The Witch; Stronghold; Underworld

by Ky Tyrand

  Sir Grue’gan gently rubbed her back as she hugged him. “I can’t tell you how good it feels to have them under me.” He dropped to one knee, so he could look her in the eye. “Thank you, my Queen, for everything you did for me. I was supposed to be protecting you, not the other way around.”

  The girl wiped her cheeks and then hugged him again. “You were injured – nearly killed – protecting me. Don’t forget that.”

  After Ki’ara released him, the Guardian stood and faced the others. His eyes met them all, one by one. “I’m aware that great sacrifices were made to save me, and I want you to know that I… appreciate it. I will do my best to repay those debts, as well as I can, though I understand there’s no repaying them all.”

  His words were enough to catch all but Jessi by surprise. The rest of them were familiar enough with his demeanor to know that he didn’t do kindness, apologies, or remorse. Mother, Boomer, and Ashley had the misfortune of only seeing him at his worst, when agony ruled everything he said and did. At least Ki’ara had gotten to know him before that, when general grumpiness was the extent of his bad attitude.

  She knew Sir Grue’gan well enough to be certain that Darius’s death weighed heavily on the man. So did the fact that Jessica had been displaced; and that Petch, Je’nna and Kai’ji were lost – all while trying to save him. Ki’ara was sure of this because she felt the same.

  As for To’mas – he was a wildcard. Ki’ara had no idea whether the Traveler was friend or foe.

  But he did bring her Jessica. And Jessica did save her Guardian. For that, she was grateful. But if it were at the expense of her other friends, it would be a tough pill to swallow. For her and Sir Grue’gan.

  “Are you sure that you’re…” Ki’ara’s words trailed off at her Guardian’s stern look. “It’s good to have you back, Sir Grue’gan.”

  “It’s good to be back,” said the man, as he entered the Abnukadin with the others.

  Ki’ara couldn’t help but smile as she began activating the stones.

  “Tomorrow,” Mother reminded her.

  Ki’ara nodded. “Tomorrow,” she agreed, before pressing the last symbol.

  A moment later, the five of them were standing in a clearing surrounded by jungle and a dimming twilight sky.

  Though Boomer and Ashley had never Traveled before, they maintained their composure and went straight to work ensuring the area was secure.

  “What are we doing back here?” groaned Sir Grue’gan.

  “Sleeping,” replied Ki’ara.

  The camp was exactly as they had left it just a few days ago, after Ki’ara’s battle with the Keeper and his army of Demonheads. There was even still wood – nearly enough to keep a small fire going throughout the night.

  Sir Grue’gan muttered something about being able to do that back in Sanctuary on a perfectly comfortable bed. Nevertheless, he set to work on the fire. He grumbled, but he didn’t argue.

  The problem with Sanctuary was that Ki’ara couldn’t connect with Mark when she was there. She thought it had to do with the fact that Sanctuary was not in one location – it was in several, all at the same time. Whatever the cause, that place blocked their bond. And only Mark could tell her what had happened at the other end.

  She had a theory that the boy’s ability to reach her had something to do with the Abnukadins themselves. There had only been one time that he had come to her outside of a stone circle. It was also the only time she wasn’t asleep during his visit. And it had happened only a short distance from where she stood.

  Ki’ara could hear the trickling waterfall of that very spot, threatening to lure her away. Despite her growing aversion to water, it was a special place for her, and one that she would forever cherish.

  “Hey, who made this shelter? It’s awesome!” At least Boomer was excited.

  Ki’ara proudly pointed a thumb at her own chest. She had been pretty pleased with the lean-to when she’d made it. Mostly because she’d never built anything by herself before. The Princess might not have even thought to do it had Je’nna not previously taught her how to make a cart to carry Sir Grue’gan.

  There was nothing ingenious about the shelter; just a platform of Tubewood lashed together with vines, and a panel of overlapping palm fronds that leaned up to form both the back wall and roof. It wasn’t perfect, but offered some protection from the sun and rain, and had been big enough to fit Ki’ara, Je’nna, and Sir Grue’gan – which probably meant it could sleep six, if her Guardian wasn’t there.

  “You made this?” asked Jessica.

  “Yeah,” admitted Ki’ara, while trying not to blush. “I had some time on my hands, and the choice was to keep myself busy, or go nuts.”

  Having already struck a fire, Grue’gan leaned in to say, “She did that after fighting the deadliest assassin in Avalon, and his army of Demonheads.” Her Guardian’s gruff, raspy voice added an element of drama to the story that few could recreate. He nodded his approval, before adding, “She did it by herself, while me and the little pink girl were all but dead.”

  “Really?” asked Jessica, her eyebrows lifting.

  It had been hard enough not to blush before but having Grue’gan nodding and bolstering her up was too much.

  “He’s talking about Je’nna,” said Ki’ara, as she sat herself down on the edge of the wooden platform. “The girl who was lost in the Abnukadin. She’s my… friend.”

  Jessi sat down beside her. “Sounds like she’s pretty lucky to have you.”

  That’s what I told Mark about you!

  “I think it’s the other way around. I’m lucky to have her. She saved my butt more times than I can count.” Ki’ara let out a deep sigh. “I have to get her back.” When she realized who she was talking to, Ki’ara looked up, adding “And get you home.”

  Jessi smiled. “I know I’ll get back there when I’m meant to.”

  How is she so calm?

  “How do you do it, Jessica? Why aren’t you losing your mind right now? If I’d been dragged to another world, with no known way to get me home, I would be freaking out!”

  The Healer laughed. “You can call me Jessi, Ki’ara. All my friends do. As for staying calm… I think it’s a combination of my healing power and my Mu’turi. Ever since it all happened, it’s taken a lot to rattle me. I started seeing the big picture, and I believe these pieces are all coming together for a reason.”

  Ki’ara slowly nodded, wondering if that was a good way to look at it. “Any idea what that reason is?”

  Jessi shook her head and laughed, “Not a clue.”

  50

  The girl leaned against a rock beside the stone steps that formed the trickling waterfall. She jumped when she heard Mark’s voice.

  “Ki’ara,” he said, running to meet up with her. “You’re still in Avalon?”

  She nodded, sadly. Finding Jessi wasn’t the only reason she wanted to go to Cedarwood Grove.

  “What happened?” he asked her.

  “I don’t know. I was hoping you might.” Ki’ara’s voice perked up when she added, “Jessi is here with me, and she’s okay. She saved Sir Grue’gan!”

  Ki’ara could see the relief on Mark’s face.

  “Your friend Je’nna is with me,” he told her.

  The Princess closed her eyes and let out a breath. “Is she alright?”

  The boy scratched his head. “I’m not sure. She called me a snot-trap and then shot me with one of her guns…”

  A smile spread across Ki’ara’s face.

  “She’s been making fun of me and threatening to ‘shoot me and mean it’ ever since.” Mark shook his head. “Is that normal?”

  “Better than normal,” said Ki’ara. “I only worry about her when she’s quiet or being nice.”

  Mark put a hand to his forehead and then pressed a palm to his temple. “She’s doing just fine, then.”

  “Nobody else was with her?”

  “No,” said the boy. “She told me about your friends. She’s pretty determ
ined to find everyone. I’ll let her know you’re okay. Maybe then she’ll stop waving her guns around. Did anyone come through with Jessi?”

  “No,” said Ki’ara, a little surprised. It never occurred to her that he might have lost people as well. “How many are missing?”

  “Three,” replied Mark. “Lani, Brian and Sam. Jessi can describe them to you. There’s a chance they are there, in Avalon.”

  “What do you think happened?”

  “I’m not sure,” said Mark. “I was activating the Abnukadin, and things just kind of… blew up.”

  “Were you hurt?”

  “Not really, just thrown around a bit. But I ended up on a different continent, and Je’nna was the only one with me after that. I think the others were scattered around – sent to different places. There were more of us traveling together, and I’ve heard from a couple of them. They’re fine. They didn’t get blasted, just… misplaced.”

  “None of them were injured?”

  “No,” Mark assured her. “Not the ones I tracked down. I’m sure the others are okay, too. We just need to find them.”

  “It was pretty bad at this end,” admitted Ki’ara. “Lucky Jessi came through. She got put straight to work.”

  “She’s good at it,” said Mark.

  Ki’ara nodded, chomping down on the inside of her cheek in hopes of preventing herself from saying anything childish. “She sure is.” A moment later, she thought to ask, “Did you find a sword… in the middle of the circle…?”

  “A sword?” The question clearly caught Mark by surprise. “No, I…”

  “It would have been in the very center of the Abnukadin,” she clarified. “Probably stuck in the ground, all the way to the hilt.”

  Mark shook his head. “I would have noticed,” he said. “I would have felt it.”

  “It must be there, in your world, somewhere,” said Ki’ara. “You’ll need to find it. Je’nna will explain.”

  “Okay,” agreed Mark. “I’ll ask her about it.”

  Ki’ara nodded, and then gave him a warm smile. “Please, Mark, look after her.”

  The boy chuckled. “Do you really think she needs me to look after her?”

  Now it was Ki’ara’s turn to laugh. “Just keep each other safe.”

  Mark nodded. “Same for you and Jessi.”

  Ki’ara’s eyes dropped from his. She took a deep breath, before spouting, “You didn’t tell me she was so pretty. And strong. And wonderful.” So much for not being childish.

  Before she even looked up, Mark was crouched before her, trapping her gaze with his own.

  “She is,” the boy admitted, making Ki’ara wish he had lied. “But she’s not you,” he went on. “And you are every one of those things, and so much more.”

  After a long pause, where they did nothing but look into one another’s eyes, Mark promised her, “I will find your friends, Ki’ara. I will find the sword. And then I will find you.”

  End of Guardian’s Quest

  Thank you so much for taking the time to read these stories! They were a lot of fun for me to write, and I really hope you enjoyed reading them.

  I would love to hear your feedback. If you would like to get in touch and let me know what you think of the characters and stories, I can be contacted at info@kytyrand.com

  Thanks in advance if you’re able to leave a review. They are so helpful and truly appreciated!

  All the best to you!

  Ky Tyrand

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  About the Author

  Ky Tyrand writes about people with special abilities, super powers, and other fun stuff, under the keen supervision of his two little dachshunds.

  The dogs have devised a cunning plan to take over the world, but it’s yet to be confirmed if Ky will play a role in that plot.

  Ky writes for his beautiful wife, and for his three boys; though, to his knowledge, none of them know that he writes at all.

  One day they will find out. Until then, only you and the wiener dogs know the truth.