A Bridge of Realms

by B. T. Narro

  “Don’t tell me you’re planning to stay as one of them forever?” Rygen asked coldly.

  “Gods, no! We will leave, but each contract is forty months.” He knew this ruined the image she’d had of him counting the time they were separated, but this was more important for her to hear. “That’s why I couldn’t visit earlier. I tried to write to you, but there is no mail service from the capital to Jatn. I tried to find a way nonetheless, but nothing worked.”

  “I figured it was something like that.”

  There was a stretch of silence. He could feel her longing for good news. He wished he could offer her some.

  “They gave us a little time before training starts again,” Leo said, “so I rushed here.”

  “I’m glad you did.” She smiled, but there was a tug of sadness on the corners of her mouth.

  He sighed as he had to give her the rest of the bad news. “Andar and I already signed the next contract for forty more months of service. They would be suspicious if we took a half year off…and we need the coin and training.”

  “I understand.” She looked down. “So that means it’s going to be another forty-one months before I see you again? I’ll be seventeen by then.”

  Leo waited until she glanced up so he could show her that he meant his next words. “I’ll find some way to come back before then.”

  She nodded. There was grief in her piercing gaze.

  This small house was nothing like the quarters where Leo lived in the training grounds, but he couldn’t stand the thought of leaving this place, not unless Rygen came with him.

  “So when do you have to leave exactly?” she asked, her distress obvious in her expression.

  “Does Jatn still have a curfew?”

  “Yes.”

  Leo sighed. “Then soon. I have to find an inn before dark. Any offense, even a minor one in a different city, and my training permission could be revoked. They are extremely strict toward mages in training. I wish they treated all their soldiers the same way.”

  “You have to leave tonight?”

  He nodded. “I’m sorry. This is the first real break I’ve had. I wish it was longer.”

  “Oh. You had one break…in three years?”

  “We have one day off each week, but that’s it. I’m usually just sleeping and eating most of that day. Even Andar is too exhausted to steal anymore. If I could make it to Jatn in that day, though, of course I would.” Leo chuckled as he thought of something. “Now that we finally do have some decent time off, I’d imagine Andar is taking a coin or two from some arrogant rich man as we speak. He’s been curious what the rich are like in the capital, but we’ve been confined to the training grounds.”

  Rygen forced a smile. She played with her hair, or perhaps she was fixing it, although it already seemed perfect to Leo.

  “So you have one break in three years…and you came here?”

  “Of course. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

  He had hoped to spark some joy back into the room, but a moment of painful sadness passed between them as she looked down.

  Leo suddenly felt uncomfortable. Here he was in her kitchen, saying he didn’t want to be anywhere else. It was too forward. She probably didn’t feel as strongly about their friendship anymore.

  He was a fool. Just hand off her birthday gift and get out of here before you embarrass yourself more.

  Leo set one of his packs on the table. “I brought you something for your birthday.”

  He took out the things he’d purchased for her in the capital on one of his days off: two beautiful quills, as many scrolls as he could roll together, and a whole lot of ink.

  “I wanted to give you a way to write down some of your own stories…and I figured you weren’t the type of woman who’d rather have jewelry.”

  She laughed and looked a little teary as she picked up a quill, then the scrolls.

  “Leo, this is the best gift I’ve ever received.”

  “Don’t say that just yet. I’m only doing this because I want to read something by the ‘Great Rygen Nexi’ one of these days.”

  “Well, that depends on the ‘Stubborn Gartel Lusitan,’ now doesn’t it?”

  They laughed.

  “You still see him much?” Leo asked.

  “Occasionally I visit Miqu, I mean Yune, there.”

  “Why is she staying at the Red Crown? Isn’t that a waste of coin?”

  “I know!” Rygen laughed. “I guess some people would rather live in the present than prepare for a better future.”

  “That’s never been us.”

  “No.” Rygen smiled. “And it’s not us now.”

  Leo’s smile faded as he understood her meaning. There was no reason for them to be close now for it would only hurt more when they separated.

  But she surprised him by asking, “If I find a way to the capital, how much are the inns there?”

  He could answer that, or better yet… “You could be housed and fed for free if you join the army for the next three years. They could train you with summoning, too.”

  Rygen took on a distant look as she glanced at the corner of the room. “Perhaps I should’ve gone three years ago, but pride stopped me. Now it’s too late. Jin is strong enough for them to use the two of us.” She gave Leo a cold look as if about to lecture him for his mistake. “You should be aware that they might use you and Andar soon.”

  “I know. We could be put in a dangerous situation that will change the course of our lives. We’ve already decided that we are ready for that. But if you aren’t, I understand.” It pained Leo to say it.

  “I will never choose to do anything they want me to do. Those are the people that are responsible for my mother dying.”

  Leo had figured she wasn’t over it. “You’re right” was all he could say.

  “Do you really have much more to learn?” she asked with a bite to her tone.

  “We do.” He didn’t know why he was still keeping something from her. She should know the truth. “And Rygen, we want to be sent somewhere, hopefully to ‘stop’ the rebels.”

  “So you can see your father?”

  “Yes, and help him.”

  “So you’re not going to be with them another three years?”

  “Not if they find the rebels first, which could be soon. It’s another reason I can’t take six months off.”

  She appeared concerned as she leaned closer. “And you’ll join the rebels then?”

  “Probably, but we can’t predict anything yet. We have to be as strong and prepared as we can.” Leo paused. He couldn’t get the rest out for some reason. He might not be coming back. She had to come with him if she wanted to make sure they would see each other again.

  She figured it out on her own. “So there’s really no telling when you might be coming back?” Before Leo could respond, she put up her hands and made a silly face. “Wait, that doesn’t matter,” she said with a forced laugh. She looked at Leo. “You’re doing the right thing. I plan to do the same as soon as I’m able.”

  He took a moment to try to figure out her meaning. “You will seek out the rebels?”

  She looked down and shook her head. “That’s not in my interest at this time.” Rygen didn’t elaborate.

  Leo looked out the window. This conversation was far from over, but too much time had passed. “I’d really better get to an inn.”

  “Are you certain?”

  It was excruciating to leave, but it must be done. He started collecting his bags.

  “I wish I could stay longer, but I have to find an inn and it’s already night. I don’t want to be seen by a guard after curfew.”

  “The army is really that strict with you?”

  He nodded. “I wish I was exaggerating.”

  “Then I suppose this is goodbye,” she said.

  Rygen squeezed him tightly, going to her toes. Her warm embrace brought on a crash of emotions. His blood flowed hot as he felt her so close to his lips.

  He wondere
d if perhaps this feeling was actually reciprocated, for she pressed herself into him and held tight. He accidentally sniffed her hair as he took a breath. It reminded him of childhood, of innocent fun, of the world before everything changed.

  Leo lost himself in memories for a few blissful moments. He had grown up with Rygen. They had learned to read together, to earn coin together, to live life together. There was no memory of fun without her being part of it.

  There was no stopping his mouth as it moved toward hers. With one last miraculous moment of control, he planted a kiss on her cheek instead. She froze as his lips pressed against her flushed skin.

  He leaned away for one last look at her before leaving. There was so much pain in her glistening eyes that his heart ached for him to stay just a little longer.

  Suddenly, he was leaning toward her and she was tilting up her face to his.

  It shocked him at first as they kissed, but soon that was replaced by passion. Their lips explored each other’s as they held on tight, neither willing to let go. Soon they found a rhythm as the pleasure of being this close with her made his heart want to burst.

  Leo felt as though his whole body was aflame as they parted. He leaned down and held his head against hers as she nestled against him for a while. He listened to her quick breaths as he tried to gather the strength to leave.

  When he realized it was only getting more difficult the longer he embraced her, he decided it was time.

  “I have to leave,” he whispered.

  “I’ll find you,” she whispered back.

  It warmed his heart. “Not if I find you again.”

  He parted and picked up his bags. She opened the door for him. He walked into the cold and looked back, attempting to memorize everything about her that he could.

  They watched either other with silent smiles. Leo had a clear image of her that he hoped would stay with him for years.

  “Goodbye, Rygen.”

  “Goodbye, Leo.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Rygen awoke the next morning feeling as though last night had been a dream. Did Leo really travel all the way from the capital for her? She had wanted to visit him for years, but the trip to the capital was too expensive for her.

  She’d already gone through much of money he and Andar had left her. She’d needed new clothing to fit her changing body. She still had some saved, but not nearly enough to pay anyone to take her that far north. Even if she had her own horse, she couldn’t afford the food she’d need while she traveled and did not earn coin. Besides, she didn’t know how to ride a horse.

  The day had just began, and she already missed Leo. It had gotten easier to get out of bed each day after he and Andar had left, but she never stopped thinking back to the times when they were all together, just as she never stopped thinking back to how wonderful it was to have her mother.

  Rygen prepared herself to leave a little earlier than usual so she would have time to look at Leo’s gift again. She opened a rift to greet Jin every morning, as well as hone her control over Esitry, and today was no exception. But she didn’t take an extra moment to play with her creature, sending him back and turning her attention to her kitchen table.

  She’d turned fourteen yesterday and was now a woman, though she didn’t know how that was supposed to make her feel. Leo looked more like a man than she felt that she looked like a woman. Rygen couldn’t get over how big he’d gotten, and strong as well. She could still feel his broad shoulders when she envisioned wrapping her arms around them.

  She didn’t know what to make of the changes to her own body. They seemed to be happening fast. She didn’t seem as if she would be any taller though, to her disappointment.

  She picked up a jar of ink to look closely. It was so black, like the darkest shadow. She was excited to use it with one of her new quills, but what would she write? She had no time to start today, but at least she could think about her story while she worked. Usually her thoughts went to a sad place, but not today. She wanted to write down at least one sentence about something. There were so many parchments that she wasn’t worried about wasting them. All of this must’ve cost more than a gold coin. Hopefully it wasn’t too much of a burden for Leo to part with it.

  The scrolls felt heavy and lopsided as if something was inside. She took off the papers covering the side openings and turned the scrolls. A small purse and a rolled note fell onto her table.

  She knew it had to be money. She’d told him not to give her anything, but she was relieved to see some anyway. Rygen certainly could use it. She figured it would be a few silvers, for Leo had already spent so much on her gifts.

  She opened the note first.

  “I thought you would refuse the second part of my gift. If you are offended, then waste it on something like jewelry or a few nights at the Red Crown.”

  She chuckled at the reference to his aunt. He must’ve written this note after seeing her.

  “But I think you should use what you need and save the rest for your own house. Then you won’t have to work for Rhenol any longer. But if it was really up to me, I would tell you to use it to come see me in the capital.

  Take care, woman.”

  Rygen laughed again. She wiped a tear, then opened the pouch. She gasped as she counted the coins, all of them gold.

  Twenty gold coins. She cursed loudly. Leo this is too much!

  The gift had knocked her down into her only chair. This was more than she’d earn in a lifetime working on Rhenol’s farm. But more importantly, this gave her options. She wouldn’t be forced to work on any farm if she had her own place to live. It wasn’t enough for a house, but perhaps it could buy her time to make better coin elsewhere. She could spend a few days looking for better work. Or should she use it to visit Leo before he left for what could be forever?

  She was getting ahead of herself. She ran out to make it to the farm on time, where should would be paid to think about her future as she worked.

  She wanted to grab Leo and kiss him again. How could he be this thoughtful toward her after all this time? He couldn’t possibly be so wealthy that twenty gold coins meant nothing to him. He really should’ve saved it for when he turned rebel.

  But she was glad he hadn’t.

  As she worked that day, though, she couldn’t stop wondering things about him. Didn’t he find other friends in the capital, perhaps those he trained with? He was so handsome now, Rygen was certain other girls had shown him some attention. Other women, she corrected herself. She was a woman now and would have to get used to it.

  She couldn’t believe how much trouble he’d gone through to get here, just to see her for a few moments! Would she ever do that for someone?

  Yes, for him. If she had the means, she would be with him again. There was no one else who made her feel the same way Leo did. Even after being apart for years, she had never stopped wondering about him. Now there was nothing she wanted more than to see him again.

  Except for one important thing that would keep her here a little while longer.

  ◆◆◆

  Rygen stopped her work after half the day had passed. Rhenol would only pay her half her usual wage of ten copper coins no matter what time she finished early, so she found it best to stop after lunch rather than an hour or two before the sun began to set.

  Rhenol always glared at her like she was taking advantage of him when she ate his “free” provided meal and then left afterward, but she had gotten used to it. He was probably curious how she had the coin to support herself. Rhenol knew she was the only one in her family left, so he might assume dirty things about her—a thought that came to her after he’d posed a few choice questions—but she’d ignored him.

  Rygen spent the first few hours visiting different guilds in hope that they had a position for her and that the pay would be better than farm work. But most guilds were looking for younger children they could exploit by using the promise of a better position when they were older.

  As evening approached, Ryg
en made her way north to the largest tavern in Jatn. She had been there so many times now that all the “knights of the napkins,” as the servers had come to be known, knew her by name. The establishment was called the Gorging Fish, and every night Rygen went, the massive place was bustling.

  There was one woman who frequented there often. She, too, was known, and not just among the knights of the napkins who made her drinks. Most of northern Jatn had come to learn her name. She was self-proclaimed as the most powerful summoner in the world.

  Rygen took an empty stool in one corner. She had never ordered a drink, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t partaken in many of the free ones offered to her by older men.

  She wore none of the rags that she donned growing up, happily replacing all her old clothing that was too small for her now. She did not appear like a rich woman, for she usually wore a long tunic or work dress. If it was too cold for such clothing, then she usually went straight home before evening.

  She enjoyed the free drinks and conversation, at first. It did not matter if the man was old or ugly; it always made her feel comfortable to be treated nicely. She had thought them to be fatherly, to want to welcome her.

  Never. They wanted something else and often became angry when she was disgusted by their advances. Rygen’s mother had not given Rygen a single lesson about this. She had died too long ago, before Rygen’s body had changed. But Rygen had spoken with Miqu about this sort of thing many times over the last two years. Now Rygen knew to refuse the drinks or shoo the man away immediately, even if he promised he just wanted to talk. Only if they were her age should she speak with them, and only if Rygen was interested in knowing them.

  But she had yet to meet anyone like that. Most of the people here were well over three years older than she was, and this was the only tavern she visited.

  Rygen had spoken to Miqu many times about summoning as well, but Rygen hadn’t needed to ask anything for quite some time. She already knew as much as Leo’s aunt. The energetic woman had her identification papers and was now writing at the Bookbinding Guild—a job Rygen hoped for herself one day.