by Joe Corso
Lucky waited as the man shook his head in an attempt to fully regain consciousness. Once he seemed coherent, Lucky began to question him as to why the man tried to kill him. In the interim, the Kingsmen held and questioned Erik, the fight promoter. Satisfied that Erik had no part of it, the King ordered his release and the release of those around him.
The man with the bow just kept repeating that Lucky was in league with the devil, doing the devil’s work. The King, having heard this, ordered his men to drag the assaulter before him. The King’s justice, as everyone knew, could be harsh. The King had to make an example of the bowman in order to illustrate the punishment to anyone who would entertain the thought of harming the King or anyone around him.
“I sentence you to die in the gallows,” the King wasted no time stating.
Lucky was a bit shocked. He had heard of justice but he didn’t quite expect that the King, after Lucky had just saved the bowman’s life, would turn around and take his life. Boy, he had just gone through a lot of trouble to get this man back to the talking stage.
“Your Highness,” Lucky said without pause, “I ask your permission to take this murderer, this scurrilous heathen, to a land from whence he cannot return, a place like hell, worse than the King’s dungeon.”
“Tell me more, Sir Lucky,”
Lucky explained that he would be used as a slave to help build the great pyramids in ancient Egypt. This brought a smile to the King’s face. This was indeed a novel way to punish and one the King might boast about in court. News like this would travel fast.
“So be it, Sir Lucky,” the King answered and murmurs again from the crowd filled the air.
The King quickly ordered that the day’s festivities come to a close and that everyone return to their homes. The talk for the remainder of the day was all about the King’s wizard, how he had fought and defeated their champion with ease, and somehow how he had known that someone would try to kill him. They spoke of how the wizard summoned lightening down to knock the man completely out of the tree. And they especially spoke of the way he had brought the dead man back to life. Songs were already being sung in the village about the King and the King’s wizard.
The following morning, the King and his entourage, which now included Lucky’s would be killer, began their journey back home. They took their time, stopping to shop whenever the urge arose, and spent much time resting in between. This afforded Lucky and Princess Krystina ample time in conversation, their laughter and gazes not unnoticed by Mickey, the King and his wife. The men did indeed have great hunting success and landed a boar, just as the King had predicted. It was a joyous time.
Eventually the royal party entered the castle grounds where the grooms tended to the horses and the men-at-arms settled into their barracks. The royal members went to their respective chambers to freshen and change into more suitable clothing for the evening meal and entertainment. But before Lucky could settle in comfortably, he had to get something off his mind.
“Mickey, you go on back to our time. I’ll drop you off and then I’ll come back after all the festivities are over.”
“You sure Mickey? Cause I can stay with you, but to be honest, after that long trip, I’m kinda’ ready for some twenty-first century living. I miss my beer and my bed, my soft, cushy bed. Yeah, if that’s okay, I’ll just take you up on that.”
Mickey seized this moment while everyone was readying themselves for dinner and he and Mickey made their way to the portal outside on the castle grounds. Lucky took Mickey back to the CIA grounds and quickly returned to the castle.
Once there, he called for the sergeant and with his assistance, together they walked the prisoner, still bound in chains, into the castle and down the hall toward the waiting portal. The man was terrified. He began to plead to Lucky not to do anything to him, begging his mercy and making promises of going away, never to be seen again.
Lucky shook his head.
“Pal, you don’t know it but I just saved your life. You were sentenced to death. At least this way you shall still have a life and yes, you will never be seen here again, but not because you shall run away into another village.”
Lucky instructed the sergeant to take off the chains off. Lucky grabbed his arm and shoved the frightened man into the portal while never letting go of him. The man felt the constriction. He felt as though he was suffocating. It was at that moment that the man knew that he was with a real wizard. They had entered nothingness and it was strange. Moments later, Lucky once again grabbed hold of the man’s arm and instructed the man to follow him while taking tiny steps to his left. The man, paralyzed with fear, did as he was told. Before them stood a grand coliseum.
“Walk,” Lucky ordered as they made way over to two other portals, approximately twenty feet away.
“Here,” Lucky said, and he stood behind the man and nudged him inside. Once again, the man felt as though he couldn’t breathe. He stood speechless, too afraid to lose any more air than he had already. Lucky stepped outside, still clasping the man’s arm. There was construction going on. Large stones were being moved, orders being given. Screams were heard as heartless guards brought down their whips onto workers. The man turned to Lucky and begged. They were now among a group of men hauling a massive block in the direction of the growing pyramid. The man turned to see where this stone was headed and as he did, Lucky re-entered the Egyptian portal, and in seconds emerged in King Robert’s castle hall where he walked right up to his room to prepare for dinner.
Chapter Twenty – Two
The Koros empire was in danger of collapse. Without the master himself at the helm, his regime was in peril of falling, collapsing like a deck of cards. Prior to his departure back in time, Koros had positioned his choice for American President. He had prepared for Greece, France, Ireland, Spain and England to follow. This was Vlad’s baby – his goal of world dominance and although it was very close to fruition, the operatives would answer only to him. Karl, his loyal right-hand man, was met with resistance at every turn. It was a worldwide chess game, only Koros was no longer here to play the game. Karl needed Koros.
Karl ordered the jet made ready. He would fly to New York and talk to Lucky personally. He respected Lucky. Lucky was one of the few men Karl feared, but if Lucky didn’t bring Koros back, he would have to kill him. Funny how life is, Karl thought. He was never interested in business. He left that to Koros. But with Koros gone, he was lost. At first, Karl had thought it exciting to run the business, but before long reality set in and the painful realization was that he had no aptitude for business and if he was honest, he really did not like it. The man who had no aptitude for business was now all business.
Karl booked a room at the LaGuardia airport Howard Johnson. He liked the proximity of the hotel to the airport. Since Karl was no apparent threat to Mickey or to Lucky, Karl called Lucky’s number and Mickey answered.
“Lucky’s not here,” Mickey said. “In fact, he’s been gone since we left you. Told me he really likes the English past and said he’s considering staying there. He’s got a thing for the Princess, you know and there’s talk that he just may stay there.”
Karl sputtered, “But, but he can’t do that. I need him. Please, if he returns, tell him to call me immediately. It’s very urgent that I speak to him.”
“Karl, give me a hint as to what you want to talk to him about and when he gets back, I’ll see that he gets the message. That’s if he decides to come back.”
“No Mickey I cannot do that. It’s better that I talk to him myself, but thanks.”
“Okay,” Mickey said, “gotta go now. I’ll call you if and when Lucky gets back.”
All Mickey could think of was a cold beer, a hot shower and a soft bed. Nothing was more important right now than that. He walked back into the living room where his buddies, Dukie, Casey and Sally were waiting.
“Okay, I’m back,” he said. “Deal the cards.”
Koros hadn’t wept since he was a little boy, but he was weeping now. He k
ept thinking of his foolishness and how his entire world had centered around his insane desires to emulate his maniacal ancestor, Vlad the Impaler. Here he was, spending his days and hours in a miserable damp cell, with no hope of escape and no chance of returning to the future. To make matters worse, he was certain that his death would occur at the hands of the very man from whom he received his name, an ancestor who he now realized he was nothing like. Or was he? Could he be as evil as this man? Koros was a man driven, obsessed, with worldly power and acquisitions, but he was nothing like the bloodthirsty tyrant who had imprisoned him.
Koros began to make an imaginary checklist in his mind. Column left was himself. Column right was the Impaler. Koros killed his enemies and so did Vlad the Impaler. One check in each column. Vlad wanted to rule countries and Koros wanted to rule the world. Another check in each column. Vlad was ruthless when dealing with others and so was he. Well, so far, the columns were equal.
“Oh my God,” he whispered to himself, “I’m just like him,” he said as he fell to his knees and began to pray to a god he had never believed in. He immediately began the bartering process, trying to make deals with God. He began to pledge his earthly wealth and possessions for the good of others if the God that he had never recognized before would grant him mercy, rescue him from this miserable place, and return him home, to his own time. He swore of his reform and how he would work for the good of the world, if only he was given another chance. There was nothing more important than life, he said, no way to place a value on life. He sobbed uncontrollably until there were no tears left to shed.
Questions filled his head. How could he convince Vlad that he was who he said he was? Koros, the dapper dresser, the King of designer duds, now sat in lice infested rags, his cell consumed with the blended stench of feces and urine and a body that had seen no bath water for months. The billionaire man, with all of his money, sitting in another time, in another place, realizing for the first time that money is not always the answer. Money could not rescue him now. He looked around his cell. It was the same small cell that he had used for Lucky, the same one from which Lucky escaped. Koros had seen it. He had watched as Lucky stepped inside of this thing, just as he had when he brought Koros to meet his ancestor, and that something was right here he thought, right here in this cell.
He set about searching every inch of the cell looking for something, anything. The prisoners around him had witnessed this scene many times before and thought that he had simply gone mad. They did not react. They just stood watching intently as Koros searched and searched, for what, they did not know, but nothing was there.
Koros sat back down onto the damp, cold floor and resigned himself to impending doom. Only months before, he had been one of the richest, most powerful men in the world, but today, he was nothing – just another peasant named Vlad Koros, about to die at the hands of Vlad the Impaler, his very own blood relative.
Chapter Twenty – Three
The stonemason and his family arrived several weeks later and settled into the quaint home that the King had appointed them. To their surprise, the house came with an option. Upon completion of the King’s work, they could keep the home should they decide to remain in this area of Briton and the rent of the home would be deducted from his wages earned by doing other work in the area.
Prior to departure, the stonemason had ordered large stones from local quarries and delivery began almost immediately after his arrival. The King wanted as much accomplished as possible before the winter snows, which would halt all work until the spring thaw.
The mason and his sons began their work right after settling into their new dwelling. Each morning, there was an appetizing aroma that greeted the men, the smells of a hearty breakfast, and the blend of eggs, ham, bacon and loaves of freshly baked bread.
“Martha,” the stonemason said, “you have quickly mastered over your new food area and its modern tools. We are not Kings, but you make us feel as though we were.”
His words touched her. She felt his love.
“The house is of great beauty, Erik, and I am quite pleased with its offerings,” she replied. “We will partake of grand meals.”
He held her in his arms and pulled her close.
“Martha if you deem this house your home, then I will talk with the King’s minister and advise him so. But for now, we know that there are at least nine years before us of hard labor for the King, nine years of many hours, but many hours of joy within.”
Since their return to the castle, Lucky and Princess Krystina had been inseparable. They enjoyed long walks along the river, where they stopped for long interludes to picnic or just observe nature and its beauty. Often they acted like tourists and stopped to visit peddlers hawking their wares. Wherever they went, there were whispers, and wherever there were whispers, there were smiles. They were instantly recognized by the villagers and always greeted warmly like the royalty that they were. Lucky noticed that the Princess, like her sister, was polite and gracious. It was evidenced by her interactions with the populace. Lucky was in awe of her.
One night, as the couple sat outside enjoying a glass of one of the King’s finest wines, she reminded him of a conversation.
“Are you going to journey with me as my protector as I traverse the land to pay homage to my father?”
Lucky smiled and said, “I am never letting you from my eyes. Where you go, I will stand next to you. Krystina,” he said, “you have stolen my heart. My heart sings in your midst. You have my true love and affection.”
The Princess smiled and stroked his cheek gently and said, “Oh how I have yearned to hear those words, dear wizard. You have my tender affection as well. Of this I have been certain since our travels through the magic door. I felt your strength, your energy, and I knew that I wanted you for myself forever. I thought it not possible until you said those words, Lucky. But,” she said and then . . . she paused. She looked down for a moment as sadness filled her face.
“What?” Lucky asked. “What is it, Krystina?”
“Only . . . that we live in different worlds. You will be filled with desire to return to your homeland and I, well, I must remain here in mine. I know nothing of your world and it is a place that frightens me.”
“Krystina, I have given thought to these things and while I do not have all the answers, I do seek wisdom and guidance. My mind is at work, searching for answers. Please grant me patience and time and though I must return to my homeland for a short while, I will return. And believe me, should you speak it, I will, with great joy, take you with me. But my world is indeed frightening; full of things your eyes do not understand. Magic surrounds us.”
The Princess remained quiet. Her eyes gazed into the distance. She turned back to him and a lonely, single tear fell from her face.
“What is it?”
“My fear is that you will not return,” she answered.
“Well, come with me,” he pleaded. “Come with me and I will show you my world. Will you do that? Might you try?”
And with that, her expression changed instantly. She clapped her hands and let out a squeal and began to jump up and down, like a child, a little girl.
“Yes, oh yes,” she said. “I would like that very much. When can we go?”
“Well,” he laughed, “I guess I just wasn’t expecting such joy.
“I needed your desire be made known to me,” she said. “A lady must await the question from the gentleman,” she said with her chin cast downward and her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“You are a little devil, my Princess,” Lucky said with a smile and he and she both then leaned back in laughter.
“First,” Lucky finally said, “we must journey to your father. Once complete, we will prepare for the ‘other’ journey. Is that in agreement with you?”
“Yes, it is,” she answered, “and I would like to depart for father’s home as soon as possible. We must assemble our escorts and be on our way in a few days.”
“Well it seems as thoug
h we have many days, many hours of time with horses and travel,” Lucky said, “but wait,” he added as he looked away for a moment as if in deep thought, “I may be able to summon magic that will afford us journey without escort and save the suns shadow from moving along the board. Do you pledge me your trust?”
“You have my trust, undying. Yes.”
He whispered into her ear and once again, she let out a shrill exclaim of happiness. She jumped up and began to run from him, teasing him, daring him to catch her. Lucky played right along until finally catching up to her, he grabbed her by the waist and gently pulled her to the ground where they stayed, giggling and chatting about their plans.
“Let’s head back,” Lucky finally said. “Tomorrow we shall alert your sister and the King of our departure. Are you looking forward with anticipation?” he asked her.
“Yes, and I’ll see things that no one here has ever seen. And dear father will read my happiness and I’m so excited to go with you I can’t wait. . . .”
Lucky pressed his lips against hers, stopping her mid sentence. It was a long, passionate kiss, something the Princess had never felt before. She clung to him, begging his lips to not cease.
When Lucky went to his room that night, he focused his mind and visualized, in exactly the same way he had when inside Koros’s prison. The room seemed to darken, and then lighten again, and there it was, a shimmering slit of energy, faint at first, then brighter and brighter. He knew what he had to do. There could be no surprises, so he stepped into the portal and inched his way to the left, took a small step outside and scanned his surroundings. It was a castle, only not King Robert’s castle. There was a great empty hall with a throne in the center of the back wall. The floor was covered with green and blue marble inlaid stone that formed a perfect pattern of diagonals. Lucky had seen enough. He stepped back into King Robert’s castle and immediately walked to Princess Krystina’s room and gently knocked. She answered the door and was a bit surprised to see him standing there.
