Nash considered his options as he blamed himself. “This is my fault,” he said.
“This isn’t right, Nash,” Saria screamed as she began fighting the soldier with more energy. Her cries of terror echoed in the room as she was pulled down the stairs, “Nash!”
Nash stood still and listened to her scream. “If only I could have killed her,” he thought to himself, “she wouldn’t be going through this now. It would have been easy for her.”
“I’m sorry, Sire,” Nash said as he dashed for the doorway that Saria had just been taken through.
“Take him,” King Sargus commanded of the two remaining guards. “Kill him if necessary, but she must not leave the dungeon,” he said, and the two guards rushed to catch up with Nash.
Nash could hear her screams coming from below. Her voice sounded truly panicked now and the. A slap met his ears. His imagination ran wild; he froze time so he could get to her before any more harm came to her.
As he finished descending the stairs, he saw them on the far side of the room. The soldier that escorted her down blocked his view, but he could see two others nearby grinning wickedly.
Nash moved quickly to them. Saria was between them, her cheek was red, and one of her eyes was already getting puffy. She held tightly to her blouse. The buttons had been ripped away. Nash grabbed her wrist and pulled her from the time-stream.
“Stop!” she was screaming as he pulled on her. She did not immediately recognize that it was Nash, but when she did, she unexpectedly hugged him. “I knew you wouldn’t let them kill me!” she cried and stared at the frozen men. “They can’t move?” she asked, wiping the tears from her cheeks and touching her eye tenderly.
“They cannot,” Nash confirmed.
Saria walked behind each soldier, lined up, and solidly kicked each between their legs, twice. She spit onto the one that escorted her. “Bastard!” she yelled, “I should kill you for touching Royalty like that!”
“They are going to feel that in a moment,” Nash laughed. “Want to watch?” He grinned at her.
Saria grinned back, “Is that possible?” she asked.
“Absolutely!” Nash said jovially. “I’m curious too.” Nash guided Saria away from the men to a safe distance and brought the two of them back in sync with time.
“Ungh!” all three men said at the same time. Two fell to the floor, and one leaned heavily against the wall and panted hard. Steps could be heard navigating the stairs. Nash froze time again.
“That’s a very useful talent, Nash,” Saria praised him.
“Thanks. You are the only living person who knows about it,” Nash said. “Don’t make me regret not killing you.” Nash took her hand and guided her up the stairs. They had to carefully pass the soldiers that were rushing down them.
Saria laughed at him. “Is it magic, or a natural talent?” she asked.
“I was born with it,” Nash answered as they entered the throne room. King Sargus was lounging on his throne and staring at the door they had just come out of. Agamen had a twisted grin on his face. “I have to leave my resignation letter with the king,” Nash said as he walked over to Agamen.
Nash pulled Agamen from the time-stream. “I never liked or trusted you,” he said to the suddenly confused man.
“How?” Agamen said and tried to back up. Nash grabbed the front of his robe, placed his knife at his throat, and pulled him over to the frozen king.
“Look at your King!” Nash said, moving him close to the King. When Nash was satisfied that Agamen was close enough, he stepped aside. He yanked back on Agamen’s hair and quickly drew his knife across his throat. Blood sprayed from the cut onto the king while Nash held him in place. As Agamen’s legs began to give way, Nash guided him onto the King’s lap. The gleam of King Sargus’s crown caught his eye. He removed it from his head and threw it on the stone floor. When it stopped moving, he walked to it and stomped it with his boot.
He turned to leave with Saria, but she ran over to the crown and picked it up. She brought it to him. “You just quit your job. You might need this,” she laughed again.
The kid was growing on Nash, but they had decisions to make. They rushed to Nash’s horse. “If we get you your own horse, can you ride?” he asked her.
“I can,” she said.
“We’ll grab one on the way out then,” he said, untying his and leading towards the first courtyard. “I saw some up here.”
Saria ran ahead a little bit when she saw the horses. “How long can you hold time?” she asked as she looked the horses over.
“Not a lot longer,” he said, “but you have time.”
“This one,” she said, taking a brown that was already saddled. As she mounted it, Nash put his hand on it and pulled it out of the time-stream. The brown horse danced and neighed at the sudden, unexpected weight. “Let’s go!” she said cheerfully.
“Where?” Nash asked as they passed through the gates. “I haven’t decided if we better off hiding or returning you home? They will be looking for us.”