* Confessions *

Kida and Milo sat together on the couch in the seating room; Rosha sat across from them. After dinner they had spent the evening sipping on wine and telling Rosha of their day. Although, it was Kida that did most of the talking.

"...Afterwards, Milo taught me how to spell my name. He is going to teach everyone how to read and write." Kida proudly proclaimed as she snuggled up closer to Milo. He kept his arm around her shoulders.

"That is a very noble thing to do Milo. I wish you all the best in your efforts." Rosha said.

"Noble... I don't know about that. But it does seam to be the right thing to do." Milo modestly said.

"Well it sounds like you two had a wonderful day." Said Rosha.

"No... It was a perfect day." Kida replied.

"Well it was okay..." Milo added. "Ouch...!" Kida pinched him. "Just kidding."

The outer doors suddenly opened and a distraught Salin entered the seating room. On the way back to the palace she had convinced herself that she had the courage to confess her crime and warn Milo. But now the fear of what Kida would do to her overwhelmed her. Salin watched Kida get up and come towards her, asking why she was here so late and if she was okay. Salin desperately wanted to run away but it was to late for that. She quickly dropped to her knees bowing her head to the floor, "Please, please my Queen. Please forgive me."

Kida kneeled down in front of her, reaching out in concern, "Salin, what is wrong?"

"No. Please my Queen. No." She cringed at Kida's touch.

Kida pulled back, confused as to why Salin was acting this way. "Salin, tell me what is wrong."

"I am sorry... I... I took the book... And... Gave it to... And now he will..." She struggled with her confession, crying and shaking in fear. "Please... Please forgive me!"

"Salin, calm yourself. What book did you take? Give it too who?" Kida said.

"He... he said that he loved me, but he did not... It... It is my fault... Please my Queen... I am so sorry." Salin stammered becoming more distraught.

Kida was becoming frustrated, "You are not making sense..."

"Let me try." Milo said as he kneeled down. He took Salin by the shoulders and made her sit up, "Salin... Salin, look at me."

She slowly lifted her head but kept her eyes down, "I am sorry Milo. So very sorry."

"Salin, listen to me. I want you to take a deep breath then slowly tell me what's happed, from the beginning."

Salin took her breath, "The outcast Likoosh took me to see Redic this morning..."

"Redic...!" Kida interrupted, "Where is he? Did you inform the guards?"

"Kida, let her finish." Rosha said.

"Go on Salin, your doing fine." Milo encouraged her.

"Redic told me that he did not mean to attack you and the Queen. He said it was just a big misunderstanding and he asked me for my help."

"And did you help him?" Milo asked.

"Yes..."

"Salin, why? How could you help him knowing that he is wanted?" Kida said with disappointment.

"Because he said that he loved me and that he would marry me if I helped him, but it was all a lie!" She began to sob again.

"Come on now, hang in there." Milo encouraged, "Tell me the rest."

"He... he told me that he needed a book... A book of laws, so he could have a fair trial. He said that Kida would kill him if he did not have the book... But it was all a lie!"

"Not all of it." Kida said as she stood up. "When I find Redic. He well die."

"Kida, you're not helping... Continue Salin, did you retrieve this book for him?" Rosha feared the answer.

"Yes... I... I took. No... I stole the book from your room and..."

"You stole from the palace!" Kida interrupted, shocked by her confession. "Salin, you do understand the penalty for stealing. Do you not?"

"Yes... My Queen... I am so sorry..." Salin sobbed.

"Milo, would you have the guard come in here?" Kida asked.

"Kida... I don't..."

"Milo please... Please just go get Impesh."

"Salin, what did Redic do with the book?" Rosha asked.

"Redic and Likoosh used it to convince the city elders to support Redic, in a right to challenge... He said... He said that he would kill Milo in the morning... And... Kida would not be able to stop him."

Rosha continued her questioning, "And did the elders agree with his claim?"

"Yes... But they did not want to."

"Where is Redic now Salin?" Kida demanded to know.

"He is at the old temple, on the east-side of the city."

Kida continued, "You have told us everything?"

"Yes my Queen... Everything."

Kida looked at Impesh who had just entered the room behind Milo. "Impesh, take Salin to her room. She is to remain there until I say otherwise."

"As you wish my Queen." He took Salin by the arm as she stood up and directed her out of the room. She offered no resistance.

"Milo, stay here with Rosha. I will find Redic and end this madness tonight." Kida said with the look of a Warriors determination on her face.

"Kida, stop!" Rosha said grabbing her wrist.

"You heard Salin. Redic is going to try and kill Milo. I must stop him before it is too late." Kida said pulling away from Rosha.

"It is already too late Kida."

Kida stopped and turned back to Rosha. "What do you mean it is already to late?"

Rosha sighed, "Perhaps the two of you should sit down first."

"We do not have time for this." Kida started to complain.

Rosha interrupted, "Kida, please. Have a seat and I will explain." Kida sighed heavily then sat down and Milo silently did the same.

"The book Redic processes is known as the King's Law. It was written by the first King of Atlantis and has been passed on to every King that has ruled. I have kept it since the time of the great flood." Rosha began to explain.

"Yes but what good would this book be to Redic? The only one in Atlantis who could read it is Milo." Said Kida

"I still possess the ability to read." Rosha admitted, "As do many of the elders. I am sure Likoosh has read the laws to him."

Kida was shocked. "You can read our language? I do not understand. I asked you many times to teach me to read when I was a child. You always said you could not."

"I wanted to teach you Kida, but it was forbidden." Rosha continued with her explanation, "After the great flood your Father met with all of the surviving elders and they agreed that it was the misuse of the Heart of Atlantis that caused our destruction. Your Father ordered the Heart to be hidden and all knowledge of it to be destroyed in order to prevent anyone from ever misusing it again. No one was allowed to teach their children how to read and all books where destroyed. The King's Law was the only one I was able to save."

"But why did you not tell me of this before?" Kida asked. "Everyone has known of the Heart of Atlantis for days now."

"Kida, there are many laws in the book that you do not know." Rosha paused for a moment thinking of how to explain, "The two of you needed time."

"Time." Kida looked puzzled. "Time for what?"

Rosha continued, "Never before have I seen you show feelings towards a man in the way you do for Milo. And I dare say it has been the same for him. Both of you needed time for your love to take hold and grow."

"I don't see how a book would have stopped that from happening?" Milo said.

"Milo, if you and Kida had known the truth about the burden that Kida's Father placed upon you when he gave you that crystal, the two of you may have pushed each other away instead of coming closer together. I saw a chance for the both of you to be truly happy together, so I decided to keep the book from you until after you were married."

"What truth are you talking about Rosha?" Kida asked.

Rosha sighed, "It is the law of Atlantis, the King's Law, that the King has the right to choose his successor. When your Father gave Milo his crystal, he chose him to be the next King of Atlantis. And as such, you would have had no choice but to marry him whether you wished to or not."

"Me... King! I thought..." Milo stammered.

Kida interrupted, "Rosha, Father would have never forced me to marry against my will."

"Under normal circumstances, no he would not. He would have passed his crystal to you, giving you the choice of who would be the next King. But you and Atlantis were in danger. You Father could tell that you had feelings for Milo. And I believe that he knew that Milo cared more for you than for wealth or power. So he made the only choice he could." Rosha surmised.

"Then if Redic knows that Milo is to be King, how is it that he can threaten him?" Kida questioned.

"Milo is not of royal blood and he will not be King until you two are married. By the King's Law, Redic has the right to challenge Milo for the throne." Rosha explained.

"Challenge... What kind of challenge?" Milo gulped.

"A one on one fight with spears..." Rosha paused, "A fight to the death."

"No...!" Kida said standing up, "I will not allow this. If Redic wishes a fight, then I will give it to him."

Rosha stood as well, "Kida, you cannot interfere. If Redic claims the right of challenge, only Milo can accept it."

"Then Milo will not accept his challenge." Kida said crossing her arms as she looked at Milo.

"He has no choice Kida. He must accept the challenge or his life would be forfeit."

"Rosha, Redic will kill him if they fight... Milo?" Kida said as she watched him get up and go into his room, closing the door behind him. Kida started to go after him.

"Kida..." Rosha said reaching out to her.

Kida waived her off, "I will not let him die Rosha... I will not lose Milo."

Kida opened the door and slowly stepped inside. The room was dark and she couldn't see him, "Milo...?" There was no answer. She closed the door and made her way across the room then spotted him standing outside on the balcony staring up at the Heart of Atlantis. "Milo...?"

"It's beautiful isn't it...? Almost as beautiful as you." Milo said, fixing his eyes on Kida.

"Milo, you do not have to fight Redic." Kida said drawing closer.

"You heard Rosha. I have no choice."

"We could get married tonight." Kida suggested, "That would make you the King before Redic can challenge you."

"I don't think it's that simple Kida."

"Then we will leave Atlantis. You can take me to your world." Kida said in a more desperate tone.

"I don't think that will work either. You care too much for your people to leave them. Heck, I don't think I could leave them."

"I would go if it will keep you safe." Kida's tone of voice was unconvincing.

"That's a lie and you know it."

"But Redic will kill you if you fight him." Kida frantically said.

"Gee... Your confidence in me is overwhelming."

"Milo, it is not a matter of confidence." Kida tried to explain, "You do not know how to fight. If I had time to teach you, you might be able to beat Redic in about a hundred years or so. But if you fight him now, he will kill you."

Milo thought for a moment, "Kida, just a month ago I was stuck in a basement beating on a boiler, ridiculed by my colleagues, and told that my dream of finding Atlantis was nothing more than a school boys fantasy. Then after making the journey of a lifetime my dream came true, I found Atlantis. But I found a lot more than just an old city. I found myself, found a life and I found a love. Kida, I love you more than anything does and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, here, in Atlantis. And I'm willing to fight to have that life."

"You promised me?"

"I can't run away from this Kida. It's the right thing to do."

Milo's determination and willfulness reminded Kida of her Father. Traits which she was not pleased to see in Milo at this time. But as Kida shared the same traits, she knew there was nothing she could say or do to change his mind. "I will not watch you die Milo!"

"Kida..." Milo watched her turn and leave the room, slamming his door on the way out. "I made a promise to your Father as well."

Milo looked back up to the Heart of Atlantis, "I don't suppose you could give me some help on this?"

Milo received what he thought to be an instant answer. He lowered his head as it began to rain. "Didn't think so."