A Bridge of Realms

by B. T. Narro

  Andar walked toward the rift. “Come here you two, but make sure not to get too close.”

  The rift made a windy crackling sound. It wasn’t terribly loud, but the closer Leo got to it, the more it felt like it had the power to destroy him. It was like approaching a tornado. What kept this rift in place? What prevented it from growing? It didn’t seem particularly stable as its black edges swelled and shrank.

  “What are those white lines going across it?” Leo asked. They zipped back and forth, zigging and zagging at times.

  “I don’t think anyone who’s come here knows,” Andar said. “Except maybe Rolan.”

  It was always strange to Leo when his brother used the commander’s name. The way Andar talked about him was more like he was a friend, but that didn’t seem right. The commander was too busy to worry about a few poor children, even if he did have good intentions.

  “Do you feel any Artistry?” Andar asked Leo.

  “I think I did earlier, but I’m too tired to tell now.”

  Andar nodded and showed him an excited look. “I definitely did. You gave me the strength to go on somehow. I never would’ve climbed out of there without it. Skyfire and ash, and I certainly had no hope if you hadn’t come down with the rope. How did you even know to come here? No wait, don’t answer that yet.”

  He hugged Leo so hard it made Leo cough.

  “Sorry,” Andar said as he leaned back and put his hand on Leo’s shoulder. “I’m just so thankful! You saved my life. How did you know to come here? How!”

  Tingles swam over Leo’s skin. He was so full of pride and excitement that he couldn’t form any words.

  Rygen spoke for him. “He suddenly stood up while we were working and told me you were in trouble. Then he sprinted out of the guild.”

  “Leo.” Andar leaned down with his hand still on Leo’s shoulder, matching his eye level. “I really was in trouble. If I consider how far the guild is from here and how long I was down there before you arrived, then it seems as if you knew it as soon as I knew it. Did you have any doubt I was in danger?”

  Leo shook his head.

  “What did you feel?” Andar asked.

  It was painful to relive that memory, Leo’s face pinching. “It was like watching you drowning.”

  “The link,” Rygen said with her finger pointed at them. “It must be the link you both felt during your father’s test.”

  “Yes, I felt it many times after Leo showed up,” Andar said. “And you, Leo?”

  “Yes, it must be that. I couldn’t be sure until now.”

  Andar leaned back, dropping his hand. “I thought links were only made by an Ascendant and that they never lasted very long. But this is a link between two people. Have either of you read anything about that?”

  “No,” Leo said.

  Rygen shook her head.

  “What does it mean for us?” Leo asked.

  “Well, it at least means we can tell when the other needs help. And I’m absolutely certain it means we can give each other strength somehow, but that might’ve been only because we are in this Tisary where there’s a lot of Artistry. Try again, Leo.” Andar stretched his neck back and forth and looked as if he was ready for a physical test of some kind.

  “I don’t know how,” Leo admitted after some thought.

  “Just do what you did last time.”

  Leo thought harder. Earlier they had determined that Andar couldn’t climb out, so Leo had wanted to transfer his own strength to his brother. He tried doing it again now, aiming his hands at Andar only because it felt right.

  Leo tried to grab hold of something he could push or move, but he couldn’t grasp anything. He didn’t give up though, searching as hard as he could.

  “Um,” Rygen interrupted. “I think we should consider leaving. I passed three men who were clearly searching for the Tisary. They had a lamp, but they were traveling slowly.”

  “Three?” Leo asked. “There were only two when I came, and none had a lamp.”

  “The guards must’ve gotten a digger in the cavern to help them,” Andar said. “Wait a moment; how did you get past the two guards, Leo? And then Rygen, how did you get past two of them and a digger?” Andar peered toward the only exit.

  “They wouldn’t let me in, so I had to trick them,” Leo explained. “But one grabbed me, so I had to…hit him.”

  “Oh no, Leo. We really have to get you and Rygen out of here. Rygen, don’t tell me you hit a guard as well?”

  “No, I just snuck past them. I knew where to go because I could feel the creature, but they won’t be long now.”

  “Come on.” Andar led them toward the exit. “Skyfire and ash, Leo you could be hung for striking a guard.”

  Leo followed, but he had to speak up. “It was to save you! They must understand that.”

  “Perhaps, but I’m not taking the chance.”

  As they neared the short tunnel that would lead them out, three men jogged into the Tisary.

  CHAPTER NINE

  The jail did not seem to be part of the dungeons Leo had heard about. There were only four cells here, and the building itself was not underground or even fortified. It just appeared like a normal building, far bigger than Leo’s house, but a building of four walls and a roof nonetheless.

  Leo, Andar, and Rygen had cooperated when the two guards arrived with one of the diggers. Andar probably would’ve been able to escape the guards, for he was the most nimble among the three of them, but he was the one who hadn’t broken any laws. It was he who’d advised Leo and Rygen not to disobey.

  One of the guards had tried to scare off Rygen’s creature, but it wouldn’t leave her side. The guard even kicked near the creature, threatening it with his boot. Rather than show fear, the creature bared its teeth and snarled. The guard let it stay with Rygen after that, and now it was in this cell with the rest of them.

  There was a woman in the cell across from them who looked somewhat familiar to Leo. She seemed extremely interested in them. Perhaps it was because Leo and Andar were filthy and covered in cuts, or perhaps it was the creature from the other realm that made her stare.

  “What are your names?” she asked eventually.

  “No talking!” yelled a guard outside their cells. He sat in a lonely little chair as he watched them. He was one of the two guards who’d escorted them to this building on the outskirts of the city, near the cavern. The other had gone back to watch the entrance to the cavern.

  Andar had tried to explain to this man that Leo and Rygen had saved his life. They should not be imprisoned for it. But the only thing the guard would tell them was that anyone who entered the Tisary without permission was to be imprisoned or killed if they resisted.

  Leo was very glad they had not resisted. This was the guard who Leo had hit below his waist, and the way he glared at Leo from time to time made it clear he did hold a grudge.

  Leo knew he should worry about what Gartel would do for all the work he and Rygen had missed. He didn’t know how he could return to the guild today, as dirty as he was. It was hard to tell if he was bleeding. His skin stung just about everywhere. There was something else worrying him more than all of that, though.

  “Does the creature look sick to you?” he asked Rygen.

  “Yes, I think I can feel him aching.”

  The foxlike creature had been whimpering softly as it circled around the cage as if looking for a way out. It seemed eager to leave but weak, its legs buckling at times. Eventually it rested on the cold floor and groaned.

  “What’s wrong?” Rygen asked as she knelt and tried petting it once more. But it didn’t seem to want to be touched, taking great effort to rise and walk away. It put itself in one of the corners, then showed its teeth. Leo and Andar backed away, but Rygen moved toward it.

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea, Rygen?” Andar asked.

  “It won’t hurt me.”

  Leo didn’t approach with her. It was not because she sounded confident, but because she hadn’t m
entioned anything about the beast refraining from hurting Leo or Andar.

  The woman asked from her cell, “Did you find it near the cavern?”

  “I said no speaking!” The guard got up and slammed his sword against the bars of her cell. “I didn’t make the rules, but you’re going to follow them. I’m already going to be punished enough because I was lenient on these children.”

  So that’s why he was so angry. He could be blamed for them entering the Tisary.

  “Hey idiot!” Andar kicked one of the bars to their cell in a sudden anger that surprised Leo. “If you had stopped these children from getting to the Tisary, I would’ve died a horrible death. Then you would’ve been punished. Severely. But as it is now, you will only receive praise for not retaliating when my brother punched you in your man parts.”

  With his sword out, the guard approached Andar. But Andar held his ground as the tip came close.

  The guard let the weapon rest and put his face above Andar’s. “This is your last warning. Should prisoners continue to talk across cells, they will be made silent.”

  The woman said, “There’s one very important thing that needs to be said, and then we will shut up.” She continued as the guard spun. “That’s a summoned creature. It needs to return to the dark realm soon, or it will die here.”

  “No!” Rygen said. “How long does he have?”

  “I don’t know, could be just a few hours.”

  “Get the commander,” Andar told the guard. “Or at least send someone for him.”

  The guard seemed to be in thought as he looked at the creature.

  “Please,” Rygen said. “You can keep us in here, but at least bring him back to the rift.”

  “It’s not up to me,” the man said eventually. “Now keep quiet as we wait for an officer.”

  “How long will that take?” Andar asked cautiously.

  “Shouldn’t be long.” The man took his seat again.

  Over the next hour, Leo watched Rygen fret more and more as she finally gained the creature’s trust enough to pet him. Or perhaps the creature was just too weak to worry about fending her off. The rest of Leo’s focus went into the woman in the cell across from them. He didn’t remember seeing her before, but there was something about her that seemed familiar. Her features called to be recognized. Perhaps they had met at some point when Leo was younger, for she stared at him and Andar as well.

  She was tall, Leo could see from the many times she paced around her small cell. She looked like she had a lot she wanted to say, and Leo had no doubt it would help them somehow. She seemed friendly, caring. Her dark hair was long and unkempt as if she might’ve been here awhile, or perhaps she’d been too poor to worry about her appearance before being imprisoned. Leo wondered what she had done to be stuck in here.

  The creature got up and walked to the bars. Growling, it scratched and bit them. It tried to squeeze through. It growled louder, bringing the guard over.

  An officer walked in behind him then, his rank evident by his fancier uniform. “What is that?”

  “A summoned creature,” the guard answered. “It was in the Tisary when…when I caught them.”

  “I brought it through the rift!” Rygen was almost screaming as she spoke. “And now it needs to return, or it will die!”

  “That’s true,” added the woman. “Creatures from the other realm are used to an environment with Esitry, not Artistry. They are constantly poisoned while here. They need to develop an immunity, but this creature doesn’t have one yet. It will die soon, and it knows it.”

  “I’m not letting that out,” the officer said. “It looks ready to bite.”

  “Please!” Rygen screamed. “Please, you can’t let it die. It won’t hurt anyone. I promise!”

  “Quit crying and back away.” He drew his sword.

  “No!” Rygen screeched, putting herself in front of the creature. “No! No! You can’t do that! It’s not going to hurt anyone. It just wants to live.”

  Leo had never heard her this loud, his ear ringing from standing next to her. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “Shall I get the commander, sir?” asked the guard.

  “I’ll fetch him. I know where he is.”

  The officer put his sword back in his sheath and started to walk out.

  “Hurry!” Rygen yelled. “Please!”

  But the officer showed no signs of hurrying as he took the turn in their short hallway and was out of view.

  “Please!” Rygen screeched.

  The creature had begun to shake and have trouble standing. It sat on Rygen’s feet and whimpered.

  Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long before the officer arrived with the commander. Leo recognized him from the night he’d helped them get rid of Marcus Dowl, another man Leo was sure he’d recognize. The commander was big, though he wasn’t made purely of muscle like Leo’s father. He did seem strong, however, with a wide jaw and a hard look in his eyes.

  Rygen was first to speak. “Please let my creature go back to the rift. He’s going to die soon.”

  “What happened here?” the commander asked the troops.

  The guard pointed at Leo. “That one came to the cavern and tried to get in—”

  Andar interrupted. “The rope broke, sir! I was trapped and sinking into wet dirt. I was there for about an hour before my brother showed up.” He put his hand on Leo’s back, filling Leo with pride. “I don’t know how much longer I could’ve kept myself up without him. He did force himself past the guards, but only because he knew I needed his help. Rygen came after him.” Andar pointed at her. “Leo sacrificed himself so I could climb up first, but then I was too weak to pull him out. Rygen tried to help, but we couldn’t do it. She brought the creature you see through the rift, and all of us were able to pull my brother up. Then the guards found us.”

  “Gods,” the commander spat out, glaring at the guard. “And you put them in this prison?”

  “The smaller boy ran into the cavern against my orders! He punched me in the groin when I was escorting him out!”

  “Because he had to get to his brother.”

  “Commander, they are lying. There’s no way he could’ve heard his brother shouting for help. You know how far it is to the Tisary from the entrance. I’m sure they just wanted to enter the Tisary, and they cut the rope to use as an excuse.”

  “Cut it with what?” Rolan questioned. “Did you find a blade of any kind on any of them?”

  The guard thought for a moment. “No.”

  “Do you believe any of them are strong enough to break such a thick rope without a blade?”

  “Perhaps it was the creature,” the officer chimed in.

  The commander looked at him as if he were slow. Then he glanced at the guard with the same look.

  “Don’t you see how the boys are dirty and practically cut to pieces? They clearly struggled in that hole.” He waved his hand. “I’ve heard enough. Open their cell, and let the poor creature return.”

  The guard gave a sigh as he produced a key and opened the barred door. He and the officer moved away in obvious fear, but the commander didn’t bother. The creature darted past everyone with shocking speed. It was gone in a blink.

  Rygen started running after it, but she gave up immediately. She turned back with deep lines across her forehead. “I hope he makes it.”

  “I’m sure he will,” the commander said. He motioned for Leo and Andar to walk out of their cell, then he leaned down to match Andar’s eye level. “I’m sorry for what happened. That rope should not have broken. I will ensure it’s investigated.”

  “Do you think someone could’ve cut it earlier?” Andar asked.

  “That’s more possible than it breaking on its own, but there’s something else I suspect.” He stared at Andar, then at Leo. “How did you know your brother needed your help?”

  Leo glanced at Andar, wondering how much he should divulge. Andar had only a faint look of interest, as if curious himself. He must not
have wanted to tip off the commander in any way.

  Leo thought for a moment as to how he wanted to answer. This was the commander of the king’s army—the same men who wanted to kill his father and were responsible for so viciously killing Rygen’s mother. Leo didn’t know what they would do with him and Andar if they found out the two of them were linked. He already feared what would become of Rygen now that it was clear that she had summoned the creature.

  “I’m not sure how, but I was confident that he was…” Leo stopped himself. Even though the danger was over, the words were still hard to say. “I could tell he was going to die if I did nothing, so I ran to the cavern.”

  “He almost got himself killed helping me,” Andar interrupted. “He couldn’t get the rope down to me because it kept falling in all the crevices along the way, so he had to climb down himself, but he’s not strong enough to climb back out. And like I said, I couldn’t pull him up.”

  “The ground fell then,” Leo said. “It had been trying to pull me and my brother under for a while, but eventually it fell. The rope caught me.”

  “You said the rope was broken!” the officer interrupted triumphantly.

  “The other rope,” the commander answered for Leo.

  He nodded. “There was a longer one there that I used to get to my brother.”

  The commander put up his hand. “You don’t have to relive this horrible event that never should have happened. Of course no punishment will come to any of you.”

  “What about me, sir?” asked the woman. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

  “Why is she in here?” the commander asked his officer. The officer looked at the guard, who glanced around as if looking for someone else to blame. When he found no one, he hurried over to a desk nearby.

  “Only because I had no papers when your army came,” she told the commander.

  “Is that right?” the commander asked the guard, who continued to search through various scrolls on the desk.

  “Yes, I see it here.”