by M. L. Greye
And Trenton…Will groaned softly, rubbing his eyes with his hand. Had he really just witnessed that? Had his great-grandfather really come to the Other Worlds? It was almost too much to believe. But then, what had Trenton said to him that day he’d left? Something about the woods not calling very often…
Will struggled to remember Trenton’s exact words, but instead, one phrase echoed inside his head. “The opportunity for greatness.” Trenton had known the trees would act as a portal to another realm. He must have had the same thing happen to him years before. During his adventures, Trenton became a great warrior and fell in love with a beautiful Eve-turned-Saerdian. Tyra was Will’s great-grandmother, which meant that Will had a small portion of her realm’s blood in him, connecting him to the Other Worlds far more than he had thought.
He needed to find out how long he and Olinia had been gone, and alert someone that they were back. As he headed for the door onto the balcony, though, his foot caught on something heavy. He glanced down in surprise. It was the sword and scroll the Leaders had left him and Olinia. The scroll was once again wrapped around the sword’s hilt, just as they had found it the first time. Will crouched down and ran his thumb down the sheath’s rough edge. It was thick, dark leather with small metal arrows pressed into its front, all pointing downward to the black steel cap at the sheath’s bottom.
Will reached out and picked up the sword, sliding the scroll off its hilt to reveal its silver gleam. At first glance, back in Andin, he had thought the hilt plain, but now upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn’t plain at all. The hilt’s handgrip was a mass of twisted steel that reminded him of a rope of Twizzlers, reaching upward to a round blue stone and downward to a silver circlet the size of his fist, encompassing the hilt. Will assumed the stone at the top was a sapphire. The circlet at the bottom made for an odd connection between haft and blade.
Setting the scroll down onto the floor, he grabbed hold of the hilt and yanked the sword from its sheath. He blinked with its weight; he had expected it to be much heavier. Then, his eyes landed on the blade. It was a pale, silvery blue, similar in color to a shallow pool of water lit by early morning light. Down the length of its edge, Eveon characters were engraved into the steel. Will peered closer to make them out, but they disappeared. They could only be seen from a distance.
Will reluctantly sheathed the blade and set it onto the floor beside the scroll. He wished he were still in Andin; he wanted to ask the Fraers his questions, especially the ones about his great-grandfather. Trenton had been to the Other Worlds. How had he left? And, more importantly, why had he? Will wondered if his fate would follow that of Trenton’s, or if he would be permitted to stay.
Will rocked back off his heals, sitting down onto the cool stone beside his bed. His eyes returned to the sword and scroll. He realized Olinia hadn’t finished reading it. He frowned. What else had her father written her? Did the rest of Legann’s words explain the story behind the sword? Intrigued, Will reached out and picked up the scroll. He quickly found the place where Olinia had left off and began reading…
While Trenton prepared the city for its destruction, my men and I were put on the defensive. My brother was gaining ground, pushing us closer and closer to the city. By the time Trenton returned to us, we were less than a mile away. We were able to see the great towers of Balinorre peeking over the tops of the trees. It was then that I became frightened. I did not know how to destroy the city and I was growing weak. The battle had drained me. I became worried for my parents, hoping that they had already left the city. I did not want my brother to lay a finger on them, especially not my mother.
Trenton must have sensed my mood change because suddenly he was at my side, encouraging me onward by his own determination. The two of us, fighting side by side, were what my men needed to see. It renewed their spirits enough that we began to press back our enemy. With every inch we drove them back, the higher our spirits rose. We had the chance to win, the opportunity to end this war between heirs. But then the air was shattered by thunder coming from our beloved city.
As one, our heads turned to Balinorre, and as one we gaped. A giant blue bowl covered the towers and balustrades we were in the very midst of fighting over. It was as if someone had carefully crafted a bubble around our city. I glanced at Trenton, baffled by the sight. His face was pale. Without turning to me, he breathed one word, “Tyra.”
And then he was off, leaving me, desperately trying to think of a way to send my men to Evedon to save their lives from the strange blue orb around us. I settled with my horn. My men knew that if it was blown then it signaled them to gather near me.
My idea worked. My men soon surrounded me. I opened a portal with my own shimmer stone and began pushing them through to Evedon. And then the ground began to shake beneath our feet. Many of my men fell to their knees. Never had we experienced something like this. I quickly opened a second portal to allow more through. When the last soldier disappeared through the threshold, I too left Balinorre and my brother’s frightened men behind me, hoping Trenton would make it to Evedon safely.
“They told me you were awake.”
Will’s head snapped up in surprise. “Aeorin?”
She smiled. “What are you doing on the floor?”
“Reading.”
“So I see.” She laughed lightly and moved beside him, lowering herself onto the floor. “What is it that you are reading?”
“A history of Balinorre.”
“Oh.” Aeorin looked down at her lavender gown and began smoothing out wrinkles, as if to let him know that the topic of his reading didn’t interest her. “How long have you been awake?”
“I’m not sure. How long did the Eves say you were asleep?”
“About two days,” she answered.
“Is Fuladrik back now?”
Aeorin shrugged. “I did not know he had left.”
A soft groan suddenly sounded from behind them. Aeorin whirled in surprise. Will just smiled. Olinia was most likely dreaming about their little adventure.
“Who is that?” Aeorin hissed.
Will raised an eyebrow at her tone. “It’s Olinia.”
She stared. “The princess?”
He nodded, still puzzled by Aeorin’s reaction.
“Why is she in your bed?”
“She fell asleep.”
Before she could respond, the sound of rustling covers made him turn. Olinia had pushed herself up to a sitting position and was rubbing her eyes with one hand. “Awake already?” He asked.
Olinia gazed past him to the sunlight on the balcony. “Has it not been very long?”
“Maybe thirty minutes,”
“Oh,” Olinia shrugged and yawned. “Hello, Lady Aeorin.”
“Your highness,” Aeorin bobbed her head once, lowering her eyes to the floor in the fashion of a very small curtsey.
“How are you feeling?” Olinia slipped out of the covers.
Aeorin’s eyes momentarily showed a trace of shock, but she regained her composure quickly. Olinia frowned at her reaction, but then realized she was still wearing the shift she had worn in Andin. Olinia grinned inwardly. Aeorin must be thinking awful things about High Royalty right now.
Olinia bit her tongue to stop herself from laughing. “Are you not feeling well? You didn’t answer my question.”
Aeorin faked a smile. “I am very well.” She paused, and then asked Will, “So, what are you to do now? Will you try to rescue your friend?”
“You mean my brother?” Olinia frowned.
Aeorin nodded. “Yes, your brother.”
Olinia exchanged glances with Will. “I think we had decided on finding the last Silver Heart.”
“Why do you ask?” Will was watching Aeorin.
“I wish to return to my father,” Aeorin replied.
“That should be fine.” Will nodded. “We can take you home on our way to the Silver Heart.”
* * * * * *
The hallway was dim, but Sazx could have trave
led it blindfolded. It held no mysteries for him. He knew every crack, chip, and rivet. There were no secrets in the hallway, no destructive plan he needed to carry out behind the backs of unsuspecting victims. The hallway was simply content to be a hallway, unmoving and unchanging. Such consistency was soothing to Sazx. He longed for a simple life, free of expectations, requirements, and loyalties.
Sazx let his breath out in a rush. The hallway led to Dagon’s personal tower. It was Dagon’s study – his retreat. Only the Second or Captain was ever permitted entrance and only when summoned.
Sazx reached the heavy door and called out, “Lord Dagon.”
“Enter Sazx,” came Dagon’s muffled reply. Dagon did not permit knocking; he found it useless.
Once inside with the door shut behind him, Sazx dropped to one knee. “You sent for me, milord?”
Dagon nodded. He was positioned behind his massive desk, facing the door, reclining in his large stuffed chair. “I have a project for you.”
Always. Outwardly Sazx nodded his head once. “Yes, milord.”
“In ten days time we will capture Relivaynt,” Dagon told him. “As Relivaynt is a world of both Saerds and Eves, I am afraid we will be forced to use Kendren aid.”
Sazx nodded again. He was not especially fond of the Kendren brothers, but knew they served their purpose. They had helped Dagon gain many worlds and had successfully maintained their own growing kingdom. Dagon’s alliance with them three generations before had been an ingenious decision. In exchange for a potion of everlasting youth from the Velvitors, the Kendren brothers had pledged their men and devices to Dagon whenever needed.
“My job for you is to inquire of the Kendrens for military support,” Dagon continued. “I will ask my Vrylaen stone for their location.”
“I will leave immediately, milord.” Sazx began to rise, but Dagon stopped him with a wave of his own hand.
“There is something else,” Dagon cautioned. “We attack not only for our own gain; the Velvitors wish something of us in exchange for their volunteered aid.”
Sazx’s jaw tightened. He hated the Velvitors. They were half-human creatures, devoted to their spells and rituals. Their alliance with Dagon had not been one of compliance, as it had been with the Kendrens; their world had been captured by Dagon, who permitted their king to remain as sovereign only if they pledged their allegiance to Dagon as their emperor. Sazx wished the Velvitors had not given their consent. He loathed working with them under any circumstances.
“What do they wish of us?”
“The Lady Aeorin,” Dagon replied. “King Talik wishes her to become his bride. He is enamored with her great beauty.”
“Lord Oldron’s daughter?” Sazx snorted. Aeorin was nothing more than an ill-bred Saerd, doted upon too often by men who believed her beauty as unmatched within all of the Other Worlds. Those men were fools. Saerdian women were lacking. Only those with any trace of Eveon blood had ever caught Sazx’s attention.
Dagon nodded. “King Talik fights for her capture. Be sure that he receives her.”
“Yes, milord.”
“Good. Now,” Dagon rubbed his chin with one hand, “what do you think of my nephew?”
“I think he is growing tired of his visitors.”
Dagon chuckled, “That is a nice way to put it. How long do you think he will hold up against the ghosts?”
“I am not sure, milord,” Sazx admitted. “Your nephew is strong.”
“Then I will continue to be patient.”
* * * * * *
“Sir, we would appreciate your speedy delivery of a room. As I have already stated, my wife is very tired.”
The overly fed innkeeper stared at Archrin as if he hadn’t heard him. Archrin struggled to control his growing irritation as the man turned around toward a wall of hanging keys. Why was he being so difficult? Finally, he turned back to Archrin and extended a small brass key. “Top floor, room three,” he said in a raspy voice.
“Thank you.” Archrin took the key and spun to where he’d left Tiara sleeping on a bench.
They had been riding for almost two days, stopping only once or twice each day to rest the horse. Each stop had only lasted for a couple hours, and never during the night. Immediately following their exit of Drivian, through the use of his Sinith, Archrin tore off across the new world’s countryside, trying to place as much distance behind him and his would-be pursuers. Siniths were unique devices, perhaps the closest objects to shimmer stones. It wouldn’t be hard for those following him to find the course he and Tiara had taken. The only way to evade them entirely would be to ditch his Sinith. All Siniths were linked together having the ability to communicate through worlds. Archrin would need to destroy his Sinith in order to become invisible to the Kendrens.
Archrin crouched down beside Tiara and shook her gently. “Wake up, Tiara,” he whispered as she stirred. “We can go to our room now.”
She sat up, looking dazed. “What?”
“Let’s go up to our room,” he said, helping her to her feet. She leaned against him, and he knew she was still asleep. Archrin grunted. Of course she was asleep. Why wouldn’t she be? It was startling that he was still awake. He was so far beyond the point of exhaustion that sleep seemed like a distant dream.
He shook his head and lifted Tiara into his arms before making his way towards the staircase that led to the rooms. When he reached the stairs, he swore. The innkeeper knew both Archrin and Tiara were exhausted yet he gave them a room on the fourth floor! Archrin spat out another string of curses as he began up the first flight of stairs. He’d act on his anger later once he wasn’t so tired. Maybe he’d phase and terrify the innkeeper’s horses. He’d have to leave Tiara up in the room, though. He had no desire to answer the questions that would undoubtedly follow should he change from his human form.
Somehow he got to the top floor. He found the assigned room and made it to the bed before everything went black.
* * * * * *
“Olinia,”
His voice pulled her awake with a start. The room was dark. It must have been after midnight. “Will?”
“Sorry, princess, but this can’t wait ‘til morning.”
“Don’t you ever sleep?”
He chuckled. “Every once in a while.”
“Why not now?”
“What do you know of Alonavess?” He asked, ignoring her question. “What does it mean in Saerdian?”
She blinked, surprised. “It means storm.”
“In what language?”
“It’s Fraerian,” she replied. “Why do you ask?”
Will ran a hand through his hair. “Do you know how the Key got his name?”
“The Key of Balinorre?”
“Yeah.”
Olinia furrowed her eyebrows. “I think it has something to do with the locking of worlds and the unlocking of war.”
Will grunted. “Great reasons.”
“Well, he did help destroy Balinorre.” She pushed herself up, leaning back on her hands.
“How do you know that?”
“From the Legends.”
“The Legends?”
She nodded. “Of Balinorre. They’re the stories my father mentioned, remember?”
“Oh.”
Olinia cocked her head to one side, “Why do you ask, Will?”
He held her eyes for a moment. “I’ve been reading that scroll.”
“Without me?”
“Sorry, princess, but I wanted to find out where that sword came from.”
“And did you?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “It belonged to the Key. To Trenton.”
Olinia blinked, “Trenton is the Key?”
Will smiled slightly. “Surprising, isn’t it?”
“It definitely enlightens some of my history lessons.” She paused. “Why did he leave the Other Worlds? What happened to Tyra?”
“Tyra was dying,” Will replied. “The Crystal Gem strained more from her than she had planned it to. Once in Evedon
, she broke into a fever and vomiting.”
“And no Healer could help her,” Olinia finished for him. “The lingering effects of the Gems.”
He nodded. “So, Trenton took her to Ethon to see if his doctors could help her.”
“Did they?”
“Yeah, they did.”
“But what of my father?” Olinia asked. “What happened to him?”
“Your grandparents sent him to live with the Fraers for a time, as a safety precaution, while they took care of Evedon,” he answered. “That’s where the scroll ends. Your father was living with the Fraers. I don’t think he’d met your mother yet.”
Will went silent. Then, “Are you glad you know the truth about what really happened?”
“Of course. Aren’t you?”
He shrugged. “Trenton wasn’t here for very long, and I doubt he ever returned. Why was he sent to a place he couldn’t stay in?”
She stared at him. Was this how Will felt? Was he afraid that he would be sent away? Olinia frowned. “Will, Trenton didn’t have to go back; he chose to go back. He did it to save Tyra.” She let that thought sink in. “Maybe the whole reason for him coming was just to find Tyra. I mean, look at the family that union created.”
Will let out a short laugh. “Yeah, look at it, princess. I’m the last one left in that line. I have no aunts and uncles, no cousins, and no siblings. What a waste of a union.”
Olinia narrowed her eyes. “Don’t say that again. You obviously don’t see how much you mean to me, but I will forever be in debt to Trenton for saving Tyra. If not for that, you probably wouldn’t exist, and I could be dead right now.”
“Dead?” Will raised one eyebrow.
“You carried me to Fuladrik. My silly brother got caught in a tree.”
Will let his eyes hold hers for a moment. The moonlight from her open balcony door glimmered onto her face, illuminating her every emotion. She was grateful for his entrance to the Other Worlds. But would she be so grateful when it came time for him to leave? “Don’t get too attached.” The words were out before he could stop them, causing him to instantly regret them.