Royal Heiress by Ruth Ann Nordin Read Free Book Online Page A

uphold justice. We have kept our line pure. Augurs
only marry other Augurs. This is why we have been able to maintain
our justice for so long, and we will continue to do so.
Unfortunately, we cannot destroy Atlantis ourselves. The one who
destroys Atlantis must have magic and must be a descendant of a
native Atlantian. You fit both requirements. Atlantis will only
recognize its own, and your magic will override the technology
there. Will you perform this task for us?”
    “Yes, I will.”
    He sensed her eagerness and self-confidence.
He was glad for her willingness to do this, but he suddenly became
uneasy at the thought she might not be cautious enough to perform
her goal. She seemed much too confident in her abilities.
    She might fail to listen to the wise advice
of the Infer who’d had thousands of years to mature in his
thinking. The mirror did predict her victory, but he also knew the
future was not set in stone. One change in the course of her
actions could prove to be her undoing.
    Pushing aside his hesitation, he continued,
“You must take Katherine with you.”
    “My sister?” She blanched. “Why?”
    “She will do the most good in assisting
you.”
    “But Matthew’s the one I selected to go with
me on these missions. Katherine doesn’t care for me anyway. I
hardly think she’ll want to go.”
    “She will go. And she’ll be happy that she
did.”
    “What can she accomplish that Matthew
can’t?”
    “You will have to trust our judgment. We
would not insist on her going with you if it wasn’t important.”
    She sighed, obviously wanting to argue but
realizing it was pointless to do so. “Very well.”
    The Augurs stood up and thanked her.
    She reluctantly shook their hands and then
took Matthew with her back to Raz.
    Gaius turned to the other Augurs.
“Katherine’s role is just as important as Amanda’s.”
    “Katherine will establish joy where there was
once only misery,” Octavia agreed.
    They sat back down to carefully plan their
next move, for their role was far from over.
     
    ***
     
    Royal Palace
    Planet: Raz
     
    Katherine was proudly examining the jewelry
box she had made from her block of wood when Amanda burst through
the bedchamber door.
    She groaned. “How many times do I have to
tell you to knock first? That’s it. I’m finding my own house on
another part of this planet!”
    “Kathy, you need to come to Earth with me,”
Amanda said, ignoring her sister’s outburst. “I just got back from
talking to the Augurs and they want you to go with me.”
    “You’re kidding.”
    “No! I thought they would send Matthew with
me, but they specifically said it had to be you.”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t know. They didn’t bother to
explain.”
    Katherine crossed her arms. “I don’t believe
you.”
    “Then let’s go to Mom and ask her what to do.
Since she was the queen, she’ll know what the rules are.”
    “You can’t go running to her every time you
have a question. She and Dad are going to move to Countryside
Valley in three months when your training period is over.”
    “She’s here now, isn’t she? That means I can
go to her for help while she still lives here.”
    Katherine frowned. Amanda knew everything.
She doubted Amanda would ever need her help on her trip to Earth.
But she followed her sister until they arrived at the terrace
outside their parents’ bedchamber, where they ate their evening
snack.
    Their mother blinked in surprise. “Amanda,
what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at Olympia?”
    “I got my first adventure assignment!” Amanda
cheered. “It’s so exciting. But I have to take Katherine with me,
and she doesn’t want to go.”
    “I never said I didn’t want to go. I’m just
wondering why I have to go with you,” Katherine corrected.
    “What is this adventure?” their mother
asked.
    Amanda quickly explained the situation to
them then concluded, “The Augurs were insistent Katherine go with
me. I told them Matthew could go, but they