Ryleigh massaged the ache in her calves.
Jackson climbed them comfortably enough, even with Mia on his back. Of course, he was at least a full foot taller than Ryleigh.
The doorway at the top of the circular stairway boasted two enormous, black metal doors. Jackson stopped when he reached them. “We’re here.”
“Yay.” Mia vibrated with excitement as they passed through the doors.
Jackson laughed, joy filling his eyes.
Ryleigh’s heart melted.
“Here you go, hop down.”
Mia scrambled off his shoulders.
He pushed open a second set of huge wooden doors. “Mia and Ryleigh, I’d like you to meet Nika and Nahara.” He bowed and stepped back for them to enter.
Ryleigh started to roll her eyes at his theatrics.
Mia’s screech halted them mid roll.
The animals were amazing. They sat perfectly still in the center of the room, their postures proud, regal. They both had the square faces of large dogs, similar to those of Tibetan Mastiffs, and boasted a similar build as well, though much, much larger.
“Holy…” Ryleigh’s mouth fell open. Only a breathless whisper escaped, and Ryleigh cleared her throat. “I thought you said they were dogs?”
The giant animals tilted their heads.
He approached the male first, had to reach up to pet his head. “No, I said they were hounds.” He petted the female next. He held his hand out to Mia. “Come on, don’t you want to meet them?”
Mia started forward.
Ryleigh reached out a hand to stop her. “Wait, Mia.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know about this. Are they safe?”
Jackson’s laughter resonated through the chamber. “Of course they’re safe. They’re pets. Come on.”
Oh, heavens. Pets? Who else had pets bigger than lions? No one, that’s who. Well, at least no one she knew. But then again, she didn’t know anyone else quite like Jackson. What had she gotten herself into? She relented and lowered her hand allowing Mia to go to him, and even inched a little closer.
“This is Nika.”
The midnight black hound lowered his massive head, made to appear even larger by the thick mane surrounding it, and allowed Mia and Ryleigh to pet him.
Ryleigh placed her hand gently against his mane, and it sank deep into the long fur. She’d never felt anything so soft. Not even the tigrelle blanket compared to this. She wanted to curl up in it and go to sleep. She found herself moving closer to the animal.
Mia didn’t hold any of Ryleigh’s reservations. She threw her arms as far around his immense neck as she could reach and pressed her cheek into his fur.
Nika nuzzled her with his giant head, returning the hug and eliciting a fit of giggles.
“All right, don’t spoil him now.” Nika nudged Jackson with his nose and almost knocked him off his feet.
The girls laughed harder.
It felt so good to let go, even for just a few minutes, and Ryleigh tried to keep reality from intruding on this small moment of happiness.
“And this.” He gestured to the cream colored hound with a well-deserved flourish. “Is Nahara.”
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. She’s breathtaking.”
Nahara cast her eyes downward and lowered her head in invitation.
Ryleigh followed Mia’s example and buried her face in Nahara’s fur. As soft as it was, though, she felt compelled to pull back and admire her majestic beauty. The gorgeous cream colored coat was made more so by the pink accents. A patch of pale pink fur sat like a large jewel in the center of her forehead. It adorned a crown of golden fur that ran across her forehead and continued down behind each ear and into her back.
Ryleigh followed the line of gold around the enormous animal. “Can I pet her back?”
“Sure.”
Nahara lowered herself to stretch out on the floor. Her back was pale pink and cream interspersed with speckles of gold.
“She’s stunning.”
“Want a ride?”
“Yes!” Mia ran to Jackson.
He boosted her up onto Nahara’s back.
“No.” Ryleigh’s heart stuttered at the sight of her tiny, fragile sister sitting atop such a massive, muscular animal. “What are you doing?”
“Don’t you trust me, Ryleigh?” Jackson stared at her, cocked his head, waited.
“Yes, but—”
“But nothing. Give me your hand.” He extended a hand and waited.
She glanced up at Mia, who straddled the incredible animal with her eyes full of wonder, and placed her hand in Jackson’s.
He tugged her toward him.
She relented and allowed him to boost her up behind Mia. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“Isn’t it awesome?” A shiver of delight tore through Mia.
“Yes, it is.” Ryleigh wrapped one arm around Mia and pushed the fingers of her other hand through the soft fur.
“Slide up toward her neck.” Jackson jumped onto Nika’s back, his cocky grin more mischievous than ever.
Ryleigh inched forward to sit closer to the massive animal’s neck.
Jackson’s grin widened as his gaze traveled past her to fall on something behind her.
She turned to look over her shoulder. “Oh…my…”
“It’s got wings.” Mia screeched in Ryleigh’s ear.
“Oh, did I forget to mention that?” Jackson laughed.
Not to be outdone, Nika stretched his black wings as well.
Ryleigh shot Jackson a glare.
He only laughed harder.
Nahara’s back was actually cream colored, but her wings were magnificent. Pink and cream luminescence, adorned with flecks of gold, they stretched almost as wide as the room itself. She folded them back in and padded to a wall of windows.
Ryleigh’s grip on her fur tightened. This wasn’t so bad. The smooth, rocking gait was quite soothing.
Nahara pawed at one edge of the wall of windows, and the entire thing slid around into the circular wall, opening the chamber to the cold night air.
Ryleigh sank down deeper into Nahara’s fur and looked out over the scattered lights of the Kingdom of Cymmera.
Mia flattened her body against the back of Nahara’s head.
“Are you all right?” Ryleigh smoothed Mia’s hair back.
She looked over her shoulder at Ryleigh. “Are you kidding? I’m great.” Her cheeks flushed with excitement.
“You’re not too cold?”
“Nope, Nahara is keeping me warm.” She pushed her feet deeper into the soft fur.
Then Nahara spread her wings to their full width and launched herself off the edge of the terrace.
Ryleigh screamed and tightened her grip on Mia, but then Jackson was at her side.
Nika soared beside Nahara, the two of them keeping exactly abreast one another, flying in an absolute perfect formation.
“Oops, did I also forget to mention they fly?” Laughter floated behind him on the night air.
Nika flew ahead and dove toward the ground, only to pull up again and circle around them.
Nahara stretched her wings wide, gliding through the star filled sky.
At least, Ryleigh assumed they were stars. Instead of the typical white color, these stars boasted every color in the rainbow. Blues, reds, greens, and yellows scattered like jewels across a black cloth, reflecting myriads of brilliant colors over the landscape.
Wind tore through Ryleigh’s hair, and she gripped Nahara tighter with her legs, clutched the fur of her neck, and wrapped her arm tighter around Mia. A pleasant warmth spread through her as she reveled in absolute joy. She’d never known such freedom before, had never let go of her inhibitions so completely. No fear beat at her, no tension tormented her, no weight pressed on her shoulders threatening to crush her.
Jackson flew beside her on Nika, his arms in the air
as if riding a roller coaster, enjoying the intense thrill while keeping watch that the girls were content.
What would it be like to let go so completely?
Ryleigh checked to be sure Mia held tightly to Nahara’s fur. She swallowed hard, looked at Jackson, grinned, and threw her arms in the air. Adrenaline flooded her system, the rush chasing away any last remnants of stress that might have held on.
She whooped as Nahara dove, seeming to understand Ryleigh’s need. She flew low, almost skimming the surface of the moat, her shadow rippling on the surface of the water, then circled back and weaved between the spires of the castle before lowering herself gently to the decking beside the open window. She padded into the room and lay down on a thick rug before the fireplace.
Ryleigh and Mia climbed down and threw their arms around the incredible animal.
“Thank you, Nahara.”
“That was amazing.”
Jackson jumped down when Nika settled beside Nahara. “Well?” A smile lit his entire face. It held no hint of the cockiness she’d come to expect, but instead filled his eyes with pure happiness.
Ryleigh threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can’t believe it. I’ve never done anything so incredible. That was awesome.” Heat crept up her cheeks, and she pulled back to face him. “Can we do it again?”
“Sure.”
“Yay.” Mia jumped up and down and hugged Jackson. “Can we do it now?” Excitement colored her cheeks.
“Sorry, Princess, we’re expected in the Council Chambers.”
A frown crossed her face, but didn’t last long. “Can we ride again later?”
“You bet, kiddo.” Jackson tucked her wild mane of hair behind her ear. “Come on, let’s get something to put on your feet.”
Mia grabbed the blanket she’d left on the back of a wooden chair when they’d entered the room. She pulled it around her and sat on the thick rug between Nika and Nahara.
Jackson sat in front of Mia, backlit by the fire. He bent and used a ball of twine to tie a piece of leather around each of her feet.
A memory stirred something deep within Ryleigh. The urge to go to him overwhelmed her, propelled her forward. She fought to suppress the instinct, struggled to still her feet, stop her forward progress.
“That should do it.” Jackson stood, breaking the spell that had gripped her.
Mia stood and tried out her new shoes. “They’re great. Thank you.”
“Come on, then. We’d better not keep King Maynard waiting.” He headed for the door.
Every instinct screamed at Ryleigh to call him back to her. Instead, she followed him out of his chambers and back down the curved staircase.
Forcing aside all other thoughts, she tried to focus on what he was saying.
“I’ll do all the explaining and field as many questions as possible. If anyone asks you a direct question, answer it as honestly as you can.”
“Got it.” Ryleigh wanted to tell him they knew what to do, had heard him the first ten times he’d explained, but the timbre of his voice soothed her, warmed her, chased away some of her fear.
“Are we in trouble?”
“No, Mia. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Then why are you so worried?” Mia’s question mirrored Ryleigh’s thoughts.
Jackson hesitated before he answered. “Well…my people don’t take well to change. Some of them, anyway. Things have been the way they are for hundreds of years, but there are changes coming. I know it, can feel it.”
The sound of their footsteps followed them closer and closer to their destiny.
Apprehension slowed Ryleigh’s pace.
When he spoke again, sadness filled his voice. “Cymmera is dying. Very little grows here, and what does grows in green houses and is just enough to feed those of us who are left.” Determination hardened his features. “I won’t let my home die. I can’t. My mother sacrificed her life to save Cymmera. How can I let that sacrifice have been for nothing?” Sadness filled his eyes.
Ryleigh had no idea what the future held for her, for them, but his pain brought a dull ache to her heart. She took his hands in hers and the expected sparks ignited. They only appeared during more intense moments. Maybe heightened emotions created them. “You know what, Jackson? You’ve asked me a number of times now if I trust you, and the answer is yes. I trust you completely. If there’s any way possible to save Cymmera, I know you’ll find it. And, whatever happens during the Council, remember I’m right here by your side.”
He lifted his hand to her cheek in a gentle caress, cradled it, brushed his thumb across her lips. He leaned toward her.
Her heart rate accelerated, the blood pounding through her veins, rushing to her head.
“Ahem.” Mia stood with her arms folded across her chest, tapping her foot in an exaggerated gesture of impatience.
A sudden burst of laughter relived some of the tension. “Come on, let’s get this over with.” Jackson kept Ryleigh’s hand in his as they continued on their way.
* * * *
Jackson froze in the doorway of the Council Chamber, and his heart rate ratcheted up. Since his father had called the full Council to order, Jackson expected all of the Council Members to be present. He did not expect a formal Tribunal.
The Council Members sat around a large, semi-circular, stone table. As leader of the Council of Elders, King Maynard sat at the center of the horseshoe with Kai at his right side. The other ten members, each of whom headed a council within the Kingdom, held seats surrounding the small table where the accused would be seated. They wore the traditional crimson robes, golden headdresses, and stern expressions.
Uh-oh. Perhaps he was in more trouble than he’d originally anticipated.
“Enter and take your places, please.” Tatiana Storm, head of the Disciplinary Council and the only woman to sit on the Council of Elders, called the Tribunal to order.
Jackson led Ryleigh and Mia to the large table in the center of the room, pulled out their chairs, and gestured for them to sit. He took the seat beside Ryleigh.
Her gaze darted around the Chamber. He knew before he’d even turned to her she’d be chewing on her bottom lip.
She didn’t disappoint. The gesture had become quite endearing.
“Prince Jackson Maynard, please stand.”
Jackson slid the chair back and stood. He moved to take his place at a small podium in front of the table of the accused, searching each of the Council Members faces for some sign of leniency. No use. Each countenance sat firmly etched in stone. He huffed out a breath, stood tall, and waited for the formal charges against him to be read.
“Prince Jackson Maynard, you have been formally charged with treason for failing to complete the assigned task of acquiring the girl seated at the table behind you and transferring her to Cymmera for enslavement. A charge which carries with it the penalty of death by execution if convicted. How do you plead?” Tatiana paused and lifted her gaze from the scroll she held open. She pinned him with an impatient look as she waited for his formal plea.
“I plead not guilty, ma’am.”
A small smirk played at the corners of Tatiana’s mouth, and she quickly resumed her intense examination of the document in front of her.
Jackson kept his somber expression firmly in place.
Kai cleared his throat. The warrior knew full well that Jackson and Tatiana were friends, yet he insisted on continuing with this farce of a trial.
And Jackson had no doubt it was Kai who had initiated such a formal court session. But why? Would he never forgive Jackson for failing his final test? Had he disgraced his mentor that badly?
“You are also charged with trespassing, for returning to Cymmera after being formally banished and before the exile was lifted. A charge which also carries the penalty of death by execution, or permanent exile, if convicted. How do you plead?”
One of the girls gasped behind him.
How had Kai talked his father into adding that? The trespassing charge was considerably more serious and more difficult to defend since he was actually guilty of that one.
When his eyes met Tatiana’s this time, there was no playful smile, only a concerned frown. Apparently she feared the outcome of that charge as well.
“I plead not guilty.” What else could he do?
“You have also been charged with en—”
“You have got to be kidding me. Is this some sort of a joke?” Jackson looked to his father. Why would he allow this to go on?
“The accused will remain silent unless asked to address this Council.” Kai’s voice boomed through the Council Chamber.
“You can’t be serious about all this crap, Kai.” Fury raged through Jackson, heating his blood well past his boiling point.
“Oh, I am absolutely serious.”
“King Maynard, do you agree with these charges?”
His father lowered his eyes for a split second before returning his gaze to his son. “I have listened to Kai’s reasoning and have agreed to allow the charges to be brought. I have also made it perfectly clear that you will be given every opportunity to refute the charges and that special consideration will be given to your arguments because of the obvious unusual circumstances surrounding your actions.”
The king nailed his advisor with a glare.
Jackson relaxed a little. He rolled his shoulders in an effort to relieve some of the tension building there. Basically, his father was just humoring Kai. Jackson could live with that. At least whatever the Council decided would be upheld. Kai couldn’t make up a new set of charges and come after him again since he’d already charged him with everything under the sun.
“May we continue?” Tatiana started pointedly at Kai.
“Please do.” Kai spat the words at her with all the contempt he could muster.
“Thank you. Jackson—”
“Ahem.”
“Excuse me, Kai.” She resumed where she’d left off, returning to the formal reading of the charges. “Prince Jackson Maynard, you have also been charged with endangering the people of Cymmera by transferring two live humans to our realm without the permission of this Council. A charge punishable by death by execution, or permanent exile, if found guilty. How do you plead?”
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