After the 9 kingdoms were saved from King Wendell's evil step-mother, the four heroes split up. Tony Lewis stayed in the 4th Kingdom at the King's request to begin work on the Bouncy Castle Project. His daughter Virginia married Wolf then the two of them returned to New York, the 10th Kingdom. The new apartment still over looked Central Park, and they had sent the king word of their address in case he ever needed to find them. They had no idea it would be so soon.
"That was delicious!" said Wolf as the couple walked into their apartment one evening. "I love when we go out for hamburgers, Virginia, they just don't have sandwiches that good back home!"
"You said almost the same thing when we had Greek food last week," said Virginia with a smile. Wolf often raved about many aspects of his new home, especially the food.
"And the hamburgers were almost as good as the gyros!" Wolf remembered the mouthwatering delight and increasing enthusiasm. "The tenderness of the fluffy lamb, the lettuce, the tomatoes, the sharpness of the feta, all wrapped up in pita! Aruuu…"
"So next week then?"
"Could we?" Wolf asked eagerly, holding her hands and all but begging to go.
"Sure we can," she replied fondly, planting a small kiss upon his lips. "But right now I'm just glad to be home.".
"Oh, me too. It seems like we've been all over New York today," Wolf said as he sat down on the couch and began searching for the remote.
"That's because you have," Virginia said as she set her purse down on the table. "You took another ride on the subway today, went up the Statue of Liberty again, and watched a Yankees game."
"Yeah, and they lost, too."
"You are just nuts, you know that?" Virginia made her way into the kitchen and got a bowl and spoon. Then she opened the ice box and produced a carton of ice cream.
"Virginia I am not 'nuts'…Grrr, where is that remote!"
"Between the arm and the cushion," Virginia said calmly as she scooped the ice cream into the bowl.
"Oh, of course," said Wolf, slightly embarrassed as he removed the remote from its hiding place. Virginia returned and sat down with her feet in his lap as Wolf turned on the television. As he flipped through channels, he sighed. "Friday night, and there's nothing on."
"You know Wolf," his wife said before taking a bite, "For being from another world, you're adjusting to this one quite nicely."
"Oh, I try." He dipped his finger into her ice cream for a taste. "Mm, strawberry."
Suddenly there was a loud knock at the door. Wolf lifted Virginia's feet off his lap and got up to open it. Standing there in the hallway with one hand in his pocket was a dark haired man just shy of Wolf's height. He was wearing glasses and a brown trench coat, and his expression was serious and unemotional. "Uh…Hello. Who are you?"
"I am Harold Harker, King Wendell's Royal Messenger," said the man in a low voice. "Will you let me in or won't you?"
"Yeah…Just a minute," Wolf shut the door and turned to Virginia. "Some messenger from Wendell."
"Well, let him in!" she said as she stood up.
"Ok," Wolf opened the door again and in an entreating voice said, "Yes, of course, please come in." Harold said nothing and walked right on in.
"I'm not going to be here long," he said. "And in fact I'm not authorized to tell you very much anyway. Only this: His Majesty requests your immediate presence. You must pretend to just be visiting and you should probably pack a bag."
"Huff Puff, right away?"
"How long does he expect us to stay?" Virginia asked. "We have lives you know."
"I had a distinct message and I delivered it," said Harold coolly. "The King wishes to give you the rest of the information personally. I suggest you tie up any loose ends post haste." He moved toward the door. "I will wait for you in the park by the mirror and expect you there in no more than two hours time."
"Hold on a min—," the door shut in Virginia's face. "Oh, that's just perfect! What could Wendell possibly need us for?"
"I don't know," Wolf replied, running his hand through his hair. "But it must be important, or he wouldn't ask us to come so urgently. He likes doing things for himself."
"Virginia sighed and paced for a few moments trying to think straight. "Hey, he just wants to see us right? We don't have to necessarily agree to what he wants us to do."
""Yes, yes, my creamy darling, you're right!" said Wolf, "But just to be on the safe side we should do what Harold said. I'll pack, if you can figure out an excuse to get off work for a week or two."
"What kind of excuse?"
"Death in the family, trip to Europe, horribly poisonous snakebite, anything!" He said grabbing an apple from the kitchen. "I have a feeling this trip will be very big and very exciting."
