Autumn Fire and one long night – The twin gardens.
“Let me get this straight. You’re telling me the Autumn Fire will remove the barrier?” Prince Stephen watches the cloaked figure closely. “How is it that you’ve come by this knowledge?” The strange and secretive figure remains quiet. Prince Stephen waits. However, his patience is waning. And fast. So far, there is nothing of use. Furthermore, this mysterious mage has sown more confusion than anything useful.
“Your Serene Highness, (the mage bows) permit me to address your concerns, for I assure you the news I bring is true.” The mage bows even lower, the cloak nearly touching the floor of the throne room. Then the mage rises and continues. “The barrier between your kingdom and the kingdom of Princess Anna, is an old and long forgotten magic. The likes of which no mere enchantment can break.” Now the dark and mysterious mage takes a pause. The sound of the silence is almost deafening.
Prince Stephen gestures for the mage to continue. He really has no patience for old superstitions. Of course the enchantment that created the barrier between his and Princess Anna’s kingdom was old magic. In fact, it’s so old no one remembers where it came from, or why. Much less, how to overcome it. That is why the twin gardens have been the lifeline for so many centuries. Surely if there were some way to simply end the barrier then his own Court Mage would have heard of it by now. Furthermore, what of Princess Anna? Would she know of this Autumn Fire?
One Long Night Autumn Fire
Wesley blinks and feels his hands rise into the air. He hears his heart beating in his ears and the sound is loud. He wonders if the clearly insane Miss Anderson can hear it too. His arms feel like lead and judging by the look on the crazy lady’s face it wouldn’t matter if he stretched his hands up to the sky. She is going to end him. Here and now. Furthermore, Wesley sees it in her eyes. She’s batshit crazy.
He forces himself to breathe before he blacks out. Don’t want to lose consciousness here. Not in front of this soulless vessel of seething rage. Instinctively he knows that losing consciousness means the end, no matter what. At least for now, (for the moment) he still has a chance. He looks down the barrel of the gun. It doesn’t waver in the slightest. Apparently Miss Anderson is nothing if not experienced. Autumn Fire. The words flow through his mind whisper quiet, then they’re gone.
“All you had to do was mind your own business”, she adds her other hand to the one holding the gun “Why do you care what happens to an old man? In fact, what could it possibly matter to you?” She punctuates each of the last few words with a small jab of the gun. “It doesn’t matter now; because after all this time, Prince Stephen is dead.” Miss Anderson draws the last word out. Then she ends it with a twisted grin and pulls back the hammer on the pistol. “Time for you to go now.”
The Twin Gardens
“Prince Stephen leads his horse to the Castle gate. His Royal guard awaits him just outside. With any luck they will return in three days. He fixes his envoy with a steady gaze. “Make sure you deliver the message to Princess Anna only. It is of the utmost importance Marcus. You must let no one other than the Princess onto this knowledge. Make haste and do not linger. I return in three days. And then I will send a garden message to Princess Anna about the Autumn Fire.” He lowers his voice when he speaks the enchanted name.
His Royal envoy, Marcus, is also one of his most loyal subjects. He has no doubt that Marcus will deliver the message. However, they have a spy in their midst. Although the Captain of his Royal guard tries, the work of cloak and dagger has ever been a nobleman’s game. The protection of his monarch, is what the Captain of the guard, does best. Therefore Prince Stephan sees this Autumn Firs as an opportunity. It’s a chance to bring about change. He looks at the group of his Royal guard and the one lone cloaked figure. Soon they will begin this quest. For better, or for worse, Prince Stephan intends to see it through.
The Long Night
Mary squeezes Miss Garret’s hand. Although they have only been here thirty minutes, it feels like much longer. The only thing they know for certain is that Mr. Conner is in surgery. The waiting room was empty when they arrived. Now they sit in the critical ICU as they await any word on Mr. Conner’s condition. Mary studies Miss Garrett’s face as they wait. The older woman had taken a nasty fall on her front porch. However, she refused anyone looking at the bruise on her forehead. All she cares to know about is Mr. Conner.
Mary wonders how the surgery is going. Then it occurs to her that she hasn’t seen Wesley since they left him at the parking garage. She checks her watch. Over thirty minutes ago. Surely it doesn’t take that long to park. She wonders if she should call his phone. Then she decides she’s being silly. He was probably in the gift shop or maybe searching for a cup of coffee.
Autumn Fire
The door to the ICU opens and a surgical technician hustles past them. There is urgency in the young woman’s steps as she exits the waiting area and heads deeper into the hospital. Mary decides she might call Wesley’s phone after all. If for nothing more than to hear his voice then that would be worth the feeling of uncertainty. Then, as if fate had been secretly tuned in to her thoughts, she hears two gunshots from outside the hospital. There is a momentary silence. And then the security alarm of the hospital shatters the calm. A moment later all hell breaks loose.
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