by Kelly Blount
This place looks more like a prison than a bedroom.
“Hello? I’m looking for Bethenny, has anyone seen her?”
Silence.
“It’s important!”
More silence.
He was about to turn around when he heard a faint clattering noise. Hope and fear surged through his body and he turned to investigate.
Walking to the far end of the room, Ryder found a locked door with a barred window. As he stood on his tiptoes, he felt like someone had kicked him in the stomach. “Mom! Mom? Are you okay?”
“Huh?” asked a frail woman, curled up on a dingy cot.
“Mom! It’s me! Ryder, your son!”
“Ryder?” The disheveled woman looked around her cell. “Son? Where are you?”
“I’m here! I’m going to get you out, Mom! Just hold on!”
Ryder raced back to Albie and Pidifer.
“She’s in there! Hand me your club!”
Running back to his mother’s cell, he started beating on the old wooden door.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A crack appeared near the bottom.
“Ryder, you might want to try and be a little quieter. We really don’t want to draw any more attention to ourselves down here,” said Albie in a hushed voice.
Ryder set down the club and began kicking as hard as he could. Finally, the door split open and he rushed in and knelt next to his mother.
Tears fell from her eyes as she struggled to sit up by herself. “Ryder? I never thought I’d see you again!”
Ryder hugged his mother gently. She’s so fragile! What have they done to her?
“Oh, Mother! I’m so glad I’ve finally found you! I’ve been hunting Grishma. Every day, just like Father told me. He said I had to destroy Grishma if I ever wanted to rescue you and Brianna!”
“Brianna? You saw your sister? When? I haven’t seen her in days… She’s been helping Princess Sophie prepare for the wedding.”
Ryder’s shoulders slumped and dejection swept his face. “I know. It was horrible. When I found her, she didn’t recognize me.”
Fresh tears stung her eyes. “It’s the mind mixer potion. They had me make it for the Princess. I can’t believe they used it on my own daughter.”
A faint tap from the hallway caused Ryder to spin around and hold the club in front of him defensively.
“Mother, we will have time to talk about this later. Now, let’s get out of here!” said Ryder.
“But Ryder,” said his mother as she held up her chained arms, “I can’t get out of here.”
Panic flashed across his mind like a lightning bolt races across a summer’s night sky. Then, a solution presented itself. “The keys! I have the keys!”
After flipping through and trying just about every key on the ring, the locked chains sprang open and he freed his mother.
“Oh son! Thank you!” she cried.
Taking his weak mother by the hand, he helped her up and started to lead her out of the room.
“No, wait!” she said.
“Mother, we must depart!”
“Wait, first help me grab some of my ingredients and potions. There’s a large knapsack over there.”
Ryder did as he was told.
After stuffing the bag with small jars, fresh herbs and plants, and a few other oddities, they walked out of the room together.
“Mother, these are my friends, Albie and Pidifer. Guys, this is my mom, Bethenny,” said Ryder.
“It’s very nice to meet you both,” said Bethenny.
“Likewise. I don’t mean to sound rude, but we need to get going!” urged Albie.
His mother put her arm around Ryder’s neck and the four pressed on down the hallway.
“Calla said we could continue down this hall until we reach the kitchen cellars. Then we can sneak out through the delivery hatch,” whispered Albie.
Remarkably, they didn’t encounter anyone else along their way to the cellar. When they got there, Ryder unlocked the door and everyone snuck in. Locking the door behind them, Ryder sighed with relief. “We made it.”
Albie looked around the room and saw an opening covered by a wooden hatch. “There’s our way out.”
“Did Calla mention what was on the other side of the hatch?” asked Pidifer.
Bethenny spoke up, “I think it leads to a small road at the back of the castle. If we’re lucky, we can escape with the wedding guests.”
“Okay, Pidifer, Albie, do you think you can help my mother escape tonight and hide out in the tunnel under the city walls?” asked Ryder.
“Wait? What? Why aren’t you coming with us?” asked his mother.
“I’m sorry, I can’t come yet. I have to find Brianna and Cridifer, Pidifer’s brother,” said Ryder. “I promise you will be safe with Albie and Pidifer.”
“Oh son, I haven’t seen you in ages, and the second I get you back, you have to leave?”
“I know. I’m sorry, Mother. I promise I’ll meet up with you soon. But before you go, take some provisions with you,” said Ryder, pointing to rows of shelves packed with food.
The three of them stuffed their pockets full of dried vegetables, fresh fruits, berries, and nuts. Ryder’s mom even managed to put a few more items in her knapsack.
Before they escaped out of the hatch, Bethenny turned and embraced her son. “Ryder, I love you so very much! Please find your sister, and together, make it back to me safely!”
“I love you, too, Mother. I promise, I will find Brianna and Cridifer and meet you under the city walls as soon as I can.”
Ryder helped Pidifer, Albie, and his mother out the hatch. Then he turned around and exited the cellar.
Okay, I think the best place to find Brianna will be somewhere near the ballroom. I bet they’re still celebrating the wedding in there.
Winding his way up a staircase, he opened another door and managed to find some of the King’s servants bustling about near a large table covered in fine linens.
“Have either of you seen Brianna?” Ryder asked one of the girls folding delicate silver napkins. “Um, I have a message for her from her mother.”
The girl’s initial worried look eased and she smiled when Ryder mentioned Bethenny’s name.
“I think she’s getting her belongings in order,” said the girl.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, she’s accompanying Princess Sophie to Dratun,” said the girl. “Lady Adeline just told her tonight.”
“Oh no! That’s horrible news!” exclaimed Ryder.
The girl gave him a strange look. “What’s so horrible about joining Princess Sophie in Dratun? Any girl would love to be the Princess’s lady in waiting!”
Shit! I’m raising too much suspicion.
“Well, she hasn’t even had a chance to tell her own mother goodbye,” said Ryder.
The answer seemed to appease the girl and her suspicious look melted to one of empathy.
“Please?” Ryder asked with pleading eyes.
“Okay, I think she is upstairs in the Princess’ chambers. If not, look for Pinga. She’ll know where to find her.”
Who the heck is Pinga?
“Thank you, I really appreciate it,” said Ryder.
“I hope you find her.”
Ryder peeled around and started up a staircase packed with party guests in formal gowns and tuxedos.
“Excuse me! Pardon me!” said Ryder as he pushed by the gossiping Necohians.
“Did you see the gift Grishma gave the Prince and Princess?”
Ryder paused when he heard Grishma’s name mentioned.
A small woman covered in soft downy feathers scratched her chin. “Yes, it was a bit of an odd choice.”
“Perhaps there’s some sort of significance?” asked a man with two large gills on each side of his face.
Ryder couldn’t resist. “Excuse me, I missed the gift presentation. What did Grishma give the happy couple?”
The man with the gills looked at him and said
, “Oh! It was this strange little black statue!”
Ryder’s jaw almost dropped to the floor. “What did it look like?”
The feathery woman added, “I think it was one of those strange little creatures… What are they called?”
“An orvba!” exclaimed the man. “Why in Necoh would the Prince and Princess want a statue of an orvba?”
“It seems like a strange thing to haul to Dratun,” stated the woman.
Oh shit!
“What do you think?” the man asked Ryder.
His mind raced. Does Grishma already know I escaped? Why place Brooklyn and Cridifer in the same place? Is this some kind of trap?
“Well?” pressed the woman.
Ryder smiled and joked, “I don’t have a clue, but if it was me, I’d ask if I could exchange the statue for a brick of gold!”
All three of them chuckled uncomfortably. Saying anything bad about Grishma in public was cause for fear.
“Well, it was nice talking to you! I must find my date,” said Ryder.
Yeah right, Poor Lady Gwendolyn! I don’t plan on seeing her anytime soon. I can’t risk putting anyone else in danger!
Excusing himself, Ryder continued up the stairs and around the corner, where he found a small bench to sit on.
What am I going to do? How am I going to save everyone?
Resting his elbows on his knees, he dropped his head into his hands.
Okay, I just have to pick up the pace, that’s all. I can still do this before they depart! First step, find Brianna!
Standing up, he searched the immediate area. I have to find some way to slip away without being noticed!
Joining a group of people crowded onto an elaborately decorated landing, Ryder started to inch toward the back of the group. Step by step, he worked his way to the perimeter.
Ducking down and slipping off to the side, he began to venture down a roped off hallway.
You can take your “Do Not Enter!” sign and shove it!
Sneaking down the hallway, he looked for open doors and any signs of Brianna. He knocked gently and opened door after door. “Brianna? Are you there?”
After he reached the end of the first hall, he crossed over to the next via an oversized stone balcony.
As he reached for the door handle, he realized it was locked.
Crap!
Turning around, he started to backtrack when the door creaked open.
He couldn’t see the speaker, but a sweet voice innocently asked, “Can I help you?”
“Oh, I’m so sorry to disturb you. I’m looking for Brianna. She’s one of Princess Sophie’s ladies in waiting and I have an important message for her,” said Ryder.
Opening the door, a gorgeous girl with flowing blonde hair and sea blue eyes smiled at Ryder. “Well you’re in luck, I just saw her!”
“Really?”
“Yes! Here, you can cut through my room. Come on!”
Chapter Twenty-One
SILENCE PERMEATED THE AIR, WHICH caused fear to spread throughout her body like wildfire on a dry summer day.
Sophie looked around. She felt exposed and vulnerable sitting alone in her carriage. She scooted to the far end and vainly attempted to cover herself with pillows.
After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the deafening silence broke with muffled voices. She strained to hear what was being said, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make out anything.
Finally, curiosity took over and she removed the pillows and peeked out through the curtains. Although it was pitch black outside, several torches lit the area. She saw her husband speaking to a guard, Brianna, and Emlyn. Brianna pointed to a nearby carriage and Emlyn looked like she had been crying.
Sophie strained to hear the conversation, “I don’t… where the body… from!”
Body? What body?
She couldn’t wait any longer, so she pushed through the carriage door and stepped into the chilly night air.
When she approached the group, everyone stopped talking.
“What’s going on here?” she asked.
“It was terrible!” cried Emlyn.
“Shut up!” shouted Algid.
“Excuse me?” asked Sophie.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to worry. Please, go wait in the carriage for me. I’ll be right there,” said Algid.
Crossing her arms, Sophie demanded, “I’ll do no such thing! Now tell me what’s going on!”
“Darling, we stopped because of a felled tree,” explained Algid.
“And?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why did someone scream? And why does it look like Emlyn has been crying?”
Brianna looked at Algid for permission to speak. When he nodded, she began. “We were riding along and everything was going fine. Then suddenly we just stopped dead in our tracks. Moments later, a body crashed through the top of our carriage!” She began to sob and couldn’t finish the story.
Emlyn spoke up. “The body, it had a note secured to it.” She looked down at her hands and tears welled up in her eyes.
“What did the note say?” asked Sophie.
“It’s too terrible to repeat,” sobbed Emlyn.
“Where is the note? Give it to me!” demanded Sophie.
Algid toyed with a rolled up piece of paper in his hands. “Here,” he finally said, handing it to Sophie. “Just know that I won’t let it happen, I’ll never let anyone harm you!”
Sophie unrolled the paper and began to read.
“Princess Sophie, this trip shall be your last,
For everyone will soon know your past.
Kiss your beloved goodbye,
And prepare to die.”
Goosebumps snaked up her arms and her knees felt like jelly. “What does this mean? Why does someone want to kill me? And what do they mean by my past?”
“I don’t know,” said Algid. “But we must get back in the carriage and take another route with haste!”
The guard shifted uncomfortably. “There is no other safe route, Sire.”
“We have no other choice. We are like sitting nabbits out here! What about crossing through the Halias Swamp and then cutting through the Sareet Desert?” asked Algid.
The guard furrowed his brow. “There are many dangers that await us in both the swamp and the desert.”
“No more so than if we continue on this route!”
“As you wish, Sire,” said the guard.
Algid stood proud. “I shall help you navigate out of here.”
“Prince Algid, may Brianna and Emlyn ride with me? I really don’t want to be alone right now.”
“Of course, my love. And I will have guards surrounding your carriage as well.”
Brianna and Emlyn followed Sophie to her carriage.
After the three of them were settled, Sophie asked Brianna, “The body that fell, did you recognize it?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Me either,” said Emlyn. “But don’t worry. We have your father’s best guards getting us out of here, and of course, Prince Algid.”
“You’re right, we’ll be fine,” said Sophie.
The carriages jolted back and forth as they were turned around on the narrow passageway. Emlyn bit her nails and Brianna kept pulling at stray threads on her skirt.
Finally, the carriages were turned around and began moving back in the direction they had come.
Sinking into the cushions, she began to relax.
“Are you hungry?” Sophie asked.
“Yes, quite,” said Brianna.
Sophie pulled out a basket packed with her favorite goodies and passed it around.
“So, something really strange happened today,” said Sophie. She paused to take a bite of a trequil cookie. “This woman in the crowd, she was yelling out this name and I had this funny reaction.”
“What do you mean?” asked Emlyn.
“Well, this lady said the name Ryder, and it was like I had the wind knocked out of me!
Plus I had all these weird memories, like flashbacks or something.”
Brianna’s eyes widened and jaw dropped. “What did you say his name was?”
“Ryder. Why, do you know him?”
Brianna was too stunned to respond.
“Well, do you?” asked Sophie.
“It’s strange. Someone named Ryder approached me and claimed he was my brother,” said Brianna. “I didn’t recognize him at all and I don’t have a brother. It was so weird, though. He knew my name and everything! He even asked about my mother.”
Sophie began to feel dizzy and her surroundings swirled together like dancers on a ballroom floor. Images pushed to the front of her mind. A moonbow, followed by a handsome young man reaching out for her when something snatched her up and carried her away. “Brooklyn!” he screamed. Then, as fast as they had appeared, the images faded. Emlyn shaking her injured shoulder brought her back to reality.
“Ouch!” she cried.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Princess Sophie! Did I hurt you?”
“It’s okay. I hurt my shoulder when we stopped earlier.”
“What happened? It looked like you were in a trance,” asked Emlyn.
Sophie shook her head. “I don’t understand. More bizarre memories just flashed through my mind.” She pursed her lips. “That boy, Ryder, he was there again. This time he called me by a different name. He called me—”
Brianna interrupted, “Brooklyn?”
Sophie gasped. “How did you know that?”
“When he approached me in the castle, we were outside of your room and he told me he had to save Brooklyn. Do you think he meant you?” she asked.
Sophie opened her mouth to respond when the carriage jerked wildly, then slammed to a stop for the second time that evening.
The three bounced off the seat and into one another on the floor of the carriage.
“What is it this time?” asked Sophie.
“I hope nothing bad,” said Emlyn with a worried look.
Sophie began to worry, too. Should I stay in here or should I go check it out?
Boonum growled from a nearby carriage and a putrid scent filled the enclosure.
“Ew!” said Emlyn.
“Yuck! It smells like a latrine bucket mixed with stagnant swamp water,” added Brianna.
