by Kit Morgan
“Asger, to you it would be logical for me to have traveled weeks to get here. But for me, it was … minutes.”
He stared at her in silent confusion.
There was a rustling and two figures appeared out of the bushes. It took him a few moments to recognize who it was. Mitzi, on the other hand, had no such delay. “You!”
Dallan MacDonald approached, his wife at his side. “Pardon the interruption, Yer Highness. But we need to get the two of ye out of here.”
Asger got to his feet, surprised that he could, and pulled Mitzi up with him.
But before he could say a word, she stepped out of his embrace and headed straight for the big Scotsman. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, buster!” She poked him in the ribs, despite her head barely reaching his chest. “What am I doing here?!”
“Can we explain later?” his wife Shona said. “Right now we need to get back to the castle.”
“The castle?” Mitzi laughed. “Are you out of your mind? We can’t go back there!”
“If ye don’t, there’ll be trouble,” Dallan said.
“There’s trouble already!” she yelled.
The Scot arched an eyebrow at her. “And what trouble might that be, lass?”
“Well … for one … we …” It was like all the air went out of her. “… what do we do?”
Asger came up, took her hands and sighed. “I’ll handle this.” He met the Scotsman’s level gaze. “You’re responsible for bringing her here?”
“Aye, I am.”
He nodded. What could he say? Who would believe what had been happening between them?
“Telling him yes is fine and dandy, but it doesn’t explain why you brought me here,” Mitzi declared, getting her second wind.
Shona stepped forward. “Mitzi, isn’t it obvious?”
Asger smiled. “At this point, you have to admit it is.”
“Yes, but it still doesn’t explain things.” Mitzi turned back to Dallan and Shona. “And I demand an explanation.”
“You’ll get one and more,” Shona replied. “But right now we need to get back to the castle. Everyone there’s in an uproar.”
“The presentation,” Asger groaned. “I missed it, didn’t I?”
“Aye, and yer parents are worried.” Dallan placed his hand on Asger’s shoulder. “We have things we must talk about, Your Highness, but first it’s best ye see your parents and get this straightened out. Then the three of you can speak with King Bjorn.”
“That doesn’t sound pretty.” Mitzi stepped toward Shona and glanced at Asger. “He doesn’t know, does he?”
“No, he doesn’t. That too will have to wait.”
“Know what?” Asger inquired.
Mitzi faced him. “You heard her – it can wait. You have more urgent problems right now.”
“That he does.” Dallan motioned toward the trail. “The sooner we get ye back, the better.”
Asger studied the couple. Shona didn’t look any older than Mitzi, and her husband was maybe a few years older than him. He’d have to ask his parents about them – in depth. If memory served, they’d known the McDonalds for quite some time. But if that was the case… he shook his head. It didn’t make sense. Had they known them since they were children? Did his parents watch over them?
These were just a few of the questions running through his mind as they went back to the castle and the chaos within.
Albert’s eyes blinked open, widened, shut. Opened and widened again. He felt like someone had zapped him with a phaser – set on “stun,” but still.
“Are you all right?”
He gaped at the beauty standing over him, displaying concern and curiosity. He gulped, unable to speak. Keira Knightley came to mind … but what would she be doing here?
“Your Highness mustn’t waste her time on a commoner,” someone said.
Albert slowly turned his head to see an old man in rich velvet robes hunched over him. He wore a cowl and an eye patch which hid most of his features.
“There’s nothing wrong with showing a little concern, Toleman,” the woman – oh, yeah, the princess – said. “If I have to be stuck in this place, I might as well make a good show of it.”
“Your cleverness knows no bounds, Your Highness,” Toleman said. He glared at Albert. “Don’t just lie there, young man. Get up and bow to your betters.”
Albert glanced around, saw Mildred standing nearby and scrambled to his feet. “What happened?”
Mildred stepped forward. “You hit your head. Ran right into the wall … um, in your haste to aid the prince.”
Albert blinked some more. It didn’t help. “I did?”
“Oh, dear – you must have hit it harder than I thought.” She turned to the princess and Toleman. “He’s so loyal. Why, the minute he realized Prince Asger was absent, he took off to find him. Didn’t you?”
Albert stared at her until she elbowed him in the ribs. Right – play along. “Oh, uh, yes. I guess I moved too quickly.” He put his hand to his head, feeling around for a lump, but couldn’t find one.
“Princess Velta, how are things at court?” Mildred asked.
The princess sighed, clearly bored. “Oh, you know, the usual. We haven’t seen you of late, Lady Mildred, though it’s just as well. People are still talking about your last visit.”
Lady Mildred smiled. “I’m sure they are.”
Albert glanced between them. “You mean you’ve been to her, uh, land?”
“What an odd thing to say,” Princess Velta remarked.
Albert, his head clearing, realized they were surrounded by guards dressed in Lacona’s red, white and gold. But of course they were – Princess Velta was right next to him. What a vision! She had strawberry-red hair, the most beautiful complexion he’d ever seen, light green eyes, and was tall, 5’8” with a lithe build. If he thought Mitzi was out of his league, this goddess was from a more evolved species!
Though really, he knew nothing about her other than what he’d heard Mildred say, which wasn’t much, and the tantrum she threw on the dais when Asger stood her up. That was what happened, wasn’t it? And why would he be looking for the prince, as Mildred said? Was he? Maybe she was stalling or something. And where was … “Mitzi!” He glanced around frantically.
“Who is Mitzi?” the princess asked.
“My charge,” Mildred said. “And a childhood friend of Mr. Golden here.” She turned to Albert. “She’s safe, you needn’t worry. What we need to worry about is finding Prince Asger.”
“Yes, where is the fool boy?” Toleman asked.
“Oh, who cares?” Princess Velta turned to Mildred. “I’ll need a companion, Lady Mildred. You wouldn’t consider the position, would you?”
“You cannot steal the queen’s companion, you foolish child,” Toleman snapped.
“I will if I want to!”
“Oh dear, let’s not quarrel,” Mildred insisted. “Why don’t I escort the three of you to the gardens while Queen Madeleina and King Bjorn sort this all out?”
“What?” Toleman said. “With this commoner?”
Mildred glanced at Albert and her face lit up. “This is no commoner. This young man is known far and wide in his country.”
Toleman looked him up and down. “Is that an American accent, boy?”
“Yes,” Albert said, starting to resent the tone of this upper-class twit.
Toleman narrowed his eyes. “Where are you from? And what are you doing here?”
“He’s a guest of the queen,” Mildred cut in. She looked at Albert. “Go ahead and tell him where you’re from.”
Albert’s eyes darted to Velta and back. “Las Vegas.”
“And where do you reside in this Las Vegas?”Toleman demanded.
Albert decided to let him have it. “In Caesar’s Palace, if you must know.” Okay, so he’d stayed there a few times with some college buddies, but they didn’t have to know that.
Toleman narrowed his eyes. “In the palace? Who is this Caesar? I
s he king?”
“America doesn’t have kings, sir. But he does carry similar respect.”
“No kings … then who rules?” Velta inquired.
Albert noticed her watching him with interest. “The people do, Your Highness. Democracy – I’m sure you know your Greek. Like Athens of old, but on a much larger scale.” Finally, all those political science classes when Pop was pushing him to become a lawyer were paying off!
“Interesting,” Velta said. “I must say, I know little about Athens, but then I’ve been … blocked in my studies. I wouldn’t mind the chance to learn more.”
Toleman was unconvinced. “You don’t look like anyone of means.”
“Don’t let looks fool you.” Mildred glanced at Albert, then grabbed his wrist. “Look at his true station. See the finery he wears?” Toleman took one look at Albert’s watch and gaped. “Superb! Where did you get it?”
“This old thing? Oh, this is rather run-of-the-mill – you can find much finer ones in America.” He was having fun with this.
Velta studied the watch. “It’s magnificent. I bet Prince Asger is jealous.”
Albert shrugged. “He did show some interest in it …”
She smiled at him. “So what are you called? I’ve heard Americans don’t have titles?”
Albert nodded. “Not exactly – but titles must be earned. I’m only an Assistant to a Franchisee, but I’m still young, and my bosses tell me I have potential.” True enough – he was being considered for the management track at Java King.
“You mean to tell me you’re from a family of means?” Toleman asked, suspicious.
“I would say so, yes.” Pop was a psychiatrist, Mom a tax accountant, and Albert was finishing up his Bachelor’s in Economics at UNLV. They weren’t the 1%, but they weren’t hurting.
Toleman sneered at him. “Oh, really? What are you worth, then, young man?”
He did some quick math in his head. Between his parents’ income and his own, plus their investments, the house they owned free and clear, the timeshare in Oregon … “My family is worth … about two million dollars. Not a huge sum, mind, but we do all right.”
Velta’s and Toleman’s jaws dropped, but the latter quickly caught himself. “Are you here negotiating trade with the queen?”
“My business with Her Majesty is private, thank you.” He looked at Velta and tried not to sigh. She was so beautiful, and so close – he didn’t need his glasses to take her all in. “Would you like to see the gardens?” he asked her, in a way that screened that Toleman twit out.
She smiled back. “Why, yes, I would. You’ll accompany us, Lady Mildred?”
“Of course, my dear.” She eyed Toleman. “We’ll take a couple of your guards along for good measure. I’d hate you to have an apoplexy worrying over Her Highness and His Majesty.”
Toleman turned, looked at the huge double doors to the great hall and grimaced. “Very well. I know you to be a trusted servant. You may accompany the princess and the young … gentleman to the gardens.” He looked at the doors again. “What’s taking them so long?” he grumbled.
Albert watched him, then reminded himself to ask Mildred what had really happened. But right now, he just wanted to spend time with the prettiest girl he’d ever seen. Who knew when he’d get another chance? Women in the 21st century didn’t find him that exciting. He was just your average nerd with well-off parents. He’d found few women he was interested in, and none that had been interested back. For him, life was just school, gaming, Java King and his family.
So yeah, he wasn’t going to turn down a chance to spend time with a princess who looked like Elizabeth Swann, not in this or any century.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Mitzi, Asger, Dallan and Shona entered the palace through the secret entrance and went straight to Andel and Maddie’s private sitting room. It was empty. “Where are they?” Mitzi asked.
Asger took her hands. “My guess is they’re still in the Great Hall, working things out with King Bjorn.”
Her face twisted in confusion. “Then why come here?”
“Because I want you safe. It’s better this way.”
“Asger …”
He put his finger to her lips. “Shh.” He looked into her eyes, brushed a wisp of hair from her face, then tenderly kissed her.
Mitzi melted against him. This was crazy! She’d only known him a couple of days, and yet she felt like an irrevocable part of him. She knew she was his, and he was hers, and she didn’t care how she knew. They’d passed a line and there was no turning back. If they tried, she also knew that something bad would happen.
And yet … if Asger didn’t marry Princess Velta, it could cause trouble. He’d filled her in as they went back to the palace. Lacona shared a border with Dalrovia, and both shared borders with Germany, who was still looking to expand. Lacona had more military might, but Dalrovia had more cash and mineral resources. Together they’d be much stronger, and Asger was the key to a deal – King Bjorn wanted him married to his daughter Velta and that was that.
Would the whole thing fall apart if Asger refused? How angry would King Bjorn be? Angry enough to declare war on Dalrovia? They had the military to do it, apparently, and wars had been fought over less.
She looked into his eyes when he broke the kiss. He was doing this for her. For them. This wasn’t just a case of I love you, lets run away together – this was much, much more, even if neither of them could explain it.
Asger held her close, his lips hovering over hers. “I’ll not be long.”
She swallowed hard and whispered, “Asger, this is so surreal. Like we’re in a dream.” Her eyes roamed his face. “Will we wake up?”
He glanced at Dallan and Shona and loosened his hold. “You two. Why did you bring Mitzi to me?”
They exchanged a quick look. Mitzi sensed she needed to keep her mouth shut, so she did.
“I know you did. Why?” Asger took a few steps toward them, pulling her along.
Dallan stood to his full height, a few inches taller than Asger’s, and something about him … changed. She didn’t know what it was other than he assumed command, like William Wallace in Braveheart or somebody. He looked at Shona, who stared back. Something was happening between them – the air in the room crackled with it. He turned back and reached them in two long strides. “Ye deserve to ken what’s happening. And I’ll tell ye.”
Shona joined them. “We tell you this now because we know what you’re about to do, Asger. We have no idea what you’re walking into, but I’m sure it won’t be easy.” She took a deep breath and looked at Dallan. “Now?”
“Aye.”
Mitzi and Asger glanced at each other, equally confused.
What happened next was terrifying. “Shona, open a door to Mitzi’s home,” Dallan declared, then: “Shona, fosgail doras gu dachaigh Mitzi.”
Before she or Asger could comment, Shona’s features changed as she fell to her knees in slow motion and started to sing.
Mitzi’s heart stopped. Shona was engulfed in familiar white light, her elfin features hard to see. But she knew she’d witnessed the change. The ground shook beneath them as the light narrowed liked a laser and began to draw an outline on the far wall. Dallan stood, arms outstretched, eyes focused on the wall – Mitzi knew he was the one controlling it.
The outline complete, she watched in terror and wonder as Dallan reached his hand toward a far corner of the outline, then swept it down and across, peeling it away like removing a protective cover off a smartphone. Underneath was a brick wall in an alley – the same alley Mitzi had left days before.
“Ye have a choice, lass,” Dallan called over the music. “Ye can go home now, or stay here with this man. Ye’re already bonded to him. And I suspect ye ken what’ll happen if ye leave.”
Mitzi was speechless, but the Scot was right. She did know. She also knew how she got here, and had a very good idea of why. Asger – he was why. Something about their pairing must be so unique that she had to
be brought here through time and space to be with him. And if she didn’t stay, something terrible would happen to her, and to him.
Asger turned to her, his expression telling her he’d put it together too. “Mitzi, I don’t know where that leads,” he said, glancing at the alley as he let go of her. “But … I know I must give you the choice. If that door leads to home, I won’t keep you here against your will.”
Mitzi looked at the door, at Asger, at Dallan and Shona. She thought of her father – would she ever see him again if she stayed? She looked at Asger. “What should I do?”
His jaw trembled as his eyes misted. He closed them and went still, as if bracing himself. “Whatever your heart tells you.”
“Ye havena much time, lass,” Dallan warned. “Someone’s bound to hear the music and notice the floor shaking.”
“Mitzi,” Asger said, “he’s right. Guards will be here soon.”
She glanced at the door, glowing with the same light that made the outline. “Asger … I …”
“Your heart, Mitzi,” he said. “I already know what mine tells me. But you must listen to yours and heed what it says. Know this, though … I love you. I don’t know how or why, but I do …” Asger drew closer. “… and always have.”
Mitzi gasped, looked around, backed a step away from Asger … and leaped into his arms, kissing him full force. Here’s your answer!
Just as fast as it began, the light, the music, the air rippling around them, faded, leaving the room as it had been. Except for Shona’s features.
Mitzi broke the kiss and they both looked at Shona. “Wha … what are you?” Asger stammered.
Shona took a few deep breaths as Dallan helped her to her feet and smiled at Asger. “I am Princess Shona of the House of Shamaelon, and I come from someplace far away.”
Asger held Mitzi tighter and they both shuddered. “You’re royalty?” he asked.
“Yes. And as such, I’m well aware of the heavy duties that befall us.”
Asger nodded. Mitzi continued to stare. “So, um, are you … an alien? Like, from outer space?”
