Rowena Through the Wall: Expanded Edition (20 page)

She was off.

I looked at the coin still in my hand. Last night...I'd swear it was a dream. A rather daring dream, but all the same, not real.

Except for the coin, which was very real.

"So let's look at this pragmatically," I murmured.

There was only one man who wore a coin around his neck. That coin was in my hand. I could think of only two ways that c
ould be possible. One―last night was real and
not
a dream. Or two―there was magic happening here and Cedric was messing with my head.

I shuddered with guilt.

But if I had thought it was a dream while it was really happening, did that exonerate me? If only
I could talk to Thane about it.

That caught me up short. Why Thane?

Kendra entered with the cell phone. "You won't believe this, but I have a signal."

"Give it to me. I need to leave a message for my Dad or he'll be worried sick. Cross your fingers."

I punched numbers and was astounded to hear the connection go through. The answering machine picked up.

"Hi, Dad," I said. "It's Red. You won't believe this. I've found Mom's family in…uh, England. They want me to come over, so I'm hopping a plane tonight. I'm so happy. I'll tell you all about it next week when I get back. Love you. Bye." I flipped the phone shut.

Kendra was quiet.

Sadness overwhelmed me. I missed my dad.

"That should keep him satisfied for another week," I said.

When would I see him next?

I gave her back the cell phone. "Amazing that this worked here. We must be connected to our world somehow. Thank you for that. It means a lot to me. What about you?"

Kendra shrugged. "There's nobody I need to call."

My mind took an unexpected detour.

"Kendra, a
re you using birth control?"

Her head jerked. "I'm on that new patch, but it's nearly due. And I'm going to be desperate in a week for you-know-what."

"I'm not on any birth control," I said, sighing. "I get migraines on the pill, so we always used―you know
."

"Not much chance of
that
here."

"I know. However, I was thinking we should make a quick trip to the pharmacy on campus to load up on monthly supplies."

"That's a good idea, Row. How soon?"

"Let's go now." I chewed my bottom lip. "The men are still out s
omewhere with this scout person. I don't think they'd miss us. Empty your backpack and I'll empty mine. We can load up on the other side. Oh―and you might want to wear your Goth gear for riding. I'll wear jeans underneath my skirt." I paused. "I forgot to ask. Can you ride?"

"A horse?" Kendra grinned. "How can you live in Arizona and not ride?"

We had no trouble leaving on horseback. We were two ladies out for a morning ride together. It was a typical day in Land's End. The sun shone brightly and the temperature was near perfect. We rode hard to the river and made it by midday.

I showed Kendra the landmarks and how to find her way to the split tree so she woul
d be able to find her own way back―if something were to happen to me.

This was her first time going back through the wall. I think she was nervous. I gave her a big smile, took her hand in mine and through the wall we went.

There were no lights on in the c
lassroom. Classes were over until next fall. I pulled the ivory muslin dress over my head and put on the pink T-shirt.

Kendra rushed to her locker in the hall and worked the combination of the lock. "I have my debit card in here. I can take five hundred out at once."

"Good idea," I said, stuffing the dress in her locker. "I didn't think to bring mine. And who knows when we'll get back here again."

Or when they'll cancel our cards, I thought, or clean out her locker. But I saw no reason to worry her about that right now. We had enough to deal with.

The campus pharmacy was like one great big candy store. So many things I had not seen in weeks. We picked up several packages of tampons, enough for months. I bought a good hairbrush, some hair combs and elastics. Kendra got her birth control and I snuck in some chocolate.

I used the payphone to call Debbie at the clinic. She didn't answer, so I left a message. I left the same story that I gave my Dad and asked her to keep Piper for another two weeks. I'd owe her big-time.

"Hey, Row, where have you been?"

I turned and forced a smile. "Hi, Ted."

Ted was the program head for veterinary medicine. "I've been trying to get you for days. I'm planning a meeting for next Wednesday at nine, about the new regulations for lab safety. Can you make it?"

"I think so," I said.

"Good. I see you've been riding."

I followed his eyes to my boots. Uh-oh. It was a darn good thing I'd taken off the dress.

"Got your horse parked outside?" he quipped.

I smiled again. "Pretty close by."

He squinted at my T-shirt. "'Cowgirls do it sitting astride.'" He chuckled. "Do they really?"

I blushed. "See you Wednesday."

"What a hunk," Kendra said after Ted had left. "And he really likes you."

"He's married. And a little too thin for me."

Interesting how my tastes had changed.

"Come on, Kendra, let's get going before we run into anyone else."

After she paid for the items, we hurried back to B wing. I got my dress out of her locker and she grabbed all her own clothing. A black sweater, a long black T-shirt and gladiator sandals, black of course.

We dashed to the classroom where I took off the pink T-shirt and donned the dress. Meanwhile, Kendra stuffed both our backpacks with all the pharmacy purchases.

"What about the plastic bags?" she asked.

"Better leave them. We want as little trace to this world as possible."

I stuffed my shirt in the backpack and stood. We stared at each other for a moment.

"You don't have to go back with me," I said softly.

"
You're
going back."

"You have a choice. I don't. Gareth will come through the wall if I don't go back. He's done it before."

She shook her head. "I'm going with you."

I smiled and took her hand.

The orange sun shone just as brightly. The valley was a verdant green below.

"How beautiful it is here," Kendra said in
awe. "It looks like a painting by that guy. What's his name―the one who does the amazing things with light?"

"It's truly is a magical world," I admitted, "which is fine if you happen to like magic."

I called to Lightning and both horses trotted toward us.
We fastened our backpacks to the saddles and walked the horses to the clearing to mount.

Without warning, men dropped from the trees and surrounded us. Kendra was beyond my reach, a dagger to her neck.

I counted six rough men of varying ages. They all were armed and their eyes gleamed with hunger. I looked for their leader to see if he might be the bargaining type. He wasn't. When I saw his leering gaze, my hopes fell.

"What have we here?" he sneered. "A comely lass dropped from the skies into my lap. 'Tis my lucky day."

A tall, thin man stepped forward. "She's Sargon's new queen. I've heard of her."

"The wife of Sargon?" Their leader laughed. "Oh, this is quite a treat." He held a dagger to my chin. "Your name, Lady?"

I willed myself not to shake. "Rowena."

He scowled at Kendra. "And the queen's page. How old are you?"

"Fifteen, sir." Kendra said.

Her eyes shot to me and I nodded my relief. They took her for a boy.

"You must be the youngest in the land," he said. "Boy, you will get a show tonight. An education."

Kendra gasped.

No, I sought to tell her with my eyes. Your martial arts can do nothing against so many. Don't interfere. There's nothing you can do.

Kendra cleared her throat. "Sir, the king will pay a handsome ransom for her."

"I'm sure he would," the brigand said with humor. "But I don't intend to collect it."

Oh, no. I felt the blood drain from my face.

"Have you no honor?" I asked, breathless.

"Have I no honor, she asks." He laughed and eyed me. "Lady, I have nothing.
Nothing.
Except a huge price upon my head put there by Sargon. So tell me now why I should not have my fun with you. He'll kill me either way."

I forced myself to look at the man who would decide my fate. It was not a pleasant sight. He was of average height, stocky, with stringy brown hair, an unkempt beard, black teeth and a crazy smile. His clothes were covered in dirt and he smelled as if he hadn't bathed in weeks. They all did.

The Derringer was in my fanny pack. I had two sure shots. If I could get it out, I could shoot at least one of them. I wouldn't miss. The pistol would be like magic to them. Maybe they'd back off.

I needed to get my gun out, but how?

"Shall I brand her first?" the leader asked his men. "How 'bout I make her mine, boys? We'll give her the stamp of the band, right on her pretty arm here."

When he yanked the left sleeve of my dress off my shoulder, I panicked. Especially when I saw that all the men had a triangle brand on their upper arms.

A small, wiry man poked the fire with an iron.

Over my shoulder, I saw Kendra tiptoe toward the trees. She blended in with ease. Thank God. Stay there, I willed.

I tried to work the zipper of the fanny pack with one hand, without being obvious.

"We've just done Benny, our new boy, and he stood it. Let's see how a queen can take it."

The iron was passed. Struggling, I screamed when the searing brand touched my arm. I let out one scream, then I bit my lip and squeezed my eyes shut.

"Not bad, boys. Not bad. Pretty steadfast for a wench. She'll last a while, I think."

My shoulder screamed in agony from third degree burns.

"Shall we see what the king enjoys every night?"

The dagger cut my front lacings and nicked my skin. He grabbed my dress and ripped the bodice to my waist. I closed my eyes, but held my head high. The searing pain had made me strong.

I would
not
sob or beg.

What I needed was a distraction. Something to cause them to look away so I could get at the gun.

I heard a crack of thunder. Then another. The sky darkened, the clouds rumbled. A spear of lightning hit the ground, not fifty paces from the forest edge.

The men cried out and backed away.

Pounding hooves took us all by surprise. I was thrust aside. Falling to my knees, I rolled out of reach, then leaned on my elbows so I could better see.

The Derringer was in my hand.

The clearing was full of men on horseback. I couldn't believe my eyes. Huel men, according to their colors, but I did not know them. They numbered more than a dozen.

The sky split with blinding lightning and thunder roared again.

"The Dark Lord!" someone shouted.

Cedric materialized on a huge palomino. His sword was out. His eyes blazed brilliant green.

"Ah, Willen, you old villain. You have my cousin there."

Willen looked ashen. "Your cousin, Sire? I thought she was the consort of the king."

"And my kin," he said coldly. "My cousin's daughter, under my protection. I see you took the branding iron to her."

"Just a little fun, Sire," Willen said in a strangled voice. "She is not badly hurt."

"And it looks to me as if you were about to rape her."

There was deadly silence now.

"Do you know what Sargon would do to you if he were here?" Cedric asked, his eyes narrowing.

The man was tongue-tied.

Cedric snorted. "Probably the same as I."

The sword flashed and the brigand's head was severed in one clean cut. I screamed as it rolled across the ground, the eyes still open. Shouts, clangs and cries, the valley filled with horrid sounds amid the rolling thunder. I hid my face and willed the horses to stay back, afraid they'd trample me.

The thunder stopped. A gentle rain was falling now.

Cedric stood over me. "Rowena, come. It's over." He held out his hand, his tunic bloody and his face dirty with sweat and grime.

I got to my knees. One hand held my dress together, while the other deftly dropped the Derringer into my fanny pack.

On my feet, I looked around. The place was a blood bath. There were severed body parts everywhere. Unperturbed, Cedric's men held dripping swords and daggers.

"Kendra!" I called in a panic. "Kendra, where are you?"