Detective Liam Niles: Threshold Into The Kingdom by BONITA HIGHLEY - HTML preview

One year later…

King Colin Drake stood looking over the terrace, dressed nobly in royal attire, in his white ruffled shirt, dark jeans, surrounded by his long cloak, his long boots, black as night. Just announced king replacing his father. He All the commoners stood in observance. He walks away and down stairs to meet Janna, His father’s maiden, dressed in a peasant’s shirt, ankle-tied pants, short, black boots.

Colin smiles at her. “Janna. Did you think over my proposal of marriage?”

Janna, smiles back. “No, I have not come to an answer yet.

Colin, gentle. “ Right. I’m sure you will. Let’s go out for a ride on our horses.” Janna, grinned.

As they ride their horses down the road, they stopped.

Colin taking glances at her. “Janna, we’ve known each other since the time father brought you here to live with us for three years now, marry me. I will ensure of your happiness.”

Janna, taking glances at him. “Colin, I don’t know what to say. I am not certain.”

Colin, self assured. “You need more time, fine. We’ll talk about the plans later. Then I shant wait no more. We shall marry by tomorrow.” He gallopes off down the road.

Janna, galloped after him, with full force following him into the small forest. Suddenly, they accidently ran into each other, her horse startled, stood up, huffs in the air, she falls off her horse landing onto the edge of a steep hill, rolls down, passes out.

Colin, quickly dismounting, runs after her down the hill. “

William stood up from his chair. “Grandmother! Was my Great-Great-Great Grandmother Drake ok!?”

Bren, taking a moment to paused her reading. “Let’s find out.” She continues to read. “A man next to his cottage chopping wood near them looks up to see toward the noise. Seeing her laying on the ground, he throws his axe down to the ground and runs to help them.

Prince Colin, catching up to her, stops to see the other man, the other man stood looking back at him, for a moment, looked at each in disbelief. ”Sean?”

The man, giving him back the same. “Colin.” With adamants, Sean bent down to check her breathing, giving a sigh of relief, he picks her up into his arms before Colin can, takes her into his cottage home.

Colin follows him inside.”

William once again stood.” She was ok!”

Bren, giving him a smile. ‘Yes William,let’s see happens next.”

As Bren continues. “Sean, lays her down on the couch, covers a warm quilt on her and builds up the fire in the fireplace. “Who is she Colin?” Colin, hesitant at first. “Her name is Janna. She is father’s maiden.” Sean looks at him. “And how is father doing?” Colin, takes a sigh. “He is fine, doing rather well. I must go now to retrieve the horses before dark. I’ll be back later to take her back home.” he takes off.

Sean sees him leave, Then notices her rare ancient ring. He sat down, pull back in his chair thinking about her in question.

Janna, slowly awoke, sees him looking at her and sits up startled.

Sean extending his hand out to her in reassurance. “It’s ok, you are safe in my home.”

Janna looking around the room. “Where am I?” Sean sat back. “You are in the Village of Wellingston.”

Janna, swallows hard. “Where is Colin?”

Sean, calm. “He is not here, you fell, what happened before that?”

Janna, in beginning entrust. “Colin and I rode our horses after he was announced king.”

Sean looked down in disappointment, then looked back up at her.

Janna continued. “It will be hard for him being king. He has an older brother that foreshadowed him, his named is Sean Drake, the legend. They say he’s either missing or dead. Do you know of this legend?”

Sean, with quick sigh. “Yes, I know well of him. No, he’s not missing or dead. I suppose I am that legend, I am Sean Drake.”

Janna stared at him with astoundment.

Sean pulled himself forward. “About the ring. It is of ancient heritage. Where did you get it from?”

Janna looked at her ring, then back to him.“It is mine. It was given to me from my uncle. Before Colin became king, your father sheltered me as a promise to my uncle, to help restore my inheritance with my ancient castle and kingdom, yet, I’ve never seen it. It is hidden somewhere outside of this village. It was your father’s intentions to give you his kingdom. He waited one year and since you did not come back, he abdicated the kingdom to your brother. And now, your brother asked me to marry him.”

Sean raised his vision upon her. “I see. Listen Janna, to him, you’re like a rare gem from a castle’s stone wall. He will do anything to get what he wants. I don’t trust him. As for your hidden castle, I know of one. I will show you to it. But for now, you must stay here with me

Insafe keeping. Come, let me take you to see this long lost castle.”

Sean and Janna walk to the stable, saddling the horse, helps her get onto the horse while holding the reins, he tread guiding the horse on a path.

Janna, looking at him in question.“So, why did you come here?”

Sean, looking into the vast field. “it’s not an exciting subject. I just wanted a better life.”

Janna, kept he view on him. “A better life from where you came from. A mansion with all its glory a man could ever ask for and anything he requests of his heart’s desire.”

Sean stops, turns to look at her.

Janna, lay across the top of the horse to his vision of her. “You and your brother share the same traits I see.”

Sean, mesmerized by her, takes a closer step to her. “Let me show you something brilliant.” Says with a gentle voice.

He pulls himself up onto the horse in back of her. They proceeded towards their destination. They came upon an old passageway, riding through an overgrowth of ivy chained trees, as if going back through time to a forgotten place. They came to an opening revealing an ancient stone castle.

Janna, with a look of astonishment came upon her face as she placed her hand onto his knee. “Sean….its….”

Sean, closer to her. “Magnificent.” He gently spoke into her ear, his face touching her soft hair. He dismounted from the horse and helped her down. They approached the inside of the castle and began to tour the hollowed building.

Sean raised his hand into the air. “Behold, your hidden castle. Just imagine. People used to work here, play here, even loved here. Things have changed through generations, but chivalry still remains with great meaning.” He looked at her with fascination.

Janna looked at him kindly. Mesmerized, she kept her stare on the majesty castle. “Not even the whole world of King Arthur could compare.”

Sean, taking an extra view of her. “Let’s go shall we?”

Walking back to his horse, he rose upon the horse first. With his help, he took her hand as she pulled herself up in back of him.

Janna, kissed his cheek gently. “Thanks Sean.”

Sean, whipped the reins, they began to steadfastly ride the horse back through the passageway, then galloped faster through the long stretch of land, the gusty wind blowing through their hair.

They stopped upon a hill, when they heard loud music from a church gathering down in the valley. They proceeded to go to the church. Dismounting from the horse, they entered inside.

Ren and his wife, Bray, seeing them step entering. “Welcome friends!”

Sean, smiled wide. “Ren, Bray, this is Janna, Janna, this is my friends Ren and his wife Bray.”

Bray, taking Janna’s hand sit together talking, as Ren and Sean sit on the table observing others, gulping their frothy top ales.

Ren, with pride.“That’s quite a woman you’ve got there.”

Sean, smiled with his pride. “The lord has shined a beautiful light on me life”.

Ren gave a pleasant look at him.“Tis About time you got a woman, but I see you’re not the only one.” Ren looked at the other table.

Sean turned to see his brother Colin sitting with Janna “Right, excuse me Ren, we’ll talk later.” He walks over to their table and sits down. “Anything to tell me?”

Janna quickly veered at Sean. “Not really.”

Colin, smirked. “I was telling Janna, can I walk you home tonight?”

Sean, caution. “Who’s home?”

Colin assertive. “Back to where she lives, my mansion of course. We need to discuss important legalities.

Sean sternly looking at him “I highly doubt it. The discussions will be with me. And Janna will be living with me until further notice.”

Colin, looking at Janna. “Janna, let’s dance.”

Jann looked at Sean, then at Colin. “Ok, Why not?”

Colin and Janna proceeded to the dance as Sean watch them, focusing on Janna like a smitten hawk. When Sean saw Colin pull Janna closer to himself.

Sean alarmingly stood up, walked over to them and inserted himself between them. “Excuse me, my brother, my turn.”

Colin, with wry mouth. “Next time, Brother.” He walked away, stood next to the door, his arms folded.

Sean poised his body in reverence with one hand outward to one side, his other hand, offering for her hand. She lay her hand onto his. They began to dance slowly swaying to the music. Standing side to side, while extending their hands and arms on each other’s waists, the melody flowed as they began rotating in winding momentum. Twirling her under his arm as if she was under his spell, whirling once, twice, thrice, gravitating toward him. Mesmerized with each other, the end of the music broke the magical spell with a look of questionable betrothal. He lift her hand to kiss it.

Sean mesmerized by her eyes. “Let’s go home.”

Janna concurred, followed him towards the door.

While putting on their cloaks, Sean gave a final look at Colin. “Goodnight Brother, we’re going home now.”

Colin stood with an unamused sly dissatisfied wry glare look. Seeing Her Uncle, other journeymen placing on their cloaks joining them to leave, he looks to his left to gesture a tip of his head signal to one of his henchman, then went to stand next to his other henchman.”Be sure to heed Janna, spare my brother. Have care for her Uncle, we don’t want damaged goods.” His henchman left the room.

On their journey, all together on their way back to their homes.

Suddenly in back of them,the side of the high ground gave way, breaking off upon them, half the tribesman falling to their demise, Janna loosing her grip , rolling down a steep hill, about to fall over the hill, but quickly gripped the tree roots, hanging on for dear life.

Colin, in the distance quickly jolted in his standing, his eyes widen seeing the plan go awry, but stood watching.

Janna,seeing more men and women falling over the cliff as she struggled to hang on. Sean trying to get to her, fighting his way through the men of invasion. Janna, trying to manage to grab onto a higher level, then once again falters, growing weary, closes her eyes in long struggle, catching her breath.

Sean finally grabs her wrists, pulling her up.

The grey sky met with anguish as Sean ordered his knights to line up the fallen.

Janna stood to over see the land steadfastly walked amongst the trail of deceased men and women, seeing over them one by one, recognizing some, some, not so familiar. Sadness grew upon her face like a sharp edged thorn struck within her. The evening breeze blew through her long tattered hair as see affixed her sight at Sean, as he stood hovering over a man with serious straight faced with adamance he looked at her. His nod at her to prepare her for what she is about to discover below him.

Taking a few steps towards him, then swiftly ran in between the crowd of heavy laden soldiers, pushing through them, then halt in her steps as she saw before her uncle, lay flat on his back, not moving. In her exhaustion falling to her knees, in her much grief,taking a big breath of realty in front of her.

Sean crouched down to her. Seeing him in shallow breath with his life.

Her Uncle reached up to cusp her wrist with his hand, then, taking his other hand, grasped Sean’s wrist, placing both their hands together, his hands slipped to the ground.

Janna , in grief, silent.

Sean, taking a closer look. “He lives. But it is time. This is Colin’s doing, I’m sure.”

She raised her face to look at him as the commoners taking her Uncle into the village for care.