The Portal Keeper

by S. T. Sanchez

  “Your Highness, of course I came for you. Ajax was going to follow, too, but something must have happened.”

  The Prince released her. “If I see him, he’s a dead man. How dare he strike a Prince?”

  Niv grabbed his arm. “Ajax didn’t hit you,” Niv began.

  Blake shook her off. “He hit me and pushed me into the portal.”

  “No, it wasn’t him,” Niv argued. “Remember the shining object he was concealing? It did something. It protected him. Ajax was as stunned as you were.”

  The Prince shook his head. “There is no reason to discuss this now. It’s pointless; we are two worlds apart.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

  Leif walked up and stood between them. “I thought you told us your name was Blake?” he said accusingly.

  Blake looked chagrined. “It is.”

  Leif turned to Niv. “Then why does she call you ‘Your Highness’?”

  “He’s the leader where I come from,” Niv began. “His given name is Blake, but as a form of respect we address him as ‘Your Highness’.”

  Leif glared at Blake.

  “Nivara, would you please just call me Blake? It’s easier. I am not in charge in this world. You should get used to it anyway. We are betrothed now. How can we ever really connect if we stay so formal?”

  “Yes, Your—” Niv began, “I mean Blake.” It felt so peculiar to be so casual with him.

  “You two are to be mated?” Leif asked. He looked to Niv and ignored the Prince.

  Niv nodded. “Yes, someday.”

  Leif didn’t look happy.

  In the darkness Nivara hadn’t noticed right away that the Prince’s arm was bandaged.

  “What happened?” she asked, cautiously touching his arm, and checking the wrapping. “Are you okay?”

  Blake winced slightly and pulled his arm back. “It hurts…a lot. They don’t seem to have physicians here. I was shot with an arrow. I could do with some water.”

  “An arrow?” Niv gasped, wondering who would be shooting at him. She offered the Prince their water skin.

  “It’s a story for another time.” He took the water and guzzled it all down.

  Leif watched as this man drank every drop of their provisions. He stepped forward, his body blocking Niv’s view of the Prince. “Are we still going to the Chasm of Sky?”

  She sidestepped him so that she could see Blake.

  “We were on our way to meet the only other person who has entered through the portal. What do you think?”

  The Prince walked over and took Niv’s hand in his. “That’s who Squeak and I were looking for. Yes, let’s go. How do we get there?”

  Leif seemed annoyed at Blake’s disregard for the others. That was all the water they had. He hadn’t even offered any to the dragon. Nor had he checked to see how Nivara was faring through all of this.

  “Well,” the elf said, moving towards the big black dragon. “Now I say we fly. What do you think, Sky?”

  “Sounds better than marching through Never Ending Night,” he agreed. “Squeak, are you up to flying us to the chasm?”

  The dragon stepped forward and looked at each member of the group. “I think I can take you in shifts. I fear I’m not strong enough to carry everyone at once.”

  Sky nodded.

  “Bring Nivara and Sky first and then come back for Blake and me.”

  “Nivara isn’t going anywhere without me,” the Prince commanded, pulling her back possessively.

  Leif turned around, glowering at him. “Our world is dangerous. It is not a good idea to leave you both by yourselves. Someone from this world should be with you. There is a greater chance you will die if left unattended and if nothing else, you will stand out more.”

  The Prince began to protest but Niv stopped him.

  “We should listen to him. He has saved my life before,” Niv rationalized. “I’ll go first with Sky.”

  “I should stay with you to protect you.” The Prince explained. “It’s my duty.”

  “They have kept me alive thus far. Trust them,” Niv insisted.

  “I believe it will be safer too,” Squeak added.

  Blake nodded, reluctantly in agreement.

  The dragon knelt down and Niv climbed on, setting Sky, who had shifted back to his favorite size, on her lap. She leaned over and grabbed Squeak’s neck. “Are you okay Sky? Am I smashing you too much?”

  “I’ll survive,” he answered.

  “I’ll be back soon,” the dragon called as he started to rise. “Here goes,” he warned before flying into the darkness.

  “Wow!” Niv exclaimed. “I can’t see anything.”

  “Good thing we are flying now,” Sky added. “We should pass through the darkness quickly and if we overshoot we won’t fall to our death.”

  Niv was glad they had a ride; the darkness was disorienting. She couldn’t imagine having to travel in this for hours. It really was pitch black. Her eyes never adjusted. There didn’t seem to be the even the tiniest amount of light. She imagined this was what it felt like to be blind.

  She didn’t think they had flown for too long before Squeak announced they were almost through.

  “It’s getting lighter ahead,” the dragon noted.

  Niv looked forward but couldn’t see any light yet. A few moments later they were out of the darkness. It was still nighttime. The stars were still out.

  “There’s not a lot of space down there,” Sky called, looking down from the neck of the dragon.

  “I believe I see a place I can land,” Squeak called.

  He swooshed down in a circular motion, lowering slowly and cautiously. There was only a small clearing and then a thin ledge that ran alongside the chasm.

  Squeak landed carefully. “Keep to the east,” he warned. “At least if you misstep it will simply be into darkness instead of off a cliff.”

  Niv and Sky scurried over as far as they could without stepping into the greater darkness.

  “I’ll be back with Blake and Leif,” the dragon nodded. “Stay safe.”

  Squeak flew back through the darkness. As he was flying, a thought occurred to him. How would he find Leif and Blake? It was easy to fly into the darkness and then merely fly to the west until they emerged from it. But now that he was flying back, how would he know when to fly out of the darkness?

  The dragon flew for a little while and then decided to fly to the south.

  After flying for a while, Squeak realized he had turned too soon. He began to panic that he would be lost in the darkness forever. Finally, he emerged from the Never Ending Night. Squeak landed and looked around. Leif and Blake were nowhere to be seen.

  He took flight again and flew back in the direction he had come, remaining in the light but hugging close to the darkness. As the blackness curved, Squeak followed it. Finally, off in the distance he saw his two friends.

  The dragon flew down and smiled. “Let’s go.”

  Leif helped the Prince climb on first, then followed behind him. With Blake’s injured arm, the elf wasn’t sure he would be able to hang on to the dragon. He positioned himself behind the Prince to insure his safety.

  “Are you certain you can lug us both? We are bigger than Sky and Niv,” Leif asked.

  Squeak nodded. “You are heavier, but the flight isn’t a long one.”

  He flapped his wings and they began to rise.

  The flight was fast.

  Nivara waved as they approached.

  Squeak landed, and they both dismounted.

  “So, what now?” the dragon asked, looking out across the chasm.

  It was light now. Niv stepped up to the edge and looked down. It was so deep she couldn’t see the bottom. She gulped and stepped back.

  Sky ambled up alongside her. “What are those?” He pointed off in the distance with his paw.

  She held up a hand to block some of the light. “I’m not quite sure. They look almost like towers. But how tall would they have to be?” s
he wondered, shaking her head.

  Leif stepped beside her. “I imagine your eyesight is better than you give yourself credit for. Those are the Twin Castles.” He pulled Niv back a little. “Sometimes the ground can give way. It’s better to be safe.”

  Nivara shuddered. “Yes, thank you.”

  Prince Blake came over and stood beside them. “How did they build them?”

  The elf shrugged. “It is some kind of magic.”

  “Is that where the jumper resides?” Blake guessed.

  Leif nodded.

  The Prince scratched his head. “So how do you get there if you don’t have a dragon?

  “There is a bridge. It appears once a day for about an hour.” Leif turned to Niv. “I need to go first by myself.”

  The Prince snorted. “What happened to leaving us alone?”

  The elf pointed to Sky. “You will not be alone.” He looked to Niv. “I am already breaking my pledge. The least I can do is give him a few minutes’ notice.”

  Niv placed her hand on his shoulder. “I understand. Go, don’t worry about us.”

  He flew away on Squeak, leaving the others behind.

  “What is it with the elf?” Blake demanded.

  Niv looked confused. “What do you mean? He told the man in the castle he would never tell anyone about him. He just needs to explain.”

  Blake waved her off. “I don’t mean that. He acts as if I am a villain and dotes all over you, Nivara.”

  “He’s only a friend. Leif doesn’t know you.”

  “I don’t like the way he touches you,” the Prince commented. “Or the way you touch him, for that matter.”

  Niv balked. “Really? He’s my friend, and just wants to protect me. I would be dead if it weren’t for him.”

  “Well I’m here now. Maybe you should explain things to him. Next time he touches you, I’ll make sure he never does it again.”

  Sky started shaking and grew to his large size. “Maybe he doesn’t appreciate how you act as if you own Niv. You only think about yourself.” He stepped closer to the Prince and growled. “Leif is honor-bound; Niv saved his life. Watch your step, Blake,” Sky threatened. “You mess with Leif and you mess with me.”

  “What?” he asked, offended.

  “Don’t threaten Leif,” Skye snarled.

  “I only meant I would speak to him.”

  Niv stroked Sky. “Okay, let’s everyone calm down. We are all friends here. Right?”

  The cambriar looked at her. “If you say so.”

  “Sky,” she scolded like a mother would a young child.

  “Okay,” Sky said, looking away. He shimmered as he shifted back down to his medium size. Then he scampered up Nivara’s shoulder and started nuzzling her, giving the Prince death stares.

  Blake sighed and threw up his arms, storming off to the other side of the clearing.

  “You don’t seem very fond of the man with whom you are mated,” Sky noted.

  “It’s complicated,” Niv replied softly. “Just be kind.”

  The sound of flapping from the distance made Sky’s ears perk up. “Here comes Squeak.”

  The dragon landed gently on the sand. “Nivara, Blake, are you ready?”

  Niv looked at Sky. “Take Blake first. I will wait with Sky.”

  “No,” the Prince argued. “I’m not leaving you alone.”

  “I won’t be by myself and I’ll be a few minutes behind.”

  Squeak interrupted. “It’s a short flight. I suppose I can carry all three of you.”

  The hoosula scampered over. “Are you certain, brother?”

  The dragon nodded.

  Niv helped the Prince climb on first, and then climbed on behind him with Sky in her arms.

  “Are you sure you can manage okay, Squeak? We can take it in turns.”

  Squeak flapped his wings a couple of times. “I’ll be fine.” He jumped off and plummeted a few feet before his flapping brought them back up.

  Niv felt her stomach jump up to her throat. She breathed a sigh of relief once he started gaining altitude.

  They landed on a large stone roof. Leif was talking with someone but she couldn’t see the jumper’s face yet.

  She slid down the side of Squeak. Sky leaped to the ground and Nivara turned to help the Prince off.

  Leif and the stranger turned as they approached.

  The Prince froze. “Axel Maxwell!” he gasped.

  Axel bowed immediately. “Your Highness.”

  Leif grabbed Axel and pulled him up. “Why do you drop to the floor for him?”

  “He is my Prince; he will be my King,” Axel clarified.

  Prince Blake pointed to the others beside him. “This is Nivara, Sky, and I guess you met Squeak.”

  “Niv!” he cried out excitedly, stepping closer and embracing her, swinging her around in a circle.

  She laughed. “Ok, yes, it’s me.”

  Axel set her down as he laughed. He didn’t notice the Prince gawking at them.

  “Wow, let me look at you. Last time I saw you,” he held his hand up demonstrating her height, “you were just a girl.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Now you are a beautiful woman. Are you and Ajax—”

  “Still neighbors,” Niv interrupted. “Yes, although we haven’t seen each other much the last couple of years. Portal keeper training.” She raised an eyebrow. “Now I know where you disappeared to.”

  “How are my parents?” Axel asked anxiously.

  Niv placed her hand on his arm. “They are in good health.”

  “I miss them so much,” he lamented. “Did they think I just deserted my post and my family?”

  Niv looked away. She turned to Leif, avoiding the question. “You mentioned Axel had been here ten years, but it has only been two.”

  “Two years?” Axel asked in disbelief. “Niv, I’ve been here ten.”

  The Prince examined him. “You do look a lot older,” he noted. “But Nivara is correct. You went missing two years ago. What happened?”

  “Come inside and I’ll explain everything. You must be weary and hungry.”

  “And in need of a bath,” Niv added.

  Axel laughed, wrapping his arm around Nivara as they strolled inside.

  “It’s hard for me to fathom that you are really here. Let me show you to a room. I have a lot of space here. “

  The Prince walked behind them.

  Leif noticed that Blake didn’t seem particularly cheerful.

  Chapter XV

  The cave was surprisingly bright inside. Ajax stepped in first, trying to be brave. They had found Nogard, but he was a dragon, and that in itself was a little unnerving. But the seer held answers, and that is what Ajax needed.

  The entrance to the cave was narrow and not very tall, barely big enough for Nogard. The path twisted downward. Ajax kept expecting it to get darker, but it never did.

  The corridor took them to a large cavern. The dragon was waiting expectantly.

  Ajax started forward. “Why was I the only one that could see that you were a dragon?”

  Nogard stepped towards them and swung his tail at him.

  Ajax started to duck.

  “Relax. I am answering your question.” The dragon pointed to the medallion with his talon. “That trinket under there does more than you have considered.”

  Ajax reached under his shirt and pulled out his medallion.

  “It reveals that which is concealed. I can take two forms; this is my true form, but I can also appear as a human. In time, and with work, you can learn to see both.”

  Ajax looked at his medallion. He remembered seeing the fabric for his cloak at the tailor’s shop on his first visit. It wasn’t until the second visit that he noticed the scales. He had the pendant with him that time.

  “Look, little sorcerer, maybe it’s better if we speak in private,” the dragon suggested.

  “My name is Ajax Ma—”

  “Maxwell, yes I know.”

  Ajax stepped back, startled, and then
remembered he was a seer.

  The dragon laughed. “I don’t need to look into the future to know who you are. The moment you stepped through the portal your blood called to me.”

  “What? My blood?” Ajax shook his head.

  The dragon snorted, nearly blowing them over. “Enough questions. If you want more answers I will only speak to you in private. There are things that cannot be shared with outsiders.”

  Niko turned to Neely. “How are we outsiders? Ajax is the one from another world.”

  “Whatever you can say to me, you can say in the presence of my friends,” Ajax demanded.

  Yawning, the dragon turned around. “This isn’t a negotiation.” He headed slowly to the corner of the room, curled up, and closed his eyes.

  “Forget it!” Ajax snapped at Nogard. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” He turned to Niko.

  The rhino nodded and they started to exit the cavern.

  “Don’t be foolish,” Neely cautioned, placing her hand on his arm.

  “He’s talking in riddles. Maybe he just wants you to leave so he can eat me.” Ajax heard a chuckle that turned into a cough coming from the corner of the room.

  “I trust that he is telling the truth. If he wanted to harm us, he could have easily swallowed me whole earlier. We came all this way. He is very old and wise. Don’t let your pride get in the way of finding your brother.”

  The dragon had been scrutinizing them with one eye opened. He shut it quickly when the sorcerer spotted him.

  It seemed as if he were being toyed with and he didn’t appreciate the feeling. Ajax growled, kicking a rock. He took a deep breath. Nivara and Axel were out there somewhere.

  “Alright, I will listen to what the dragon has to say,” he sighed.

  Niko grunted. “I don’t like it.”

  Spots flew onto the rhinoceros’s horn. “Me neither. But I agree with Neely. We came this far. We need to explore every outlet.”

  Neely leaned forward and kissed Ajax on his cheek. “Keep your wits about you.” She winked. “We will wait outside.”

  Ajax nodded, and they filed out of the cavern.

  “Okay. I’m alone.”

  The dragon sat up. “I know you are angry. I am trying to protect you, believe it or not.”

  Ajax pointed down the path. “From them? They are my allies.”