Sacrifice
A Sequel to Quietly into the Night
Conventional Couples
Rating: PG-13

Chapter Eighteen

Antar – Uzshtar City

Isabelle looked over at the guardsmen and flashed a weak smile, and picked up Lexie. She rose and began to cross the room when one of the guardsmen stopped her.
"Just a moment," he said, blocking her path. Isabelle looked at him, but said nothing.
"Your daughter," the guardsman continued. "She is quite beautiful. She reminds me very much of my own daughter far away in Daajakara."
Isabelle smiled and managed to utter a passable thank you in Antarian and began to move passed the guardsman.
"Wait!" he commanded. She stopped in her tracks, trying to conceal the fear that consumed her. The guardsman brushed a strand of Lexie's hair away from her face and smiled. He said something to the child but Isabelle was too nervous to understand his speech. Lexie buried her face in her aunt's shoulder, and the guardsmen gave a shout of laughter. The guard that stopped her reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin and handed it to Lexie. Isabelle looked over at Franchet who nodded slowly. She nudged Lexie and whispered in her ear that she should take the coil. Lexie lifted her head a bit and smiled at the guard and allowed him to present her with the coin. She quickly hid her head in Isabelle's shoulder again, much to the amusement of the onlookers.

Isabelle smiled again, and made her way over to where Franchet was standing. "Go out the front door and go around to the back of the building and come back in again through the kitchen. I'll wait for you there." She nodded and tightened her grip on Lexie and the two stepped outside. In the street, people were congregating to discuss the news of the upcoming wedding. The people were speaking so quickly that Isabelle had difficulty in catching the meaning of the many conversations that surrounded her. Giving up, she stepped around to the back of the building and entered the kitchen. As he promised, Franchet was waiting for her. He quickly escorted her into a small room, which Isabelle surmised was his office. Closing the door behind them he indicated that Isabelle should sit down. Once she was seated, he sat down across from her.
"Princess, what has happened? Where is Naloch?"
"Naloch, don't you mean Nicoro?" she said bitterly.
"What do you mean Princess? We left you safely with Naloch."
"And I'm telling you it wasn't Naloch. It was Kivar's second in command Nicoro. Somebody I don't know but who certainly knew who I was."

Franchet stood up and began to pace in the small confines of the room. "This is unbelievable. Not that I doubt your word Princess, but I was certain he was Naloch. Please know that I never would have left you in his care had I known."
"Relax Franchet," said Isabelle. "I know you didn't know. Right before I killed him, I made a connection with him. I was able to see that you and Malik had no idea of his deception. After I killed him, Lexie and I made our way here to you. I didn't know what else to do."
"You made a wise decision Princess, especially in light of the news I just heard."
"What news is that?" she asked. "I could hear people on the street talking about something but I wasn't able to decipher what they were saying."
"There is to be a wedding Princess. In three days time, Lord Kivar will wed Queen Elizabeth, thus securing his position as ruler of Antar."

"What!" shouted Isabelle. "Franchet, you must get me back to Capitol City. I have to do something to stop this."
"Princess, I thought we decided it would be wiser to wait for the others to travel here to meet you. It is safer here."
"Plans change," said Isabelle crisply. "There is no way in hell that Max will leave that city if he has heard about this farce of a wedding. I have to get back there, and I have to do it now!"
"This will take some time to arrange Princess. We must secure safe transport for you and the little one."
Isabelle stood up and crossed the floor to where Franchet stood. "Look, I don't care what it takes, and I keep telling you, I'm nobody's princess. What I am is one pissed off woman who needs to go help rescue one of her dearest friends from the hands of a monster. I already lost two people I love to that bastard, I'm not going to lose another. Do you understand me? Because if you don't, I am perfectly willing to find another way to make you understand," she said in a deathly quiet voice, raising her hand and placing it on Franchet's chest.

Franchet looked down at the hand Isabelle had placed on his chest and gulped audibly. "Princess. Isabelle," he amended quickly. "I realize that you have strong feelings about this, and we will get you back there as soon as possible, but your safety is tantamount. We cannot be rushed."
"As long as we understand each other," she said grimly. "I suggest you start making the arrangements.

Franchet left the room and Isabelle walked over to Lexie who had fallen asleep during the exchange with Franchet.
"Lexie, sweetie. Can you wake up for me please?" The child opened her eyes and looked at her aunt sleepily.
"Lexie, Auntie Isabelle has a big favor to ask you. Can you try and play your game with Kam for me? Tell Kam to tell Daddy that we are coming back to Capitol City. Can you remember that Lexie?"
"Capitol City," the child muttered in a sleepy voice.
"Lexie," said Isabelle a bit more sharply. "This is important. You have to try."
"Ok," said Lexie, a crystalline tear perched on her eyelashes.
"Oh Lexie, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," said Isabelle. "It's just really important that you try hard, ok? Auntie's not mad at you. I'm just cranky because I'm tired."
"Maybe you should take a nap," said Lexie in a small solemn voice. "When I get to be a cranky monster, Daddy always makes me take a nap."
"I wish I could Lexie," said Isabelle, placing a kid on the child's head. "I wish I could. But I'm going to sit here and watch while you take a nap instead. And remember, if you talk to Kam, what are you going to tell him?"
"To tell Daddy we're going to Capitol City."

Isabelle had just settled down comfortably in a chair with Lexie snuggled in her arms when there was a large crash from the restaurant. She tensed, but tried to remain calm when another large bang reverberated throughout the building. The door burst open and Franchet rushed inside. "Quickly Princess," he said. There is no time to lose. The guardsmen are tearing the place apart out there. Word has been spread that Commander Nicoro's transmitter signal has been lost. We must get you out of here now!" Isabelle said nothing; she just hefted Lexie up into her arms and followed Franchet out the door.

Antar – Royal Palace

Liz sat quietly, trying to decide what to do. She was unsure of whom she should listen to. She tried to contact first Kam, and then Kyle but with no luck. The door to her chambers slid open and Kivar walked in. "Elizabeth, you look rather pale," he said gazing down at her.
"I have recently learned that I have only three days to plan a wedding Kivar, it tends to take a lot out of the average woman," she said dryly.
"Is that all that is worrying you?"
"Well, let me see, you lied to me about the date of our wedding. It leads me to believe that perhaps you have lied about other things as well, like the safety of my son, and my friend."
"Elizabeth, relax. I gave you my word, and I will not go back on it. I only changed the date of our wedding because I am most anxious to make you my bride. Is there anything else you may require at this time Elizabeth?"
"No, I think not, I believe I shall just get some rest," answered Liz.
"So be it," said Kivar walking towards the door.
"Kivar, wait!" she cried. "Perhaps you could instruct somebody to bring me a warm drink? Would that be possible?"
"A warm drink you wish, a warm drink you shall have Elizabeth. If all your requests are as simple as this, I foresee our married life as being quite enjoyable."

Kivar left the room, the door sliding shut behind him. "I foresee you rotting in hell you stupid bastard," said Liz. Several minutes later, the door slid open again, and a servant walked in, left a tray on the table and left quickly. Liz picked up the drink and quickly dumped it out. She looked under the napkin on the tray for a note, but there was nothing.
"Damn it," she said. "I wish I had a clue what to do next

Several hours later, a guard in the security center sat up and stared at his security screen. "We have an alarm in the Queen's quarters," he said.
"They had one earlier today, it was false, but we should probably send someone down to make sure everything is safe." He spoke into a control panel and dispatched several guards to check the suite. When they arrived, opened the door to find the room engulfed in flames. Rushing in they began to make a search of the room.
"We must find the queen!" cried one of the guards. He made his way towards the room Liz used for sleeping, while the other began to search the main living quarters. The room was so filled with smoke that he failed to notice Liz hiding in the corner. While his back was turned, she slipped out the open door. Turning around, she passed her hand over the security panel, and the door slid back into place. She knew it wouldn't hold the guards for long, but she figured it would buy her a few minutes. She had never been this way, but Kyle had described the way to the hidden passage so many times that she could recite it in her sleep. She located the dank room that Kyle had described and pressed the bricks in the wall. She held her breath until the door slid open. Stepping through the doorway quickly, she fumbled for the switch. She heard feet pounding, and the sound of voices coming closer. She searched in the dark until she finally found the switch and flipped it, causing the door to slide shut just as Kivar's soldiers burst into the room.