A portal appeared where the rock had been. My heart leapt at the sight. It was about time something went my way for once.
“You did it,” Kull said, staring in awe at the glittering portal overhead.
“Yeah. Next time we come to Earth, remind me to bring my magic with me. That was a pain in the neck traveling all the way out here just to get through a simple portal.”
“I never intend to return to Earth again.”
“You didn’t like any of it?”
“No. I’ll be glad to be rid of all my memories of this world.”
“I agree,” I mumbled.
Kull grasped the sword as he studied the portal. Eying him, I prayed crossing through it restored his memories of me. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could put up with His Majesty the Skullsplitter.
I closed the mirror and stuffed it in my backpack. Kull and I hiked up to the formation and climbed to the now open archway, but as soon as Kull grasped the ledge leading to the portal, a blast of white light blinded us both, and the familiar shot of a basita weapon echoed through the canyon.
Kull screamed and fell backward. In horror, I watched as he tumbled down the ten-foot drop and landed hard on the ground. The sword clattered beside him, and Kull cursed. Writhing, he struggled to get to his feet.
“Kull!” I called, scrambling to get down to him.
Two elves emerged from behind a set of pillars. I recognized them both, though I wasn’t sure I’d ever officially met either of them. One man had black hair that he wore in long, greasy strands down his back. He also wore black robes that contrasted with his chalky skin. He’d been in the Madralorde’s castle working for the queen. Veladon, I remembered, the queen’s vizier.
The other elf was female. While beautiful with long, midnight-blue hair and a shapely figure, I couldn’t mistake the hostility in her eyes.
My throat constricted as I reached Kull’s side. He’d been shot by a basita. As I rolled him to face away from me, I noticed a burn wound boring into his back.
The two elves stood over Kull and me.
The male elf picked up the sword as the woman looked on.
“Bastards,” I spat. “You waited to shoot him in the back? You’ll regret this.” I ground my teeth, wanting so badly to strike them down.
“That’s not a very kind greeting, is it?” the woman said. She had a musical voice, one that carried authority and power. I couldn’t mistake the intensity I felt in her magic, but I wouldn’t let her intimidate me.
“If you wanted the sword,” I said, “you should’ve just taken it. You had no need to shoot him.”
The man approached me. His pale skin reminded me of the flesh of a corpse. He reached out with his magic and constricted my throat. His power buzzed through my nerve endings, heat lancing through my arms and into my fingers, then throughout my body, into my legs, and down to the tips of my toes.
He leered as he drew close to me, and his fetid breath was even more unpleasant than the sensation of his magic.
“I’ve seen you before,” he said, his voice a hiss, reminding me of a snake. “In the vaults beneath the Madralorde’s keep. You eluded me then, didn’t you?”
If I could’ve breathed, I might’ve answered.
“You won’t elude me now.”
The magic grew stronger until stars danced in my vision. My lungs screamed for air. Panic welled inside me at the loss of oxygen. Sweat beaded on my brow as the two elves backed away from Kull and me.
The woman uttered a spell, and a portal formed behind them. Without another word, they crossed through it, carrying the sword, leaving us to die.
Chapter Eighteen
I awoke with a pounding headache. Trying to focus, I realized I no longer lay in the Utah desert. Overhead, a starlit sky flecked with the purple bobbing lights of fairies soared above me. The headache faded as I breathed deeply. My churning stomach settled as I inhaled the cool Faythander air. There was nothing so healing as returning to Faythander after a painful quest to Earth. I’d come back home, back where I really belonged.
But how had I gotten here? The last thing I remembered, I’d been on Earth under Veladon’s spell.
Kull loomed in my vision, blocking out the sky. Had he saved me?
“Hey, Skullsplitter,” I managed, my voice hoarse.
“Skullsplitter?”
I only smiled. Talking right now wasn’t an easy task.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
“I’ve got a headache, but it’s going away pretty quickly.”
“Can you sit up?”
“Yeah, give me a minute.” After a few more deep breaths, the headache dissipated enough to allow me to move. As I rose onto my elbows, I scanned the area.
A gentle breeze tugged on shoots of purple grass that smelled of lavender. Their stalks made a whispering sound as the wind blew. Shallow ponds were interspersed throughout the area, and nobbinflies darted. Some made ripples in the water, while others made tiny splashes. Tall plants grew throughout the meadow. They looked like dandelions, with fluffy white balls atop sturdy stems, though some were as tall as trees. Fairy homes were nestled inside some of the round balls, making them glow in rich colors of copper and orange. I’d never seen plants like that before, not even here in Faythander.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“No idea,” Kull answered. “I was hoping you would know.”
I shook my head, looking from the grass to a shimmering dome on the horizon. A city, maybe? “Do you see that?” I asked.
“Yes. It could be a settlement of some sort. Do you feel well enough to walk?”
“I will in a minute.” I turned to him. “How did we get here?”
“After the elves left, I knew if either of us were to be healed, we’d have to get through the portal, so I carried you through it.”
“You carried me? And you remember doing it?”
He nodded.
“But how? You’d been shot.”
“Stunned, really. I’ve had worse.”
“And… you’re better now?”
“Yes, the portal healed me.”
“That shouldn’t have been possible. Naturally occurring portals don’t heal physical wounds, and you didn’t have a memory charm, so you shouldn’t be able to remember anything.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive. Unless… unless the enchantment I used to remove the masking spell interacted with the portal somehow, causing it to function unpredictably. I suppose it’s possible. I don’t know any other explanation.”
Glancing up at him, I was almost too afraid to ask if he remembered me, but I had to know. “What all do you remember?”
He cleared his throat and didn’t look at me. “Everything.”
“As in everything everything?”
He only nodded.
“You remember Earth Kingdom? You remember me?”
“Yes, and I feel I must apologize. I was not in my right mind, although I realize that is not an excuse for the way I acted. I am sorry for how I treated you.”
Elated, I grabbed him in a tight hug, catching him off guard. “You have no idea how glad I am to hear those words.”
He laughed. “I wasn’t that bad, was I?”
“You were horrible.” I pulled away and poked his chest. “Never get cursed again. Deal?”
“You know I have no control over such a thing.”
“Doesn’t matter. You have no idea how much I wanted you back.” I hugged him again, feeling more relieved than I probably should have at finally having him back to normal.
“You hated me that much, huh?”
“Yes, more than you know.”
“You do realize a lesser person could take offense at you for saying such a thing.”
“But not you,” I answered, resting my head on his chest.
“You’re right,” he answered, stroking my hair. “You know me too well.”
After such a horrible ordeal with the elves, being trapped by Veladon’s
spell, and nearly suffocating, I took a few minutes to quietly savor being with Kull once again. There was no place in either world where I felt more safe. He was my champion and my guardian; he’d saved me in more ways than one, and I never wanted to let him go.
With the impending arrival of an asteroid, and with the elves still searching for the sword, I knew I couldn’t stay wrapped in his arms forever, so I pushed away from him.
“I think I’m well enough now. Should we go?”
“There’s no rush,” he said.
“Actually, there is. There’s this asteroid headed for our planet that we need to somehow stop, a sword to find, and a goddess to destroy.”
“And by now, the elves must’ve realized they stole a worthless sword. They’ll soon be on the trail to the goblin lands tracking down the actual sword. And,” Kull sighed, “I’ve lost yet another sword. I’m back to using Gnat Biter.” He tapped his sword’s hilt peeking from his scabbard.
“It seems you’re not having the best luck with swords.”
“No. I’m not, but my mind is my own once again and I have you. That’s all I need.” Kull smiled, though I still saw the sadness. He stood and outstretched his hand. I took it and stood, feeling a bit of lingering dizziness and nausea, but at least the headache was gone. We faced the horizon where a large dome shimmered.
“Have you ever seen anything like that?” I asked.
“No, I’m not familiar with it, but Faythander is a big continent. There are many uncharted settlements.”
“Do you think it’s safe to go there?”
“No way to be sure, but we can’t stay in this field. With any luck, the people in that village will be able to point us to the nearest light-rails, and we’ll be able to make it back to Danegeld.”
Kull found my pack lying beside him and handed it to me. “I believe this is yours.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking it from him.
We set off across the field, avoiding the giant dandelions and shallow pools of water where nobbinflies danced, leaving glowing trails of blue and purple lights in their wake. The cool evening air stirred with a gentle breeze. Sounds of fairy chatter pervaded the silence as slanting rays of sunlight quickly disappeared from the grasslands.
I clasped Kull’s hand as we walked. It felt so good to have him back again. I wasn’t sure what I would’ve done if he’d been stuck as King Kull the Snippy Skullsplitter forever. Probably would’ve shot myself, to be honest.
Drawing closer to the city, we dodged another pool. Turquoise lights shimmered beneath the transparent domes, like something from another world, and not something I was familiar with on Faythander. It was a beautiful sight in an altogether magical way, and the sight of the village housed beneath the dome mesmerized me.
Spiraling waves of magic shimmered over the dome’s surface. Inside, I saw the tall silhouettes of trees soaring over the village. Bridges connected some of the trees together.
“Should we knock?” Kull asked.
“I don’t know,” I said, reaching out. My own magic was slowly returning, and I felt it filling me with energy. As I pressed my hand to the dome’s surface, a wave of radiant energy—powerful, but harmless—brushed against my magic.
“I think it’s okay to enter. There’s some sort of spell here, but I don’t think it will hurt us.”
“Very well.” He surveyed the dome. “Shall we enter together?” He held out his hand, and I took it. Together, we stepped through the barrier.
I felt as if I were entering through a portal. Though the side effects of dizziness and disorientation weren’t present, the spots of light dancing in my vision were similar. Colorful baubles of pink and blue shimmered in and out of appearance until Kull and I crossed to the other side.
We stepped into a place that could only be described as otherworldly.
“I’ve seen these trees before,” I said to Kull.
“Yes, they’re cilla moon trees. Just like the one growing behind Grandamere’s cottage.”
“I’ve never seen so many in one place.”
Trees that looked as if they’d been crafted of glass soared above us. Magic coursed through their trunks and into their limbs, making the trees appear to glow with a soft blue light. Glass and timber bridges connected one tree to another.
Leaves of varying shades of purple, blue, and green fluttered from the tree’s massive limbs. As I studied the trees, structures resembling large tree houses built seamlessly into the branches became visible, although the craftsmanship of the homes made them blend in so well they were nearly camouflaged.
The sounds of running water echoed, and I spied a river running through the trees not far away. Colorful vegetation and flowers sprouted from the ground around the trees’ bases, scenting the air with the fresh fragrances similar to pine and spruce.
“My goodness.” I gasped. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a place more beautiful.”
“Beautiful, yes, but is it dangerous?”
“Good question. I have no idea who lives here. Shall we find out?”
“Yes, but we should proceed with caution. I’m down to one lousy sword, you know.”
“Yes, you’ve mentioned it.”
Kull and I walked toward the trees and found a wooden footbridge crossing the many streams weaving below the trees. My mouth gaped as I stared overhead. The tree branches made a quiet tinkling sound as they moved in a gentle breeze, their limbs laden with jewel-like fruit. Bauble lights also hung from the branches, glowing in tranquil tones of amber and soft blue, casting light down on the water running under our feet.
Beneath the water’s surface, creatures swam. I even spotted a melimar—a small mermaid creature with corn silk hair—gliding gracefully through the stream. Our footfalls thumped over the wooden planks as we walked. The fresh scent of tree sap filled the air, and a gentle breeze carried magic in its wake.
Ahead, several people emerged on the bridge, blocking our path. Kull’s hand tightened around mine. We stopped as we approached them.
One man stood in front of the others. He was an elf dressed in a simple white robe with silver trim. A braided leather rope encircled his head, and his brunette hair was tied back in a low ponytail. I also noticed his magic, a powerful force I wasn’t sure I wanted to challenge.
The man raised his hand in a peaceful gesture. “I am called Eyrin of the city of Celestara. Welcome, strangers, to our home.”
“Your home?” I asked. “Where exactly are we?” It occurred to me then that I wasn’t even sure which kingdom we’d arrived in.
“This is the home of Wendolun, Lord of the Outer Province.”
“Wendolun,” I said. “I know that name.” I turned to Kull. “He helped us defeat the bloodthorn, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he and his men helped us. He was also helping me construct my library, but he said he was from Delestria.”
“That is true,” Eyrin answered. “He is indeed the governor of Delestria, although he was born here and still spends some of his time here. Are you here to visit him?”
“He’s here now?” I asked.
Eyrin nodded.
“We’re not here to meet with Wendolun, although we appreciate the offer. We’re searching for the light-rails. Are they nearby?” Kull asked.
Eyrin frowned. “No. I am afraid we are in a remote location.”
The elves standing behind Eyrin shifted, and I noted that two of them had bows slung over their shoulders.
“Tell me, how is it you have found our village?” Eyrin asked.
“It wasn’t intentional,” I answered. “We opened a portal from Earth Kingdom, and it brought us here.”
He raised an eyebrow. “From Earth Kingdom?”
I nodded.
“You are an Earthlander?”
“Yes, half.”
“Half?”
“Half-elven. It’s complicated.”
He cocked his head. “Are you the sky king’s ward?”
I cleared my throat. “I am. I supp
ose word travels fast in Faythander.”
“Indeed,” he answered. “Tell me, what were you doing in Earth Kingdom?”
“It’s a long story, but we’ve been searching for something.”
“I see.” He pondered us a moment before turning to the elves standing behind him. Speaking softly, he said they were no longer needed. The elves dispersed, and Eyrin turned back toward us.
“It is fortunate you have arrived here,” he said quietly. “We are friends, although you may not be aware, but Wendolun has been secretly aiding the elves who oppose the queen for some time. His allegiance is to the sky king. As the sky king’s ward, you are granted sanctuary in our city. You may stay here as long as you wish.”
“Thank you, but unfortunately, we can’t stay long. It’s important we find the light-rails and leave as soon as possible,” I answered.
“I understand,” Eyrin said, tucking his hands into the sleeves of his robes. “I would be more than willing to discuss your traveling needs. However, I am afraid the remoteness of our location makes traveling difficult, and I am tardy for a pressing engagement. Join me for the evening meal and we shall discuss your journey then.”
“Is there any way we can discuss it now?” I asked. “Perhaps there is someone else we can speak with?”
“No, I am afraid now is not a good time. Anyone else you could speak with will also be dining at this hour. Join me, and I shall make sure your needs are met.”
Kull and I followed Eyrin along the footbridge until we reached a staircase. The steps were constructed completely of glass and the banister was made of smooth wood that was carved in the likeness of vines. The three of us ascended the stairs until we reached the trees’ canopy, and then continued along a bridge that led from one tree to another.
When we reached a large structure surrounding one of the taller trees, we entered through an open doorway. Inside, we found a small group of elves gathered around tables piled with steaming food. My stomach growled at the scent of roasted vegetables smothered in melted cheeses, hot stew, loaves of bread glistening with a buttery sheen, and fluffy white pastries.
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