Chapter 8 - THE KING'S IMPOSSIBLE CHOICEBack in the medieval throne hall, King Edward stared at the photograph of his daughter.
For seven years, he had imagined her imprisoned.
Injured.
Lost.
Or dead.
Now he knew she was alive.
But five hundred years separated them.
And his own brother might be using her to alter history.
Edward turned toward Ethan.
"Can you return to your time?"
Ethan hesitated.
"I think so."
"Can you bring Eleanor back?"
Ethan swallowed.
"I don't know."
The king approached.
"Then we will find a way."
Roland stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, the princess warned us not to enter the Sun Gate."
Edward turned sharply.
"She is my daughter."
Roland bowed his head.
"I know."
"Would you abandon her?"
"No."
"Then do not ask me to."
Roland looked pained.
"Your Majesty, Adrian may be waiting for you."
Edward stared.
"Then let him wait."
Ethan stepped between them.
"Both of you, listen."
The king looked toward him.
Ethan continued.
"We can't just walk through a portal without knowing what it does."
Roland nodded.
"He's right."
Ethan raised his phone.
"The pictures are changing."
Edward frowned.
"What?"
Ethan showed them the screen.
The photograph of Eleanor in the ruined throne hall had disappeared.
A new image appeared.
It showed the golden throne.
But the crown resting on it was broken.
And beneath the throne stood a young woman wearing Eleanor's pendant.
Her face was hidden.
Ethan stared.
"That's new."
Roland leaned closer.
"What does it mean?"
Ethan shook his head.
"I don't know."
Then the screen flickered again.
A different image appeared.
King Edward standing inside the chapel.
A circle of blue light behind him.
And beside him stood Prince Adrian.
Edward stared.
"My brother..."
Roland looked horrified.
"Your Majesty, this is a warning."
Ethan studied the photograph.
Adrian's hand rested on Edward's shoulder.
The king's face looked frightened.
And behind them, the portal was open.
Ethan noticed something else.
The golden sun pendant was missing.
He looked toward Edward.
"Your Majesty, did Eleanor ever remove her necklace?"
The king shook his head.
"Never."
Ethan frowned.
"Then why isn't she wearing it?"
Roland looked toward the screen.
"Perhaps Adrian took it."
Ethan nodded slowly.
That made sense.
If the pendant was the key, Adrian would eventually need to possess it.
But why did the photograph show Edward beside him?
Perhaps the prince needed both the pendant and the king.
The king's blood.
The royal symbol.
The Sun Gate.
Ethan looked toward the throne.
"Your Majesty, I think the portal requires two things."
Edward frowned.
"What?"
"The sun pendant."
Ethan paused.
"And the blood of the reigning king."
Roland stared.
Edward looked toward the photograph.
Then whispered:
"Adrian cannot open the final gate without me."
Ethan nodded.
"That's what I think."
The king closed his eyes.
For the first time, he understood the impossible choice before him.
If he refused to enter the gate, he might never see Eleanor again.
If he entered, Adrian might use him to rewrite history.
Edward sat heavily on the throne.
His voice broke.
"What would you do, Ethan?"
The boy hesitated.
He thought about his own father.
His family.
The people he loved.
Then answered:
"I'd try to save her."
Edward looked up.
Ethan continued.
"But I wouldn't give Adrian what he wants."
Roland nodded.
"Then we need another way."
Ethan stared at the phone.
The screen flickered.
A new image appeared.
It showed a small stone chamber.
A golden sun pendant resting inside a circular mechanism.
And beside it stood a teenage boy wearing a gray hoodie.
Ethan froze.
"That's me."
Roland looked closer.
The boy in the photograph was placing his hand against the mechanism.
Edward frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Ethan stared.
"I think..."
He swallowed.
"...I'm opening the gate."
Then he noticed the figure standing behind him.
A man wearing a black cloak.
Adrian.
And in his hand was a dagger.
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Ethan's blood ran cold.
The prince was preparing to strike him.
