Part 2

Zoom watched as his men laid siege on the first town they came to. They killed men young and old. They attacked without mercy. Women were taken to be done with as the warriors pleased. Old women were cut down and left dying in the streets. Children were separated from their families. Boys were taken to be trained as warriors and attendants to the warriors. Girls to cook and care for the men. One boy who was about seventeen was brought before Zoom. He was shoved to the ground. He had been deemed to weak to be turned into a warrior. So he was chosen to deliver Zoom's message to King Thomas.

"Boy, your pathetic life has been spared so that you can take a message to your King. He is to hand over control of the caverns of gems to me. He is also to give the Princess to me to be my bride. You will take this as proof of what has happened here." Said Zoom

Zoom tossed a scroll to the boy that had Zoom's personal seal on it. The boy nodded and scrabbled to his feet. He ran to his horse and taking only a canteen of water set off for the Royal Palace.

"Why have that wimp take your message to the King?" asked Mardon

"It was either have him take it or kill him. He is worthless. Now take one of those dames and have your way with her like the other men. I will be doing that soon. I need the practice for when I take the Princess and make her mine."

Mardon grinned and went to grab a blond that caught his eyes during the invasion. He dragged her into a house where a short time later a scream was heard. Zoom smiled then roughly grabbed a girl who could not have been more then fourteen to have his way with.


Cisco had been riding for nearly a day only stopping so that his horse could eat and drink. He had never actually been to the Royal Palace. He had only seen it from a distance. He had even spotted Princess Caitlin once. She had passed in her carriage. He had been in a road side stand selling the bake goods his mother made. She had been with her mother. Everyone knew that Queen Carla did not like to spend much time among the common people. The sun was just starting to set when he reached the gate to the Palace. He swallowed seeing the armed guards. He knew they would be there but to see them up close was another thing.

"Stop! State your business boy!" yelled one of the guards

"I come from Boarder Town. Warlord Zoom has taken the town. He has sent me one of the few survivors with his demands." Said Cisco

Cisco pulled the sealed scroll from his cloak and showed the mark to the guard. The guard just sneered at him until a cold female voice spoke as a feminine hand took the scroll.

"Let me see that."

Cisco nearly fell off his horse recognizing the Princess.

"Let him through." She ordered.

The guards quickly opened the gate and Cisco slowly walked his horse through. Princess Caitlin turned to one of the stable hands that was nearby.

"Take his horse see that it is fed, watered and cared for. Place it in the stable for the night."

"Yes Princess." Said the boy who Cisco guessed couldn't be much more then ten or eleven.

She handed the still sealed scroll to a guard while turning to what Cisco guessed was some kind of house worker.

"Take that to my father. You show this young man to a room to clean up and get him some new clothes." Ordered Caitlin

Both nodded. Cisco who had climbed down from his horse let the stable boy lead it away and followed the house boy or whatever he was through a door to go get cleaned up. He was no fool. If the Princess wanted him to clean up and was going to provide him with new clothes he was not going to stop it. After making sure the staff was following her orders Caitlin headed in and told one of the maids to see that the young man got something to eat. She then headed for her family's private lounge. She could see her father and brother looking over the scroll.

"Caitlin, where is the boy that brought this?" asked Thomas

"Getting cleaned up. I am having a tray of food sent to him. I don't know when he ate last." Said Caitlin

"I will speak with him in the morning after he has gotten rest. Zoom is demanding control of the caverns, and your hand in marriage." Said Thomas

"Dad, you can't give him the caverns! The sale of those gems is what pays for the care and education of the orphans." Said Caitlin

"I am more concerned that he wants you. Caity, the only reason he wants you is so he can kill your brother and myself and claim the throne for himself. You would only be Queen in name. He would have the real power." Said Thomas

"I realize that. But how can we protect our people from being slaughtered?" asked Caitlin

"I have an idea. But I don't think you will like it Caity." Said Charlie

"Tell me Charlie!" said Caitlin

"Dad will have to approve of this. But our best chance at defeating Zoom is to form an alliance with the Central Kingdom. They have a large strong army. The Crowned Prince Bartholomew is not engaged to anyone. So my idea is that to seal our alliance we offer your hand in marriage to him." Said Charlie

"Only if you will agree Caity. If King Henry finds this acceptable then you will be giving up your home here. You will be trained to become the next Queen of the Central Kingdom." Said Thomas

"Dad if you think that is the best for our people then I will do it. But that also means that we will need to tell the Royal Family our family secret." said Caitlin

"I will send word to King Henry." Said Thomas

"Caitlin, are you sure you want to do this? I mean we could find another way." Said Charlie

"We have always had a peaceful relationship with the Central Kingdom. While this is not my ideal way to marry. I will do it because the safety of our people is more important then whatever insecurities I have about marrying a man I hardly know." Said Caitlin

"It is not like you have taken to any of the young men in the Royal court. If this is not agreeable to King Henry then I will personally pick your husband." Said Carla

"Carla, I told you that I will not force Caitlin to marry a man she doesn't want to." Said Henry

"You give her too much freedom. You know that my father arranged our marriage." Said Carla

"That was a different situation. I was the heir. I had to marry a member of the court. Caitlin is not my heir. Charlie is. He and Erin are going to marry in six months. Caitlin, you understand that if King Henry accepts the offer of your hand for his son in exchange for military aid against Zoom, you will take up residence in their Royal Palace and begin to learn what you need to be Queen to their people." Said Thomas

"I understand dad. I am going to bed." said Caitlin

"Goodnight honey." Said Thomas

"Night daddy."

Caitlin walked off heading for her room.