Royal Promenade

by Suzanne G. Rogers

  She fled the Royal Box.

  ∞∞∞

  A troupe of acrobats began to entertain the crowd as Kellan made his way toward the dressing room tunnel. Blade was waiting for him just inside. “You’d be hard-pressed to prevail against Theissen on a good day, Stratford. Right now, you look as if you’ve been trounced by a troll.”

  “It can’t be helped.” Kellan sagged against the wall in a fruitless attempt to catch his breath. “I’m the only hope Alice has.”

  “I hate your guts for showing me up.”

  “You had your chance,” Kellan shot back.

  Blade made a sound of disgust. “You expect me to die for nothing?”

  “I expected you to die for Alice. There’s a difference.”

  Dewar and Paddy came at a run from the gladiator dressing room. Both had shed their competition clothes in favor of Ranger uniforms.

  Paddy glared at Blade. “It should be you on your way out there, not Kellan.”

  Dewar’s fists clenched at his sides. “You’re a coward, Blackmon.”

  Blade’s expression turned wooden. “You’re right.” He unzipped his fencing jacket as he strode away.

  “Come on.” Paddy draped Kellan’s arm across his shoulder. “Lean on me.”

  Kellan hobbled back to the holding area, where Paddy lowered him onto a bench. “Just so you know, if Theissen kills you, I’ll be the next man to challenge him.”

  Dewar frowned. “And if Paddy falls, I’ll take Theissen’s head off with the largest battle axe in the armory."

  Kellan’s laugh was mirthless. “Hopefully it won’t come to that.”

  “Of course it won’t.” Paddy and Dewar spoke together.

  “You’re terrible liars.” Kellan swallowed the lump in his throat as he gave his friends a misty smile. “I consider you my brothers. Gus, too.”

  “Yeah.” Paddy’s eyes had a sheen of emotion. “We’ll always be brothers.”

  “And the best of friends.” A muscle quivered in Dewar’s jaw. “Forever.”

  Despite his pain, Kellan’s spirits lifted a trifle. “How about the two of you bring me something light to wear from the armory?”

  Paddy nodded. “Right you are.”

  As the two hastened toward the armory, Kellan unsheathed his uniform sword and flipped the protective safety tip off the blade with his thumb.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Challenge

  As Alice made her way toward the gladiator dressing room, her bodyguards trailed close behind. As she hastened through the corridor and down a flight of stairs, her thoughts were focused on Kellan’s chances in the arena. If uninjured, she knew he would be a formidable match for the Shadow Realm prince. Unfortunately, Kellan was gravely injured and would not last long in the arena. Furthermore, Theissen couldn’t be trusted not to cheat with magic. Only a wizard’s shield would level the playing field. Alice eyed the silvery bracelet on her wrist with a frown. Kellan would never accept the shield if he thought it would leave her unprotected. As surreptitiously as possible, she transformed the bracelet into a red scarf to tie around his arm as a token of her esteem.

  At the bottom of the staircase, turned down a curved corridor until she reached her destination. To her dismay, Blade was pacing in front of the entrance.

  “Alessandra.” He swallowed. “You must despise me.”

  Alice was in no mood to discuss her feelings. “I must speak with Kellan.” She moved toward the door.

  Blade stepped into her path. “You’re not allowed inside.”

  “Ask him to meet me out here, then.”

  Blade glanced at her bodyguards. “Give us some privacy.”

  Alice nodded at them. “It’s all right.”

  The men gave the young wizard a contemptuous glare, but they retreated several yards.

  Blade took a deep breath. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for conceding. I care more about you than any woman I’ve ever met.”

  The confession brought her temper to the surface. “You graduated top in your class at the Academy and could have dueled Theissen with magic. Your affection for me is as real as a Minfo drama.”

  Two crimson spots formed over Blade’s cheekbones. “That’s very easy for you to say when you don’t have to fight him!”

  Her voice lowered to a whisper. “I promise you, if Theissen kills Kellan, he won’t live long. I’ll take my revenge against him one way or another, even if it’s the last thing I do.”

  Blade’s posture wilted. “Don’t…don’t talk that way. Wait here. I’ll send Stratford out.”

  ∞∞∞

  While Kellan waited for Paddy and Dewar to return with his armor, he unfastened the buttons on his jacket and tried without success to shrug off the garment. To his surprise, Blade returned to the dressing room and began to help.

  “Tell me something, Stratford.” His expression was strained. “Why didn’t you ever admit to being a wizard?”

  Kellan’s response was automatic. “What makes you think I’m a wizard?”

  Blade frowned. “I watched you use the secret entrance into Helene’s lab when you were alone. Only a wizard could have done that.”

  “At this point, there’s no need for secrets, I suppose. Ever since I learned that Zachary Blackmon was my sire, I’ve distanced myself from wizards as much as possible.”

  Blade studied him. “You’ve had no training.”

  “I studied a little on my own.”

  “I hope you know how to defend yourself against a magical attack. Theissen will do anything to win.” Blade made a sound of exasperation. “Take my hand.”

  “Why?” Albeit reluctantly, Kellan clasped the outstretched hand. “What is this about?”

  “Shut up. This might hurt a little.”

  A soft white glow formed around Blade’s head and traveled down his arm. As the light flowed into Kellan, he could feel a hideous itching in the broken finger on his left hand and in his cracked ribs. He tried to pull away, but Blade gripped his hand more firmly.

  “Stop struggling!”

  The desperate note in the wizard’s voice convinced Kellan that he was trying to help. The itching sensation eased after a short while, the swelling in his broken finger went down, and the soreness in Kellan’s muscles disappeared. At the same time, Blade’s pallor became alarmingly white, and he swayed on his feet.

  “That should help.” Blade relaxed his grip. “Alessandra is waiting in the corridor to talk to you.” He sank onto the bench and then fell to the floor in a faint.

  By the time Dewar and Paddy returned with a set of armor, Kellan had lifted his brother onto a table.

  Dewar peered at Blade’s limp form. “Did you get him that way, Kell?”

  “No, he did it to himself by healing me.” Kellan’s dislike of Blade gave way to gratitude. “He passed out afterward from exhaustion.”

  Paddy’s eyebrows drew together. “Should I take him to the hospital?”

  Kellan shook his head. “I don’t think a hospital can help.”

  He tore off the splint on his finger and held his arms out so Dewar could strap on a steel breast plate. To preserve agility, he chose to wear additional armor only on his forearms, shins, and the tops of his shoulders.

  When the last buckle had been fastened, Kellan edged toward the door. “Alice is waiting for me. I’ll be back.”

  “Hurry.” Paddy gestured toward the vidscreen, where the acrobats were taking their final bows. “You haven’t much time.”

  ∞∞∞

  As the nearest vidscreen showed the arena being prepared for the final match, Alice twisted the red scarf almost into knots. Kellan finally strode into view, radiating energy and—to her great shock and relief—good health.

  She gasped, “Oh, thank heavens you’re all right.”

  He fixed her with his smoky gray eyes. “You wished to speak with me, Princess?”

  “Yes.” She stepped closer. “You look fit.”

  “A gift of healing from my brother.” He pa
used. “I’m sorry I left without saying good-bye to you before. I had no choice.”

  “I know.” She lowered her voice. “You don’t have to fight Theissen. I’ll kill him myself.”

  He took her hand. “That would be an act of war, Alice.”

  “I don’t care! I’m begging you to concede!”

  “As a man of honor, I intend to meet my opponent on the battlefield and vanquish him.”

  “Theissen has no honor, Kellan!” She bit back tears. “I can’t lose you. I just can’t.”

  Kellan gave her a gentle smile. “I have more weapons at my disposal than you might imagine.” He deposited a kiss on her forehead and stepped back. “More importantly, I’m fighting for the woman I love.”

  “Take a token of my esteem with you into the arena.” She knotted the red sash just above his left elbow. “Good luck.”

  “Let me return your token of esteem with one of my own.”

  Kellan pulled her into a long, lingering kiss. She clung to him, desperate to memorize the taste and curves of his mouth and the scent of his skin.

  Seer’s voice echoed through the Coliseum loudspeakers. “Competitors for the Death Challenge, report to the arena!”

  Kellan released her. “I must go.”

  Alice slid from his warm embrace. “Come back to me.”

  “Count on it.”

  He gave her bodyguards a smart salute before disappearing into the dressing room. As Alice sped back toward the Royal Box, her lips moved in silent prayer. Let Kellan win. Let him live. Let him hold me in his arms again and forever.

  ∞∞∞

  Blade had not yet regained consciousness when Kellan took up his sword and shield. “If I don’t make it, tell everyone that Blackmon conceded the match so I could take his place.” He glanced at Blade’s prone form. “My brother deserves as much.”

  Dewar nodded. “We will let it be known.”

  “Oh, and give my best regards to Gus,” Kellan said. “He’s out of the hospital and resting in my room.”

  Paddy gave Kellan a smart salute. “We will.”

  “Excellent.” Kellan returned the salute. “Carry on, Rangers.”

  He sprinted through the tunnel and into the light. When he joined his competitor in the arena, Theissen glowered.

  “I protest, Minister Seer. Stratford is not in the same condition as he was when he issued the Challenge.”

  “Duly noted, Your Highness, but the rules don’t strictly prohibit the use of healing magic before a match.” Seer paused. “That being said, you may still withdraw your acceptance of the Challenge.”

  Kellan laughed. “It’s not too late to concede.”

  Theissen bristled. “Mocking the Prince of the Shadow Realm? You’ll pay for that.”

  “We’ll see who pays.”

  Seer brandished his microphone. “Gentlemen, by mutual agreement, the weapon for this Challenge is the sword. The use of any magical force against your opponent will result in an automatic disqualification. At the sound of the gong, the match will begin.” Seer stepped onto a camera platform which rose upward and out of danger.

  The atmosphere in the Coliseum was hushed and thick with tension as Kellan and his opponent circled one another. A split second after a deep, pure note reverberated through the air, Theissen attacked with a savage cry. The heavy blade rained down against Kellan’s shield over and over again with shocking force until he began to feel the strain in his arm and shoulder. Calls of, “Fight! Fight! Fight” rose from the crowd.

  Kellan knocked the prince’s sword arm to one side with his shield and went on offense. As steel struck steel, he examined Theissen’s armor for vulnerabilities. The man appeared to be fully covered, from his chain mail hood to the dragon-hide boots on his feet, but the weight of the armor made Theissen slow. Kellan parried Theissen’s next thrust, sending the man’s arm wide. Before the prince could correct his mistake, Kellan stomped his foot into the man’s midsection to propel him backward. Theissen desperately tried to regain his footing but another sharp kick from Kellan’s boot toppled him onto his back.

  As Theissen lay helpless like an upended turtle, Kellan stood on the man’s sword arm. “Do you concede, sir?”

  The prince muttered a curse before disappearing into thin air.

  The crowd booed at the magical escape. Seer waved his top hat in the air as he squeaked into his microphone, “The match is suspended. I must ask both combatants to cease hostilities, forthwith!”

  Despite the minister’s pronouncement, Kellan refused to put his sword down first. He turned this way and that, trying to anticipate where his opponent would appear. Seemingly out of nowhere, Theissen’s weapon shot through the air like a lance, aimed at the unarmored section underneath Kellan’s breast plate. Although Kellan tried to twist away, he knew he was a dead man. Inexplicably, however, the blade miraculously glanced off his body and skittered into the dirt some distance away.

  Kellan darted toward the deflected weapon, but the prince rematerialized and rushed past in a blur of speed. Once the man recovered his blade, he sped up his attack until Kellan felt as if he was battling a troll with six limbs. Kellan parried most of the strikes, but his hand stung from several close calls and a blood flowed down his arm from a shallow cut. Kellan finally repaid Theissen for cheating with a short burst of lightning. The wizard’s body arched, and he let out a visceral scream.

  “You can’t win.” Kellan circled him. “Concede.”

  Theissen growled and bared his teeth like a wild animal. “You’re a wizard.”

  “You’re a cheat. Concede and I’ll let you walk away.”

  “Never!” Theissen laughed as a far-off klaxon began to wail. “And now you lose everything.”

  The prince conjured a huge ball of fire and hurled it before disappearing again. Kellan shielded himself from the inferno as best he could, but his effort proved to be unnecessary. The fire merely blackened the ground where he stood—as if he had been wearing his wizard shield. His gaze flickered toward the red sash knotted around his elbow and he suddenly realized what it really was.

  When screaming spectators pointed toward the sky, Seer squeaked. “Run for your lives!” He dropped his microphone and fled as dozens of dragons became visible in the sky.

  People began trampling one another to reach the exits and Kellan bolted toward the tunnel. Alice had tricked him into wearing the shield, the invasion had begun, and she’d left herself unprotected.

  When he reached the dressing room, Paddy and Dewar were glued to the vidscreen. The Minfo cameras were broadcasting the Fry Boys as they swooped down and sprayed dragon fire on the unsuspecting populace of Briarwood City.

  “I called headquarters to report in.” Paddy shook his head. “Nobody answered.”

  “We’re on our own,” Dewar added.

  “The primary mission of any Ranger is to protect our king.” Kellan sheathed his sword, discarded his shield and armor, and shrugged into his uniform jacket. “We will do our duty.”

  “I’m coming, too.” Although Blade was clearly groggy, he was awake. “I’ll get a sword.” He got to his feet and moved toward the armory.

  “Forget it, Blackmon.” Paddy shook his head. “You’ll only slow us down.”

  Kellan gave Paddy a quelling glance before nodding at Blade. “We’ll need every defensive weapon at our disposal, be it magical or otherwise. Find a weapon but make it quick.”

  ∞∞∞

  The moment the klaxon began to blare, a security barrier rolled down from the ceiling of the Royal Box to separate the room from the arena. King Justin darted over to the comscreen and demanded to speak with his Minister of Defense.

  Sally was trembling as she took Alice’s hand. “What is happening?”

  “I-I think the Shadow Realm is invading.”

  Shrieking cries were mixed in with the klaxon and Sally’s complexion became ghostly pale. “Is that the sound of dragons?”

  Alice swallowed a lump of fear. “I think so.”


  Her friend shuddered. “I’ve never seen a live dragon before. They look as if they could burn a person to a crisp and gobble them up in one bite.”

  Alice wracked her brain, wondering what defensive magic she could use against dragons. An ice storm might work to weigh down their wings or perhaps a fearsome hurricane could blow them off course…except the residents of Briarwood City would suffer as well. Would a shield spell effectively hold dragons off or would the creatures just punch right through it? Nothing in her magic textbooks had prepared her for battling dragons. As she and Sally huddled together, the dragons’ continual shrieking rattled her nerves.

  “I feel so useless! When this is over, I’m going to study magic in earnest. If I cannot come to the aid of my kingdom in an emergency, what sort of princess am I?”

  “You make me ashamed for being afraid.” Sally lifted her chin. “Going forward, I shall endeavor to be stalwart.” A dragon’s shriek made her flinch. “If I can."

  Kellan and Blade rushed through the doorway, followed by Rangers Delacourt and Flynn.

  Sally rushed over. “Dewar!” She threw herself into the man’s arms.

  Kellan held Alice’s gaze for several heartbeats. Only decorum and the presence of her father prevented her from following Sally’s example and pulling him close.

  He crossed over to the king. “Your Majesty, we must get you to the safety of the castle.”

  King Justin terminated the comscreen call with the meaty part of his fist. “That’s impossible. My Minister of Defense says the Shadow Realm reactivated the Briarwood City gateway and our enemies are flooding in.”

  “We can use the catacombs.” Blade’s demeanor was subdued. “The castle is less than a twenty-minute walk from here.”

  Catacombs? Alice had assumed he was teasing her before about the underground tunnels but apparently he had not.

  “I used to explore the catacombs as a child.” The king gave Blade an appraising glance. “That’s an excellent idea.”

  The praise seemed to have a bracing effect on Blade. “There’s an entrance underneath the Colosseum. I can show you the way.”