Sleek and some sort of translucent green color, it was a sporty little... thing.

And it just sat there. About two feet off the ground. She looked under it.

Nothing but air.She stood upright and told herself that after everything else she'd already dealt with, why not? She held on to the side of the... whatever, and it dipped and rocked, sort of like a boat. Or a waterbed.

Archer scooped her up and dropped her gently into the pa.s.senger seat. "It takes some getting used to. But you'll like it a h.e.l.l of a lot better than those bone-rattling contraptions you pilot."

And then he was inside and the thing hummed to life, and before she could catch her breath, they were moving.

Really, really fast.

s.h.i.t. s.h.i.t, s.h.i.t, s.h.i.t.

She clung to the sides as the wind whipped her hair straight out behind her head. Her stomach hovered somewhere in the vicinity of her throat. The city streets pa.s.sed in a blur. And then they shot out the other side, away from the crowded streets and buildings into a startlingly green countryside.

And before her sprawled the most magnificent castle she'd ever seen. "Welcome to Emerald City, Dorothy," she murmured beneath her breath. It wasn't Oz, but it was every bit the magical fairy tale that any little girl could have ever dreamed of.

Only she was fairly certain she wasn't dreaming.

And she wasn't a little girl anymore, although she had an increasingly strengthening desire to curl up into a little ball and cry for her mummy. A mummy who had once lived in yonder glistening castle, she realized faintly. And had fled it in fear for her life.

Just what in the h.e.l.l had she gotten herself into ?

Chapter 16.

Archer said a prayer of thanks beneath his breath. He'd tempted every Transport Agent in the monarchy with his warp-speed drive here, but he had no idea who might know of Talia's presence and felt it was best to get her under castle guard as quickly as possible.

As he sped toward the large gate in the outer wall that surrounded the castle he only hoped he wasn't delivering her to a worse fate. He chanced a quick glance in her direction, wishing the trip had allowed them to talk, but all his concentration had been on maneuvering them out of the city undetected. She looked pale and more than a little anxious. His fingers twitched on the controls as he debated swinging them around and heading straight back to Baleweg. But then the castle gate was opening and he knew there would be no turning back now.

He was guided by the royal guard toward what looked like a solid wall. An invisible seam opened in the middle as he closed in, sliding soundlessly shut behind them after his transport had pa.s.sed through. They were in a dimly lit tunnel that extended into darkness ahead. He'd come this route before, but last time there hadn't been a solid wall of guards lining the edges of the platform. He was relieved to see Catriona was well prepared for his return with her precious cargo, but as a guard stepped quickly forward, he nonetheless kept the security field up around his vehicle.

"I wish a direct audience with the queen," he said. Not that he doubted they knew exactly why he was here, and with whom.

The guard nodded. "We will escort Ms. Trahaern inside."

"You will escort both of us inside."

The guard's impa.s.sive expression didn't alter one whit. "I am instructed only to bring her."

"Then call in and get different instructions. We both go in, or she stays here behind the shield." Archer knew, as well as the guard, that the shield would not hold up under their collective weaponry, but he also knew Catriona would not be happy if Talia's life were in any way jeopardized in what should be a routine, if highly secure, transfer.

The guard acted exactly as Archer predicted. He pulled the mouthpiece wire down from his earpiece and spoke into it. Archer turned to Talia. She hadn't moved. In fact, he wasn't sure she was breathing. "You okay?"

She looked at him and made a valiant effort at a dry smile. "Define okay."He smiled. "That's the way.""What's happening?"He took her hand, wishing he'd been able to touch her the entire time, relieved to have contact again. "We're just getting clearance to go inside."

She gripped his hand hard enough to shut down all blood supply. He didn't

mind. "Don't worry, Catriona won't want to argue about this, she'll want you in and under her direct supervision as soon as possible."

Talia seemed to relax a little, but she was still pale and probably a bit

unnerved at all the sudden changes.

"I'm sorry for all this, Tali," he said abruptly.

"What do you mean?"

"Bringing you here. Maybe I shouldn't have. Maybe there was another way."

"I tried to tell myself that, too." She looked at him, gripped his hand even

more tightly. "But if you hadn't come to get me, someone else would have."

Archer had thought the same thing, had woken up in a panicky sweat several times, dreaming that very same scenario.

"I'm glad it was you," she said quietly.

"Yeah." Then the guard was standing before them again. Archer merely lifted

a brow.

The guard's expression might have reflected just a bit of irritation as he nodded tightly. "Follow me."

Archer grinned and shut down the shield. "Right, mate." He turned to Talia.

"Don't get out until I'm on your side."

A phalanx of guards surrounded him the instant he leaped from the car and followed as he moved around to her side. Another cadre approached Talia.

Archer timed his move to slide in front of them and plant himself directly

beside her, effectively blocking them all out. "Stand back. Don't crowd her.

She's unused to this."

Archer smiled when Talia stiffened and immediately began clambering out.

"Don't make me sound like a helpless idiot," she whispered fiercely.

"Me? I'd never do that," Archer said, taking her hand.

Talia snorted, then leaned back in and scooped up her backpack. He wondered

if she'd go so far as to put that hideous hat on, but decided he'd slay the first man who so much as raised an eyebrow in her direction if she did. But she left it squashed inside the front pocket and strapped the bag on her back.

She eyed the guards nervously as they stepped in and ran a full body scan over both of them, and her pack, but her back was ramrod-straight. Archer smiled again, proud of her and for once pleased with her natural regal bearing. It would only serve her well in this circ.u.mstance. Maybe later he'd have the chance to unbend that bearing a little. Not the time to be thinking of that, mate. But that didn't stop his body from pondering it a while longer.

"Stay directly by my side. If you feel anything unusual or alarming, squeeze my hand and stop immediately." He looked at her. "Ready?"

"Oh, yeah." She smiled weakly. "I was born ready." He squeezed her hand, when what he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and deliver a lengthy, mind-blowing kiss. But neither of them could afford clouded thinking. A shame, that. He'd save it for later. And he intended there to be a later.

Archer nodded to the troops. "Lead on." They were surrounded four deep by the red and black suited men. Archer should have felt secure, but those d.a.m.n hairs were lifting on his neck again. He kept keen eyes trained all along the tunnel and corridors, looking for the source of it. Likely there was surveillance of some kind. He'd felt it on his previous visit. But this was something more. It felt... menacing. He wondered where Chamberlain was and if any of the royal guard were in his private employ. Probably. Archer would insist that only the queen's private guard be in charge of Talia's security. They were handpicked by Catriona and most came from families that had been loyal to the Dalwyns for generations. As they went deeper into the castle, the guards peeled off, until they reached the queen's private sector. Much to Archer's relief, by the time they stood in front of the ma.s.sive double doors that led to the queen's quarters, their chaperones were entirely composed of the queen's personal guard. Black suited with gold trim and eminently serious, they silently ushered them both in, motioned for them to be seated in plush, ornate chairs in a small antechamber, then dismissed themselves. Two remained inside the doors. Two more were positioned beside a large door on the opposite wall. Archer knew the remaining ones were stationed just outside.

So far he was pleased, at least as pleased as he could be. He had no doubt that Chamberlain was already well aware of Talia's arrival. Had probably been somehow watching delivery through the pa.s.sageways personally. But his instincts had calmed somewhat now that they were in the queen's private chambers.

Before he could say a word to Talia, the doors on the opposite wall slid soundlessly open. A small woman with dark hair pulled back in a no-nonsense knot, also dressed in the black and gold uniform of the queen's private staff, stepped out and crossed the sumptuous rug to where they were seated. Archer had encountered her before. She was the queen's personal a.s.sistant.

She stopped before them, hands clasped in front, professional smile perfectly in place. "Welcome," she said to Talia, who nodded, and glanced surrept.i.tiously about at the magnificent surroundings.

Then the a.s.sistant turned to Archer and her smile abruptly disappeared. "You will be seen immediately." The smile returned as she looked to Talia. "Please wait here."

Confused, Archer looked at Talia, then back at the woman. "Excuse me?" He'd a.s.sumed Talia would be all but rushed to the queen's side, urged to perform her magic at once. In fact, Archer had been formulating plans to remain as close to her as possible, since he expected they would try to make him leave.

Perhaps that's what this was about. The queen was going to thank him, pay him off, and have him escorted out. Well, she'd be rethinking that scenario shortly. He stood, intentionally using his towering height to his advantage.

"Ms. Trahaern does not leave my side until I have personally delivered her to the queen."

"Yes, well." The a.s.sistant pursed her perfectly painted lips. "I believe that is what the queen wishes to discuss with you."

Archer planted his hands on his hips. "Is there a problem?"She folded her arms, no longer the pleasant professional. "Did you honestly think you'd get away with this... this sham?"

Archer opened his mouth to ask what the h.e.l.l she was talking about, when Talia spoke. "I think I can explain."

They both looked at her.

Talia raised an eyebrow. "I'm not mute or deaf." She stood. "I think I understand the confusion. You were, perhaps, expecting someone older."

Archer's expression cleared. Of course. He'd forgotten they were expecting Eleri. And the queen was completely unaware, as far as he knew, that he'd traveled through time and collected her daughter instead. Talia was the spitting image of her mother, but younger than Eleri had been when she'd disappeared, much less the age she'd be now. He laughed. "You honestly thought I'd hired an imposter?"

"There is a large fortune at stake. Some men-"Archer's expression hardened. "I'm not 'some men.' I was hired to bring back the royal healer. I have done so. If there is any explaining to do, we will do so to the queen. Together. Now, either escort us both to her immediately or I will return Ms. Trahaern to where I found her and you can get someone else for the

job."

The a.s.sistant's eyes widened, but otherwise her professional demeanor held firm. She folded her hands once again in front of her. "I shall be right back."

"You have one minute or we're gone."