Chapter 12: A New Heat Wave
Ian left Malina locked inside the room and headed for the council chamber where Rastapopoulos and the other dignitaries were gathered together.
"It's getting hotter by the minute," Rastapopoulos growled. "Forget starving; soon, we'll all melt to death!" Ian then walked inside and sank into a chair, looking weak and overcome with grief. "Prince Ian!" one dignitary exclaimed, reaching out to him gently. "Prince Ian, what ever is the matter?"
Ian lowered his head and uttered a short, silent laugh. He had finally laid down the gauntlet. His plan was carrying along as planned. Pretending to be full of guilt, Ian looked up to the dignitaries and told them, "Gentlemen, Princess Malina…is dead."
"What?" the dignitaries exclaimed, a hush falling over them. "How could this have happened?" one man asked. Shaking his head slowly, Ian said, "She was killed by Queen Alexandria." "No!" Rastapopoulos exclaimed. With his head in his hands, Ian played the part of a grieving man. "We said our wedding vows," Ian continued, "before she died in my arms."
"Well, there is certainly no doubt now," Rastapopoulos declared. "Queen Alexandria is a witch and a monster!" "Prince Ian," one dignitary stated, "San Theodoros looks to you now."
Ian nodded grimly, but he was secretly proud. He had never before plotted his ascension to the throne so gloriously as he did now. "And so, gentlemen," Ian declared, "with a heavy heart…I hereby charge Queen Alexandria with treason and sentence her to death."
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Back in her dungeon cell, Alex continued to look out her window. The heat was now cascading so heavily on the village. Alex was worried where Malina would be at this moment. She knew that Malina would never be able to survive this intense heat wave. Maybe I am a monster, Alex thought. Her powers had only done nothing but cause a great deal of trouble for San Theodoros.
Alex knew that she had to leave in order to be a threat no longer to the kingdom. She tugged at the shackles with great force. But to no abide. Alex found the flames slithering along the shackles like red snakes. Tugging and tugging again, she finally broke free. As she did, she sent a thunderous crash against the walls of the dungeon. Realizing she could finally escape, Alex ran out of the dungeon and out onto the horizon.
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Ian heard the noise and raced down to the castle dungeons. As soon as he reached the dungeons, Rasatpopoulos and the guards were already there.
"What happened?" Ian asked.
"The queen has escaped," Rastapopoulos said, examining the gaping hole in the wall.
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Far out into the valley, the heat pounded Young as he made his way up the pass to the mountains. Adjusting his hat, Young pushed his wagon strenuously, trudging up the path and away from San Theodoros.
But Chabela was lagging behind him. As Young pushed his wagon, Chabela stared longingly back to the village. She shook her head and whinnied. Young ignored her and just kept walking. Suddenly, Chabela charged right in front of him and stopped him. She faced him directly in the eyes. "What is it, girl?" Young asked.
Chabela snorted and nudged her snout onto Young's side. "Hey, watch it! What's the matter with you?" Young asked as the nudges became forceful. Chabela just snorted and whinnied, trying to tell Young something. "I don't understand you when you talk that way," Young reminded her.
Chabela then grabbed the hem of Young's shirt with her jaw and started to drag him. "Hey, stop it! Put me down!" Young exclaimed. "Put me down this instant!" Chabela diligently placed her master on the ground, hard. "No, Chabela," Young had told her. "We're not going back." Chabela snorted in disapproval.
"She's with her true love, okay?" Young said. He could not see the doubt that filled in Chabela's eyes.
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He glanced back at the kingdom to prove his doubt. But, to his surprise, he suddenly saw dark, smoky clouds filling round the castle. Fire was billowing from the clouds. Red crystal was forming over the castle walls, putting the castle into an even deeper heat wave!
"Oh no…Malina!" Young exclaimed, suddenly realizing what was happening. Instantly changing his course, Young hopped onto Chabela's back in a panic. "Giddyup!" Young ordered. Chabela and Young then began to gallop rapidly down the pass and return back to the kingdom.