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

Chapter Thirty-Two

Antar – Capitol City

Isabelle slipped behind a door in the tavern, out of sight of the guardsmen who populated the establishment. She looked out across the room and watched as Jereon clear a table. He wasn't thrilled about acting like a busboy, but Isabelle pointed out that people tended to ignore the wait staff in a restaurant, unless they needed something. The opportunity to gather information was too great. Jereon argued that if it was such a good opportunity then she ought to do it. Isabelle smiled smugly and reminded him that she didn't speak Antarian. Across the room, two guardsmen stood up and walked towards the hallway where she was hiding. Looking around, she saw a door. Opening it up, she peered inside and saw that it was a small, private dining room. She ducked inside and left the door slightly ajar.

"It's to be done soon," said the first guardsman. "We must gather as many of them as we can, the execution is scheduled for the night of the double moon."
Isabelle cursed to herself wishing she understood what they were saying. She pulled a scrap of paper from her pocket and a crayon of Lexie's that she had in her pocket when she transported from Earth. She tried to scribble the words she could pick out phonetically on the paper.
"We have most of the rebels rounded up. Those that we have not yet captured are under surveillance. We will stamp out all those who honor the royal family. They will all die!"
"What about the traitor Naloch? Have they found him yet?"
"No, we haven't found him yet, but we will, and when we do, his execution will be cause for a great celebration, as well as great rewards for the person who captures him. Lord Kivar has promised treasures untold to whoever captures Naloch."
"Well then, why are we wasting time here, when we should be looking for the traitor? Let's move out and start searching again."

Isabelle waited until she heard a door slam shut. She peered cautiously out into the hallway and saw that it was clear. She raced down the hallway to the eating area and caught Jereon's eye, and motioned him over. Jereon shoved the pile of dishes he had been carrying into the arms of a passing patron, who looked at him and the plates in shocked amazement.
"Outside," Isabelle whispered, and the two exited the building. Jereon looked around and pulled Isabelle down the street to a small empty park where they could talk privately.

"What is it, Princess, what is wrong?" he asked.
"I overheard two guardsmen talking," she began. "Obviously, I had no clue what they were saying. I could only understand about one word out of ten, but I tried to write down what they were saying." She shoved the paper in his hands and waited expectantly. Jereon examined the paper briefly and handed it back to her.
"I'm sorry Princess, I can't read it. You wrote it in English," he said.
"Damn," she said. "Okay then, how about if I try and read it to you. Um, the first word is karachatna, she said.
"Execution," said Jereon. "Good, what else do you have?"
"I also heard the word for rebels. I know that word. I learned it from your father when he came to Earth with Kivar's forces. The guardsman also said something like daaratariza."
"That's capture or prisoner," said Jereon. "It sounds as if they've captured some of our forces, and are planning on executing them. But when?"
"The also said something about double moon. I know those two words, but it makes no sense to me," said Isabelle. "Does it mean anything to you?"
"Unfortunately, it does. DoubleMoon is a type of holiday for us. It comes in the equivalent of four Earth days. Was there anything else Princess?"
"Don't call me that," snapped Isabelle. "They also spoke of your father, and a pirotentia, and one of them said daaratariza again."
"I'm not quite sure of the first word, can you say it for me again please?" asked Jereon.
Pirotentia, said Isabelle, clearly and distinctly.
Pirencha? asked Jereon.
"Yeah, that sounds like it. What does it mean?"
"Nothing good, I'm afraid. Basically, there is a bounty on my father's head," said Jereon. He stopped speaking abruptly and looked off into the distance, trying to contain his emotions.

Isabelle moved closer to Jereon and wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Don't worry, Jereon," she said as she rubbed his back in a comforting gesture. "It won't happen, we won't let it happen."
Jereon pulled back slightly from her embrace and looked into Isabelle's eyes. Isabelle looked away first, staring down at the ground, her face slightly flushed.
"We need to go back and tell the others what we've heard," she said finally.
"You're right, Princess. Let's grab the provisions we stored and head back.
"Don't call me," she began. "Oh, never mind."

They left the city under the cover of darkness, the provisions in sacks slung over their backs.
"Why do you not wish to use your title, Princess?" Why would you deny your heritage and birthright in such a way?"
"It's not my title or my birthright," said Isabelle. "It belongs to another woman; another life."
"But I don't understand. You are that woman," said Jereon as they began their upward climb.
"I may have the same genetic make-up as that other woman, but my life on Earth was, is, so different. My experiences, the things that shaped me have made me into a completely different person. I'm just Isabelle."
"You'll always be a Princess to me," whispered Jereon under his breath, looking at her with longing.

The sun peeked over the tops of the mountains, filling the forest with a rosy glow. Jereon reached back and held out a hand to help Isabelle over a fallen log that blocked the trail.
"It's not much farther," he said as Isabelle scrambled over the log. "Just around the next bend," he added encouragingly.
"Good," said Isabelle. "I guess I'm not as in shape as I thought I was," she said. "I'm exhausted."
"You haven't slept in over 48 hours," said Jereon. "That may account for some of your exhaustion."
"Neither have you," countered Isabelle.
"True, but I trained as a soldier and a warrior, you did not," said Jereon. "Look, up the hill," he said, pointing. "It's your brother and Kyle."
Isabelle looked up and smiled to see her brother and her best friend loping down the trail towards them.

Kyle reached them first and quickly reached to remove the pack from Isabelle. She gladly relinquished the burden and continued her climb.
"What did you find?" Kyle asked over his shoulder.
"Plenty, and none of it good," said Jereon. "We have a lot to do."
"We know," said Max. "Well, we have an idea anyhow. Liz had a vision while you were gone. She saw signs of a major battle."
"On DoubleMoon," said Jereon.
Max looked at him with a puzzled expression and Isabelle translated for him.
"DoubleMoon is a holiday here on Antar. It's in four, no, three and a half days now."
"There's more," said Jereon. "Kivar caught some of our people, and he is planning an execution."
"We have to rescue them," said Max. "No more Antarians will die because of us!"