Free Devan Chronicles Series: Books 1-3 by Mark E. Cooper Page B

Kevlarin said he would escort us, and he did all the way to the castle, but afterwards, instead of leaving he camped outside the gate. When my father came outside the next day, Kevlarin asked him for my hand in marriage.”
    “And your father said yes of course?” Julia said eagerly.
    “He said no! ” Jessica said with a laugh. “I was outraged I can tell you. Father, I said, I love Kevlarin and if you don’t go out there and tell him that you’ve changed your mind, I’ll go. He wouldn’t have that of course. He was the master of his own castle. He asked Kevlarin to come up and stay a while. The next day we were married by the priest in one of our villages.”
    Julia chuckled. “A master of his castle but not of his daughter!”
    They both laughed. Jessica brought her a glass of wine, and Julia sipped it occasionally while telling her about Earth.
    “No, we don’t use magic at all,” Julia said. “Everyone knows magic is all tricks and illusion...” she frowned, “At least it is on my world. We use technology to do the things you described. Any one can fly where I come from. We use jet planes—big metal birds that hundreds of people can sit inside of to travel anywhere in the world.”
    Jessica shook her head gently in wonder. “That is truly amazing. To think that something so marvellous can be done... but is it possible your world does have magic? You see, we believe that magic comes from the God. It is His power to bestow. Surely He made your world as he did ours.”
    “In the Bible, that’s my faith’s holy book, it says God made the world in six days. I can see just by looking around me that your people and mine are the same. I believe God did make both our worlds. As for magic, we have stories of mages, but that’s all they are. Why is this so important to you?”
    “I will tell you why.”
    Julia turned to find the man she had landed on just entering the room. Mathius was hiding behind him.
    “Though I cannot imagine how anyone could sleep through the noise, you should know that we are under attack. Athione will likely fall in the next day or so—”
    Mathius gasped in protest, but the man ignored him and continued.
    “—and most here will die. If you had been who you were supposed to be we might have prevented it!”
    Before Julia could think of a reply, Jessica bounced to her feet in outrage. “ How dare you! Lord you may be, but you don’t rule here! You burst in unannounced and think to insult my guest—I’ll not have it! If you don’t apologise I will have you barred from the women’s quarter!”
    Julia nodded to herself. So this was Jessica’s son lord Keverin. Trust her to use the only lord for miles around for her landing mat. Julia watched the confrontation with interest. The lord was easily a foot and more taller than Jessica was, and he was heavily muscled, but the way Jessica stood toe to toe with him made her appear the larger. Julia could see his resemblance to Kevlarin now that he stood before her. He was struggling to hold his temper and was clenching his bandaged hands. They were bleeding. The injury must be recent.
    Keverin bowed stiffly. “My lady mother, I... apologise to you and your guest.”
    Julia nearly laughed to hear him strangling on the apology. She tried to hide it behind her hand, but he noticed the movement. “I’m Julia Morton. I would like to say that I’m pleased to meet you, Lord Keverin, but I’m not.”
    Keverin growled something, but Julia was distracted from his words when Mathius glowed just like before in the great hall.
    “What did you just do?”
    The glow winked out and Mathius looked at her in bewilderment. “I? Nothing, Lady.”
    “What are you talking about wom...” Keverin was cut off by a glare from Jessica. “Excuse me, Lady Julia, but what are you talking about?”
    “He just did something.”
    “I didn’t see anything,” Keverin said turning to look.
    Julia glanced at Jessica for confirmation, but she shook her head.