“Then please, help me. I've got to find them,” Ajax pleaded.
“That's easier said than done. You come from another world. I'd have recognized it quicker, but you’re covered in a lot of sludge from the lake.”
He glanced down at his clothes. He was a mess. He hadn't even realized it.
“We don't have too many visitors through the portal. You outsiders never appear in the same place twice, so your companions could have landed anywhere. How do you get through anyway? We've never found the portal on this side, but there must be one, right? A one-way door doesn't make any sense. I mean, who would build one?” Spots looked up and paused. “Sorry, I tend to ramble on.”
“Well, can you take me to the shore, so I can start looking? I have to find them.”
The insect fluttered up into the air and hovered near Ajax's nose. “I can't do it. If I authorize my crew to permit you to leave, you'll be picked up in no time. You kind of stand out.” He landed on Ajax's hand. “What's your name?”
“My name is Ajax,” he replied, surprised at how light the bug was.
“Look, boy. In this world, there are two types of beings—magical and non-magical. The magical creatures are persecuted and hated by the non-magical. The non-magical outnumber the magical ten to one. The elves rule this world.”
“Why don't the magical simply use magic to make things even?” Ajax asked.
“There is no magic. Not anymore. Not like you have. I'm considered a magical creature because I'm a bug and I can talk. Other than that, I don't have any special powers,” Spots clarified. “All the sorcerers disappeared one by one. I haven't come across one for more than eight to ten years. Probably has to do with the prophecy.”
Ajax nodded. “Yes, I can understand that.”
“Let's get you cleaned up and then we'll see how we can go about searching for your friends discreetly.”
The rhino, who Ajax found out was called Niko, carried down large buckets of water for him to bathe in.
The soap was rough and stung his skin slightly, but the dirt and sludge was coming off, so Ajax continued to scrub.
When he was finished, his skin was a pale pink and a light rash had appeared in some areas. He put on the clothes that Niko had left him. They were plain black slacks that were slightly fitted around the ankles. The shirt was white and pretty plain, but it buttoned up the back. His cloak had somehow miraculously stayed clean. The shoes were black, shiny, and loafer-like. They had a little bit of a heel similar to his boots, and fit a little on the loose side.
As Ajax made his way into the hallway, the vessel rocked slightly, and he braced his hands on the sides of the walls to keep his balance.
Spots fluttered by and landed on his shoulder. “What's wrong with your shirt?”
Ajax craned his neck, trying to look down the back. “How's someone supposed to reach all those buttons?”
The insect chuckled. “What kind of sorcerer are you?”
“The new kind,” he blushed. Was he even a wizard or merely stealing power from the medallion?
“Try snapping your fingers,” the ladybug suggested and flew off up to the deck of the ship.
Snapping his fingers, he imagined his shirt buttoning up. To his astonishment it ensued just as he pictured it. “Huh,” he said to himself.
He climbed up the stairs slowly. The ship was in rough water. Once he made it up the stairs he saw some more of the crew.
He was amazed to see a human on the crew. The man was mopping the decks. Niko was sitting on a stool, gutting some bloated-looking black fish that oozed yellow goo when sliced open.
Spots was fluttering around the deck giving orders.
There was some kind of bird flying around up high making adjustments to the rigging. The bird was beautiful, with long purple wings, with green, yellow, and pink tips. It had a blue plume on the top of its head. “All's secure,” the bird called down.
While showing Ajax where he could clean up, Spots had mentioned briefly that there were four crew members, but he didn't see the fourth.
“We're coming into port now,” Spots called. “Slow it down.”
Ajax looked puzzled. It appeared that the insect was calling down into the water. The ship slowed down and pulled up alongside the dock. Niko jumped over the side of the rail and tied off the vessel. Ajax was surprised at how nimbly the rhinoceros could move.
Suddenly a creature shot out of the water and landed on the bow. It was blue and green with dark blue gills and had a long, wide tail. It was about the size of a large shark. It spun around and shook black sludge off until it was clean and dry. In the process, the animal seemed to transform. It appeared human-like. It was tall and had long legs and long arms. The head was full of long blue and green curls.
Because of the curls Ajax assumed the creature was female. She turned and looked at him. Her face was slender and she had a small narrow nose and thin blue lips. She was pretty, but her eyes were creepy. There was only black emptiness when she opened them. During her transformation process, clothing had appeared. She was now wearing a long dress in the same blue-green color that her creature body had been.
She headed down towards him. “I'm Neely.”
He was about to open his mouth, but she continued.
“Ajax. And you are a—” She stopped abruptly and looked at Spots. “I would have never guessed,” she said to the ladybug. “He is entirely open and doesn't guard himself at all.”
He shifted uncomfortably. He didn't quite understand what they were talking about, but it didn't seem to be a compliment.
The creature seemed to be having a one-sided conversation with Spots.
“You need to escort him to find Nogard.”
Ajax couldn't tell if she was crazy or if she was really having a conversation with the insect. Was she telepathic? She did know his name before he had a chance to respond.
Neely closed her eyes for a minute. “I can sense him, so I know he's still alive. This boy needs—” She stopped again and nodded at the ladybug. “No, you’re right, we should speak about this below.”
Stunned, Ajax watched the two of them go below deck to apparently discuss him, without inviting him to give his input.
Unsure of what else to do, Ajax slumped down on a barrel and examined the docks as they began to come to life in the early morning hours. He looked up at the cloudless sky. There was no sun that he could see, but it was light outside nonetheless. The sky was still blue, but not the same as in his world. It was a much brighter, deeper blue.
All sorts of creatures appeared and started working on the dock. He saw a few different types of talking animals. And a few more flying bugs, resembling Spots. There was a creature that resembled a human apart from the fact that it had a long tail in the back and pointed ears. It was walking and came to a gate that was locked. After pulling on it and being unable to open it, the creature simply flattened itself and slid right under the gate, then continued on its merry way.
The atmosphere on the dock changed as a tall, dark creature stepped onto it. His skin was pale, almost white, and his eyes were dark and cold. The attire donned by the being was elegant. He wore pants and a shirt similar to Ajax's, but even from where Ajax sat he could tell the material was finer; the colors were rich and bright. The creature had a green cloak and carried a sword at his waist. His ears were pointed and he had long white hair braided down his back.
The workers on the dock each avoided eye contact, some were even openly cowering, and all moved out of his way.
Niko stepped in front of Ajax. “Get down,” he whispered. “Cover yourself with that cloak,” he hissed.
Ajax was surprised to find that he could see through his cape. The creature stalked down the dock. When he had made his way about halfway down he raised his voice to the crowd.
“We had some interesting developments yesterday. There are reports of two people breaching the portal. Striker has doubled the usual reward. Bring these humans to him by nightfall and you will live o
ut your days in luxury.” He smiled, but his smile was a little too wide—it unveiled too many teeth to be friendly. Ajax quaked slightly under the cloak. What kind of world was this?
“However, know this, if any are found to be harboring one of these humans, you will wish for death.” The creature stepped closer to their ship and sauntered by, looking down onto the deck as he passed.
“Filthy elf.” Niko spit on the ground after the creature was out of earshot.
So that was an elf, Ajax thought to himself. He didn't want to come toe-to-toe with one. He needed to find Niv and the Prince and get out of this upside-down land.
Spots flittered up on deck and landed on the railing between the rhino and Ajax.
“Niko, I am leaving you in charge. I need to take the boy far from here.”
“No,” the rhinoceros disagreed, lowering his voice. “It's too dangerous. I am not a fool. I know what he is. I'm coming with you.”
The insect flew up and landed on Niko’s horn. “No, I won't ask that of you. Besides I need someone here to look after the ship. Bob and Flit can't run the ship on their own and Neely will accompany us.”
“Give me an hour. My brother Kellan can take care of things here. If you ask my opinion, I think you should just dump him back where we found him and wash your wings of him. But if you insist on going, I am coming.”
Spots flew back to the railing. “Fine,” he huffed. “But I leave in one hour.”
Niko nodded and jumped down from the ship.
The ladybug began to fly but Ajax placed his hand over him. “Where are we going?” he whispered as he picked Spots up.
“What do you suppose you are doing?” Spots demanded. “Unhand me. Do you have any idea how rude that is?” he asked as he wriggled, trying to free himself from Ajax’s grasp.
He whispered, “No, but in my world, it's rude to make plans without discussing it with all the parties involved.”
Spots fluttered away and landed on the barrel Ajax had been sitting on earlier.
“Oh, my apologies, sir,” the ladybug whisper-yelled. “I didn't realize you had some knowledge of this land. You know which direction to head?” he questioned, but before waiting for an answer, asked another question. “You have some idea as to where your companions are? Oh, I know, you know which species are friendly and which ones will turn you in without blinking? Huh, no? Nothing? Well, then I expect you'll leave that to me.” Then he added in an even lower whisper, “The bug risking his wings to offer aid to you.”
Ajax sat down in the vessel sulking as Neely and Spots packed up provisions and provided the crew with a cover story.
Neely said it wasn't that they didn't trust the crew, but that they were protecting them. No need to burden the others with knowledge that would place them at risk.
Instead they told the crew that Ajax had been on a fishing boat from the Screeching Desert when he fell overboard into Death Lake when a big wave crashed against his ship. That's when their crew had pulled him out, but because it was the Black Night, the one night a year that the stars were not in the sky, Spot and Niko were unable to reunite Ajax with his fishing crew. So, the ladybug was going to help him return to his home. Neely was accompanying them because she had always wanted to visit the Screeching Desert.
True to his word, Niko made it back with a big, black rhino almost double his size. Ajax assumed this was Kellan.
“Be safe.” Kellan waved to his brother before they parted ways.
“Always.” They bumped horns, and then Niko motioned to the others, leading the way off the dock.
Ajax and Neely walked side by side, while Spots rested on Ajax's shoulder. Once they were on a long road headed out of town, Ajax asked, “So where are we really headed?”
“To the Screeching Desert,” Neely answered. “Unless we get a better lead before that.” She took a small container out of her pack. It had a light yellow waxy substance inside. “Here, rub this under your nose.”
He opened the container and started to cough. The stench was horrific. He had never smelled anything worse in his entire life. “No thank you,” he said, pushing the container towards her.
“We are about to begin traveling through the Slumbering Forest. The flowers produce a gas that will make you want to take a never-ending nap. This may stink but it will keep you awake.”
“What happens if I fall asleep?” he probed.
“You will never wake up,” Neely replied flatly. “Well, unless someone moves you out of the Slumbering Forest. But most people won’t bother.”
He took the wax and rubbed it begrudgingly under his nose, trying not to vomit. While he had been lost in his conversation with Neely, he hadn’t noticed how far ahead Niko had gotten.
“Why—” Ajax started.
“He's scouting ahead to make sure the roads are safe,” Neely explained.
That's not annoying at all. Someone picking at your thoughts before you even have a chance to voice them, Ajax thought bitterly.
Neely looked away. “I'm sorry. I can't help it. You don't shield your thoughts at all.”
Ajax touched her elbow, since it was the only place he could reach because of her height. “No, it's fine. This is just all new to me, and I'm worried about my friends.”
“So, tell us about them,” Spots said, causing Ajax to jump.
His face turned red. “I forgot you were there—you startled me.” Ajax told them about the Prince, although he really didn't know that much about him. Then he started telling them about Niv.
“This is your mate?” Spots asked.
Ajax shook his head. “No, she’s like my sister,” he answered, embarrassed. “She is Blake's mate.” He hadn't tried to explain the whole royalty thing, since that didn't seem to exist in this world. What would they do to him back in Rastella if they heard him speak of the Prince so casually?
Neely looked down at him knowingly, but didn't give away any of his secrets.
He wiped his brow with the sleeve of his shirt. The heat of the day was intense and the humidity made it feel even worse. Within a few minutes he was saturated in perspiration.
“Are you crying?” Spots asked, switching from his shoulder to Neely's.
Ajax straightened his shoulders. “What, no! Of course not.”
“But you’re dripping water from your face,” Spots noted.
“I'm just sweating. You know it's hot. Don't you sweat here?” he enquired, feeling self-conscious.
Neely shook her head. The ladybug shook his whole body back and forth.
“What about Bob? The human on your crew?”
“Not that I've ever seen,” Neely shrugged. “Of course, I am in the water a lot.”
“Well, it's perfectly normal for a human,” Ajax insisted. “I sure am getting thirsty, too. Is there any water around here?” He wished he had his satchel but he had lost it in Death Lake when he had first fallen in.
“That’s understandable since you seem to be leaking water everywhere. Let me find you a drink.” Neely paused and looked around at the foliage. She reached into a pink tree and pulled out a dark purple fruit. “Try this.”
It reminded him of a plum, but it was triple the size. He took the fruit and squeezed it gently in his hands. It was soft and squishy. He leaned down and sunk his teeth into it. Juice started squirting out in several directions.
“Keep it in your mouth,” Neely laughed as she backed up to avoid the spray.
“Sorry.” He quickly plugged the hole with his mouth and then sucked the juice out. It was refreshing and cold. It didn't taste similar to anything he had ever tried, but it was delicious and sweet.
They marched for hours and hours, it seemed. He wondered how far it was to the Screeching Desert.
“It's about two days’ hike from the dock,” Neely answered absentmindedly.
Two days wasn't terrible, but he worried about the Prince and Nivara. Well, mostly Niv if he was being completely honest. The Prince had skills; he had been wielding a sword since he was a tod
dler. Ajax had more confidence in Prince Blake’s ability to protect himself. But Nivara was a lady. And although she’d probably clobber him for thinking it, he was concerned for her well-being most of all.
They found a field that was mostly flat and completely void of flowers. Niko said it would be a good place to sleep.
“Aren’t we still in the Slumbering Forest?” Ajax asked. If one of them began to doze off it would be hard enough to drag them out, but if they all did, then they might as well be dead.
“Niko grew up close to the woods; there are a few spots that the locals have removed enough of the flowers from. If Niko says it’s safe, then it is,” Spots yawned.
As the others removed the smelly wax substance, Ajax gratefully followed suit. He could still smell it, but the odor had diminished greatly.
Neely, Niko, and Spots seemed at ease on the hard ground. Ajax was glad to have his cloak. The light was starting to fade and the temperature was dropping. He wrapped himself up and looked up into the night. The sky became pitch black, but slowly one by one stars began to appear. Pink stars, scattered throughout the heavens.
Ajax bolted upright. “Axel!”
Chapter VIII
Nivara knew it was crazy to jump through a portal that had swallowed up Prince Blake. But Ajax wasn't giving her any choice. Being left behind was not an option. Especially when that meant dealing with the King by herself. He may be her future father-in-law, but he intimidated her.
It was impulsive and probably reckless, but that had never stopped her in the past. And the fact the Ajax seemed to think he could just order her around may have pushed her to be a little more rash than she might have otherwise acted.
Not knowing what to expect she had closed her eyes and took a giant step. After waiting for a moment, eyes scrunched closed, she opened them and found she was in a jungle. At first, she thought somehow she missed the portal and ended up on the wrong side of the tree. However, on a closer inspection, the plants and insects looked different, more exotic than anything in Rastella.
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