by E. A. James
“Zay-ka?” Angelica narrowed her eyes. “I’ve never even heard of that.”
Aerdan glanced around. “Well, you’re here now,” he said.
A knot of dread formed in Angelica’s stomach. What if this isn’t a dream, she wondered nervously. What if something happened – really happened – and I won’t be able to get back home? What’s going on?
Angelica took the flask and drank. Aerdan had been right – it was nothing but water, albeit water with a faint taste of cedar. She drank until the flask was empty, tossing it towards Aerdan.
“Thanks,” Angelica said in a small voice.
“Maybe I can be of assistance,” Aerdan said. He reached into his leather bag and passed a faded, dog-eared piece of paper to Angelica.
She unfolded it and glanced down in curiosity. It looked like a map – except it wasn’t like any other map she’d ever seen before. It was more like something from the dark ages, all mystical words and places.
“Is your kingdom on that map?” Aerdan asked. “Perhaps I could point you in the right direction.” He puffed his chest out. “I am an adventurer, after all.”
“You are? Could you take me home?” Angelica dropped the map. “I live on fifty-seventh street, in Crown Heights.”
Aerdan made a face.
“I know, it’s not the best neighborhood,” Angelica said quickly. “But it’s cheap, you know – rents in New York!” She laughed.
Aerdan frowned. “Lady, I do not even know of Old York,” he said slowly. “Perhaps it is in another kingdom.”
“Uh, yeah,” Angelica said nervously. “Look, it’s not really a kingdom – I mean, it kind of is, I guess, for the people who are super rich. But we have a mayor, you know, an elected official.”
“What’s that?”
Angelica’s anxiety grew. “Forget it,” she said darkly.
“Lady, may I ask your name?”
“Angelica,” she said. “Angelica Bowers.”
“I have never heard that surname before,” Aerdan said slowly. “Perhaps you really are from a distant land.”
“No shit,” Angelica muttered. “This obviously isn’t anywhere even close to home.” She shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself. Despite the warm breeze, she felt more terrified and alone than she’d ever felt in her life. And it didn’t help that this hot guy – who talked like he was straight out of a movie – was acting like she was in some faraway mythical place. Maybe this is a joke, she thought. Maybe this is some kind of prank.
“You don’t believe him,” Brynx said dryly. He rubbed against Angelica’s ankles and she reached down to pet his soft fur. “But he’s telling the truth.”
Angelica swallowed. “So…where am I?”
“Lady Angelica, you are in the Kingdom of Zheka,” Aerdan said. He straightened up proudly.
“Yeah,” Angelica said nervously, looking around. “But where am I? When can I go home?”
Aerdan frowned. “Perhaps…” He trailed off, narrowing his eyebrows.
“What?” Something about Aerdan’s tone made Angelica even more nervous. “What are you thinking?”
“Maybe, lady, until we determine how to send you home…perhaps you ought to stay,” Aerdan said. His bright blue eyes were glowing with the beginnings of an idea. “Perhaps it would be for the best. You can become acquainted with the kingdom, and I can show you everything about Zheka.”
“Why would you do that?” Angelica asked stiffly. “You said you’re an explorer, right? So why not just help me home?”
“Because,” Aerdan said. “It would be better this way.”
“Aerdan,” Brynx said warily. “I don’t like the sound of that. You need to escort the lady home,” he said sternly. “This is no time for plotting and games.”
“If she stays, she will be a great distraction,” Aerdan said. “And everyone will forget all about this marriage thing.” He suddenly looked gleeful, like a child presented with a large cake. “Yeah,” he added. “This is perfect.”
Angelica narrowed her eyes. “What marriage thing,” she asked slowly. “And what do you mean by, distraction? I want to go home,” she added. “Why do I feel like that’s not going to happen?”
Aerdan grinned. “Look,” he said. “How about this: you help me, a little, I swear not anything too intense – and then I help you, I’ll help you return to the Kingdom of York?”
“New York,” Angelica said crossly. “And why should I help you, anyway? And what did you mean by ‘the marriage thing?’”
Aerdan chuckled. “Don’t worry about it, it’s a long story,” he said calmly. He walked close to Angelica and she caught a delicious, musky scent of sweat, leather and fresh grass. “Come with me,” he added. “I’ll explain everything.”
Aerdan offered an arm to Angelica and she stared down at the muscular limb for a few moments before accepting.
“You’d better explain everything,” Angelica said darkly as Aerdan led her out of the clearing. “Or else.”
After a brief walk, the pair emerged from the forest, and Angelica could hardly believe her eyes. She slipped her arm out of Aerdan’s and discreetly pinched herself again, hoping that by some miracle she’d awake in her own kitchen, bruised and sore but otherwise perfectly fine.
It didn’t work. Angelica sagged a little, her shoulders slumping. Despite her distress at being lost, trapped, and scared, she couldn’t stay pessimistic for too long. This weather is an improvement, at least, she thought, closing her eyes and letting the warm sun soak through her dark hair.
“Lady?”
“Yes?” Angelica opened her eyes and gasped when she saw that Aerdan was looming close. She stepped backwards, blushing furiously.
Aerdan snickered. “We are almost there,” he said. “Enjoying the view?”
Angelica followed Aerdan’s gaze and gasped again. They had just emerged from the dense forest, and now they were standing on a lush green hill that sloped downwards and led to an enormous stone structure. A high wall, that looked at least five stories, stood tall before an immense castle. Brightly-colored flags waved from each turret and Angelica counted at least fifty large windows with soaring views over the surrounding kingdom.
“Wow,” Angelica breathed. She resisted the urge to pinch herself once again. “Is this…”
“My home?” Aerdan raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Yes.” He squinted and took Angelica’s wrist in his hand, pointing to a turret on the far side of the castle. “That is my chamber,” he said.
Angelica flushed. “It’s huge,” she said. She swallowed. “And…you’ve always lived here?”
Aerdan gave her a suspicious look. “Unfortunately,” he said.
“I thought you were an explorer?” Angelica cocked her head to the side.
“Indeed I am, but I am other things as well,” Aerdan said quickly. “Come on, this way,” he added, jerking his head to the side.
To her surprise, Aerdan led Angelica away from the castle, towards the edge of the high stone wall. As they got closer, she began to feel nervous once again. Her ears were filled with the loud sounds of people shouting, laughing, and shrieking. A strange mix of smells wafted under her nose, among them roasting meat and the perspiration of a huge crowd.
“This is a big city,” Angelica said anxiously.
“Is the city of York large as well?”
“New York is huge,” Angelica said, her dark eyes widening as Aerdan led her through a wooden door that somehow managed to look both crudely-hewn and strong. Inside was a huge dusty courtyard, filled with wooden stalls featuring every kind of ware imaginable. Angelica could barely walk without tripping – every inch of the yard seemed to be filled with life. Children skittered around, yelling and tossing balls back and forth. Chickens and goats and cats twined around Angelica’s ankles.
She looked down nervously. “Can they all…well, can they all talk?”
Aerdan chuckled. “No,” he said. “Brynx is special. He was given to me as a birthday present years ago.�
�
“I see.” Angelica bit her lip. “And you don’t find it strange?”
“What?”
“That your cat talks,” she said patiently. “You don’t think that’s a little odd?”
“No,” Aerdan said. “It isn’t that rare,” he said. “But it does take a complicated spell.”
Angelica’s mouth went dry. “You mean…magic?”
Aerdan burst out laughing. “Lady, what else could I mean?”
Angelica stayed silent as Aerdan led her through the crowded courtyard. Passing a stall featuring salt fish and venison jerky, her mouth began to water. Despite her caution, she could feel curiosity starting to get the better of her. This wasn’t just some crazy vision – this was a strange land, somewhere obviously foreign. And Angelica had somehow landed right in the middle of it.
Aerdan led Angelica out of the noisy courtyard and across another long lawn. Her legs were starting to ache – they’d been walking for close to an hour. Angelica was stunned when she realized she’d barely traveled half the length of the castle.
“This way,” Aerdan said. He grinned mischievously and Angelica’s heart fluttered. He ducked under a stone ledge, then led Angelica into a grimy alley. She frowned.
“Where are you taking me?”
“We’re almost there,” Aerdan said. He began to whistle, puffing out his chest and looking every inch the powerful Commander. “Just a few more minutes.”
Angelica’s palms began to sweat – she wished that she’d asked Aerdan to buy her something to eat. She felt totally helpless: her pockets were empty, she didn’t even have her keys! But her curiosity was growing, and all thoughts of food were pushed from her mind when she saw the large arena looming ahead.
Angelica’s mouth went dry. “What is that?”
Aerdan laughed. “It’s where we’re going.”
The sound of a lion roaring cut through the air and Angelica shivered.
“Don’t worry, lady,” Aerdan said. He led Angelica through a side entrance and the two walked down a long, shadowy corridor. The arena was made of stone and the walls emanated a chill that Angelica felt to her bones. It was the closest to cold that she’d felt since first waking up in the clearing.
When they stepped out into sunlight, Angelica gasped. They were standing in the middle of a huge arena. It was easily the size of an NFL stadium. Except instead of a grassy field covered with lines and markings, the bottom of the arena was filled with sand. Sure enough, a caged lion stood at one end of the field. Just looking at him made Angelica shudder, even though she was over a hundred feet away. The lion paced his cage, looking angry and mean as his dark mane ruffled in the breeze.
As Aerdan led Angelica through the rows of seating, she couldn’t help but notice that everyone was staring at her. The arena had been empty when she and Aerdan had first arrived, but it was filling rapidly.
“Is there going to be some kind of fight?” Angelica asked nervously.
“In a way, yes,” Aerdan replied. “And I thought this would be a good way for you to learn about Zheka.”
Angelica shivered nervously as Aedan led her inside a shaded box. The inside of the box was completely different from the rest of the arena. Rich wooden furniture filled the elegant room, and silk tapestries shimmered in the breeze. Angelica’s stomach twisted when she saw a small, elegant table inlaid with ivory and mother-of-pearl – on top, there was a bowl of what looked like grapes…and a human skull, glowing in the semi-dark of the private room.
“This is beautiful,” Angelica said, looking quickly away from the skull.
Aerdan nodded. “Yes,” he said. “It truly is.” Angelica watched as he settled down comfortably in one of the chairs, kicking his feet up on the ledge that overlooked the arena. After a few seconds, she settled down next to him.
Soon, the arena was filled with people. Most of them were clapping and jeering, but Angelica noticed some of them were booing, or lifting large flasks to their mouths. She swallowed nervously and looked around, gazing at the different costumes and outfits.
“This much be a rich land,” Angelica said softly. “Everyone is dressed so well.”
“Show days are what the Zhekan people live for,” Aerdan said proudly. “This is where we show off just how carefully we’ve honed our craft.”
“And what is your craft?”
“Look down there,” Aerdan said. He pointed towards a ring of men. They were the biggest, hunkiest men that Angelica had ever seen – they all looked like over muscled athletes. Their muscles were oiled and gleaming in the bright sun, and they wore tiny loincloths of leather. Their heads were shaved, and their bodies were covered in blue and black tattoos, just like Aerdan.
“What do the tattoos mean?”
Aerdan chuckled. “The blue bands indicate a triumph of strength,” he said. He leaned close to Angelica and flexed his bulging bicep. Sure enough, it was ringed by three blue bands. “Those were awarded to me on my fifteenth birthday,” he said. “I was able to lift a tree trunk into the air for thirty seconds. It weighed more than nine grown men.”
Angelica bit her lip and nodded. “And the black?”
Below in the arena, a man stepped into the center. Unlike the warriors, he was fully dressed and holding what appeared to be a bullhorn. He was on the smaller side, with close-cropped curly hair and tan skin.
“That’s Brantly,” Aerdan said. “My mother’s page.”
“Is she here?”
Aerdan laughed. “Queen Zornaya?” He rolled his eyes. “She wouldn’t dare to show up at an event like this. It’s considered undignified for royal women, aside from feast days.” He stretched and reached for the bowl of grapes. Angelica cringed when Aerdan’s fingers brushed against the skull. “Want some?”
Angelica shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Brantly held an arm up in the air and the arena fell silent – so silent that Angelica could have heard a pin drop into the sand.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Brantly called. “You are in for a treat today!”
“I don’t get it,” Angelica murmured. “What are we going to see?”
Aerdan smirked. “The triumph of the masculine will,” he said. “It’s crucial to Zheka.”
“How are they all so strong?”
Aerdan sighed. For the first time since they’d met, he looked frustrated.
“Men – even royal men, such as myself – are laborers in our world,” he said. “The women hold the positions of leadership. My mother is the most powerful person in the kingdom of Zheka.”
“You’re a prince!”
“A commander,” Aerdan corrected. “My father, Commander-in-Chief Thurban, won my mother’s heart by championing over six men in the arena.”
Angelica’s eyes went wide again. “Six men? At once?”
Aerdan nodded proudly. “When the time comes for me to marry, I will be expected to do the same,” he said.
Angelica noticed that he didn’t seem so thrilled about that.
“Where are the women? What do they do?”
“They practice their skills, just as men practice theirs,” Aerdan said. “The women of Zheka are magic wielders. Healers, spellcasters, witches. They are called many things.”
“Witches?” Angelica’s mouth went dry. “How?”
“We are born with inherent power,” Aerdan explained. “But men are forbidden to use this power. Men are encouraged to succeed physically and abstain from the use of magic.”
“That hardly seems fair,” Angelica said. She frowned. “How do you feel?”
Aerdan shrugged. “Does it matter? That’s the way things are.”
“But you’re an explorer,” Angelica said. “So that means your mother must be pretty lenient with you, right?”
Aerdan didn’t answer. Below, in the arena, a loud trumpet sounded. Despite feeling like she should look away, Angelica couldn’t help but lean over the ledge and watch the proceedings below. She clenched her hands into tight, nervous fists and balled
them at her sides.
Two men strode into the arena, each bearing large swords. The blades gleamed in the sunlight and Angelica could see the sweat dripping from each man’s forehead. She gasped as one of the men gripped his sword with both hands and swung it powerfully around his head.
The crowd went wild.
This is bad, Angelica realized nervously. What kind of a place is this, and why the hell did I have to end up here?
“Are they going to kill each other?” Angelica asked nervously.
“That is the goal, yes,” Aerdan said. She glanced over her shoulder and was stunned to see him lazily picking at his cuticles. He wasn’t even watching the fight.