Brenda looked in the mirror at the Familiar that had once again assisted her with dressing for the Feast. "Thank you, Lisbithair," she replied, rising from the bench at the dressing table. Brenda turned in the other direction and twirled around giddily. Her reflection in the full-length mirror showed just how true the statement was. She grasped the soft fabric of her caftan in her fingers to hold it out to the sides. "It *is* a beautiful gown, isn’t it?"

There really hadn’t been much deliberation about which gown Brenda would wear to the feast. Although the caftans Jax had ordered from the artisans on Tron were all breathtaking, only one seemed the perfect choice. It was made of the softest white silk available in the Universe, with gold threads highlighting every fold. The gown’s closure was a series of pure gold buttons up the front, ending at the hollow of Brenda’s throat. The sleeves were broad but tapered at the wrists to bands that were attached to Brenda’s forefinger by a golden loop. Every time she moved, the fabric gave the same sound as the wind blowing softly through the trees at first light, or the waters of the sea lapping gently at the shore at Napoli.

"I have never seen a gown like it," Lisbithair replied, moving to make sure a curl had not fallen from Brenda’s upswept hair. She respectfully stroked her hand over the fabric at Brenda’s shoulder. "It is *most* perfect for dancing, I think!"

Brenda faltered for just a moment and cast a wary glance at Lisbithair. {She’s speaking of the dancing at the Feast, of course. She couldn’t have meant any other dancing. She wouldn’t know of *the* dance……the dance that only Torengi women do.}

As a dutiful Torengi mother, Veronica had passed along the knowledge of the dance to Brenda as a young girl. In the privacy of hushed whispers, her mother had explained to her that Brenda would know when to perform the dance. She would feel the love flooding her heart and it would inspire her to express it in the dance – for her one true love. Her soul mate. Not necessarily her husband, Veronica had added. A wistful look came to her eyes as Veronica remembered performing the dance for Brenda’s father.

Brenda was a young girl when Veronica married Morenon and brought her to Charporta to live. She had vague memories of her mother casting fond glances towards Morenon, but she knew by the way her mother spoke of him that she had never performed the dance for him. One night, Brenda heard raised voices coming from Veronica and Morenon’s chambers. When she became old enough to understand, she often wondered if Morenon’s injured pride prompted him to ask that Veronica dance for him. But she also was certain that Morenon had not forced her mother to perform the dance. He knew that it had to come from her heart and lost its meaning if coerced.

{Jax seems to know much of the Torengi people and their nature.} Brenda caught her breath as Lisbithair continued her last minute decoration of Brenda’s hair. {What if he knows of the dance? Is he expecting me to perform it for him? Would he…..} Brenda forced the thought from her mind as soon as it started to take shape. {He would never force me. Jax knows that love must be freely expressed. The same way he freely expresses it to me……}

Meanwhile, Jax was standing in front of a full-length mirror in his own quarters, fanatically re-adjusting his sash for the fifth time. His butler stepped back and sighed in frustration when Stefantok spoke from the doorway. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this apprehensive about a meeting with the tribes, zir Jax."

Jax frowned into the mirror, his reflection bouncing back towards his Chief Advisor. "I’m not apprehensive. This sash just refuses to drape properly, that’s all."

Stefantok clasped his hands behind his back as he slowly walked to stand behind Jax. He nodded silently towards the butler and the man disappeared from the room. "Not apprehensive, hmmmm?" Stefantok pursed his lips. "And I hear that the glarp-hogs have been sprouting wings and flying in the northern territory since yesterday."

Jax glared into the mirror. "Levity does not suit you, Stefantok." He brushed at some non-existent imperfection on the sleeve of his white and gold tunic. "We can all be thankful that you are so talented a diplomat and not responsible for our entertainment at the banquet this night."

"And *because* I am such a superlative diplomat," Stefantok replied, walking around to Jax’s front, "I won’t even broach the subject of how you convinced Zira Brenda to attend the feast this evening."

Jax was about to give Stefantok a tongue-lashing he wouldn’t soon forget when the room began to spin. He reached out for something to hold as an anchor when his eyelids drooped and his knees buckled. Stefantok immediately saw his predicament and caught the young king in his arms, helping him to a large chair.

Never losing consciousness completely, Jax opened his eyes once he was seated and regained his balance. "Thank you, my friend," he whispered. "With all the preparations for the banquet, I failed to eat something this afternoon……"

Stefantok lay his hand on Jax’s arm and looked into his eyes. "Hunger does not cause your light-headedness, Zir Jax." Jax closed his eyes and grimaced at the truth his Advisor forced him to see. "It was your manifestation again, was it not?" he asked gently.

"This one came upon me so suddenly." Jax accepted a flagon of hydrale water that Stefantok pressed into his hands and took a sip. "I fear I have little time before I must perform the ritual."

Stefantok took the flagon away from Jax. "Have you spoken to Zira Brenda about it yet?" His words were soft and caring.

"I considered it a major triumph persuading her to attend the banquet tonight with me," Jax replied. "I could not bring myself to reveal all to her at this point."

"Then let me call Maerdithon for you, Zir Jax. She assisted you through the ritual the last time."

Jax shook his head stubbornly. "You know that is no longer possible, Stefantok. I have taken a mate and must perform the ritual with Brenda."

"Technically," Stefantok hedged, "the rite taking Brenda as your mate has not yet been performed......"

"*I* performed the rite," Jax argued, his eyes once again beginning to flash. "That is all that is necessary in my eyes."

"But not in the eyes of the law, Zir Jax," Stefantok argued. "The marriage has yet to be solemnized by the high priests. Maerdithon could assist you with the manifestation yet again this time and then you could have time before the next one to explain it to Zira Brenda....."

"I WILL NOT HAVE IT!" The strength of Jax’s reply caused Stefantok to jump. Jax rubbed his forehead with his fingers. "I do not mean to be harsh with you, old friend, but performing the ritual with Maerdithon this time will only complicate matters further for me in the future with Brenda."

Stefantok bowed his head. "As you wish, Zir Jax." Jax rose to his feet as did Stefantok, who once again re-adjusted Jax’s sash. "But for the sake of all the Familiars, please do not wait until it is too late."

*~*~*~*

Brenda was nervously combing her hair when she heard the door of her room open behind her. Jax’s voice drifted over her like a caress. "Never have I seen such beauty – on this planet, or any other of the universe."

She turned to face him with a smile. But when she saw Jax, she gasped aloud. "On the contrary, Familiar." Regaining her composure, she walked slowly over to where he stood, her eyes never straying from his. "It is *you* who are beautiful this night."

Jax’s attire matched Brenda’s perfectly. White leather breeches were tucked into short white boots of the same soft material. Jax’s tunic was made from the same fabric as Brenda’s caftan, falling just to mid-thigh. It sparkled with the same gold threads, but the hem of the tunic was adorned with small gold nuggets. The white sash that crossed his chest was embroidered with various symbols that Brenda didn’t recognize but assumed were part of the Familiar tongue. The sleeves of the tunic reached to Jax’s wrists, with the same gold nugget trim there.

A soft pink flush stained Jax’s cheeks as he looked down at his feet. "I scarcely think beautiful is a word normally used to refer to a male Familiar, angel." He extended his arm to Brenda and she laced hers through it as they left the room.

"But Familiar males *are* beautiful, Jax," she argued softly as they walked towards the main hall of the palace. "Every male I saw this afternoon on our walk seemed to be young and handsome and happy." Her eyes lifted skyward and she sighed at the thought of so much contentment in one place.

"Perhaps we are all so "beautiful,"" Jax allowed with a smile and a nod of his head, "because we are at peace with ourselves." They came to a set of double doors which two guards opened, after bowing appropriately to Jax and Brenda. He felt her hand tense on his arm and he leaned down to whisper in her ear. "The celebration feast is beyond yet another set of doors. Your appointment with the executioner is stayed for a few minutes."

Brenda laughed softly and shook her head as they continued to walk. "You know me too well, Familiar," she sighed. Then she raised her head and lifted eyes filled with pain to meet his. "What if they hate me?"

Jax stopped her in her tracks. "That is impossible, zira. I have loved you from the moment I set eyes on you." Then he leaned forward and a teasing sparkle lit his eyes. "And since we Familiars are always wise and infinitely insightful in our assessments of people……"

She playfully kissed the dimple that his smug smile caused in his cheek. "……and since you are always RIGHT, of course……"

As the doors opened, hundreds of pairs of eyes turned towards Jax and Brenda. All conversation ceased in the room, which was lit with chandeliers that cast a warm glow over all. Tempting smells drifted towards Brenda to tease at her growling stomach, but she could only feel the butterflies residing there as she and Jax descended the long staircase.

When they arrived at the last step, an older man dressed in a fine gold tunic and breeches approached them from the side. Brenda recognized him as Jax’s chief advisor from the banners she had seen that afternoon during their walk. He stood directly in front of Jax, and then loudly announced, "His Majesty, Zir Jax." He barely drew a breath and then dropped to one knee in fealty to his king.

The words had no sooner escaped his lips than they were echoed from all around the room. All of the Familiars followed suit and dropped to their knees, lowering their heads in deference to their king. Brenda was amazed to see that their actions were not forced, or artificial, as she had often seen on Charporta when Morenon appeared before his subjects. The Familiars seemed to genuinely care for Jax and wished to give him the respect he was due.

Brenda’s observations were cut short when Stefantok rose to his feet and moved to stand in front of her. She held her breath, but then was shocked when the advisor gave her a furtive wink. He took her hand in his, and again raised his voice. "Jax’s new wife, Zira Brenda!"

Before Brenda had a chance to react, he kissed her hand and then fell to one knee before her. The rest of the Familiars, seeing Stefantok’s acceptance of the new queen, mirrored his actions. "Zira Brenda!" they shouted as one, and then knelt in respect to their new queen.

{Why do I feel tears stinging my eyes? I always swore that the obsequious bowing and posturing were the essence of all I *hated* about being a queen!} Brenda took a shaky breath and then smiled at Stefantok as he rose to stand before her, still holding her hand fast in his. "This is my Chief Advisor and oldest friend, zira," Jax whispered in her ear, leaning towards her. "His name is Stefantok." Jax winked at her. "He and Jonun were having adventures together throughout the universe before I was even a twinkle in my father’s eye!"

"I was fortunate enough to meet Jax’s mother and father on Tron," Brenda replied, inclining her head towards Stefantok. "Unfortunately, we were not allowed the luxury of remaining there long enough to hear of these adventures." She drew herself up regally. "I shall consider it a personal affront if this evening passes and you do not tell me of at least one."

Stefantok arched an eyebrow at Jax in approval and then bowed slightly at the waist to Brenda. "Well then, Zira Brenda, perhaps later you will allow me the privilege of escorting you to the buffet table. While you sample our most tasty Familiar delicacies, I shall see if I can recall some of the less ribald incidents for your entertainment!"

Jax smiled at Stefantok and then wound Brenda’s arm through his proprietarily. "And now, Stefantok, if you will excuse us, I believe the leaders of the tribes are most anxious to meet my new bride." He felt Brenda take a deep breath and patted her hand for reassurance before leading her towards the assembled throng in the ballroom.

The next hour was a blur of faces and names as Familiars from every tribe were presented to Brenda. The one thing that did stand out in her mind was the absolute beauty and serenity of Jax’s people. Every male was handsome in his own right – some blonde, like Jax; others with hair the color of a moonless night on Xtrava. Brenda’s worries were soon put to flight as she was greeted warmly by each the tribal leaders. When several of them surrounded her and led Brenda to the feasting table, she could barely keep from laughing as they vied with each other as to who would present the new Zira with the most tasty of Familiar delicacies.

Brenda was trying to determine a way not to hurt any of the Familiars’ feelings when a hush fell over the ballroom. It happened by degrees, starting at the doorway and working its way across the room like a noxious cloud. Brenda felt icy fingers run up her arms. She quietly excused herself to the Familiars, but knew from the expression on their faces that they hadn’t heard a word she uttered. Becoming more and more anxious, Brenda finally saw Jax with another group of tribal leaders. She went to his side and wrapped an arm around his waist. "Jax – what’s the problem?" She looked around her at the stricken faces of the Familiars. "Why is everyone so upset?"

The crowds of Familiars parted like waves and Brenda was finally able to see the doors of the ballroom she had come through earlier. Tomassif was standing at the foot of the steps, a large staff in his hands, wearing a bright purple robe with gold trimming. He was followed by other men wearing similar robes, all in royal purple but none as ornate as Tomassif’s. All of their faces, including Tomassif’s, wore somber expressions.

"Jax!" Brenda squeezed Jax’s arm as it seemed he hadn’t heard her words. "Why is Tomassif here? Is he here to add his congratulations?" She whispered the words but from the mood around her and the way the Familiars looked, she suspected that the wizard’s mission was far from a joyous one.

Jax turned and, as if by magic, Stefantok appeared by his side. He raised an eyebrow and Stefantok immediately moved to stand with Brenda as Jax went to greet Tomassif. She reached for Jax but Stefantok took her arm and pulled her closer to him. "The wizards are here to perform a ritual at Jax’s behest, Zira Brenda," Stefantok whispered. He saw her eyes widen with unspoken questions and shook his head. "It has nothing to do with Jax taking you as zira."

Brenda watched as Jax spoke briefly to Tomassif and then turned back to face the gathered throng. "My fellow Familiars," he began seriously, "the good news I bring you this evening about my marriage is tempered with news of a more sorrowful note." He took a deep breath. "I’m sure that many of you have already heard that I was unable to locate Lukathan on Charporta." Brenda saw a few heads nod and hands brush away tears. "His family has already been informed of his disappearance and probable death at the hands of the despot currently ruling Charporta, Corinthon."

As she held her breath, Brenda glanced at the Familiars surrounding her, wondering if they would hold her responsible for what had happened to Lukathan. "The loss of Lukathan saddens all of our hearts," Jax went on, "but when I was reporting my findings to the wizards on Tron before returning home, I advised them of an even graver situation." He took another deep breath as Tomassif came to stand directly behind him. "Corinthon knows of the South entrance to the Matrix. Even now, he plans to launch an attack on Meer’an through that portal to capture as many Familiars as possible." Gasps rose from around the room. "The wizards have come here tonight because I asked them to seal it."

At first, Jax’s words were met with silence. Brenda had barely turned to Stefantok when she heard it. A low, keening sound. Not a cry of outrage, or indignation, but almost a muted moan – similar to the sound a grieving mother makes over a dying child. She looked back at the Familiars and the pain in their eyes was almost too much for her to bear. The wail rose from every corner of the room until it surrounded her with its melancholy.

"Stefantok, why must Jax close the entrance to the Matrix?" Brenda whispered, pulling the advisor closer to her. "Can’t the Knights of the Thren merely guard it carefully against an attack by Corinthon’s men?" She looked around her at the distress clearly evident on the faces of the tribal leaders. "It’s not fair to have to ask the Familiars to be cut off from the rest of the galaxy due to one man’s greed."

Stefantok pulled Brenda aside as the wizards began filing out a side door, led by Jax and Tomassif. The rest of the Familiars followed them. "You don’t understand, Zira Brenda," he replied softly. "The wizards will only be sealing the *South* entrance to the Matrix."

She frowned at him in confusion but suddenly her eyes widened with understanding. "Do you mean……is there more than one entrance to the Matrix on Meer’an?"

"Yes, Zira Brenda." Stefantok held out his hand for Brenda to precede him towards the portal where the ceremony would take place. "The existence of the second portal is one of our best kept Familiar secrets." He extended his arm so that Brenda could take it while they walked. "I’m sure that by now, you are acquainted with a Familiar’s fondness for adventure and intrigue."

She glanced towards Jax, who was still walking silently with his mentor. "It seems to have become a way of life for me since I met your king, Stefantok."

"The second portal was always seen as a secret doorway, if you will," he continued, "that Familiars could use. They could sneak away to explore new worlds without the knowledge of many of the others." He sighed as he led Brenda to a vantage point near the entrance. "Closing this entrance will come as a severe blow to our people’s spirit."

Brenda turned to him with tears in her eyes. "Then Jax must explain it to them, Stefantok! I’m sure that he must have good reason to feel something this drastic is necessary!" She held his arm tightly. "They just......" She looked down and then back up as the tears ran down her cheeks. "......that sound that they made.....back in the feasting room.......I don’t think I shall ever be able to forget it."

Stefantok had realized many things about Jax’s zira this night. Most importantly, he realized that he never should have doubted his young king. Brenda’s heart was as large as the galaxy, and her sense of fairness and spirit probably twice that size. Jax had indeed chosen wisely when he took Brenda as his mate.

Stefantok patted Brenda’s arm and pulled her close to his side as the wizards formed a semi-circle around the portal. "You need not fear, Zira Brenda. As we came here, Jax’s thoughts were read by most of the other Familiars telepathically. They now realize that he had no alternative but to summon the wizards."

Brenda nodded and sighed softly in relief. She turned back towards the portal to observe the ceremony and tried to blink back the tears that still threatened. She was surprised when she felt Stefantok’s hand at her elbow, stealthily offering her the use of his handkerchief to dab her eyes.

Tomassif stood opposite the opening of a large stone ring with Jax directly behind him. Holding his staff horizontally in front of him, the senior wizard raised it over his head. Edwart, Jasonnak, Shawneer, Justar, and all the other wizards did likewise with their staffs. Tomassif’s voice rose in a monotone as he began an incantation.

Brenda stole a glance at some of the other Familiars as the ceremony proceeded. Just as Stefantok had predicted, they seemed calmer now. Still mournful, but resigned to the necessity of what was being done. They watched in respectful silence as Tomassif’s voice grew in volume. The other wizards joined with him and the portal began to reverberate. Bright lights flashed on its circumference and smoke billowed from the opening. Suddenly, the wizards’ incantation abruptly ceased, and there was a flash of lightning and crack of thunder from within the portal. Then -- silence.

Tomassif lowered his staff as did the other wizards. He hung his head and his entire body trembled with the force of the task now completed. Jax lay his hand briefly on Tomassif’s shoulder, and then turned to face the rest of the Familiars. But instead of going to them, Brenda was surprised when he came slowly to stand in front of her.

Jax took Brenda’s hands in his and lifted them to his lips for a gentle kiss. Then he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and turned to his people. "Familiars -- let us not despair this night!" He looked down into Brenda’s eyes and then back at the crowd. "My beautiful zira’s Torengi nature has reminded me of the very essence of freedom!" He breathed deeply. "Corinthon may have robbed our bodies of freedom this night, but he can never cage our souls!!" He lifted a fist into the air, pumping it strongly. "A Familiar’s soul will always be free!"

The echoes from Jax’s cry had barely died when other Familiars began to chant it. "A Familiar’s soul will always be free! A Familiar’s soul will always be free!" It became a battle cry as the crowd moved back towards the feasting hall. By the time they were inside once again, nary a tear was to be seen.

Musicians struck up a lively tune and Jax whirled Brenda into his arms. She had barely gone round the room once with her Familiar when Stefantok twirled her away from Jax. She threw her head back and laughed heartily as he rolled his eyes lustily and danced her around the room. One by one, all of the Familiar tribal leaders took a turn dancing with their new zira until Brenda was quite breathless.

She had never seen a celebration quite like this -- turning from happiness to the most awful sorrow she had ever experienced, back to an exhilarating affirmation of the survival of the spirit. After dancing with most of the tribal leaders, she was surprised when the women grabbed her hands, pulling her into a circular dance. Brenda quickly picked up on the steps they were doing and soon was laughing with them as they performed some steps, daring the men to surpass their dancing prowess.

The challenge dance grew wilder with Jax leading the men and Brenda leading the women. Shouting and laughter filled the room as Jax broke away from the circle of men. He rushed into the center of the women’s circle, grabbed Brenda around the waist, and lifted her high above his head. Spinning slowly in a circle, Jax held his new zira up for all to see as Brenda threw her arms in the air and motioned for the dancing to continue.

Both Jax and Brenda were quite red-faced and short of breath when the music finally ceased. He led her to the side of the room, where Stefantok magically appeared again with glasses of hydrale water for each. "That was *most* amazing," Brenda panted as she took sips of the water. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a wild display!"

Jax gave her a mock frown. "Really?" He mopped his brow with a handkerchief that Stefantok provided. "And just as I was about to tell my zira that this was a rather stuffy, stodgy celebration by Familiar standards – wouldn’t you agree, Stefantok?"

His advisor smiled. "Perhaps Zira Brenda would like a breath of fresh air before the feast continues, Zir Jax."

Jax leaned towards Brenda. "That’s his diplomatic way of telling me that I should take you outside before you collapse, angel." He shook his head as he extended his arm to her. "And now you see why I don’t mind that Janar lives on Tron – who needs a mother when you have a Chief Advisor like Stefantok?"

Brenda took Jax’s arm and the two headed for a side door, preceded by Stefantok and a guard. "I hope that you realize just how lucky you are to have someone like him, Jax," she whispered. Her face grew wistful as they stepped outside into the cool night lit by Meer’an’s two moons. "Perhaps if I had an advisor like Stefantok, the loss of my mother would not have been such a cruel cross for me to bear."

"Are you saying that perhaps being a queen would not be such an abhorrent fate, zira?" Jax teased.

They walked in silence for a few seconds and then Brenda stopped abruptly, pulling Jax by the arm. "You don’t trust me."

"What?" Jax’s features were still flushed from the exertion of dancing, his hair falling down across his forehead.

"I said," Brenda repeated, pulling Jax to a stone bench, "that you don’t trust me." Jax opened his mouth to speak but Brenda stopped him. "You didn’t tell me of the second entrance to the Matrix." Jax dropped his head in guilt. "You didn’t tell me because you thought I would use it to leave Meer’an secretly, didn’t you?"

Jax shrugged slightly. "You could have."

Brenda tipped his face up to meet her gaze. "I never would have left without telling you, Jax. Do you really think I would be able to leave without saying good-bye?"

Jax met her gaze head-on. "You almost did once – on the crystal planet."

He saw her lower lip tremble with emotion. "That was different, Jax." She rose and turned away from him to hide the feelings that she knew were written all over her face. "That was before……" She took a shaky breath and wiped her eyes quickly, hoping he wouldn’t see. "…….that was because I thought my feelings…….that I……"

She didn’t even hear him rise. Jax put his hands on her shoulders to spin Brenda back to face him. "That was because you were afraid that you were falling in love with me."

Brenda looked down at their feet. "Possibly," she answered in a small voice.

Jax lifted her face gently by putting his knuckle to her chin. "The only reason I didn’t tell you of the second entrance, my beautiful Torengi, is because I knew your inquisitive nature would get the best of you." Brenda frowned but Jax smiled and chucked her under the chin. "Naturally, you would feel compelled to go explore this second portal."

"And possibly leave you….."

"*And*," Jax interrupted, "possibly go to the next world via that path of the Matrix. A path that Corinthon has known about for some time and has well patrolled."

Brenda gasped audibly. "So if I had gone to the next world, merely to see what was there……it was possible that he could have re-captured me."

Jax brushed the tears from Brenda’s cheeks. "He has been planning a full scale assault on Meer’an through this entrance to the Matrix for some time, Brenda." Jax clenched his teeth. "He probably would not even hesitate to use his noxious gas on you, just as he used it to subdue Lukathan and myself."

"Oh, Jax……." Brenda came into his arms and hugged him tightly, laying her head on his chest. "You were just protecting me again, weren’t you, my brave Familiar?" She pulled away from him to give him a coy look. "How shall I ever repay you for saving my life yet again?"

But the serious look on Jax’s face took her breath away. "Admit that you love me, Brenda. Just as much as I love you."

She tried to pull out of Jax’s embrace but he held her fast. "Why must you make this so difficult for me, Jax?" Tears started afresh. "If you must hear me say it, then fine – I DO love you." She looked down but then back up into his eyes that light with aqua fire. "Yes, I love you. I love you like I have never loved anyone in my life before." He was so happy with her admission that she was able to pull free of his hands. "But don’t you see…..that only makes things more perplexing?"

She heard him snort in disbelief behind her. "What is so perplexing about it? I love you, you love me….." He came up to take her shoulders in his hands but she pulled away again. "It seems to me that your decision has already been made!"

Brenda shook her head again, not turning to face him. "You just don’t understand, Jax." She put her fingers to her temples, massaging them. "My head is spinning with your words, and Mother Lilata’s words, and my feelings…….I know I love you, but I also know that I would eventually be true to my nature and feel stifled if I were to agree to stay here and be your queen." She sighed. "How can I agree to stay as your zira when I know I would break your heart someday?"

When Jax failed to answer her, Brenda thought that perhaps he was finally seeing her point. She finally turned back to face him but her breath caught in her chest when he was no longer standing behind her. "Jax?" Brenda rushed over to the bench where he was sitting, doubled over in apparent distress. "Jax? Is something wrong?"

He looked up into her eyes and his face was as pale as the Zartoran moon. "I……I’m sorry, Brenda," he murmured.

"Jax?" She put her hand to his forehead and it was cold and clammy to the touch. "Are you ill?" She watched in horror as his eyes closed and he slumped against her."

In that instant, Brenda realized that she had never known true fear in any of their adventures. She held Jax tightly as she screamed loudly into the night. "STEFANTOK!! COME QUICKLY!!!" Brenda fought back tears as she combed Jax’s hair back off his forehead. He opened his eyes once but then they rolled back into his head.

"JAX!!!!!!!!"

To be continued…..