Kringl (Rescued by the Alien)

Chapter 23

Chapter

Twenty-Three

K ringl's pulse spiked as the pounding on the bakery door intensified, and he rested his hand on the blaster at his waist. He would not prevail in a shootout. No against so many.

Tami's voice broke the tense silence. "We should try to sneak out the back."

Joy shook her head, the pink in her cheeks gone. “There are probably elves searching there too. If they come in, they'll find us all."

Tom pulled one half of his mustache so hard it stretched his lip to the side. "I can hide you in the pantry, but if they search thoroughly..."

"I have a plan," Joy said, her voice steady. "But it involves splitting up."

Kringl’s stomach dropped. The thought of separating, of not being able to protect Joy and Tami, was intolerable. “No. Too dangerous.”

Joy met his gaze, her own pleading. "I'll walk out and say I have information about the escapee, but I'll insist on only telling Velsnickel. You'll use that distraction to leave here, get into the workshop, and disable the orb."

The pounding on the door now shook the glass panes so hard they rattled. Tom's face was etched with worry. "I can't hold them off much longer."

Kringl's mind raced, searching for alternatives. "Let me go. They want me more."

Joy shook her head. "They can't know you're in the village. With you as our secret weapon, we have the element of surprise."

Tom nodded. "I can rally more villagers to get you into the workshop and distract any guards."

Kringl's chest tightened as he looked at Joy. He wanted to tell her how much she meant to him, how the thought of her in danger tore him apart. But with the elves moments away from breaking in and everyone's eyes on them, the words stuck in his throat. Besides, what could he offer her but empty words?

"Don't worry. I'll take care of Snowball and Kringl,” Tami said, lightening the mood, if only a little.

Joy smiled at the girl, then turned that smile on Kringl. His heart was constricting so much he could hardly breathe. How could he let her go? What if the plan went wrong? What if he never saw her again?

As Tom moved to open the door, Kringl reached out, grabbing Joy's hand. The touch of her skin sent warmth skittering up his arm. "I was supposed to rescue you, but you continue to rescue me."

Joy squeezed his hand, her eyes glistening. "I have a feeling you'll get your chance to save me pretty soon."

Then she was gone, stepping out to face the elves, as he and Tami ducked into the kitchen and hid, but Joy’s voice reached them clear and loud. "I have information, but I'll only tell Velsnickel himself."

Tom closed the door behind her and Kringl clenched his fists, vowing silently that he would get her back no matter what it took. On his shoulder, Snowball made mournful sounds as if sharing his pain.

Tami slid her tiny hand into his and peered at him. "We need to destroy that orb."

Kringl took a deep breath forcing himself to focus. The girl was right. Joy was counting on him, on all of them. He couldn't let his feelings cloud his judgment now.

"You're right," he said, squeezing Tami’s hand and locking eyes with Tom. "We need a plan to get into the workshop."

As they huddled together, discussing potential entry points and distractions, Kringl's mind kept drifting back to Joy. Her bravery, her quick thinking, her unwavering determination to save not just herself but everyone in the village, made his admiration for her grow even stronger.

Then it hit him. He didn’t just admire her. He was falling in love with her. Not just attracted, not just enamored with, but truly in love. The realization made his pulse flutter and his palms itch.

"Kringl? Are you listening?" Tami's voice snapped him back to the conversation.

He nodded, scolding himself for getting distracted. There would be time for sorting out his feelings later. Right now, they had a mission to complete and a village to save.

And Joy, he thought. He had to save her most of all.

And when he did, Kringl would tell her exactly how he felt—his royal duties and expectations be damned to the seven hells.