Chapter 25
1569 Words
25
Our business was finished, and so we were led by my cousins to the entrance to the pond. The bright night sky cast light into the surface above us as Roisin and I stopped and turned to our guides.
Niell clasped my hands and smiled at me. “It was an honor to meet you, Miriam.”
I nodded. “Ditto.” I glanced past her at Aearion. “Don’t go stealing any more animals, all right?” He winced, but nodded.
I drew myself out of Niell’s grasp and turned to Roisin. Her dragon wings were still out. “You going to go like that?” I asked her.
She smiled and nodded. “Yes.”
I grinned and took hold of one of Roisin’s hands. “Good.”
Together we kicked our way to the surface and broke through the fine line between air and sky. The glittering stars greeted us with their cold light. A cool breeze swept over us and reminded us we were home.
“There they are!” came a shout.
The guards of the pond held torches, and the weak, flickering light of fire was cast upon us. Xander splashed into the water toward us. We met him halfway where our feet touched the bottom.
He grasped my upper arms and looked me over. His face was fraught with relief and fear. “Are you all right?”
I smiled and nodded. “Never better.”
Spiros came up beside us with Cayden behind him. “What happened?”
I grinned. “It turns out my cousin the water god swiped the sheep as a game. They should be coming back any time now.”
Roisin passed us and walked over to King Cathal. Her wings were folded behind her. The guards of the grove tensed. Some drew their swords and hurried to stand before their king.
Cathal raised his hand. His men froze behind him, but they still glared at Roisin.
Roisin knelt before her king and bowed her head. “Your Highness, the ocean god sends his apologies. Until the sheep are all returned he has promised a bountiful harvest of fish to any ship that bears his mark on its bow.” She didn’t raise her head as she opened her palm to his highness and revealed the tiny stone before she bowed her head again.
The king took the stone and looked down on Roisin with a softened gaze. He cupped her chin and raised her astonished eyes to him. “Thank you, little daughter.” Roisin’s her mouth dropped open. Cathal smiled at her. “You have done your people proud.”
“You’re damn right!” I agreed.
Xander swept me into his arms and carried me toward shore. Spiros and Cayden followed, but we left the humans behind in their jubilant celebration. “I would like a more thorough explanation, if you would.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled. “Sure thing, partner.” I glanced over to Roisin. “You coming, too, partner?”
Roisin stood and turned to me with a smile. She shook her head. “Not at the moment. I must tell Mother that all is well.”
I grinned. “Tell her Dreail still wants to see her if she changes her mind.”
Roisin bowed to me. “I will, and thank you for everything.”
I gave her a thumbs up. “No problem.”
My new friend nodded and hurried past us toward the path. She unfurled her wings and flew into the sky.
King Cathal turned to us. He grasped the stone in one hand at his side. “If you would I would like to hear the details of your adventure.”
I cringed and looked to Xander. “Do I have to?”
He smiled and nodded. “Yes.”
We returned to the palace with the king and his entourage. I had new admiration for the architecture of the king’s home, but it was nothing compared to the original.
One of the servants of the palace hurried up to us as we entered the entrance hall. He bowed to Cathal. “Your Highness, the red dragon has disappeared.”
Cathal frowned. “How did this happen? I ordered him to be watched at all times.”
The servant shook his head. “I cannot say, Your Highness, but he is not to be found.”
Xander stepped forward. “I believe he has learned he cannot offer his ‘help’ and has left, Your Highness.”
Cathal set his hand on the top of his sword and slowly nodded his head. “That is well. I did not like the look in his eyes. But come.”
We had an audience with his highness in the throne room where I regaled everyone with my tales of watery adventures. I may have omitted a few minor personal details.
When I finished King Cathal leaned back in his throne and stroked his chin. A smile played across his lips. “I see. I am grateful for you for helping my people.” He stood and bowed to Cayden. “As the god of the ocean has given his promise, I will give mine. My people will no longer raid your coasts, and as a sign of our new bond I will give you this.” The king walked down the steps and untied the skull at his side. He stood before Cayden and held the skull out with both hands. “Please forgive my people for our desperate act.”
Cayden smiled and shook his head. “There is nothing to forgive.” He took the skull and bowed. “May this peace last many generations.”
Cathal smirked. “Many of your generations, you mean.”
Cayden chuckled. “Indeed.”
I watched the truce with a soft smile on my lips. A feeling made me glance at my left where stood Xander. His eyes studied me. I leaned away from him and frowned. “What?” I whispered. He closed his eyes and shook his head.
I pursed my lips and turned my head away, but I stared at him out of the corners of my eyes. He looked ahead, but I still had the feeling his full attention was on me.
King Cathal stepped back and glanced around the entrance hall. “The night is growing short. We should rest and tomorrow we will return you to your ship.”
Cayden bowed his head. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
We made our bows and went to our rooms for a long rest. At least, that’s what I planned. Xander and I shared a room, and I was the first one inside. It was a nice enough room with a sheep-theme down to the rug on the floor. The bed called to my weary limbs.
I stretched my arms above my head and smiled. “I feel like I could sleep for a million years.” The door shut ominously behind me. I turned to find Xander standing in front of it staring at me. I raised an eyebrow. “What’s with that face?”
“What did you omit from your retelling to the king?” he asked me.
I cringed. “That obvious, huh?” He nodded. My shoulders slumped and I turned away. “If you must know, I asked Valtameri about my folks.”
Xander moved to stand just behind me. “What did he tell you?”
I pushed back the tears that sprang into my eyes. “He showed me some of my memories. I. . .I saw my dad die saving me.”
Xander set his hands on my shoulders. “I am sorry.”
A sad smile slipped onto my lips as I shook my head. “Don’t be, I’m not. I mean, he was so cool at the end opening that portal and tossing me through.” Xander started back and his hands gripped my shoulders tightly. I looked over my shoulder at him. His eyes were wide. “What? What’s wrong?”
He gathered himself and frowned down at me. “You are sure he made a portal?”
I nodded. “Yeah. He threw out his hand and it just opened. Why? Is that against the law here?”
Xander nodded. “Yes. It is against the very laws that govern my world.”
I arched an eyebrow. “But there’s the Portal at the High Castle.”
“There is, but that was created under the close guidance of some of the greatest sorcerers of the age. There was no fear of tearing apart the thin wall that separates our worlds,” he told me.
I blinked at him. “‘Tearing apart the thin wall?’ What happens if that gets torn down?”
Xander pursed his lips and a dark shadow fell over his expression. “I am not sure. There are some who believe that would such a thing occur that both worlds would merge peacefully.”
“And other people?”
“They believe it would end both worlds.”
I cringed. “Maybe what my dad did wasn’t such a good idea.” An idea hit me. I straightened and furrowed my brow as I stared at the floor. “But if a bunch of powerful sorcerers made the Portal at the High Castle, how’d my dad make one just by waving his hand?”
Xander shook his head. “I do not know, but we may find the answer to that questions at the Temple of the Priests of the Portal.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Come again?”
“Rimal Almawt al'Abyad means ‘The Sands of White Death.’ The temple of the priests, of which Apuleius is one, lies to the far south of its deadly white beauty.”
My shoulders drooped and I hung my arms out in front of me. “So more danger?”
He set his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes. “To find the truth is often a laborious task. I would not blame you if you remained in Alexandria-”
“Oh hell no.” I knocked away his hands and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not being left behind, especially if it means finding out who my parents are, or were, or whatever, so you’re stuck with me.”
He smiled and leaned down to peck a gentle kiss on my lips. “I would have it no other way.”
- Writer
