nick. She hadn’t heard either of Sarita’s strange requests.
“At your age now, I think a small weapon of some sort is a great idea,” Rowan said, earning an evil glare from his fiancé. “However, I think it is likely a discussion better suited for another time. Princess Sarita, your feast awaits you.” He gestured to the hall with his arms, trying to move her along before Bree lost her senses.
“Thank you, Rowan. Yes, we can discuss my weapon tomorrow, at breakfast.” Sarita held her head high and walked into the castle. Bree turned and watched her leave.
“She left as a small girl and returned sounding like… you!”
Rowan laughed and took Bree’s arm, escorting her inside.
“She definitely is my daughter,” he whispered. “No doubt about that.”
He walked with Bree to her chambers so she could change into another gown. He thought she looked fine in the one she was wearing, but Bree had cried all over her bodice and wanted to put on a fresh one. After several moments of staring at her selection of gowns, she still hadn’t chosen one.
“I can go to the wardrobe and find you another one,” he said. “If you don’t want one of these.”
He couldn’t believe how easily he offered to fetch a gown for her. Maybe Dagan was right. This was his future. But he didn’t mind one bit, especially when Bree began to take off her gown. He immediately decided he would even wear a gown if she wanted him to. He would do damn near anything she asked if she continued to undress in front of him.
She slowly peeled the fabric off of her body and let it drop to the floor. Then she unpinned her long auburn hair and shook it out, running her fingers through it. He watched, perfectly aware of what she was doing. When she turned to face him, he flashed his eyebrows at her.
“There is a feast happening downstairs, Your Majesty. Shouldn’t you be there?” He grinned and admired her body as she walked toward him.
“I’m sure my mother can entertain in my absence,” Bree said, smiling slyly. She leaned closer and her nipples brushed against his shirt. He glanced down and back up again.
“I could be wrong, but I am thinking that you intend to seduce me.”
“You are very observant.” She started walking around him, trailing her hand across his rear as she went. He didn’t flinch when she kissed the back of his neck, but he did jump when she reached all the way around and cupped him. Even over his trousers, she could feel how firm he was.
Then, as quickly as she had grabbed him, she let go. He continued to glare at her as she walked away from him and over to her bed. She toyed with her quilt and waited for him to come to her. He stepped up and wrapped his arms around her from behind. She turned her head and tilted it up to kiss him.
“Mmm… You seem to be in a good mood.”
“I am,” she said, turning to face him. “The girls are home. Adelphie has been found. I am delighted! But I could be happier…”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. I would be happier if I weren’t the only one without clothes.”
He reached down but she stopped him and started to undress him, herself, carelessly tossing the items of clothing aside as she went. It was incredibly arousing to have her carefully unfastening his belt and pulling his tunic over his head. Every time her fingertips grazed his skin he felt his heart begin to pump faster. Once he was undressed, she began to run her hands over his chest and down his arms. She went slowly and stopped to kiss him every so often, on the shoulder, then his neck.
“You’re the queen. Shouldn’t I be the one to pamper you?” he asked. His breath caught in his throat when she nipped at his ear.
“Just like any woman, I can show my appreciation. Dagan told m
e what you did. If not for your clever and suspicious eye, Edmund might have escaped with the amulet. It was you,” she said, leaning up to kiss him, “who realized he was lying and hiding the real stone, Sir Rowan.”
He cringed when she said his title but immediately forgot all about it when she left him to climb onto the bed. She turned around to face him then crooked her finger, beckoning him to her. He gladly followed, crawling up beside her.
She was in his arms before his head even touched the pillow. She slid on top of him and eased down onto him. Once he was inside her, he expected her to start moving but she just stayed there. Perfectly still.
“What are you doing?” he asked, smiling. “You wanted to seduce me. You’ve succeeded…”
“I want to try something,” she said, smiling down at him.
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“I just want to go… slow.”
“Slow?”
“Yes, slow. I read about it in one of my books.”
“Of course, you did,” he said, laughing.
She narrowed her eyes at him but instead of arguing, she just decided to show him. She lifted herself up and then lowered herself back down, slowly. Then she did it again. He closed his eyes and enjoyed it. Every moment of it.
The gentler pace was amazing. She could feel every inch of him which was even better than she had imagined it would be. With the wildfire and the wedding details and the girls’ disappearance, they hadn’t been able to really slow down and make time for each other. She hadn’t realized exactly how badly she needed this until now.
He was completely focused on her even though the slower pace was beginning to drive him insane. He tried to grab her hips, but she swatted his hands away so he was forced to grip the quilt instead.
“Wow,” he mumbled.
She leaned down and kissed him. He finally found something to do with his hands, holding her face as she continued moving over him. He whimpered, which was wonderful to hear. She had no doubt that it was driving him mad. Perhaps, next time he wouldn’t question her ideas.
His next moan was louder than she could ever remember hearing from him. She grinned down at him and he breathed out a short laugh before his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Everything was perfect. She felt perfect. And that book had just become her all-time favorite.
