Ashes of the Realm - Juliette's Dream (16 page)

Samuel looked at Jing and said, “Should we ask her?”

“Absolutely.”

“Let’s go.”

The two dismissed the gathering and left for Kess’ home. The entire community had been listening to them and decided to follow to see what was going to happen. Jing walked up and knocked on Kess’ door.

Kess heard the knock while she was writing Juliette’s measurements down, “Answer that and tell them we’re busy.”

Juliette answered the door and saw Jing and Samuel along with most of the community behind them. Kess came to the door and said, “What are you two up to this time?”

Jing looked at Kess and said, “We want to know if Juliette is going to be Scotty’s mate?”

Kess yelled, “You meddling bunch of old timers! What kind of question is that? Get away from here!”

Juliette said, “Why do you want to know?”

Kess was shocked into silence. She looked at Juliette and saw she was calm under the scrutiny of the crowd.

Samuel looked at Jing and said, “Scotty is the son of every family in our communities. After his parents died we all adopted him.”

“Did you ask him this question?”

“As a matter of fact we did.”

“And his answer was?”

“He said you don’t know him well enough to consider him.”

Juliette looked out at the crowd slowly shaking her head. She smiled and said, “I had a young Zord, he fought for and saved, show me his bravery in defending him during the Night of the Torg. They love him. I listened to the parents of the young Zord and they also love him. I listen to Vring’s thoughts and he loves him more than I can describe to you. Jingo would die for him and their love for each other is clear.” She looked over the heads of the two leaders, “I look at all of you who are here because you also love him. You should know by now that anyone that spends more than ten minutes with Scotty will love him. His heart is that good. He has it wrong. It is I that hopes he will consider me. I also love him even though I’m undeserving.”

Scotty walked forward out of the back of the crowd and pushed his way through to Kess’ house. Juliette saw him coming. He walked up to her, pulled her close, and kissed her.

Jing looked at Samuel and said, “See? I told you he chose her.”

Scotty looked at Juliette and said, “I have been waiting for you.”

Juliette said, “I have seen you my whole life. Now I am home.”

The community began cheering and the old women had seen enough. This child was strong enough to match their son’s bravery. The young women were disappointed and knew they had to look elsewhere for a mate. Scotty went into Kess’ home with Juliette. Kess remained outside and joined some friends. “We can finish her Zecka later.”

Jesa looked at Jingo and smiled. Jingo was getting emotional. “What’s wrong, Jingo?”

“You should have seen how the young Zord adore her. She is so much like Madeline. I wish she were here to see her.”

Jesa saw the tears in the corner of Jingo’s eyes and said, “She is, Jingo. She made him wait for her. Now she can rest and not worry about him.”

Jingo stared at the door, then turned with Jesa and Maddy to go home and show them how much he loved them.

Scotty and Juliette were on Scotty’s favorite hill staring up at the stars. Juliette was lying next to him and enjoying the feeling. Finally, she decided, “Scotty?”

“Yes, my Love?”

“I’ve not told you about my dream.”

Scotty turned and looked at her.

“I’ve had the same dream since I was five years old.”

“Yes?”

“I am with you on a star ship and we are looking down on a planet; it’s not El Prado.”

“How do you know it’s not El Prado?”

“There are no wastelands anywhere, and there is no evidence of it ever having cities.”

“Is there anyone else there with us?”

“Yes, but they always remain just out of my vision.”

Then how do you know they’re there?”

“Because I hear them say, “The weapons are ready, your Highness”. They were talking to you.”

Scotty shook his head, “Juliette, that dream can’t be real.”

“That’s what I know, but I’ve had it so many times and it seems so real. When I saw your face for the first time on Vring, I knew I have known you my whole life.”

Scotty didn’t know what to say.

Juliette said, “I can always feel my emotions in that dream. I loved you so intensely it hurt. It’s what I’m feeling now, Scotty”

Scotty pulled her close and said, “Let the future be the future. We have each other and this moment is where we live. Each day is a miracle, and to worry about the future is wasted time. Live in the moment; it may be all we ever have.”

Juliette held him tight and said, “I’m amazed at your heart, Scotty. I’ll love you forever.”

They held each other tight as billions of stars overhead waited patiently for the conqueror lying on the hill with his mate.

Jingo saw Scotty and Julie in the forest. Scotty was teaching her to use a bowgun. “How’s the rookie doing?”

Scotty turned and said, “She’s making progress.”

Julie punched him in the ribs, “Hey, I’m doing pretty good.”

Jingo looked at the target a hundred yards away and saw three of the five arrows in the center circle. Did you shoot any of those?”

Julie said, “No, he did not.”

Jingo whistled, “She’s doing better than many of our archers.”

“Her aim is good, but she’s slow on reloading.”

Jingo said, “Show me.”

Julie raised the bowgun and fired it. She pulled an arrow from the quiver on her back and fired again. The first arrow hit the center circle. The second was just outside it. She had reloaded the second arrow within two seconds of the first hitting the target. “Scotty, there’s no way she could have learned this so quickly. We have archers that have practiced the bowgun their entire life that aren’t this good.”

Scotty smiled, “She appears to be a natural.”

Julie looked at her bowgun and said, “These are remarkable, Jingo. You just look at your target and the arrow goes where you look.”

“No, it doesn’t, Julie. I can count on half my fingers how many archers can shoot by feel. Two of them are present.”

Julie looked at Jingo and then at Scotty who nodded. “Then how do you explain this?”

Jingo lowered his head and thought about how she could have developed so quickly. “Julie, how much time have you spent talking with Vring?”

“Quite a lot. He’s really interesting, and funny. He knows so much.”

Jingo looked at Scotty and said, “Scotty, he was in our minds during the Night of the Torg. He listened to our thoughts and was also in our minds during the most intense fighting. I think he transferred our thought and physical processes to her during their communication.”

Scotty thought about what Jingo was saying. “Zreeg has also seen me hunt Torg with him. I suspect that Zreeg is the one that shaped her mind for this. He has also seen the Night of the Torg.”

Julie thought about what they were saying, “It was Zreeg.”

Scotty and Jingo looked at her, “I remember him showing me, in great detail, the Night of the Torg. I could actually feel you fire your bowguns. It was so real. Now when I have a bowgun in my hand I get the same feeling as that vision. It feels….I don’t know…right.”

Scotty looked overhead, “Is Zreeg around?”

Julie thought, “Zreeg, will you meet me at the archery range?”

“On my way.”

The three waited in silence until the giant Zord landed. Scotty looked up and said, “Zreeg, have you heard what we were discussing?”

“Yes.”

“I want you to do something for me.”

“What is that?”

“I want you to focus on the thoughts you’ve seen when Jingo and I fire our bowguns. I want you to really get them in your mind and then send those thoughts to Julie.”

Zreeg was silent and Julie looked at Scotty with a questioning look. Julie heard, “Listen closely, Rider.”

Julie felt hundreds of arrows leaving Jingo’s and Scotty’s bowguns. She felt what they experienced, and felt the sense of touch for the arrow and the bowgun. Over and over again she felt the sensation and saw the arrows flying at the target. After twenty minutes they heard Zreeg say, “I’ve given it to her.”

Scotty looked at Julie, pointed at the target, and said, “Give it another go.”

Julie turned and faced the target. She felt different. She reached over her shoulder and pulled an arrow, and it felt as natural as one of her fingers. She smoothly loaded it and fired. Almost faster than Scotty and Jingo could see, she pulled and fired two more arrows before the first hit the target. All three hit the center of the circle with the third splitting the first arrow. She watched and knew that the second was fired just a little quickly or all three would have hit together. Scotty and Jingo were amazed. She was faster than them and they knew it. Scotty looked up at Zreeg and said, “Do the same thing to me.”

Scotty felt the sensations and let them take over his mind. He felt every shot and saw where the arrow was going to hit as he fired it. Zreeg finally said, “You have it all.”

Scotty suddenly turned and fired five arrows at the two hundred yard target and watched as all five were split by the next arrow coming in. Scotty had his bowgun down watching before the first arrow hit. Jingo said, “It’s my turn, Zreeg.”

Julie felt her power with a bowgun. It felt right in her hand. She knew the air pressure had to be raised five pounds to make it really accurate. How she knew was a mystery but she knew it was true.

After Jingo was done Zreeg said, “I hope you know that this process will not work on most of your community.”

“Why not?”

“Because most of their minds are not open enough for me to reach the part that controls this movement. The only one that can benefit is the one called Blake.”

Jingo said, “I’ll go get him.”

Scotty said, “That would be wise.” Scotty looked up at Zreeg, “I can understand why Jingo and I are open. Why is Julie able to use this process? She hasn’t had near the mental contact as Jingo and me.”

Zreeg looked at Julie and said, “She is open naturally.” Zreeg paused and said, “Just as you are, White Hair.”

Scotty thought about what Zreeg said and then remembered, “Zreeg, will you fly over the learning center and see if Timmy and Tesa are there?”

The giant Zord lifted and flew north over the deep woods.

Jingo came back with Michael Blake in tow and said, “Where’s Zreeg?”

“He’ll be right back. I had him go check the learning center for Timmy.”

“I’m glad you thought about that. I’d forgotten.”

Julie looked at them and asked, “Who’s Timmy?”

Jingo laughed, “He’s our resident genius. He lives in the learning center downloading everything that catches his interest.” Jingo looked up and saw Zreeg returning.

“The two are at the learning center.”

“Jingo, I’m taking Julie to go visit the learning center. You help Michael with Zreeg.”

“Pack a lunch. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He turned to Michael and said, “Go pull those arrows out of the targets. I have a new technique I want to teach you.”

“New technique?”

“Trust me, you’ll love it.”

Scotty and Julie smiled as they headed back to the community.

T
immy Valrico reclined in a chair with the download headband on his forehead. Tesa was in a chair beside him sharing his download. Timmy opened his eyes and said, “Wow! That was amazing.”

Tesa was shaking her head. “Those Algean ships are huge. There’s no way they should have lost to the Holy Realm.”

“But they did, Tesa. The Realm had the best engineers.”

“Only because the Algeans were stunted in their development. You know who really had the best engineers.”

Timmy shrugged then heard a knock on the door. She looked at Timmy who ran to a display and saw it was Scotty with that new woman. He went up two flights of stairs and released the door. “What brings you to the deep woods?”

“We need to see if you can help us. Hi, Tesa.”

Tesa jumped up and ran and hugged Scotty, “Hi, yourself. It’s good to see you.”

Scotty helped Julie down the narrow steps and said, “Timmy, Tesa, this is Julie. Julie, this is Timmy and Tesa.”

Julie said, “I’ve heard a lot about you two on the way here. I’m impressed with your knowledge.”

The two teenagers smiled and Timmy came forward and shook her hand while Tesa just walked up and hugged Julie. Julie hugged her back and Tesa smiled, “You are as beautiful as everyone says you are.”