Free Secrets of the New World (Infini Calendar) (Volume 2) by Scott Kinkade

flunkies looked like they were going to stop him, but a subtle shaking of her head told them not to. Washington then opened the trunk, revealing a stone just like the one Farahilde had seen on the Hapsburg Pride .
    “Just what are they?” Leopold asked, astonished. “Ours has been in our house for generations, yet even I do not know what it is.”
    Washington turned back around to address them. “The answer to that question involves the relating of sensitive information. The head of each delegation must be absolutely certain they can trust their subordinates.” He made eye contact with both Leopold and Deschanel. “Can your people be counted on to maintain the utmost secrecy? If you swear that they can, I will tell you.”
    “I swear,” Leopold said.
    “My knights embody the very essence of discipline. They will obey any order I give them. And I order them to silence about this.”
    Washington nodded solemnly. “Very well, then. I will tell you what is known to me.”

Chapter VII: Plurality of Worlds
     
     
     
     
    The President’s Palace, United States, December 11, 1792 (Infini Calendar), 8:00 p.m.
    Before George Washington could begin the story, another person entered the room. It was a woman, with short blonde hair, in her early thirties, of average height, wearing glasses and a flowing white dress which Farahilde had noticed was the style in the city.
    “Everyone, it is my utmost pleasure to introduce my secretary, Mary Rose,” Washington said.
    “This is an honor,” Mary said as she gave them all a big smile.
    “Charmed,” Leopold replied.
    “Hi,” Farahilde said halfheartedly. It wasn’t so much that she didn’t care about meeting the President’s secretary—even though she really didn’t. Rather, there was something queer about the woman. It was something she couldn’t quite figure out, yet she felt as if she already knew what it was. A part of her brain was telling her snidely Don’t you know what this is? What the hell is wrong with you? Farahilde could be sure of only one thing: Mary Rose was looking right at her, still smiling, and the young Austrian didn’t like that.
    “Miss Rose is already aware of what I am about to tell you. If I were to leave out anything, she can add it herself,” Washington explained.
    “Thank you again for taking me into your confidence,” Mary said.
    “As I have already stated, I trust you completely.”
    “I humbly request the expedition of this,” Deschanel said. She was trying her damndest to hide her irritation. Strangely, Farahilde could have sworn she was glaring at Mary Rose. What was it about the President’s secretary that was garnering such reactions from the other women present?
    “Of course,” Washington said. “I apologize, Miss de Fleur.
    “I formerly had a friend named Benjamin Franklin. He was instrumental in the founding of this nation. It is no exaggeration to say that none of this would have been possible without him.
    “Ben’s mind was a fantastic wealth of information. There was one subject of which he was particularly fond of speaking: the Gnostagar.
    From the assembled visitors there was an almost unanimous blurting out of “The what?”
    “That is what Ben called them. He said they were a race of men from another world who came here many years ago.”
    “Another world?” Farahilde said, incredulous. “What kind of nonsense is that?” She expected Leopold to immediately chastise her, but he was just as stupefied as she.
    “I do not fully understand it myself,” Washington replied. “Alas, I have been many things in my life; a surveyor; a soldier; a diplomat; a general. But none of those pursuits gave me the knowledge to fully absorb Ben’s words. As I said, his mind was on a higher plane.
    “But I digress. According to him, the Gnostagar came to our world in response to a certain event.”
    “What event?” they asked.
    “It occurred in the year 1431 in a town in France. A girl named Joan—”
    Mary