~Chapter 7
Saelar took Max and Victoria to a towering hotel that sat at the beginning of the flat desert, a luxury place that could be rented by night or week or month. Rather like a condominium. They were on the ninth floor. It was apartment style with two bedrooms and a living room and kitchenette and two bathrooms and a balcony and a private security entrance to the rooms. The curtains were drawn and it was pretty dim inside. But the details were lost on them, especially Max, as he sat there perched on one end of the big black leather sofa in the living room. Victoria sat across from him on a matching chair and Saelar stood.
Victoria and Saelar seemed to be sharing silent exchanges as they looked at one another and then Saelar said aloud, "So he doesn't know."
"Saelar - he wouldn't have believed me had I told him myself. He won't want to accept it." -Victoria.
"But he must. As you had to. There is more than either of you." -Saelar.
"I am in the dark here. First of all who are you exactly? Like me . like us?" Max asked Saelar.
Saelar looked amused. "I am not royal."
"I meant-" Max began.
"I know what you meant. I am as I was then, Saelar. Although my specifics had to change due to the outcome of the war, my chief purpose remains the same: To protect the King and Queen. I was captain of the elite royal guard."
"You speak of Tess-" Max began.
"I know no Tess. Who is this?" Saelar looked to Victoria, but she didn't know that much and she simply shrugged.
"Ava. Her alien name was Ava. She is the Queen." Max said grudgingly.
"Ah, Ava. After the rift she was in the role of Queen and it was my duty therefore to protect her as well, however - many did not accept her as the one." -Saelar.
"What rift? What are you talking about? Victoria didn't mention any of this." -Max.
"Let me begin with a story, simple and short. Yet bear in mind that the real story is neither short nor simple." -Saelar.
Max frowned at his riddle like way of saying things, because he didn't understand.
Saelar began, "There was a King and Queen bound to one another before birth. Tragedies made it necessary for them to wed and reign early. Then an event made it necessary for a rift that separated them. The Queen was exiled. The King chose another. The second Queen was never accepted totally. The kingdom was separated into those who supported the King and his second Queen and those that supported the first Queen as the only true Queen and thus unable to be officially exiled or divorced from her destiny. The Elders never approved the second marriage and it was never decreed that it was meant to take place. However, The king was king and he made law. Most never accepted the second as official. When all royals perished, the new incarnation of the four were sent together along with four guardians, one of which was the captain of the royal guard, myself. The first Queen, the true Queen's body was among them. Never her new incarnation. Her body was smuggled in with them in a sacred hope that she too would be recreated. However others did not know of this, those that thought events would be different the second time around if she were not a part of the circle. That there was to be no circle, only a square. But the Queen was recreated much later for a time when she could stand with the others once again, for there were some that believed - in essence many, that the four could not succeed with out the fifth, the key."
Max sat there in silence after Saelar's brief 'story', in an attempt to understand. Finally he said, "I. Zan." Max stopped and started again, "So there is another? We have to find another."
"No need to search. She sits before you." Saelar said.
Victoria looked up at Saelar in shock that he had said it so suddenly, and Max looked from Saelar to Victoria in shock. He shook his head in denial and stood up.
Saelar slipped behind Victoria and passed his hand in front and touching her forehead. A light emanated from her and the royal seal displayed as a pattern on the wall.
Max looked up and stared at the seal, having recognized the royal seal, the arrangement of planets of their system, from when he had gone to an alien summit in New York. "That's the seal, the royal seal. I thought only I was identified by it."
"On the contrary. There is two, The King and the true Queen." -Saelar said and he lifted his hand and the symbol vanished.
Max slumped back down on the couch. "I just don't understand." He put his head in his hands. "There is so much I don't know." He looked back up and asked, "What tragedies happened- that you spoke of and what caused the rift?"
"There is time for the knowledge of it all. But now is not the time. You know what is necessary for now." -Saelar.
"You know, don't you?" Max swung his attention to Victoria.
She shook her head and bit her lip. "I don't know a tremendous amount more than what you've learned today."
"But it can't be you. And Tess, something never felt right, like she wasn't ever the true queen, but it can't be you." Max stopped and then he asked, "Is Tess - Ava, not important?"
"She is important in her own way, but not absolutely essential to all of your survival and success."-Saelar.
"What now?" -Max.
"Why nothing at this point. The only thing that has changed is your perception. You have acquired some of the truth. It is not time for a stand or major changes." -Saelar.
"The others- it will be hard for them to deal with this. And Liz." -Max.
Victoria studied Max. "Don't worry about it Max Evans. We have been thrust in this as I assume we were in that other life. Neither of us chose it, but it was destiny and-"
Max interrupted, "Don't say that. Tess spoke of destiny too and she caused a lot of trouble for us. That 'queen' turned out to be more of an enemy than an ally. And you have already been proven untrustworthy. We don't need a queen."
"You absolutely do." -Saelar.
"Of course you would say that. You are obviously on her side. I mean, you are even the one that you referred to in your story that helped 'recreate' her, right?" -Max.
"I did. But that I did for the good of all the royals, for our world, and for the both of you. And you must believe when I say that it is absolutely disastrous as was evident from the past- that a rift between the two of you shake the very foundations as you two ARE the foundation. We need a king *and* a queen. The *true* king and queen. Not a maniacal usurper or a second substitute." -Saelar.
"You've defined our roles all right. What do you expect us do, hold hands now?" -Max asked with sarcasm.
"Max-" Victoria started.
"No. I mean really. What does he expect? What is expected of us? I can't play house with you or anyone else someone tells me is meant to be my queen, for that matter. Liz is my choice. And I promised her that we'd choose our own destiny." -Max.
"Be that as it may, you can not choose your own. You can care for this human, but that is beside the point. Imagine the whole picture. A great king is not selfish. There is more that is important than your own pleasures apart from your destiny. A king puts his world, family and people before himself - as does a queen. You two once knew that. But then you forgot it and disaster had a chance to strike." -Saelar.
Max rebelled at the idea at the same time as understanding the wisdom of his words.
"She couldn't have ever been my choice." Max said, looking askance at Victoria.
"In our world, it is destined before birth - the joining of the future king and queen. You both grew up always knowing this as a fact. You had no choice, duty was first - the duty to do what was right. But I assure you, you weren't against the idea of her being your wife. You had loved each other tremendously since birth. Even when apart, even with the rift - you loved her well." -Saelar.
Max looked at Victoria alternating in his skepticism and a serious thought now and again.
Victoria shook her head. "Believe me Max Evans, despite the other life - I certainly wouldn't have chosen you for this one either and it doesn't mean we have to be together that way."
"What a relief to my ears." Max said. "Because I couldn't love you."
"Don't be so conceited. How could I love *you* ? You surely must have been different then.." -Victoria.
"Children." Saelar said a bit chidingly. "Or rather, 'Your Majesties' " Somehow they both got the feeling he was mocking them a little bit. "You are both the same, more or less - you just knew your roles then and now simply have a second chance. For the sake of everything and everyone, I can't allow you two to ruin it this time around." That said, he came around between where they sat and he kneeled on the floor. "I am going to have to make you connect. She has done this before in varying degrees, but only a bit." Saelar took Max's right hand and Victoria's right hand.
"What are you going to do?" Max asked hesitantly.
"I am going to be the link to a bit of your past. Since I remember fully, I will be the mediator. It will be harder for you, Max Evans, since you are not used to using your abilities frequently," And even this seemed to Max to be said in a chiding manner.
Saelar clasped their hands together, with his on the both of theirs. "Remember as far back as you can and then go further back to a void and there I will mediate bits of shared memory."
They grudgingly did as he said. Max was skeptical and Victoria was secretly a bit frightened.
Their life seemed to be on a fast rewind until Max got caught on the first images he remembered after coming from his pod as a child. It almost seemed stuck, but then it released and he went whirring back to a stop.
All was dark. All was silent. He was in the void. For long moments he was alone. His mind was stuck there. But then he saw Victoria. And Saelar. And they were in the same position in their minds as they were in reality. Speech was languid here, as Max found out when he tried to talk. Words seemed to echo. He scarcely heard what Saelar was saying before he was not there anymore. He opened his eyes and it was bright. Beautifully bright. Too bright. It faintly hurt.
Victoria was beside him. They were watching, looking on at the atmosphere like a movie. But they were in the movie. They just couldn't participate. They watched.
They saw rolling hills of blue green and purple grasses, a sea far below - red, light amorphous red. Far below. But the scenery changed quickly, and they were immersed in a palace atmosphere.
A room tremendously large. The ceilings could never be touched. The windows.. What was out there? Perhaps that was not important to this viewing, because Max's attention was riveted on the crowd. Elaborate, almost like a period movie - but far removed from it. A strange sort of mixture of technology and elegance. Max saw himself in the crowd. Only it wasn't him. It was Zan. More or less the same age. But not the same entirely. And Zan's attention was captured by something, someone. Zan looked to the staircase. An announcement had been made it seemed. How he knew, that he didn't know, for there was scarcely noise. The voices almost echoed languidly. Max saw a beautiful girl descending one of the enormous staircases. A green sort of gown. Fit for a fairy tale. But nothing was absurd. It was real, but not the reality Max knew for his life. Zan was watching the girl descend. And when she got to a certain point, Max recognized it was Victoria, only not Victoria but obviously her counterpart.. Zenovia.
At the bottom, Zan took her arm. They were smiling. They talked. The scene changed. They were dancing. No, now they were on a platform and Max could see that there was an older looking man in the center, then two middle aged men and two middle aged women surrounding the two. Their hands were clasped. Everyone was joyous. The crowd cheered and sighed. Isabel.. no, Villandra was there. And Saelar. the Saelar of the past, much younger - stood to one side. Was Michael. Rath, there? Max searched him out and found him attired in dark grey robes and pants. Looking very.. soldierly? He was serious as he looked on.
"Our official betrothal. That is- Zan and Zenovia's, official betrothal." Max almost jumped when he heard those words whispered at his side. And then he remembered he was not alone in this. Victoria was an onlooker as well.
"How do you know?" -Max.
"I've seen it before." -Victoria said simply,
Max looked back to the scene, and the two were embracing in a hug and just as suddenly the scene changed. They were somewhere really high, but indoors. The palace?
Zan and Zenovia arm in arm rounded a great hallway. One enormous in size and going in many different directions. Dark blue or red carpeting lined the halls. The ceiling as it seemed usual, looked too high to ever be touched. The two were laughing. At some inside joke or amusement perhaps. Turning the corner, Zan kissed Zenovia passionately and then they continued laughing. They looked happy. Too happy.
Again the scene changed and this time it was night. A walled garden. Children danced about. Five of them. No, six- was there not a little boy to the side? This one watched in secret, for he was not included.
Five children. The image almost seemed in slow motion as it was. A circle they made, round these children danced. Laughing. beautiful, laughing children. The little girls gowns flowed this way and that. The little boys capes and tunics swaying, like miniature little people, these- dressed in their rich little clothing mimicking their elders' garments. The smallest child had light blonde hair and blue eyes. She couldn't have been more than three. The tallest girl had brown eyes and hair to match- straight and dark brown hair, but quite distinguishable from the shade of black. She could have been 4 or 5 at best. The smallest child wore a light purple dress and the other girl, red. The third little girl, perhaps 4 in age, had similar features to the smallest but had brown-red hair and green eyes. This one wore white. The two little boys had brown hair and eyes, both, and tousled hair. The one with the darkest coloring looked to be about 6 and the other boy 7. The boy at one end of the circle- the one with the darkest coloring wore blue and the other, black.
The smallest child held the hand of the boy in blue and he held the hand of the green-eyed girl. She held the hand of the other boy, the eldest. He in turn held the hand of the other little girl, the dark-eyed one. The circle was complete. But this one, the one in the red dress, wanted another to play with them- another boy who was not included in their circle, who was not royal. They were indeed the ages that they appeared, but years were longer in their world. How did Max know this fact? He remembered. Time was different.
Laughing, the little children all collapsed upon the grass and closed their eyes. Still as death. In the middle of their circle that the still children made, was a mound of blossoms bearing their favorite colors.
"That one was me, and the boy in blue was you." Victoria said simply, pointing out the children as they watched. Again Max had been so absorbed, he'd forgotten she was there.
"Don't tell me, you've seen this one too?" -Max.
"I have." -Victoria.
"Can you guess the rest?" -Victoria.
Max looked at them closely before guessing. "The dark-haired girl- Isabel, the one in red. And the other boy, Michael. The smallest - Tess.."
Victoria didn't comment. She merely nodded.
Max was wearying of this. He didn't want to feel a connection to Victoria or to that other life. It made his present one seem less important somehow. And his present life included Liz. The other one didn't. He felt tired and couldn' t take any more of the conflicting feelings. "Okay. I can't take this anymore. Enough." Max said.
All at once it all vanished and Max opened his eyes to see the hotel rooms that the three of them were in. Sitting just as before, only their hands were no longer clasped.
"I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to connect us." -Max said a bit sharply.
"You're already connected. No one can break that, not even death or rebirth. It is the way." -Saelar.
Max shook his head. "It's not my way. I don't know." He looked around, feeling very tired and confused. "I just don't know. It's too much to think about. I'm going." He stood up.
"Are you going to tell the others?" -Saelar.
"What do you think I should do?" Max asked, but not at all certain he would take the advice of this one if he was offered it.
Saelar shrugged. "You are the king. It is your choice."
Max turned.
"But remember," Saelar said. "This is of the utmost importance. And perhaps the others will not understand just yet."
Max thought about that and went to the door. He looked back at Saelar and then to Victoria and went out the door.
He was surprised a few moment later, when Victoria caught up with him in the hallway. But she didn't say anything, she just walked with him silently. Perhaps her mind was filled with confusions as well.
Max broke the silence, "Who was the other boy - the one watching, not with the other kids?"
"Kivar." -Victoria said simply.
And then they went all the rest of the way in a cab to Michael's apartment, in silence, each lost in consecutive thoughts.
Saelar took Max and Victoria to a towering hotel that sat at the beginning of the flat desert, a luxury place that could be rented by night or week or month. Rather like a condominium. They were on the ninth floor. It was apartment style with two bedrooms and a living room and kitchenette and two bathrooms and a balcony and a private security entrance to the rooms. The curtains were drawn and it was pretty dim inside. But the details were lost on them, especially Max, as he sat there perched on one end of the big black leather sofa in the living room. Victoria sat across from him on a matching chair and Saelar stood.
Victoria and Saelar seemed to be sharing silent exchanges as they looked at one another and then Saelar said aloud, "So he doesn't know."
"Saelar - he wouldn't have believed me had I told him myself. He won't want to accept it." -Victoria.
"But he must. As you had to. There is more than either of you." -Saelar.
"I am in the dark here. First of all who are you exactly? Like me . like us?" Max asked Saelar.
Saelar looked amused. "I am not royal."
"I meant-" Max began.
"I know what you meant. I am as I was then, Saelar. Although my specifics had to change due to the outcome of the war, my chief purpose remains the same: To protect the King and Queen. I was captain of the elite royal guard."
"You speak of Tess-" Max began.
"I know no Tess. Who is this?" Saelar looked to Victoria, but she didn't know that much and she simply shrugged.
"Ava. Her alien name was Ava. She is the Queen." Max said grudgingly.
"Ah, Ava. After the rift she was in the role of Queen and it was my duty therefore to protect her as well, however - many did not accept her as the one." -Saelar.
"What rift? What are you talking about? Victoria didn't mention any of this." -Max.
"Let me begin with a story, simple and short. Yet bear in mind that the real story is neither short nor simple." -Saelar.
Max frowned at his riddle like way of saying things, because he didn't understand.
Saelar began, "There was a King and Queen bound to one another before birth. Tragedies made it necessary for them to wed and reign early. Then an event made it necessary for a rift that separated them. The Queen was exiled. The King chose another. The second Queen was never accepted totally. The kingdom was separated into those who supported the King and his second Queen and those that supported the first Queen as the only true Queen and thus unable to be officially exiled or divorced from her destiny. The Elders never approved the second marriage and it was never decreed that it was meant to take place. However, The king was king and he made law. Most never accepted the second as official. When all royals perished, the new incarnation of the four were sent together along with four guardians, one of which was the captain of the royal guard, myself. The first Queen, the true Queen's body was among them. Never her new incarnation. Her body was smuggled in with them in a sacred hope that she too would be recreated. However others did not know of this, those that thought events would be different the second time around if she were not a part of the circle. That there was to be no circle, only a square. But the Queen was recreated much later for a time when she could stand with the others once again, for there were some that believed - in essence many, that the four could not succeed with out the fifth, the key."
Max sat there in silence after Saelar's brief 'story', in an attempt to understand. Finally he said, "I. Zan." Max stopped and started again, "So there is another? We have to find another."
"No need to search. She sits before you." Saelar said.
Victoria looked up at Saelar in shock that he had said it so suddenly, and Max looked from Saelar to Victoria in shock. He shook his head in denial and stood up.
Saelar slipped behind Victoria and passed his hand in front and touching her forehead. A light emanated from her and the royal seal displayed as a pattern on the wall.
Max looked up and stared at the seal, having recognized the royal seal, the arrangement of planets of their system, from when he had gone to an alien summit in New York. "That's the seal, the royal seal. I thought only I was identified by it."
"On the contrary. There is two, The King and the true Queen." -Saelar said and he lifted his hand and the symbol vanished.
Max slumped back down on the couch. "I just don't understand." He put his head in his hands. "There is so much I don't know." He looked back up and asked, "What tragedies happened- that you spoke of and what caused the rift?"
"There is time for the knowledge of it all. But now is not the time. You know what is necessary for now." -Saelar.
"You know, don't you?" Max swung his attention to Victoria.
She shook her head and bit her lip. "I don't know a tremendous amount more than what you've learned today."
"But it can't be you. And Tess, something never felt right, like she wasn't ever the true queen, but it can't be you." Max stopped and then he asked, "Is Tess - Ava, not important?"
"She is important in her own way, but not absolutely essential to all of your survival and success."-Saelar.
"What now?" -Max.
"Why nothing at this point. The only thing that has changed is your perception. You have acquired some of the truth. It is not time for a stand or major changes." -Saelar.
"The others- it will be hard for them to deal with this. And Liz." -Max.
Victoria studied Max. "Don't worry about it Max Evans. We have been thrust in this as I assume we were in that other life. Neither of us chose it, but it was destiny and-"
Max interrupted, "Don't say that. Tess spoke of destiny too and she caused a lot of trouble for us. That 'queen' turned out to be more of an enemy than an ally. And you have already been proven untrustworthy. We don't need a queen."
"You absolutely do." -Saelar.
"Of course you would say that. You are obviously on her side. I mean, you are even the one that you referred to in your story that helped 'recreate' her, right?" -Max.
"I did. But that I did for the good of all the royals, for our world, and for the both of you. And you must believe when I say that it is absolutely disastrous as was evident from the past- that a rift between the two of you shake the very foundations as you two ARE the foundation. We need a king *and* a queen. The *true* king and queen. Not a maniacal usurper or a second substitute." -Saelar.
"You've defined our roles all right. What do you expect us do, hold hands now?" -Max asked with sarcasm.
"Max-" Victoria started.
"No. I mean really. What does he expect? What is expected of us? I can't play house with you or anyone else someone tells me is meant to be my queen, for that matter. Liz is my choice. And I promised her that we'd choose our own destiny." -Max.
"Be that as it may, you can not choose your own. You can care for this human, but that is beside the point. Imagine the whole picture. A great king is not selfish. There is more that is important than your own pleasures apart from your destiny. A king puts his world, family and people before himself - as does a queen. You two once knew that. But then you forgot it and disaster had a chance to strike." -Saelar.
Max rebelled at the idea at the same time as understanding the wisdom of his words.
"She couldn't have ever been my choice." Max said, looking askance at Victoria.
"In our world, it is destined before birth - the joining of the future king and queen. You both grew up always knowing this as a fact. You had no choice, duty was first - the duty to do what was right. But I assure you, you weren't against the idea of her being your wife. You had loved each other tremendously since birth. Even when apart, even with the rift - you loved her well." -Saelar.
Max looked at Victoria alternating in his skepticism and a serious thought now and again.
Victoria shook her head. "Believe me Max Evans, despite the other life - I certainly wouldn't have chosen you for this one either and it doesn't mean we have to be together that way."
"What a relief to my ears." Max said. "Because I couldn't love you."
"Don't be so conceited. How could I love *you* ? You surely must have been different then.." -Victoria.
"Children." Saelar said a bit chidingly. "Or rather, 'Your Majesties' " Somehow they both got the feeling he was mocking them a little bit. "You are both the same, more or less - you just knew your roles then and now simply have a second chance. For the sake of everything and everyone, I can't allow you two to ruin it this time around." That said, he came around between where they sat and he kneeled on the floor. "I am going to have to make you connect. She has done this before in varying degrees, but only a bit." Saelar took Max's right hand and Victoria's right hand.
"What are you going to do?" Max asked hesitantly.
"I am going to be the link to a bit of your past. Since I remember fully, I will be the mediator. It will be harder for you, Max Evans, since you are not used to using your abilities frequently," And even this seemed to Max to be said in a chiding manner.
Saelar clasped their hands together, with his on the both of theirs. "Remember as far back as you can and then go further back to a void and there I will mediate bits of shared memory."
They grudgingly did as he said. Max was skeptical and Victoria was secretly a bit frightened.
Their life seemed to be on a fast rewind until Max got caught on the first images he remembered after coming from his pod as a child. It almost seemed stuck, but then it released and he went whirring back to a stop.
All was dark. All was silent. He was in the void. For long moments he was alone. His mind was stuck there. But then he saw Victoria. And Saelar. And they were in the same position in their minds as they were in reality. Speech was languid here, as Max found out when he tried to talk. Words seemed to echo. He scarcely heard what Saelar was saying before he was not there anymore. He opened his eyes and it was bright. Beautifully bright. Too bright. It faintly hurt.
Victoria was beside him. They were watching, looking on at the atmosphere like a movie. But they were in the movie. They just couldn't participate. They watched.
They saw rolling hills of blue green and purple grasses, a sea far below - red, light amorphous red. Far below. But the scenery changed quickly, and they were immersed in a palace atmosphere.
A room tremendously large. The ceilings could never be touched. The windows.. What was out there? Perhaps that was not important to this viewing, because Max's attention was riveted on the crowd. Elaborate, almost like a period movie - but far removed from it. A strange sort of mixture of technology and elegance. Max saw himself in the crowd. Only it wasn't him. It was Zan. More or less the same age. But not the same entirely. And Zan's attention was captured by something, someone. Zan looked to the staircase. An announcement had been made it seemed. How he knew, that he didn't know, for there was scarcely noise. The voices almost echoed languidly. Max saw a beautiful girl descending one of the enormous staircases. A green sort of gown. Fit for a fairy tale. But nothing was absurd. It was real, but not the reality Max knew for his life. Zan was watching the girl descend. And when she got to a certain point, Max recognized it was Victoria, only not Victoria but obviously her counterpart.. Zenovia.
At the bottom, Zan took her arm. They were smiling. They talked. The scene changed. They were dancing. No, now they were on a platform and Max could see that there was an older looking man in the center, then two middle aged men and two middle aged women surrounding the two. Their hands were clasped. Everyone was joyous. The crowd cheered and sighed. Isabel.. no, Villandra was there. And Saelar. the Saelar of the past, much younger - stood to one side. Was Michael. Rath, there? Max searched him out and found him attired in dark grey robes and pants. Looking very.. soldierly? He was serious as he looked on.
"Our official betrothal. That is- Zan and Zenovia's, official betrothal." Max almost jumped when he heard those words whispered at his side. And then he remembered he was not alone in this. Victoria was an onlooker as well.
"How do you know?" -Max.
"I've seen it before." -Victoria said simply,
Max looked back to the scene, and the two were embracing in a hug and just as suddenly the scene changed. They were somewhere really high, but indoors. The palace?
Zan and Zenovia arm in arm rounded a great hallway. One enormous in size and going in many different directions. Dark blue or red carpeting lined the halls. The ceiling as it seemed usual, looked too high to ever be touched. The two were laughing. At some inside joke or amusement perhaps. Turning the corner, Zan kissed Zenovia passionately and then they continued laughing. They looked happy. Too happy.
Again the scene changed and this time it was night. A walled garden. Children danced about. Five of them. No, six- was there not a little boy to the side? This one watched in secret, for he was not included.
Five children. The image almost seemed in slow motion as it was. A circle they made, round these children danced. Laughing. beautiful, laughing children. The little girls gowns flowed this way and that. The little boys capes and tunics swaying, like miniature little people, these- dressed in their rich little clothing mimicking their elders' garments. The smallest child had light blonde hair and blue eyes. She couldn't have been more than three. The tallest girl had brown eyes and hair to match- straight and dark brown hair, but quite distinguishable from the shade of black. She could have been 4 or 5 at best. The smallest child wore a light purple dress and the other girl, red. The third little girl, perhaps 4 in age, had similar features to the smallest but had brown-red hair and green eyes. This one wore white. The two little boys had brown hair and eyes, both, and tousled hair. The one with the darkest coloring looked to be about 6 and the other boy 7. The boy at one end of the circle- the one with the darkest coloring wore blue and the other, black.
The smallest child held the hand of the boy in blue and he held the hand of the green-eyed girl. She held the hand of the other boy, the eldest. He in turn held the hand of the other little girl, the dark-eyed one. The circle was complete. But this one, the one in the red dress, wanted another to play with them- another boy who was not included in their circle, who was not royal. They were indeed the ages that they appeared, but years were longer in their world. How did Max know this fact? He remembered. Time was different.
Laughing, the little children all collapsed upon the grass and closed their eyes. Still as death. In the middle of their circle that the still children made, was a mound of blossoms bearing their favorite colors.
"That one was me, and the boy in blue was you." Victoria said simply, pointing out the children as they watched. Again Max had been so absorbed, he'd forgotten she was there.
"Don't tell me, you've seen this one too?" -Max.
"I have." -Victoria.
"Can you guess the rest?" -Victoria.
Max looked at them closely before guessing. "The dark-haired girl- Isabel, the one in red. And the other boy, Michael. The smallest - Tess.."
Victoria didn't comment. She merely nodded.
Max was wearying of this. He didn't want to feel a connection to Victoria or to that other life. It made his present one seem less important somehow. And his present life included Liz. The other one didn't. He felt tired and couldn' t take any more of the conflicting feelings. "Okay. I can't take this anymore. Enough." Max said.
All at once it all vanished and Max opened his eyes to see the hotel rooms that the three of them were in. Sitting just as before, only their hands were no longer clasped.
"I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to connect us." -Max said a bit sharply.
"You're already connected. No one can break that, not even death or rebirth. It is the way." -Saelar.
Max shook his head. "It's not my way. I don't know." He looked around, feeling very tired and confused. "I just don't know. It's too much to think about. I'm going." He stood up.
"Are you going to tell the others?" -Saelar.
"What do you think I should do?" Max asked, but not at all certain he would take the advice of this one if he was offered it.
Saelar shrugged. "You are the king. It is your choice."
Max turned.
"But remember," Saelar said. "This is of the utmost importance. And perhaps the others will not understand just yet."
Max thought about that and went to the door. He looked back at Saelar and then to Victoria and went out the door.
He was surprised a few moment later, when Victoria caught up with him in the hallway. But she didn't say anything, she just walked with him silently. Perhaps her mind was filled with confusions as well.
Max broke the silence, "Who was the other boy - the one watching, not with the other kids?"
"Kivar." -Victoria said simply.
And then they went all the rest of the way in a cab to Michael's apartment, in silence, each lost in consecutive thoughts.