Beyond The Realms

Chapter 3: The Unceremonious Arrival

"Well, well," sneered the rider on the closest horse. His armour was as dark as his horse's, and he flipped the front of his helmet up to reveal a gaunt face and black eyes. I felt a shiver run from the bottom of my spine to the top and was suddenly appreciative of Breeard's protection. This rider was obviously the leader, as he did the talking with the arrogance of one in charge. "Thank you for doing the work for us. Valentin will be happy to take this matter from here."

"Don't!" spit Breeard and turned to look over his shoulder.

I followed his stare to see Sieren and Glendrig with swords to their necks. This was not good, in any realm. Breeard refused to leave my side. The lead rider dismounted and approached my protector. He raised a gloved fist and I knew what was in store for my new friend. Naively, I thought I could reason with the rider.

I twisted past Breeard's solid wall, and grabbed the fist in my own, "Stop!"

There was a burst of harsh laughter around us.

"What's this?"

"Why are you doing this?" I asked the irksome dark knight. He twisted his hand to grip mine, and in one motion turned and started walking to his horse with me in tow.

"None of your concern," he muttered and tightened his grip. There was no way I could break such a hold.

I was passed off to another dismounted rider who shoved me carelessly into a cramped traveling box with two hard benches and slits for windows. The silver knights were forced in after me, regret oozing from their eyes when they looked my way. We sat in rigid silence, broken only by the occasional reassuring glance from Breeard.

In the distance, I heard a raven caw, the accumulating fog concealing its whereabouts, and now mine.

We travelled silently as stars appeared and floated through the sky. I had fallen asleep at some point, as amazing as that can be because the box hit every single stone and hole in the hardened mud road. When the morning light began to rise, it reached through the slits and shone eagerly into my tired eyes causing me to stir. One look at my companions told me they hadn't slept at all. I could see my breath and my fingers were numb. I placed my eye up to the slit closest to me. There was snow everywhere.

We were coming up to a grand, dark castle. I could see it was made of the darkest of stone, yet trees, plants, ivy and all sorts of nature grew on the castle's walls. It had giant, arched hallways and windows that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Trees grew among the stone walls that encircled the entire complex. There were turrets and spires reaching miles into the sky. We rode past stables, guardhouses, and a gloriously ornate building with a glass dome. I could see trees and other vibrantly green plants inside. All doors were acorn - shaped and the colour of dark oak. I felt a sense of deja vu about the place, and I frowned trying to think why I would have ever found this place familiar.

Our carriage stopped with a jolt, followed by the sound of someone jumping from a distance to the ground. Again, I pressed my head up to the slit in the side of the box to see what was going on. A dark knight was jogging up the steps to the main door of the castle, while the others were dismounting. Footsteps crunched the snow as someone approached our carriage.

The small door rattled open, and a soldier clad in thick armour with a heavy cloak barked, "Out! It's time to meet the King."

Breeard looked physically sick as he hissed, "King?" quietly, between clenched teeth. Glendrig was grey in the face, and the only way you could tell Sieren was alive was by seeing his breath in the cold air. I paused, unaccustomed to being ordered around in such a tone, and felt the soldier's hand wrap tightly around my forearm.

"I'm coming, "I gasped as he pulled, my body tense.

"Take her to Valentin," the soldier ordered two of his smaller comrades. Ready for a rough go, I was surprised when the soldier with amber coloured eyes simply said, "This way, dear lady."

"Where is my backpack?"

My question was met with the crunching of footsteps on the frosty ground.

With the silver knights behind me, and two friendlier soldiers (were they even soldiers?) flanking me, I made my way up the endless steps to the front door of the castle. I found myself trying to remember any piece of information I had ever heard regarding how to talk to a King and failing miserably. Into the castle, we all went, where I discovered it was even bigger! We continued down a couple of long hallways, passed many inquisitive eyes (I'll admit, it could have been my clothes,) and passed into what I assumed would be a throne room. Tall black doors were regally opened before us, a crowd parted, and I had a clear view to the very end of the room. The floor was mirror smooth and blacker than a moonless sky. The walls were grey and flat, with no decoration to be seen. Ahead of me, I could see the dark knight from my adventures the day before, standing smugly beside a great throne the colour of a raven's wing. On this throne sat a thin, pale - skinned, and even paler haired man, dressed in long black robes, and grey vest. His matching knee - length boots enveloped slender calves and narrow feet and crossed at the knee. A sharp, pointed crown of ice encircled his head and perched perfectly over a set of pointed ears and peculiar violet coloured eyes. I felt a soft tug at my elbow and the fresh - faced, amber - eyed soldier whispered, "Stop here."

I hesitantly made eye contact with this king and was met with a steady, and quite unfriendly, gaze. I attempted a curtsey and received a slight head nod in return. A deep inhale from the one seated on the throne could be heard throughout the room, then he spoke, his voice was smooth and measured.

"You know where to take them."