~~~~~~~~~
News traveled fast in the city and the fact that people claimed that Diane was alive made it move in supersonic speed. Jared after hearing the news and consulting on where they were headed to had got to his horse with a couple of more guards. He knew that Gorham and Sidney had gone there but their reasons had been different. He found a large crowd had gathered in front of the hall. Some guards who had arrived earlier were dragging some bodies away from the public eye.
`What's going on here?' Jared asked.
`There seems to have been a fight. Witnesses say that they didn't fight like the guards do but it was somewhat impossible what they were doing.'
`And where did these people go?' He dismounted as he looked at the council building and wondering where Gorham was.
`They went into the building a few minutes ago.'
`Have you gone into the building and checked?'
`Everyone is afraid to go in.'
Jared looked at him like he was about to say something nasty but he thought better of it. `Where is King Gorham?'
`What?'
`King Gorham, where is he? His carriage is over there.'
`We haven't seen any sign of him.'
Jared looked up at the building then to the bodies but he didn't see the body of the man that had come to look for Sidney. That was a good sign. He mounted the steps regardless of the guards who tried to hold him back. He was sure that Gorham was inside the building. What he didn't know was whether he was alive or not. He walked into the council hall with his sword wielded up. He found a group of people gathered around. He tried to make out the faces but his eyes seemed to be still adjusting to the light in the room.
After awhile, he could make out a woman's figure walking towards him. She was wearing some strange clothes. She had on some sort of riding trousers but they were tighter. She had on a very short dress on top and a jacket but it was a very small jacket. On her legs she had on boots, but they were clanking on the floor like the ones Sidney always wore. She stood in front of him and was smiling. Her face was familiar but it wasn't until she saw her hair that he thought of Diane.
`Hallo, Jared.'
`I thought you were dead.' then he quickly added. `Your Highness.' As he bowed.
`Jared, I'm not Diane. It's me Wendy.'
`Oh my...' he stared closely at her. `What are you doing back here?'
`I'll tell you later but now that you are here, I want you to come up with a story as to what happened here.'
`Where is King Gorham?'
`He's fine. He hit his head hard but his going to be fine.' Jared was opening his mouth to ask something but Wendy beat him to it by giving her answer. `Sidney is also fine but she will be better in a few more minutes.' they stared at the group who were concentrating on someone on the floor.
`I assume Victor is around then?'
`No, he just left. There has been a complication with Sidney's pregnancy and she needs a bit of help from Victor's world.' she turned to Jared. `Back to pressing matters. How are you going to explain this to the people?'
`That won't be the problem.'
`Then what is going to be the problem?'
`Aside from explaining what the king was doing here when the council was no supposed to meet, I'd say your hair is the biggest problem.'
`But I'm going to cover my hair.' She walked to the group and talked to the young man. He took off his own sweater and handed it to her. She came back to Jared as she was putting it on. She then pulled out a hood and put it over her head. She tacked the rest of her hair beneath it.
`That works.'
`Yes, but I want to know what you are going to tell the council were they to ask as sure as they are going to.'
`You are part of an elite group that had been given a task to infiltrate the wizards and to do whatever it takes to stop them. You discovered the plan to assassinate the king and came to the rescue right on time.'
Wendy stared at him incredulously. `I don't think that they would believe you even if that were true.'
`Of course not. The minute they will see you they will know the truth.'
Suddenly Amber called. `Wendy, she's getting out of it.'
Instead Wendy talked to Jared. `I need the carriage to be brought to the front and three horses for each of us. You also need to send out another group to clear the streets. Sidney will need to be in the trance more frequently.'
`Give me five minute,' he said and started to go to door. He looked back and saw Wendy walking towards another body that had been on the floor. She put her right hand over it and incinerated it to dust. He wondered why she did that but he had something to do at that moment. Five minutes passed and just as Jared was about to go up the group was coming down. The young man was carrying Sidney while the woman was supporting Gorham. Wendy was coming behind them but she seemed as the only guard because she was the only one carrying a sword.
She waited until the others had helped Gorham and his wife into the carriage then she mounted her horse. They started moving but Wendy doubled back and went to Jared.
`Question. Why is Sidney staying at the castle?'
`Because they are married.'
`Wow,' Wendy said as she pulled the reigns of the horse. `I wouldn't have guessed that.' She then took off after the others. She had become an excellent rider. No wonder people were already saying that she was Diane, Jared mused.