by Kelly Blount
Ryder just looked at him. “Do you have sur leaves between your ears, boy? Haven’t you noticed any of the signs around town or in the woods? Her picture is on every single one of them!”
“It is?”
The orvba straightened. “Yes, of course it is! The King is willing to do anything to get his beloved daughter back! He even offered a reward!”
“Oh yeah? What is it?”
“Well, whoever brings the missing princess home will get to live in peace and comfort in one of the King’s estates for the rest of their life. Can you imagine? Never having to worry about where you’re going to find dinner or if you have somewhere safe to sleep at night! Now that’s the life!”
Ryder pondered this new information and decided to play along. “Wow, yeah, that would be really nice.”
The stout orvba took a step closer to Ryder and extended his hand. “By the way, my name is Pidifer. I believe we skipped the formal introductions earlier.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Pidifer. My name is Ryder and I’m sorry for running into you.”
“Listen, Ryder, you seem like an honorable young man. Any chance you would put searching for your lost item on hold to help me and my brother track down Princess Sophie? We could really use someone of a larger stature and it appears you have come prepared,” Pidifer said, looking directly at the gleaming sword hanging from Ryder’s waist.
“Track her down? I thought you said you didn’t think it was her in the water?”
“Well, my brother may be wrong and Grishma might kill us for our mistake, but we can’t pass up the opportunity to live the rest of our lives being treated like royalty. What do you say? Will you join us?”
What if they find Brooklyn before I do and turn her over to the King by mistake? Then I’ll never get her back! If my memory serves me right, the orvba were once renowned seafaring creatures. Maybe they have a craft to travel the water in? If we could get to the other side of the river before Grishma, I could actually save Brooklyn and bring her home!
“Wow,” Ryder replied acting genuinely surprised. “I would be honored to join you!”
Before he could reply, the bushes behind Pidifer began to shake. Adrenaline shot through Ryder’s veins and his instincts took over. He unsheathed his sword and stood waiting to confront the intruder.
“It’s just me, Cridifer! Please don’t hurt me!” said a slightly rounder version of Pidifer, who was also covered from head to toe in mud as he stepped through the bushes.
“What are you doing sneaking around, brother? You nearly were split in two by our new friend, Ryder!”
“I’m sorry. I thought you were in danger, so I snuck up to save you,” the little creature replied as he puffed out his chubby chest.
“No, brother, he’ll be joining us on our quest to find the Princess,” Pidifer explained.
“Oh, well, I guess we could use someone who knows how to use a sword. Probably much safer, yes? Much safer that way,” replied Cridifer.
“I’ll do my best to protect our group as we search for Princess Sophie. Now tell me, besides the bridge, do either of you know a way we could cross the river? If we are going to beat Grishma to the Princess, we must find a quicker way to get to the other side of the Swive.”
The mud-covered brothers looked at one another, then at Ryder. “Well, we were actually planning to cross on that,” Cridifer said pointing to a raft half hidden in the nearby brush.
Pidifer pulled the craft into the opening and allowed Ryder to examine their craftsmanship.
As Ryder looked over the small vessel, Cridifer interjected, “Our father taught us how to build vessels that floated on any water, even the treacherous Swive River.”
“You have done a fine job,” praised Ryder.
The two orvbas smiled proudly and puffed out their furry chests.
Cridifer continued, “We plan to cross at dusk, that’s when the Nalun is least active, but first, you must cover yourself as we have.”
Ryder was perplexed. “With mud? Why?”
“If we’re going to cross, it’s best to look like a floating tree covered in mud, not two orvbas and a you,” teased Pidifer.
Ryder smiled. “Ah, good point, I’m glad you two planned this and not me!”
“We have a few hours before we depart. Ryder, go find some mud and roll around in it, and don’t forget to cover your face! We’ll work on dinner. Come on, Cridifer!”
As the two orvba scurried off, Ryder walked to the edge of the water to find some mud.
Chapter Seven
A LIGHT BREEZE RUSTLED THE LEAVES and pushed cool air through the makeshift village inhabited by the Tribe of Topher.
As dusk crept in, Brooklyn sat on a tree stump near a delightfully warm fire. Last night sure was strange.
Upon arriving last night, Albie had taken great care to introduce Brooklyn to each of the members of the Tribe of Topher. Many had the same reaction as Albie and initially referred to her as Princess Sophie. Even though she corrected them, she found herself being referred to as Sophie throughout the rest of the evening.
She shifted restlessly and fidgeted nervously. Should I leave to try and find Ryder? Or should I try to explain to Albie why I’m even in Necoh in the first place? Thoughts continuously flooded her mind, but she wasn’t able to make a decision one way or another, so she just sat by the fire and thought about her predicament.
Interrupting her thoughts, one of Albie’s tribesmen, Laro, approached her. “Um, Soph, I mean Brooklyn, would you like to see something really special?”
I guess a little break from all of this thinking wouldn’t be a bad thing. “Sure, that would be lovely, Laro.”
“Necoh is full of amazing plants and this is one of the most impressive specimens!”
Tall grass lightly brushed against her face. It reminded her of when she was a little girl and her family went camping. Those were the good old days. My mom and dad still loved each other. I didn’t have to worry about Kai and Parker messing around behind my back. Sighing, she continued to follow Laro through the tall grass as the sun began to sink in the sky.
“Hey, Laro, are we almost there?”
“Yes, my dear, we’re getting close.”
He should have warned me it would be such a hike! It feels like we’ve been walking for half an hour, maybe more. Speaking of which, I wonder how they tell time here? Is it the same as it is at home? I better not ask… that will definitely give away that I’m not from Necoh!
“It’s just ahead now, dear. I can see the field ahead of us.”
I hope Albie isn’t worried that I’m gone. I should have told him before I just got up and left.
“Ah, there it is,” said Laro.
Straining her eyes, she thought she could make out pockets of large, colorful flowers a few feet ahead.
Laro bent down to pick a vibrant orange flower that was so bright it literally glowed in the dimming light. “Take a smell of this, So—, I mean, Brooklyn. It’s one of the most divine smells you’ll ever inhale!”
Breathing deeply, Brooklyn’s nose felt like it was in paradise! This is heavenly!
“Here my dear, try this one,” he said, as he held up a bright purple flower with pink stripes.
As she bent down to inhale the sweet fumes from the second flower, Brooklyn began to feel a bit dizzy. Whoa!
“Is something wrong, dear?”
“No, I mean, I don’t think so. I just stood up too quickly a minute ago.”
With a puzzled look on his face, Laro asked, “A minute? What’s that?”
Sitting down didn’t improve things. Her mouth went bone dry and her surroundings began to spin violently.
“There, there, sweet princess, just a quick nap and I’ll collect the reward for returning you to your father.”
The spinning sensation continued as Brooklyn could feel herself being loaded on to some type of makeshift wagon.
No! I’m not the princess! What’s happening? Where is he taking me? She could feel Laro u
sing rope to secure her to the cart. Her mind screamed, NO! But her body wouldn’t cooperate. She was fading in and out of consciousness. Her last memory was seeing Laro secure the final knot near her feet.
With a chuckle he said, “You can never be too careful, Princess! I can’t have you waking up and escaping!”
By the time Laro had turned around and began to pull the wagon, Brooklyn was completely unconscious.
“Going to the castle and I’m gonna get my big reward! Never have to worry… ‘bout a place to rest my furry… BEHIND! Ha ha ha!”
What is that god-awful singing?
Slowly opening her eyes, Brooklyn saw Laro’s back. He had a harness on and he appeared to be pulling her on several pieces of wood that were being held securely together with thick rope.
“Um, EXCUSE ME! What the hell is going on here, Laro?”
“Oh! Princess Sophie! You are awake! How was your slumber? Did you rest well?”
Princess Sophie? Again with that mess! Why didn’t anyone believe her that she wasn’t the long lost princess? “Look, Laro, I hate to burst your bubble, but I’m not Princess Sophie. My name is Brooklyn and I’m not very happy that you drugged me and bound me to this thing! Where are you taking me?”
“Oh, Princess Sophie, you don’t have to hide your true identity from me anymore, I know it’s you! Don’t you miss your father? He’s been going mad with grief ever since you disappeared! But don’t you worry, he’ll be so happy to see you! I’ll be happy, too! You see, I’ll get the reward! A life full of happiness in one of your father’s estates!”
“Laro, you’re crazy! I’m not the princess, I never was and I never will be! Please let me go! I just want to find my friend and go home!”
“Sweet girl, why are you fighting your return? Any girl in Necoh would be thrilled to be the daughter of King Debnor!”
Realizing he wasn’t going to untie her and let her go, Brooklyn began to struggle. She wiggled her fingers, which proved to be useless. Attempting to kick her legs didn’t get her very far, either.
“Let me go!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.
“Now, now, Princess, I can’t bring you home in this condition! The King will think I was the cause of your distress and I may not receive my reward!” Laro stopped, gently removed the harness, and set it on the ground.
Now what is he doing? She felt increasingly nervous as she listened to him riffle through his bag.
“Here, sweet Princess, this will help you relax!” Before she knew what was happening, Laro held a bright blue flower with green spots under her nose.
“Take a deep breath, Princess Sophie, we’re just another day’s journey and you will be home. Everything will be all right then, don’t you worry your pretty little head!”
Seeing the flower caused Brooklyn to panic. Instead of holding her breath, she accidentally inhaled harshly. She felt the effects of the flower immediately and she knew it was only a matter of time before she passed out again. “Please, Laro, don’t do this to me! Please, just let me go…” Her ability to speak faded and the spinning sensation overwhelmed her senses.
Chapter Eight
BRAVING THE SWIVE RIVER TURNED out to be just as terrifying as Ryder expected. Waiting until dusk and traveling caked in mud was helpful, but it didn’t stop the Nalun noticing them. Halfway across, one of its large tentacles wrapped around the front of their vessel and gave a sharp tug.
Cridifer and Pidifer’s eyes widened but they remained silent.
As the Nalun began to pull the front of the raft down into the swirling dark water, Ryder knew he had to take charge of the situation or they would all perish. Attempting to balance on the tipping vessel proved to be near impossible. But somehow, Ryder managed to unsheathe his sword.
The orvbas sensed his plan, covered their eyes, and clung to the wooden planks for all they were worth.
Ryder raised the gleaming blade above his head and began to hack at the tentacle gripping the front of the vessel.
The Nalun screeched and bubbles shot to the surface of the menacing river. More tentacles began to shoot through the water and wrapped themselves firmly around the vessel.
“We’re going to die!” Cridifer and Pidifer screamed.
Ryder could sense the imminent danger. His mind flashed back to the hours he spent in the woods training with his father’s sword. Then, as if in some sort of trance, Ryder began to swing the blade through the air with a murderous vengeance gleaming in his eyes.
Black, tarry blood shot out of the Nalun’s severed tentacles, drenching Ryder and the orvbas.
Losing his balance on the vessel, Ryder leaned dangerously close to the water. Quickly, he shifted his weight. That’s when he heard the loud crack. Suddenly, the vessel began to split down the middle, leaving Ryder and Cridifer on one side and Pidifer on the other.
“Brother! No!” screamed Cridifer as he reached his hand out to grab Pidifer’s outstretched hand.
Ryder continued to hack away at the tentacles as the Nalun viciously attacked the vessel.
The orvbas desperately attempted to stay together and keep the cracked boat from separating into a hundred different pieces.
Eventually, the Nalun lost strength as Ryder severed tentacle after tentacle. Finally the attack completely subsided. Taking a deep breath Ryder looked down and discovered that Pidifer was missing.
“Cridifer! Where is your brother?”
“He went overboard. I reached out for him, but he went downstream too quickly,” sobbed Cridifer.
“Can he swim?”
“Yes, of course, all orvba can swim, but how will he ever survive the Swive? This is terrible!”
“Okay, Cridifer,” Ryder said. “I know you’re upset right now, but I need your help. We need to get to shore right now. Once we’re there, I promise we’ll look for your brother!”
“O–o–okay,” Cridifer stammered as tears ran down his mud-caked face.
Using splintered pieces of the water vessel, they managed to paddle themselves to shore. Upon reaching the squishy muddy bank, Cridifer collapsed in grief.
“Oh my brother, my sweet, kind, brave brother! This is all my fault! I should have told him ‘No! We don’t need to go find any missing princess!’ But I didn’t, I was greedy and wanted to live happily ever after!”
Ryder touched his shoulder. “Cridifer, all is not lost. Perhaps he managed to get out of the Swive just as we have? Plus, you told me he could swim. Without the Nalun attempting to attack him, I bet he was able to make it to the shore. Shall we go look for him?”
“Do you really think there’s a chance he survived?”
Ryder reassuringly patted Cridifer on the back. “Of course I do. Come on, let’s—” Before Ryder could finish, he felt something sharp prick him in the back of the neck. Startled, he thought, what the hell was that?
“Ouch!” Cridifer cried out.
Reaching back, Ryder felt a small dart poking out of the back of his neck. As he pulled the dart out, his surroundings began to blur together and his head felt heavy.
As he fell to the ground, his last memory was a small creature approaching him with a large blade held above his head.
Opening his eyes, Ryder experienced momentary confusion. Where am I? He sat up and looked around. Bright sunshine trickled in from holes in the ceiling of a dilapidated hut.
Then the memories of the Nalun attack and being shot with a dart flooded his memory. Attempting to sit up, Ryder quickly realized he was tied up and securely tethered to the ground.
“What the hell?” he muttered as he tried to wiggle out of the restraints holding him hostage.
“He’s awake! The big one is awake!” screeched a nearby voice.
“Hello? Who’s there? Why am I tied up?”
“Pull him up so we may speak with him!”
Instantly, Ryder felt himself being pulled up to a sitting position by many small hands.
Blinking a few times, his vision felt okay, but in front of him stood a small cr
eature.
“I am Albie from the Tribe of Topher! I must know why you were in the Swive River and what business you have searching for the princess!”
“Princess?”
“Yes, I heard your orvba friend say that you that you shouldn’t have been searching for the missing princess.”
Oh no! They must know about the missing princess, too! Do they have Brooklyn? Do they think she’s the princess?
Sighing, Ryder decided it was best to be somewhat honest. “Look, my name is Ryder and I’m not looking for the missing princess, I’m looking for my friend, Brooklyn.” He paused when he heard Cridifer gasp loudly in the background.
“I was trying to help my friend get home when Grishma attacked us in the Kadin Forest. Grishma snatched her up and carried her off. I think she may have thrown herself in the Swive River to get away, but I’m not sure. My friends, Cridifer and Pidifer, and I all got on a vessel and attempted to cross the river. That’s when we were attacked and Pidifer was lost downstream.”
Albie looked inquisitively at Ryder and then at Cridifer. “Can you two swear you mean no harm to any member of the Tribe of Topher?”
“Of course,” stammered Cridifer.
“Yes, I do not mean to harm anyone except Grishma.”
“Untie them,” Albie ordered two nearby Tribe of Topher creatures serving as guards.
Once untied, Ryder thanked the guards and turned to Albie. “Did you see Brooklyn? I fear she’s in grave danger. You see, she looks just like the missing Princess Sophie and there is a great reward to anyone who can find her and bring her to King Debnor of Sumner.”
Sighing, Albie looked at Ryder. “Yes, my boy, she did make it across the Swive River and she was with us until dusk last night. That’s when we were betrayed by Laro, one of our own.”
“What do you mean betrayed? Who is Laro? Did he take Brooklyn?”
“Laro is one of the Tribe of Topher. He lost his wife last year to the Swive River, and since then, he hasn’t been quite right. As soon as he met Brooklyn last night, he instantly thought she was the princess. Actually, I must admit, we all did. But we never meant her any harm, I swear it. Anyway, some time around dusk, he must have lured her away, and by the time I went to check on her, she was gone.”