by KT Webb
The Sideon touched my arm again. Pictures appeared in rapid succession. Images of the Gorum happily snacking on human remains, images of villages completely destroyed, images of Delia locked away to keep Riona alive. There was no way they were going to let go without a fight. The idea of committing total genocide wasn’t one that appealed to me, but it seemed to be the only course of action available to us.
“It seems you’ve made your choice.” I hoisted my sledgehammer with both hands. “Then you’ve made ours for us. Today will be the end of the Gorum race.”
I charged the Gorum nearest me and slammed the hammer onto its foot. It howled in pain, trying desperately to grab me. I whirled around and hit the other foot. A frustrated yowl escaped him, and another Gorum came to his aid. Gerrit and Rafe joined the fray as Orin seized the sledgehammer left on the ground after Philo was injured. Sophronia rushed to help Philo. I didn’t have time to watch what she was doing, I could only hope she was able to mend his broken bones so he could help us. We needed all the help we could get.
A battle cry erupted from the nearby woods. This cry was entirely human. I looked up to see a large group swell from within the trees, heading straight for the Gorum. I wanted to feel relief that they were fighting with us, but I couldn’t help but wonder if we simply shared a common enemy. The band of men was a mixture of Outliers and Royal Guard. The former was easy to spot due to their long hair and full beards. They wore their wild hair as a sign of freedom from societal rules. It never made much sense to me, and it made even less sense now that I’d witnessed the ridiculous oppressions of Earth. The soldiers still wore their uniforms, though they’d seen better days. With the extra men, we made quick work of the remaining Gorum. They were no match for the joint forces of men who were desperate to reclaim their land. When the last Gorum fell, the newcomers rushed the Sideon. I’ve no idea what they expected to accomplish, but they seemed determined.
“STOP!” I bellowed before they could reach their target.
The soldiers, conditioned to follow orders, stopped in their tracks. It took the Outliers a little longer to accept the command. All eyes turned toward me as though awaiting explanation.
“Do not harm the Sideon. They are here to help us. We’re going to help them return to their world. That’s all they ever wanted,” I explained.
“Then why did they come here?” A voice called from the crowd.
“They were dying. They thought their only hope was to take over our world.”
“Taeren?” I recognized Erasmus, one of the Knights who’d stayed behind. “You’ve returned?”
“Yes. We lost some Knights on our journey to Earth, and in the battle that followed the arrival of the Gorum, but we’ve returned. Princess Delia is on her way to reclaim the throne as we speak.”
“You found the princess? If she’s back, why does Riona still look like this?”
I knew what he was referring to. The shadowy wasteland that stood in place of the once beautiful world I knew was disheartening. Before I could respond, Sophronia came forward.
“It’s not as easy as her being here. She must undergo the coronation and take her rightful place on the throne at Almandine.”
Whispers turned to disgruntled shouts as the Outliers and soldiers discussed the situation they found themselves in. I couldn’t help but wonder how many had sworn allegiance to Lady Carmella. Perhaps none of them truly had, they only followed her as the highest ranking official. Though Tilda outranked everyone in Riona, save for the queen – perhaps that was why she’d been locked up.
Erasmus pushed his way through the crowd. “We thought you were dead. We had to do something.”
“Where is the Chancellor?”
“We were going to bring her with us,” Erasmus replied.
“What is that supposed to mean? Where are you going?” Rafe demanded.
“To another world. Lady Carmella found one we can take over, just like they did to us.” Erasmus gestured to the Sideon.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. After everything we’d been through, all the losses we’d suffered, how could they possibly be thinking of doing the same thing to another world. No wonder Tilda had to be locked away; she never would have let them move forward with such an insane plan.
“And what world is that?” Sophronia asked.
No one offered an answer. It didn’t seem like they were protecting a secret, it seemed like they just didn’t know the answer. I could hardly believe it. I was disgusted.
“Where is Carmella?” In my gut, I knew she must be at the castle. Knowing her, she would be sitting on the throne, insisting everyone wait on her hand and foot.
“Why do you need to know?” One of the Outliers snarled.
“We have to stop her. We don’t have to leave, don’t you get it?”
Their silence was enough to let me know they weren’t all on board with leaving Riona behind. If we could sew the seed of doubt in their minds, we may be able to regain their trust. If only Delia were with me, she would be able to win them over with a few words. We had to give them something to believe in other than the idea of taking over a new world like savages.
“Erasmus, do you recognize this man?” I asked, gesturing for Orin to come forward.
“Of course! Orin, you’ve returned?”
My friend smiled at his former companion. “I have. I spent too much time away. I found true love on Earth with the one person who felt like home to me.”
Sophronia joined her husband. I was glad to see that they were just as in love as they’d been when I first met them. It hadn’t been easy for Orin to wrap his mind around who she was, but I knew that would be the key to rallying our men.
“You’ve brought your wife back from Earth? I’ll bet this wasn’t what you thought you’d find, was it?” Erasmus looked around, disgusted.
Orin looked stricken. “No, I hadn’t expected to find so many of my brothers choosing to follow a vain woman. You forget, I knew her too. She never cared for anyone but herself, I doubt that’s changed.”
“This isn’t her first journey here.” I led the conversation on, hoping my friends would see the point I was trying to make.
“No, it isn’t. In fact, I never should have left. It shames me to see what I set in motion,” Sophronia responded.
Confusion settled on the faces of the men in front of me. None of them would come to the conclusion of her identity on their own; I knew we would have to tell them. Would they react in anger or awe? It didn’t matter. We’d neutralized the Gorum, and as long as we reached the castle in time to help Delia there was hope for Riona.
“I give you Sophronia, the Great Alchemist.”
Erasmus scoffed. “You expect us to believe this is the alchemist who created us?”
“I didn’t create you, I stole you. Well, your ancestors. They came here for great fortune and stayed for a great life. The only thing I really did was mix elements together and breathe life into an empty space.”
A few other familiar faces had moved to the front of the group. Men I recognized from the day the Sideon took over stood before me with curiosity burning in their eyes. We’d sparked their interest, now we needed them to join us. If they were true to their oath as members of the Royal Guard, and Knights of Riona, they would see the truth in our words and defend the kingdom from further corruption.
“I left because I was a coward. I know that now. I’m here to help. I can’t bear the thought of Riona and all its people disappearing into the nothingness that once occupied this place. Your princess is going to the castle to find the Chancellor. Our plan is to free her, rally those still loyal to the throne, and take back Riona once and for all.”
Silence swept over the men. Even the Outliers appeared to be contemplating the possibilities Sophronia presented. It was time to make my move. I was still the Commander of the Royal Guard; it was my job to bring organization to the ragtag group I’d been presented with.
“Men, think of your families. Think of your ch
ildren, your wives, your parents and siblings. Do they deserve to die a slow death? Do they deserve to face an uncertain future on the other side of a portal? Do you even know where Lady Carmella plans to take you? What will become of the lives you built?”
Nods and sounds of agreement surfaced across the crowd like a ripple. “All we have to do is install Princess Delia as queen and Riona will flourish once more. The aftermath may not be easy. We’ll still have to pick up the pieces of our broken homes and mourn the loss of those who were taken from us, but we’ll have a chance at a fresh start in our home.”
All eyes were on me as I waited for some sign of allegiance from the men I’d addressed. They appeared to be waiting for more, but I had nothing left to say. I thrust my sledgehammer in the air.
“Who’s with me?”
Shouts rang out from the army. It wasn’t unanimous, but I was surprised to see some of the Outliers joining the battle cry. Erasmus came forward and shook my hand. He’d always been critical of me, and it meant a great deal to have him on my side once again. In the end, we added thirty-two men to our number. The twenty that hadn’t been swayed faced us, uncertain of their fates.
“You are not our enemies unless you want to be. If you stand in our way, you won’t stand long. If you choose to retreat to the tunnels, we won’t pursue you. Our only objective is to restore this great land. I’m afraid we can’t wait any longer to know which it will be. Battle? Or parting of ways?”
No one moved for what seemed like an eternity. Just as I prepared to fight against my own people, the Outlier who’d spoken earlier dropped his arms to his sides in defeat.
“You won’t fight us unless we fight you? You’re not going to treat us like criminals for refusing to join you?”
I shook my head at him. “No. I believe when all this is over we need to have a talk about perception versus reality. No one in the villages or cities sees you as outcasts. We aren’t threatened by your existence. You’ve chosen your life and we’ve chosen ours. If you wish to return to your homes and families, I will not stop you.”
“Then I will fight. With you, for you. For Riona.”
No sooner did that man declare his allegiance than the other men erupted in cheers; a sound that resembled a pack of wolves crying out at the full moon. It sent chills down my spine. The bony hand of a Sideon brushed my arm once more, adding to the chills I was already experiencing. The message it conveyed was simple; the Sideon would be honored to fight alongside us should the need arise. We would always have an ally if we called on them.
I woke with a start. My body had slid along the cavern wall as I’d slept. I was in an uncomfortable position, half seated, half lying on the cold, hard ground. Paula was resting peacefully just feet from me, while Lonzo stayed on guard between the cave entrance and the tunnel that led to the castle. I had no idea how long I’d been out, but there was no way I’d be falling asleep again soon. I stood up, stretched and told Lonzo to get some rest.
I didn’t have to tell him twice. Within moments of sitting down, he’d fallen fast asleep. Paula whimpered in her sleep, I wondered how many times she’d done that while I was out. I knelt by her side, wishing I could clean her wound. Gently, I pulled the fabric away from the gash in her side. Despite not having been cleaned properly, it didn’t look too bad. If there was more I could have done for her, I’d have done it in a heartbeat.
“I’ll be fine.”
I jumped at the sound of her voice. I hadn’t noticed her watching me, I’d thought she was still sleeping. “It’s a through and through, it doesn’t look like it did any major damage.”
Paula sat up, wincing as she did. “Like I said, I’ll be fine. It’s going to need stitches, but that’s going to have to wait. Where are we?”
She’d been unconscious when Lonzo carried her in. I explained the hidden cave and how my family had escaped through it when the Gorum came. Paula had adjusted surprisingly well to being in a completely unknown world. I knew it was her love for me that kept her from freaking out, and I appreciated it. I noticed her face as she watched Lonzo sleep. Something was starting between them, but I doubted even she realized it yet.
“We should keep moving, but he needs some rest. Do you want to lie back down?”
Paula realized I’d caught her staring and tried to look nonchalant about it. “He’s a good guy. You’ve known him for a long time, how old is he?”
I stifled a giggle. “He’s about your age, give or take a few years. He was the guard put in charge of me when I was a child. I gave him a run for his money.”
“I’ll bet you did. You were a free spirit from the moment you woke in the hospital, I can only imagine how you were as a little girl.”
I smiled at him as he slept. My memories were still spotty. It helped that I now knew the stories I’d written were based on facts. I was still sorting through what I’d made up for entertainment value and what had truly happened. I recalled a peaceful night in the garden, Taeren and I had slipped away from another party and climbed a tree to hide from Lonzo. He’d been so much younger then, desperate to prove himself worthy of guarding the princess. I wondered if joining Taeren on his quest to find me had stemmed from that same desperation.
“So, what happens next?” Paula whispered.
I sighed. That wasn’t an easy question. “I really don’t know. My first objective is to find Tilda, she’ll know what Lady Carmella is up to. Hopefully we won’t have to face any of our own men on the way. Or worse yet, any of the Gorum.”
“What are those things?”
“No one really knows. They’re really stupid, so they must have stumbled upon the portal rather than sought it out like the Sideon. They’re kind of like trolls or ogres in the fairy tales of Earth; maybe that’s where those stories came from.”
“You mean these creatures might have found a way to come to Earth before?”
I nodded. “Sure. I mean, before Sophronia, this place was just a big hub between worlds. It still is, only now, people live here. Who’s to say some of the nightmarish creatures you tell stories about don’t truly exist somewhere in one of the other worlds?”
Paula was silent for quite some time. I’d only learned about those fairy tales because she had such an extensive collection of books. She’d shown me movies and television shows that were meant to help inspire me as I wrote; now I wondered if there could be truth to them beyond what the people of Earth could imagine.
“So, your Knights of Riona, they keep those things from traveling between worlds?”
“In the past, that’s what they did with the help of the alchemists. I’m wondering now if that should change. Maybe instead of keeping them from leaving their own worlds, we should get to know them. They can’t all be as brutish as the Gorum.”
“For what it’s worth, I think you’re going to be a great queen.”
“Thank you, that means a lot. It’s not something I ever wanted. In fact, Taeren and I used to dream about running away.”
Paula had been waiting for me to bring up the baker’s son. “So, tell me about this kid. Should I give him some kind of speech about hurting you?”
I laughed aloud, then clamped a hand over my mouth to keep from waking Lonzo. “I don’t think so. We played together as kids. Our friendship was strong, but not strong enough to keep him from growing up to join the Royal Guard. It wasn’t bad, but it went against everything we’d talked about on our late-night excursions.”
“So, you stopped talking to him?”
“Not intentionally. The last night we saw each other he told me he loved me. He kissed me. I was eleven. Then I didn’t see him again until the day the Gorum invaded. I was thirteen then.”
“Then you ended up on Earth.”
I nodded. “When I saw him at the release party, I think part of me knew exactly who he was. My brain just couldn’t find the balance between what I’d been told was fake and what I believed was real.”
“I know you don’t want me to say it, but I truly am sorry
for not believing in you.”
I took both of her hands in mine and looked her in the eye. “This better be the last time I have to say this; you did nothing wrong and I don’t blame you. Knowing what I know about Earth, it doesn’t surprise me that the idea of Riona wasn’t believable.”
“Okay, okay!”
“How am I supposed to get any rest with you two giggling like little girls?” Lonzo asked.
“Oops.” Paula laughed as he peeked at us with one eye open.
“Well, if we’re awake, we might as well keep going.” Lonzo rose to his feet and offered us each a hand.
“Whoever was shooting at us is bound to be looking for us by now,” I told him.
He didn’t respond as we set off down the tunnel. I knew it would lead us to the throne room, but I hadn’t determined how we would get from there to the holding cells where they were more than likely keeping Tilda. If there were guards, neither Paula nor I would be able to help fight them unless we found weapons along the way. It seemed unlikely as the tunnel probably hadn’t been used since I’d last set foot in it.
