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Maylene18, you gave me hope!J))

I know, that I haven't updated for long, but I had to learn for my tests. Anyway, now I'm giving you 2 chapters. Enjoy it, and please review!

Thanks Kssarah for the help!

Chapter 4

The explorers were captured. It looked as if their captors had been waiting for them, that was Roxton´s first impression as well as Veronicas. They were taken to a huge and amazingly well furnished tent. The king stood at one side of the tent, opposite the entrance. With a nod of the King's head, the guards released their hold on the explorers and went out to stand guard at the entrance.
"Good evening! I have been waiting for you. Please sit down" he gestured to the floor, where a lot of silk pillows were lying. With some hesitation, they sat.
"Who are you and what do you want from us?" blurted out Veronica.
Challenger put his hand on her shoulder to calm her, but in the same second the king answered with an unreadable expression of his face.
"My name is Shakír, the King Of The Collidas. And I don't want anything from you, except to be my guests.
" Guests?" Asked Marguerite suspiciously.
" Guests at my wedding. Ahh"- he suddenly raised his eyes-
"and here comes the bride!"
At that last word everyone turned to the entrance and who stood there, but Charlotte. She wore a beautiful, long, rich embroidered peach colored gown. Her waist long brown hair was let down, only a ribbon in it. She didn't say anything, but just stood there her eyes looked everywhere but into the explorers eyes. She was ashamed because of her lies, and frightened because of the king and his plan for her. Her heart beat fast as though it was about just to jump out as she sat next to Shakír. He clapped his hands twice, and servants came in with platters of food.
"Let's start the feast!" -he announced.
Most of them were not in the mood to eat. Everyone's brain was working madly on an escape plan except for Richard who could only stare at Charlotte. He just couldn't tear his eyes away from her since she had stepped into the tent. She was the lady from his dreams. But ... she ... she...lied to him. He was torn between his emotions.
Only Ned and the professor appeared to be curious and they willingly carried on a discussion with the king. They asked him about his land, the people, the customs and the culture. Shakír gladly answered, he seemed to be in a deliriously happy mood, although he was drinking very much.
"The wedding ceremony is quite long. It will start tomorrow morning, and will last till night. Most of the time will be spent with the preparation of the bride, but it will be worth it-and with that, he leaned into Charlotte to kiss her. Charlotte had not been paying much attention to her surroundings, that's why the movement surprised her and instinctively she slapped him hard on the face. As soon as she did it she regretted her action. She was frightened by the face of her "groom." Angered he quickly caught her wrists and roughly pulled her to him, but he wasn't successful because in this moment, Richard jumped on him.
The King's guard hearing a commotion entered the tent and were stopped by the others. Veronica, Malone and Roxton were good at fighting, and Challenger also could hold his own in a battle. Marguerite and Charlotte defended themselves with anything they could reach from silver platters to wine goblets.
Richard had the most difficult opponent. The king was well muscled, and a good warrior, but the young British aristocrat was well trained also. At last he managed to push the king away, and Roxton immediately give out the order:
"Run!"

This resulted in a mad dash for the city gates. Veronica, Challenger, Malone and Marguerite managed to slip thru the gates, but the other two men and Charlotte (who's hand Richard held tightly in his hand) way was blocked.
Marguerite let out a hysterical scream and turned to go back:
"John! No!"- but Malone grabbed her arm "Let me go Ned or I swear youll regret it!" But his grip didn't loosen.
"You can't go back! Not now! We will rescue them, I promise!"

The others still trapped inside the walls slowly turned back to see a lot of soldiers around them. In the distance they could see Shakír coming toward them.
"What now?"- asked the girl
"Well Miss, I told you many times to learn how to wrestle"- answered Roxton with a sarcastic grin.
"Maybe my slap back in the tent wasn't good enough for you?"
"I see Marguerite managed to teach you that."
But they didn't have more time. The ring of soldiers became tighter, they were trapped.
"Stop it! I have an offer!"- yelled Charlotte.
" What kind of offer, princess?" - laughed the king stepping closer to her.
"Let them go, and..."
"You make me laugh! You will do anything I say"- he smiled
"Let them go...and I won't kill myself until the wedding."
Everyone held their breath for a time, Shakír´s eyes became wild.
"I can't let them go, but I promise, that I won't kill them until the wedding" -he offered.

The guards had tied the men to a pole. They were not calm. Richard could only stare at the tent into which Charlotte had been taken to earlier. They stayed silent for a long time.
" What have I done?" said Richard.
" You gave us some more time" answered John " But I'm worrying about the deal. Do you think, she could..."
" Kill herself?"- they stayed silent again "I knew Charlie, I don't know her, but from what I've seen, I think she is capable for everything. "
Another silent moment or two passed between them, and again the younger one broke the silence.
" I lost my head. When he reached for her. I couldn't hold myself any longer,"
" I think ... in your place...I would have done the same."
"For Miss Krux?"
" Yes,"- he admitted, than added "but from her slap, Shakír couldn't stand up again"
"Does she know?"
"What?"
"That you are mad about her?"
Roxton made a stunned face, but he couldn't answer. Two men had appeared and took Richard away. The hunter clenched his jaw and every part of him started to work on an escape plan.