Destiny Scorns

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  Gorham was waiting for news from Jared and when he saw the former coming his way, he shifted restlessly in his seat. He waited impatiently for Jared to tell him the news but the former didn't seem to be in a hurry to report to him. He stopped every now and then to give orders and by the time he got to Gorham, it had taken him almost five minutes. `I'm sorry your Majesty but Victor is gone and we don't have any clues as to where he might have taken Sidney.'

  `Are you sure that he was the one who took Sidney?'

  `No, but we can't explain his sudden disappearance. He may or may not be involved.'

  `And there is no trace of her?'

  `No, your Majesty. We have two dozen men scouring the site of the abductions but I have another idea...'

  `What's it?'

  `We don't know if she was kidnapped to get to you but,' he watched his boss. `It would be safer if you retreated from the crowd for the moment.'

  `The people will know that something is wrong.'

  `Better that than to lose a king. It will only be until we have a clue as to where she is.'

  Gorham seemed tired. He looked at the crowd that was rejoicing below them then sighed deeply before he got up. He followed Jared to an empty house nearby. There were guards all around it. Alert and very determined to keep their king safe and sound. After getting in he turned to Jared,

  `Now what?'

  `Sir, I know this must be very hard for you, but I have to ask you, has anybody threatened you in any way?'

  `No.'

  `And Sidney?'

  `Not that I know of.'

  Jared was quiet for awhile as if waiting for something more but when he was sure of nothing coming afterward, he said, `Is there any way that you could locate her?'

  `What do you mean?'

  `The way you found Eric in the cell.'

  `I already knew where he was. I don't know where they might have taken Sidney.'

  `It's worth a try. We will look for other ways to find her but I'm afraid we might be too late.' He saw the fear in Gorham's face and decided that was the moment to leave. He went out but didn't join any search party instead; he went to Victor who was on a horse a distance away. `Are you sure this is going to work?' he asked as they had been watching the house.

  `Positive. He is going to do something. We just have to wait patiently until he figures what it is that he can do.'

  Jared looked at Victor with uncertainty but decided to be patient and watch. It was sometime until they knew that something was definitely happening. The house appeared to be aglow but they realized that the lanterns that had been lit in the house were ablaze as the ones outside were starting to do the same.

  The fires became intense everywhere and everyone realized that something was happening. The singing and dancing stopped as people looked around worriedly. Jared and Victor were still watching the house. The former thought that his companion would be satisfied but he wasn't. He was expecting something else to happen.

  Then a fire flowed from the tiki-torches that they were carrying. And it seemed to be channeled to one central point Victor. He reacted instinctively and dodged, falling off the horse at the same time. Jared stared in shock before he decided to dismount. The other guards who were with them were also shocked. They watched as Victor evaded the fire then when it was about to hit him directly, he held up his hand and concentrated as he stopped it.

  It was a match of power and Victor seemed to be winning but the ground below him started to give way and he was sinking. Jared made his way to try and help him but Victor stopped him and turned to the fire before him.

  `Okay, you win,' he said as he held his hands up in defeat. The fire stayed where it was as the ground solidified, trapping him within it. `But I haven't taken Sidney. I have nothing to do with her kidnapping.' The fire turned into a figure, eerily similar to Gorham but that was expected since he was the one controlling it. The head turned to Jared. `I cajoled him into joining me in the deceit. It was the only way that we could get you to find her in time before anything happens to her.' The figure turned back to Victor. `I couldn't find her, how did you expect these fools to do that?' Then to their amazement the fire dispersed back to the torches that it came from but they knew it wasn't over.

  Jared went to pull Victor up from the trap that he was in. `How did you know that talking to it would help?'

  `That was his consciousness.' when he had come out he asked; `Now we have to wait.' `Again?'

  `What's coming next is much more interesting.'