Chapter 2

Carolyn saw stars as the cargo container hit the water with a shattering scream. As the water rushed inside the broken ship, she made her way to Audrey and Abu, frantically pulling at their doors to no avail.

Where her cryo locker had been forced open, theirs had been jammed shut. Not that there had been any reaction from them, regardless. Audrey's head was tilted at an unnatural angle, while Abu stared at her sightlessly. Carolyn ignored that as she beat relentlessly against the glass with her fists trying to get them to wake up, twitch an eyelid, anything to let her know that they were still alive, not stopping until she was down to just one tiny air pocket.

Taking that last breath, she struggled through the murky darkness, making her way out of the container, fighting to get to the light above. As soon as her head broke the surface of the water, she was gasping for air, her lungs gulping it in. Getting her bearings, she located the nearest piece of land, struggling as the long traveling dress she wore weighed her down.

Clinging to the rocks on the shore where she had drug herself, Carolyn collapsed into a soaking wet heap, exhausted from her ordeal.

The group of mounted riders halted their travel, watching as an object fell from the sky. Horses struggled against reins as the ground shook when the object hit land. Getting their mounts under control the men made their way to affected area, emerging from the trees that surrounded a nearby lake, coming to a stop as they surveyed the area.

The object that they had watched fall out of the sky was nowhere in sight and they could only assume that it was now lying at the bottom the lake, speculating amongst themselves about what it was that they had seen. They circled the lake looking for clues when one of the men stopped, pointing to an object, half in and half out of the water.

"By the Gods," another man breathed before the original man took off at a gallop, the others quick to follow.

Dismounting, the man in charge drew his sword, hesitantly making his way over to what he could clearly see now, was a body. Catching a bare shoulder by his toe he lifted and turned the body, the men behind him breaking out into chatter as they gazed at the woman in front of them.

"Where do you think she's from?"

"Don't know," said the man kneeling next to her rubbing the fabric of her skirt between his fingers. "But, we best get her to the Manor House. Let the Lord know what we've found."

"Aye," another said walking over to his horse to retrieve the bedroll from the back of his saddle, handing it over.

Throwing the blanket over the woman, the man in charge picked her up in his arms before mounting his horse. Settling her on his lap, he made for home.

Thundering into the courtyard, stable lads came running to take their horses. As one they entered the house coming before their Lord and Lady in the long hall.

An older couple, Lord Charles and his wife Elizabeth had lost their only daughter when a fever had swept through their Realm. The same fever had made it impossible for Lady Elizabeth to bear any other children. Instead of setting her aside as was his right, Lord Charles stayed with his wife and they had made a happy life for themselves, isolated as they were away from the other Realms.

Lady Elizabeth rushed over when she realized it was a girl who Sir Thomas was holding.

"Who is she? What's happened?" she demanded of the man.

"We're not entirely sure, Milady. We found her collapsed on the shore of Lake Enchantment."

"Oh, the poor dear, this way," Lady Elizabeth directed Sir Thomas, leading him to the stairs.

The other men, including Lord Charles watched them go before turning back to each other.

Calling for ale, Charles motioned the men over towards the fire.

"Tell me."

With the only interruption a maid bringing their drink, the three men told their Lord of what had happened.

He sat rubbing his beard as he listened to the few facts available.

"We'll wait until the lass has woken, but I have a feeling that my lady wife is already attached" he said with a smile. "Go back out tomorrow and see if you missed anything." He ordered the men before dismissing them.

Rising from his seat he started towards the stairs passing Thomas, who was on his way back down.

"Milord."

"Seek your rest, Sir Thomas, nothing more can be done today."

"Yes, Milord," Thomas said with a nod of his head, heading towards the massive double doors.

With a sigh, Lord Charles continued up the stairs to find his wife.

"How is she?" he asked walking into the chamber where his wife sat perched on the side of the bed as maids hustled in and out.

"Oh Charles," Elizabeth said as she stood to take his hand leading him closer to the bed.

"Isn't she beautiful? She looks just how I imagined Lysette would look at her age."

"Now, Elizabeth," he warned not wanting to see his wife hurt when the girl's family came to claim her.

"Charles, she needs us."

"Yes, I suppose she does," he said giving in as he ran a thumb over his wife's cheek.

Carolyn slept all that night and well into the next day. Elizabeth had settled down in the chair next to her bed to do some mending when she cried out Audrey's name in her sleep, thrashing about, before Elizabeth could get a hold of her.

Waking with a gasp, Carolyn yanking her hands away from the strange woman in front of her as she reached up to touch the back of her head which thrummed painfully . "Where am I?"

"You're safe, lass, you're safe."

Carolyn looked around the room, her brow wrinkling. "My sister? Our friend? Are they here as well?"

"I'm sorry, love. You were found alone." Elizabeth said with a kind smile. She watched as tears welled up in Carolyn's eyes spilling over as her body shook.

Scooting closer, Elizabeth gathered the girl in her arms.

"Alice, run find my husband," Elizabeth told the maid who was in the chamber with her.

Charles entered the girl's chambers and remained standing by the door. Elizabeth made her way to him quietly shutting the door behind them, leading the way down the hall where they could speak without being overheard.

"Alice said she was awake."

"Aye, she was. The poor babe cried herself to sleep." Elizabeth said with a sniff, her own eyes a bit red.

Charles couldn't help but smile at his wife's tender heart.

Leading her over to a window bench, they sat. "Did she say anything?"

"When she first woke she was very disoriented. She asked after her sister and their friend who I gather was also their priest. He was taking them on a tour of the holy lands."

Charles frowned. "There was no one else where she was found. I went out and helped with the search myself. Nor were there any footprints indicating that anyone else was with her."

Elizabeth nodded. "Something happened and Carolyn insists that they drowned in the lake trapped in their conveyance."

"Carolyn?"

"Her name is Carolyn. Carolyn of Ardana."

"Ardana? I've never heard of that realm."

"Nor have I, but the strangest thing was that she kept asking what planet she was on."

"What planet?" Charles murmured.

"She talks strangely and I had a hard time understanding much of what she said."

Charles patted his wife's shoulder. "I'll talk to her myself in the morning and we'll go from there."

Carolyn was sitting in bed with a tray perched on her lap, which held what was supposed to be buttered toast, a drink called mead and a tea made from barley of all things. She had asked for coffee but had been given a strange look and a soft pat on the shoulder as Elizabeth promised to find something to her liking.

Turning her face, she hastily brushed away her tears as a man entered her room. He was wearing strange clothing but had a kind face.

The man approached her bed, simply looking at her for a few moments before introducing himself.

"I am Lord Charles, Lady Elizabeth's husband."

"Hello." Carolyn said quietly getting a feel for his speech. It was much like his wife's. "I'm Carolyn."

"Carolyn of Ardana."

Carolyn frowned at the way he said it, "Yes, Ardana is where I'm from."

He gave a slight smile and shook his head a bit. "I'm afraid I've never heard of that Realm. Where is it located?"

"North," Carolyn replied after a moment. "Very far North." She had stopped asking what planet she was on when Elizabeth took pity on her, finally telling her the date.

"Is there anyone to whom we can send a message? Anyone who would be expecting you?"

Charles could see the tears in her eyes. "No. No one. I can't go back and I have nowhere to go."

He picked up her hand in his, patting it. "Then you shall stay here with us. I think my lady wife may need you as much as you need her." He said gently before leaving the room.

Carolyn watched in wonder the next morning as a tub was carried in, followed by bucket after bucket of steaming water. Elizabeth bustled in, helping her out of bed and into the tub. She was bathed and dried, her hair brushed until it shone, and dressed in a simple day dress. "Elizabeth, really, I don't mean to be any bother."

"Nonsense. You have to have clothes." the older woman replied in a tone that said it was not up for discussion, as she stood back to look over her handiwork. "Now come. I shall give you a tour of the manor before lunch."

The Realm of Furya

Lord Richard, from the House of Riddick, Realm of Furya sat on his steed overlooking the fields nearest his home. His father, the former Lord of Furya, had passed away in the early spring, along with his mother. It had been a long, stressful summer coming home from the fighting and stepping into his fathers shoes. He was grateful to his constant companion James. They had been friends since before they could walk and Riddick had relied heavily on the man these last few months.

Riddick turned his head at the sound of a horse and watched as James rode out into the field to meet him. "Ho, Richard!"

He dismissed the overseer and turned his horse towards his friend.

"James!" He replied grasping the man's forearm when he got close enough.

"How is it today?" James asked surveying the field with a sparkle in his eye.

"Same as it was yesterday and the day before," Riddick replied ruefully.

"You, my friend, need some frivolity in your life."

Riddick looked at him dryly. "And just what did you have in mind?"

"I definitely think a trip to town is in order. A little debauchery never hurt anyone." James said, "Besides, if you're seen planting a few oats you'll have that much longer before the elders start demanding that you need a wife."

Riddick laughed at that, the sound harsh and grating. "Please. They haven't let their daughters near me since the first time I returned from war, souvenir firmly in place. Nor would I want any of them, now that I know what they really think about me."

"Nay, it's not the lasses. They find the eye patch quite rakish. Any one of them would be willing to bed ya."

"James, when the time comes for me to take a wife, I can assure you, she will not be from Furya."