Read Choice of the Gallant - Paradox Equation I Page 35

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  "You have to give us Alice for a few days."

  "WHAT?!"

  "There's something we have to do."

  "Lane, I'm not giving you my ship without more explanation than that."

  "We have to find the third Athena."

  "Where is she?!"

  "Easy, Dad. She's my mother. We'll take her to you, but it's a long way in your future."

  "I want to go with you."

  "Sorry, it has to be just us. You have something else to do."

  "Which is?"

  "Save a world."

  How had he let Lane talk him into this? He didn't like cold damp places. Especially cold damp places with bars and chains. He sighed and wondered how he was supposed to save this world. He'd gone straight from a stroll in the forest to a dungeon in chains. Not a great deal of world-saving opportunity in a journey of less than ten minutes with thirty guards. Oh, my. Dark-haired and beautiful!

  "Visitors. How nice. Excuse me, but I'd like to discuss these chains."

  "Be quiet! Where was he found?"

  "He walked out of the sacred grove."

  "Then why is he alive?"

  "Because, Lady, he didn't walk into it."

  "Get him down! Now! Attire him appropriately and bring him to me."

  Well, step one. He was being unchained. He wasn't extremely pleased with all the touching that seemed to be involved in the process, but the women were removing the... chains. He found it very difficult to concentrate on the architecture of the interesting building. The occupants were very distracting and all seemed to be female. He didn't have any difficulty paying attention when he was guided before the woman who had ordered him freed.

  "Yes, I can see it now."

  "Would someone please tell me what you're all muttering about?"

  "You have been prophesied. You will save us."

  "Well, that's what I was told I was supposed to be doing. Close that window, please. I'm cold. Your idea of appropriate attire and mine seem to be quite different. Oh! Now, wait a minute!"

  He didn't quite know what to do. He couldn't bring himself to hit any of them. They were so much smaller than he was. It would have been like hitting half-grown girls. Some of them were half-grown girls. Just before he stopped thinking about anything, she appeared in his mind, laughed and said, "Save them, Gallant. Only you can. They will save their world."