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

said he must stay
behind.”
    “If the Augurs told you Katherine must go,
then you should listen to them,” their father advised. “The Augurs
may seem unrelenting, but there’s a good reason for it.”
    “And if I don’t want to go, then I have to
because the Augurs want me to?” Katherine asked, not seeing how it
was fair she was denied a choice in the matter.
    “No, you don’t,” her father assured her. “But
from personal experience, I highly recommend you go. They chose you
to accompany Amanda because you will do something to help Amanda
that Matthew won’t be able to do.”
    “Remember what we told you about our initial
encounter with the Augurs,” their mother added. “If we hadn’t
listened to them, your father wouldn’t be alive today.”
    Katherine recalled the story. “Alright.” She
sighed, giving in. “I’ll go. Let me get into some suitable combat
clothes.”
    “I’ll do the same,” Amanda said as she ran
off to her bedchamber.
    “You’ll be glad you went,” their father
gently told Katherine. “It’s not easy not knowing why the Augurs
selected you. I know how aggravating their demands can be.”
    “Maybe this has something to do with what the
Great Magician told you,” their mother added. “You are destined to
do something great on another planet. Maybe this is the answer
you’ve been searching for.”
    Katherine’s countenance brightened. “Maybe.
Just maybe…” Encouraged, she hurried to her own room, more
optimistic than she had been in a long time.

Chapter Seven
     
    Atlantis
    Planet: Earth
     
    By the time Pallid and Jake flew to Atlantis
on their personal jet, the satellites above Earth had taken
pictures of Atlantis, displaying its coordinates to the nations
around the world. There were already several military groups from
Europe and the United States checking out the new discovery.
    Pallid frowned, not liking this unexpected
development. “I didn’t realize Atlantis was already above the
ocean. I wonder how it happened.”
    “Did one of the aliens do it?” Jake
asked.
    “I don’t think so. I only see Earthling
aircraft.”
    Jake took a deep breath as he surveyed the
flurry of activity around the arc that towered above the city.
“What should we do?”
    Pallid surveyed the city for a place where
they could safely land without being noticed. How could he not know
Atlantis had been noticed by the nations on this world? Something
told him he should have anticipated this. He steered the jet to a
part of the city which was uninhabited.
    “I don’t know what’s going on,” he told Jake,
“but I think it’s best to remain anonymous to the groups surveying
the city.”
    Pallid safely landed between two large
buildings. The city was as beautiful as he remembered. He never got
tired of feasting his eyes on the majestic splendor of the tall
buildings that changed color whenever sunlight hit them. No other
city on Earth compared to it.
    Jake, he noticed, didn’t bother hiding his
own awe. “How is it that no one has been able to duplicate this
beauty?”
    He smiled, enjoying the compliment of his
beloved city. “Atlantis is full of wonder and enchantment, thanks
to the six leaders who developed the technology to create such
beauty. When Atlantis sank, the technology to produce these
buildings went with it.”
    “I suppose all that is about to change now
that the technology is exposed to the entire world.”
    Pallid shivered at the thought. As much as he
loved his city, he feared people would exploit the technology. He
was beginning to see the dangers the city possessed. He turned off
the engine. “Somehow, I am supposed to meet up with Queen Amanda
from planet Raz. I wonder where and when that is supposed to
happen. It seems to me the outside interference is going to make
things more difficult.”
    “I hate to admit it, but I can see why my dad
wanted to rule this city.”
    “It is the diamond of all the cities on this
world. Many would die for the