Bound by Sin by Jacquelyn Frank Page A

destroy us.”
    “Really? And where is your people’s home?”
    She smiled and took his hand in hers. “Come. I will show you.”
    She pulled him after her so quickly he had to run to keep up with her. She took him into the castle and then ran all around it, taking every flight of stairs she could find. She didn’t know the castle any better than he did, but she knew she wanted to go up. Eventually they burst out onto the castle’s battlements. She pulled him to the ocean-facing side and pointed off toward the horizon.
    “There,” she said, pointing to a dark gathering of storm clouds. It was clear that a violent storm was out in that part of the ocean.
    “Where the storm is?” he asked as he peered over at it. He could see nothing. But if he looked to the left, he could see the small speck that was his next target, the Isle of Moroun. His eventual goal was to cross the ocean and head to the next continent, his newly acquired armada in tow, but first he would conquer Moroun.
    “Yes. It is called Serenmitazahmiktubarinaty.”
    “Say that again?” he said with an astounded laugh.
    “You can call it Serenity if you cannot say the full of it. Serenmitazahmiktubarinaty is unique, the most beautiful island you would ever know. You’ll never find its like anywhere else.”
    “And yet we seem to have much more here than there. I can tell by your reactions to so many things.”
    “What you have here is
different
…not more. I could show you things in my world I expect would have you just as wide with wonder as I find myself to be in your world.”
    “Perhaps. Perhaps I should go to your world, meet with your leaders. We could discuss erecting temples to Weysa.”
    “And if we do not agree you will try to conquer us?”
    “Perhaps,” he said honestly.
    “You would fail.”
    “Do you have an army? An armada?”
    “Serenity protects itself from outsiders like you. We have no need for anything else as far as that is concerned. However, my father is leader of our legion. The legion protects us against our other enemies. Enemies far different from you.”
    “Different how?”
    “Let’s just say you should be glad the world of men holds no appeal for them.”
    “World of men? Is there any other kind of world?” he asked, a bit confused.
    “Of course there is. You are well traveled; surely you have learned that there are many worlds out there.”
    “You mean races, civilizations. Yes. There are many. But in the end, we are all human. We all have two legs, two arms. We all have males and females, and we all make children and make war upon one another. Your land and people are no different.”
    “True, there are many similarities. But there are just as many dissimilarities.”
    “If your world is so protected, so distant, how is it you come to be here?”
    She gave him an enigmatic little smile. “There are ways if you know them. There are special times. And believe me when I tell you, my father would be very angry if he knew where I was right now. So too would my brothers. But I will worry about that when I return three days from now.” Her smile broadened. “Perhaps by then you will want to come with me. You cannot bring your army but you can come yourself. And maybe you can go before the empress of our people and perhaps she will erect a temple to your goddess. But I do not see many of our people worshipping your goddess. We worship the goddess of the land and oceans because that is what is known to us. Diathus protects her children, keeps us healthy and safe. We know no other gods.”
    “You know of them.”
    “Of course we do. But we are Diathus’s children.” She gave him a bright smile. “Now come. I believe it is time for our meal. Then I must let you go to your brothers so you can carry on with your business of the day. I have already monopolized your morning.”
    She was right. She had. The entire morning had gone by and he had not even realized it. His brothers were probably beside themselves