Earth2Mama: There are more questions... but perhaps we’ll answer a few of them today.
Natalie36: Thanks for reading!
sarammlover: Definitely not out of the question! Yep, we do recall your earlier suggestion about Jack and Ava.
keepsmiling7: The final showdown with Rath is coming!
Lol, no one wanted those marriages to go through.
We’ll have to wait to find out what the future holds as far as Liz and Jack.
Eva: There are great changes coming!
begonia9508: Thanks!
Max needed to get that off of his chest. Liz will learn the truth soon.
You won’t have long to wait to learn what it means for Max.
Alien_Friend: Lol, we are glad that we can still surprise you. A lot is happening right now in this fic. We’re up for the big final lol. (No worries, that doesn’t mean this fic ends already… also we are nearing the end.)
Max was cold, yep. He’s finally the one and only King at his castle and he knows he has to take on all the responsibilities alone. A big task for him, but we’re sure he’s the right man for it.
Tadaaa, Zan is back!
Can’t leave Ava on her own, right?Part 90
Her eyes locked on his and she could see the determination that had always driven him. She nodded and turned to hurry back through the secret doorway and into the darkened corridor, grabbing the torch just as the door slid closed behind her again.
Amy was aware of the motion around her, but whenever she opened her eyes everything was one big blurry mass. The same counted for her ears. There had been words spoken, but they were too far away and dull to understand. Where was she and why did it feel like she couldn’t breathe?
“Remain calm,” Ava muttered when she felt the woman stirring. “We have a ways to journey before we can rest easily.”
She tried to answer, but found it hard to concentrate. “Where…”
“Your body has had difficulty adjusting to Antar’s atmosphere. You are likely to feel ill for some time yet, but once we reach Zander’s Kingdom the King will heal you and make you well again.” She reached yet another wall and turned to the left, following the corridor to the exit. They were below the moat Khivar had insisted on building and this section was damp and smelled of rotting vegetation.
An image of her daughter flashed through Amy’s mind and she tensed. “Maria!”
“You must be silent!” she hissed. “Your daughter is safe and protected. You will be reunited with her but we must escape your captors first.”
“Thank you,” the older woman sighed and tried to rest.
They reached the end of the secret corridor and once again Ava rested her palm against the hidden door, concentrating on the other side and what lay beyond it. She had no sense of anyone lingering in the immediate area and she cautiously pulled the lever, releasing the door and stepping out into the shadows of the woods that lay behind the castle.
*****
Rath turned his head when he heard the small unit approaching and he held a fisted hand up, signaling his men to come to a halt. He shifted in the saddle and waited, his gaze locked on the area the sounds were coming from. After a few minutes the unit, led by Miren, broke through the foliage surrounding them.
“Commander, my apologies for our late arrival,” Miren said, bowing his head slightly. “We ran into an unexpected delay.”
“As did we,” Rath murmured as he studied the Antarian soldier.
His confusion showed clearly on his face. “Sir?”
“We abandoned the attack on the camp at the base of the Santeda Mountains on your word that it was nothing more than a smokescreen. Your information indicated the true camp was at this location and that an attack was slated to begin against my armies unless it was intercepted.”
“Yes, that is the information I was given.”
Rath gestured to the area around them. “Do you see any sign of a camp nearby? Do you see the slightest sign that men, horses, or equipment have been through this area recently?”
Miren glanced around, his golden eyes searching frantically for some sign that the information he had been given was not false. “The Captain must have given me incorrect intelligence,” he insisted.
“No, Miren, the Captain gave you false information to stop the slaughter of his men and to buy time. You fool!” he roared, losing control of his temper and sending the man through the air to land on the hard ground. “Do you have any idea how much time we’ve lost?” He turned to look at Gandar. “Order the men to rest.” He glanced up at the sky. “As soon as the second sun has begun its descent we will begin the journey back to the castle.”
Gandar nodded. “What of Miren?”
“He and his men are to be bound while I decide their fate.”
“Sir,” Miren tried to reason with the angry Commander, “I can still be of use!”
Rath dismounted and moved to stand over him. “To what end?” He tilted his head to one side as he studied him. “The Captain fed you false information because he knew you to be a traitor to the throne of Antar! If you were to return they would simply place you in irons until such time as your execution could be carried out. You are of no use to me now.”
“I can defect then.”
“Defect,” he sneered and shook his head. “Miren, you are a coward. I would not put any of my men under your command. Any man who would lead his own men into an ambush and slink away to be the only survivor is not a man I want in my army.”
Miren’s gaze darted around the temporary campsite as Gandar ordered the men to dismount and rest. Not a single one of them would speak up on his behalf and not one of them would raise a hand to defy their Commander when he decided to take action against him for his mistake. He remained silent as his men were bound, saving him for last.
“Commander, a rider approaches!” Gandar called.
Rath turned his horse and spurred him into a run to meet the fast approaching rider. He frowned at the condition of the young lieutenant’s horse when he reached him but before he could berate him the soldier reined the animal in and saluted.
“Sir, Lyton sent me to advise you of a breach.”
His eyes narrowed and he held his hand out for the document the younger man retrieved from his saddlebags. He tore it open to scan over the communication within and fury erupted inside of him when he read the contents. “Rest your mount, Lieutenant,” he ordered without preamble. He quickly turned his own horse and went back to his original position, dismounting and handing the reins over to Gandar.
Miren cowered when the Commander approached him, his face filled with anger.
“Do you have any idea what your stupidity has cost us?” he snarled. He reached out and grabbed a handful of the man’s uniform shirt, hauling him to his feet and shoving him back against a barren tree. “Because of your ineptitude the castle walls have been breached.” His eyes were nearly black with rage. “My captive has been seized and Vilondra has fallen at the enemy’s hands!”
“Sir, I can – “
It was as far as he got. The last word was still echoing on the wind when Rath’s sword sliced through the air and severed his head from his shoulders. He had no emotional connection to Vilondra, that was human foolishness, but she would have ruled Antar at his side with the same strength and determination he would lead with.
“Gandar, deal with his men.” He scanned the landscape. “We ride the moment the second sun begins its descent.”
*****
Michael walked through the hidden corridor on his side of the castle, not bothering to use any light since every inch of it was already imprinted on his mind like a digital map. None of the Royal Four had been able to sleep the past night. After the audience with Zander new problems had reared their heads.
Captain Carson was out on his mission, but they had lost radio contact with him shortly after midnight and hadn’t had any information about what was going on. Just when he had been about to send the Captain out to the camp, Ava had contacted him, the connection very weak. He had relayed a secret way to get into the castle and then contacted the King to meet them for the healing process.
He reached out to place his hand over the hidden spot to release another secret door. As soon as it opened he heard the King’s demanding voice. “What did Captain Carson do in the castle?”
“What is going on here?” Michael stepped into the room with a deep frown, glancing between the King, Ava and the human woman sleeping on the bed.
“She met Carson on her way to save the human. I saw it while healing her wound.” Max got up angrily. “Tell me why,” he hissed at Ava.
The Commander frowned at this unexpected turn of events. “The castle is a considerable distance from the camp at the base of the Santeda Mountains. Carson wasn’t authorized to undertake a secondary mission.”
Ava frowned, fighting to get into a sitting position. “Who’s Carson? What are you talking about?”
“You know who he is!” Max insisted, controlling his voice out of regard for the human woman resting nearby. “He aided in your escape.”
The human man, she realized. “Zan.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed. “What does he have to do with this?”
Ava stood, trying to fight the dizziness in her head. “I know this sounds strange, but he was there to help me. I don’t know how it’s possible and I don’t think he knew I was there when we met, but your Captain... he’s Zan.”
Max shook his head. What was going on? Liz claimed that Captain Carson was her ex-lover, a man she had believed to be dead, and now Ava was claiming the same man was actually her lover, Zan. He couldn’t be two people, so who was he really?
“The man we sent out to the Santeda Mountains was undeniably human.” He had read the reports for himself, studied everything they had relating to the soldier.
“I can’t explain it, King Max. It’s like Zan has found another body.” She knew she sounded crazy, but how else could she describe it? “He killed Vilondra.”
Michael glanced at Max when the man suddenly seemed to be considering something. “What is it?”
“Captain Carson was injured in a battle on Earth. Liz knew him, Michael, and she was notified that he had died in that same battle. What if what Ava says is true? They shared a true connection. Is it possible that he could take possession of another body such a great distance away?”
“Kyle mentioned that the man had lost his memory,” he agreed.
“What if the human did die and that event coincided with Zan’s death here on Antar? Do you believe it possible for him to have taken possession of the body before it could be disposed of?”
“It wouldn’t be the craziest thing I’ve heard of in light of recent events.”
“Tess found no indication that Zan was in control of Captain Carson’s body when she searched his mind.” This made no sense to him but he was willing to believe it. If it was true then he had no reason to worry that Liz would decide to leave him for the other man.
“Perhaps it required time and proximity to Ava to allow him to gain greater control.” They were still learning about the connection and what it was capable of, but he was beginning to believe that anything was possible where it was concerned. Michael turned to look at Ava. “You said you could still feel him, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And you said he killed Vilondra?”
“She is dead by his hand.”
“That leaves only Rath,” Max mused. Their enemies were falling quickly these days.
“Rath is mine to deal with,” Michael said, his tone cold.
Ava nodded. “I’ll be at your side if you need me.”
He glanced at her. He would see Rath dead and he had no intention of having anyone at his side when they finally met face to face. “Were you able to retrieve the book?”
“No,” she said regretfully, “there were sentries posted all over Khivar’s quarters and I had to decide between the book and the human.”
Michael’s hands fisted for a moment but he forced them to relax as he glanced at the human woman. Maria’s mother. “You made the correct choice, Ava.” The book’s importance could not be denied, but leaving the woman to suffer at Rath’s hands would have been unconscionable.
“Zan stayed, he said he had one more thing to do.”
Max lifted an eyebrow. “Does he know of the book’s existence?”
“I don’t know, but I can’t think of anything else he would want to do there.”
“You share a true connection though,” Michael mused. “It’s likely he’s aware of the book’s existence through that alone. He may be completing your mission.”
“It’s dangerous. I just hope he’ll be able to get back out.”
“If our suspicions are correct and he managed to survive death to find you once more it’s highly likely he’ll manage to evade the enemy and return to your side.” The more they learned of the true connection the more he was amazed by its depth. He supposed he could understand the desire to maintain a grip on this life by any means necessary, especially now that he was part of the same type of connection.
“I would like to think you’re right, Commander,” she whispered.
“You have done well, Ava. Perhaps you would like to rest now.”
She nodded. “Thanks. I realize that this castle can’t be my home. As soon as I have gathered my strength I will look for new shelter.”
“You will be given shelter and protection here as long as you need it. You have aided our people and risked your own life in doing so and as such you have earned that right.”
Max nodded. “Zander has passed and so has his Queen. You won’t find enemies in our ranks and you’re welcome to call this place your home from now on.”
She stared at them in disbelief, finally reminding herself to nod in acceptance. She didn’t know if she’d be able to remain here for any length of time, but it would be nice to be safe from the elements and her enemies, even if only for a brief time.
The Commander’s attention shifted to the human woman. “It’s time to fill Maria in.”
“Go to her,” Max said as he turned to follow the other man’s gaze. “I will see that Ava is given adequate quarters and anything else she requires.”
He nodded and turned to take his leave through the secret passageways again. He couldn’t wait for this hiding game to end! He followed the darkened corridor, his feet carrying him along his path without faltering once. He had become so familiar with them that it took little time before he arrived back at his quarters and slipped inside. He looked around, seeing nothing out of place, and after a moment he moved into the bedroom and the woman still sleeping.
Maria could feel the shift in the air when he entered the room and she slowly opened her eyes. “Michael?” she mumbled tiredly. “Come to bed.”
“How’re you feelin’?” he asked as he sat beside her but resisted her urging to climb back into bed with her.
“Sleepy.”
That wasn’t bad and Collon had advised him that due to the advanced pregnancy she would experience tiredness. “Okay other than that?”
Maria forced herself to wake up fully. Obviously he had no intention of letting her sleep any longer. “I’m good.” She grabbed his hand and placed it on her slightly swollen belly. “I’ve gotten bigger again.”
He chuckled and palmed her belly, feeling the warmth radiating from the connection. “Our little one is eager to come into the world.”
“Yeah, she wants to meet her daddy.”
Michael’s eyebrows shot up. “You’ve learned the child is to be a girl?”
“Just a feeling,” she shrugged.
“A girl it is then.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her belly before sitting up to meet her eyes. “There is something we must speak of.”
She frowned at his serious tone and moved up on the bed to rest her back against the headboard. “What’s wrong?”
“No, it is nothing that is wrong,” he assured her. “On the contrary, something is very right.” He cast about for the correct way to explain the situation with her mother and finally decided only the truth would do. “We recently learned that Khivar had taken another human prisoner. A woman from Earth.”
“Someone with the gene?”
“She possesses the gene, yes, but it was essentially useless due to her age.” He cleared his throat. “Her records show that she was originally denied residence on Antar because her body was found to be incompatible with our atmosphere. That sounds harsh, but there is a great risk to humans who are unable to adjust and the King can’t be expected to heal everyone. Such an undertaking would eventually take its toll on him.”
“Michael...”
He nodded. “The woman was being held in Khivar’s castle and had we made a direct assault to rescue her it’s likely he would’ve killed her to prevent it. I made the decision to allow Ava to make the rescue because she had the greatest chance of successfully retrieving the woman alive.”
Her eyes watered because it could only mean one thing. Why would he wake her to tell her about a random woman?
“Ava made contact with me just before dawn. She managed to succeed in her attempt to rescue the woman and bring her safely to the castle. Due to the atmosphere sickness she remained unharmed at Khivar’s hands.” He swallowed with difficulty. “I assume you will be angry with me because I chose to keep this information from you, but do not expect an apology for it. My decision was made in your best interest and that of our child. Until I could come to you with information that was certain I would not risk the danger such knowledge would have posed.” He paused as he looked into her eyes, waiting for her reaction. “Max has healed your mother and she is resting comfortably.”
“My mother is here in the castle?” She searched his eyes for an answer. She believed that was what he had said but she needed to hear it again.
“Your mother is here,” he assured her. “She is alive and well.”
“Oh God,” she held a hand to her mouth and started to cry then threw herself into his arms.
“It’s alright, M’ria,” he murmured quietly as he held her as tightly as he dared.
“I wanna see her, Michael. I wanna see her.”
“I can take you to her now if you wish.”
“Yes,” she let go of him to straighten up again but then hit his shoulder with her fist. “And that’s for not telling me.”
“Is that to be the extent of your anger?” he asked hopefully.
“For now I’m just happy she’s here. I can’t guarantee for later.”
He shook his head affectionately. “Should you choose to be angry later I am certain I can find a way to diffuse the situation,” he said with a teasing smirk. Probably not before she let him have it, but he was sure he would survive her temper.
“Bring me to her!”
“Perhaps you wish to dress first?” he asked as he stood and helped her to her feet.
She looked around and detected her clothes on a recliner, walking over to it and slipping into them quickly. “Ready.”
Strange she never seemed to be ready so quickly when he was waiting for her, he mused but wisely kept those thoughts to himself. He held his hand out to her, folding his fingers around hers protectively and leading the way back to the hidden corridor. He activated the door and they disappeared into the darkness, but this time he lit the torches in deference to her presence. The temporary quarters where they had placed her mother were nearby and it only took a few minutes to reach them.
When they stepped inside he saw Max turn and take a defensive stance, hand outstretched and he held a hand up to let him know it was safe. He nodded at the King and he stepped aside, giving Maria her first look at her mother.
“Mom!” She hurried to the woman’s side, crouching down next to her and holding one hand in both of hers. “You’re safe now, Mom. You’re safe.”
Amy’s eyes fluttered as the familiar voice called to her from a great distance. She would recognize her daughter’s voice anywhere but she couldn’t seem to pinpoint where it was coming from. She was so tired it was difficult to focus on anything and she couldn’t seem to remember where she was or why she was there.
“She’s a little disoriented from the healing and the procedures to try and cure the atmosphere sickness,” Max murmured quietly as he placed a hand on Maria’s shoulder for a moment.
“Okay, thanks,” she concentrated back on her mother. “Everything will be okay. You can sleep, nothing will happen to you here.”
“M’ria,” she whispered faintly, her fingers tightening for just a moment before she succumbed to the darkness once more.
“Give it some time,” Michael stepped behind Maria and gently pulled her up from the ground. “Once she’s rested she’ll be able to talk to you.”
She nodded and turned in his arms to embrace his warmth. Tears of relief fell silently while he held her.
“She could have your old quarters,” he suggested.
“That would be nice.” It still felt surreal to have her mom on Antar. Finally there was someone from her past, someone who had known her for all her life. “Can I see Ava? I wanna thank her for saving my mother.”
“Ava is resting,” Max spoke up quietly. “I also healed her and that tends to leave people feeling weak for a while.”
Maria nodded. “Okay.”
“I am certain she would welcome a visit once she has regained her strength.”
“You want to have some breakfast?” Michael asked her.
“I think you would like some breakfast,” she said with a smile. Her gaze moved back to her mother. She couldn’t believe she was really here. She was almost afraid to let her out of her sight for fear that she might disappear.
“She won’t,” he assured her gently.
She looked up at him and nodded. Her stomach rumbled, making him chuckle. “I think your child’s hungry.”
“Then we should give her food.”
“The child is a female?” Max asked curiously.
“It’s just a guess,” Maria shrugged.
He nodded. “Very well.” He looked at the Commander. “I can have a sentry posted at the door if you wish.”
“Yes, do that.” He grabbed Maria’s hand and led her to the door. “Come on, your friend Liz was up early and has already prepared the morning meal.”
