| Several hours went by. The healers spent the latter hour of the morning and a great deal of the afternoon tending to Kat, Clara, and Salem. Jervin periodically checked on them to see how they were doing, while several dozen of his Guardians dealt with the smoking wreckage of the once-standing cursed mansion. Night fell on the kingdom; the Guardians guarded the infirmary well as the adventurers slept. A few rooms down the hallway, a few of the royal seamstresses were hard at work making Kat, Clara, and Salem new clothing. Late that night, Jervin reentered his infirmary and quietely observed his new-found heroes. As he watched the adventures quietly sleep, his peaceful silence was shattered by one of his faithful Guardians bursting through the door. The young, white-belted lion rushed clumsily through the door, skidding on his heels to a halt in front of his king. Jervin was startled, taking completely by surprise. "Your majesty!" he exclaimed, loudly. "I have something im--mmph!!" "You idiot!" Jervin scolded, whispering, grabbing his soldier by the muzzle. "You'll wake them up! Lower your voice." It was too late, however; Kat, Clara, and Salem were all startled awake. They sat up in their beds, rubbing their eyes to see clearer. "Oh, now you've done it!" Jervin complained, throwing his arms up. "You might as well assume your regular voice, since you've woken up our guests." "My apologies, your majesty," the young man said, bowing his head. "But I must tell you of something of great concern to all of us out at the mansion wreckage. We found that another young woman was buried beneath the rubble. And she lived!" Jervin's eyes widened. "What?" he asked, disturbed. "Where is she? Is she all right? Bring her here at once if she is at all injured, and hurry!" The Guardian left the room, and rushed away to find the young woman, surely in the other Guardians' care. Jervin then turned to Kat, Clara, and Salem. "I'm terribly sorry," he said. "We did not mean to wake you like that." "That's fine," Clara said. "What was going on, anyway?" "My soldiers found someone under the wreckage of the mansion," Jervin exclaimed. "They're bringing her over here right now, in fact. I hope she is not critically injured." Not but five minutes later, four Guardians reentered the room, escorting a young leopardess with them. "Your majesty," the same young lion began, "this woman was found this evening under some of the wreckage. She appears to be uninjured and feeling fine." Jervin turned around to see his Guardians and the woman they brought with them. His eyes widened when he saw the lady. She was not much more than 25 years of age, her beautiful body dressed up in an emerald-green vest, which partially covered her large breasts, and a split-sided blue skirt down to her ankles. She also wore two items of jewelry, two bracelets baring six different gems, three on each band. Jervin was overtaken with joy. Tears welled up in his green eyes, then streamed in twin rivers down his handsome face. He tried to speak, stuttering at first. "Ophelia?" he whispered. "Is that...you, Ophelia? My darling and cherished bride?" The leopard woman looked into Jervin's crying eyes, then began to cry herself. "Jervin," she said, softly. Jervin cried harder, then ran toward the woman, embracing her tightly. The two leopards embraced together, crying together joyfully. "How horribly I've missed you," Jervin wept. "I thought I'd lost you forever." "It is good to be back in your arms," Ophelia sobbed. She then kissed her husband passionately, their tongues meeting in the union of their mouths. "Our queen!" one of the Guardians exclaimed, and the four of them fell on their knees and bowed to her as Jervin and Ophelia continued to kiss and hold each other. I don't believe it, Kat thought. We saved the queen. Unbelievable. Jervin then released his wife. "My friends," he said, turning to Kat, Clara, and Salem, "this is my estranged wife, Ophelia. She is the queen of all Trillan." "Pleased to meet you," Salem said, smiling from his bed. "My name is Salem, from the Valley of Fate." "My name is Clara," Clara said, "and this is my friend Kat. We are lifelong friends, from the Plains of Clay." "It is a pleasure," Ophelia said. "Thank you for delivering me from evil and returning me to my husband." Jervin was overcome with happiness. "You three travelers are a gift to my beloved country," he sobbed. "I cannot even begin to know how to reward you for such an act, as not even all the riches and treasures of Trillan can possibly be enough. But you will be remembered for all eternity in Trillan for your animalitarianism displayed upon this day." Ophelia spoke up. "I have the solution, dear," she said. "I think we should give them the gift of noble acts, a gift whose value far exceeds that of any object in the universe." She then whispered her idea into Jervin's ear. Within seconds, his eyes lit up with content. "Ophelia, it's perfect!" he exclaimed. Then he turned to Kat, Clara, and Salem. "My seamstresses are hard at work making your clothing. I will see to it that they are finished before sunrise. After that, I want you to be dressed and presentable, ready at sun-up. Now, be rested for tomorrow -- it is not a day you will soon forget." Kat, Clara, and Salem all laid back down on their beds and fell asleep as the Guardians escorted Jervin and Ophelia out of the infirmary and to their elegant quarters. The city of Trillius rejoiced that evening for the return of the young queen. Late into the night, Jervin carried his beloved bride to his large bedroom, laid her down, and made love to her in the comfort of candlelight. Next page >> |