Bonded Spirit

by CC Rose

  ***

  The day was over. I was officially allowed to go and ready myself for the arrival party (as Karson called it). I stepped into the first floor of the Main Building, taking in several Royals before me.

  They were different from normal Ryders, since they were dressed in twisted fabrics of elegant designs that spiralled around their perfect forms. The women had large hair, coiled, rolled, and twisted in ways I had never thought hair could be styled. That was when I realised they were wearing wigs. The fake hair that many boasted about in the big cities. The larger, the better by the sight before me. The colours matched their outfits, from bright reds, greens, blues and pinks or yellows. The women wore dazzling shiny objects, jewels, glitters, sequences, bells and ribbons; all things that made a showing display; their shoulders, backs and legs were all visible, especially their gloves. The men, while in suits held a colour to their sign, some wore simple blacks with longer jackets, ruffled shirts, ties, and bows were the most visible. Their hair was neatly presented, with styles I had never thought possible, and unlike the woman, they didn’t wear wigs. Most Ryders had long hair; it was a statement of age and care with the length of their hair. Silky soft and straight seemed the norm for their favoured styles, though some wore braids of length, to their hips. Some held a style of facial features; usually a crop of hair around their jaw, which stated another form of age or status among their groups, but for me, it was all confusing. Most were clean shaven and flawless of form, few held scars. The women had long fake lashes, powders on their cheek with bright red colour lips. The makeup that Evelyn and Walter told me I was forbidden to wear unless it was such an occasion to do so. A cluster of Ryders in the warrior wears I had seen in EzRah; leather breeches, vest and cloaks, while the women wore similar outfits to my workout clothes, only they didn’t need to wear leggings. Some wore full length dresses or short mid length silks of deep embroidery wears. Most wore tunics or corset styled tops with leather skirts touching their thighs, shiny leather boots laced around their shins that touched the top of their knees making them even more appealing. Strings, tethers, and tassels dangling from their tunics, making their filled bust push upwards, to emphasise their beauty. Their hair, unlike the Royals, who favoured large fake wigs, these Ryders had a simple braiding, with beads added. The men wore their fine clothes, though used sleeveless tunics instead of jackets. I smiled at these Ryders because it was here; I knew instantly what Corbin had spoken about. To be a Royal, to be a Warrior Ryder. They were all Ryders before me, but the Royals were the indoor kind, the Ryders were the fighting kind. I dipped my head towards them, since all of them had stopped to stare at me. Checking me from head to toe, slowly. My breath was hushed as Karson pushed past me.

  “Rehema.” He sounded as if he had called my name several times. “You can go to your room and ready for the night’s event.” He nodded.

  I was caught between staring at the Royal Ryders, trying to determine if they were here to talk to me or not, and trying to move towards my room.

  Thankfully, there were only a handful of Ryders in the lobby, and as I bounded the stairs to the first level, I glanced into the courtyard. There were a lot more out there, gathered in their best and gossiping with many. I headed to my room. This was going to be interesting. I had not seen a Royal like those downstairs before. The Royal Ryders were too over the top and the normal Ryders, the warriors were just as intimidating. Did I want to go? I swallowed hard knowing I couldn’t match them in style or age, I was in training. But after taking in their style, my wardrobe was desperately too shameful for them. What would I wear? The standard wear I had on, the workout clothes, the basic style all of us wore. It wouldn’t look out of style would it? I didn’t want to go to this party if all I wore was the same thing I wear every day. What was the point? I ran my hand through my hair. The sweat was visible, the dust and dirt from my workout was clamped in, and I hated they had witnessed me in these clothes. That wasn’t fair at all.

  I rounded the hall to my room when Corbin ran into me.

  “Oh, there you are.” He shuffled in his hand a large box. “I came to give you this and this.” He handed two things to me, the first was the box; the wide blue ribbon tied neatly on top told me it was something for this evening. “It’s not much, but it is all I could find at such short notice. You will look gorgeous, a diamond through and through.” He winked and handed me a pendant, two parts. It reminded me of a penny with a ring around the outer side so the penny could spin with a flick of your finger. “You have used this before haven’t you?” He held it up, since it was attached to a chain.

  “Um … Er … No.” I was honest.

  He shifted on his heels, not uncomfortable, but I could tell he didn’t want to be late for his party.

  “Right. Come here.” He held my hand and guided me to one of a dozen drapes hanging in sections along the hall, which were nothing but a waste of space. Three sides of stone and ten feet high. It was an empty waste of space. The only thing that took my notice was the hieroglyph glowing on the floor. “This here is what we like to call a threshold. You stand inside, flip this little beauty twice, and you will be on the top level in three seconds.”

  “You … mean it’s a telaporter. I thought no one could teleport.”

  “Teleporting is limited at the best of times. You do know the lores on such ways?” His question was something I would expect Karson to ask.

  “Er … I know that people shouldn’t do it often, and that it’s limited on distance.”

  “It is like that for many reasons. We as Ryders can stand the effects, so we are less likely to be bothered by such sensations. Dangorians, not so much. Though this here is a royal castle and the best must arrive in style. You didn’t think those snobby Royals would walk the entire fifteen levels now would you.” His comment had my thoughts tumble to last week. I had run the nine flights of stairs to the lobby and I was hard press walking to the teachers’ chamber minutes later. For Royals, and what I had seen of Royals; I doubted they walked anywhere, but to the bathroom.

  “And this little thing is how I get there.” I had my palm open as Corbin handed me the small penny sized pendant.

  “It isn’t far, and it is only five levels for you. If you were on the bottom, it would be six spins. Now, don’t over spin it. It won’t get you anywhere you need and might well send you to the lobby. Now, I would love to stay and assist you, but I have so much I need to do.” He pulled me to his side with a kiss to my cheek before waving me off. “But I must go. See you up there.” He was gone before I could make sense of his action.

  I touched my cheek, a kiss. Okay, so it was Corbin, but still. A kiss of friendship. I clutched the penny-spinner and stared at the spot he had indicated. The area was around four foot in depth. I stared at the hieroglyph and noticed the same symbol on the penny-spinner and wondered what it meant. To move, to be moved. It was odd, all this time I could have been shifted from one area to another, instead of walking the nine flights of stairs. Why was that?

  You should test it out.

  Maybe, that way I won’t feel so unprepared. I held to the box that Corbin gave me and stepped inside. A tingle touched my skin—magic. The sensation instantly stirred my senses, and La’Kera flicked her tongue out as if tasting it herself. I held up the penny-spinner and tapped it twice. The area around my eyes shimmered, the view of the hall became oval shaped, and it reminded me of magnified glass. Suction suddenly had hold of my stomach. A slight pop sounded, though it might have been my ears, and the image of the ninth level hall disappeared. A flash of light before my eyes settled on the view of the top level. People were here, gathering, teleporting in another side wall. A threshold. That’s what they were. I pressed my lips together, seeing several guests stare at me with shock. I tapped the spinner. This time when the pop came, I knew I was being teleported. My skin pebbled with the sensation as I heaved with sudden relief of seeing my level, I nodded.

  That was the weirdest feeling of my life, I mused to La�
�Kera.

  I’m sure flying with me will not be so strange.

  No. This tops the list of strange. Flying with you will be fun. I shuffled the box and clutched the penny-spinner. Guess I can find out if I’m like these Royals or not.

  You will make many friends tonight, you are my Bond, and I will be allowed to rest on the top roost this evening, as Blade’Dur informed me.

  Hmmm … Least you don’t have to worry about clothes, I teased.

  I could always use those drapes in the halls … there seem to be endless drapes. Perhaps more thresholds?

  Her suspicion had me slip the drapes aside as I walked towards my room. Nothing but stone walls, no thresholds. I heaved a breath with excitement and headed to my room to ready myself. Now that I had something to wear, a shower was my first priority.